BTW, I am just reading the parts where von Franken conspires to make Thomas the Youngest a co-Emperor and I am stunned by the negative reactions, even condemnations, of my fellow readers. Of course I don't know what will happen next so maybe I am just embarrassing myself here, but...
WHAT?
What the hell did you expect? Albrecht had served the Empire loyally for decades - more that that, he almost single-handedly kept it from crumbling during the latter years of Thomas II's reign - and for all his trouble he was about to be "retired" by the new, 'slightly' over-confident, emperor. As we know, "retirement" would mean no protection from his many enemies in the Holy Roman Empire, and so likely the death for him and his family.
I kinda like the guy - even when he's trying to save his own neck and has all the reasons to be disloyal, he's also trying to save the Empire - Gabriel's reign if left unchecked would be a disaster, despite his martial abilities. Albrecht is simply trying to maintain some sort of balance between ambition and capabilities.
Just my 2 c€nts