Make France Great Again-Chapter 813 - 804: Detestable Spanish Court Etiquette

Chapter 813: Chapter 804: Detestable Spanish Court Etiquette

As Empress Augusta and Elizabeth sighed over the commands of women worldwide, Jerome Bonaparte was engaging in conversation with the dignitaries attending the Hofburg Palace banquet under the introduction of Franz Joseph.

The first person Franz Joseph introduced to Jerome Bonaparte was none other than the 79-year-old Marshal Radetzky.

"Jerome, this is Marquis Radetzky, currently the Governor of Venice and Lombardy!" Franz Joseph introduced Jerome Bonaparte.

"Your Majesty!" Despite being 89 years old, Marshal Radetzky responded to Jerome Bonaparte with full vigor.

"Marquis Radetzky, it is an honor to meet a legendary figure like you!" Jerome Bonaparte smiled as he shook hands with Radetzky.

"Your Majesty, you flatter me!" Marshal Radetzky responded humbly to Jerome Bonaparte and then complimented, "I am just a military man, while you are the Emperor of a nation.

You are the true legend!"

"You are overly modest!" Jerome Bonaparte responded with equal humility, "Those who stood out in an era of great change cannot be compared to us who were raised in peaceful times!"

"Your Majesty, that era belonged to His Majesty Napoleon, the Duke of Wellington, and Grand Duke Carl. I was merely an unknown nobody!

It is only because I have outlived those legends that my name has reached your ears!" Marshal Radetzky continued to maintain a humble attitude.

Seeing Jerome Bonaparte and Marshal Radetzky being excessively modest, Franz Joseph cleared his throat and tactfully bid farewell to Radetzky on behalf of Jerome Bonaparte.

He feared that if the two continued being so modest, the entire banquet would pass in mutual admiration.

Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte and Franz Joseph left Radetzky and moved on to a middle-aged man dressed in a light blue military uniform.

"This is Admiral Albrecht, currently serving as Governor of Hungary!" Franz Joseph introduced Jerome Bonaparte once more.

"General Albrecht, greetings!" Jerome Bonaparte also extended his hand to Albrecht and said, "Your performance during the Aumitz period was simply outstanding!"

Albrecht, with a touch of surprise on his face, did not expect His Majesty Jerome Bonaparte to remember the events of Aumitz from a few years ago, and he also humbly replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, you overpraise me!"

Jerome Bonaparte then extended an invitation to Albrecht, hoping he could visit France during his free time to strengthen the exchange between the Austrian Empire and the French Empire.

Albrecht expressed that if the opportunity arose, he would certainly visit the French Empire.

Subsequently, Franz Joseph introduced Jerome Bonaparte to Windischgrätz and others.

Jerome Bonaparte enthusiastically engaged in conversations with them, and soon it was 7 PM.

With a solemn announcement from the Hofburg Palace Chief Steward, Jerome Bonaparte and his wife, along with Franz Joseph and his wife, proceeded to the dining room under the steward’s guidance.

The dignitaries attending the Hofburg Palace banquet (those of lesser rank went to another dining room) also followed Jerome Bonaparte and others for the meal.

When Jerome Bonaparte and Franz Joseph arrived at the dining room, what caught their eye was a long table capable of seating 50 people.

The main seats at the table were equipped with four high-backed chairs, clearly intended for Jerome Bonaparte and his wife, and Franz Joseph and his wife.

"Your Majesties, please take your seats!" The Royal Palace Chief Steward bowed and said to them.

Jerome Bonaparte and his wife, along with Franz Joseph and his wife, were the first to sit down, and the remaining guests followed suit under the guidance of the Royal Chief Steward and the nearby liveried servants.

Once everyone was seated, the Royal Palace Chief Steward quickly poured wine for the four majesties, and the remaining servants also poured wine for the attending dignitaries,

Once all the glasses of the nobility and dignitaries were filled, Franz Joseph, as the host, raised his glass, calling on everyone present to toast for the arrival of Jerome Bonaparte and his wife.

Everyone, including Jerome Bonaparte and his wife, raised their glasses high for the toast, thus ending the first round of drinks.

Once everyone placed their glasses down, the Royal Palace Chief Steward gave a signal to the nearby servants, and they promptly refilled the glasses of the dignitaries. The Royal Palace Chief Steward also refilled the glasses of Jerome Bonaparte and Franz Joseph.

After the second round of drinks began, Jerome Bonaparte raised his glass to express gratitude to Franz Joseph for his hospitality, while also calling on everyone present to toast three times to the friendship between the French Empire and the Austrian Empire.

Everyone again raised their glasses and shouted "Long live" three times, thus concluding the second round of drinks.

After two glasses of aperitifs, servants holding aluminum trays entered the dining room and placed dishes in front of each person.

Under the lead of the two monarchs, everyone began dining. Perhaps it was due to the rules set by Hofburg Palace, the entire banquet was very graceful, with each dish being quickly tasted in a small bite before being replaced by another.

This once again gave Jerome Bonaparte a sense of exasperation while dining, as the meal concluded with him only half-full.

However, even so, the entire banquet still took nearly two hours.

The "well-fed and well-satiated" guests began their next entertainment, which was dancing.

Under the elegant music, Jerome Bonaparte danced gracefully with Augusta, and Franz Joseph danced with Elizabeth.

After a dance, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta left the dance floor.

Seeing Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta leave the dance floor, Franz Joseph and Elizabeth also followed suit.

"What’s wrong? Is there anything you’re not satisfied with?" Franz Joseph asked Jerome Bonaparte concernedly.

"No!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and replied to Franz Joseph, "These days, Augusta and I have been dancing almost every night, so I’m a bit tired and want to rest a bit! Franz, you and Elizabeth go for another dance! Pay us no mind!"

Franz Joseph glanced at Elizabeth beside him. Noticing that Elizabeth didn’t particularly want to return to the dance floor, he likewise shook his head and responded to Jerome Bonaparte, "I’ll stay with you instead!"

The four of them sat on chairs below the dance floor, watching the gracefully dancing crowd.

After a while, Jerome Bonaparte asked a servant hovering around the dance floor for four glasses of wine.

After the servant brought the four glasses of wine, Jerome Bonaparte invited Franz Joseph for a drink.

This time, everyone did not indulge like before but only took small sips.

After two dances, they had drunk less than half of the wine.

The Royal Palace Chief Steward appeared again, informing those present that they could change dance partners.

Several noblewomen immediately approached Franz Joseph and Jerome Bonaparte, inviting them to dance in front of Elizabeth and Empress Augusta.

Franz Joseph, eager to try, glanced at Jerome Bonaparte, the meaning of which was self-evident!

"Franz, you go first!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Franz Joseph and then pointed at his glass of red wine, saying, "I personally enjoy seeing things through to the end!"

"Very well then!" Franz Joseph had no choice but to dance with one of the noblewomen.

At this moment, he was oblivious to the hint of sadness in Elizabeth’s eyes.

The remaining noblewomen, seeing that Jerome Bonaparte was unwilling to dance with them, returned to the dance floor to find other noblemen to dance with.

As the music began again, Franz Joseph, standing in the center of the dance floor, immersed himself in the dance.

Jerome Bonaparte continued to savor his wine, his gaze continuously assessing the people on the dance floor.

Seeing this, Augusta, sitting beside Jerome Bonaparte, immediately whispered to him, "When the next tune plays, you should invite Qianqian for a dance!"

Listening to Augusta, Jerome Bonaparte showed a surprised expression and replied in a low voice, "What are you trying to do?"

Although Jerome Bonaparte could indeed invite Elizabeth to dance, he had almost grown weary of it over the past few days and was really not inclined to join the dance floor anymore.

"Dance!" Empress Augusta instantly replied.

"Are you two up to something?" Elizabeth, sitting across from Jerome Bonaparte, asked them with a curious look.

Empress Augusta quickly approached Elizabeth and told her that Jerome Bonaparte wanted to invite her for a dance.

"Really, Your Majesty?" Elizabeth turned her gaze to Jerome Bonaparte and inquired.

Looking at the young lady in front of him, who was only 18, Jerome Bonaparte nodded politely and said, "I wonder if I may have the honor of inviting you to dance with me!"

"Your Majesty, it would be my honor!" Elizabeth replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

After the dance ended, Jerome Bonaparte stood up in front of Elizabeth.

Elizabeth also quickly got up, and the people on the dance floor turned their gazes toward Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte gently took Elizabeth’s hand, kissed it lightly without any hesitation, and said, "May I invite you for a dance, my angel?"

Faced with Jerome Bonaparte’s endearing term, Elizabeth was momentarily stunned, then nodded and said, "Of course, Your Majesty!"