Make France Great Again-Chapter 843 - 834: Supervising Deco

After assigning the Croatian labor, Jerome Bonaparte and Richard Metternich returned to the parlor.

When Jerome Bonaparte found Augusta in the parlor, Augusta was speaking with the wife of the Minister of the Imperial Navy, Madam Dico.

The appearance of Jerome Bonaparte made Madam Dico stop her conversation, and she gracefully saluted Jerome Bonaparte.

"Your Majesty!"

"I apologize for interrupting your conversation like this!" Jerome Bonaparte said politely to Madam Dico, then turned to Empress Augusta, "Augusta, the ball is about to start!"

Empress Augusta also gave Madam Dico an apologetic smile, then left with Jerome Bonaparte.

Around 10 p.m., the ball officially commenced under the leadership of Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta.

Accompanied by an elegant melody, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta led everyone in the ballroom into a dance.

During the dance, Empress Augusta took the opportunity to ask Jerome Bonaparte if he would invite Madam Dico to the next dance to show favor to Minister Dico.

"Why would you suggest I invite someone else’s wife to dance? This is unlike you!" Jerome Bonaparte responded softly to Augusta while gently holding her tighter.

"Your Majesty, I’m only doing this to help you win over Minister Dico, who is far away in Marseille!" Augusta responded with a touch of annoyance, "Otherwise, have you ever seen a wife willing to watch her husband dance with someone else’s wife!"

So that’s how it was!

Jerome Bonaparte suddenly understood. Currently, Minister Dico is in Marseille tirelessly working to build the latest steam fleet for the French Empire, leaving him no time to attend social events in Paris.

To outsiders, this behavior is undoubtedly a signal of estrangement, so Jerome Bonaparte has the duty to eliminate some people’s speculations by inviting Madam Dico to dance.

As for whether Jerome Bonaparte would develop feelings for Madam Dico.

As the person involved, Jerome Bonaparte can say with absolute certainty that it’s impossible.

After all, no one would want to develop a romance with an average-looking woman over forty.

However, from this perspective, Minister Dico and his wife are indeed in true love.

After understanding Augusta’s motivation, Jerome Bonaparte hurriedly praised, "I truly married a virtuous wife!"

"Humph!" Empress Augusta softly snorted.

After the dance ended, Jerome Bonaparte released Empress Augusta’s hand and walked to the edge of the ballroom.

There, Jerome Bonaparte found Madam Dico.

At this moment, Madam Dico, seeing the arrival of Jerome Bonaparte, had a trace of bewilderment in her eyes; she couldn’t believe she had such charm to attract the Emperor to dance with her.

"Madam, might I invite you for a dance?" Jerome Bonaparte extended his hand to Madam Dico with an invitation.

The surrounding noblewomen had incredulous expressions, while Madam Dico stared blankly at Jerome Bonaparte.

"Madam, might I invite you for a dance?" Jerome Bonaparte repeated to Madam Dico.

Coming to her senses, Madam Dico hurriedly extended her hand, adorned with a white silk glove, and responded to Jerome Bonaparte, "Of course, Your Majesty!"

Jerome Bonaparte took Madam Dico’s hand and entered the center of the ballroom under everyone’s gaze, the music resumed as Jerome Bonaparte stood in the ballroom once more.

Jerome Bonaparte and Madam Dico began to dance, and during the dance, Jerome Bonaparte inquired about Minister Dico’s recent health status.

Madam Dico truthfully reported Minister Dico’s current situation to Jerome Bonaparte.

Upon hearing Madam Dico mention that Minister Dico was staying up all night, not sleeping, Jerome Bonaparte couldn’t help but frown slightly, recalling that in history, Minister Dico also died from accumulated fatigue.

Given the fervor with which Madam Dico described Minister Dico’s dedication, Jerome Bonaparte highly doubted that Minister Dico could safely see the end of 1856.

Now that the French Navy is finally on the path of development, Minister Dico absolutely cannot have any problems.

So, Jerome Bonaparte said to Madam Dico with a solemn expression, "Madam, I hope you can replace me to go to Marseille to supervise Minister Dico and make sure he takes a good rest!"

"Your Majesty, when Dico starts working, no one can stop him, and anyone who tries to will inevitably face a reprimand! Even I, as his wife, am no exception!" Madam Dico replied to Jerome Bonaparte with a wry smile.

"Then please tell Dico!" Jerome Bonaparte said with determination to Madam Dico, "If he continues like this, I will have to consider suspending all his duties!"

"Your Majesty, please don’t!" Madam Dico replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Madam, I believe it is necessary to use this method to stop Minister Dico from exhausting his life!" Jerome Bonaparte responded to Madam Dico firmly, "Mr. Dico is already over 50 years old, and his body is no longer young!

If this continues, Minister Dico might just work himself to death.

I do not want to see a minister loyal to the Empire’s cause die from overworking on his post. For the sake of Minister Dico’s health, I must do this!

Regarding Minister Dico’s health, we should both be on the same front! Madam!"

After thinking for a moment, Madam Dico gritted her teeth and requested authority from Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, I would like you to grant me the right to suspend Minister Theodore Dico’s duties at any time! I will suspend Dico’s work based on his condition!"

"Madam, I can grant you this right!" Jerome Bonaparte responded to Madam Dico, "But I hope you will not be influenced by external matters when exercising this right.

You should know that every right you receive from me stems from my trust in you.

I hope you do not betray my trust in you!"

"Your Majesty, please rest assured! I will definitely exercise this right properly!" Madam Dico immediately assured Jerome Bonaparte.

After a song ended, Madam Dico released Jerome Bonaparte’s hand and expressed her gratitude to him.

"Madam, this is what I should do as a monarch!" Jerome Bonaparte replied kindly and elegantly to Madam Dico, "I wish you an enjoyable evening in the ballroom!"

After parting with Madam Dico, Jerome Bonaparte received invitations to dance from several ministers’ wives again, and he danced with each of them. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Soon, the time came to 23:59:59, accompanied by the dull sound from the floor clock in the corner of the Tuileries Palace hall, the time transitioned from 1855 to 1856.

Fireworks placed around Paris were ignited by the soldiers guarding them, and the entire city was immediately enveloped in colorful halos, residents in independent rooms opened their windows one after another to watch the fireworks, unconsciously smiling.

Those poor workers living in the basement, upon hearing the commotion outside, also ran out to gaze at the fireworks in the sky, praying in their hearts for a wonderful beginning to the year 1856.

The fireworks continued for nearly twenty minutes before stopping. Standing at the gate of Tuileries Palace, Jerome Bonaparte, after looking at the distant fireworks, commanded to Bashirio beside him, "Go to the telegraph office immediately and send our New Year greetings to the monarchs of Europe on my behalf!"

"Yes! Your Majesty!" Bashirio quickly replied to Jerome Bonaparte and then quietly left through the crowd.

After watching the fireworks, Jerome Bonaparte led his accompanying guests back to the Tuileries Palace to continue dancing.

The ball lasted until around 2 a.m. before ending, and the originally lively Tuileries Palace fell back into a state of silence.

After seeing off all the guests, Jerome Bonaparte called Bashirio over again to ask which countries had replied.

"As of now, the countries that have replied to our telegram include the Kingdom of Belgium, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Württemberg Kingdom, Sardinian Kingdom, Kingdom of Britain, Austrian Empire and Kingdom of Prussia! They have also sent their New Year greetings to You, Your Majesty!" Bashirio reported the list to Jerome Bonaparte.

"I understand!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded to Bashirio and then yawned, saying to Bashirio, "I’ll go rest now! You should also rest early!"

After finishing, Jerome Bonaparte turned and returned to the bedroom.

...

Over the next two weeks, all the countries, including the government of the Russian Empire, sent New Year wishes to Jerome Bonaparte and the French Empire.

And Jerome Bonaparte also decided to take the opportunity of the new year to summarize the financial situation of the French Empire in 1855.

Thus, Jerome Bonaparte sent Bashirio to announce to each department: He will hold an Imperial Council at the Tuileries Palace next Monday, with the purpose of summarizing the expenditures on finance, military, and internal affairs for the year 1855, and setting economic goals for 1856.

Ministers of each department must prepare their materials and arrive at Tuileries Palace next Monday, and no minister should be absent without reason.

Upon receiving the message, the Ministry of the Navy sent a telegram overnight to Minister Dico, who was supervising the construction of new ships in Marseille.