Nobert’s expression showed no change, instead, he smiled even more brightly: "Oh, Mr. Elarch, it’s an honor to et you. Your deanor is just as fitting with Mrs. Robel Day’s beauty."
As a French person, he was long accustod to such things. In his view, a woman of Dorian’s age not having a lover was the real abnormality.
"Hehe, look at what you’re saying, but I also think the sa way." Count Elarch’s smile imdiately blossod, returning the gesture to Nobert, then he strongly embraced Dorian by the waist.
Nobert picked up a glass of wine from a tray held by a passing servant and signaled to Elarch: "I guess you must be from Lorraine or tz?"
The latter spoke with a strong German-accented French.
This ti, both Count Elarch and Dorian fell into awkwardness.
"Ahem, actually, I am from Bern."
Dorian hastily made ands beside him: "Klaus holds an Earl’s title and leads the Bern Parliant."
Scorn flashed in Nobert’s eyes, but he soon noticed the expensive fan in her hand, and imdiately resud his smile, bowing to Elarch: "I apologize, you see, I should have addressed you as Count Elarch."
Dorian, however, seed as if her heart had been pierced, and she said sowhat despondently: "Actually, I was just telling Klaus that it would be better if he worked in France."
Nobert squinted slightly, and with a casual tone, said: "That’s not impossible; it just takes a little bit of money."
Dorian sighed: "The governnt has long stopped selling official positions, now you need to first pass into the Administration College, and they require even more from foreigners..."
Nobert lightly swirled his wine glass and said: "If Count Elarch doesn’t mind, perhaps your old friends can lend so help."
Dorian was surprised: "You?"
Nobert nodded indifferently: "I inherited my father’s title the year before last and currently serve as the Director of International Markets in the... ah, Ministry of Trade."
Dorian was instantly overjoyed: "Oh, God, you are truly young and promising!"
Nobert waved his hand: "It’s only thanks to the family strength."
Just then, two well-dressed nobles passed by, raised their glasses to Nobert, and in a genuine Parisian accent, said: "Viscount Nobert, you are here too?"
"Oh, it’s Earl Leona, and Baron Le Jean." Nobert gently clinked his glass with theirs, "I ca with Count Mirabeau, you know, there will be many orders at this expo."
"Yes, the Ministry of Trade can’t do without you now."
"You are truly Count Mirabeau’s capable aide."
After chatting for a while, Nobert turned to Dorian and indicated: "If you need help, please feel free to co to anyti."
That evening, Count Elarch and his mistress waited at the entrance of the ballroom for quite so ti before they finally saw Viscount Nobert coming out.
In a high-end café next to Karlsruhe Palace, Nobert nodded and said: "About 15,000 francs, I can help you secure a position in the Ministry of Trade, and if all goes well, you can get promoted to director within three years."
Count Elarch and Dorian exchanged glances, eyes full of excitent and anticipation.
Being a director in the French Ministry of Trade is far more prestigious than being any vice speaker in Bern.
Viscount Nobert glanced at their expressions, took a sip of coffee, and said: "If you can bring out another 30,000 francs, I can try to speak to Mr. Bailly and have your title recognized by the Palace of Versailles."
Count Elarch’s heart was pounding out of his chest.
It’s known that Swiss titles are worth nothing to the French. A French title is the symbol of status recognized all over Europe!
"Are you, are you serious?"
"Of course." Nobert seed to be discussing today’s lunch, "Mr. Bailly holds in high regard. You know, he can often be seen in front of the Crown Prince."
Count Elarch had naturally heard of the renowned French Minister of Trade, so enthusiastic he didn’t know where to put his hands.
However, his face soon showed a look of difficulty: "Well, 45,000 francs might be... hey, if only the railway plan wasn’t having issues, I could co up with even more, but now..."
If the Bern railway project proceeded normally, he could perhaps rake in eighty to ninety thousand francs, but currently, his assets total only a little over 30,000 francs.
Nobert leaned forward: "This railway plan you ntioned is?"
After Count Elarch finished explaining the situation, Nobert shook his head slightly: "This is indeed a tough issue."
Dorian urgently interjected: "Can you perhaps find so connections in the Ministry of Transportation, maybe have them provide a road construction team or sothing..."
Count Elarch gave her a disgruntled look: "What nonsense are you talking? How could the French Ministry of Transportation possibly support a Swiss project?"
But there was a glint of greed in Viscount Nobert’s eyes as he looked at him and said: "That might not be impossible. It just requires a substantial sum to work with..."
More than an hour later, Count Elarch hurriedly returned to his residence and, overnight, summoned a Swiss diplomat to ask: "Do you know who the Director of International Markets is in the French Ministry of Trade?"
The latter yawned, rummaged through a leather case for the diplomatic directory, flipped through it for a good while, and pointed to a line: "Viscount Nobert. Twenty-eight years old, from a Parisian political family..."
"Has he co to Karlsruhe?"
The diplomat flipped through it again for a while, nodded: "Yes, he ca with the French delegation."
"Have you t him?"
"No. But his appearance is recorded here; hmm, tall, blond hair, very handso."
Count Elarch nodded vigorously: "That’s him for sure!"
The next day, he indeed saw Viscount Nobert in the French exhibit area, who was following closely behind Count Mirabeau, seemingly very busy.
He imdiately instructed his attendant: "Hog, have people pack our things, we’re returning to Bern now."
The latter whispered in confusion: "Master, didn’t you say you planned to settle in Baden?"
"Stop nonsense, hurry up!"
Count Elarch left 10,000 francs for his mistress to help contact Viscount Nobert, and then he took a carriage and left Karlsruhe.
Half a month later.
Inside the Bern State Parliant Building.
The protest sounds outside caused Chairman Haupert to frown deeply. He turned and shut the window forcefully before looking back at Elarch: "What did you just say? Join France?"
"That’s right!" The latter exclaid excitedly, "Bern to detach from the Confederation and beco a province of France!
"This way, the French Ministry of Transportation will plan railways here, and there would be no need to compensate investors."
He pointed outside: "Those guys would then obediently go back ho.
"Oh, and we wouldn’t even need to use the funds we prepared; just like Reims or Lyon, the Ministry of Transportation would allocate funding..."
Sitting next to him, Mr. Fred interrupted, frowning: "Have you had too much to drink? Why would France agree to Bern joining?"
Indeed, the concept of territorial sovereignty in Europe at this ti was completely different from later generations.
A place as extrely poor and backward as Switzerland, even if presented to France, would certainly be unwanted—putting large tax sums into Switzerland’s barren mountain valleys is unquestionably foolish.
Count Elarch smugly said: "Do you rember Dorian?"
"Your French mistress?"
"Exactly. She has an old neighbor, the kind with very good family ties, Viscount Nobert. He is currently the Director of International Markets at the French Ministry of Trade, with connections reaching up to the French Crown Prince there."
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