Chapter Text
I, Rudolf Rassendyll, have spent the last two years of my life thinking about my days in Ruritania - the people I met there and the experiences I’ve gained, when I think of Ruritania, I think of my love, Flavia, now a queen, loved by her people, I also think of my dear friends, Sapt and Fritz, Sapt is still loyal to the crown, still practical and carrying his no-nonsense demeanor, Fritz married to his beloved Helga, now lives a stable life with love and happiness, Also, there’s the king, too paranoid, always ill-tempered, constantly at odds with Flavia, who learned to ignore him.
I meet Fritz twice a year in Lyon, France, we talk about many things; he brings me news from Ruritania, but still, unfortunately, Black Michael and Rupert of Hentzau are free, they both have been exiled, Michael, after his near death experience on the hands of his own man - Rupert -, got married to Antoinette de Mauban and lives with her at Paris happily, ignoring their past, on the other hand, Rupert of Hentzau stays at London, at an estate he inherited from his mother, he is trying to live a normal life, but - as expected - fails, I see him occasionally but never spoke to him, he is still young and charming as ever, with that flashing grin and mocking demeanor, I’m never satisfied by his sight.
To be fair, I actually live a happy life; spending most of my days with my nephews, Ronald and Henry, teaching Ronald swordsplay or simply reading with Henry, Ronald is an absolute menace, a walking storm of trouble, the bully at school, he has black curly hair that bounces every time he stomps around playing a silly game, his black eyes gleaming with a mischievous look. In contrast, Henry prefers quiet and books, spends most days with his nose buried in a new book, he is calm, obedient, his father’s favorite, with golden hair always combed neatly and green eyes that held a calm look, I like to sit with him in the garden, in the quiet of the dawn, with only the sound of birds and wind rustling the leaves, Sometimes thinking of what I might have been if I stayed at Ruritania with Flavia by my sight, I find great delight with the thought of her as my wife.
That very day, I was invited at my brother’s for dinner, I knew it would be trouble,
Ronald running everywhere, Henry brooding over a book, Rose shouting at everything, Robert trying to maintain balance, but it was actually worse than I thought.
When I arrived, it was well past seven, I knew I was late but I could do nothing. As I entered and gave the butler my coat and gloves, I heard that loud unsettling laugh, which I quickly recognized to be Hentzau’s, I froze at the dining room’s door. Inside, I found everyone seated on the table waiting for me, among them was Rupert of Hentzau.
Ronald ran at me, shouting “Uncle Rudolf” as he hugged me, Henry gave me the faintest nod before returning to reading, Robert rose to greet me, even Rose murmured something about my being late but I didn’t care. My eyes were fixed on the only stranger at that table, the devil in human form, Rupert, I was madly angry yet curious at the same time: for what could bring a Hentzau at my brother’s house?!
I woke up from that haze at the sound of my brother speaking to me “I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you a guest would be coming tonight” he said, then looking hopeful, he added “but I think it would be okay, right?” he paused for a moment, and when I gave no answer, he went on “This is Rupert of Hentzau, we met a month ago, he has been helping me since then in my work, and his help has had a positive result” then he turned to Rupert, who stood as if to greet me, “That is my brother, sir, I hope it turns out to be a good night for an introduction”.
Rupert stood still, perfectly polite and charming, with a smirk and an arm around Ronald’s shoulders “I really hope so, Mr. Robert” he replied, looking deeply in my eyes “I think it’s a great night for an introduction, isn’t it”, with that, he flashed a knowing grin and sat back again, resuming his conversation with Ronald.
The dinner was a lively affair, Ronald and Rupert kept speaking, while Henry was trying to read and, finding it hard, kept arguing with Ronald every now and then, I spoke with Robert, asking him about when he met Rupert and where, I wasn’t satisfied by the little details, and I intended to ask Rupert more questions later, then my sister-in-law’s question interrupted my thinking “Why are you so stiff tonight, Rudolf?” she asked “It’s a family dinner, nothing more”.