"Your Majesty—Your Majesty!"
Count Salazar's shrill cry came from outside the study, as though a cat had had its tail stepped on.
Franz II frowned, tossed his diary into a drawer, and before he could say "Come in," the door was violently shoved open. The chief steward practically scrambled and crawled to his desk. His usually immaculate wig hung crookedly to one side, while the greasy sweat on his face had washed the powder into streaks.
"Calm yourself," Franz II said in a low voice. "What happened?"
"Count Lineck has been killed!" Count Salazar's voice trembled uncontrollably. "They're parading through the streets with his head... They've also seized the Royal Arsenal. The streets outside are full of armed mobs.
"They may rush to Schönbrunn Palace at any moment. They'll kill everyone..."
Well, in his understanding, "everyone" included only the Emperor and the nobility.
The corner of Franz II's eye twitched, but he quickly forced his expression back into rigid composure and said loudly, "Tomorrow. The troops York brought will restore order tomorrow. There's no need to panic..."
Marshal Wurmser cut him off. "Your Majesty, the Moravian Corps..."
Franz II's eyes lit up, and he hurried toward the door. "Where has the army reached?"
The chairman of the Military Committee bowed deeply, but did not raise his head. "Your Majesty, we have just received word that at least five battalions of the corps have mutinied. General Mexeri was attacked by armed rioters in the northern outskirts and has retreated to Siverin Village. It is said that mutinous soldiers also took part in the attack."
Franz II froze for a moment, then suddenly smashed his cane down on the table and roared, "Those damned traitors! I'll hang them all!" Only after venting his fury did he notice that Earl Spielmann, Metternich, and