After assigning the Croatian labor, Jero Bonaparte and Richard tternich returned to the parlor.
When Jero Bonaparte found Augusta in the parlor, Augusta was speaking with the wife of the Minister of the Imperial Navy, Madam Dico.
The appearance of Jero Bonaparte made Madam Dico stop her conversation, and she gracefully saluted Jero Bonaparte.
"Your Majesty!"
"I apologize for interrupting your conversation like this!" Jero Bonaparte said politely to Madam Dico, then turned to Empress Augusta, "Augusta, the ball is about to start!"
Empress Augusta also gave Madam Dico an apologetic smile, then left with Jero Bonaparte.
Around 10 p.m., the ball officially comnced under the leadership of Jero Bonaparte and Augusta.
Accompanied by an elegant lody, Jero Bonaparte and Augusta led everyone in the ballroom into a dance.
During the dance, Empress Augusta took the opportunity to ask Jero Bonaparte if he would invite Madam Dico to the next dance to show favor to Minister Dico.
"Why would you suggest I invite soone else’s wife to dance? This is unlike you!" Jero Bonaparte responded softly to Augusta while gently holding her tighter.
"Your Majesty, I’m only doing this to help you win over Minister Dico, who is far away in Marseille!" Augusta responded with a touch of annoyance, "Otherwise, have you ever seen a wife willing to watch her husband dance with soone else’s wife!"
So that’s how it was!
Jero Bonaparte suddenly understood. Currently, Minister Dico is in Marseille tirelessly working to build the latest steam fleet for the French Empire, leaving him no ti to attend social events in Paris.
To outsiders, this behavior is undoubtedly a signal of estrangent, so Jero Bonaparte has the duty to eliminate so people’s speculations by inviting Madam Dico to dance.
As for whether Jero Bonaparte would develop feelings for Madam Dico.
As the person involved, Jero Bonaparte can say with absolute certainty that it’s impossible.
After all, no one would want to develop a romance with an average-looking woman over forty.
However, from this perspective, Minister Dico and his wife are indeed in true love.
After understanding Augusta’s motivation, Jero Bonaparte hurriedly praised, "I truly married a virtuous wife!"
"Humph!" Empress Augusta softly snorted.
After the dance ended, Jero Bonaparte released Empress Augusta’s hand and walked to the edge of the ballroom.
There, Jero Bonaparte found Madam Dico.
At this mont, Madam Dico, seeing the arrival of Jero Bonaparte, had a trace of bewildernt in her eyes; she couldn’t believe she had such charm to attract the Emperor to dance with her.
"Madam, might I invite you for a dance?" Jero Bonaparte extended his hand to Madam Dico with an invitation.
The surrounding noblewon had incredulous expressions, while Madam Dico stared blankly at Jero Bonaparte.
"Madam, might I invite you for a dance?" Jero Bonaparte repeated to Madam Dico.
Coming to her senses, Madam Dico hurriedly extended her hand, adorned with a white silk glove, and responded to Jero Bonaparte, "Of course, Your Majesty!"
Jero Bonaparte took Madam Dico’s hand and entered the center of the ballroom under everyone’s gaze, the music resud as Jero Bonaparte stood in the ballroom once more.
Jero Bonaparte and Madam Dico began to dance, and during the dance, Jero Bonaparte inquired about Minister Dico’s recent health status.
Madam Dico truthfully reported Minister Dico’s current situation to Jero Bonaparte.
Upon hearing Madam Dico ntion that Minister Dico was staying up all night, not sleeping, Jero Bonaparte couldn’t help but frown slightly, recalling that in history, Minister Dico also died from accumulated fatigue.
Given the fervor with which Madam Dico described Minister Dico’s dedication, Jero Bonaparte highly doubted that Minister Dico could safely see the end of 1856.
Now that the French Navy is finally on the path of developnt, Minister Dico absolutely cannot have any problems.
So, Jero Bonaparte said to Madam Dico with a solemn expression, "Madam, I hope you can replace to go to Marseille to supervise Minister Dico and make sure he takes a good rest!"
"Your Majesty, when Dico starts working, no one can stop him, and anyone who tries to will inevitably face a reprimand! Even I, as his wife, am no exception!" Madam Dico replied to Jero Bonaparte with a wry smile.
"Then please tell Dico!" Jero Bonaparte said with determination to Madam Dico, "If he continues like this, I will have to consider suspending all his duties!"
"Your Majesty, please don’t!" Madam Dico replied to Jero Bonaparte.
"Madam, I believe it is necessary to use this thod to stop Minister Dico from exhausting his life!" Jero Bonaparte responded to Madam Dico firmly, "Mr. Dico is already over 50 years old, and his body is no longer young!
If this continues, Minister Dico might just work himself to death.
I do not want to see a minister loyal to the Empire’s cause die from overworking on his post. For the sake of Minister Dico’s health, I must do this!
Regarding Minister Dico’s health, we should both be on the sa front! Madam!"
After thinking for a mont, Madam Dico gritted her teeth and requested authority from Jero Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, I would like you to grant the right to suspend Minister Theodore Dico’s duties at any ti! I will suspend Dico’s work based on his condition!"
"Madam, I can grant you this right!" Jero Bonaparte responded to Madam Dico, "But I hope you will not be influenced by external matters when exercising this right.
You should know that every right you receive from stems from my trust in you.
I hope you do not betray my trust in you!"
"Your Majesty, please rest assured! I will definitely exercise this right properly!" Madam Dico imdiately assured Jero Bonaparte.
After a song ended, Madam Dico released Jero Bonaparte’s hand and expressed her gratitude to him.
"Madam, this is what I should do as a monarch!" Jero Bonaparte replied kindly and elegantly to Madam Dico, "I wish you an enjoyable evening in the ballroom!"
After parting with Madam Dico, Jero Bonaparte received invitations to dance from several ministers’ wives again, and he danced with each of them.
Soon, the ti ca to 23:59:59, accompanied by the dull sound from the floor clock in the corner of the Tuileries Palace hall, the ti transitioned from 1855 to 1856.
Fireworks placed around Paris were ignited by the soldiers guarding them, and the entire city was imdiately enveloped in colorful halos, residents in independent rooms opened their windows one after another to watch the fireworks, unconsciously smiling.
Those poor workers living in the basent, upon hearing the commotion outside, also ran out to gaze at the fireworks in the sky, praying in their hearts for a wonderful beginning to the year 1856.
The fireworks continued for nearly twenty minutes before stopping. Standing at the gate of Tuileries Palace, Jero Bonaparte, after looking at the distant fireworks, commanded to Bashirio beside him, "Go to the telegraph office imdiately and send our New Year greetings to the monarchs of Europe on my behalf!"
"Yes! Your Majesty!" Bashirio quickly replied to Jero Bonaparte and then quietly left through the crowd.
After watching the fireworks, Jero Bonaparte led his accompanying guests back to the Tuileries Palace to continue dancing.
The ball lasted until around 2 a.m. before ending, and the originally lively Tuileries Palace fell back into a state of silence.
After seeing off all the guests, Jero Bonaparte called Bashirio over again to ask which countries had replied.
"As of now, the countries that have replied to our telegram include the Kingdom of Belgium, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Württemberg Kingdom, Sardinian Kingdom, Kingdom of Britain, Austrian Empire and Kingdom of Prussia! They have also sent their New Year greetings to You, Your Majesty!" Bashirio reported the list to Jero Bonaparte.
"I understand!" Jero Bonaparte nodded to Bashirio and then yawned, saying to Bashirio, "I’ll go rest now! You should also rest early!"
After finishing, Jero Bonaparte turned and returned to the bedroom.
...
Over the next two weeks, all the countries, including the governnt of the Russian Empire, sent New Year wishes to Jero Bonaparte and the French Empire.
And Jero Bonaparte also decided to take the opportunity of the new year to summarize the financial situation of the French Empire in 1855.
Thus, Jero Bonaparte sent Bashirio to announce to each departnt: He will hold an Imperial Council at the Tuileries Palace next Monday, with the purpose of summarizing the expenditures on finance, military, and internal affairs for the year 1855, and setting economic goals for 1856.
Ministers of each departnt must prepare their materials and arrive at Tuileries Palace next Monday, and no minister should be absent without reason.
Upon receiving the ssage, the Ministry of the Navy sent a telegram overnight to Minister Dico, who was supervising the construction of new ships in Marseille.
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