Napoleon II looked at Charles-Louis upon hearing those words.
"Are you sure that’s happening?" he asked in a serious tone, so serious that everyone’s attention was on him.
Elisabeth looked at him with concern, and most probably, she knew it was about his work as an Emperor.
"Uhm, gentlen and ladies," Elisabeth stood. "I believe the Emperor has sothing to attend to. Why don’t I show you all to the ballroom where we can enjoy the festivities of Christmas eve?"
Napoleon II looked at his wife and gave a short nod.
"Continue without ," he said.
Elisabeth returned the nod without hesitation. She had already taken control of the room the mont she stood.
"Please," she said, turning toward the guests with a composed expression. "This way."
The shift was imdiate. Chairs moved back. Conversations resud at a controlled level, this ti directed away from the head of the table. Servants stepped in to guide the flow, opening the side doors that led toward the ballroom. Music from the adjoining hall could already be heard faintly.
Elsa looked between her parents.
"Papa?"
Napoleon II glanced at her briefly.
"I’ll be back."
That was enough for her. She nodded and turned toward Elisabeth as the Empress began leading the guests out.
Within monts, the dining hall began to empty. Ministers, generals, and officials moved in order, following the Empress toward the next stage of the evening. The sound of footsteps replaced the quiet of the al, then faded as the doors closed behind them.
Napoleon II remained where he stood.
Charles-Louis waited.
The last of the servants withdrew, leaving only a small security presence at the edges of the room. The hall, so full monts ago, was now clear.
Napoleon II turned. "Are you serious? The Austrian Empire declared war on the Piedmontense and us?"
Charles-Louis simply nodded without breaking his serious expression.
"They found out that we were discreetly supplying the rebels in Venetia with weapons and ammunition from our partner, the Piedmontese. Your uncle, King Murat, already learned of the declaration and is willing to declare war on the Austrians as soon as you declare war on the Austrians."
Napoleon II sighed. "Co on it’s December, it’s supposed to be Christmas later, and in seven days after that, a New Year."
"Well, Sire, I don’t think the Austrians mind the calendar," Charles-Louis said. "They’ve already begun mobilizing along the border. Reports indicate troop concentrations near Lombardy. It’s not a demonstration."
Napoleon II gave a short breath, then started walking.
"Office," he said.
Charles-Louis followed without another word.
The corridors were already clear by the ti they stepped out. Guards moved ahead, opening doors before they reached them. Servants pressed themselves to the sides, lowering their heads as the Emperor passed.
Napoleon II did not slow.
By the ti they reached the office, the doors were already open.
He stepped inside and went straight to the central table. He grabbed the telephone mounted on it and dialed the Hofburg Palace.
He turned the crank once, then again.
The line clicked, a low hum running through the receiver as the connection moved through the network.
A mont later, a voice ca through—female.
"Central exchange."
"Versailles," Napoleon said. "Connect to the Hofburg Palace. Imperial line."
There was a pause.
"Stand by, Sire."
The line shifted again. Faint clicks, distant routing through switchboards, operators passing the connection along. Napoleon held the receiver without moving, his gaze fixed ahead. Charles-Louis stood across the table, silent.
Another click.
A second voice ca through, sharper this ti.
"Hofburg switchboard."
"This is Versailles. Imperial connection requested."
A pause.
"Connecting now."
The line went quiet for a second.
And monts after, there was a response.
"So," Ferdinand continued, "the Emperor of the French finally calls."
Napoleon II did not respond imdiately.
"I have," he said.
A faint breath ca from the other end.
"You resemble him more than you think," Ferdinand said. "Your father. The sa reach. The sa appetite for conflict."
Napoleon’s expression did not change.
"You declared war," he said. "That makes your position clear."
"It does," Ferdinand replied. "And it was not done lightly."
A short pause followed.
"We are aware of your activities," he continued. "Arms shipnts moving into Venetia. Supplies routed through interdiaries. Coordination with Piedmont. And now, alignnt with Naples."
"Maybe because the people there don’t want an Austrian ruler anymore and wants to unite among Italian states," Napoleon II simply stated.
"If that is the case then why rule over the low countries? Those aren’t yours to begin with. They were once part of us."
"I don’t see any protesting happening in that region. Possibly due to the fact that they are one of the economic drivers of the Empire and the people living there accepted our rule with open arms. That’s the difference between our Empire. Now you are being hasty, the fact that you declared war on the most powerful country on this continent ans you know what you are doing."
He continued. "There’ll be no allies saving you here, Ferdinand. Your Empire is clinging to its forr glory but it has stagnated. I’m calling you to make sure that you are really into this war because if you do, my army and navy will decimate your ard forces."
"I know what we are doing. You can’t trample our dignity as a nation to dictate what to do. Venetia is our territory and we will quell it, even with the support of the French Empire."
Napoleon II sighed. "Then so be it. You can expect my declaration of war tomorrow morning. It will be broadcasted in radios and telegraphs, the world will know that Europe had once again sparked another war."
Ferdinand hung up, leaving Napoleon II alone in the connection.
He looked at Charles-Louis. "Call Berthier and the Joint Chief of Staff. I want them in my office tomorrow morning and also prepare my declaration of war against the Austrian Empire. And reach out to our allies, the Piedmontese and Naples. He wants war eh? Then I’ll give it to him."
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