"Protest! Protest! We are Germans, and the Kingdom of Württemberg cannot declare independence!"
"Revoke the declaration of independence!"
The square outside the royal palace of Württemberg in Stuttgart was teeming with people from all corners of the city. Holding up banners, they shouted slogans, vehemently protesting the royal family's audacious declaration of independence.
For the people of the Kingdom of Württemberg, detaching themselves from the German Empire and becoming citizens of an allegedly independent Württemberg was simply unacceptable.
The German Empire was a mighty power, and upon winning the ongoing war, it would emerge as the world's undisputed hegemon. As for the Kingdom of Württemberg—leaving aside whether independence was truly achievable—its small territory and modest population meant it could not even aspire to be a second-tier power in Europe. Naturally, the people had no desire to trade their status as subjects of a world-dominating empire for that of a third-rate, obscure state.
Moreover, the people of Württemberg prided themselves on being true Germans, sharing the same heritage and bloodline as the citizens of the German Empire. Given this, they could not fathom how their kingdom could, or should, ever break away.
When the royal family, without the consent of the government, unilaterally declared independence, it ignited the fury of the people. They gathered in the square before the palace, demanding the revocation of the declaration. Were it not for the tight security of the royal guards, and the machine guns they had set up, it was likely that the enraged crowds would have stormed the palace and seized the Fortuna brothers, handing them over to the central government.
However, the behavior of the people only served to enrage the Fortuna brothers further.
"Damn it! How can these miserable peasants fail to see our noble intentions? Everything we've done, we've done for the Kingdom of Württemberg and for their own good! And yet, they openly oppose us! This is beyond unacceptable!" Fortuna seethed as he stood in an office on the second floor of the royal palace, glaring out the window at the angry mob gathering below.
Of course, he claimed his actions were for the good of the kingdom and its people, but in truth, he sought only personal gain. His true aim was to become the king of the independent Kingdom of Württemberg and hold absolute power. The so-called concern for the people was nothing more than a convenient excuse, a thin veneer to mask his personal ambitions.
"Brother, what should we do now?" Gregor asked, a note of worry in his voice.
They had expected that, upon declaring independence, the people would immediately rally to their cause. With this support, they would have the leverage needed to negotiate with the central government. Even if full independence was unattainable, they could still secure greater autonomy for the Kingdom of Württemberg, perhaps even achieving a level of independence akin to Bavaria. In such a scenario, Fortuna would become king, and Gregor would be made duke. But now, the situation was spiraling in an entirely unexpected direction.
Fortuna, too, felt like a fish out of water. He knew that the longer they waited, the more unfavorable their position would become. The German army was evidently advancing on Stuttgart, and time was running out.
"Has the Fourth Army responded? Are von Faber and Holmes still refusing to take our orders?" Fortuna demanded.
Like his late father, Fortuna had placed his hopes in the Fourth Army, hoping to leverage their support to bargain with the central government. Unfortunately, even before the Duke of Württemberg had been executed, his influence over the Fourth Army had waned. Now, with only their dwindling forces left, there was no hope of obtaining support from the military.
"Nothing yet. Von Faber and Holmes are clearly set on betraying us," Gregor replied.
This news plunged Fortuna further into despair. Without the army's backing, they were utterly defenseless against the overwhelming forces of the central government's military. They would be crushed in an instant.
"My lord, the vanguard of the army, about a battalion's worth of troops, is nearly at Stuttgart," reported a guard officer.
"What? How could they arrive so quickly?" Both Fortuna and Gregor were taken aback, their faces drained of color.
The royal palace's guard was small, numbering just over a thousand men. While this was sufficient to defend the palace, it was far too few to control the entirety of Stuttgart, let alone face the elite forces of the army sent to quell the rebellion. Wouldn't that be certain death?
"Damn it! Order the guards to immediately march and seize the Daimler factory and other key facilities. If the army dares to advance, we'll destroy the factories. If need be, we'll make it a fight to the death!" Fortuna said, his expression twisted with malice.
"Brother, if we do that, it will be an open break with Berlin. Berlin will never forgive us," Gregor said, voice laced with concern.
The importance of those factories was self-evident. For the ongoing war effort, they played a crucial role. If the factories were destroyed, the brothers would likely be charged with sabotage and endangering national security, facing the same fate as the Duke of Württemberg—a public execution.
"Gregor, we have no other choice. Ever since father was executed by that bastard Oscar, they've made it clear they won't show us mercy. So we can only fight back!" Fortuna ground his teeth, his resolve hardening.
Gregor hesitated but finally nodded.
Upon receiving the order, the royal guards prepared to move out. But as soon as they left the palace, they were blocked by the furious crowd.
Among the throngs, an informant shouted, revealing to the people that the guards were headed to attack the factories. The mob's anger erupted anew, and they surrounded the guards, demanding that they lay down their weapons and surrender.
The commander of the guards, pale with fear, ordered his men to open fire and disperse the crowd. But no one obeyed. After all, the guards were largely recruited from Stuttgart and its vicinity. Among the protesters were their own families. How could they bring themselves to fire upon their own kin?
And so, the guards laid down their arms and surrendered. The commander, realizing the situation had spiraled out of control, hurriedly retreated back into the palace. This development left Fortuna and Gregor both disheartened, as they sensed the enormity of their mistake. However, it was too late for regrets.