Gutted by his military defeat at Prussian hands, despite best efforts on the front, the emperor is missing for days before sneaking back into Vienna, pushing everyone away near suicidal mood, fearing his empire is doomed. Sisi is mandated to elaborate a deal with the Hungarian landtag (parliamentary estates), basically granting the old realm full internal autonomy under the Habsburg crown. She stays - and resumes her adultery with count Andrassy, who managed to get the Hungarian throne offered to Franz Jozeph, if only the indispensable St. Stephen's crown can be retrieved. Only vindictive rebel leader Ödön Körtek knows where it is, and sadistically sets his price at a kiss while on his cholera death bed. Franz learns about it after promising Napoleon debt service and humiliatingly delivering Austria's resignation from the German League in person, then rushes to her sick bed. She recovers and they vow to make up for the kids' sake, symbolize by their joint coronation.
—KGF Vissers