Make France Great Again-Chapter 828 - 819: The Cardinal’s Invitation
"This isn’t fair! Sister Augusta, I request a change of partner!"
After losing ten consecutive rounds, Elizabeth wanted to loudly tell Empress Augusta to replace Jerome Bonaparte, this "saboteur" of an opponent.
"Yes! I also request a change of partner!" Jerome Bonaparte, equally displeased, also made a request to Empress Augusta.
From Jerome Bonaparte’s perspective, Elizabeth not only had poor card skills but also constantly tried to undermine him, serving as a perfect example of a lousy teammate.
Of course, Elizabeth felt the same way.
Seeing both Jerome Bonaparte and Princess Sisi simultaneously threatening to "strike," Empress Augusta helplessly glanced at Jerome Bonaparte and Elizabeth, then turned to ask Countess Raphaelt, "Countess, do you think we should comply with their wishes or not?"
After pondering for a moment, Countess Raphaelt replied to Empress Augusta, "Your Majesty, I believe a certain degree of change is appropriate!"
"Alright then! I’ll team up with Augusta, and you team up with Countess Raphaelt!" Jerome Bonaparte readily suggested to Princess Sisi.
"Why!" Elizabeth clearly disagreed with Jerome Bonaparte’s suggestion and immediately retorted, "It should be me teaming up with Sister Augusta, and you with Countess Raphaelt!"
"Augusta and I are husband and wife, so it’s only natural for us to be in the same team!" Jerome Bonaparte retorted, not yielding an inch to this defiant "daughter."
"I and Sister Augusta are... are..." Elizabeth hesitated for a moment, unable to find the right words for the next sentence.
"Can’t find the right words, can you!" Jerome Bonaparte laughed smugly, thoroughly enjoying this sense of bullying the "weak."
Feeling her husband was going too far, Empress Augusta immediately concluded for Elizabeth, "Elizabeth, aren’t we the best of sisters?"
"Exactly! The best of sisters!" Elizabeth immediately responded, then got up to sit on the sofa beside Empress Augusta, holding onto her arm and gazing at Jerome Bonaparte, seemingly with an intent to provoke.
After all, still a child at heart!
Jerome Bonaparte couldn’t help but mutter to himself, although he seemed to forget that his earlier behavior also had a bit of a childish competitive streak.
"Alright then! You shall sit here!" Empress Augusta looked indulgently at Elizabeth and gently patted her head, saying to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, let me team up with Elizabeth."
"Alright!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Empress Augusta and then turned politely to Countess Raphaelt, "Madam, would you be so kind as to team up with me!"
"It is my honor, Your Majesty!" Countess Raphaelt responded humbly to Jerome Bonaparte.
The second round of the competition officially began. With a new teammate, Elizabeth exhibited a different attitude than when she was teamed with Jerome Bonaparte; she tried her utmost to assist Augusta.
On Jerome Bonaparte’s side, perhaps because he and Countess Raphaelt hadn’t quite achieved a perfect synergy, they lost several rounds consecutively despite their intentions to win.
Just as Jerome Bonaparte was about to concede another defeat, a knock on the door relieved him from his torment.
"I’ll get the door!"
Before Countess Raphaelt could stand up to open the door, Jerome Bonaparte threw his cards on the table and went to open the door.
Opening the door, Jerome Bonaparte saw Franz Joseph standing outside. His face immediately lit up with a warm smile as he addressed Franz Joseph, "Franz, we’ve been waiting for you!"
"Hmm?" Franz Joseph was stunned for a few seconds and then asked, "You knew I was coming?"
"Of course!" Jerome Bonaparte replied confidently to Franz Joseph and then stepped aside, saying, "Please come in!"
Entering the room, Franz Joseph could see the three people sitting on the sofa from afar and slowly walked up to them.
The three on the sofa immediately put down their cards and stood up to greet Franz Joseph, "Your Majesty Franz!"
Franz Joseph smiled and glanced at the ongoing entertainment on the table, "You’re playing Whist?"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Countess Raphaelt responded to Franz Joseph.
"Who’s teamed up with whom?" Franz Joseph once again asked Countess Raphaelt.
"I’m teamed with Sister Augusta, and Jerome is with Countess Raphaelt!" Elizabeth quickly answered Franz Joseph.
Franz Joseph’s expression showed a hint of displeasure, as Elizabeth’s interruption was not quite fitting for an Empress.
"Franz, want to join in for a round!" Jerome Bonaparte picked up the cards from the table and asked Franz Joseph.
"Agreed!" Originally, Franz Joseph had finished handling all his affairs and came over to enjoy some recreation with Jerome Bonaparte.
The addition of Franz Joseph rendered Countess Raphaelt completely redundant, and her seat was "occupied" by Franz Joseph, leaving her to silently stand behind the sofa, ready to be called upon at any moment.
This time, Jerome Bonaparte teamed up with Franz Joseph while Augusta and Elizabeth formed their own team.
Once the third round began, the relentless Elizabeth showed no intention of going easy on Jerome Bonaparte’s team.
Despite Empress Augusta’s willingness for Franz Joseph and Jerome Bonaparte to win, Franz Joseph’s luck mirrored his historical counterparts, much to his misfortune.
After several rounds, Jerome Bonaparte found himself at a loss as well.
Seeing Franz Joseph’s expression grow darker, Jerome Bonaparte hastily called a halt.
"Now let’s switch partners! I want to team up with Augusta!" Jerome Bonaparte declared to Elizabeth.
"Sister Augusta!" Elizabeth implored Empress Augusta with a pitiful gaze.
"Elizabeth, I’m teaming up with my husband now!" Empress Augusta responded decisively to Elizabeth.
Subsequently, Augusta sat with Jerome Bonaparte, while Franz Joseph sat with Elizabeth.
Jerome Bonaparte immediately communicated a signal with his eyes to Augusta, which she perfectly understood.
As the fourth round began, Elizabeth and Franz Joseph, with only a bit of synergy, managed to score 5 victories and 3 defeats with the continuous assistance from Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta.
Finally, Jerome Bonaparte announced the conclusion of the Whist game, leaving Franz Joseph and Elizabeth somewhat wanting more.
"Alright! It’s getting late, we should rest!" Jerome Bonaparte hurriedly said to them, fearing he might not be able to control his temper if they continued losing.
"Very well then! Goodnight!" Franz Joseph bid farewell to Jerome Bonaparte.
After seeing off Franz Joseph and Empress Elizabeth, Jerome Bonaparte breathed a sigh of relief. He wiped his brow gently and said to Empress Augusta, "This last round was the most exhausting for me!"
"To think you would one day deliberately lose!" Empress Augusta remarked to Jerome Bonaparte.
"I had no choice! I had to give Franz Joseph some face!" Jerome Bonaparte shrugged to Empress Augusta and then added, "However, I think Franz will soon realize!"
"Isn’t that exactly what you intended!" Augusta teased Jerome Bonaparte back!
"That’s right! That’s exactly my intention!" Jerome Bonaparte admitted frankly.
While Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta were discussing in their bedroom, Franz Joseph, reminiscing, also began to suspect that Jerome Bonaparte and his wife may have deliberately let them win.
Franz Joseph turned and sternly inquired Countess Raphaelt, who had been standing behind the sofa.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty Emperor Jerome and Her Majesty Empress Augusta indeed wanted to let you win!" Madam Raffalat told Franz Joseph.
"Hmm, I understand!" Franz Joseph felt a warmth in his heart.
In the context of being fellow monarchs, the fact that Jerome Bonaparte was considerate of his dignity showed that he indeed was a friend worth trusting. (Franz Joseph’s perspective held no absolute trust option, only trustworthy and untrustworthy!)
...
The next morning, Jerome Bonaparte and Empress Augusta departed Hofburg Palace by carriage.
Dressed in all black, Elizabeth went to the bedroom of the Jerome Bonaparte couple to find them, only to discover they were not there. She immediately inquired with Count Gneer.
Count Gneer informed Elizabeth that Jerome Bonaparte and Empress Augusta had accepted an invitation from a subordinate dispatched by Bishop Angelo Becciu, heading to St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna.
"Bishop Becciu?" Empress Elizabeth murmured to herself, "What does he want?"
"Perhaps it’s due to the relationship between the French Empire and being a Catholic great power!" Count Gneer responded vaguely to Elizabeth.
Meanwhile, escorted by the Austrian Cavalry, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta arrived at the cathedral, where Bishop Angelo Becciu, standing on the red carpet, immediately stepped forward to greet them.
"Welcome to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Your Majesties!"
