Plans never kept pace with change. Watching the French Government do nothing but squabble without making any move, Franz had to admit that he had misjudged the situation.
The table had been flipped, yet without the French—the leading player—joining in, events had not unfolded as Franz had anticipated.
The Paris Government seemed to be putting on a farce, but in truth, this was precisely the choice most aligned with French interests.
What France needed now was to keep a low profile and minimize its presence as much as possible. If it stepped forward now to fight for the Rhineland, the United Kingdom and Austria, currently at odds with each other, would immediately put aside their differences and join forces to suppress France.
France was powerful and happened to border the Rhineland. Geopolitics dictated that the French could not be bypassed in this matter. By refusing to state its position, the Paris Government instead found itself courted by every side.
At Vienna Palace, Franz looked at the intelligence report in his hands and shook his head helplessly.
It was still impossible to say whether Austria had gained or lost by flipping the table this time, but the Kingdom of Prussia had certainly profited.
Had things gone according to the British plan, with trouble suddenly stirred up at the international conference, the German Federal Empire would have been the only buyer.
A forced sale naturally could not command the same price as two buyers bidding against each other. Selling off the Rhineland would likely be enough to resolve the Berlin Government's fiscal crisis.
Foreign Minister Wessenberg said, "Your Majesty, the Berlin Government has already released word that it intends to sell the Rhineland. Both Belgium and the German Federal Empire have now expressed interest.
"But Belgium lacks the backing of the great