Secrets of the New World (Infini Calendar) (Volume 2) by Scott Kinkade Page A

you do make it to America, Farahilde Johanna. You’re only second on my list of people to kill. If I get a chance, you can bet I’ll have my revenge. Of course, I can’t forget about my primary target, the one who destroyed my life. I might just kill you anywhere, regardless of witnesses. That is how deep my hatred burns.
    She rubbed the area under her eye patch. The thing was uncomfortable to wear, and physically she had no need to wear it in the first place. However, there were far greater factors fueling her hatred. And when she got to the United States she fully intended to deal with those.
     
    ***
     
    The Istanbul Strait, November 11, 1792 (Infini Calendar), 5:40 p.m.
    As they ate dinner within the hold of the Hapsburg Pride , Farahilde related to her brother and Frederick what had occurred aboard the Minuit Solaire II . The Austrian ship was once again back on course after salvaging the proper parts from the pirate vessels. However, these parts were inferior to the ones they had been using, and so they wouldn’t be able to get to Washington nearly as quickly as they had planned.
    “So the members of the Ordre de la Tradition on board that airship are not the ones you remember?” he asked. He sat across from Farahilde at a small table in the dining cabin. The ship swayed and creaked as they ate, and the sound of waves crashing against the boat filled in any moments of awkward silence that arose.
    “I recognized one of them: the head engineer who was with us when we stormed Paris two years ago. Practically still a child, but brilliant with machines. She told me their commander is an imposter chosen to fill a symbolic role in France. Where the real Jeanne de Fleur is, I have no idea.”
    “So she’s a puppet,” Leopold observed.
    “Nothing but a lying bitch dressed up in the colors of a real warrior,” she scoffed.
    “Sister, what have I told you about using vulgar language?”
    She sighed and began mockingly paraphrasing a creed that had been drilled into her for years. “I am a representative of the great house of Hapsburg and as such I must observe proper decorum in order to maintain our family’s reputation and set the proper example for future generations.”
    Leopold nodded, albeit with annoyance. “That is correct. Some day you and Frederick shall produce children who will be the future of both Austria and Prussia. They will need a suitable upbringing and it will be your responsibility to give it to them.”
    At Leopold’s prophetic words, Farahilde and Frederick—who were sitting on the same side of the table—looked at each other. She couldn’t imagine ever having sex with him, much less starting a family with him. Furthermore, he looked just as surprised as she; his face was turning red.
    “Well, uh…” he started, clearly trying to find the words to respond to his sudden embarrassment. “I wonder what it’s like for her.”
    “For who?” Farahilde asked.
    “That woman you were talking about, the one who has to live her life pretending to be someone else.”
    “Huh? How the hell should I know?”
    “Language, sister!”
    Frederick continued speaking. It was doubtful he wanted to get back to the previous conversation. “If it were me, I think I would hate it if I was suddenly forced to pose as someone else. Most people want to have their own identity.”
    Rolling her eyes, Farahilde said, “Is that another lesson from your father?”
    “No. Just an observation. People generally want their own accomplishments and accolades. If you can only have someone else’s…” He paused for a moment. He then added somberly, “Well, I think that would be very difficult to accept.”
    “Hmph. You’d never see me being anyone but myself.”
    Frederick smiled at that statement. “I don’t doubt it.”
    “I, for one, often wished you would become someone else,” Leopold sneered.
     
    ***
     
    The Hapsburg Pride made it through the Istanbul Strait, and then travelled west through the Sea of