Borimir felt an overwhelming sense of annoyance, swirling with a little anger at the sight of Catherine. He pulled his hand away from her, as if nothing even happened, as she started to get up, dirt now covering her light purple dress.

He then heard a knocking behind him. It was Gregory, laughing. He had seen Catherine walking down before he had left the door. Borimir shrugged his arms confused. “You didn’t warn me!”

“I thought it was funny. After all you two first met here, haha!” he said, his voice hindered by the glass window.

“Well it isn’t,” Borimir said, aggravated, looking back down at the lady lying on the hot cobblestone path.

Catherine was a young seventeen year old noblewomen, attending a boarding school in Sarajevo. Her long walnut brown hair, fair pale skin, and light red lips, were kept to the highest standard. She picked up her white hat, straightened her posture, and quickly turned to Borimir, revealing her piercing green eyes. She was piping hot red.

“Of course it was you, honestly how audacious does one have to be!” She yelled. “You didn’t even bother to try to help me up!”

“First off,” Borimir said casually, “It was simply a mistake. And secondly, I did try to help you, until I realized it was you, because why would anyone of your high rank ever need help from some half Serb like me,” he finished sarcastically.

“You absolute…”

“What?” Borimir said abruptly, “I am no absolutist, Catherine. Maybe you hit your head a bit too hard.”

“How dare you interrupt me while I’m speaking,” Catherine snapped, “for someone who claims to want the people to speak up for themselves, you don’t seem to yet others get their say.”

“You’re one to talk. I don’t mean for you or the nobility. I mean the common man, so we can vote for those whom we want to rule, and have freedoms that the Americans champion. No more bloodlines, birth rights, or oppression!” he replied passionately. “What part of that don’t you understand exactly?” he said boldly.

“Ha! Do you simply think that you and your kind can begin to understand the complexity of governing? Without an understanding of the ways by which we rule, your people would dissolve into anarchy. Only a strong unifying leader can maintain control!” Catherine said, raising her voice with each sentence.

“You really think that Franz Joseph is a unifying figure,” Borimir said in bewilderment. “That old relic is knocking at death's door, detached from the people and the realities we live in! He’s terrified of change, terrified of losing his precious power! He suppresses our ethnic identities in favor of his Germanic vision! He cares more about the Hungarians in the north rather than acknowledge the aspirations of the Czechs, Slovaks, or us southern Slavs!” Borimir at this point was nearly yelling, his voice drowning with emotion.

The two stood there in silence for a moment, their eyes staring at each other, as if they were about to draw pistols like the days of old. Their vigorous ideals clouded both of their minds, each thinking of what made the other flawed and weak, with some insults added in the fray.

Then Catherine, now more calmly said, “You don’t know what you're talking about, which proves my point. Franz Joseph has been keeping this empire together longer than we have been alive. He recognizes that some groups need a firm grip and others more autonomy in order that they don’t tear each other apart. Without him we would be like the Ottomans. You know that they are weak and mismanaged. Anarchy would plague the nation if it weren’t for him, and you and I both know that.”

Borimir let out a sigh, growing tired of the discussion, and simply replied, “It’s just a matter of time, that there will be not one, but two sick men of Europe,” turning around and finally heading to Vuk.

“Ignorant fool,” he heard Catherine mutter under her breath. Her footsteps echoed on the quiet street, fading away. Borimir untied Vuk, hopped on his saddle, and they began to trot down the streets of Sarajevo. As he rode Vuk up the Miljacka road all he could think about was Catherine and their abrupt and ill mannered argument. It was not the first time the two had unleashed each other's views like a verbal war, and unfortunately, Borimir thought, it wouldn’t be the last.

Previous engagements had grown so large that at times crowds came along to hear the battle of ideologies. Borimir represented democracy and the will of the people, while Catherine portrayed the embodiment of the Austrian royal family. Though from a minor branch, she was as aristocratic as the emperor, ignoring the very people they were meant to rule over, for high titles and privilege. These meetings, if you could call them that, were often on display during the spring and summer months, before Catherine would return to her family for the winter months.

Borimir didn’t understand why she came back every year, thinking that a noble such as herself would hate this Slav corner of the Empire. Maybe she actually loved visiting so much from school and she planned to stay after her education. Maybe she was to observe the people in Sarajevo, in case rebellion tore through the land. He didn’t care what the reason was, all he cared about was that she was there, there to shove ideas which he thought were destroying the nation down his throat.

He began to try and clear his mind from the incident, and thought of what he wanted to do with his sister. Borimir could talk with his sister till the end of time, once even speaking for an entire night as children over stories that they created. Heidi, much like Otto, didn’t have much interest in the realm of politics, but would listen to Borimir’s rants and discuss matters which he felt were important. More than anything though, he wanted to hear of what life was like outside of Bosnia, Borimir himself hadn’t gone as far as Croatia. He wondered about Austria and its contrast and similarities between the two regions, whether it be political or not.

Borimir started to smile, pondering the questions he would try to not barrage Heidi. As his mind cleared from Catherines words, he took a moment to enjoy the scenic views of the Miljacka once more. It was now a little past noon, plenty of time to spare to arrive home. Borimir breathed the fresh air, and felt at peace. He almost fell asleep on Vuks back, rocking him gently like a mother to her baby, only to awake to the sound of birds and the gushes of winds.

The pair arrived back at the Baur farm to see Borimirs mother setting a pie out of the window seal, waving at them. Borimir waved back, and rode Vuk about into his pen in the barn, and headed back up the hill to the house.

“How was the town?” she asked as Borimir entered the door.

“Oh the usual,” he said as if he was bored, “a certain someone was also there that's all.”

“Oh that's unfortunate,” she replied, “now come here and clean, and sweep, the kitchen. Also I want you to fix your sister's room, and make it look presentable. I am going to finish dinner.”

“Yes ma.”

His mother had heard all the details of his and Catherine’s discussions, and though she supported his political views, she thought it as immature, just teenagers doing what teenagers do best. Argue.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Borimir spent the evening riding the house of dust, bursting out sneezing and coughing from the particles, tears forming in his eyes. He arranged the table in a neat manner, folding smooth creamy white napkins in little triangles, placing the cobalt blue plates, the finest they owned, onto the table. Next to the plates lay an array of shiny forks, spoons, and knives, all of which he had polished.

As the sun set, sending its final beams of gold light upon the farm, Borimir went upstairs to his sister's old room. It was one of the larger rooms in the house, a small oak bed, a gift from their father, lay in the middle, a wall to its back with windows on either side. On top was a magenta woolen blanket, knitted by their mother when the family used to have sheep that tragically drowned, and plump white pillows, clouds for your head to rest on. To the left a polished wooden dresser, empty except for the two photos that stood on top, one of Heidi, and one of the family, all of them looking as if they were from a different world without color or emotion.

Borimir took it all in before he made the bed, and swept the floors. He also fixed the drapes on the windows so they were even. After he was done he jumped onto the bed, a creaking sound filling the room, and began to wait. It was silent, only Borimir and his thoughts about his sister and Catherine. For though he did despise their heated arguments, he couldn’t help but find her attractive, with that luscious hair, and elegant dresses that she loved to fashion. Her emerald eyes were hard to break away from. But what was he thinking, he couldn’t simply let his eyes blind him. Behind the beauty Catherine exposed to the world, was in a privileged Habsburg, who didn’t have a care in the world for the people that lived in their nation.

As Borimir was conflicting with himself, a sudden noise broke the silence. It was the sound of a horse walking on the road, and of a woman humming. Borimir leapt from the bed and rushed down the stairs as fast as he could and opened the door to see his one and only sister. She was mounted on a black horse, about the size of Vuk, if not a bit smaller. Heidi herself had on a vibrant blue dress, accompanied with a white scarf and matching pair of gloves. She dismounted, but was almost knocked over by Borimir, who had run up to hug her.

“Oh Heidi, it's so good to see you!” Borimir cried. “Here let me get the horse over to the stable.”

“It's good to see you too brother,” catching her breath, “I see you haven’t changed a bit since I saw you last.”

“Well,” he started with a grin, “my muscles are bigger,” he said, flexing his right arm while grabbing the reins to Heidi’s horse.

“Really? I don’t see a difference!” she replied amusingly. Borimir’s face turned slightly annoyed, which caused Heidi to laugh as she walked to the door, greeting their mother. He rolled his eyes and smiled, and then the black stallion to the stables.

After tying him up and feeding the animals, he returned to the house, seeing that the two ladies had already sat down for dinner.

“Come on Borimir, I’m hungry,” Heidi said eagerly.

“Not before we say grace,” their mother said sternly.

“Of course mother,” the two said in unison. Their mother was always strict about praying, and had made it her mission to see that both of them kept good faith. She was not overbearing though, and both Borimir and Heidi held firm in their beliefs.

After they finished their prayer, they dug into the meal. She had made their favorites, Ćevapi grilled to perfection for Borimir, and Krompiruša for Heidi, the top layer appearing to look like edible gold. She had also prepared Pita, which was another family favorite, and Baklava for dessert, its aroma tempting Borimirs nose.

“So Heidi,” Borimir began, “how was your trip down here?”

“Oh it was wonderful, the countryside was just beautiful on the train ride, just as I remember it.”

“You got to ride a train? Lucky,” Borimir said with jealousy.

“Where did you get the horse then?” their mother asked.

“Oh, a friend of mine from town is leading it to me, uh Karla. You remember her right mother?”

“Do I ever! She was such a sweet little girl when you two were at school. Oh how I miss those days when you would all run down that old road after lessons ended, excited to roam around the property and making up adventures.”

Borimir, who at this point was trying his hardest not to look bored then quickly asked, “ how is Otto doing?

“He has never been better. He finally was able to open his own clinic in the city, we use the upstairs as a house. He has been busy, and he wished he could come, but he couldn’t afford to leave his patients. People think he is the best doctor in Linz.”

“That's great to hear,” Borimir replied in a rush, “what is it like in Linz?”

“It is marvelous, also impossible to describe with just words, you truly have to be there. The food there is as every chef was as talented as mother. The buildings are works of art, in fact we live right by Alter Dom, its cyan domes always peaking through our bedroom window. The streets are filled to brim people walking in all directions at once, whether to see the historic castles, theaters, or simply to work, it's just, oh so breathtaking, you have to come visit sometime!”

“What's the political situation there?” Borimir continued, his eyes wide and jaw opened, picturing everything his sister described.

“That's enough Borimir,” his mother said, “eat your dinner, and give your sister a chance too as well.”

The three finished through the meal, and devoured the Baklava, Borimir and Heidi’s faces sticky from the syrups. Borimir then collected the dishes and cleaned the kitchen, as Heidi and their mother sat down in the common room.

“So have you considered having children?” their mother asked excitedly.

“We have been trying, but nothing yet. I really hope we can start a family, you know it's always been a dream of mine,” Heidi responded, her voice backed with optimism.

“It would be funny if there was another Heidi in the world,” Borimir said, taking a seat in the old recliner, “in fact I don’t think the world could handle it.”

Heidi smiled, “the world couldn’t handle another Borimir if anything.”

The two laughed loudly, even their mother started up, “I think that both of your children would be too much for the world to bear,” which caused them to laugh even louder. Borimir then started cracking jokes, with Heidi and their mother filling the room with laughter, Heidi whipping jokes herself. After a half hour of joyous chuckling, the room became calm once again.

Heidi turned over to Borimir and asked, “Who is this Catherine that you’ve mentioned to me about in your letters,” her face curious.

“Oh she is just a princess that lives in Sarajevo, we have argued about the rule of the empire for sometime now, in fact we just had one such encounter today.”

“Princess?” Heidi said puzzled, “how did you start having debates with a princess?”

“Well, just after you left, about a week, I was going into town to help Gregory with loading some products and such. As I was about to head into the store, I overheard her yelling at a Polish man, Alfred Budny, a friend of Gregs. Anyways she was insulting him simply because he was Polish, and he had sneezed in her general direction. I saw this and went over to defend the man, and tell her off. I started to say, ‘Hey leave him alone, mind your business,’ and she turned around and said something to the likes of, ‘who do you think you’re talking to,’ to which I responded with, ‘some woman living in Sarajevo.’ Catherine then went on a rant about her title or whatever, and one thing led to another and we started to just argue. I grew tired of it and stormed off into the store. We have had many encounters since then, I am shocked we run into each other so often, I don’t know why.”

“Maybe you secretly like her,” Heidi teased.

“Yeah right. That's like a dog falling in love with a cat,” Borimir replied, chuckling.

“I don’t know,” said Heidi, “you seem to meet an awful lot.”

“It isn’t like that,” Borimir started, now defensive.

“Then why are you turning red?”

“Heidi, stop it, please. I’ve heard enough about this Catherine to firmly say that the two seem incompatible with each other, unless it involves yelling at one another. As for his red face… it is awfully hot in here.”

“Okay, okay,” Heidi said, still smirking.

Borimir let out a yawn, “I think I’m going to head off to sleep.”

“Alright,” his mother said.

Borimir walked to both his mother and sister and hugged them both before heading up stairs to his bedroom. It was a bit smaller than his sisters, but it was just as comfortable. He brushed his teeth, took off his shirt, and hopped into bed. But he again couldn’t stop thinking about what Heidi was saying. There was no way that he liked Catherine. They hated each other, and had never met on equal grounds before, their views wouldn’t let them. Borimir sighed and said to himself, “she is nothing more than an autocrat, no heart for anyone but her family and power,” and then fell asleep, dreaming of the future.