Chapter 209: The Butterfly Effect 4

Events unfolded with startling rapidity:

Having issued final rallying exhortations, Emperor Sigismund confronted his newly-armed retinue – intending to deploy them into strategic positions in preparation for the imminent siege.

“Now that preparatory measures are complete, each contingent shall assume their designated stations. You men shall reinforce the western ramparts while the remaining…”

“Ghhkkk…!”

“Arrgghh…!”

“Wh…what treachery is this?! Explain yourselves at once!”

Without preamble, several courtiers unsheathed their blades to cut down the stunned Imperial guardsmen amidst uproarious confusion.

Bewildered disbelief contorted the Emperor’s ashen countenance as he stammered in disoriented incomprehension:

“Y…you reprobates…what is the meaning of this inexplicable madness? Why have you…”

“Apologies, Your Majesty – but ensuring our survival compelled such measures as our sole viable recourse.”

“Because of you, this realm’s destiny now teeters upon annihilation’s verge. Wallenstein’s unstoppable juggernaut cannot be stemmed!”

Their cold declarations accompanied by bloodstained steel leveled squarely towards Sigismund elicited visceral outrage from the beleaguered sovereign:

“Traitors…! You ungrateful curs dare betray my sovereign personage – your anointed God-Emperor himself?! No – to turn your blades against Heaven’s Chosen Emissary represents the greatest sacrilege imaginable!”

“Heaven’s Chosen…? Hah – had that truly been the case, circumstance would never have degenerated to these abject straits in the first place!”

“We can no longer indulge your misbegotten religious zealotry at the cost of further bloodshed. Submit without undue resistance!”

Scornful mockery greeted the Emperor’s histrionic denunciations as his erstwhile loyalists immediately subdued him at blade-point – forcing Sigismund to his knees amid impotent, choleric spasms.

“Khhh…vile traitors…strike me down then, if you dare! I shall curse your ignominious souls with my dying breaths!”

“Nay – historically, those who slaughter their own sovereigns seldom meet auspicious ends.”

“You shall constitute a…hostage gift, if you will…to present Lord Wallenstein upon his arrival. So remain placidly cooperative in the interim.”

“Wh…what profanities dare you utter…?!”

This flagrant intimation engendering further subjugation and degradation beyond mere death itself exacerbated the deposed autocrat’s choleric rictus into a virulent paroxysm.

Yet Sigismund’s impotent indignation availed him utterly – constrained as he was by the very men whose vaunted loyalty once constituted his personal bodyguards and closest confidants.

The abject spectacle of having even his innermost intimates forsake him so comprehensively represented an unambiguous rebuke:

That the people’s disenchanted disillusionment with their sovereign had utterly metastasized into outright alienation – his own subordinates abandoning him without compunction.

Yet this newly-ostracized pariah remained obliviously mired in delusional self-righteousness – railing futilely against divine Providence itself as his humiliation commenced:

“Gloat while you still can, wretch! The Lord’s judgment shall descend upon your treasonous hide most grievously! To so defile your sovereign liege…your name shall reverberate as synonymous with traitorous infamy for generations untold!”

“sigh…”

Sigismund’s unremitting torrent of caustic calumnies eventually prompted Wallenstein’s resigned headshake – comprehending further discourse with this deluded fanatic remained hopelessly unproductive until his implacable frenzy subsided.

For now, maintaining sedated confinement offered the sole viable option until such fervent venom dissipated naturally:

“Escort the deposed Emperor into secure custody within the palace’s innermost chambers. Ensure constant vigilance – we cannot risk his inflicting self-harm through rash impetuosity.”

“As you command, Lord Protector!”

“Uncouth barbarians – release me at once, damn you all! I remain your sovereign Emperor – how dare your profane hands defile my sacred personage?! Release me forthwith, I say!”

And so departed the implacably raving Sigismund – consumed by indignant fury until his very departure from the Imperial throne he had so irredeemably forsaken.

With that malignant impediment neutralized, Wallenstein refocused his attentions towards more constructive imperatives for the realm’s stabilization by addressing his two foremost lieutenants Hestia and Otto:

“The Emperor’s deposition and Vienna’s pacification conclude this crucial opening maneuver. What prudent courses do you advise prioritizing from this juncture onwards?”

Otto offered a pragmatic assessment befitting the grave circumstances:

“Our paramount priority must involve annulling the Emperor’s pernicious anti-heretical decrees fomenting this interminable sectarian strife, as previously intended. With the Imperial seals and administrative apparatus now under our exclusive jurisdiction, implementation should prove straightforward.”

Hestia concurred while highlighting further exigencies:

“I concur – forestalling any pretexts for foreign interventions also remains imperative. Recent dispatches already confirm France occupying Lorraine while massing troops along our western marches. To the north, Kalmar’s legions stand poised for an imminent southern invasion as well.”

“Hah…a single day’s delay could have exponentially compounded these entanglements… Very well, let those objectives constitute our immediate focuses. Any further counsel regarding subsequent mandates?”

Hestia intimated further necessities while exchanging furtive glances with Otto:

“Beyond the domestic and foreign policy realignments, comprehensive peace negotiations must commence posthaste – with the heretical league, Lorraine, France, and any other embroiled entities… Once those particulars conclude…”

She tentatively trailed off, leaving certain implications diplomatically unspoken for now.

Wallenstein acknowledged her reticence with a curt nod before issuing practical directives:

“Understood – let us systematically implement those initial stabilizing maneuvers first. Prepare the requisite diplomatic delegations – Westphalia Palace shall host these pivotal peace accords.”

“As you dictate, Lord Protector.”