```
By evening, the Russian Empire's embassy in Vienna was brightly lit, with the occasional sounds of music drifting out—there was no doubt a diplomatic reception was underway inside.
There weren't many attendees; the host had only invited envoys from countries with good relations with the Tsarist Government and some of the Russian nobility in Austria.
Such diplomatic receptions were held almost monthly and were hardly noteworthy. The only point of interest was that Foreign Minister Weisenberg had personally attended the banquet.
Before the rupture in the Russian-Austrian Alliance, Weisenberg's presence here would not have been surprising. But times had changed; as Russian-Austrian relations began to cool, Weisenberg's appearance merited deep contemplation.
...
With a snort, Weisenberg couldn't help but spray the wine from his mouth. His eyes widened as he stared at the Russian Envoy Alexander Nikolayevich Her: "Your Excellency, are you certain this is no joke?"
