Chapter 49 Austrian Christmas Ball Party (2)

Hofburg Palace, Vienna, Austrian Empire

After the short and simple speech given by Emperor Franz Joseph to the nobles and guests, the imperial ball has now officially started. The musicians played more lively and upbeat music for the guests and nobles. The people at the ball are even finding partners to dance with within the center of the hall. New cuisines and desserts are served to the nobles and guests to replace the already cold or empty food platters and containers.

The Emperor looks at the guests and nobles and is happy seeing their faces that are glad and comfortable. Even the uncomfortable feeling of the foreign guests and delegates are slowly dissipating as the nobles start to open up to them. The nobles realize that it is better to start having good relations with the foreigners that would soon be good allies and trading partners of the Austrian Empire. Having more friends is never a bad thing even if there are foreigners from the Asian continent.

"It is my great honor in your presence, Your Imperial Majesty the Emperor."

"Your humbleness knows no bounds, Grand Prince."

"That is just how who I am Your Imperial Highness."

"Hmmm… if you say so, Grand Prince."

"It is also my great honor to be in your presence, Your Imperial Majesty the Empress."

"The honor is mine, Your Highness the Grand Prince."

"Your beauty is still as beautiful and radiant as the roses, Your Imperial Majesty."

"Thank you for the Compliment, Your Highness."

Grand Prince Aleksandr IV approaches Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Helene of Austria to give his personal greetings to the two powerful monarchs of Austria. He sees Emperor Franz Joseph as a model and inspiration of a powerful and smart monarch and it reflects on his face how much he idolizes the Austrian Emperor. The Emperor aware of the great respect of the Russian Grand Prince feels happy and smiles at him. Even the Empress feels comfortable with the presence of the Russian Grand Prince.

"Your Imperial Majesty the Emperor, it seems that the Crown Prince, Archduke Justinian, is not present at the imperial ball?"

"Oh… that young lad. He is still coming here… from what I heard he went to fetch his friend and her family. They should be here anytime now."

Sensing that the two had important things to discuss, Empress Helene left the two men and proceed to greet the nobles and guests at the imperial ball. She knows that his husband has important things to talk to the Grand Prince and he may not be able to meet and greet all the guests and nobles, so she proceeds to do the task as the Empress of the Austrian Empire.

"By the way, Grand Prince, were you able to talk with my grandson that day?"

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty, I was really shocked at how young Archduke Justinian is already participating and making deals for the affairs of Austria. The future of Austria is bright under the Crown Prince and Your Imperial Majesty. Even I was jealous of the Archduke having such capacity at that young age."

"Hahaha… yes, my grandson… a dragon in a making. Someday he will replace me on this throne and will lead the Austrian Empire into greatness."

"You're undervaluing yourself, Your Imperial Majesty… the Archduke, and Austria has become this strong under your leadership and guidance. You are the real foundation and pillar of this empire. That's why our country would like to ally with your country."

"Russia has also a bright future with you at its helm. You are still young and you are already leading delegations and deciding the policies and decisions for Russia. No one would like to be your enemy."

"You overestimate me Your Imperial Highness. I still have flaws and shortcomings as a Monarch. There are still a lot of things I need to learn before I would become a fine leader."

While the two are talking, the soldier entered again and announced to the people in the imperial ball.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."

A young man dressed in full imperial uniform walks inside the hall with some people. Count Karl and an Asian family are with the Crown Prince. Murmurs and whispers filled the hall, as the Austrian nobles are talking with the group of foreigners with the Crown Prince especially a young girl dressed in a red dress that is personally escorted by the Crown Prince.

They have heard rumors about an unusual relationship of the Crown Prince with a foreign woman. They think that she would just be a short fling or worse a mistress to the Crown Prince. But what the Crown Prince is doing right now is making their relationship official and public.

The people present are horrified especially the Austrian nobles who think that what the Crown Prince is doing right now is blasphemous and atrocious. The Crown Prince is from the noblest family and the future heir of the Austrian Empire and having a relationship with a woman from an unknown background is horrifying enough to the nobles. But if ever the Crown Prince would pursue the relationship and worst make her the official wife or fiancée of the Crown Prince, everything would be turned upside down.

A lot of nobles especially those who have high positions and ranks are furious and dissatisfied with the Crown Prince. For them, he is just tainting the pure noble blood that is running in his veins with a foreign woman.

Crown Prince Justinian knows what the nobles are thinking but there is nothing that he can do about it. The time that he decides and walks on this path, he would genuinely alienate or make others hostile to him. He can only face this head-on with a stoic and brave stance, that there is nothing that could change his decision.

"Come here my grandson… also bring the people you are with here… I want to meet your new friend and her family."

The one who breaks the awkward silence is the Emperor. He shows an accepting and friendly smile that everything can see. The nobles are stunned by what the Emperor is doing, he acts like what the Crown Prince is doing is acceptable and allowed.

This would break the tradition of the royal family and tarnish its reputation but the Emperor had let it happen and is not even angry or sad. He even smiled and invited the girl and her family to meet him. Everyone is surprised by the series of events in that they were not able to act.

"Everyone, I'm sorry that my grandson had come late. I hope that it didn't spoil your night. Please enjoy…"

The Emperor signals Crown Prince Justinian and the people he is with, to approach him and the Russian Grand Prince. The two waited for the Crown Prince to arrive as the two were very curious about the woman the Crown Prince had brought with him.

Seeing that it is Emperor Franz Joseph who wants them to go to them, they can only obey the wishes and command of the Emperor. The Crown Prince hold Lin's hand as they trotted towards where the Emperor is staying. This action didn't go unnoticed by the nobles and guests around.

If there is any person at the imperial ball who are happy with the relationship between the Crown Prince and the foreign girl, it would be the delegates and representatives from the three Asian countries. This would have a very large effect on the world stage if ever the two would really tie the knot.

The Japanese delegation knows that the father side of Lin is a part of a lineage of a fallen samurai family in Central Japan. They had fought on the side of the shogunate during the Restoration of the Japanese Imperial Family back in power. After the shogunate was defeated, the family power declined, and was disgraced for siding with the shogunate.

The Miyazono family then immediately used their remaining wealth in building a trading business with European traders and businessmen and were able to succeed in their investments and deals. They were able to build connections in the Qing Empire, the United States of America, and Europe, and his father, Akira, is the current head and owner of such a large business.

The Chinese delegation also feels happy with the turn of events because Lin's mother, Xue, is a daughter of a local businessman in the city of Shangdong whose family for generations was able to serve as ministers and mayors of the Qing Empire.

An Asian Empress of one of the most powerful Empires in Europe would be a game changer for the Asian people. It would help Asia to become more recognized and respected on the world stage and would change the flow of world history forever.

The British and the French at the imperial ball have mixed feelings about the relationship of the Crown Prince with a foreign woman. They feel happy that the Crown Prince didn't marry a woman from a powerful and influential family from other European powers.

Both the British and French are at guard with each other if ever the Austrian Crown Prince would have a wife from either of one of them and thankfully it didn't happen. But they feel worried about the repercussions and the effects of such action done by the Austrian Crown Prince. They were sure this would become big news the next day and the effects would be immediate even if they were not officially engaged or married.

Everyone knows that this would be a start of a big change, and if whether they would be with the flow or against it. Only time could tell.