"Sister!"

Lying in bed, Augusta was first stunned, then quietly asked Mathilde what had happened.

"See for yourself!" Princess Mathilde handed the telegraph over to Empress Augusta, saying. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

After quickly scanning through the telegram, Empress Augusta couldn’t help but exclaim, "Oh my God!"

Due to Empress Augusta’s loud outcry, it successfully awakened Crown Prince Friedrich, who was sleeping in a crib beside Augusta.

"Eeyah eeyah!" Crown Prince Friedrich immediately "protested" upon being forcibly awakened by his mother.

Princess Mathilde looked at Augusta with a reproachful glance while approaching Friedrich’s crib and cradling him in her arms.

"Don’t be afraid! Don’t be afraid!" Princess Mathilde gently rocked Crown Prince Friedrich, humming a lullaby softly.

Before long, Friedrich Bonaparte stopped crying, gazing at Princess Mathilde with his lively big eyes, occasionally letting out giggles.

Looking at her nephew, as cute as a porcelain doll, Princess Mathilde’s heart was also filled with a motherly warmth.

From her bed, Empress Augusta watched this scene unfold with a hint of jealousy in her heart.

With the arrival of the "wet nurse," Princess Mathilde handed Crown Prince Friedrich over to her, then returned to sit by Empress Augusta’s bed.

"Sister, has the war really ended? Did we really win against the Russian Empire?" Empress Augusta, lying in bed, asked Princess Mathilde in confusion.

She could hardly believe her husband could defeat the Russian Empire in such a short time, forcing them to sign such a humiliating treaty.

A few years ago, she never imagined she would become the Empress of one of the world’s most powerful countries.

"Her Majesty the Empress!" Princess Mathilde replied solemnly to Empress Augusta, "You did not read it wrong! The war has indeed ended! My brother... (Princess Mathilde quickly corrected herself) no, His Majesty Emperor Jerome Bonaparte has defeated the Russian Empire!"

To be honest, Princess Mathilde herself found it somewhat surreal.

In just a few years, they managed to bring such tremendous change to the world.

A few years ago, the Bonaparte Clan was no more than upstarts with the Bonaparte surname (in truth, they didn’t have much money).

In just a few years, they became the rulers of France, and with the help of France’s army and finances, they defeated the existence that even their uncle couldn’t vanquish.

Mathilde believed that no matter how imaginative a minstrel might be, they could conjure such a legendary experience, her brother and the Bonaparte Clan might truly be favored by God!

Thinking of this, Princess Mathilde displayed a proud smile on her lips.

Her brother had at last grown into a remarkable figure indeed!

Just as Princess Mathilde was feeling proud of her brother, Empress Augusta’s voice reached her ears: "Sister, should we now make this news public?"

Coming back to her senses, Princess Mathilde nodded and responded to Empress Augusta: "I believe His Majesty’s purpose is for us to announce it!"

Afterward, Empress Augusta implored Princess Mathilde to leave the palace and announce the news on her behalf!

"I understand!" Princess Mathilde nodded in response to Empress Augusta.

Subsequently, after a brief conversation, Princess Mathilde left Empress Augusta’s room.

...

Upon leaving the room, Mathilde immediately found Mokar and issued an order to him.

"Go to all the major newspapers right now and inform them of France’s victory! I want to see this news on the front page of tomorrow’s newspapers!"

"Yes, Your Highness!" Mokar quickly responded, then hurriedly took the carriage to personally visit all the major newspapers.

...

Early the next morning, all of Paris was awakened by the news of the French Empire’s victory.

"Extra! Extra!" The newsboys walking through the streets and alleys waved their newspapers, shouting vigorously.

"Give me one!" A gentleman passing by called out to a newsboy.

The newspaper boy hurriedly handed the newspaper to the gentleman, who opened it to read.

The first thing that caught his eye was the news of the Russian Empire’s surrender to the French Empire: "... The Russian Imperial Army stationed at the Crimea Peninsula is expected to complete its surrender within a week, 500,000 troops fear becoming prisoners under French custody..."

Upon seeing the news, the gentleman displayed a proud expression, considering that just over a year had passed since the war began, and the French Army had already achieved a decisive victory.

Now it seemed that his initial choice was not wrong; only by supporting the Bonaparte regime could they achieve success.

At this moment, the gentleman seemed to have long forgotten that he was once among the minority opposing Jerome Bonaparte’s coronation as emperor.

...

The news of the French Empire’s victory over the Russian Empire, once spread, induced a sense of despair among the few stubborn Orthodox and Republican Faction members lurking in Paris. Even though they were unwilling to accept Jerome Bonaparte, they realized it would be difficult to overthrow his rule in a short time.

The victory in the Crimean War allowed Jerome Bonaparte to firmly solidify the Imperial foundation (at this point, the Paris newspapers had only published the surrender of the Russian Army in the Crimea Peninsula; the Republicans and Orthodox factions were unaware of the cost the Russian Empire paid in the Crimean War), and nothing convinced the French people and army more than a series of victories.

Even if they used conspiracies to eliminate Jerome Bonaparte, as long as the Bonaparte Clan members were not all dead, the army and citizens would continue to pledge loyalty to the Bonaparte Clan that could bring them victory.

If they were traced, the entire Orthodox/Republican Faction would perish with them.

Although the French Empire outwardly did not allow Orthodox and Republican factions to participate in politics, it privately permitted Republican Faction involvement in governing the Empire, with many Moderate Republican members becoming part of the Empire.

Orthodox faction members also gathered by Empress Augusta’s side, becoming indispensable members of the imperial court.

Hence, many Orthodox and Republican members issued warnings to extremists upon hearing the news of the Crimean victory, instructing them to desist.

Among those issuing warnings were Belie, once a pillar of the Orthodox Faction, and Cafenak, the Republican "great savior."

The following evening, a grand banquet was about to commence at the Tuileries Palace.

Organizing the banquet were the two current female hosts of the Tuileries Palace, Empress Augusta and Princess Mathilde. Those invited included celebrities from the Bonaparte Faction, Orthodox Faction, Orléans Faction, and Republican Faction (the Mountain and Blanquist Factions were not part of the mainstream), as well as ambassadors and generals, making it a gathering of distinguished guests.

Before all the invitees arrived at the Tuileries Palace, the palace was already immersed in resplendent splendor.

The gold and silverware gleaming under the candlelight seemed to silently flaunt the empire’s wealth, glory, and power. Since the news of the end of the Crimean War spread, no one dared to underestimate the owner of this palace anymore.

Now all of Europe would bow under the Bonaparte Clan, and the political center of Europe would once again return to Paris’s hands.

Once everyone had arrived at the Tuileries Palace, the banquet officially began.

Everyone at the banquet solemnly watched Empress Augusta and Princess Mathilde, who attended in elegant attire, as well as Crown Prince Friedrich Bonaparte, quietly cradled in Princess Mathilde’s arms.

"Thank you all for being able to..."

Before the banquet began, Empress Augusta followed the custom of expressing gratitude to the guests who could attend the Tuileries Palace.

Subsequently, with a burst of music, the banquet officially commenced.

Members of the Bonaparte Faction, Orthodox Faction, and Orléans Faction arrived in turn in front of Empress Augusta to offer their highest blessings to Empress Augusta and Crown Prince Friedrich Bonaparte.

Empress Augusta thanked the celebrities who came by, praising them as pillars of the Empire.

A portion of the Orthodox Faction (Duke Broi) and Orléans Faction (Audiron Bato) members even received invitations from Empress Augusta, hoping they could become tutors for the Crown Prince.

Faced with Empress Augusta’s blatant solicitation, many Orthodox faction members began to lean towards Friedrich Bonaparte (note it’s Friedrich Bonaparte, not Jerome Bonaparte).

Nobles, including Duke Broi, began contemplating whether to change their allegiance.

Although Bonaparte did not have Bourbon Dynasty blood, his merits were evident to all.

Compared to the Count of Chambord, Jerome Bonaparte lacked just the orthodox status.

However, the new Crown Prince Friedrich Bonaparte perfectly filled the missing orthodox status for the Bonaparte Dynasty.

After contemplating for a moment, Duke Broi still declined Empress Augusta’s invitation.

Although Duke Broi declined the invitation, he recommended to Empress Augusta a capable Orthodox nobleman as a tutor for the Crown Prince, hoping the Empress would grant his son a minor official position.

Duke Broi’s actions were undoubtedly a gesture of goodwill toward Empress Augusta, who immediately appointed Duke Broi’s son as a military attendant to the Crown Prince.

After Duke Broi departed, the Pope State’s ambassador appeared before Empress Augusta, also extending Pope Pius IX’s blessing to Empress Augusta, and informing that Pope Pius IX would personally bestow blessings upon the Crown Prince when he reached full month.