Although the Duke of Aumale, who had served as governor of Algeria, commanded an army of a hundred thousand and had France's finest generals at his disposal, he had no supplies and couldn't even feed his troops. One look from Cavaignac sent him fleeing in disarray.
In this life, Austria had solved Algeria's problems with food and supplies, and had even brought in the Grand Orient Fleet as a powerful ally. Cavaignac hadn't even dared to land before slinking back to Paris.
The Duke of Aumale had more than enough strength to declare himself king. Why would he obey his incompetent nephew? The two might well send assassins after each other, ending in the tragedy of kin slaying kin.
Besides, would the British give up on intervening? The House of Orléans was now bound to the German Confederation's great ship, so he had no choice but to consider the matter from the Germans' perspective.
If the British withdrew from the war, the French Second Republic would be unable to keep fighting on its own, and the Duchy of Orléans would be saved.
In truth, although Franz and Albrecht had personally led troops to rescue the Duchy of Orléans, in Louis Philippe's eyes, they were merely putting on a show for him.
But if the naval battle in the Mediterranean angered the British, Austria and Orléans would have to face the wrath of the sea's undisputed master.
Austria had sent a delegation early on, but Louis Philippe doubted its professionalism. After all, not one of its members was an experienced gentleman—or even a single Playboy from high society. How could such a delegation even begin negotiations?
Franz, however, didn't care in the least. He knew perfectly well that times had changed. Besides, trying to appeal to the emotions of the British,