Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 092
Chapter Title: Generational Shift (3)
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“Hahaha!”
“...”
“Ha... hahaha!”
The guards who had rushed in urgently realized the emperor had misunderstood and promptly withdrew.
The father-in-law, having made a colossal blunder, kept letting out hollow laughs to defuse the situation.
“Even so, calling the guards out of the blue like that? How do you expect me to react?”
“No, when you said you had no will to live, I thought you were telling me to just go ahead and die.”
I mean, if I were to say, “I’ll ascend the throne,” would anyone blurt that out right in front of him?
Just let him go hunting as much as he wants like in the original history, and he’d end up recorded as the emperor who keeled over after eating some poisoned mushrooms he foraged himself.
“Even if I told you to die, it’s not like Your Majesty would oblige, so why jump to conclusions like that?”
“Ahem, that’s why I’m apologizing, isn’t it?”
“Then, as a token of your apology, I’ll take it that Your Majesty will actively participate in my plan.”
Truth be told, Charles VI parading around with his listless demeanor everywhere wasn’t such a bad thing.
The death of a cherished minister, an emperor drained of motivation, withdrawing from state affairs to indulge solely in hunting.
It painted a perfectly plausible picture that anyone could buy into.
“...So, rather than actually dying, you mean creating a scenario where I’m hovering on the brink of death... something like that. Just to confirm, there’s no actual need for me to die, right?”
“Yes. Once that kind of incident breaks, every nation’s spies will rush the news back home as fast as they can. And if we fan the flames through the newspapers, the effect will be even greater.”
“The news of the emperor’s critical condition plunges all of Vienna into shock... something along those lines. But Franz, won’t rumors of me being at death’s door tank Austria’s economy?”
“Well... we’ve prepared for it in advance, so it should be fine, no?”
Sorry, Father-in-Law, but you don’t have that kind of influence anymore.
Everyone already knows Maria Theresa’s the face and I’m handling the real work. What recession?
The key now is to spread the perception that I’m not just playing emperor—I could actually become the emperor for real.
If Charles VI dies, Maria Theresa will succeed him as head of the Habsburgs, and her husband—that’s me—will inherit the throne of the Holy Roman Emperor.
“...But to play the part of a patient in critical condition, I’ll have to hole up in a room for a while...”
“Don’t worry. We’ll renovate an entire palace wing, turning it into a space no one can enter except Your Majesty and a handful of close aides. It might feel a bit stuffy, but it’ll be livable.”
With only me, Maria Theresa, and a tiny circle of key figures allowed access, what would people think?
No one would suspect the emperor’s faking his death, so rumors that he’s already gone would spread even faster.
The emperor approved my plan, and with his permission, I dove straight into preparations.
“Sigh... Without Eugene, there’s no one left to discuss the empire’s future with. Guess I’ll go hunting again today.”
Charles VI started utterly neglecting his already half-hearted duties, devoting himself entirely to hunting and banquets like a man deep in depression.
Since I’d been handling everything anyway, his absence didn’t impact the empire’s administration or economy by even 0.01%.
But everyone knew the emperor had plunged into profound grief.
📰 Breaking News [His Majesty the Emperor’s Profound Grief Over the Loss of a Close Friend] [The Emperor’s Lament! “With the hero departed, the rains never cease upon the palace roofs”] [Imperial Budget Hits Record Highs Daily Thanks to String of Business Successes!] The newspapers blanketing Vienna portrayed the emperor not as an irresponsible figure abandoning state affairs, but as a deeply human monarch mourning a hero’s death.
And by subtly weaving in my own accomplishments, they hammered home that the empire was running better than ever—even without the emperor’s involvement.
One month later.
News that Charles VI had fallen from his horse while hunting and lapsed into a coma sent shockwaves through all of Vienna.
Officials insisted his life wasn’t in danger, but few took that at face value.
📰 Breaking News [His Majesty the Emperor Takes Absolute Rest in a Detached Palace!] [O God, Save His Majesty the Emperor!] [Visits Restricted to a Handful of Personnel; Archduchess Maria Theresa to Serve as Regent During His Majesty’s Absence!] The feared vacuum in governance never materialized.
The prepared successor, Maria Theresa, handled her regency duties with remarkable skill, and the emperor’s absence barely registered in Austria.
But the unconsciousness of not just any king, but the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, delivered a serious jolt to the other electoral states.
“Shouldn’t we at least confirm His Majesty’s well-being? Grant us an audience!”
“Regrettably, the physicians insist His Majesty must have absolute rest. No visitors for the time being—our apologies.”
“What do you mean no? It’s been how long since the accident?”
Requests from ambassadors eager to check on Charles VI’s condition were all denied.
Wouldn’t that plant seeds of doubt? If he were truly fine, why hide him?
Anyone still thinking the emperor’s health was perfectly fine after this had to be missing something crucial.
“Your Highness Franz. The Elector of Bavaria personally requests an audience with His Majesty.”
“As I said before, His Majesty needs rest. Even an elector can’t be permitted.”
If even the Elector of Bavaria—him of all people—is denied, then only I and Maria Theresa can see the emperor.
The electors didn’t voice it outright, but a grim possibility began creeping into their minds.
—What if Charles VI is already dead, and those guys are scheming the succession behind the scenes?
Suspicion was sprouting wildly, but it wasn’t the decisive blow yet.
Not quite enough to force a decision, is it, Your Majesty Louis XV?
I’ll give that scheming Franz—who’s supposedly hiding the father-in-law’s death and plotting foul play—a nice, hard shove.
So come on in, no worries.
Don’t forget to bring Bavaria and the Palatinate along.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Word that the emperor was teetering on the edge with no one knowing his true status naturally spread across the entire empire.
In such a situation, if he actually died, the Holy Roman Empire would need to elect a new emperor.
By the Pragmatic Sanction, the Habsburg line would pass to Maria Theresa.
But the throne of the Holy Roman Emperor was reserved strictly for men.
In other words, Franz Stefan von Lothringen, her husband, would become the next emperor.
Yet everyone knew this was just window dressing—the empire would effectively be ruled by its first female sovereign in history.
With all electors having agreed to the Pragmatic Sanction, things would likely proceed smoothly, crowning Franz.
And then the imperial throne would be locked in Habsburg hands forever.
If this was the case with no male heir, what happens when Maria Theresa bears a prince?
The electors, wary of a perpetually strengthening imperial power, wondered if this could go on—but with no alternatives, they could only stamp their feet and watch.
They itched to find fault, but the Habsburgs weren’t about to give them an opening.
But then.
Something unexpected happened.
“In accordance with our agreement with the Papal Court, we will dramatically expand the ongoing variolation program across the Holy Roman Empire. We’ll establish an organization to extend the inoculation network from major cities to the entire empire, operating until every subject is free from smallpox.”
“...Setting up a special organization is fine, but running it will cost money, obviously?”
“Calculations show it’s feasible with funds raised mainly from the imperial court and electoral states.”
The justification sounded noble, but the ulterior motive was glaringly obvious.
France, Spain, and the Italian city-states were already shelling out fortunes for their variolation networks.
This was tantamount to taxing the whole empire to funnel money to Austria.
Austria would foot a big bill too, sure—but it was like moving money from one pocket to the other.
“How far do they think they can push this?”
“Charles VI’s on his deathbed, and they ram this through now? There’s got to be something behind it.”
Bavaria and the Palatinate racked their brains to uncover the hidden intent behind Austria’s baffling move.
“Isn’t it obvious? Everyone suspects the emperor’s on his last legs. This is them flexing that Habsburg power hasn’t skipped a beat in his absence.”
“...True... It’s basically a variolation tax, and variolation is one of the Habsburg court’s signature achievements. Perfect way to show the empire dances to their tune.”
Infuriating, but if the other electors all went along like always, Bavaria and the Palatinate were powerless.
But then a wildcard emerged.
“Prussia opposes. We adopted variolation faster than anyone, but adding taxes for this will embolden the Papal Court too much. Do it among Catholic states if you want.”
Prussia’s outright rejection—no one saw that coming.
Bavaria and the Palatinate, sensing a chance to peel away a longtime freeloader on Austria’s coattails, jumped on board.
“Not all Catholic states are on board. Plenty of big cities haven’t even finished inoculations—why force it empire-wide?”
“Exactly! This is blatant overreach!”
“Let’s discuss once His Majesty recovers! Holding meetings while he’s bedridden is clear overstepping!”
They’d been trying to drive a wedge between Prussia and Austria—how could they let this golden opportunity slip?
Elector Karl Albrecht of Bavaria immediately reached out to Prussia.
They’d clashed over tariffs before, but now—unite for a common goal.
Fortunately, Frederick accepted, and the once-solid Austria-Prussia united front crumbled in an instant.
Such staunch resistance should force Austria to back down.
But Franz scoffed at everyone’s expectations and doubled down.
1. Bavaria, the Palatinate, and all electoral states agreed to the Pragmatic Sanction naming Maria Theresa as Habsburg heir.
2. Thus, Maria Theresa is the undisputed heir to the Habsburgs and entitled to inherit all of Charles VI’s authority.
3. Imperial law permits a regency when the emperor cannot govern, and it is fitting for his official heir Maria Theresa and her husband Franz Stefan to serve as regents.
“So, you’re saying you’ll play emperor without even holding an election?”
“We’re merely exercising our legitimate rights under the law.”
We won’t bend—so you will.
Everyone sensed compromise was impossible with both sides dug in.
That’s when the Elector of Bavaria received a secret letter from France’s Louis XV.
—France keeps its promises.
Short, simple, but brimming with resolve.
Let this slide, and the Wittelsbachs of Bavaria would never challenge for the imperial throne again.
Bowing now, after tensions had boiled this far, would tacitly affirm Habsburg supremacy.
Karl Albrecht agonized long and hard.
But ambition for the throne ultimately pushed him forward.
“Tell Frederick: If he stays neutral, Bavaria will vote for Prussia in the next imperial election.”
Even if Bavaria voted Prussia, other electors could still crown him instead.
Prussia accepted Albrecht’s offer, officially declaring neutrality in the dispute.
📰 Breaking News [Electoral States of Bavaria and the Palatinate Formally Demand Withdrawal of Variolation Tax and Health Fund. They Assert the Pragmatic Sanction Violates Imperial Law, Archduchess Maria Theresa Has No Right to Regency, and a New Imperial Election Must Be Held.] Bavaria effectively rejected Maria Theresa’s succession rights with this bold gambit.
📰 Breaking News [Austrian Imperial Privy Council Unanimously Rejects Elector Karl Albrecht of Bavaria’s Proposal, Declaring It an Act of Rebellion.] Austria branded it treason, issuing what amounted to a declaration of war.
The electors’ desperation—no endgame if they didn’t act now—fueled by France’s prodding, met Austria’s vow to crush it all.
This wasn’t just about the Austrian succession anymore.
It was the start of the War of the Austrian Succession—or rather, the Holy Roman Imperial Throne Succession War.