Chapter Summaries

Count Bru took control of Mexico City and planned reforms before restoring the monarchy, while seeking financial help from his family. In the Union, disputes over war reparations intensified into calls for secession.

• Count Bru entered Mexico City on October 16, 1905, and took power with support from royalists, reformists, and opportunists.
• Bru learned that his father had secured funding through the imperial family, though the Vienna Government had not fully backed the restoration.
• Bru proposed launching reforms before restoring the monarchy, and Philibert accepted his reasoning.
• The Union’s legislators and newspapers fought over how to distribute the war reparations after the Roosevelt administration abandoned office.
• Protests and calls for independence spread among some federal states as presidential candidates avoided stating their positions publicly.

The United States’ political deadlock weakened its central government, while rebellion and foreign intervention pushed Russia toward collapse. Franz arranged the elevation of three colonies into states and prepared to abdicate, leaving Friedrich to inherit the throne.

• The United States’ federal states remained deadlocked over war reparations, threatening to weaken the Union and its Washington Government.
• Independence movements and foreign-backed rebellions intensified across Russia, while the Russo-Austrian Alliance neared expiration.
• Franz had the Imperial Parliament elevate Austrian Central America, Austrian South Seas, and the Austrian North American colony into duchies and a principality.
• Franz approved an abdication edict and told Friedrich that he would step down after Christmas, citing poor health.
• Franz planned to pass the thrones of the three new states to his younger sons as part of his statehood plan.

Franz abdicated to Friedrich, spent his remaining years traveling, and died in 1931 after learning of William’s death and recovering memories of another life. The story ended with Li Mu waking in the modern world, confused by memories of Franz and Ferdinand, then rushing to catch his bus to work.

• On December 31, 1905, Franz abdicated in favor of Friedrich and began touring the Holy Roman Empire.
• After twenty-five years of travel, Franz returned to Vienna in his nineties and learned that William had died in the South Seas.
• Franz reflected on the empire’s secure position and the changing world before memories of Ferdinand and the Bulgarian Empire surfaced.
• On March 26, 1931, Franz died at the age of one hundred.
• Li Mu woke with memories of Li Mu, Franz, and Ferdinand, then hurried from his rented room to catch the bus to work.