"Where is His Majesty the Emperor? Since we are going to surrender to the Germans, His Majesty the Emperor must be the one to step forward." Archduke Friedrich said.
"I have already sent people to invite His Majesty the Emperor. But surrendering to the Germans before seeking His Majesty the Emperor's approval seems rather inappropriate, does it not?" Duke Kaspar said.
"The Empire has already collapsed, and the Emperor will no longer exist either. Naturally, he no longer has any authority to speak of." Archduke Friedrich said.
They all knew perfectly well that the Germans intended to annex Austria. In truth, though these high-ranking officials of the Austro-Hungarian Empire felt some sorrow over its demise, they were not particularly opposed to Germany annexing Austria.
If the Austro-Hungarian Empire could continue to exist, that would naturally be best. At least then, they would still count as an independent nation. But the Austro-Hungarian Empire had already fallen apart, and even Austria would no longer exist. In that case, Germany's annexation of Austria was undoubtedly the best possible outcome. After all, Germany was now the world hegemon. Once they joined Germany, Austrians would enjoy all the rights of citizens of a world-hegemon nation. Moreover, the vast majority of Austrians were Germanic people. Returning to Germania now was no great matter.
"If not for His Majesty the Emperor, even if Germany had intended to deal with us, I am afraid it would not have been so easy to accomplish. It is not impossible for the Austro-Hungarian Empire to continue existing!" Baron Marshal von Heitzenforf said.
Clearly, Baron Marshal von Heitzenforf still could not let go of the Austro-Hungarian Empire's demise. As a senior minister personally promoted by the late Franz Joseph I, he had deep feelings for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Though Franz Joseph I