For the war against the Austrian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia had prepared for a full nine years. Politically, economically, diplomatically, militarily, and even religiously, they had stopped at nothing.
From a certain perspective, it could be said that they had left no regrets behind.
What they did not know was that Franz had been preparing for this war for twenty years.
"Please, take your seat."
Franz pointed to the chair at the far end.
Both Franz's gesture and his words left everyone deeply surprised. Even if he meant to grant the defeated a measure of dignity, there was no need to go this far.
By now, victory and defeat had long been decided. Prussia had even lost its last trump card for a desperate fight.
This was unlike an ordinary defeat. What they had lost was not merely the war, but the people as well.
Had Austria not dispatched troops at once to protect the Prussian royal family, it would not have been surprising in the slightest if the enraged people had sent them to the guillotine.
History had seen many powerful and domineering monarchs, but Franz was different from all of them. He did not even need to dirty his own hands.
Ordinarily, even in defeat, a king could be spared the humiliation of trial. But now, the princes of the German Confederation had tacitly accepted that the Emperor of the Austrian Empire possessed the authority to try a king.
On the other hand, though William I was somewhat surprised, he did not refuse, nor did he show the slightest fear. He might not have been a good king, but he would do his best to act like one.
Still, it was impossible for William I to feel no unease. In the traditional sense, defeat meant nothing more