CHAPTER 1: RUDOLF RASENDYLL

Rudolf Rasendyll was nagged by her charming sister-in-law, Rose. She

seldom angry but at breakfast she reprimanded Rudolf for not working and
only wasting his own time. Rudolf felt that he did not has to work as he had
plenty of money and had filled his time enough. His brother, Robert
insisting him to work as an attaché to his old friend who works as an
ambassador to Ruritania in six months. Rudolf thinks that it was a good
idea as Ruritania is the only country in central Europe that he has never
been. Rudolf sets to go check Ruritania before he went there as an
attaché. To pacify his family, he said that he will be leaving home to Alps to
write a book based on the living of the people there.

CHAPTER 2: RASSENDYLL ARRIVES IN ZENDA

Rudolf acted on his plan soon. He met his old friend George at the railway
station. As they were talking, a very beautiful, tall and dark woman passed
by. George talked to her. She was Antoinette de Mauban, a very rich widow
whom Duke Michael in Strelsau is interested in. she was also on the way to
Strelsau for the Coronation of King Rudolf. Rudolf boarded the train soon
after. After he arrived in Strelsau, he found out a customs officer looks hard
at him. He began to wonder that the officer might because of his red hair or
think that he is a smuggler or something. Rudolf then bought a newspaper
and found out that the date of the Coronation has been brought forward to
the day after tomorrow. He planned to spend the next day walking in the
forest. Then he will proceed to Strelsau. Rudolf stays at an inn in a quiet
spot in Zenda. The innkeeper was a kind old lady and she has a pretty
daughter who leads me to my clean and comfortable room. The old lady
remarks that it is pity that Duke Michael was not crowned king. The people
hardly know the King as he was so often abroad. The daughter chips in
and said nobody knew what the King had looked like. She has been told
the news by Johann, the Duke’s forest guard. Rudolf wondered that
whether he had a chance to meet the King if he went walking in the forest.
While they were talking, Johann walked in. he shows the same
astonishment as seen before on the face of the customs officer. The old
lady introduced Rudolf as an ‘English Gentleman’. Rudolf asked the
daughter why Johann seemed to be shocked. She replied that it may
because of Rudolf’s red hair which was similar to the King’s hair.

CHAPTER 3: RUDOLF RASSENDYLL MEETS THE KING RUDOLF THE

FIFTH

Rudolf Rassendyll took a walk in the forest in the morning. He could see
the famous old castle of Zenda from a hilltop. The castle was surrounded
by a moat with a drawbridge across it. Opposite the bridge was the modern
country house of Duke Michael. As the sun was getting hotter, Rudolf
turned toward the forest. He took a shady sport under the trees and
smoked his pipe. Later, he fell asleep. Then, he heard two men were
walking. He heard they said that he looked exactly like the King. Rudolf
quickly sat up and get up to his feet. The two gentlemen were in the service
of the King of Ruritania. Their names were Colonel Sapt and Fritz Von
Tarlenheim. Rudolf introduced himself as Rudolf Rassendyll, an English
traveller who has been an officer under the service of Her Majesty, Queen
Victoria. They shook their hands. Rudolf now understood the astonishment
of the two officers that he met before. He was then taken to meet the King.
Rudolf and the King both cried out of suprise when saw each other. They
have exact same blue eyes, long nose and red hair. The only difference
was that the King didn’t have a beard. Colonel Sapt introduced Rudolf to
the King while saying an English traveller that look much like you that he
could be your brother. The King insisted that Rudolf must stay for dinner. At
the dinner, the servant Josef was bringing a bottle of wine. It was from
Duke Michael who begged the King to try it. The wine tasted so good that
the King would allow anyone anything including half of his kingdom but not
a single drop of the wine. They soon doze off.

CHAPTER 4: RASSENDYLL BECOMES RUDOLF THE FIFTH

Rudolf awoke suddenly. Sapt had thrown a bucket of water over him. He
explained that this was the only way to wake up Rudolf as it was nearly five
o’clock. Fritz also wet and he looked ill. The King cannot be waked up as
he was drugged by the Duke’s wine. Black Michael had purposely to
prevent the King from attending the coronation so that he would be
crowned king. Sapt wanted Rudolf to take the place of the King and be
crowned that day. Rudolf was not afraid but hesitated because he was
aware that someone would know the difference. Sapt realised the danger if
someone would find out, Rudolf would be killed. On other hand, Duke
Michael would be crowned king. Rudolf realised that he was the only hope
that can save the King. He finally agreed to do it.

CHAPTER 5: RASSENDYLL ARRIVES IN STRELSAU TO BE CROWNED

Sapt immediately took command of the situation. Josef was asked to shave
Rudolf. He then be wearing the King’s cloth. Fritz brightens up by saying no
one could find any difference. Josef was asked to guard the King inside the
cellar. They were then ready for their journey to the coronation. On the
way, Sapt instructed Rudolf of the king’s protocol. Sapt promised to teach
Rudolf everything about the King including his friends and enemies. Fritz
had been pale and silent. At the station, they get into a special carriage at
eight o’clock. Rudolf has to think of his role of being King. After they
arrived, they heard chants of praise to the King. Then, a tall, elderly man in
military uniform, Marshal Strakencz comes out to shake hands with Rudolf.
The Coronation process has begun and Rudolf was riding to be crowned
King of Ruritania.

CHAPTER 6: RASSENDYLL IS CROWNED KING RUDOLF THE FIFTH

The city of Strelsau consisted of two parts of ‘Old Town’ and ‘New Town.
Old Town wanted the Duke to be king while New Town opposed them. Old
Town was the town of the poor. New Town was the town of the rich and on
higher avenue. The Coronation processed passes the New Town.
Everybody cheered for the King and celebrated. While the Coronation was
passing through Old Town, posters of the Duke was sawn everywhere on
the wall. Everybody was mourning and quiet. Rudolf marched forward of
his guards to show their King wasn’t a coward. The Coronation took place
in the Cathedral. He soon was presented with two people, Duke Michael
and Princess Flavia. The Duke seemed to shock a little bit. Rudolf thinks of
this because the Duke plan had failed. Rudolf then enters the carriage with
the princess. The princess spots changes of Rudolf. He looked thinner and
silent. She seemed to appreciate Rudolf seriousness.

CHAPTER 7: WHERE IS THE KING?

The dinner was a success and nobody recognized Rudolf. He was falling in
love with the Princess. Sapt insisted to go to the lodge. The King has to
return to the Palace and Rudolf could be himself again by midnight. Fritz
will guard the King’s room to prevent anyone to enter the room. Rudolf
dressed as an ordinary soldier. Sapt and Rudolf went riding on horses.
Sapt wanted Rudolf to ride faster as he suspect that they’ve been followed.
Two horsemen appeared. When Sapt and Rudolf arrived at the lodge, they
saw blood coming out of the door. When they enter, they found Josef lying
dead and the King gone missing.

CHAPTER 8: RASSENDYLL MUST RETURN TO STRELSAU AS KING

Sapt insisted that that the King had been kidnapped by Black Michael. Sapt
agreed to act as soon as possible. Rudolf must return to Strelsau as King.
After burying the Josef’s crop, they ride on to Strelsau. While on the
journey, they encountered a group of horsemen and some of them are
carrying spade. They then fought bravely. Rudolf managed to kill two of
them while Sapt killed one.

CHAPTER 9: THE FAMOUS SIX

Sapt and Rudolf arrived at six. Sapt explained the situation to Fritz and
tutor Rudolf of the King’s duty. Rudolf had to sign some paper. Luckily, his
hands were wounded and that could tell the difference of his writing and the
King. Later he had to meet some ambassador. One of them was an old
friend of his father. Lucky that he was short-sighted and couldn’t recognize
him. Sapt came in and brought news that the King was still alive because
only three of the Famous Six were here. Sapt explain the Famous Six to
Rudolf. They were the famous henchmen of Black Michael. They consisted
of three Ruritanians and three foreigners. Sapt warned Rudolf to be on his
guard when meeting them.

CHAPTER 10: RASSENDYLL MEETS BLACK MICHAEL AND THREE OF

THE FAMOUS SIX

Rudolf would like to meet the people and regain their trusts. He also bought
a bunch of flower to the Princess. Ha had fallen in love with the Princess.
When he gave her the flower, she sensed that he was a changed man. He
began to worry that she might find out the truth. Rudolf asked that would
she care Black Michael and she didn’t care him. Black Michael had arrived
to the Palace and looked very angry. He introduced three of the Famous
Six to Rudolf. After they left, Rudolf kissed the Princess hand and told that
he loved her. At the same time, Rudolf feel ashamed as it was wrong to
love the Princess. He was not the real King.

CHAPTER 11: A KIND OF TEA PARTY

Sapt arrived in the King’s room and deliver an envelope to Rudolf. It was
from Antoinette de Mauban. In the letter, she knew who he was, and she
wanted him to meet her at her place. She would like to inform the King’s
condition and place. Sapt insisted this was a trap. Rudolf however dared to
go to her place while carrying a gun alone. He had commanded that
nobody would accompany him. Antoinette greeted Rudolf and asked him to
go inside fast. Rudolf found out that the King was held in the Old Castle of
Zenda. Antoinette also wanted to prevent the Duke from marrying the
Princess as she had fallen in love with him. Some gentlemen were
knocking on the door. They came to offer Rudolf to leave the country.
Antoinette insisted that they were not telling the truth. Rudolf used a coffee
table made of iron to shield him as he open the door. The three start
shooting. Rudolf ran away as fast enough and met Sapt at the gate. Rudolf
laughs about the incident.

CHAPTER 12: THE MARRIAGE WILL SHORTLY TAKE PLACE

People were angry with the King because he will not fix a date of wedding
with the Princess. Sapt insisted to propose tonight for the King’s sake. That
night, after a great dance attended by important people. Rudolf proposed to
the Princess. Princess Flavia was seemed to be happy when Rudolf said
that he loves her more than his life. The Princess also loves him when she
would love him even if he was not the King. Sapt came and interrupt the
two. Rudolf needs to go to the Cathedral next. Both Rudolf and Princess
Flavia were very happy that night. Its like everyone can see their love.
CHAPTER 13: LOVE OR HONOUR?

Flavia had given a rose to Rudolf that night and he would not let anyone to
touch it. Sapt remembered him whether love or honour. The honour wins
anyway. They were going to save the King. Rudolf ordered Marshal
Strakencz to protect the Princess and crown her queen if anything would
happen to the King. Princess Flavia was very sad when she heard that
Rudolf would go hunt a boar which named Black Michael. She weeps like a
child. They then started their journey to the Old Castle at the midnight.

CHAPTER 14: RASSENDYLL REVISITS THE INN IN ZENDA

The Famous Six already knew the journey. Three of them met Rudolf to
sent news from Duke Michael. Rupert of Hentzau, the most wicks of them,
came to talk with Rudolf. Rudolf assembled another plan. He asked the girl
from the inn to help hi. The girl agreed. On the other hand, one of the most
loyal men, Bernenstein had been shot as he was mistaken for him. Rudolf
wished to kill all the Famous Six all by himself.

CHAPTER 15: RASSENDYLL NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH

Rupert told Rudolf that he knew who was him and to stop pretending. He
started to provoke Rudolf. Then, he asked Rudolf to shake hands. Rudolf
put his hands behind his back. Rupert instantly stabs a dagger to his left
shoulder. Rudolf passed out. Rudolf seemed to be very ill. Johann offer
some help by sending some information. The King will be killed if anyone
approaches the castle. The King’s body will be pushed down the pipe into
the moat. Rudolf told Johann if he tell anybody about the real King is a
prisoner, he would kill Johann with his own hand.

CHAPTER 16: MURDER IN THE MOAT

The news that the King is hurt after a boar hunt was spread to blind the
Duke’s eyes of Rudolf’s plan. Rudolf’s group set out that midnight. He then
swam down to the moat. He saw a sleeping man that was guarding the
pipe. He then kills the man. He feels very shameful because he killed a
sleeping man. Rudolf heard the King wants to die due to his suffering.
When he heard the calls made by the companion of the killed guard, he
hides the crop once. Then, the battle started. Rupert managed to get away.
Their attacks had endangered the King’s life.

CHAPTER 17: RUPET OF HENTZAU AND MADAME DE MAUBAN

The Chief of Police announced an Englishman named Rudolf Rassendyll

was missing. He thinks that Rudolf might be a prisoner in Zenda as he may
quarrelled with the Duke upon Antoinette de Mauban. On the way, Rudolf
met Rupert of Hentzau. He begged Rupert to help save the King. Rupert
told him his plan. Rupert will kill both the King and the Duke. Rudolf will be
king and he would be rich. Rudolf dismissed and told him that he talked as
he was the devil himself. He replied with “I am the devil own master”.
Ironically, he had spoken the truth.
CHAPTER 18: RASSENDYLL MAKES A PLAN

The rescue was more difficult. Johann told that the Duke was very furious
with the wedding. This would help Rudolf’s plan. However, the bad news
was the King was growing very ill. They must act fast. After the plan was
revealed, he ordered Johann to open the door exactly at two o’clock. He
was trembling and asked to run away after opening the door. Sapt insisted
to let Rudolf stay alive if the King was killed. Rudolf repulsed with a threat
to let out the truth. He got no choice other than that. The rescue plan was
very desperate. Back up, Flavia must be protected and proclaimed Queen
if the plan failed. Rudolf gave a ring to her and wept out tears along with
her.

CHAPTER 19: RUPERT OF HENTZAU ALSO MAKES A PLAN

The plan started at night. Rudolf ordered Sapt to remain at the front door. If
the door wasn’t open, they would search for Rudolf. He swam the same
moat with a knife held tight in his mouth. He heard a quarrel and the suicide
threat by Antoinette to Rupert. The Duke and Rupert were also quarrelling
upon her. Rupert drank a bottle of wine a shot the bottle after thrown near
the pipe which was near Rudolf and almost hit him. Rudolf than swam
follow the plan. It was half past one.

CHAPTER 20: RASSENDYLL FIGHTS BRAVELY TO SAVE THE KING

Rudolf then heard sounds of Antoinette. She was crying out for help. He
quickly came out from the moat. He killed De Gautet and searched for
keys. He then search down the castle. He saw two men were talking. He
quickly killed one of them, Bersonin. Detchard quickly try to kill the King but
blocked by the doctor. Rudolf fought with him and killed him. The he heard
Rupert’s laugh. His plan failed.

CHAPTER 21: DANGER FOR RASSENDYLL – AND DANGER FOR

RUPERT OF HENTZAU

Rupert wanted to kill the Duke. However, the Duke has dead. Then, the
slaves came with knives and sticks. Rupert ordered them to put down their
weapons. Antoinette came and shot him but he escaped. Then, he faced
Rudolf. He then ran away by hijacking a horse from a woman. Rudolf
ordered Fritz to kill him and passed out. When he woke up, he was relived
to heard that the King was save and collapsed once again.

CHAPTER 22: “I AM NOT THE KING”

Rudolf woke up and asked about last night. Duke has been killed by
Rupert. Meanwhile, Princess Flavia went riding and found out that there are
two ‘Kings’, one in the forest and one in the castle. She wanted to see the
‘King’ in the forest first. She confirmed that this was the real king. When
Rudolf woke up, he proclaimed that he wasn’t the King. The princess
passed out.

CHAPTER 23: HONOUR MUST COME OUT BEFORE LOVE

Johann came in to bring news to Rudolf. Rudolf instantly went out to see
the king. The king praised him and would remember him till his dying day.
Princess Flavia stated that she loves Rudolf not the King. Rudolf
considered taking her with him but the honour must come before love.
Rudolf went out to England with train. He hide his red hair with his high
coat. Sapt and Fritz honour him as he went out.

CHAPTER 24: THE ADVENTURE IS OVER

The train went to Italy. From there, Rudolf went to Alps and stayed about a
fortnight. Then he went home. He received a letter from Antoinette de
Mauban. She was very sad due to the death of her love, Duke Michael.
Rose scolded him for not writing a book and insisting him to go to Strelsau
with Sir Jacob Borrodaile. He didn’t wish to go there. He then lives in a
small house in countryside. Ever year, he went back to a small town just
outside Strelsau and met Fritz and his beautiful wife, Countess Helga. They
would send a message from him and bring him a message from the Queen.