August 8, 1848.
With an army of one hundred thousand and the 1.2 million citizens of Vienna as witnesses, Franz entered the city from a dock along the Danube River, receiving the people's cheers and worship.
Seated inside his carriage, Franz looked at the throngs packed along both sides of the road and couldn't help giving a bitter smile.
Though he was surrounded by layer upon layer of security, and the crowds along the road had all been thoroughly screened, the army had even rebuilt the entire street to make sure there were no explosives underground.
Franz still couldn't bring himself to like this ostentatious parade. The ceremony didn't need to be disrupted by a successful assassination—or even by an assassination attempt.
All it would take was a few explosions and some trouble to sow panic among the people.
Fortunately, what Franz feared never came to pass. His first stop was St. Stephen's Cathedral, where he would receive the blessing of the Pope and all forty-seven cardinals, and complete his baptism.
After that, Franz would meet Ferdinand I at Hofburg Palace for the transfer of power. After all, for a multinational empire, legitimacy and orthodoxy came first.
Overemphasizing religion and nationality would only hinder the country's unity and stability.
Thankfully, everything went smoothly. Only the baptism was a little unexpected. Those old clerics had actually set up a pool deep enough to submerge a man, forcing Franz to swim through it underwater.
Still, the V-shaped route they had designed made for a decent spectacle.
The royal families and their representatives from across Europe had been waiting for some time in the Hall of Mirrors at Hofburg Palace. The German States, the Italian principalities, and the Russians were the most enthusiastic; nearly every family's head was present, with the sole exception