As Empress Augusta and Elizabeth sighed over the commands of won worldwide, Jero Bonaparte was engaging in conversation with the dignitaries attending the Hofburg Palace banquet under the introduction of Franz Joseph.
The first person Franz Joseph introduced to Jero Bonaparte was none other than the 79-year-old Marshal Radetzky.
"Jero, this is Marquis Radetzky, currently the Governor of Venice and Lombardy!" Franz Joseph introduced Jero Bonaparte.
"Your Majesty!" Despite being 89 years old, Marshal Radetzky responded to Jero Bonaparte with full vigor.
"Marquis Radetzky, it is an honor to et a legendary figure like you!" Jero Bonaparte smiled as he shook hands with Radetzky.
"Your Majesty, you flatter !" Marshal Radetzky responded humbly to Jero Bonaparte and then complinted, "I am just a military man, while you are the Emperor of a nation.
You are the true legend!"
"You are overly modest!" Jero Bonaparte responded with equal humility, "Those who stood out in an era of great change cannot be compared to us who were raised in peaceful tis!"
"Your Majesty, that era belonged to His Majesty Napoleon, the Duke of Wellington, and Grand Duke Carl. I was rely an unknown nobody!
It is only because I have outlived those legends that my na has reached your ears!" Marshal Radetzky continued to maintain a humble attitude.
Seeing Jero Bonaparte and Marshal Radetzky being excessively modest, Franz Joseph cleared his throat and tactfully bid farewell to Radetzky on behalf of Jero Bonaparte.
He feared that if the two continued being so modest, the entire banquet would pass in mutual admiration.
Subsequently, Jero Bonaparte and Franz Joseph left Radetzky and moved on to a middle-aged man dressed in a light blue military uniform.
"This is Admiral Albrecht, currently serving as Governor of Hungary!" Franz Joseph introduced Jero Bonaparte once more.
"General Albrecht, greetings!" Jero Bonaparte also extended his hand to Albrecht and said, "Your performance during the Aumitz period was simply outstanding!"
Albrecht, with a touch of surprise on his face, did not expect His Majesty Jero Bonaparte to rember the events of Aumitz from a few years ago, and he also humbly replied to Jero Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, you overpraise !"
Jero Bonaparte then extended an invitation to Albrecht, hoping he could visit France during his free ti to strengthen the exchange between the Austrian Empire and the French Empire.
Albrecht expressed that if the opportunity arose, he would certainly visit the French Empire.
Subsequently, Franz Joseph introduced Jero Bonaparte to Windischgrätz and others.
Jero Bonaparte enthusiastically engaged in conversations with them, and soon it was 7 PM.
With a solemn announcent from the Hofburg Palace Chief Steward, Jero Bonaparte and his wife, along with Franz Joseph and his wife, proceeded to the dining room under the steward’s guidance.
The dignitaries attending the Hofburg Palace banquet (those of lesser rank went to another dining room) also followed Jero Bonaparte and others for the al.
When Jero Bonaparte and Franz Joseph arrived at the dining room, what caught their eye was a long table capable of seating 50 people.
The main seats at the table were equipped with four high-backed chairs, clearly intended for Jero Bonaparte and his wife, and Franz Joseph and his wife.
"Your Majesties, please take your seats!" The Royal Palace Chief Steward bowed and said to them.
Jero Bonaparte and his wife, along with Franz Joseph and his wife, were the first to sit down, and the remaining guests followed suit under the guidance of the Royal Chief Steward and the nearby liveried servants.
Once everyone was seated, the Royal Palace Chief Steward quickly poured wine for the four majesties, and the remaining servants also poured wine for the attending dignitaries,
Once all the glasses of the nobility and dignitaries were filled, Franz Joseph, as the host, raised his glass, calling on everyone present to toast for the arrival of Jero Bonaparte and his wife.
Everyone, including Jero Bonaparte and his wife, raised their glasses high for the toast, thus ending the first round of drinks.
Once everyone placed their glasses down, the Royal Palace Chief Steward gave a signal to the nearby servants, and they promptly refilled the glasses of the dignitaries. The Royal Palace Chief Steward also refilled the glasses of Jero Bonaparte and Franz Joseph.
After the second round of drinks began, Jero Bonaparte raised his glass to express gratitude to Franz Joseph for his hospitality, while also calling on everyone present to toast three tis to the friendship between the French Empire and the Austrian Empire.
Everyone again raised their glasses and shouted "Long live" three tis, thus concluding the second round of drinks.
After two glasses of aperitifs, servants holding aluminum trays entered the dining room and placed dishes in front of each person.
Under the lead of the two monarchs, everyone began dining. Perhaps it was due to the rules set by Hofburg Palace, the entire banquet was very graceful, with each dish being quickly tasted in a small bite before being replaced by another.
This once again gave Jero Bonaparte a sense of exasperation while dining, as the al concluded with him only half-full.
However, even so, the entire banquet still took nearly two hours.
The "well-fed and well-satiated" guests began their next entertainnt, which was dancing.
Under the elegant music, Jero Bonaparte danced gracefully with Augusta, and Franz Joseph danced with Elizabeth.
After a dance, Jero Bonaparte and Augusta left the dance floor.
Seeing Jero Bonaparte and Augusta leave the dance floor, Franz Joseph and Elizabeth also followed suit.
"What’s wrong? Is there anything you’re not satisfied with?" Franz Joseph asked Jero Bonaparte concernedly.
"No!" Jero Bonaparte shook his head and replied to Franz Joseph, "These days, Augusta and I have been dancing almost every night, so I’m a bit tired and want to rest a bit! Franz, you and Elizabeth go for another dance! Pay us no mind!"
Franz Joseph glanced at Elizabeth beside him. Noticing that Elizabeth didn’t particularly want to return to the dance floor, he likewise shook his head and responded to Jero Bonaparte, "I’ll stay with you instead!"
The four of them sat on chairs below the dance floor, watching the gracefully dancing crowd.
After a while, Jero Bonaparte asked a servant hovering around the dance floor for four glasses of wine.
After the servant brought the four glasses of wine, Jero Bonaparte invited Franz Joseph for a drink.
This ti, everyone did not indulge like before but only took small sips.
After two dances, they had drunk less than half of the wine.
The Royal Palace Chief Steward appeared again, informing those present that they could change dance partners.
Several noblewon imdiately approached Franz Joseph and Jero Bonaparte, inviting them to dance in front of Elizabeth and Empress Augusta.
Franz Joseph, eager to try, glanced at Jero Bonaparte, the aning of which was self-evident!
"Franz, you go first!" Jero Bonaparte replied to Franz Joseph and then pointed at his glass of red wine, saying, "I personally enjoy seeing things through to the end!"
"Very well then!" Franz Joseph had no choice but to dance with one of the noblewon.
At this mont, he was oblivious to the hint of sadness in Elizabeth’s eyes.
The remaining noblewon, seeing that Jero Bonaparte was unwilling to dance with them, returned to the dance floor to find other noblen to dance with.
As the music began again, Franz Joseph, standing in the center of the dance floor, imrsed himself in the dance.
Jero Bonaparte continued to savor his wine, his gaze continuously assessing the people on the dance floor.
Seeing this, Augusta, sitting beside Jero Bonaparte, imdiately whispered to him, "When the next tune plays, you should invite Qianqian for a dance!"
Listening to Augusta, Jero Bonaparte showed a surprised expression and replied in a low voice, "What are you trying to do?"
Although Jero Bonaparte could indeed invite Elizabeth to dance, he had almost grown weary of it over the past few days and was really not inclined to join the dance floor anymore.
"Dance!" Empress Augusta instantly replied.
"Are you two up to sothing?" Elizabeth, sitting across from Jero Bonaparte, asked them with a curious look.
Empress Augusta quickly approached Elizabeth and told her that Jero Bonaparte wanted to invite her for a dance.
"Really, Your Majesty?" Elizabeth turned her gaze to Jero Bonaparte and inquired.
Looking at the young lady in front of him, who was only 18, Jero Bonaparte nodded politely and said, "I wonder if I may have the honor of inviting you to dance with !"
"Your Majesty, it would be my honor!" Elizabeth replied to Jero Bonaparte.
After the dance ended, Jero Bonaparte stood up in front of Elizabeth.
Elizabeth also quickly got up, and the people on the dance floor turned their gazes toward Jero Bonaparte.
Jero Bonaparte gently took Elizabeth’s hand, kissed it lightly without any hesitation, and said, "May I invite you for a dance, my angel?"
Faced with Jero Bonaparte’s endearing term, Elizabeth was montarily stunned, then nodded and said, "Of course, Your Majesty!"
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