In the luxurious villa across the street from Schonbrunn Palace, Kaunitz lay on a recliner, listening to his son-in-law talk about French aid, a smile gradually appearing on his face:
"Clemens, you see, the facts have proven I was right.
"If the Emperor had listened to my advice back then, the Empire wouldn't be in its current predicament."
He was in exceptionally good spirits today, speaking at length:
"In the end, it all depends on France's help."
Metternich nodded: "And it relies on the political wealth you left for the Empire."
He was referring to his father-in-law's facilitation of Queen Mary's marriage to France.
Kaunitz raised his hand to grab his son-in-law — he hadn't made such a large gesture in a long time — and said seriously: "But you must remember, Austria is a country maintained by bloodlines and inheritance, diplomacy is our forte.
"What is diplomacy?
