The autumn sky fell over Vienna… Sitting at the Hofburg in its courtyard were two men. One was dressed in a formal suit, its craftsmanship was fine, but its style was humble.
The other was dressed in full royal regalia. There was roughly twenty years of difference between the two men, but looks could be deceiving, and if one didn't know better, they might say there was thirty.
Erwin sipped his tea and nodded in silence. A simple but respectful gesture, all the same, Archduke Karl von Habsburg pushed a file over on the table between them.
"I thought you should know… The Swiss recently approached the Austrian Royal Bank, perhaps out of ignorance of our banking system works. But… they came to us for a loan. After they couldn't make their minimal payments and interest back to the National Bank."
Erwin picked up the folder and looked over the numbers, shaking his head and sighing as he skimmed the figures. He flipped the folder back down on the table and handed it back to Karl.
