In the luxurious villa across the street from Schönbrunn Palace, Kaunitz lay back in his armchair, listening to his son-in-law speak of French aid. A smile gradually appeared on his face:
"Clemens, you see, the facts have proven that I was right.
"If His Majesty the Emperor had listened to my advice back then, the Empire would never have faced its present predicament."
He was in exceptionally good spirits today, speaking at length without pause:
"In the end, we still have to rely on France for help."
Metternich nodded. "And on the political legacy you left behind for the Empire."
He was referring to how his father-in-law had arranged for Queen Mary to marry into France.
Kaunitz raised a hand and grasped his son-in-law's—he had not made such a large movement in a very long time—and said earnestly, "But you must remember: Austria is a nation held together by bloodlines and inheritance. Diplomacy is our strong suit.
"What is diplomacy?
"Among the many nations, regardless of whether they have differences with us, it is finding common ground in our interests and making use of it to deal with..."
Metternich waited for a moment but heard no continuation. He softly prompted, "Deal with what, Father-in-law?"
There was no response.
Metternich felt his father-in-law's hand, still clutching his, droop downward. His heart jolted, and he hurriedly felt for his neck. There was no pulse left.
"Someone!" He turned and shouted toward the door. "Fetch a doctor!"
At one in the afternoon, Kaunitz, the political master who had single-handedly brought about the Franco-Austrian Marriage Alliance, departed for heaven.
It seemed to foretell that the Empire's last fading glow, which had begun in Queen Theresa's era fifty years earlier, had reached its end with him.
Saint Petersburg, the capital of Russia.
Countless flowers