Loyal to Myself

July 1859

It was a wonderful summer day. The blue sky was sparkling as the orange and yellow sunshines sifted through the picturesque clouds. A horse rider was seen crossing the meadow; her long and shining brown hair just flew after her. The woman was laughing loudly as the soft wind kissed her rose-cheeked face. She enjoyed being outside, riding her horse. She simply enjoyed the freedom that was given to her. Freedom was one of the two things she always knew she had to own to live a happy life. The other thing was love. That undefinable, strange, but still kind feeling. Love.

She felt that she is lucky to have these two important things in her life. Without these she would be lost and couldn't find the role God planned her to take on. Her life could have gone in different directions, but she was happy to find her own way, the way that made everything perfect. As a child she thought a lot about what would happen with her as a grown woman, and she believed she had hoped for something like that. She didn't need money, hundreds of servants or the most expensive dresses. Just freedom and to be loved.

As she was leaving the meadow she could see her home. Yes, her home. She realised that she cannot imagine her life somewhere else than in this little, but beautiful castle. It was something that a princess may not accept, but she, as a countess, found it to be perfect.

As she reached the hammered gate she saw the postman waiting for her.

"Good afternoon, countess! I brought you a letter - it is from Vienna."

"Thank you, Bezzelt! Today is your daughter's birthday, isn't it? I send her our best wishes," the countess replied.

"Thank you, ma'am! I am sure she will be the happiest to hear this. Goodbye!"

"Goodbye! Have a nice day," the lady said as the postman was leaving.

She then realised what's in her hands - a letter from her sister.

"What are you reading?" She heard a familiar voice.

"A letter from Nené, it arrived just a minute ago," the lady replied with a smile on her face while turning to the man to whom the familiar voice belonged.

"When will you travel to her?" The man took a step closer and crossed his arm around the lady.

"The day after tomorrow," she said.

"So my Elisabeth, my dearest Sisi will leave me very soon," the man pretended to cry, but a warm smile sat on his face.

"Don't play, Friedrich! You already knew that I would visit my sister. She needs me in this difficult moment. And don't forget: I need you at the court ball. I take your presence into account."

"Should I really go? You know how much I suffer from being at the imperial court."

"Just as much as I. But my sister asked me to attend. She doesn't know whether she can take part or not, it depends on the time of the birth," Sisi replied.

"Well, then I believe I have no other option but to follow you to Vienna. I hoped I could stay at home with Hera," Friedrich said.

"No, my lord, Hera is coming with me. I have organised everything. While my sister needs me at the court I will stay at Schönbrunn, and your mother will look after Hera at her own palace. When you arrive in the city and I can leave Schönbrunn then all three of us will stay at your mother's until we can return home," the lady explained. She saw the pain on her husband's face, but sadly couldn't do anything about it. If her sister needs her, then she doesn't have any other choices but helping and supporting her.

"Come, we should visit Hera," Friedrich said and he went towards the castle together with his wife. When they reached the first floor they turned right and went through the not so long corridor until their daughter's bedroom, which was located close to their own one. Sisi opened the door carefully and smiled at her daughter. Helene Victoria was sleeping peacefully. Memories went across Sisi's head. It was not a long time after her and Friedrich's first wedding anniversary when she gave birth to her first child around a year ago. Her mother-in-law really wished to welcome a new son and heir, but deep inside Sisi knew that her baby is a girl. They couldn't decide about her name. Elisabeth wanted to name the baby after her sister, Helene, but Friedrich stuck to the name Victoria. It was possible to give both of the names to their daughter, but they cannot always call her by two names! Sisi's younger brother, Carl Theodor, or as the family called him, Gackl solved the problem.