Chapter 0951: Despair

"How could this happen? Not only have the Bohemians betrayed us, but even the Hungarians have turned against us. What are we to do now?" Emperor Charles muttered. He now resembled a woman scorned, abandoned by her lover, utterly lost and unsure of how to proceed.

Archduke Friedrich and Marshal Baron von Herzendorf wore equally grim expressions. Had it only been the Kingdom of Bohemia's betrayal, it might have been tolerable. But now, with the Kingdom of Hungary also turning against them, this was undeniably a fatal blow to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Without Hungary, could the empire still be called the Austro-Hungarian Empire?

With the betrayal of two kingdoms, the empire's strength had been halved. Did they still stand a chance in this war? Clearly, no. The Austro-Hungarian Empire's strength had always been inferior to Germany's, and now, with the double betrayal of Bohemia and Hungary, their military might had been drastically reduced. In this situation, unless the heavens themselves intervened, defeat seemed inevitable.

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister, the Minister of War, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs have arrived," came the announcement.

Before Emperor Charles could respond, Prime Minister Mario Weber, Duke Kaspar of the Army, Duke András of Finance, and Baron Berchthold of Foreign Affairs entered the war room.

"Your Majesty, we have just received word that both the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Kingdom of Hungary have betrayed the Empire. Is this true?" Prime Minister Mario Weber asked.

"Are you questioning me?" Charles I snapped. "Indeed, they have betrayed the Empire. But how could I know why? Those despicable traitors must have been bought by the Germans. Once we survive this crisis, I shall ensure they pay for their treachery!"

The military and political ministers, however, were less than impressed. With the loss of over half the Empire's power, could they still hope to weather this crisis? That seemed impossible. The Austro-Hungarian Empire's strength had always lagged behind Germany's, and now, with the betrayal of Bohemia and Hungary, they had lost even more. In such dire circumstances, survival seemed impossible unless divine intervention occurred.

"Your Majesty, without Bohemia and Hungary, we simply cannot resist the Germans. At this juncture, I believe we must make certain concessions," Archduke Friedrich said.

Charles I was no fool. He knew the gravity of the situation.

"Very well, send a telegram to the Duke of Bohemia and the Hungarian government. Tell them that if they fully cooperate with us to resist the German attack, they will be granted greater autonomy. The title of King of Bohemia can be bestowed upon the Duke of Bohemia, and even the title of King of Hungary can be given to the Hungarians! If they are willing to support us against the Germans, all else can be negotiated!" Charles I gritted his teeth as he spoke.

Though he knew that this would grant the Kingdoms of Bohemia and Hungary greater autonomy, possibly even leading to their secession from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he had no other options left. The betrayal of these two kingdoms clearly indicated that the Germans had offered terms tempting enough to sway them. If he didn't give them what they desired, persuading them would be all but impossible.

The ministers, aware of this reality, said nothing further and immediately sent telegrams to the Duke of Bohemia and the Hungarian government.

Time passed in anxious anticipation. Half an hour later, they received replies from both Bohemia and Hungary. However, the responses left the Emperor and his ministers in utter despair.

"Your Majesty, the Duke of Bohemia has replied. He claims to have received what he wanted, and furthermore states that the Empire's provocation of the German Empire was an extremely foolish decision. The Kingdom of Bohemia will not sacrifice itself for the Empire," the minister reported.

"Scoundrels! Have they forgotten that Bohemia and the Empire are one? Now, they wish to betray us—how despicable!" Charles I shouted in fury.

The ministers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire were at a loss for words. It was clear that the Germans had struck a deal with the Duke of Bohemia before declaring war. After the German military defeated the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Bohemia would likely break away and gain independence. Under these circumstances, the Duke of Bohemia had no choice but to cooperate with Germany, as it was the least risky course of action. If they resisted the German advance, they would likely face tremendous losses.

"What did the Hungarian government say?" Prime Minister Mario Weber asked.

"Prime Minister, the Hungarian government has also rejected our request. They claim that this war was entirely caused by His Majesty the Emperor, who must take full responsibility. The Kingdom of Hungary will not bear the consequences. Hungary will remain neutral in this conflict," came the reply.

"Scoundrels! Just like the Bohemians, the Hungarians must have conspired with the Germans. Otherwise, how could they dare to act so?" Charles I seethed, his eyes red with anger.

"That is certain. Before the war began, the Germans had already reached an agreement with the Hungarians. After our defeat, Hungary will likely break away from the Empire as well. With the loss of both Bohemia and Hungary, the Austro-Hungarian Empire will cease to exist," Prime Minister Mario Weber said sorrowfully. He seemed unable to believe what was happening. It had been little more than two months since Emperor Franz Joseph I's death, and now the once mighty Austro-Hungarian Empire was on the brink of collapse.

The other ministers shared the same feelings of dread. Once the Austro-Hungarian Empire fell, they too would lose their positions and influence.

Though none of them wished for such a scenario, there was little they could do to prevent it. They had urged Charles I to leave the Central Powers, but he had refused. Now, with the Empire in its current state, it was evident that the fault lay with Charles I. But assigning blame now seemed pointless. It was clear that the Austro-Hungarian Empire had already lost the war.