Lisbon, Palacio Nacional da Ajuda
The heavy oak doors swung open with a hush of red carpet, spilling warm golden lamplight onto the palace steps.
Liveried footmen snapped to attention as Bruno, Heidi, and Elsa ascended, flanked by discreet Tyrolean aides in dark dress uniforms.
At the top waited King Manuel II, slim and still very much princely in posture despite the streaks of silver at his temples.
At his side stood Queen Hedwig; a regal figure in deep emerald satin, Habsburg bearing unmistakable in the lift of her chin.
It had been nearly two decades since Bruno last saw Hedwig. Then she had been little more than a girl, barely an adult. Or perhaps not even. Time flew by so swiftly, Bruno could hardly remember such details these days.
