CHAPTER 357: CHAPTER 352 A SUDDEN BROKEN ENGAGEMENT

The members of the Bonaparte Clan offered blessings for the upcoming wedding of Emperor Jerome Bonaparte and Princess Augusta. Princess Augusta, who received the blessings, smiled and thanked the members of the Bonaparte Clan, promising to help every member of the Bonaparte Clan as much as possible.

"Hmph!" Pierre Bonaparte, among the crowd, displayed a disdainful expression at Princess Augusta’s promise.

Standing beside him, a member of the Bonaparte Clan gently poked Pierre Bonaparte with a finger and quietly warned, "Are you crazy?"

Pierre Bonaparte glanced at the Bonaparte member next to him and also lowered his voice to retort, "You fear her! I do not! She hasn’t even married His Majesty the Emperor, and she’s already starting to manage our affairs! If this continues, won’t we be led by the nose?"

"She is the Emperor’s wife!" Although this member of the Bonaparte Clan referred to her as "the Emperor’s wife," there wasn’t a trace of respect on his face either, "We must at least show her some respect, right?"

"Respect?" Pierre Bonaparte’s face still carried a look of contempt as he said, "In France, the Empress is merely a decoration! Even the former Emperor..."

Before Pierre Bonaparte could finish speaking, he suddenly noticed the Emperor staring directly at him; his expression immediately froze, and then he forced an awkward smile at Jerome Bonaparte.

Only after Jerome Bonaparte shifted his gaze elsewhere did Pierre Bonaparte heave a sigh of relief.

After a brief meeting with all the members of the Bonaparte Clan, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta left the Richelieu Mansion.

[PS: After confiscating the assets of the Orleans Clan in France, Jerome Bonaparte handed the Richelieu Mansion owned by the Orleans Clan to his father, Prince Monfort, for use.]

Sitting in the carriage, Jerome Bonaparte smiled and asked Augusta how she felt.

"Overall, it’s fine! But there seem to be some people down there who don’t welcome me!" Augusta replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

"They fear the throne being taken away!" Jerome Bonaparte explained leisurely, "Since my uncle served as Emperor, those princes in the family have never kept quiet for a moment. Your presence will precisely turn their fantasies about the throne into nothing but illusions!"

"So, should I retreat?" There was no hint of compromise in Princess Augusta’s tone.

"Of course not!" Jerome Bonaparte again took Augusta’s wrist warmly, saying, "I told you, you will enjoy this power with me! This is the right you should have as an Empress! As for my brothers..."

Jerome Bonaparte sneered, "They don’t even realize that their meager talents are not worthy of their ambitions! All they fantasize about is nothing but illusions!"

The next day, Jerome Bonaparte again led Augusta to meet with supporters of the Bonaparte Clan and the Cabinet Ministers.

Regardless of whether they were supporters of the Bonaparte Clan or Cabinet Ministers, all were satisfied with Augusta’s measured responses.

Although the Empress was relatively mediocre in stature, an Empress is not just about appearance.

In the subsequent month, to let more people know Augusta, Jerome Bonaparte accompanied Augusta on train travels to Strasbourg, Lyon, Rouen, Bordeaux... Everywhere they went, the public cheered for the arrival of the new Empress.

Augusta’s fame also soared throughout France, and when Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta returned to Paris, Augusta suggested to Jerome Bonaparte to visit the Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta went to the Notre-Dame Cathedral, where they received the most sincere blessings from the Archbishop of Paris Notre-Dame.

To the Archbishop of Paris, Emperor Bonaparte marrying a princess of legitimate order meant he was willing to return to the orthodox sequence, thereby safeguarding the interests of the Pope State.

In Empress Augusta’s court, there would surely be a place for their priests.

"Your Highness Augusta, Your Majesty, may the Lord bless you as a new couple! Your union will surely lead France back to order, bringing reason and morality back to mankind!" The Archbishop of Notre-Dame fervently blessed Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta, sneaking in some private interests.

"Your Excellency Bishop!" Augusta also sincerely replied to the Archbishop, "I hope our wedding can be completed here under the Lord’s blessing!"

"This..." The Archbishop of Notre-Dame was stunned, for he couldn’t imagine Augusta would propose such a condition. Emperor Napoleon’s previous actions in Notre-Dame were considered "highly disrespectful," and now she wants to repeat it?

"Your Excellency Bishop, can you not fulfill even such a small wish?" Augusta’s face showed a disappointed expression.

"Of course not!" The Archbishop, eager to build good relations with the Empress, disregarded any taboos and hurriedly remedied, "I would be very honored to conduct your wedding!"

"That’s wonderful!" Augusta quickly shifted from sadness to joy and smiled at the Archbishop of Notre-Dame.

Thus, Augusta and the Archbishop of Notre-Dame reached an agreement to rent Notre-Dame for the wedding.

Jerome Bonaparte didn’t say a word throughout the process.

The two boarded the carriage back to the Tuileries Palace, escorted by the Archbishop of Notre-Dame.

In the carriage, Jerome Bonaparte gave a thumbs up in praise to Augusta.

Augusta smiled shyly.

As time passed, the Württemberg Kingdom and the French Empire gradually reached a consensus regarding the wedding.

Just as both sides were about to agree, a sudden change nearly led to a breaking point between Württemberg and France.

On October 15, 1852, the Wurttemberg Envoy sent an order to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting Augusta’s return to Württemberg.

This sudden news shocked the entire French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It must be known that Augusta had been in France for over a month, and in the hearts of most French people, she had already been accepted as the soon-to-be Empress of France.

The order from the Württemberg Envoy apparently intended to "renege on the marriage."

If not handled properly, the Emperor would become the laughingstock of all France.

Aware of the seriousness of the situation, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs immediately forwarded the news to the Tuileries Palace.

When Jerome Bonaparte received the news from De Luy, his face also showed shock and anger.

"Württemberg... My uncle, what exactly does he want to do!" Jerome Bonaparte felt an indescribable humiliation.

Just one step away, what’s really going on over there in Württemberg?

"Bring the Wurttemberg Envoy here!" Jerome Bonaparte said with a hint of hostility in his voice.

De Luy quickly brought the Wurttemberg Envoy, and Jerome Bonaparte looked the envoy up and down and said sternly, "Does the Württemberg Kingdom know what it’s doing? You are deceiving all of France!"

The Wurttemberg Envoy showed an apologetic smile and said, "Your Majesty, Württemberg doesn’t want to do this either! It’s only because our King received joint pressure from the Austrian Empire and the Russian Empire, so we had no choice but to make this decision!"

"Is the Württemberg Kingdom afraid of the Austrian Empire and the Russian Empire but not afraid of France?" Jerome Bonaparte laughed in frustration.

"Of course, we are also afraid!" the Wurttemberg Envoy straightforwardly admitted, "Which is why we thought of a compromise for both Your Majesty and His Majesty William!"

"What solution?" Jerome Bonaparte looked at the Wurttemberg Envoy with doubt.

"As long as the Princess insists on not following the order from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and chooses to marry you, the national Majesty would have no way out! We can’t just send troops over to take the Princess away!" The Wurttemberg Envoy said with a sly smile to Jerome Bonaparte.

The words of the Wurttemberg Envoy successfully enlightened Jerome Bonaparte. He suddenly realized that no matter how severe their wording, the Württemberg Kingdom couldn’t seize anyone on French soil; all he needed to do was complete the marriage.

By that time, both Württemberg and France could save face.

"We can also declare that Augusta came for free love. This way, she would be even more welcomed by France!" Jerome Bonaparte thought of some popular packaging techniques seen in later talent shows.

For the rebellious Parisians, a rebellious Empress would be even more welcomed.

"Your Majesty, you and the Princess should proceed quickly!" the Wurttemberg Envoy kindly reminded, "His Majesty William is under considerable pressure!"

"I understand!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded in agreement.

After the Wurttemberg Envoy left, Jerome Bonaparte called Augusta and relayed the envoy’s words to her truthfully.

"Your Majesty, are we going for a quick marriage then?" Augusta’s expression was unusually calm, and she asked unhurriedly.

"I respect your choice!" Jerome Bonaparte gave Augusta the due respect she deserved, "If you wish to leave, I will send someone to escort you back! If you choose to stay, then I will prepare the grandest wedding for you!"

"Then..." Princess Augusta reached out her hand to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, please take care of me!"

"Yes!" Jerome Bonaparte also smiled, gently holding Princess Augusta’s hand.

On October 16, the news of the Wurttemberg Envoy’s demand for Augusta’s return to Württemberg was published in Paris’s newspapers.

For a moment, there was a public uproar, and all of Paris roared its sentiments.