Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye signed
The signing of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, where Austrian representatives formally accept the terms imposed by the Allied Powers after World War I, effectively dissolving the Austro-Hungarian
Setting
The signing ceremony takes place in the grand Salle des Conférences of the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, a lavishly decorated Renaissance-style hall with high ceilings and ornate detailing. Long wooden tables draped in royal blue cloth form a U-shape, with delegations from Allied Powers seated along the outer edges. The Austrian delegation sits at the center table beneath an immense crystal chandelier.
Characters
Austrian Chief Delegate
primary
A tall, middle-aged man with a gaunt face, deep-set eyes, and a prominent, slightly hooked nose. His thinning gray hair is combed back neatly, and his posture, though weary, maintains an air of aristocratic dignity. His hands are long-fingered and delicate, betraying his noble upbringing.
French Diplomat
primary
A distinguished middle-aged man with sharp features, a well-groomed mustache, and piercing blue eyes that convey both intelligence and authority. His posture is erect, exuding confidence, and his hands are carefully manicured, indicative of his high status.
British Delegate
secondary
A middle-aged man with a sharp, angular face, thin lips, and piercing grey eyes that survey the room with detached scrutiny. His posture is rigid, betraying military training, and his neatly trimmed salt-and-pepper mustache adds to his austere appearance.
Austrian Secretary
secondary
A young man in his late twenties, slight of build with a pale complexion and neatly combed dark brown hair. His sharp features are accentuated by wire-rimmed spectacles perched on his nose, and his hands are delicate, suggesting a life spent handling documents rather than manual labor.
French Guard
background
A stern and disciplined French military guard in his late 20s, standing at attention with a rigid posture. He has a clean-shaven face, sharp features, and a muscular build, indicative of his military training. His piercing blue eyes scan the room with vigilance, reflecting his sense of duty.
Dialog
Austrian Chief Delegate
With this signature, Austria surrenders not merely territory, but the very bones of her history.
French Diplomat
The terms, as articulated, are both just and necessary for the stability of Europe. I trust you find them... equitable.
British Delegate
One might observe that equitable terms are rather beside the point when one has lost a war.
Austrian Chief Delegate
Indeed. The victors shall write history—and dictate borders.
French Diplomat
History, delegate, is written by those who understand the consequences of their actions.