"Honorable Your Majesty, the King! France expresses deep sympathy for your country’s plight!"

The French Envoy first responded to King Victor Emmanuel II in a standard diplomatic tone, then "honestly" informed the Sardinian Kingdom.

The French Empire not only shares a mutually beneficial friendship with the Sardinian Kingdom but also maintains such a relationship with the Austrian Empire.

Therefore, the French Empire is temporarily not prepared to maintain a neutral stance in this battle.

Upon hearing the French Envoy’s response, King Victor Emmanuel II felt as if he had fallen into an abyss.

If the French Empire is unwilling to help them, then the Sardinian Kingdom is utterly unable to withstand the Austrian Empire’s invasion.

The destruction of the country can be said to be in countdown!

"Your Excellency, the Ambassador!" King Victor Emmanuel II said with a heart full of sorrow, and a trace of despair in his eyes, "Is your country really going to watch us be annihilated by the Austrian Empire?"

"Your Majesty Victor!" The French Envoy calmly repeated to King Victor Emmanuel II, "The French Empire expresses deep sympathy for the Sardinian Kingdom’s plight, and I am willing to make the greatest effort to mediate your conflicts with the Austrian Empire!

Of course, mediating conflicts requires the agreement of both you and the Austrian Empire!

If either of you is unwilling to accept mediation, then the French Empire is powerless!"

After hearing the repetitive empty words from the French Empire, King Victor Emmanuel II had lost all hope in the French Envoy. Enveloped in disappointment and despair, he barely managed to maintain his royal dignity and replied lightly to the French Envoy, "I understand! Thank you for making the trip, Mr. Ambassador!"

"Your Majesty, I hope my words have been helpful to you!" The French Envoy also respectfully said a polite remark to King Victor Emmanuel II, knowing he was about to leave the Turin Royal Palace.

"I am tired! I won’t keep you here!" King Victor Emmanuel II said in a stiff tone, issuing the order to dismiss the French Envoy.

The French Envoy politely bowed to King Victor Emmanuel II and then walked out of the Turin Royal Palace slowly.

After the French Envoy left, King Victor Emmanuel II sat alone in a chair, lost in thought for a long time.

After a while, when he came to, King Victor Emmanuel II picked up the bell on his desk and gently shook it.

The copper bell rang out with a crisp and pleasant sound, and the next moment, King Victor Emmanuel II’s Chief Steward entered the room.

"Your Majesty!" The Chief Steward addressed King Victor Emmanuel II in a high-pitched voice.

"You must go to the Prime Minister’s office immediately and call Prime Minister Lamamor here!" King Victor Emmanuel II said with an expression tinged with despondency.

"Yes!" The Chief Steward saluted King Victor Emmanuel II without hesitation and left.

About half an hour later, a knock on the door was heard, and King Victor Emmanuel II looked up and said to the outside, "Come in!"

Prime Minister Lamamor first straightened his posture towards King Victor Emmanuel II, then noticed the hint of dejection between King Victor Emmanuel II’s brows. He immediately recalled that the Chief Steward had told him that before summoning him, King Victor Emmanuel II had already summoned the French Envoy and the British Envoy.

Could it be that the exchanges between His Majesty and France and Britain were unpleasant!

Lamamor couldn’t help but think to himself.

While Lamamor was speculating why King Victor Emmanuel II would show such an expression, King Victor Emmanuel II forced himself to muster some energy and addressed Lamamor in a low voice, "Prime Minister Lamamor!"

"I am here!" Lamamor responded loudly without delay.

King Victor Emmanuel II glanced at the distance between himself and Lamamor, sighed lightly, and then gestured with his hand, "Come closer first!"

Lamamor strode towards King Victor Emmanuel II, who then extended his hand to invite Lamamor, "Have a seat!"

Following King Victor Emmanuel II’s instruction, Lamamor sat upright, waiting for King Victor Emmanuel II to speak again.

After a moment, King Victor Emmanuel II continued in a low tone, slowly asking Lamamor, "How are those Liberals doing now?"

"Your Majesty, I have complied with your instructions and expelled all those insurgents attempting to overthrow the Sardinian Kingdom!" Lamamor reported to King Victor Emmanuel II in a calm tone, suppressing the excitement and satisfaction within him.

King Victor Emmanuel II frowned slightly, then inquired, "Did any extreme behavior occur among them during detention?"

"No!" Lamamore replied to Victor Emmanuel II.

"Well done!" Victor Emmanuel II encouraged him briefly, then the conversation shifted, "How is the army faring now?"

"The morale of the army is generally quite high!" Lamamore answered Victor Emmanuel II, then he added, "Especially after Your Majesty dealt thunderously with those who sought to harm the parliament and the army!"

Victor Emmanuel II furrowed his brow again, wondering if he had been too hasty in dealing with those liberals, causing his nobles to act unchecked.

However, there was no time for Victor Emmanuel II to regret now; he asked Lamamore again about the certainty of holding Turin.

"Although I would very much like to hold Turin, Your Majesty, I must tell you one thing, it is very difficult for us to defend!" Regarding the upcoming war, Lamamore dared not conceal anything.

"Then what should we do?" Victor Emmanuel II asked again.

"Your Majesty, my suggestion is to abandon Turin! Deploy all forces to defend Chambéry!" Lamamore emphasized again to Victor Emmanuel II, "As long as we can hold out until England and France intervene, then we can launch a counterattack! Alone, we cannot protect the Sardinian Kingdom from the Austrian Empire!"

"But the French Envoy seems unwilling to oppose the Austrian Empire for our sake!" Victor Emmanuel II replied to Lamamore with a bitter smile, "He told me that the French Empire would strictly maintain a neutral stance during our conflict with the Austrian Empire!

As for the Kingdom of Britain, they did promise to consider it!

However, by the time they make a decision, the war might already be over!"

After hearing Victor Emmanuel II’s remarks, Lamamore was momentarily stunned, then he comforted Victor Emmanuel II, "Your Majesty, the attitude of the French Envoy does not truly represent the entirety of the French Empire!

The only one who can represent the stance of the French Empire is His Majesty the Emperor, and now all hope must be placed on Cavour!"

"You’re right!" Victor Emmanuel II realized, "The French Envoy indeed cannot represent the French Empire’s attitude. As long as Cavour succeeds in Paris, we still have a chance!"

"Your Majesty, I believe we should not only dialogue with England and France but also engage in talks with the Austrian Empire!" Lamamore continued.

"Engage in talks with the Austrian Empire? Would the Austrian Empire even be willing to talk to us now?" Victor Emmanuel II asked with furrowed brows.

"Your Majesty, we must at least try!" Lamamore encouraged Victor Emmanuel II, "If the Austrian Empire is willing to open a window for dialogue with us, it will not harm us whether it succeeds or fails."

Lamamore’s words enlightened Victor Emmanuel II.

For the Sardinian Kingdom now, engaging in dialogue with the Austrian Empire could cause no harm.

If successful, it could effectively prevent a war.

If unsuccessful, it could delay the attack on the Sardinian Kingdom, allowing for ample preparation.

"You’re absolutely right!" Victor Emmanuel II’s eyes lit up, excitedly muttering to himself, "Talk! All can be talked about! There’s nothing that cannot be negotiated!"

Lamamore smiled slightly and said nothing.

After a while, Lamamore suggested to Victor Emmanuel II that the National Army of the Sardinian Kingdom should also be included in the ranks of the regular army.

Once the war begins, the National Army hopes to join the battle alongside the regular army.

Victor Emmanuel II agreed with Lamamore’s suggestion, and Lamamore subsequently left the Turin Royal Palace.

Victor Emmanuel II summoned the Chief Steward again, instructing him to go to the Austrian Embassy to bring the Austrian Ambassador over.

Half an hour later, the Austrian Ambassador arrived at Victor Emmanuel II’s room.

Victor Emmanuel II told the Austrian Ambassador that the Sardinian Kingdom had already expelled the liberals and nationalists, and disbanded domestic extremist organizations, asking if the Austrian Empire could halt its attack.

The Austrian Ambassador shook his head and told Victor Emmanuel II that whether the Sardinian Kingdom had truly disbanded the extremist nationalist forces was not determined by the Sardinian Kingdom itself, but by the Austrian Empire.

In other words, the Sardinian Kingdom still needed to collaborate with relevant Austrian Empire departments for a joint second investigation and acceptance check on whether extremist forces remain within the Sardinian Kingdom.