Make France Great Again-Chapter 747 - 738: Europe Alliance?
Leopold II immediately asked Jerome Bonaparte how many countries were part of the currency union he established.
Jerome Bonaparte replied at once: "The first batch of invited countries, besides yours, includes the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Luxembourg Duchy, the Württemberg Kingdom, as well as Sardinia and the Austrian Empire!"
Upon hearing the invitation list from Jerome Bonaparte, Leopold II felt that Belgium joining this currency union indeed had some merit.
However, at this moment, he did not know that apart from the Kingdom of Belgium, Jerome Bonaparte had not notified the remaining countries at all; the European Currency Union he spoke of was merely an empty shell.
"Your Majesty, I will definitely persuade my father to join the currency union you have established!" Leopold II said solemnly to Jerome Bonaparte. "Please believe that the Kingdom of Belgium will steadfastly follow France’s lead!"
"With your word, I am relieved!" Jerome Bonaparte replied with a smile to Leopold II, "Well, it’s getting late, I wonder if you would be interested in joining me for a meal at the Tuileries Palace!"
"Certainly!" Leopold II nodded repeatedly and said to Jerome Bonaparte.
Under Jerome Bonaparte’s invitation, Leopold II boarded the carriage to the Tuileries Palace.
The carriage smoothly traversed the roads and soon arrived at the Tuileries Palace.
Getting off the carriage, the two walked up the steps, chatting and laughing. Mokar, standing in the hall, saw Jerome Bonaparte arrive and ran to greet him.
"This is Mokar!" Jerome Bonaparte introduced to Leopold II, "If you need anything while in Paris, you can call on him anytime!
If he can’t resolve it, I will personally handle it!"
"Mr. Mokar!" Leopold II nodded slightly towards Mokar.
Although this was his second meeting with Mokar, this meeting was evidently different from the last.
"Prince Leopold!" Mokar replied humbly, knowing that this Leopold II had been absorbed into the circle of the Tuileries Palace, like the King of Württemberg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, "As long as you are in Paris, I will serve you wholeheartedly!"
"Thank you very much!" Leopold II nodded slightly.
"Mokar, is there still food in the dining room?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Mokar again.
"Your Majesty, there is!" Mokar replied.
"Then quickly take us to the dining room and serve the food!" ordered Jerome Bonaparte to Mokar.
"Yes, sir!" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
Mokar led Jerome Bonaparte and Leopold II to the dining room and then personally poured them a glass of Bordeaux wine.
After finishing this task, Mokar left the dining room, leaving Jerome Bonaparte and Leopold II sitting alone at the main seat of the table.
"Leopold!" Jerome Bonaparte glanced at the somewhat uneasy Leopold, raising his glass to Leopold II, "You should know the rules of the Tuileries Palace, don’t you?"
Leopold II showed a confused expression, shaking his head as he replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, I don’t know!"
"The rule of the Tuileries Palace is..." Jerome Bonaparte deliberately paused, "There are no rules!"
A look of astonishment appeared on Leopold II’s face, and Jerome Bonaparte’s words reminded him of when he visited King Louis Philippe of Orleans at the latter’s invitation.
Louis Philippe’s queen, who was also Leopold II’s grandmother, had said the same thing.
She had told Leopold II that the rules of the Tuileries Palace’s court had ended with the orthodox Bourbon, and the new Bourbon had few remaining rules.
But what he didn’t expect was that the House of Bonaparte, which had always been almost fanatically mimicking noble etiquette, would also be "without rules."
"So, Leopold! There’s no need to be so tense in front of me!" Jerome Bonaparte said in a relaxed tone to Leopold. "Our age difference isn’t that big (12 years apart), you can consider me a friend!"
"Hmm!" Leopold II responded softly, his originally tense mood starting to relax.
For a young man just over 20, the complex court etiquette was simply tortuous.
"That’s better!" Jerome Bonaparte raised his glass to Leopold II, "Let’s toast to the friendship between France and Belgium!"
Leopold II quickly raised his glass and offered a blessing to Jerome Bonaparte.
After a drink, the tense atmosphere gradually dissipated.
As Jerome Bonaparte lifted the wine bottle to pour another glass for Leopold II, the quick-eyed Leopold II hurriedly held the glass to Jerome Bonaparte.
Jerome Bonaparte smiled and then filled the glass with wine.
"Have another drink!"
...
As dish after dish of exquisite food was served, the wine in the glasses of Jerome Bonaparte and Leopold II was also being consumed without stopping.
After a slight intoxication, the conversation between Jerome Bonaparte and Leopold II gradually became more open, and as Leopold II became increasingly drunk, he began to vehemently curse Britain for obstructing the Franco-Belgian Tariff Union, and Jerome Bonaparte also expressed his strong disapproval of the Kingdom of Britain’s interference.
"What do you think about our two countries forming a Coal and Steel Community?" Jerome Bonaparte drunkenly brought up the predecessor of the future European Union.
"Your Majesty, what is a Coal and Steel Community?" Leopold asked curiously.
"It means a unified organization manages all the coal and steel of our two countries, and this organization would have the authority over production, investment, pricing, and allocation in our two countries," Jerome Bonaparte explained to Leopold II.
"Your Majesty, how would this organization be formed?" Leopold II asked curiously.
"The appointment of personnel for the organization would be jointly nominated by both of our families for the positions..." Jerome Bonaparte explained the entire charter of the future European Coal and Steel Community to Leopold II.
"Your Majesty, if this organization only includes our two countries, I’m afraid it would be impossible to establish it!" Leopold II immediately realized that the organization Jerome Bonaparte spoke of would require multiple countries working collaboratively to succeed.
"You are very right!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded, "Therefore, I plan to implement this Coal and Steel Community plan after the Currency Union is enacted!"
"Your Majesty, we are willing to join in!" Leopold II promptly replied to Jerome Bonaparte.
"If you are willing, that’s wonderful!" Jerome Bonaparte was unexpectedly delighted; he hadn’t imagined that what was only achievable after two World Wars in economic terms could be achieved in mere words.
Of course, he did not know that in Leopold II’s mind, the so-called Coal and Steel Community was merely a reincarnation of the unfinished Franco-Belgian Tariff Union.
After the meal, Jerome Bonaparte gazed with bleary eyes at Leopold II, who was already sprawled on the table, unconscious, and said to Mokar, "Look at Leopold, so weak; he’s already drunk after so little!"
Mokar did not respond, quietly standing there awaiting Jerome Bonaparte’s next orders.
After a while, Jerome Bonaparte slowly rose and said to Mokar, "Please take some effort to ensure Leopold II is well taken care of!"
"As you command!"
Mokar personally carried Leopold II away and assigned an attendant to assist Jerome Bonaparte.
"Your Majesty, would you like to go to Her Majesty Empress Augusta’s room or another room?" The attendant cautiously asked Jerome Bonaparte.
"Another room!" Jerome Bonaparte decisively replied to the attendant.
With the attendant’s assistance, Jerome Bonaparte reached a bedroom in the Tuileries Palace.
After carefully settling Jerome Bonaparte in, several attendants quietly left.
At 7 a.m. the following morning, Jerome Bonaparte opened his eyes and got out of bed.
Still feeling a bit groggy, he immediately summoned the attendants and instructed them to prepare toiletries for him.
After a simple wash, Jerome Bonaparte felt somewhat more alert.
He then went downstairs alone and headed out to the garden of the Tuileries Palace for a walk, where he again encountered Queen Catherine.
At this time, Queen Catherine was also strolling in the garden of the Tuileries Palace, and Jerome Bonaparte hastily greeted her warmly, "Good morning, cousin!"
"Morning!" Queen Catherine’s attitude was clearly less enthusiastic than the last time; she responded indifferently.
"Cousin, who are you angry with?" Jerome Bonaparte asked, pretending not to know the answer.
"No one!" Queen Catherine responded indifferently once more.
"Alright, cousin, don’t be angry anymore!" Jerome Bonaparte reluctantly conceded, "I know you are upset because I invited Leopold II over!"
"No, I am not!" Queen Catherine stubbornly refused to admit it.
"Cousin, it’s not that I am unwilling to agree with you! However, the impact of what you are doing is simply too significant!" Jerome Bonaparte earnestly explained to Queen Catherine, "Not to mention whether your annexation of Belgium is legal, the Kingdom of Britain will certainly not allow you to do so!"
