Make France Great Again-Chapter 806 - 797: Baden Banquet
After all the formations had marched past, Jerome Bonaparte leaned close to Friedrich’s ear, asking Friedrich Ludwig to personally inspect each formation.
Friedrich Ludwig readily agreed to this trivial request from Jerome Bonaparte. Under Friedrich Ludwig’s lead, Jerome Bonaparte walked with him to inspect each formation on foot.
The generals in charge of commanding the formations saluted the two as soon as they saw Friedrich Ludwig and Jerome Bonaparte arriving.
Friedrich Ludwig enthusiastically introduced the history of each formation to Jerome Bonaparte, and upon listening to these introductions, Jerome Bonaparte immediately showed a look of realization and then warmly shook hands with the generals.
The inspection lasted for another hour and a half before it was finally completed. After Friedrich Ludwig and Jerome Bonaparte finished inspecting the last formation together, Friedrich Ludwig said to Jerome Bonaparte: "Your Majesty Jerome, shouldn’t we head to Karlsruhe Palace!"
Jerome Bonaparte first raised his head to look at the cloudless sky, and then lowered his head to glance at the elongated shadow.
It was around three to four o’clock at that moment, the hottest time of the day, indeed not suitable for staying outdoors for long.
"As you wish!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Friedrich Ludwig.
Under the watchful eyes of the subjects and soldiers of Baden, Friedrich Ludwig and Jerome Bonaparte both mounted their horses, and Jerome Bonaparte, once again, waved to the surrounding crowd as he rode.
Escorted by a large group of officers and soldiers, they headed to Karlsruhe Palace. Along the way, people continuously threw petals from both sides of the road into the center, blessing the Emperor and the Regent King, as well as these gallant soldiers.
The two horsemen quickly arrived at Karlsruhe Palace under the blazing sun.
Jerome Bonaparte and Friedrich Ludwig dismounted and handed their reins to a palace servant nearby.
"Please!" Friedrich Ludwig extended his hand to invite Jerome Bonaparte to enter the palace with him.
Jerome Bonaparte nodded slowly and entered the palace shoulder to shoulder with Friedrich Ludwig.
Following Friedrich Ludwig’s lead, Jerome Bonaparte met the nominal ruler of the Grand Duchy of Baden, Friedrich Ludwig’s brother, Ludwig II.
"Your Majesty Jerome, this is my brother!" Friedrich Ludwig said, pointing to the middle-aged man on the chair.
From Ludwig II’s appearance, he seemed not to have any issues.
When Ludwig II showed a foolish smile and stared blankly at Jerome Bonaparte, Jerome Bonaparte immediately realized Ludwig II probably had the same condition as the former Emperor Ferdinand I of the Austrian Empire.
Both suffered mental deficiencies due to inbreeding.
However, due to the limitations of that era, the royal family was unaware of the dangers of close-kin marriages, which led to tragedies like Ludwig II and Ferdinand I.
"Alas!" Jerome Bonaparte sighed and walked slowly to Ludwig II, "My brother, you are fortunate to live in the royal family, yet unfortunately afflicted with this strange illness!
May you receive the Lord’s mercy in the future and live it happily!"
After speaking, Jerome Bonaparte reached out his hand to Ludwig II, who blankly stared at Jerome Bonaparte and inquired in a tone inappropriate for his age, "Are you offering a handshake?"
Jerome Bonaparte nodded and softly said to Ludwig II, "Yes! After we shake hands, it means we are the best of brothers!"
"I like brothers!" Ludwig II smiled.
Ludwig II grasped Jerome Bonaparte’s right hand with both hands, and Jerome Bonaparte placed his left hand over theirs.
Seeing this scene, a smile also appeared on Friedrich Ludwig’s face, standing behind Jerome Bonaparte.
A few seconds later, Jerome Bonaparte and Ludwig II released their hands from each other.
Jerome Bonaparte stepped back to where Friedrich Ludwig was standing and said to Ludwig II, "My brother, I must go now! I will visit you again next time!"
"Goodbye then!" Ludwig II waved to Jerome Bonaparte.
Jerome Bonaparte and Friedrich Ludwig turned and left Ludwig II’s room. After leaving the room, Friedrich Ludwig expressed his gratitude to Jerome Bonaparte.
"It was nothing!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and replied to Friedrich Ludwig, "Your brother is fortunate to have you, and the Grand Duchy of Baden to have you as Regent King, indeed a fortunate matter!
"With his current condition, there’s no way he can handle state affairs properly!"
"I’m merely doing what is within my duties, Your Majesty Jerome!" Friedrich Ludwig humbly responded to Emperor Jerome Bonaparte.
"For everyone to do well in their respective duties is truly commendable!" Emperor Jerome Bonaparte praised Friedrich Ludwig, "There are many in this world who can’t even manage that!"
Friedrich Ludwig smiled faintly, then asked how long Emperor Jerome Bonaparte would be staying in the Grand Duchy of Baden.
"Augusta and I will leave tomorrow!" Emperor Jerome Bonaparte replied to Friedrich Ludwig.
"So soon!" Friedrich Ludwig could not help but ask.
"This visit with Augusta was just a stopover! Staying too long might cause us to miss Maximilian’s coronation!" Emperor Jerome Bonaparte explained to Friedrich Ludwig and then inquired, "By the way, have you received Maximilian’s invitation?"
Friedrich Ludwig showed a hint of embarrassment on his face, "Your Majesty, we have also received an invitation from Grand Duke Maximilian! However, due to the many trivial matters within the Grand Duchy of Baden recently, I couldn’t find the time to attend!
Therefore, I intend to send my subordinates to attend the coronation in Warsaw!"
"That would work as well!" Emperor Jerome Bonaparte relieved Friedrich Ludwig, "For a coronation, it’s the thought that counts!
After all, Maximilian’s throne was supported by Franz and me! If I don’t attend, Maximilian might not be pleased!"
"Your Majesty, you are indeed the one who should most definitely attend!" Friedrich Ludwig also concurred.
"Alright! Enough of that!" Emperor Jerome Bonaparte said to Friedrich Ludwig while shaking his head, "Let’s go to the hall and wait for a while; I’m sure they will arrive soon!"
"Alright!"
Emperor Jerome Bonaparte and Friedrich Ludwig entered the hall. At that moment, Empress Augusta was conversing with a group of German noblewomen dressed in colorful court gowns.
Seeing this, Emperor Jerome Bonaparte did not rashly interrupt their conversation but instead strolled around the hall with Friedrich Ludwig.
During this time, Friedrich Ludwig enthusiastically introduced the nobles of the Grand Duchy of Baden to Emperor Jerome Bonaparte, who smiled and greeted each noble and engaged in brief conversations with them.
As time passed, one by one, nobles dressed in sumptuous attires entered the hall of the Karlsruhe Palace.
At 4:45 PM, Empress Augusta dismissed the surrounding German noblewomen and approached Emperor Jerome Bonaparte, linking her arm with his and standing by his side.
At 5 PM, the banquet officially commenced.
Friedrich Ludwig first, on behalf of all the nobles and citizens of the Grand Duchy of Baden, expressed their sincere gratitude for the arrival of Emperor Jerome Bonaparte and Empress Augusta.
As soon as Friedrich Ludwig finished speaking, Emperor Jerome Bonaparte was the first to applaud him.
Immediately, thunderous applause filled the entire hall.
Once the applause subsided, Friedrich Ludwig spoke again, hoping that Emperor Jerome Bonaparte would also say a few words in the conference hall.
Being adept at impromptu speeches, Emperor Jerome Bonaparte naturally did not fear such performances. Since Friedrich Ludwig had given him the stage, he was obliged to leave a good impression on the Baden nobles in the hall.
Emperor Jerome Bonaparte solemnly began his speech, saying that he and his wife visited Baden purely on a whim, and both the nobility and citizens of the Grand Duchy of Baden have made him feel the goodwill of this country towards him. He genuinely loves this country and hopes that in the future, the Grand Duchy of Baden and the French Empire can advance hand in hand, maintaining the friendship between the two nations forever...
As soon as Emperor Jerome Bonaparte finished speaking, Friedrich Ludwig’s applause promptly followed.
Amidst a round of applause, the banquet officially began.
The group that had been standing solemnly around Emperor Jerome Bonaparte and Friedrich Ludwig immediately dispersed, gathering in twos and threes to chat.
If anyone feels hungry, they can also go to the "buffet" next door to the hall to get food.
Even Emperor Jerome Bonaparte and Friedrich Ludwig no longer maintained their serious expressions from earlier; Friedrich Ludwig joined the crowd for conversations, while Emperor Jerome Bonaparte first went to the nearby dining room to satisfy his hunger.
