The news of the Constitutionalists' (the Frankfurt National Assembly's) defeat immediately spread throughout Germany by telegraph. At that moment, the Legitimists rose up once more, taking up arms to defend the crown.
A vast army of Legitimists surged into territories controlled by the Constitutionalists. Every state offered a thoroughly "sacred" and "reasonable" excuse.
The Liberal regions chose to cut their losses and distance themselves from the Constitutionalists. They sent troops to answer the Austrian Empire's call while hastening to strengthen their own defenses. Meanwhile, countless envoys began making the rounds among the various states, bearing gold, silver, and beautiful women.
Little did they know that someone had already put a price on their fate. All their efforts would ultimately come to nothing.
William IV gazed at the battle reports in his hands, his expression shifting between dark and bright. He did not know whether he ought to be pleased, angry, or afraid.
The struggle between the Austrian Empire and the National Assembly had ended in victory for one side far too easily. Now Franz had turned that conflict into a struggle between the Legitimists and the Constitutionalists.
William IV could not even find a reason to keep sitting on the sidelines. Yet he was deeply unwilling to accept it. They were all kings, and they were all great powers—so why could Prussia only follow in Austria's footsteps? What gave them the right?
William IV firmly believed in the divine right of kings, but both the Protestant Church and the Catholic Church treated him with contempt.
What troubled him even more was that his own brother had disobeyed his orders and taken troops to Cologne. And the outcome had once again proved that William IV had been wrong.
There was nothing William IV could do about the Austrian Empire forcibly moving