Chapter 520: Tea Ceremony

Hans sat in his room around a small wooden table. Sitting across from him were the Princesses of Bohemia and Poland who had become Berengar's wards, and in many ways the only two friends that the young boy had. While Veronika was quite a bit older than the Austrian Prince, Natalia was of a similar age. 

The three youths were enjoying a bit of milk and cookies as they dined together. Since Natalia had arrived in Kufstein, she had a difficult time adjusting. However, Hans had been by her side every step of the way, acting as a listening ear and a shoulder she could cry into. He may be young, but he had learned much about dealing with the opposite sex from his father's actions, and took this time to cement his relationship with the two girls, completely aware of the plans his parents had for them. 

The two girls practically looked like porcelain dolls as they elegantly sipped on the milk from their teacups, pretending to be adults of noble stature. To the Austrian Prince, this was laughable, but despite that, he did not call the girls out on their overly formal behavior. Instead, he took a bite from one of the Lebkuchen cookies seated upon his plate while reading a book about German History.

The Austrian Prince was exceptionally gifted, so much so that he would be considered a genius, even by modern standards. Despite being five years old, he could speak in complete sentences, and even use metaphorical language. He could read, write, and perform basic arithmetic. Aside from his academic studies, he had learned the piano under Adela's tutelage, to the point where he could perform basic songs. 

It was not just academics, and the arts that the Austrian Prince excelled in. After his near death experience, he had been undergoing daily instruction in hand to hand combat, and displayed natural talent in athletics. So much so that even Berengar was shocked by the boy's progress.

At the moment he was studying the history of the Germanic peoples as per written by Tacitus. While he was studying this ancient history, the auburn-haired princess of Poland raised her voice in discontent. Clearly, she was upset that her little friend was not paying her any attention.

"Hans, you meanie! Don't just read, pay attention to me!"

Despite Natalia's protests, Hans did not look away from his book, rather he licked his fingers and carefully turned the page. As he did so, he responded with a stoic tone in his childish voice. 

"Unlike you, I can do two things at once. You are the one who has remained silent. If there is something you wish to speak about, go ahead. Nobody is stopping you."

The smug expression on the boy's lips as he flouted his superior intellect irritated the young girl. While Hans and Veronika were her only two friends here in this enormous palace, she did not like the arrogant attitude that the boy constantly had. Thus, it was no surprise when she lashed out in a childish tantrum.

"Just because you can read those big books doesn't mean you're smarter than me!"

A condescending smile etched itself upon the Austrian Prince's lips as he heard this childish statement. He knew very well he was far more intelligent than the young princess, but he would never openly say it. He had learned much from observing his Father's interactions with his many wives. Thus, he knew better than to openly declare his superiority to a woman. 

However, to back away from such a challenge to his intellect was unbefitting of a Prince like himself, thus Hans sighed before setting down his book and gazing at the young girl with a sense of superiority. His response to her claims of being equal in intellect was one of pure condescension. 

"Natalia, my dear, I have never once claimed I was more intelligent than you. Perhaps you are making such accusations because of your own sense of inferiority."

The Polish Princess had a fundamental understanding of the German language at best. When combined with her young age, she simply did not understand half of what Hans had said to her. Despite this reality, the young girl refused to admit defeat and looked over towards Veronika with a pleading gaze. 

By now, the Bohemian Princess was well aware of the gifts Hans was born with, and would not challenge his intelligence openly. All she could do was look at Natalia with pity. The Polish Princess had dug her own grave by challenging a young genius like Hans. 

Upon seeing that she was receiving no support, Natalia broke out into tears and ran away in defeat, leaving behind one simple phrase as she fled from the room.

"Hans, you dummy!"

After she had disappeared from earshot, Veronika sighed before responding to the Prince's ruthless comments.

"Did you have to be so hard on her? She is just a child." 

In response to this remark, Hans merely chuckled as he sipped on his milk. After doing so, he wiped his mouth with a napkin before replying. 

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"You say that as if the two of us are not children as well? Besides, she was out of line. Somebody had to put her in her place."

Veronika had no response to this. It was hard to reprimand the boy when he was the same age as Natalia. Though Hans was intellectually superior to the Polish Princess, he was still emotionally immature, and was prone to being a petty little shit. The only way to get through to the boy was to get him to think about his future. 

"If you are so smart, then you must know the plans your parents have for you and that girl. One day, she will be your wife, and she will remember the arrogance that you displayed in your youth. Aren't you afraid of the consequences that your words will have?"

Hans merely chuckled in response to this comment before responding with a smug grin. 

"I am well aware of the plans that my parents have between the two of us, but aren't you included in them as well? Or perhaps you have developed feelings for my father? You are getting to be that age, and he is a handsome man. I'd hate to break it to you, but I don't think he will see you in such a way. To him, you are more like a daughter than a potential lover..."

The Bohemian princess immediately flushed red as she heard this comment. She could not believe that Hans had suggested such a thing. Unwilling to meet the boy's gaze, she shifted her sight to the floor before responding to the Austrian Prince's inappropriate remark.

"Ass..."

Hans chuckled once more before he returned his attention to his book. After a few moments of awkward silence, Veronika regained her senses and asked in her mind.

"Do you really think your parents will betroth me to you?"

With a shit-eating grin on his face, Hans turned the page of his book once more before responding.

"It is what I would do..." 

Once more silence prevailed as the young girl flushed with embarrassment for the second time, imaging many scenarios in her head as she thought about the idea of marrying Hans. Ultimately, she slapped her face to force her state of mind back to one of normality. When Hans saw this out of the corner of his eye, he merely smirked in silence. 

The two kids were unaware that Natalia was sitting outside the door, sniffling. When she overheard the conversation that Hans and Veronika were having, she flushed red with embarrassment as she envisioned her future wedding with the Austrian Prince.

Ultimately, Veronika was the one to break the silence, as she asked a question that had been a concern to her for some time.

"What about my mother? I doubt she would agree to such a thing!"

Upon hearing this, Hans finally put down his book, where he looked deep into Veronika's mismatched eyes. The girl was visibly shaking. The very thought of her mother and the abuse she had once suffered caused her heart to fill with trepidation. As if all the happiness she had achieved since arriving in Kufstein would fade away the day she was no longer in Berengar's ward. 

Hans noted this behavior and grabbed hold of the girl's hand to reassure her before giving her a reassuring smile.

"You think she has any power? My father is the current King of Bohemia, and you are his ward. Your future is up to him, not your mother."

The girl felt a sense of calm in her heart as she heard this words, instinctively she grabbed ahold of the boy several years younger than herself, and hugged him tightly. Afraid that if she let go, she would be forced to return to her mother's cruelty. This action shocked Hans, but he did not dare to break away. 

The two of them would stay like this for some time until the young Princess of Bohemia regained control over her nerves.. After that, they continued to have their little tea party as if nothing had happened between them.

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