Chapter 281: The Start of a New Year

Two days later, on January 2nd, 1802, the former king of France, Louis Capet, arrived in the Austrian capital of Vienna.

As he stepped into the Schonbrunn Palace, the mansion's manservants, serving under Emperor Francis II, greeted him warmly and escorted him to the Emperor's study.

A minute later, Louis found himself standing in front of Emperor Francis II's office. The manservant discreetly closed the door as Louis entered.

"Louis, I'm relieved to see you've returned safely," Francis II remarked, his focus still fixed on the paper he was scribbling on with a fountain pen. He finally glanced up from his work as Louis approached the desk.

Setting aside his fountain pen and paper, Emperor Francis leaned back and met Louis's gaze. "Louis, there's a newspaper article I read just a few minutes ago," he said, reaching for the folded paper on his desk and unfolding it. 

He read the headline on the front page.