Chapter 182: Taking Advantage of a Crisis (1/2)
After Berengar shared an awkward meal with his inlaws, he and Count Otto finally moved into the old Count's study, where they could communicate about the issues at hand. Count Otto was aware that Berengar was primarily here to see Adela, but officially the young Count was in Graz to discuss business; as such, the two men quickly got to the issues at hand, with Count Otto taking the lead.
”So Count Berengar, tell me what is so important that you would cross a battlefield just to speak with me in person?”
Berengar smiled at the way his uncle addressed him, in a formal setting such as this, referring to Berengar by his noble title was a way to show respect to his position; Berengar followed in a suit when he gave his reply.
”Count Otto, I am here to address the ongoing crisis in the borders of Austria, by now the Bavarians have taken Vienna, and occupy large portions of Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Salzburg, and Kärnten, the only three Counties left that are remotely intact are that of our regions, and Vorarlberg. As such, I have come to request your assistance in resisting Bavarian Tyranny.”
Count Otto narrowed his eyes at Berengar, he was not yet aware that Vienna had fallen, nor the consequences it had; after all, he did not have a spy in the Duke's Court. Thus he was unaware of what had recently transpired. As such, he attempted to clarify his confusion.
”Since when did Vienna fall?”
Berengar was aware that his uncle was in the dark of the recent developments in the war for Austria. As such, he quickly informed the mighty Count of the information that he was privy to.
”The Castle of Vienna fell a few days ago. If everything has gone as planned, then my agents were able to smuggle out one of the late Duke Wilmar's heirs before the rest were executed, thus sparing the main Habsburg line from the brutality of Duke Dietger. When he arrives in Kufstein, I plan to establish a government in exile so that we may fully resist the oppression that Duke Dietger and his army of Bavarians bring forth!”
Count Otto noticed that Berengar was sure of the outcome, despite not providing any substantial evidence; thus he questioned him further.
”Do you have any evidence of these claims?”
In response to this, Bernegar merely chuckled before responding to his Uncle's interrogation, he was confident enough in his spy network that they had succeeded in their endeavors. After all, he was traveling to Graz while they were at work rescuing Conrad from the Bavarians, so he had no way to know for certain if everything went according to plan.
”Admittedly at the moment I am lacking in evidence, however, I am confident in the ability of my underlings. In the upcoming days, I am certain that my claims will become public knowledge. So until you can confirm my words for yourself, why don't we act as if they are the truth, and plan accordingly?”
Though Count Otto was uncertain about whether or not Berengar's claims were true, the sheer confidence the young man had to make plans based on the assumption that everything had gone according to his desires was enough to convince Otto that the likelihood of such an outcome was high. As such he sighed in response to this news and voice his innermost thoughts.
”So my worst fears have become realized. Tell me which of Wilmar's heirs did you rescue?”
Berengar smirked as he revealed the name of the heir that he had specifically chosen to save from the Bavarians' wrath.
”Conrad...”
Immediately Count Otto's face twisted as he heard those words; he was well aware that Conrad was by no means fit to rule the Duchy of Austria. As a wise man, he could already guess what Berengar was planning; as such, he immediately began to protest.
”You saved the youngest and least competent of Wilmar's heirs so that he can be your puppet while you possess the real power behind the throne?”
Berengar did not deny the charges. Instead, his lips curved into a sinister smile before he professed his guilt to the man who questioned him.
”I am afraid that I am, in fact, guilty of the charges you lay before me. However, let us be brutally honest with ourselves here. Do you genuinely believe that in the entire realm, there is anyone that is more fit to lead our Duchy than myself during these darkest of days?”
Count Otto had a hard time believing that Berengar would outright admit to his schemes, but it appeared as if the young Count was unafraid of the consequences in doing so; after all, he knew that his uncle would not reveal his plots, nor side against him.
The two men were related by blood. They also shared a similar goal: to reunite Austria; if Otto opposed Berengar's wishes, he would create a civil war between the Austrian nobility who remained free from Bavarian occupation.
In such an event were to occur, Otto knew that Berengar would ultimately be the victor and would likely succeed in his efforts to repel the Bavarian invaders. Either way, Berengar would install a puppet on the ducal throne of Austria and claim power for himself. Resisting such an inevitable outcome was an act of futility.
Thus Count Otto sighed heavily before accepting the result; he recognized that by not seizing the opportunity to break the Bavarian siege of Vienna, he had played right into Berengar's hands, allowing the young man to usurp the power of the Duchy for himself.
Indeed his nephew was an ambitious and cruel man. Nevertheless, by marrying his youngest daughter off to Berengar, Otto ensured that his Dynasty would also rise alongside that of the von Kufstein's. As such, Otto had no plans to spoil his young nephew's endeavors. After agreeing with Berengar's schemes, he quickly asked the question on his mind.
”So, what is it that you need of me?”