"Cousin, you wouldn’t want to see the remnants of the Orleans Clan continue to control the Kingdom of Belgium, would you?"
Queen Catherine’s words made Jero Bonaparte feel a sense of doubt, questioning whether he had traversed into an indescribable world.
"This day..." Jero Bonaparte paused for a mont, and hastily corrected himself: "Cousin, I think the two of us here, openly discussing the division of a country like this, isn’t it sowhat improper!
Although the Kingdom of Belgium did belong to you in the past, they have truly beco a nation with independent sovereignty now.
We should at least consider international concerns, shouldn’t we!"
"Cousin!" Queen Catherine clearly did not care about the so-called international reactions, and spoke candidly to Jero Bonaparte: "Now, in all of Europe, is there any country that dares not to obey your orders? What are you afraid of!
Before I ca, William (King of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) told that we do not need you to send troops to aid us!
As long as when we deploy troops, you stand by our side!"
"But..." Jero Bonaparte evasively said: "Cousin, you should understand! The Kingdom of Belgium was successfully established with the help of France at that ti!
Therefore, France’s feelings towards the Kingdom of Belgium are much more complicated than you imagine!"
Queen Catherine assured Jero Bonaparte again: "It’s simple, once our army completely occupies the Kingdom of Belgium, we will hand over the Luxembourg Province to you, in this way, the area of the Luxembourg Duchy will be doubled out of thin air!"
"This..."
Hearing Queen Catherine’s assurance, Jero Bonaparte felt a slight stir in his heart.
Just as his cousin said, the friendship between the French Empire and the Kingdom of Belgium is far less than it was during the Orleans Kingdom.
Jero Bonaparte was under no obligation to protect them like the Orleans Kingdom did; instead, supporting the Kingdom of the Netherlands to annex the Kingdom of Belgium was more in line with his interests.
Despite the fact that the Kingdom of Belgium is currently sending its Crown Prince here, it is actually just a formality.
"I... will consider it!" Jero Bonaparte finally responded, "In any case, cousin, you’re not in a hurry!!"
"Alright then!" Though there was a slight reluctance in Queen Catherine’s heart, she still chose to give Jero Bonaparte so ti to consider.
Subsequently, Jero Bonaparte excused himself to handle state affairs and left Empress Augusta’s room, fearing that his cousin would entangle him in a web of complex issues.
Walking along the corridor, Jero Bonaparte, after a mont of thought, decided to head to the "Ossai Pier" to consult Valerovsky’s opinion.
He then quickly descended the stairs and arrived at the Tuileries Palace Hall.
Mokar, within the hall, promptly approached Jero Bonaparte to inquire if there were any directives!
"Imdiately prepare a carriage for , I need to personally go to the Ossai Pier!" Jero Bonaparte succinctly said.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Mokar slightly bowed and turned to leave.
Before Mokar disappeared into the corridor, Jero Bonaparte called out to him again.
When Mokar turned to ask if there were any other instructions, Jero Bonaparte replied: "And also, prepare in advance a wig and glasses for ! Choose a carriage that is as simple as possible, nothing too flashy... Also, this ti there’s no need for anyone to accompany !"
"Understood!" Mokar nodded and then disappeared into the hallway on the right side of the hall.
About 10 minutes later, Mokar reappeared before Jero Bonaparte and said: "Your Majesty, everything has been prepared for you!"
"That’s good!" Jero Bonaparte nodded, then asked again, "By the way! If Queen Catherine asks for , tell her: I’m already considering what she said!"
"As you command!" Mokar bowed to Jero Bonaparte in response.
Afterward, Jero Bonaparte left the Tuileries Palace alone, riding in a modest black carriage toward the Ossai Pier.
The carriage rushed out of the Tuileries Palace Garden, down the Champs-Élysées to the Seine River, then along the Seine River all the way east until it reached the vicinity of the arranged pier.
As Jero Bonaparte entered the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a clerk imdiately blocked Jero Bonaparte’s path.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" The clerk looked puzzled at Jero Bonaparte, who was wearing a wig and glasses.
"Take to see your Minister of Foreign Affairs!" Jero Bonaparte lowered his voice, feigning a hoarse tone as he commanded the clerk.
The clerk, completely failing to recognize Jero Bonaparte’s disguise, eyed him up and down and then inquired with a slightly arrogant tone: "Do you have an appointnt? If not, Minister Valvesky will not et with you!"
"I have no appointnt!" Jero Bonaparte shook his head calmly as he removed his glasses and wig. "I wonder if that’s enough to et your minister!"
The clerk’s expression turned increasingly fearful as Jero Bonaparte gradually removed his disguise.
He probably never imagined that the Emperor of the French Empire would one day choose to "privately tour" in plain clothes.
"I... I..." The clerk’s face showed an embarrassed expression as he stamred to Jero Bonaparte: "Your Majesty, you... you certainly can! You can co anyti you wish!"
"Hahaha!" Jero Bonaparte smiled slightly, then patted the clerk’s shoulder and said, "Don’t be nervous; I’m not so man-eating monster!"
"Yes... yes!" The clerk could only respond ekly.
"Let’s go! Take to your minister!" Jero Bonaparte motioned for the clerk to lead the way.
The clerk led Jero Bonaparte up the stairs; when they reached the landing between the second and third floors, the Secretary of State from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs appeared in the corridor.
He first glanced at the clerk and then at Jero Bonaparte, then bowed to Jero Bonaparte in salute.
"Just in ti, take to see Valerovsky!" Jero Bonaparte said with a smile when he saw the Secretary of State, then gently patted the clerk’s shoulder, saying, "Thanks for your hard work!"
"Not at all! Not at all!" The clerk shook his head and replied to Jero Bonaparte.
After that, the Secretary of State and Jero Bonaparte continued upward. When they reached the floor where Valerovsky’s office was located, the Secretary of State inford Jero Bonaparte that Minister Valerovsky was in conversation with soone.
"Who?" Jero Bonaparte asked curiously.
"The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria, Count Baur!" The Secretary of State replied decisively.
"Baur? When did he arrive?" Jero Bonaparte was stunned for a few seconds before asking.
"Count Baur has been in Paris for more than a week!" The Secretary of State responded imdiately.
Jero Bonaparte slightly furrowed his brow; it had been four days since he arrived in Paris, and yet no one told him about Count Baur’s arrival.
(In fact, Empress Augusta ntioned it once, but Jero Bonaparte was too exhausted from handling dostic affairs to rember.)
"Do you know what Count Baur and Valerovsky are discussing?" Jero Bonaparte asked the Secretary of State again.
"Seems to be the issue of Poland!" The Secretary of State replied, "Your Majesty, I don’t know the specifics! They just started talking!"
"So what were you going downstairs to do just now?" Jero Bonaparte asked the Secretary of State.
"Ah!" The Secretary of State suddenly realized he seed to have forgotten his task, "Minister Valerovsky had just asked to prepare two cups of black tea for him!"
Jero Bonaparte shook his head and then replied to the Secretary of State, "Make it three cups of black tea... better yet, bring a pot of tea!"
"Your Majesty, are you going in too?" The Secretary of State asked instinctively.
"Exactly! Hurry along!" Jero Bonaparte said, and imdiately headed to the door of Valerovsky’s office, then gently pushed it open.
"How could you..." A reprimand from inside the room began, followed by the surprised voices of Count Baur and Valerovsky: "Your Majesty!!!!"
"Mr. Baur!" Jero Bonaparte gently closed the door and nodded with a smile at him.
Count Baur and Valerovsky hurriedly stood up to salute Jero Bonaparte and offered him a seat.
Jero Bonaparte slowly took the main seat on the sofa, invited Count Baur and Valerovsky to sit down, and only then did they both take their seats.
"I’m here uninvited!" Jero Bonaparte initially stated his unexpected visit, "I didn’t anticipate that Valerovsky and you would still be in discussions when I arrived!"
"Your Majesty, Minister Valerovsky and I are discussing the issue of Poland!" Count Baur quickly explained to Jero Bonaparte.
"Indeed, Your Majesty!" Valerovsky nodded to Jero Bonaparte and said, "I had planned to deliver the results to you once the discussion concluded!"
"Discussion? Discussing what?" Jero Bonaparte looked puzzled at Count Baur, "Is Maximilian unwilling to take the position of the Grand Duke of Warsaw?"
"No! Not at all!"
Count Baur shook his head and replied to Jero Bonaparte, "Franz Joseph is prepared to appoint Maximilian as the Grand Duke of Krakow and Galicia and sent him to inquire about your opinion, Jero Bonaparte."
Reviews
All reviews (0)