Germanic Empire: please call me William III

Just after the funeral of Archduke Ferdinand, Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary, Joseph I of Austria summoned the top echelons of the empire to discuss the choice of crown prince. He also knew that the problem could not be postponed any longer. Otherwise, it would seriously affect the stability of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. For the upcoming war, the large-scale military action to be taken will also be very unfavorable.
Franz Joseph I was also very depressed, and he never expected it to be like this. The death of Archduke Ferdinand would be an extremely heavy blow to him and to the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire.
In his old age, he no longer had the energy and no time to cultivate an heir.
“Gentlemen, the Crown Prince of the Empire was assassinated by the Despicable Selbians, and we will certainly repay this vendetta. Our army has begun to mobilize. Soon we will launch an attack on the kingdom of Selvia, trying to defeat them in one fell swoop, destroy them, annex them, and make the Empire the hegemon of the Balkans! Franz Joseph I said.
“Avenge His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and annex the Kingdom of Selvia!” The ministers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire shouted as if they had aroused their hatred for the enemy.
“Before that, though, the Empire cannot live without heirs. I’m old enough that I don’t know when God will call me. So, we want to make an heir to the empire. In this way, after I go to see God, the Empire will be able to move towards greater strength and glory under the leadership of the new heir! Franz Joseph I said.
The ministers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire all nodded their heads, naturally hoping that the Austro-Hungarian Empire would become more powerful.
“So, do you have the right people?” Franz Joseph I asked.
“Your Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary, is the daughter of Crown Prince Rudolf and the granddaughter of His Majesty. Looking at all the members of the royal family, there is no more suitable person than Queen Elizabeth Mary. Earl Albert was the first to make his statement.
The Albert family was a very famous nobleman in the Austro-Hungarian Kingdom of Odialy, with a long tradition and great influence.
Because this time the heirs of the Empire were to be chosen, the great nobles of the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire also had a say.
“Yes, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary are the most suitable candidates!” Count Damon, the head of the nobility of the Kingdom of Hungary, also took a stand.
The Daman family also had great influence among the nobles of the Kingdom of Hunya.
When Franz Joseph I saw this, his face suddenly became very ugly.
He was not a fool, and naturally knew that this was the Germanic Empire exerting its power. Otherwise, the nobles of the Kingdom of Otilly and the Kingdom of Hungary would not have all supported Queen Elizabeth and Mary.
The kingdoms of Otilly and Hungary were the most central states that formed the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The combined population of the two kingdoms amounted to seventy percent of the entire empire. In terms of military strength, it accounts for more than 80 percent.
But Franz Joseph I apparently did not want Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary to become the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. Even if Queen Elizabeth Andrea mary was his granddaughter. He needed to think about the interests of the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire. He hoped that the future Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Germanic Empire would be allies, not vassals, and even more unwilling to let austria-Hungary be annexed by the Germanic Empire.
“Any other comments?” Franz Joseph I asked.
“Your Majesty, Your Excellencies the Ministers and Your Excellencies the Nobles, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary are indeed a very suitable heir. However, we need to take that into account fully. Queen Elizabeth Mary was already the Queen of the Germanic Empire. If it were up to her to inherit the future Austro-Hungarian Empire. So, how will the relationship between Austria-Hungary and the Germanic Empire be handled in the future? Even if we are allies with the Germanic Empire. But our two countries also have differences of interest. So, what do we do once such a situation arises?
Would you like to see the Austro-Hungarian Empire oppressed by the Germanic Empire in the future, and even become a vassal of the Germanic Empire? ”
Austro-Hungarian Prime Minister Mario Weber asked.
“Yes! His Majesty the Germanic Emperor William III, though young, was a very ambitious man. If it was true that his empress had inherited the throne of the Empire. I am afraid that the entire empire will be annexed by the Germanic empire! Said the Duke of Andras, Minister of The Exchequer of Austria-Hungary.
“If there is such a day, it is not necessarily a bad thing!” Stefan, prime minister of the Kingdom of Otilly, muttered.
When Emperor Franz Joseph I listened, his face seemed to be able to drip water.
He naturally knew that many of the Nobles of Audili were anxious for the Germanic Empire to annex austria-Hungary. After all, the Germanic Empire was a Germanic state. The Kingdom of Odili was also made up of Germanic peoples.
With the Austro-Hungarian Empire facing many problems, especially when the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I was old, the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire was likely to collapse.
If the Germanic Empire had annexed austria-hungary, perhaps austria-hungary would have been able to breathe new life. The interests of these Germanic nobles could also be guaranteed.
Even in the future, the Germanic Empire will become more powerful.
But Franz Joseph I would never allow this to happen, and he would never tolerate the end of Habsburg rule.
“Queen Elizabeth, since she has married into the Germanic Empire, has become the Queen of the Germanic Empire. Then she could no longer be the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. The Austro-Hungarian throne belonged to members of the Habsburg monarchy. In the future, the rule of the Habsburgs will continue! “Franz Joseph I directly hammered it out.
Although Franz Joseph I seemed to have gone against the opinions of the vast majority of the people, with his status and influence, no one in the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire could oppose him.
“I have decided that Archduke Karl will become the new Crown Prince of austria-Hungary. Archduke Karl, though young, was intelligent and capable. I firmly believe that he will be able to become a qualified crown prince, a qualified emperor. In the future, the Austro-Hungarian Empire will certainly become more powerful under his leadership! Franz Joseph I directly announced the new crown prince.