Chapter 204: Towards the Finale 6

Chris IV’s defeat and Mansfeld’s rout and demise sent reverberating shockwaves across the continent.

The Imperial forces – once dismissively underestimated following their Lorraine debacle – had emphatically reasserted their formidable might.

Concomitantly, Chris IV’s diminished standing precluded any further meddling beyond the Kalmar Union’s affairs as he focused inward to consolidate his dwindling authority.

This turn of events consequently ensnared Cardinal Richelieu of France – Chris IV’s principal financial backer – in an unexpectedly precarious predicament.

‘I never imagined Chris IV would unravel so precipitously…I had anticipated at least enough protraction to deplete Imperial resources while affording us temporal latitude…’

Intimately acquainted with the Northern forces’ prowess, Richelieu had optimistically projected this campaign might culminate in either outright Imperial defeat or a Pyrrhic stalemate at worst.

Yet the Empire had triumphed decisively with conspicuously minimal attrition – utterly invalidating the cardinal’s strategic calculus.

‘Thank providence for that Lorraine setback, marginal as it proved – else we might have courted catastrophe outright. As is, their victory only emboldens and galvanizes our foes further…’

As France’s premier statesman, enervating the Holy Roman Empire through whatever machinations availed themselves remained an existential imperative.

Should they surmount this internal turmoil to regroup unhindered, the inevitable trajectory of their resurgent might pointed inexorably towards Richelieu’s homeland.

Especially their current heightened military preparedness rendered such prospects utterly unacceptable.

Yet the proxy pawn he had staked proved woefully inadequate, necessitating an alternative gambit to undermine their ascendancy.

‘Suitable replacement pieces remain…though their prior entanglements with that heretical league – and by extension, the Dragonian Empire itself – render outcomes distinctly unpromising…’

Richelieu retained an astute grasp regarding the fundamental quid-pro-quo underpinning any mercantile investment or patronage:

Leverage must invariably accrue to the benefactor over the beneficiary to render such transactions worthwhile.

In other words, the investment secured advantages binding the counterparty – a constraint conspicuously absent among his remaining prospective proxies.

‘Vexing…In that sole regard, Chris IV may have proven the ideal pawn after all. Perhaps proceeding overtly remains our sole viable recourse despite its risks…’

Having resigned himself to pursuing direct confrontation anyway if denied meaningful concessions, Richelieu promptly composed a missive to that effect.

Admittedly, a certain ignoble aspect tinged his overtures as the premier minister of mighty France towards a mere provincial lordling of the Empire…or more accurately, that upstart’s callow heir.

Yet Richelieu harbored no qualms about subjugating pretenses of station to realpolitik when national interests demanded it – especially when the recipient’s capabilities merited such indignities.

‘In retrospect, a pity such talents never graced our realm…With paragons like him among our ranks, subjugating that decrepit Empire might have proved eminently feasible even for France alone…’

A single missive now graced my presence, eliciting decidedly ambivalent sentiments as I processed its audacious implications:

“Richelieu…overtures a military alliance from France against the Holy Roman Empire…?”

Canonically, the French kingdom had habitually maintained guarded detachment from Dragonian affairs – intervening only during pivotal junctures to reap tangible concessions before withdrawing anew.

This proposal, by contrast, advocated overt confrontation on an unparalleled scale indicating a stark departure from their customary modus operandi.

The overture’s premise proved straightforward enough:

They would invade the Empire’s western fronts directly to complement our own offensives from the east.

A markedly more proactive posture compared to their restricted financial subsidies before claiming spoils during peace negotiations within the original narrative’s continuity.

‘So they abandoned courting King Gustavus as their proxy after we preempted that avenue first…’

Certainly direct overt action represented the pragmatic choice over awaiting scraps as a passive tertiary benefactor underwriting others’ campaigns.

Moreover, their opportunistic gambit hardly constituted an unwelcome development from our standpoint heading into the final decisive confrontation.

A renewed French belligerence would undoubtedly divert Imperial attentions and deplete their military resources – eroding their combat effectiveness against us regardless.

Having weighed those strategic calculations, I elected to accept Cardinal Richelieu’s ‘fervent entreaty’ without compunction.

‘Events unfold in increasingly propitious trajectories beyond my initial projections…If properly leveraged, perhaps even grander opportunities may yet avail themselves…’

Confined to his sickbed, Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund Ferdinand beamed radiantly upon receiving the long-awaited tidings:

“Victory, you say…? Can it be truly so – have our Imperial forces truly triumphed?”

“Indeed so, Your Majesty! Reports confirm Generals Tilly and Wallenstein have routed the heretical Northern forces while exacting retribution upon those rebellious lords who defied your sovereignty!”

“Hahahah – bravo, bravo! Praise be, the Lord has not forsaken us after all! Victory – resounding, unequivocal victory at long last!”

Until this watershed moment, the ailing emperor had exuded an unrelentingly grim aura ever since their Lorraine debacle.

Yet this triumph proved sufficient to expunge that ignominious shadow once and for all – its sweeping impact transcending mere sentiment.

The vacillating lords straddling both Imperial and heretical factions unhesitatingly reaffirmed their Imperial fealties. Even France – covertly abetting the opposition – suffered damaging setbacks from this dramatic reversal.

Amidst innumerable internal and external adversaries besieging his realm, this decisive shift bolstered Sigismund’s authority immeasurably while stabilizing the Empire’s foundations.

“Among our leaders, General Wallenstein’s contributions proved paramount – his timely arrival during the pivotal engagement ensured our ultimate supremacy.”

“Wallenstein, you say? Indeed…I discerned his prodigious talents from the onset. Truly a man destined to elevate our Imperial glories in service to the crown.”

The emperor’s radiant mien reflected his euphoric elation in that moment.

Yet as the attending nobles observed their sovereign’s jubilant demeanor, they seized that propitious opening to tender their own delicate petition with the utmost trepidation:

“Y…Your Majesty, if we may…there is a matter we entreat you consider at this most auspicious juncture…”

“Oh? Speak your minds freely, then.”

Having awaited this pivotal opportunity assiduously, the courtiers now perceived an unprecedentedly fortuitous chance to divert the realm from its ominous trajectory – increasingly apparent even to their untrained eyes.

Treading cautiously yet fervently, they implored their liege:

“Your magnificence stands reaffirmed through this triumph, while those rebellious lords now tremble before your might, sire. We humbly beseech you seize this auspicious moment to pursue even greater…accomplishments while fortune favors your cause.”

“Greater accomplishments, you say…?”

“Indeed, Your Majesty. Consolidating stability across the Empire…even compelling those heretical malcontents into absolute submission – unprecedented feats may now lie within your grasp.”

“And what ambitious deed do you propose? If such opportunities avail themselves, how could I refrain from grasping them? Out with it!”

Emboldened by their sovereign’s indulgent assent, the courtiers genuflected reverentially before entreating with heartfelt urgency:

“Your Majesty! We stake our very lives upon this solemn entreaty! We beg you…!”