The Crown Prince of France's speech on "peace and postwar reflection" lasted more than forty minutes before it finally ended. Solemn music rose over the square once again. At Joseph's request, all the formalities had been abolished. The French and Austrian representatives sat directly across from each other at the long table prepared in advance, each picking up a drafted copy of the Mödling Treaty.
Several dozen officials from Germany and the Italian States sat around the perimeter, witnessing the signing ceremony in person.
There was little to say about the treaty itself. After presenting the Certificate of Plenipotentiary granted by the Holy Roman Emperor, Ludwig von Kobzl turned to glance at the Crown Prince of France seated at the head of the table, his emotions tangled. He sighed softly, picked up his pen, and signed his name to the treaty. Once Talleyrand had signed his own copy, he exchanged documents with the Austrian representative, and the signing ceremony for the Ceasefire Agreement was over. The entire process had taken less than fifteen minutes.
When Archduke Leopold announced the conclusion of the ceremony, reporters immediately crowded forward and began asking questions about the treaty. Yet most of them were still savoring the ideas and insights from the Crown Prince of France's speech that had shaken their souls, secretly resolving that tomorrow's newspaper front pages would certainly carry that speech!
There was none of the usual swaggering triumph of a victorious nation. Even the French diplomats who had come to Mödling paid little attention to the reporters, and the entire French delegation departed under Joseph's lead.
In the white carriage, only Charles still looked back at the little town behind them with lingering reluctance.
Joseph had already begun discussing the diplomatic affairs to come with Talleyrand.
"Yes, Your Highness, Hungary is