"How could this be? Not only have the Bohemians betrayed us, even the Hungarians have betrayed us. What are we supposed to do now?" Karl I murmured. He now resembled a resentful wife abandoned by her husband, utterly lost and having no idea what to do.
Archduke Friedrich and Baron Marshal von Heitzenforf wore equally grim expressions. If only the Kingdom of Bohemia had betrayed them, it might not have meant much. But now the Kingdom of Hungary had betrayed them as well—this was undoubtedly a fatal blow to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Without the Kingdom of Hungary, could it still be called the Austro-Hungarian Empire?
With two kingdoms betraying the Austro-Hungarian Empire in succession, its strength had been cut in half outright! Did they still have any chance of winning this war? Clearly, that was impossible. The Austro-Hungarian Empire had already been weaker than Germany, and by no small margin. Now, with the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Kingdom of Hungary turning traitor, their strength had directly fallen by half. Under such circumstances, unless God showed Himself, they were certain to lose this war.
"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister, the Minister of War, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Foreign Minister have arrived."
Before Karl I could say anything, Prime Minister Mario Weber, Minister of War Duke Kaspar, Chancellor of the Exchequer Duke Andrassy, and Foreign Minister Baron von Berchtold 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 that true?" Prime Minister Mario Weber asked.
"Are you questioning me? They have indeed betrayed the Empire, but how would I know why they betrayed it? Those shameless traitors must have been bought off by the Germans. Once this crisis is over,