Once thinking back Austria wondered if that day had to end how it did. If she just didnt plan to go directly from the train to Bosnia personally, things may have turned out differently. If she just accepted the offer of Grede and took some of his policeman as her guard, it may not have happened. But how could she show that Bosnia was hers, under her care, if she surrounded herself with policmen. Maybe if she delayed the visit she would have witnessed the grenade and be aware of the situations. If she just didnt underestimate the determination of those peoples, maybe she could have saved them.
Many things could have been, but they didnt. Instead one man can change the course of history.
Sometimes a single man can impact nations with their actions.
Maybe she couldnt have stopped it.
Two ravens landed on a tree in front of Bosnias house letting their cries be heard, as Austria listened to the response the boy was giving her. She frowned. Maybe if she had paid attention to the omen and messengers of death and betrayal. Maybe then... Instead she ignored the birds, having a bit of a disapproving tone as she started to lecture the nation in her care.
In the same time closer to the center of the city the driver of the prince and his wife took a wrong turn. Uniformed about the changes for their safety General Oskar made. The mistake was noticed. The driver hit the brakes.
"Now its not acceptable to miss out work. How are you to grow proper working habits if you dont do the work. " She smiled, trying to be more gentle and have his trust. She let her fingers trail over the table as she moved a bit closer to the young torn looking nation. Dust clung to her fingers from the table. It was another proof of the poor state of the house.
"Even more so, it is not acceptable to fail to search out Hungary or me if you had problems...Even those hard to explain. We would help you solve them."
She didnt like the sound of
problems hard to explain. To her ears it sounded more like
thoughts you wouldnt approve off. It had to be the ugly nationalism, infesting the boy's mind and ideals. He should be grateful she took him in, trying to please her and work hard to show she isnt wasting her time with him. Instead here he is questioning the day away. If that was truly the case she would have to take more appropriate measures to combat it.
The driver of archduke Franz began to reverse. In doing so the engine stalled and the gears locked. The car stopped once more.
Bosnia moved away from her and to the side, avoiding to meet her eyes. Austra didnt get to even wonder if he was at least feeling guilty about it, as behind the corner Serbia stepped out gun ready and pointed to her.
"Serbia!" She called out. Rage and disbelief were her momentarily reaction as the Slav spoke. How dare he be here.
The shot was fired. The bullet ripped into her chest.
She could feel at the same time a phantom bullet rip into her neck. Cutting her breath and voice out. She staggered back hand attempting to grip the table for support. Her archduke was dying. Yet it wasnt enough... A second phantom shot bored itself thought her abdomen, Austria mind vibrated from the many sensation, she knew his wife Sophie was dying.
Austria was on her knees, vision swimming barely holding up the fight against the darkness, she was leaning on the table leg for the smallest of support. Her hand growing weaker and colder, only moments separated her from slipping fully down to the floor. In those moments she focused all her will against the pain and the lingering touch of death she was experiencing to give Serbia a glare.
In that moment no one would doubt she was a German.
It was the same glare Prussia had when their enemies freeze in spot on the battlefield. The glare that made nation's avoid and fear Germany in these peaceful times. The same glare of power and promise of destruction was focused on Serbia. It was a wordless promise that his existence was counted.
She felt cold, her body in shock, her eyelids closing against her will. One hand curling against the increasingly growing blood spot on her chest. Before 11 o'clock her hand gave up supporting her and Austria body slide down to the floor.
Heart still beating, but getting slower.
Blood freely leaking, spreading on the floor.
Outside two ravens fly up and away, being witnesses to what has transpired. The driver smoking in front of the car Austria took to arrive here, looked up towards the house up ahead. It sounded like a shot was fired. An unease started to spread in the man. Slowly he dropped the half smoked cigar. He walked the path up to the house straining his ears to hear what is going on. Probably he was just imaging things.
He knocked on the door, still unlocked since Austria had entered. "Hello?" He called out and walked into the home. Steps slow and shy as if he feared to interrupt something. The human attitude changed when his eyes took in the scene in front of him. With a startled call he dropped by austria's body, turning her over to see the blood puddle she was laying in was indeed her own. The man pressed against the wound. There was no one in the room, and the man in Austrias employment picked her up and carried her to the car, tripping over his own steps as he was doing so.
He didnt hear or saw anything beside the road, not even a third of the way back to the city a police car stopped him. The General Oskar has send them to pick Austria and inform her of the incident that happened. Instead now the police was driving the nation to the hospital. It was the worst day in Oscars job and life.
By the end of the day all nation heard about what transpired in Sarajevo. All hearing how Austria was grievously injured.