Make France Great Again-Chapter 817 - 808: Diplomatic Crisis at the Hofburg Palace
"Haha!" The lady’s commanding tone successfully amused Jerome Bonaparte.
"What are you laughing at!" The lady guarding the gate still kept a stern face and "rebuked" Jerome Bonaparte.
From the lady’s expression, it was apparent that she did not recognize Jerome Bonaparte.
"Since I assumed the position of Emperor of the Empire, there has never been a place I cannot go!" Jerome Bonaparte put away his smile and responded coldly to the lady, "Is the Hofburg Palace more dangerous than the Crimea Peninsula?"
As soon as Jerome Bonaparte finished speaking, the lady’s face immediately turned pale.
She instantly realized that the person before her was no ordinary individual, but the monarch of the French Empire!
And she had just defied an imperial monarch!
"Your... Your Majesty! I... I..." The lady stammered in response to Jerome Bonaparte, now fearing that her actions might cause Emperor Jerome Bonaparte to vent his anger on the Austrian Empire. She responded hastily to Jerome Bonaparte, "I really didn’t mean to defy you! I was just following orders from Empress Dowager Sophie!"
"So, it’s your Empress Dowager who’s deliberately restricting my actions?" Jerome Bonaparte continued to speak coldly to the lady, "It seems my arrival with Augusta has disturbed the Grand Duchess. Could you give me some time to call Augusta out of the room?
I can swear never to step foot in the Hofburg Palace again; will that be enough?"
He wanted to seize the opportunity to ignite the flame on Empress Dowager Sophie.
"No! It’s not like that!" The lady was nearly in tears.
If her actions truly led to a freeze in relations between France and Austria, neither she nor her husband would ever be able to step foot in the Hofburg Palace again.
The honor and power bestowed upon their family by the House of Habsburg would vanish into smoke!
"Your Majesty, I truly didn’t mean to stop you!" The lady pleaded tearfully, "I beg for your forgiveness!"
"Madam, I don’t wish to waste any more words! Right now, I just want to go inside!" Jerome Bonaparte replied impatiently to the lady.
"Your Majesty, I will lead the way for you!" The lady immediately offered to guide Jerome Bonaparte.
"There’s no need!" Jerome Bonaparte raised his hand to stop the lady’s action, responding coldly, "I know my way around!"
With that, Jerome Bonaparte proceeded towards Princess Sophie’s nursery alone, leaving the lady standing in place, anxiously pondering her next move.
After a while, the lady spoke to herself, "Oh! Her Excellency the Empress Dowager, I must convey this news to Her Excellency the Empress Dowager!"
With that, the lady hurriedly pulled open the door.
Standing not far from the door, Countess Rafael observed the anxiety on the lady’s face as she emerged, immediately deducing that something had transpired inside.
She then pretended to pass by casually, calling out to the lady, "Madam Anastasi, where are you headed?"
Stopped by Countess Rafael, Madam Anastasi paused and quickly responded to her, "Countess Rafael, something important has happened!"
"What is it?" Though Countess Rafael had already guessed the situation, she maintained an expression of feigned ignorance while asking Madam Anastasi.
If it were any ordinary day, Madam Anastasi would not have uttered a single word to Countess Rafael due to the antagonistic relationship between Empress Elizabeth and Empress Dowager Sophie; however, now in disarray, Madam Anastasi clung to Countess Rafael as if grabbing onto a lifeline, spilling everything to her.
Countess Rafael displayed a similarly shocked expression after hearing Madam Anastasi’s account.
Originally, she intended to use Emperor Jerome Bonaparte to teach Madam Anastasi a lesson, to prevent her from "bullying" Empress Elizabeth in the future.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Jerome Bonaparte went even further, directing the conflict towards Empress Dowager Sophie.
This inevitably aroused suspicion in Madam Anastasi, wondering whether Her Majesty Empress Elizabeth and His Majesty Emperor Jerome Bonaparte had any close connection.
Typically, general friends wouldn’t engage in such "irrational" behavior... right?
"Do you think I should inform Her Excellency Empress Dowager Sophie of this incident?" Madam Anastasi asked Countess Rafael eagerly.
"I think it’s best for you to report it," Countess Rafael responded to Anastasi, "After all, this concerns diplomatic issues between two countries!
If His Majesty Jerome Bonaparte truly leaves the Hofburg Palace, that would be diplomatic news of significant magnitude!"
"I think so too!" Madam Anastasi agreed, responding to Countess Rafael, and then anxiously remarked, "But what if Empress Dowager Sophie holds me accountable..."
"At this point, don’t fret about those matters!" Countess Rafael urged Madam Anastasi, "The real issue would arise if Emperor Jerome Bonaparte indeed departs!"
Under the urging of Countess Raphaelt, Madam Anastasi reluctantly headed to the ball to deliver the message to Empress Dowager Sophie.
On the other hand, Jerome Bonaparte, who pushed the door open and entered Princess Sophie’s room, saw Empress Elizabeth and Empress Augusta sitting beside the cradle.
Upon hearing movement at the doorway, Empress Elizabeth and Empress Augusta turned their gazes towards Jerome Bonaparte.
"Your Majesty!" Princess Sisi hurriedly stood up and addressed Jerome Bonaparte.
"Your Majesty, what brings you here?" Empress Augusta also stood up and inquired of Jerome Bonaparte.
"I didn’t see you at the ball, so I asked Countess Raphaelt, and she said you were here, so I came over!" Jerome Bonaparte said as he slowly walked to Princess Sophie’s cradle.
Looking at the already sleeping Sophie, Jerome Bonaparte immediately praised, "So cute!"
"Thank you for your compliment!" Princess Sisi responded to Jerome Bonaparte.
Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte recounted to Empress Augusta and Princess Sisi the incident that had just occurred with Madam Anastasi standing at the door.
"Augusta, I need you to perform a play with me!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Empress Augusta.
"Your Majesty, you’re planning to use ’departure’ as a threat, aren’t you!" Empress Augusta immediately understood Jerome Bonaparte’s intention. She smiled and replied to him.
"Exactly!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and said to Empress Augusta, "If we don’t do this, how would the shadow emperor of Hofburg Palace ever be afraid!"
"Shadow emperor?" Empress Augusta looked at Jerome Bonaparte in puzzlement.
"Of course, it’s Empress Dowager Sophie!" Jerome Bonaparte responded to Empress Augusta, "In the entire Hofburg Palace, who else besides Empress Dowager Sophie could be considered the shadow emperor!"
"Your Majesty, there’s no need for this!" Princess Sisi quickly advised Jerome Bonaparte, not wanting him to create a big news event for her sake.
"Why not?" Jerome Bonaparte retorted, a rebellious smile on his lips: "I control one of the most powerful countries in the world, why should I accommodate her!
Not to mention Empress Dowager Sophie, even Franz, for that matter!"
The inherent rebellion of the Bonaparte Clan made Jerome Bonaparte indifferent to the consequences his actions might provoke.
Besides, the current Austrian Empire, other than being tightly bound to France, what else could they do!
As long as Jerome Bonaparte slightly loosened the reins on the Russian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia, they would transform into two vicious dogs and tear Austria apart.
Faced with Jerome Bonaparte’s remarks, Princess Sisi fell silent.
Empress Augusta also spoke to Princess Sisi, "Sisi, leave this matter to us!"
After a moment, Princess Sisi quietly thanked Jerome Bonaparte and Empress Augusta.
Then, Empress Augusta jokingly asked Empress Elizabeth what kind of husband she intended to find for Princess Sophie.
Empress Elizabeth shook her head uncertainly, but she hoped her daughter would not live in a court like the Habsburgs.
"I think our Friedrich is a good choice!" Empress Augusta promoted Friedrich Bonaparte, "And I can assure you that if Sophie is willing to marry him, she will have no restrictions on her actions!" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
"I think it’s better to wait for Sophie to grow up before discussing it!" Princess Sisi tactfully responded to Empress Augusta.
"I also think so!" Jerome Bonaparte chimed in.
If his memory wasn’t wrong, Princess Sisi’s first daughter seemed to have died due to certain reasons.
Betrothing her to Friedrich now was indeed a bit hasty.
"Then let’s wait a little longer!" Empress Augusta also realized she was too hasty.
"Alright! Augusta, we should leave now!" Jerome Bonaparte glanced at the pocket watch in his pocket, as Franz Joseph and Empress Dowager Sophie should be arriving soon.
If we’re lucky, they might meet us at the door as we leave.
Augusta and Jerome stood up and left, with Empress Elizabeth following behind them.
As the three of them exited through the main door, Empress Dowager Sophie and Franz Joseph appeared in the distance.
