From: "A.K." <andrej@andrejkoymasky.com>
Sent: Wed, September 5, 2007 3:06 am
Subject: The Gilded Cage 8/11 (Historical)

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THE GILDED CAGE
by Andrej Koymasky (C) 2007
written on November 8, 1993
translated by the author
English text kindly revised by John

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USUAL DISCLAIMER

"THE GILDED CAGE" is a gay story, with some parts containing graphic
scenes of sex between males. So, if in your land, religion, family,
opinion and so on this is not good for you, it will be better not to
read this story. But if you really want, or because YOU don't care, or
because you think you really want to read it, please be my welcomed
guest.

-----------------------------

CHAPTER 8 - Travel to Berlin, to London, and sudden death of the king

At the Berlin Court they were received with all honours, as befitted a
Crown Prince and a relative. Jakobus and his train were assigned an
apartment in the part of the Imperial Palace destined for guests of
honour, a complex of twelve rooms, and were assigned some pages and
honour guards at the entrance to the complex.

So Jakobus met the emperor Willhelm I, eighty-five years of age, his son
Friedrich, fifty five, Friedrich's son Willhelm, of twenty-seven, and
his son Friedrich Willhelm who was just four years old. Jakobus was
impressed being able to see four generations at the same time and when
he was in front of the old emperor he felt a real awe.

All the court life was regulated by strict protocols, much more than at
his father's court. He also met the powerful count of Bismark and he
felt a weird sensation, a mixture of admiration and of deep wariness.

Notwithstanding he had been received and was treated with all honour, he
perceived that, after all, he had little consideration, as he was just
the Crown Prince of a really small and only semi-independent kingdom.
But besides that, what Jakobus really enjoyed was the wider freedom he
could enjoy during his three months visit in Berlin.

In the "Cygnus Apartment" where they were hosted, he first of all
arranged to be permitted to dress and undress and to wash by himself. He
confined Petrus in a small room not adjoining his bedroom. He had the
count Franz Julius use the room communicating with his own, and his
attendant in a room beyond this, and not communicating. Reinhardt was
set in a room communicating directly with the small private study that
was connected with the Prince's bedroom. This allowed the two lovers to
spend together all their nights without being disturbed and without the
fear of being caught. In fact at night they closed by key all the doors
of their rooms, leaving unlocked only those connecting with the small
study. They could sleep together already on their first night in Berlin.

When Jakobus was in the strong arms of Reinhardt, said him, "You are
Reinhardt Martinus I, emperor of all my heart!"

"Come on! I am just a poor soldier in love..."

"Are you always in love with me?"

"More and more, Jakobus."

"We finally can sleep together without having to continually control the
clock..."

"We can fell asleep one in the other's arms... it will be beautiful."

"Hey! You aren't going to fall asleep now!" the prince joked.

"How could I? Don't you see that you have awakened my whole body?"

"Yes, I see it, and I feel it... but I would like to feel it even
better."

"I adore you, Jakobus."

"I too. And I like it that here we can have all the lamps alight, so I
can admire you even more."

"Do you like me?"

"Oh yes! You are so virile... and so tender. I feel safe, in your arms.
And feeling how much you desire me, gives me joy."

"Yes, I crazily desire you!"

"Take me, then..." Jakobus murmured, offering himself.

Reinhardt kissed him, and with unlimited tenderness and determination,
entered him.

"Ah, that's good feeling you inside me, my love! You and I one only
flesh..."

"And one only soul..."

"How can you be so strong and so delicate at once?"

"It is my love for you that makes me delicate, and your love for me that
makes me strong and daring."

Jakobus was relishing the long and slow movements of his lover inside
him, and kissed and caressed him, feeling in ecstasy. The sound of a
distant bugle broke the silence of the night, followed a little later by
the strokes of the bell in a clock tower.

"Why are you stopping, Reinhardt, what's the matter?"

"I don't want to come yet... Now you take me, then can I take you again,
then you... Well, we have the entire night for us, at long last."

"Yes, my love."

"No, don't move. I want to sit on your beautiful sceptre... Stay as you
are... so... here I am! It's good..." Reinhardt murmured lowering
himself on his lover's rod, impaling himself, and starting to tilt his
pelvis up and down while he was caressing and titillating his lover's
chest.

Jakobus was giving pushes upwards, accompanying the movements of his
beautiful soldier. He was keeping tight his waist, caressed his belly,
his swollen erection, his strong thighs. Their eyes were fixed on each
other's and they smiled at each other, happy and carefree.

They made love for a long time, in all ways and positions, enjoying
themselves, and also enjoying the opportunity to at last make love
without worries. They shuddered, vibrated, throbbed the one for the
other, the one with the other, the one inside the other... They were
giving to each other pleasure, delight and joy. They greedily sucked
each other, they took each other with ardour, letting themselves be
seized in the whirlwind of their passion.

Until both were no more able to control and restrain themselves and they
abandoned themselves to an orgasm, each pouring into the other his
tribute of sweet liqueur.

"Do you know that while you are coming you become even more beautiful?"
Reinhardt whispered.

"Yes, it's you making me beautiful with your love, you, my sweetheart."

"You have charmed, fascinated, enchanted, and bewitched me... You,
Jakobus, my supreme good."

"Do you know that when I'm with you I feel carefree and happy?"

"But you are always with me, my love, as I told you. Even when we are
not in the same room, I remain with you."

"Yes, in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. But I also need your body..."

"And I need yours."

They were blissful days for both of them.

Gradually, the count Franz Julius came to know Reinhardt. "Do you know,
Royal Highness, that the more I have occasion to frequent your lover,
the more I can understand why you are in love with him. He really is an
extraordinary and admirable young man."

"Reinhardt tells me that you treat him with exquisite courtesy and
friendly respect..."

"It's just natural. And not only because he is your lover."

"I thank you for not looking down on him... even though Reinhardt is not
a nobleman..."

"He is noble in his soul, that's what counts most. What I like in him is
that he is humble without being servile, that he is proud without being
arrogant. In him, being a simple soldier and the Crown Prince's lover is
harmonized without contrasts. This denotes a remarkable balance, a
remarkable maturity and a beautiful personality. He is really a
fascinating person..."

"Hey, count, you're not trying to steal him from me!?" Jakobus jokingly
said.

"Oh, I would never be able to, simply because he would let nobody take
him away from you. He really loves you."

"Yes, we really do love each other. But, tell me, count... do you have
some adventure in sight, here at the imperial court?"

"Here everybody is so stiff, serious and formal... Well, there is a
certain viscount who possibly... He is in the retinue of prince
Willhelm, the emperor's grand-child. He invited me to a party. Who knows
if something could come out..."

"Do you like him very much?"

"Yes, he is really attractive. And when he talks with me he looks at me
in a way that makes me tremble with emotion ..."

"Then I wish you success."

"I hope so. Your attendant, however, seems to have found his way to a
certain damsel's heart..."

"Very good - that will keep him busy." Jakobus commented with
satisfaction, then said, "In four days there will be my Reinhardt's
birthday. I would like to give him a present, a surprise. Could you give
me some ideas and a hand? It would be difficult for me, as I can't leave
the court..."

"Do you have something in mind? Perhaps a jewel? Or something
different?"

"I would like to give him a ring, but I fear it would be too showy... It
would be easier for you to go out, downtown... would you have the
courtesy to help me?"

"Yes, willingly. Neither of you two smoke, am I right?"

"Yes."

"A precious frame with your portrait... would be too compromising,
wouldn't it?"

"I am afraid it would."

But the count found, at a jeweller, a sardonyx cameo, carved by the
Guay, representing Castor and Pollux - two handsome naked young men
looking at each other and giving more the feeling they were two lovers
rather than two brothers. The cameo was mounted on a velvet background
and was enclosed in a small box of rose-wood. It was really beautiful
and precious, and it had belonged to a French aristocrat who escaped at
the time of Napoleon I defeat. Jakobus bought it and on the back of the
cameo had painted the date 1886/9/21 and the writing "Amor omnia
vincit".

Then on the night before the 21st, after having made love with
Reinhardt, he gave him the small box.

"Happy 25th birthday, my love."

"Oh, you remembered it!"

"Of course I did."

"May I open it?"

"Yes..."

Reinhardt removed the lid and admired the small work of art.

"It is us!"

"Yes..."

"But... how did you manage...?"

"It is a work of the last century, carved by a famous artist. The fact
that the two youths resemble us is just a lucky coincidence. Do you like
it?"

"Yes, very much!"

"Look at the back..."

"Oh, the date and... what is it, Latin?"

"Yes..."

"Would you translate it?"

"Love wins everything."

"Oh yes, it is completely true!" Reinhardt said, moved.

He put back the cameo in the box then bent to kiss his lover.

"Do you know that I want you again, Jakobus?"

"Will you not get tired of me?

"How could that be possible! Do you feel like... starting again?"

"What do you think?" Jakobus asked pushing against him the erection that
had already awakened.

"Oh... I think yes..." the handsome young man radiantly answered,
embracing and kissing him.

They had got into the habit of taking their bath together in the
morning, washing each other in the wide marble tub. There was warm water
pouring from a tap, a luxury that didn't exist in their land, and they
enjoyed it together. Then after drying each other, they dressed and
Reinhardt went back to his room and locked the door communicating with
the prince's study, and both were ready to start the new day.

One afternoon, while Jakobus was the guest of prince Willhelm, the
emperor's grandson, count Franz Julius entered the Cygnus Apartment and
found Reinhardt there, who sprang to attention.

"Easy, easy, Reinhardt. With me you can avoid these formalities."

"Oh, no, count, sir, it would not be correct..."

"Well, if other people were present... but... does it annoy you if we
talk for a while?"

"At your orders, count, sir."

"Sit down, came on, while we are alone. Do you know that I feel a great
admiration for you?"

"Admiration for me? But I am just a soldier..."

"You are an exceptional person and the prince is fortunate having
your... devotion."

"I am fortunate being at His Royal Highness' service."

"You realise that I know about you two, don't you?"

"Yes..."

"And you also know that I am glad for both of you."

"I thank you very much. You are very kind."

"Well, then, I pray you to accept being less formal with me..."

"I thank you. But I have to stay in my place."

"Yes, I understand... the form... the way etiquette imposes... But I
would appreciate if you would consider me a friend, as I feel you one
for me."

"You are too kind."

"Whatever might happen, any problem you have to face, please just
remember you can count on me."

"You confound me..."

"When we get back, it will not be as simple and easy as it is now, here
in Berlin."

"Yes, I am aware."

"So, then, my friendship could become useful. My devotion towards prince
Jakobus includes you too, I want you to know this. If our society was
less bigoted, less filled with prejudices, your place would be at the
prince's side. As it is into my heart. Never forget it."

"I thank you, count, sir. I am unhappily a man of little value, I cannot
return a similar devotion to you. But I am feeling deeply grateful."

"Even though respecting the form, as you prefer, never forget you have
in me a sincere friend. I wanted to make you aware of this, Reinhardt."

"My friendship has no great value... but in me also, count, sir, you
will always have a... a friend."

"Don't be shamed by telling me. I rather heartily thank you for having
accepted me as your friend."

On the surface nothing had changed between them, and yet that secret
friendship was real. Reinhardt told Jakobus about this conversation. The
prince was happy and as a consequence a sincere friendship bloomed
between the prince and the count and the two youths started to call
themselves by name.

When the three months in Berlin came to an end, they all went back to
the court. Reinhardt held the rank of maniple-commander, thus it was he
who rostered the guard's shifts at the prince's quarters. The friendship
between Franz Julius and Jakobus strengthened. And Reinhardt and Jakobus
started again their secret night meetings in the deserted room.

Friedrich turned eighteen and was presented at the court, the first
amongst the other presentees. At the following party he met the young
countess Theresa Fanny, also eighteen and the sister of Franz Julius,
and started to court her. One of the reasons that attracted Friedrich
towards Theresa, besides her charm, grace and cleverness, was the fact
that he had came to know from Franz Julius that his sister was the only
one in his family who knew about his sexuality, and that this wasn't at
all a problem for her. Therefore Friedrich thought that, if he would one
day marry with the young countess, he could tell her about Jakobus
without fearing to get from her a negative judgement and a refusal.

The queen, and in consequence the king too, looked favourably on the
beginning of a romance between their second-born son and the daughter of
the Admiral - his family was not one of the most ancient court
aristocracy, but was a wealthy and powerful family. Friedrich was a
fascinating and good boy, therefore the young countess was all but
insensible to his charm.

Stefania turned sixteen. She was a pretty girl, lively and sweet.
Friedrich told his brother that in his opinion it was time to tell their
sister the secret of his love.

"I think not yet. When she is a little more grown-up, possibly." The
prince objected.

"But I am certain that she would be one more ally. You will need, my
dear brother, all the possible allies, to have a better chance to live
your love..."

"I have you, and now also the count Franz Julius. And in part, I think,
also our cousin Johann..."

"But you would have all the court against, if it came to be known..."

"We will manage not to be caught."

"When you are king, it will become even more difficult."

"Ah, I will be king in... forty years, I hope."

"Our father is a strong man, it is true. But the throne is wearing him
out."

"You have not to worry, Friedrich, neither for our father nor for me.
But you, rather, how are you going with the count's daughter, Theresa?"

"Nicely. We don't even give each other a kiss, but... we seem to fit
very well together. I feel something really serious is beginning between
us."

"May I ask you a very personal question, Freidrich?"

"Of course, anything."

"You... are you still... a virgin?"

The boy blushed delightfully, "No... Last year I had an adventure... You
know, when I was guest of our cousin the duke Stanislaw... While I was
alone, strolling in the woods I met a girl. She was the daughter of the
school teacher in the nearby village. She was nineteen and... she wasn't
a virgin, but it was very nice. She didn't know who I was and when,
afterward, she asked me what job my father did, I told her he is a
soldier... and she seemed disappointed. I asked her if we could meet
again, but she said no... So, that was my first and only time."

"But you liked it anyway."

"Yes, she was skilled. Do you know that..." he said and again blushed,
"that she did it... with her mouth..."

"Yes, it is really exciting."

"Excuse me, Jakobus, but also you and..."

"Yes, of course."

"Who knows why our tutors teach us so many things, but not one of them
ever teaches us about these things?"

"Well, but you found a... a master, didn't you?"

"Yes, but I felt so awkward and embarrassed, and I was afraid to cut a
bad figure..."

"When you make love you have just to do what your instinct and your
heart tell you. It is much less complicated than it would seem. And you
have always to respect the other person..."

"Anyway, it is good, making love."

"Yes, it is very good, Friedrich. But especially when it is with the
person you love."

After they spent three months back at the court, Jakobus with his
retinue left for London.

He was received by queen Victoria, empress of India and by Crown Prince
Albert Edward, and by his sons Albert Victor, who was twenty-three, and
George, who was twenty-one.

The English court was much more lively and free than the German one. The
"St. Andrew Apartment" was assigned to Jakobus and his retinue. And
there too Jakobus and Reinhardt could spend all their nights together,
in the same bed, although with a subterfuge somewhat more complicated
than in Berlin, and with Franz Julius's complicity.

In fact Reinhardt, to come and go between his lover's bedroom without
being seen, had to pass through Franz Julius' room. But the young count,
besides being very ready and willing to help, at night was almost never
in his room, in fact he had started a relationship with prince Albert
Victor's attendant, count James Leopold, a handsome man of twenty-eight.

All the rooms had electric lighting and both Jakobus and Reinhardt were
fascinated by that novelty. It was enough to turn a tumbler switch and
at once the light shone! And what a light! Not flickering like that of
lanterns or candles, and much brighter. Another thing the two lovers
appreciated was the wide mirror that was in the bathroom, in front of
which they often embraced, naked, to enjoy the image of their
intertwined bodies.

Moreover, together with the princes Albert and George, at times they
went out in plain clothes, in a jolly party, with a freedom that Jakobus
would never have dreamed of. And he was soon able to take Reinhardt with
him, also in plain clothes.

So that once Jakobus told him, "Do you see, dressed like this, when we
tour the city, we are really just the same! Isn't it beautiful?"

"To me it is always beautiful when I can be near you, Jakobus. But even
with these ordinary clothes we can't actually touch in public..."

Together with the two English princes, they went to the theatre, to the
racetrack, to see national sporting matches of cricket. The days were
passing careless and fast, in spite of their hot and intimate nights.

They had adopted the habit, there in London, of falling asleep totally
naked and embracing, at times without making love. But in the morning,
when the first rays of the sun awakened one of them, he would lie gently
on top of the other, and start to make love, giving him the most
affectionate awakening. It was by far the best way to start a new day.

There in Buckingham Palace they also learned the English fashion of the
pyjamas and of the dressing gown, that everybody found much more elegant
and decorous than the old night shirt, and which they at once adopted.
Great Britain, especially in the field of men's fashion, at that period
was leading all of Europe. And the princes almost never wore their
uniform, apart from at official ceremonies, but rather, with sober
elegance, they wore plain clothes. Count Franz Julius, in particular,
bought a full wardrobe in London.

"Oh, Jakobus, what a dream this city is, and this court." He said.

"Yes, here we can breathe much fresher air than at our palace, can't
we?"

"Yes, thankfully."

"When I'm king... I think I'll try to transform our court in the image
of the English court, Franz Julius. At least in part."

"It would be beautiful, provided they let you do so..."

"You will be at my side, won't you?"

"Yes... if I don't flee to London beforehand."

"And into the arms of count James?"

"Why not. I had heard so much about typical British phlegm but... James
in bed he is all but phlegmatic. He disturbs me! Do you know that
sometimes he takes me three times in a night? And at the end I remain
with not a single grain of energy in me? It could be because of his
Spanish grand-mother... but that man has fire in his veins."

"But you like him, don't you?" Jakobus asked him.

"Oh, sure. I mean, his appearance is agreeable, not really handsome. But
the way he is able to make love! After a night with him I feel like as
if I had had sex with a regiment of guards! He really disturbs me, that
man. And then he says that I'm the hot one... He does everything. At
time I feel almost as I am a rag doll in his arms... or maybe I should
say between his legs!"

"But you do like him, don't you?" Jakobus asked again, laughing.

"To die for. He makes a mess of me, but in such a lustful way! I would
marry him immediately, if such a thing was possible for two men!"

"But are you in love with him?"

"No, what has that got to do with it? Between us there is just sex, from
the first moment I meet him to the moment I leave him. But what sex, my
friend!"

They had been in London for two months and a few days. Franz Julius was
in Jakobus study and was talking with him and Reinhardt.

"... then, Jakobus, you would not believe it, but count James asks me -
did you ever had sex with a black boy? No, I answer. Would you like to?
I don't know, I say, possibly. And he says, I have a young lackey, a
handsome boy of seventeen I took with me three years ago, when I was in
Kenya Colony. A fine figure of a boy and really skilled for sex. If you
want to have a taste of him... Well, I couldn't stand my curiosity
therefore I accepted. It was an unforgettable experience."

"But is it true, count, that the back people are very well endowed?"

"Yes, Reinhardt, it is true. But more than the opulence of their tool,
is how they are able to use it. That boy is a real expert in the amatory
arts. You know, he was made a slave by the Arabs who prepared and
instructed him expressly to make love with men..."

"A slave? What an horrible thing!" Jakobus commented.

"Yes, but now he is just a servant of count James, he is no longer a
slave. He gets his regular pay..."

"But he had to have sex with you..." Reinhardt countered.

"No, he didn't have to. James asked him if he wanted to go with me and
the boy agreed. Ah, having a page like him!"

"You really would like it?" Jakobus asked him.

"Yes, really. I am discovering in me a libido that I didn't think I
had..."

"I too am discovering that..." Reinhardt said looking with a smile his
lover.

"And I with you, my love..." Jakobus answered.

"You two are delightful!" the count commented.

In that moment someone knocked at the door. Reinhardt sprang on his feet
and at a sign of Jakobus, went to open the door. It was the attendant.
He had a sheet of paper in his hand.

"Royal Highness... unfortunately... incredible news..." he said handing
the sheet to the prince, "we received by telegraph just now,
Highness..."

Jakobus stood up, took the sheet, opened it and turned pale, "Good Lord!
My father... king Heinrich... is no longer of this world..."

Franz Julius stood up, astonished, then in a low voice said, "My
heartfelt sympathy... Majesty. You possibly want to be alone..."

"No... No... Please start to prepare for my return at once. Queen
Victoria is already informed, I presume..."

"No, the telegram was coded, I have only just decoded it."

"Well, go immediately to give the news to our hosts. We have to go back
as soon as possible."

"Certainly, I will deal with that at once, Your Majesty." The attendant
said, clicking his heels.

"And stop calling me Majesty. I have not yet been crowned." Jakobus said
with a gloomy face.

"It is the tradition... Majesty. Forgive me." The attendant said,
uncertain.

"Alright, it doesn't matter. Please go, now." The attendant went out,
then Jakobus said to count Franz Julius, "Can you please go to tell
Petrus we have to go, and to make preparations for our return? Forgive
me, but now I need to be alone with Reinhardt for a while..."

"Yes, of course, I understand. I'll go immediately. Then I'll be in the
antechamber, if you need me."

A soon as they were alone, Reinhardt embraced Jakobus, who leaned his
head on his lover's shoulder.

"It's odd, Reinhardt, my father is dead and... I'm not even able to cry,
to feel pain. He was always so distant... he loved me, I know, but... he
has been more a king than a father, in some ways. Am I a monster?"

"No, my love. I have seen as you turn pale. You are not a monster. It is
not your fault if king Heinrich never gave you the affection you needed,
but probably it was not even his fault either."

"Reinhardt... happily I have you, your affection, your love... Never let
me lose it, I beg you..."

"No, my love, never..."

"We have to go back... the funerals, the coronation... I am afraid we
will have very little time for us in the next few weeks... My God! I am
too young to be a king! Will you help me, Reinhardt?"

"I? To help you to be king? I cannot... I will be near you, of course...
but you will have better councillors than a simple soldier."

"I'll really need you. Please don't step back right now."

"I will never step back, you can be certain. As you are a man, I will
always be near you, but as king..."

"Maman had always been near my father, and not only as a wife. And we
two are married, don't you remember?"

"Yes, of course. But this has a value only for us, not for the court. On
the throne, you would be alone..."

"I know, unhappily. But will you listen to my doubts, will you give me
your advice?"

"Each time you want it and if I am able, for the little I can understand
about a king's duties..."

Jakobus received the condolences of the English Royal family and of the
court and his farewell was held with a sober and sad ceremony. He was
escorted to the ship that would cross the Channel and was taken to his
country, by a more numerous escort than that which welcomed him as a
Royal Prince, but less numerous than that who would escort a king.

At the border of his land a new escort was waiting for him, and the
Prime Minister who offered him the government and the nation's
condolences. At the Palace he met his mother and his brother and his
sister, all in mourning. Then he went to the funeral chamber that had
been prepared in the Great Chapel.

The king had been laid on the catafalque, with the royal insignia on
him. Jakobus demanded to remain alone in front of his father's corpse.

"Papa... you are now up there, in heaven, because you have been a honest
man and king. Therefore you now know. Protect this son of yours so that
he can be a good king. Protect this son of yours and his lover. Protect
us all, now that you can. I would have liked our relation to be
different... but at this point... Rest in peace, king Heinrich. Rest in
peace, papa."

The preparations for the solemn funeral were made. Several sovereigns
would attend in person or would be represented by close relatives. It
was necessary to accommodate all of them properly. They would remain for
the funeral, then also for the day that was fixed for the coronation
which, as tradition required, was twenty-one days after the death, and
fourteen after the funeral. The masters of ceremonies worked hard for
the two occasions. Jakobus in those days had to receive the royal
guests, preside over the Crown Council, the Ministers Cabinet, the Royal
House College...

For several days he could not meet Reinhardt, and this was more onerous
than anything else. Following the law, in the twenty-one days between
the death of the king and his crowning, his father's brother, who was
the Bishop of Köln, would assume the role of regent, signing all the
documents regarding the ordinary administration. It was a strange
diarchy. Jakobus as future king and chief of the royal house,
administered certain powers and his uncle the Bishop, as regent,
administered certain others.

Jakobus asked his brother for help. "Friedrich, after my coronation I
have to take many things in my hands, too many. I will have to
reorganize my lodgings, my servants, my guard... You know what is
required, can you prepare a plan for me?"

"Willingly, Jakobus."

"Then the Council, the Cabinet and the College will present their
resignations. If you had some ideas and suggestions I would be very
grateful."

"I'll think of that too."

"Oh, Friedrich, I didn't even ask you how you are going with your nice
countess..."

"Well! We were thinking of asking our father the authorization for the
official engagement, but now..."

"We will settle this after my coronation. Is everything going well
between you both?"

"Yes, very much. We love each other."

"Did you tell her about me and Reinhardt?"

"Not yet. I am waiting for your permission"

"If you think it appropriate, do so. Then tell me about her reaction."

"Certainly."

"In these days some matters can possibly escape me. If so, make me
notice them, please. I have not yet been prepared for... all of this.
No, I really am not yet ready. Ah, and I have a great favour to ask
you."

"Yes?"

"Go and see Reinhardt. Tell him he is always in my thoughts. Give him
all my love and ask him to be patient during these days. You can see
that I'm no longer my own master for even a minute... Tell him I miss
him very much..."

"Yes, of course. He will certainly understand."

"Did the physicians already announce a verdict about our father's
death?"

"Not yet. I think the archiater will announce it this evening. But I
have heard they were talking about his heart... It gave way all of a
sudden. At least he died without suffering."

"Do you miss him?"

"I don't know, I can't understand it. At times yes, at times no. I think
that Stefania misses him very much."

"Right. Surely not maman, she has her lover. Ah, it is necessary to
provide for papa's paramour too. Will you take care also of that? Will
you give me your advice about what I can do for her?"

"Possibly she will miss papa too. I think they really loved each other."

"Ah, really? Why do you think so?"

"Well, you know, from the secret passages I at times spied on them
and... and I got this feeling."

"If the countess Cecilie Melanie really loved him, she deserves
consideration."

Jakobus also had to undergo the measurements and the fittings for his
clothes for the funerals and for the crowning ceremony, as well the
alteration to the crown and so on.

Two evenings before the funeral, Friedrich went to knock at Jakobus's
door.

"Come in!"

"Jakobus, can you come to my room?"

"Yes, certainly. What for?"

"Come... go in..."

Inside there was Reinhardt.

"Friedrich thought we could pass half a hour together, before you have
to go..." the young guard told him, hesitantly.

"Oh, Reinhardt! Embrace me!"

"How are you, love?"

"Shattered... But now, well."

"I love you, Jakobus."

"I too love you. But these days seems to never pass."

"We will recover, later."

"I really hope so. And you, how are you?"

"Unemployed right now. You have the Royal Guard that was your father's
and we of the Noble Guard are waiting for new orders..."

"For the moment I cannot change anything. Everything is as if... frozen.
I miss you."

"Yes, I too miss you."

"Friedrich is a darling, having managed this meeting."

"Yes, he is very kind to me. Also count Franz Julius is caring for me."

"Ah, Franz Julius, my dear friend..."

They kissed, tightly embrace, caressed each other.

There was a knock at the door and the two lovers reluctantly parted.

"Sorry," Friedrich said appearing at the door, "But you, Jakobus, have
to go now. They are waiting for you. Reinhardt, you go through the
secret passage. As soon as possible, I'll arrange for you two to meet
again. Come on, Jakobus..."

Finally the solemn funeral was held. Jakobus, following etiquette, was
wearing the royal white uniform, but without the kingly insignia. All
the bells of the kingdom tolled the mourning while the funeral cortege,
from the Grand Chapel of the Royal Palace was going to the Cathedral.
Here the Archbishop officiated the solemn exequies. Then the coffin was
moved to the square where it received the official homage of the civil
and military authorities. Then, loaded on a gun carriage, it was moved
to St. Martin's church crypt, where the kings were buried.

When they went out of the church, after the burial, all the knights of
the Royal Order of Saint Martin, wearing their characteristic crimson
capes cut in half, were waiting for Jakobus. He saw Franz Julius between
them. The Great Commendatory knelt in front of Jakobus and offered him
the Great-Master's gold neck-chain which Jakobus then wore. Then the two
youngest knights, and one was Franz Julius, put on his shoulders the
bipartite cape, kept together only by the collar which, for the
Great-Master, was of gilt cloth. All the knights then knelt and threw
the salute of acclamation. Once this simple investiture ceremony ended,
Jakobus returned to the Palace.

During the two following weeks, at the Palace, in the Cathedral, and in
towns and villages all over the kingdom the symbols of mourning were
gradually disappearing to be replaced by the decorations for the
crowning ceremony. Meanwhile Jakobus was busy with a host of other
engagements. Between these, his brother made him examine his projects.

The reappointment of the Ministers Cabinet, with the substitution of
only the Justice Minister, too old, with the cousin Johann Mathias. The
reappointment of the Crown Council, with the introduction of Friedrich
and Franz Julius in place of two older councillors. The reappointment of
the Royal House College, here too with only two changes. The appointment
of Reinhardt as a count and personal attendant of the king. A pension
and the gift of a villa to the lover of the defunct king. Then some
minor decisions. Jakobus approved everything and subscribed to all the
projects. Then he asked Friedrich to organize another encounter with
Reinhardt for him.

When they were alone, after some sweet effusions, Jakobus said to
Reinhardt, "At Friedrich's suggestion, after my crowning, I intend to
confer the title of count on you and to name you my personal attendant."

"I, a count? No, Jakobus!"

"But so you will have freedom of movement at court, dignity, honours..."

"Your love is worth more than any dignity and honour... and I really
don't see myself as a count. I am not made of the right stuff."

"All those on whom a title of nobility was conferred, were common people
before ..."

"No, please. A simple guard named count! Everybody would criticize
that..."

"But I... it would make easier for us to be together. A king and a
count... there would be nothing odd if..."

"No, please. As your attendant I could anyway stay near you."

"The king's attendants are almost always aristocrats, or at least high
army officers. Making you a count would be normal, but I cannot all of a
sudden make of you a general!"

"If it is an order, I cannot but obey you. But I beg you, don't force
me..."

"But making of you the personal attendant of the king without giving you
any title would be even more odd. And I want you to be able to be near
me always, in any way, on all occasions."

"I'm not a good judge of these matters..."

"Don't you want to be near me?"

"Of course I want to!"

"Then, please don't make it difficult for me. Moreover the noble guard
is normally composed of aristocrats, isn't it? What was your
grand-father's title?"

"He was a count..."

"Right so, you see? Accept being made a count, love, I beg you."

"I... I will do anything you want, my love."

"And not be upset with me."

"No, I could not."

"Then embrace me again, love."

Jakobus summoned the Marshal of the College of Heralds and asked him to
look for which count's title he could bestow on his attendant. He
already had in mind the land to give to his assistant - that of the
Silver Forest, where the old castle built by his ancestor Otto the
Solitary was. He didn't then imagine how very appropriate this choice
would turn out to be.

-----------------------------

CONTINUES IN CHAPTER 9

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In my home page I've put some more of my stories. If someone wants to
read them, the URL is

http://andrejkoymasky.com

If you want to send me feed-back, or desire to help revising my English
translations, so that I can put on-line more of my stories in English
please e-mail at

andrej@andrejkoymasky.com

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