Location: Transylvania, near Târgu MureșTime: Summer 1828, late night
At dusk, Franz's carriage procession arrived at a simple inn near Târgu Mureș. Surrounded by his retinue, Franz stepped out of the carriage, looking weary.
"Your Highness, are you tired?" Count Reinhard asked with concern.
Franz didn't reply. His gaze went straight to Greta, who stood at the end of the line of servants. He stopped, a cynical smile appearing on his lips.
"Greta," he said, loud enough for everyone to hear, "you will serve me tonight."
Greta's body tensed for a moment, but she quickly bowed her head. "Yes, Your Highness."
Franz turned to the Count, his voice turning serious. "Count, I need a proper rest tonight. No one—not a single guard—is to disturb me."
The Count understood. He waved a hand at the soldiers around them, issuing a loud command. "Did you hear that! His Highness requires absolute privacy tonight! You must increase your vigilance and patrol the area around his room. Report any unusual activity to me immediately!"
The soldiers stood at attention and one of them blew a whistle, signaling the guards to increase their vigilance.
Franz said nothing more. He walked straight into the inn and up the wooden stairs to his room. He closed the door and bolted it. Moments later, Greta came in, carrying a candle.
As soon as the door was shut, Greta lit another candle and went to the window, covering it completely with a thick cloth.
"Your Highness," she whispered, "the Count has been taken care of, but we still need to make some noise to handle the guards outside."
Franz nodded, looking at Greta and signaling her to begin.
Greta took a deep breath. She let out a few soft moans, her voice deliberately muffled. Soon, her sounds grew more dramatic, mimicking the panting and heavy breathing of lovers, mixed with low, playful giggles. The sounds carried through the window and door crack, causing the guards outside to exchange knowing smiles. Gradually, the noise of the night quieted down, and the guards relaxed their vigilance.
Once they were sure the sounds outside had died down, Franz and Greta quickly went to work. Greta used her tools and makeup to transform Franz into a common servant. At the same time, she put on Franz's fine clothes and used her skills to make her face look exactly like his.
"Your Highness, are you ready?" Greta asked in her normal voice. She looked at herself in the mirror, at the face identical to Franz's, her eyes filled with determination.
Franz looked at Greta and felt an uncontrollable surge of excitement. This wasn't just a disguise; it was his rebirth. He was about to shed the identity of the trapped prince in Schönbrunn Palace, an identity fate had forced upon him. He would reclaim his freedom. He would reclaim his name—Napoleon II—and he would reclaim the French throne. Everything was about to begin here, in this humble inn.
He nodded and whispered, "Let's go."
Greta lay down on the bed and pulled the covers over herself, pretending to be asleep. Franz, dressed as a servant, quietly went downstairs. As he walked through the inn's common room, a guard whistled at him, a lewd look in his eyes.
Franz pretended to feel unwell. "I'm just going out to bathe," he said softly.
The guard just laughed and nodded, not saying another word.
Franz slipped out of the inn and into the woods behind it. Waiting there were two Hungarian nobles, his saviors from the last assassination attempt in Budapest. They were the tall, imposing Count Benedek Széchenyi and the young, radical Lajos Kossuth.
"Gentlemen," Franz's voice was low and firm. "Thank you for risking your lives to come here. Prince Metternich will attempt to have me assassinated here a second time. We will use this opportunity to make the son of Napoleon disappear from this world forever."
Count Széchenyi's expression was deadly serious. He bowed deeply and said, "Your Highness, we have learned that the forest north of Târgu Mureș is the perfect place for an ambush. Our men in a nearby town found a group of suspicious Frenchmen. They bought plenty of dry food and weapons a few days ago, and it seems they intend to lie in wait there."
Lajos Kossuth's eyes flashed with excitement. He spoke in a low, passionate tone. "This is our chance! Your Highness, your plan to fake your death will be perfectly executed here! Your father, Emperor Napoleon, after his victory at the Battle of Wagram in 1809, issued a proclamation from Schönbrunn Palace promising to restore a Hungarian kingdom if they would rise against the Habsburgs. Though we missed that chance then, we Hungarians have never forgotten that promise!."
Franz listened, then after a moment of thought, he said, "The plan is excellent. But we must act quickly and leave no trace. Your job during the ambush is to get Greta out of there. Then, she will choose one of the dead Frenchmen and disguise him as me."