A Monarch Resembling His State, a State Resembling its Monarch
The republican debate was far more potent than anyone had anticipated. Everywhere one went, the topic of "republicanism" dominated the conversation.
"Honestly, there's nothing wrong with what Hötzendorf is saying, is there?"
"If we follow Hötzendorf's logic, doesn't that mean the Kaiser is just a human being like the rest of us?"
"Hey! Watch your mouth. Are you an aristocrat or something?"
"No, even Hötzendorf himself isn't a noble. The military aristocrats are throwing away their titles left and right. If things have gone that far, isn't his argument incredibly persuasive?"
Shtal's close associates, who should have been refuting these claims immediately, were all away—either in Prague, far from the political center of Vienna, or abroad. Even the heavyweights remaining in the country, like Cooperative Leader Hitler or Party Leader Viktor Adler, remained completely silent on the matter. To make matters worse, foreign public opinion in places like Poland, Sicily, and Serbia was openly supporting a republican system for the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
"This is it...! They've run out of excuses! It's time to take action."
"By action... do you mean we should start discussing the introduction of a republic?"
"Precisely."
Archduke Franz Ferdinand's popularity was immense, particularly around Austria. Because of this, they had expected a severe backlash... but surprisingly, this seemed like a fight they could actually win.
"Something is strange, though. Why is that bastard Shtal so quiet?"
"Even if Shtal runs around with titles like 'chemist' or 'saint,' a politician is still a politician. I knew what he was the moment he started acting all high and mighty, holding the title of representative all by himself."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Professional politicians are cold-blooded bastards with no room for blood or tears when it comes to power. Shtal is no different."
Hötzendorf was certain of it. Shtal had abandoned the Archduke! Of course, it was mere circumstantial evidence, but there was one undeniable proof: Hitler, Shtal's most loyal subordinate, was showing only lukewarm movement. Hötzendorf knew all too well what the Hungarian Parliament looked like. For Hitler, keeping the Hungarian Parliament in check was easier than eating a piece of cake. If he simply had the Agricultural Cooperative members march around the parliament building, the politicians would have been frightened out of their wits and backed down. Yet, Hitler made no move whatsoever.
Without further hesitation, Hötzendorf initiated his plan.
"I address His Majesty Franz! As the representative of the House of Habsburg and the Kaiser of Austria, make your position clear. Return the power to the people!"
Hötzendorf immediately demanded the "return of power" from the Kaiser.
The new Kaiser, Ferdinand II, merely deflected the demand with a sly, practiced response, repeating standard constitutional principles.
"The Kaiser of the Empire is a being subject to the constitution, and I declare here and now that a 'significant portion' of sovereignty resides with the people."
"Is the Kaiser also a human being just like us?"
"Indeed. Under God, no one is superior or inferior."
"Then are we not also Kaisers? Speak to us!"
Risking the danger of a political backlash, Hötzendorf aggressively cornered the Kaiser. Of course, the Kaiser was not about to simply spit out his legitimate authority. He still enjoyed immense support from the masses. However, if the Kaiser remained this stubborn, the winds of republicanism would only blow harder. It wouldn't take long.
Hah, that madman Hötzendorf.
To think he didn't dare utter a peep when the late Kaiser was on the throne, yet now he's making such a pathetic, cheap fuss.
Honestly, if Franz Joseph I were still alive, Hötzendorf's head would have rolled on the spot.
Cooperative Leader Stalin also spoke with a look of sheer contempt.
"He's running amok simply because he can. Without Hungary's approval, Ferdinand II is not truly the Kaiser yet."
"That is true. Since the position of Supreme Commander of the Imperial Armed Forces is currently vacant, he doesn't have to worry about his head being chopped off."
He was undoubtedly emboldened by Hitler's passive stance, which made him run even wilder.
But there was one thing Hötzendorf was completely misunderstanding.
He seemed to have tried benchmarking my political methods in his own way... but he still didn't understand me at all.
I only left him alone to minimize the bloodshed.
Is a monarch bound by ideology, serving merely as its representative? Or is he a being who transcends even that ideology? Such a debate was the perfect catalyst for not just purges, but outright rebellion.
If Hitler had moved prematurely and fully established Ferdinand as the absolute Kaiser of the Empire, the Empire would have fractured. The military faction would have immediately joined forces with the republicans and the masses to launch a coup or an armed rebellion. We would have been forced to abandon our carefully crafted public image to suppress them.
We could certainly win this republican debate. However, because the opposition's logic was so formidable, even if we won, we might end up turning them into martyrs.
We had to completely eliminate that possibility.
"So, Representative Shtal, our resident political expert. What should we do? Should we secretly mobilize the Austrian Agricultural Cooperative and launch a pre-emptive royalist coup?"
"...Let's take that slow. A royalist coup is still a coup. Without the support of the masses, a coup is bound to fail."
That didn't mean I had any intention of letting those traitors off the hook. I would sweep them all away. It was just that now was not the time.
"Then what?"
"We send a message to Archduke Franz... no, to the Kaiser."
"To tell him to approach the public with a friendly image, occasionally shedding a few tears to play on their emotions?"
I shook my head.
I knew exactly what kind of man Archduke Franz was. Even if I didn't, I was receiving real-time updates from Austria.
He must be suffering from immense internal conflict.
He dreamed of being Kaiser, yet of all the royals I had ever met, Archduke Franz was the most "un-Kaiser-like" figure.
In fact, I found myself thinking that Archduke Otto, with his notorious love for women, might have been more suited to be Kaiser. That man knew how to utilize his divinely ordained power better than anyone, using it to charm women.
I quickly sent a telegram to Austria.
"I... apologize."
Ferdinand II, who was still not officially the Emperor of the "Empire," stepped out into the plaza.
The late Kaiser would never have attended such an event, except perhaps during a massive mass game. What if a bullet were to strike him?
Archduke Ferdinand had hated Franz Joseph I for a very long time. However, as Sigmund Freud proved in his Oedipus theory, Archduke Ferdinand felt the impression of a father in Franz Joseph I; while hating him, he was unconsciously growing to resemble him.
A Kaiser must never laugh. A Kaiser must be more cold-blooded than anyone else in the Empire, serving as the very symbol of the state, represented by absolute "authority."
However, this republican offensive forced Ferdinand II to ponder the role of a monarch once more.
If the Kaiser is... the representative of sovereignty? Must sovereignty always be authoritarian? Must the nature of power always be cold, ruthless, and terrifying?
It had been a month since the late Kaiser passed away. Franz Ferdinand had barely smiled during that month. Even when Sophie died, he had forced himself to smile at times. But now, as if he had caught some contagious disease from Franz Joseph I, he had become a man who could no longer laugh freely.
As if afflicted by the same obsessive-compulsive disorder as the late Kaiser, his daily routine had become rigidly fixed. Strangely, the ticking of the clock, the collar of his suit, and the patterns on the floor began to bother him.
I was... imitating His Majesty the Kaiser. Without even realizing it.
Realizing this, Franz Ferdinand quickly grew weary of the throne. He wanted to throw the title of Kaiser away and spend his days hunting in Prague, which he loved so much.
And then, a telegram arrived from Prague.
JUST AS IN THE DAYS WE HAVE SHARED TOGETHER, ACT LIKE YOURSELF, YOUR MAJESTY.
Like myself?
The moment he read the telegram, Ferdinand II understood.
The Kaiser represents the state. That much was certain.
However... had he, Shtal, and their companions not already worked so hard to build a new state?
During that process, Ferdinand had come to resemble the state, and conversely, the state had come to resemble Ferdinand.
His every action, his every personality trait had already become "the state itself."
It was only natural. Since he was the one who created it, it was bound to resemble him.
Now, the Austro-Hungarian Empire that symbolized the old regime was dead.
Ferdinand was the founding monarch of a progressive empire centered around Stahlism.
Only now could Ferdinand step out into the plaza.
"There is nothing wrong with what Hötzendorf says. The late Emperor was... a great man. He was a man who did not shed a single tear even after losing his Empress. How could the symbol of a nation weep over personal matters? I wished to emulate that. Even when my beloved Sophie was killed by the bullet of a Serbian assassin, I could not shed a single tear. But... hearing Hötzendorf's words made me think. Ah, I am just a human being like everyone else. Yes, my fellow citizens. I am but a single citizen."
The citizens, who had gathered in the streets for the rare spectacle of a Kaiser delivering a speech, were utterly shocked by the Kaiser's declaration of humanity. Not Ferdinand, the direct descendant of the House of Habsburg, but Ferdinand the citizen? If so...
"Are we becoming the Republic of Austria-Hungary?"
"M-My God...!"
"The Kaiser has laid down his power!"
Indeed. The Kaiser had just dropped a bombshell declaration of abdication.
Lest anyone misunderstand, the Kaiser clarified his words once more.
"Yes, you heard correctly. Soon, the Austro-Hungarian Empire will become a republic."
"Aaaagh!"
"No!"
"How can this be!"
In truth, the citizens' thoughts on the republican debate had been rather simple.
Well, a republic doesn't seem so bad.
Still, Ferdinand II isn't a bad person.
Can't we just transition to a republic starting with the next Emperor?
With these casual thoughts, the citizens had been watching the intellectuals' debate with great interest. But upon hearing Ferdinand II's sudden, explosive announcement, they fell into an immediate panic.
"Your Majesty, you cannot!"
"Please... take back those words!"
"Your Majesty!"
Of course, there were many who gloated over the Kaiser's declaration of defeat... but at least the citizens of Vienna did not. They never expected the Kaiser to actually abdicate!
In an instant, the plaza turned into a sea of tears.
"Of course, for a short period... I will remain your Kaiser. After all, changing the state system is an event akin to a revolution, is it not? It will take a long time. Still... I thank those of you who shed tears for me."
"Y-Your Majesty!"
"Aaaagh!"
"No, no!"
"Lastly, I offer my gratitude to Hötzendorf. I can now unburden myself of this heavy responsibility and live the rest of my days cherishing the memory of my departed Sophie. I apologize for speaking of this while the war is still ongoing. To Austria, and the countless nations within her! May you live forever!"
With those final words, the Kaiser stepped down from the podium.
Ferdinand II had not intended it at all, but his final speech was packed with politically devastating remarks.
By mentioning Sophie, he cultivated the image of a tragic crown prince.
By mentioning the war, he reminded everyone of his significant contributions to the war effort.
Finally, by mentioning Austria and its "countless nations," he subtly implied the potential dissolution of the Empire.
And that wasn't all. Ferdinand II didn't even board the splendid carriage reserved for the Kaiser.
He walked... all the way back to the imperial palace.
Coupled with the visual shock, the Kaiser's final words were completely seared into the minds of the citizens.
Hearing the news of this shocking speech, the likes of which had not been seen in the 20th century, Shtal shook his head in sheer amazement.
"An abdication... show?"
If the opponent plays dirty, we play dirtier! If Hötzendorf were to eagerly accept this proposal now, his career would be utterly ruined. If he didn't accept it, a different set of problems would erupt.
"The Kaiser has... responded beautifully. Now, it is time to secure our victory."