Elberhard: I apologise to Count Matthias, and indeed to other Bavarians, for my hot-headed words. I spoke too quickly and without thought in impugning the honour of his noble House. The Count is right - the Bavarian Household Army Otto is sailing to Thessalonica in support of an Imperial mission and indeed our Eastern Roman brothers. My foolish words do them a great injustice. I @#$%^&!!!ed up. I am sorry.

But Matthias, I assure you - the Kaiser did not tell me of his intentions to gift these two provinces during or before the last Session of the Diet. I reiterate - the Kaiser is the Chancellor, not me. I am merely executing the instructions he relays and speaking for him in the Diet in his absence. I was not informed of the gifting until it was done. Indeed, I am not sure that the Kaiser himself knew of his plan to gift the provinces at the last Diet. I believe it was a decision made more spontaneously during the initial negotiations. Perhaps I am wrong on that. But that I personally am an ignorant @#$%^&!!!er, there can be little doubt.