"If Maximilian is unwilling, I will consider selecting a suitable prince from Wittelsbach or Saxony to head to the Grand Duchy of Poland and assume the role of Grand Duke of Poland! I hope that by then the Austrian Empire will be able to lend some support to the newly established Polish Duchy!"

Jerome Bonaparte’s words added a sense of urgency to Richard Metternich’s heart.

In his view, whether it’s Wittelsbach or Saxony, none were as reliable as Grand Duke Maximilian taking on the role of Grand Duke of Warsaw, let alone King of Poland.

After all, Grand Duke Maximilian was a Habsburg family member.

If he were to become King of Poland, the Austrian Empire would essentially have a firm ally against the Russian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia, which would greatly benefit the Austrian Empire!

"I will convey this to the Vienna government!" Richard Metternich nodded and said.

"Alright! Let’s not talk about this now; they should be arriving soon!" Jerome Bonaparte glanced at his pocket watch to check the time and then softly spoke to Richard Metternich.

"They?" Richard Metternich showed a puzzled expression.

"Our ceasefire agreement with the Russian Empire has been signed, so we need to inform our allies to avoid unnecessary conflicts!" Jerome Bonaparte immediately explained to Richard Metternich.

"That’s appropriate!" Richard Metternich replied.

Then, Jerome Bonaparte and Richard Metternich quietly awaited the arrival of the commander of the Anglo-Turkish forces.

After a while, the troubled Duke of Cambridge and his entourage appeared before Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte was first taken aback, then asked Duke of Cambridge, "George (a familiar address), why are you the only one here? Where is Marshal Lagren now?"

"Your Majesty!" The Duke of Cambridge bowed slightly to Jerome Bonaparte and then, with a sorrowful tone, responded regarding Marshal Lagren: "His Excellency the marshal... has passed away!"

"When did this happen?" Jerome Bonaparte widened his eyes in disbelief and asked, "How did Marshal Lagren die?"

The Duke of Cambridge told Jerome Bonaparte that Marshal Lagren’s death was due to extreme weather suddenly occurring on the Crimean Peninsula, combined with his own overwork in recent times, leading to a sudden illness and death last night.

"George, as Marshal Lagren’s deputy, why didn’t you try to dissuade him? Marshal Lagren is almost over 70 years old; he can’t endure as much as you can!" Jerome Bonaparte harshly reprimanded Duke of Cambridge.

"I... I don’t know!" The Duke of Cambridge responded timidly.

"Don’t know! Can you just brush it off with ’don’t know’? What is your brain for?" Jerome Bonaparte showed no leniency towards the Duke of Cambridge, bitterly criticizing this elder yet mentally immature dilettante.

The Duke of Cambridge could only bow his head and humbly accept Jerome Bonaparte’s criticism, not daring to say a word.

Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte inquired of the Duke of Cambridge, asking where Marshal Lagren’s body was.

The Duke of Cambridge informed Jerome Bonaparte that Marshal Lagren’s body was already on a ship in Yevpatoria, heading back to London.

"George! Would you be willing to share some of the honors with an already dead old man?" Jerome Bonaparte asked the Duke of Cambridge after a brief silence.

"I am willing!" The Duke of Cambridge naturally understood who Jerome Bonaparte was referring to as the deceased old man and responded decisively.

"Very well!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and then informed the Duke of Cambridge about the ceasefire agreement signed between the French Empire and the Russian Empire.

"Your Majesty, I think matters of the ceasefire should be agreed upon by both our governments before engaging in negotiations with Russia! Now that you’ve sidelined us and negotiated separately, it really is..." The Duke of Cambridge did not continue, fearing that further words would strain Anglo-French relations.

"George, rest assured!" Jerome Bonaparte said to the Duke of Cambridge: "I can assure you that you won’t find a better treaty than this!"

"Your Majesty, may I take a look at the treaty you’ve signed! So that I can report back to London!" The Duke of Cambridge once again made a request to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Of course!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and then subtly gestured to Valerovsky beside him.

Valerovsky handed the agreement to the Duke of Cambridge, who flipped through it page by page.

The content of the agreement was indeed as Emperor Jerome Bonaparte described, an excellent treaty; after reading the agreement, the Duke of Cambridge even momentarily suspected the agreement to be fake.

"Your Majesty, did the Russian Imperial Government really agree?" the Duke of Cambridge murmured a question.

"Their Crown Prince Alexander, in order to quickly return to St. Petersburg to quell the rebellion, agreed to everything!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and said to the Duke of Cambridge.

"If that’s the case, then I think London shouldn’t have any objections either!" the Duke of Cambridge replied to Jerome Bonaparte, then inquired how Jerome Bonaparte planned to handle Crimea, Finland, and Poland.

"For the Crimea Peninsula, I intend to return it to the Ottoman Empire! The Grand Duchy of Finland will be handed over to Sweden according to the previous agreement between Prime Minister Palmerston and the Kingdom of Sweden! As for the Polish Duchy..."

Jerome Bonaparte glanced at Richard Metternich beside him and then said to the Duke of Cambridge, "I will find a suitable Grand Duke or Prince in the German Region to fill this position!"

"That would be excellent!" the Duke of Cambridge agreed with Jerome Bonaparte’s words.

To be honest, before Emperor Jerome Bonaparte revealed the plans for Finland and Poland, the Duke of Cambridge was worried that Jerome Bonaparte might imitate the former Emperor, allotting territories to his family, and give the Polish Duchy and Finland to the Bonaparte Clan.

It now seemed that his worry was unnecessary.

Shortly after, Jerome Bonaparte and the Duke of Cambridge chatted for quite some time, when Marshal Pellissier, Marshal Malamor, and Omar Pasha came forward with their entourage to pay their respects to Jerome Bonaparte.

Before the conference began, Jerome Bonaparte addressed everyone present in a low tone, "Before we start the meeting, let us first express our condolences for the passing of Marshal Lagren!"

After speaking, Jerome Bonaparte closed his eyes, and seeing this, Pellissier and the others followed suit, closing their eyes in silent mourning.

About a minute later, Jerome Bonaparte reopened his eyes, signaling the formal start of the meeting’s agenda.

After the meeting began, Jerome Bonaparte immediately informed everyone present that the Russian Empire and the French Empire had already signed an agreement.

Omar Pasha’s face instantly showed a look of anxiety. If France withdrew from the war, the Ottoman Empire alone could not win!

However, Jerome Bonaparte’s follow-up words completely dispelled Omar’s concerns, "Omar, according to our agreement with the Russian Empire, the Crimea Peninsula will be returned to you!"

"Really?!!!" Omar Pasha’s face showed a look of shock, as he never expected that the Ottoman Empire could take back anything from the Russian Empire.

"Of course!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded to Omar and immediately instructed him to notify the Ottoman Army in the Caucasus to allow the Russian Empire to leave!

"Your Majesty, what if a tiger is set free to roam again?" Omar Pasha responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"There’s no need to worry about this!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Omar Pasha, "Even if Alexander wins at St. Petersburg, the Russian Empire lacks the strength to act against you! Just seize every opportunity, and strive hard!"

Then, Jerome Bonaparte’s tone turned cold as he addressed Omar Pasha, "If I notice the Ottoman Empire attempting to destabilize European peace during this time, I will not let them off!"

Hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s words, Omar Pasha abandoned any thoughts of hitting an enemy when they’re down. They could only choose to accept Jerome Bonaparte’s conditions.

Thereafter, Jerome Bonaparte discussed the Danube River issue and the Polish issue.

As nightfall approached, the commanders of the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia left Bakhchisaray.

"Send a telegram to Paris immediately, stating that we have achieved a decisive victory on the Crimea Peninsula! The Russian Army is surrendering to us in an orderly manner!" Jerome Bonaparte replied word by word to Zalewski beside him.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Valerovsky nodded and responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

That evening, a telegram was sent from the Sevastopol Fortress, and after a two-hour journey, it reached the capital of the French Empire, Paris, late at night!

Just after giving birth, Augusta lay on the bed with a slightly pale face, perusing the documents placed beside her bed while casting sidelong glances at the small crib placed next to her. Her face unwittingly broke into a loving smile.

Sure enough, lying in the crib was the Crown Prince of the French Empire, the future Prince of Algiers, Napoleon Friedrich Jerome Joseph Bonaparte, also known as Friedrich Bonaparte.

At this moment, the Crown Prince was resting with his eyes closed, carefree in his crib.

After a while, the room’s door was cautiously opened, Augusta looked towards the direction of the door, and Princess Mathilde quietly tiptoed into the room.