Vienna Palace. Looking at the telegram in his hand, Franz did not know what to say. Describing it as "lying at home while a pot falls from the sky" seemed somewhat out of place.
This affair had been brought about by Austria itself. If the negotiations had not been held in the Austrian Embassy, then however President Juárez had died would have had nothing to do with Austria.
Blaming Minister Compton would not be right either. He had done his duty faithfully. Holding the negotiations in the Austrian Embassy had also been intended to secure an advantage at the table and win greater benefits for Austria.
President Juárez's death had merely been an accident. Minister Compton bore no responsibility and did not need to answer for it.
Now, a black pot had dropped from the heavens. No matter how they explained it, people would accuse Austria of poisoning President Juárez—or claim that Maximilian I had struck in revenge.
In truth, Franz had never intended to eliminate President Juárez. His existence was not a threat to Austria; keeping him alive was more valuable than killing him.
Maximilian I was even less likely to have done it. If he had possessed the ability to assassinate President Juárez during the negotiations, he would not have fallen into his present plight.
Prime Minister Felix proposed, "Your Majesty, now that this has happened, it is time for us to withdraw our troops from Mexico. At a time like this, it would be morally indefensible to press them for accountability."
Franz nodded. No matter how sufficient their previous justifications had been, now that a Mexican president had died in the Austrian Embassy, they had enough to explain their withdrawal.
If they continued bearing down relentlessly, Austria's international image would be ruined. That did not accord with