"This isn’t fair! Sister Augusta, I request a change of partner!"
After losing ten consecutive rounds, Elizabeth wanted to loudly tell Empress Augusta to replace Jero Bonaparte, this "saboteur" of an opponent.
"Yes! I also request a change of partner!" Jero Bonaparte, equally displeased, also made a request to Empress Augusta.
From Jero Bonaparte’s perspective, Elizabeth not only had poor card skills but also constantly tried to undermine him, serving as a perfect example of a lousy teammate.
Of course, Elizabeth felt the sa way.
Seeing both Jero Bonaparte and Princess Sisi simultaneously threatening to "strike," Empress Augusta helplessly glanced at Jero Bonaparte and Elizabeth, then turned to ask Countess Raphaelt, "Countess, do you think we should comply with their wishes or not?"
After pondering for a mont, Countess Raphaelt replied to Empress Augusta, "Your Majesty, I believe a certain degree of change is appropriate!"
"Alright then! I’ll team up with Augusta, and you team up with Countess Raphaelt!" Jero Bonaparte readily suggested to Princess Sisi.
"Why!" Elizabeth clearly disagreed with Jero Bonaparte’s suggestion and imdiately retorted, "It should be teaming up with Sister Augusta, and you with Countess Raphaelt!"
"Augusta and I are husband and wife, so it’s only natural for us to be in the sa team!" Jero Bonaparte retorted, not yielding an inch to this defiant "daughter."
"I and Sister Augusta are... are..." Elizabeth hesitated for a mont, unable to find the right words for the next sentence.
"Can’t find the right words, can you!" Jero Bonaparte laughed smugly, thoroughly enjoying this sense of bullying the "weak."
Feeling her husband was going too far, Empress Augusta imdiately concluded for Elizabeth, "Elizabeth, aren’t we the best of sisters?"
"Exactly! The best of sisters!" Elizabeth imdiately responded, then got up to sit on the sofa beside Empress Augusta, holding onto her arm and gazing at Jero Bonaparte, seemingly with an intent to provoke.
After all, still a child at heart!
Jero Bonaparte couldn’t help but mutter to himself, although he seed to forget that his earlier behavior also had a bit of a childish competitive streak.
"Alright then! You shall sit here!" Empress Augusta looked indulgently at Elizabeth and gently patted her head, saying to Jero Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, let team up with Elizabeth."
"Alright!" Jero Bonaparte replied to Empress Augusta and then turned politely to Countess Raphaelt, "Madam, would you be so kind as to team up with !"
"It is my honor, Your Majesty!" Countess Raphaelt responded humbly to Jero Bonaparte.
The second round of the competition officially began. With a new teammate, Elizabeth exhibited a different attitude than when she was tead with Jero Bonaparte; she tried her utmost to assist Augusta.
On Jero Bonaparte’s side, perhaps because he and Countess Raphaelt hadn’t quite achieved a perfect synergy, they lost several rounds consecutively despite their intentions to win.
Just as Jero Bonaparte was about to concede another defeat, a knock on the door relieved him from his tornt.
"I’ll get the door!"
Before Countess Raphaelt could stand up to open the door, Jero Bonaparte threw his cards on the table and went to open the door.
Opening the door, Jero Bonaparte saw Franz Joseph standing outside. His face imdiately lit up with a warm smile as he addressed Franz Joseph, "Franz, we’ve been waiting for you!"
"Hmm?" Franz Joseph was stunned for a few seconds and then asked, "You knew I was coming?"
"Of course!" Jero Bonaparte replied confidently to Franz Joseph and then stepped aside, saying, "Please co in!"
Entering the room, Franz Joseph could see the three people sitting on the sofa from afar and slowly walked up to them.
The three on the sofa imdiately put down their cards and stood up to greet Franz Joseph, "Your Majesty Franz!"
Franz Joseph smiled and glanced at the ongoing entertainnt on the table, "You’re playing Whist?"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Countess Raphaelt responded to Franz Joseph.
"Who’s tead up with whom?" Franz Joseph once again asked Countess Raphaelt.
"I’m tead with Sister Augusta, and Jero is with Countess Raphaelt!" Elizabeth quickly answered Franz Joseph.
Franz Joseph’s expression showed a hint of displeasure, as Elizabeth’s interruption was not quite fitting for an Empress.
"Franz, want to join in for a round!" Jero Bonaparte picked up the cards from the table and asked Franz Joseph.
"Agreed!" Originally, Franz Joseph had finished handling all his affairs and ca over to enjoy so recreation with Jero Bonaparte.
The addition of Franz Joseph rendered Countess Raphaelt completely redundant, and her seat was "occupied" by Franz Joseph, leaving her to silently stand behind the sofa, ready to be called upon at any mont.
This ti, Jero Bonaparte tead up with Franz Joseph while Augusta and Elizabeth ford their own team.
Once the third round began, the relentless Elizabeth showed no intention of going easy on Jero Bonaparte’s team.
Despite Empress Augusta’s willingness for Franz Joseph and Jero Bonaparte to win, Franz Joseph’s luck mirrored his historical counterparts, much to his misfortune.
After several rounds, Jero Bonaparte found himself at a loss as well.
Seeing Franz Joseph’s expression grow darker, Jero Bonaparte hastily called a halt.
"Now let’s switch partners! I want to team up with Augusta!" Jero Bonaparte declared to Elizabeth.
"Sister Augusta!" Elizabeth implored Empress Augusta with a pitiful gaze.
"Elizabeth, I’m teaming up with my husband now!" Empress Augusta responded decisively to Elizabeth.
Subsequently, Augusta sat with Jero Bonaparte, while Franz Joseph sat with Elizabeth.
Jero Bonaparte imdiately communicated a signal with his eyes to Augusta, which she perfectly understood.
As the fourth round began, Elizabeth and Franz Joseph, with only a bit of synergy, managed to score 5 victories and 3 defeats with the continuous assistance from Jero Bonaparte and Augusta.
Finally, Jero Bonaparte announced the conclusion of the Whist ga, leaving Franz Joseph and Elizabeth sowhat wanting more.
"Alright! It’s getting late, we should rest!" Jero Bonaparte hurriedly said to them, fearing he might not be able to control his temper if they continued losing.
"Very well then! Goodnight!" Franz Joseph bid farewell to Jero Bonaparte.
After seeing off Franz Joseph and Empress Elizabeth, Jero Bonaparte breathed a sigh of relief. He wiped his brow gently and said to Empress Augusta, "This last round was the most exhausting for !"
"To think you would one day deliberately lose!" Empress Augusta remarked to Jero Bonaparte.
"I had no choice! I had to give Franz Joseph so face!" Jero Bonaparte shrugged to Empress Augusta and then added, "However, I think Franz will soon realize!"
"Isn’t that exactly what you intended!" Augusta teased Jero Bonaparte back!
"That’s right! That’s exactly my intention!" Jero Bonaparte admitted frankly.
While Jero Bonaparte and Augusta were discussing in their bedroom, Franz Joseph, reminiscing, also began to suspect that Jero Bonaparte and his wife may have deliberately let them win.
Franz Joseph turned and sternly inquired Countess Raphaelt, who had been standing behind the sofa.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty Emperor Jero and Her Majesty Empress Augusta indeed wanted to let you win!" Madam Raffalat told Franz Joseph.
"Hmm, I understand!" Franz Joseph felt a warmth in his heart.
In the context of being fellow monarchs, the fact that Jero Bonaparte was considerate of his dignity showed that he indeed was a friend worth trusting. (Franz Joseph’s perspective held no absolute trust option, only trustworthy and untrustworthy!)
...
The next morning, Jero Bonaparte and Empress Augusta departed Hofburg Palace by carriage.
Dressed in all black, Elizabeth went to the bedroom of the Jero Bonaparte couple to find them, only to discover they were not there. She imdiately inquired with Count Gneer.
Count Gneer inford Elizabeth that Jero Bonaparte and Empress Augusta had accepted an invitation from a subordinate dispatched by Bishop Angelo Becciu, heading to St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna.
"Bishop Becciu?" Empress Elizabeth murmured to herself, "What does he want?"
"Perhaps it’s due to the relationship between the French Empire and being a Catholic great power!" Count Gneer responded vaguely to Elizabeth.
anwhile, escorted by the Austrian Cavalry, Jero Bonaparte and Augusta arrived at the cathedral, where Bishop Angelo Becciu, standing on the red carpet, imdiately stepped forward to greet them.
"Welco to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Your Majesties!"
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