Chapter One Thousand Two Hundred Seventy-Seven
4th May 1958
Potsdam
It was an official State visit. Something that complicated everything.
Elizabeth of England was here in Potsdam, that was why Michael got dirty looks from the British security as he rode past. By contrast they were augmented by men from the 2nd Life Hussars who were happy to see him. They knew that he had just turned eighteen and would be joining them as soon as he completed his secondary education. That would be just one of the many big changes that were coming.
The other change involved Onnosel. Recently a veterinarian had told Michael that while he was in good health Onnosel was around fifteen years of age, a bit old for the active role that Michael needed him to be able to take and in a couple years Michael had a chance to compete in equestrian events in Rome. So, in the near future Onnosel would return to the Wolvogle estate and live out his years in comfort as a riding horse for the children of Oberst Knispel. While finding another horse wouldn’t be an issue, it just wouldn’t be the same for Michael. As difficult as the bay horse could be, Onnosel was as much of a friend to Michael as anyone he knew from school. Since that decision had been made Michael had made a point of riding Onnosel every afternoon weather permitting. The expansive estate in Potsdam was perfect for that.
As Michael rode into the stable he noticed the girl. Nine years old, blond with a striking resemblance to her father Philip of Greece and Denmark. “Mind telling me what you want Alberta?” Michael asked as he got off of Onnosel.
“Birdie” Alberta said in reply.
“Excuse me” Michael asked.
“I hate the name Alberta, detest it” Alberta, or was it Birdie, said, “It sounds like the name of a fat old woman who lives with a whole bunch of cats.”
With the various families whose children were regularly around Onnosel, the gluttonous horse had learned to associate girls with attention and treats. Birdie was no exception, she had a carrot for him. As Michael lifted the saddle off Onnosel’s back he could hear the horse munching contentedly on it.
“Very well Birdie” Michael said, “What can I help you with?”
“I overheard Mummy and her maids talking about how one day I would marry Prince Michael of Bohemia, how dashing and handsome he is, er… you are.”
Birdie said it very earnestly, and though Michael found the idea hilarious, he didn’t want to laugh at the girl.
“Is that what you want?” Michael asked, only to have Birdie look at him with a bewildered look on her face.
“Well, no” Birdie replied.
“There’s your answer then.”
“That can’t be it” Birdie said, “That is way too easy.”
“Life is only as complicated as you choose to make it” Michael said. He was reminded of the recent week he had spent in Prague. The Chancellor of the Bohemian Reichstag and the Head of the Regency Council had made it clear that while they eagerly awaited his twenty-first birthday when he could be crowned King of Bohemia, they had made it obvious that they wouldn’t mind if he spent most of his time somewhere else. It was cynical, self-serving and entirely predictable. The truth was that Michael had no interest in running a country, being a King however would give him the authority to tell Friedrich where he could stick it. In his mind that was far more valuable. If the Chancellor in Prague liked the idea of facing the wrath of voters, then more power to him. Michael would be there to meet with his successor who hopefully wouldn’t be such a jackass.
With that Birdie was laughing as Onnosel was sniffing at her, searching for more carrots. People could learn a lot from horses when it came to priorities.
“Want to help me with this big lug?” Michael asked.
Birdie smiled at that. It was exactly what she wanted.
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It was a State visit, where Elizabeth could meet with Louis Ferdinand. Later they would go before the cameras and talk about how their nations were continuing to cooperate on a variety of issues. Just how long that cooperation would last was an open question. Relations with the United Kingdom were as good as they had been in decades, however there was always the knowledge that even if Britain was no longer considered an enemy, they had never stopped being a rival. That wasn’t however the real reason why Elizabeth had come to Potsdam, the real reason was in this room. Namely Charlotte, but the larger discussion did interest her as well.
While they were waiting until after the wedding in July to call a meeting of the Hundred, several of the most prominent members of the Order of Louise were present today as they were let in the changes in the Order’s charter that Kat had hashed out with Charlotte over the last few days. The biggest changes they had decided on were that the existence of the Order shouldn’t be dependent upon the whims of the Emperor and greater efforts towards continuity following the death of a Grand Mistress needed to be made. The idea of expanding the rolls of membership beyond one hundred was restated. Then an item on that agenda landed like a bombshell, the Order needed to be prepared for the day when the Grand Mistress wasn’t Empress Consort but the Empress outright. That day might not come within their lifetimes, but it was something that needed to be discussed so that the Order would be prepared as an institution. They had the presence of Elizabeth, Queen of England and Empress of the British Empire today as an example of what was possible.
Kat was listening to the excited chatter as they discussed the possibilities. Charlotte had said that if they played this right it could prove to be one of the most important events for the Order since its founding in 1814. The other suggestion that Charlotte had made was one of reconciliation, she had suggested that the role of Chairwoman of the Capitel go to Princess Kristina of Prussia. They didn’t know what the reaction to that would be.