CHAPTER 358: AFTER THE MODIFICATION: CHAPTER 353 THE WEDDING PROCEEDS AS USUAL

"War! War! We want war!"

The humiliation from the Württemberg Kingdom hung over the heads of the Parisians, causing the nationalist-empowered Parisians to voice their calls.

When had France, the largest land army nation in Europe, ever suffered such indignation? Württemberg, as a "tiny" nation, dared to renege on its promises, brutally trampling on the dignity of all French people.

From the moment the news was announced, the Parisians had forgotten the German Confederation War Law, forgotten the pain from the Napoleonic Wars.

Over a decade of humiliation and unwillingness in drifting diplomatic affairs in Europe erupted at this moment; they needed a war, a resounding and thorough war.

Just as the shadow of war gradually loomed over the Württemberg Kingdom and the French Empire, the Württemberg Kingdom’s Princess Augusta and the French Empire’s Emperor Jerome Bonaparte announced at the Tuileries Palace that they would appear at Paris City Hall at 3 PM, hoping that the citizens of Paris would control their emotions and that the incident would not affect the day’s work.

The considerate response from the Tuileries Palace was like a soothing rain, quenching the anger in the hearts of the Parisians.

At 2 PM, the square outside Paris City Hall was packed, with people eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Emperor and Princess Augusta.

Meanwhile, the police responsible for guarding City Hall were all ready. With the cooperation of hundreds of police officers, a passage for carriages was finally opened by 2:30 PM.

At 2:45 PM, the acting director of the National Intelligence Bureau, Marcel Yale, went to the Tuileries Palace to report to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Your Majesty, the Special Operations Team dispersed among the crowd and at shooting points around City Hall are all ready!" Marcel Yale reported without any emotion, word by word.

"Hmm, I know!" Jerome Bonaparte, sitting in the chair, stood up and patted Marcel Yale on the shoulder and said, "Thank you for your hard work!"

"This is what I should do!" Marcel Yale responded to Jerome Bonaparte neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"By the way, is the funding allocated to the Intelligence Bureau sufficient? If not, I can add more!" Jerome Bonaparte asked Marcel Yale.

"Your Majesty, the funds allocated to the National Intelligence Bureau by the Ministry of Finance are fully sufficient!" Marcel Yale replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

The annual appropriation of nearly 60 million francs is more than enough for the National Intelligence Bureau to establish an extensive intelligence network, which is one-fifth of the naval budget.

"Don’t be afraid to spend money! We need to make every penny count!" Jerome Bonaparte encouraged Marcel Yale, then asked again, "How’s the infiltration of certain members going?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty! Our people are already fully deployed alongside Senator von Bismarck, Major General von Mauqi, and Major General von Rone and have gained their trust!" Although Marcel Yale did not understand why Jerome Bonaparte focused on these "small figures," he just needed to faithfully complete the tasks assigned by Jerome Bonaparte.

"Good!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded in satisfaction. "Keep a close eye on these people’s actions, and ensure strict secrecy for personnel stationed beside them! When necessary, it’s acceptable to sacrifice some other peripheral members to protect the identity of those lurking by their sides from being exposed."

"Understood!" Marcel Yale responded decisively.

"Alright! It’s getting late! Time to set off!" Jerome Bonaparte left the study, and Marcel Yale followed closely behind.

This time, Marcel Yale left through the back door as usual.

As a secret intelligence chief, Marcel Yale needed to remain low-key.

After Marcel Yale left, Jerome Bonaparte slowly walked to the Tuileries Palace hall, and before long, Augusta and Mathilde appeared hand in hand in the hall as well.

Before Mathilde Bonaparte could start scolding, Jerome Bonaparte reached out a hand to Augusta, saying, "Let’s go!"

"Hmm!" Augusta released Mathilde’s wrist and placed her palm on Jerome Bonaparte’s hand.

The two left the Tuileries Palace in a black double-bridge carriage. Watching their departure, Mathilde smiled with relief once more.

Escorted by a team of French Dragon Cavalry in armor, the double-bridge carriage carrying Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta arrived at the entrance of Paris City Hall.

Seeing the throngs of people outside Paris City Hall through the glass window, a hint of terror appeared on Augusta’s face, and the words "riot" involuntarily emerged in her mind.

"Don’t worry! I understand the Parisians; as long as you approach them with honesty, they’re willing to welcome you! They are all human, not born with violent instincts. Everything they do is just to live better! If you can meet some of their demands, you’ll find them far more endearing than some of the obstinate nobles," Jerome Bonaparte reassuringly stroked her hand.

Hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s words, Augusta was no longer afraid and began to curiously observe the crowd outside the glass window.

In her eyes, these people were no longer hideous "demons," but vivid human beings.

"I know!" Augusta said with a smile on her face, speaking softly.

The carriage stopped in front of the City Hall grand entrance. Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta left the carriage together, holding hands under the witness of all the Parisians.

"Oh!" came an exclamation from the Parisians, with many faces breaking into smiles.

"As you can see, my engagement to Princess Augusta has not been annulled by the unilateral decision of the Wurttemberg Kingdom! Augusta has accepted my proposal, she is now the Empress of the French Empire!" Jerome Bonaparte said flatly yet firmly while holding Augusta’s hand, "You can also understand it as, I have eloped with Augusta!"

"Oh!" The Parisians’ voices grew louder, with the occasional whistle emerging from the crowd.

"I am willing to be with my cousin, my future husband, the French Empire’s Emperor Jerome Bonaparte! Willingly with thirty million French people! I sincerely hope you can also accept me, this rebellious princess!" Augusta recited word for word in French, following the script Jerome Bonaparte had given her.

In an instant, everyone present was filled with admiration for this daring princess who defied convention, and in loving the house and its crow, many people slightly diminished their aversion towards the Wurttemberg Kingdom.

"Long live Bonaparte! Long live the Empress!" came a spontaneous shout from the crowd, said by some witty person.

Immediately, everyone in the Town Hall Square started to shout enthusiastically for the Emperor and Empress.

Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta left the Paris City Hall amid the cheers.

On October 17th, a "clarifying" message appeared in the Observer.

The message claimed that the reason why the Wurttemberg Kingdom chose to reject France was due to pressure from the Russian Empire.

In no time, the source of anger shifted from the Wurttemberg Kingdom to the Russian Empire, with furious Parisians marching in front of the Russian Embassy in France.

If the embassy had not been surrounded by adequate police force, it might have been smashed to pieces by the angry crowd.

After this incident, Augusta’s image grew even grander in the hearts of the Parisians,

with Parisian women viewing Augusta as a symbol of resistance against the strong, and Augusta, under Jerome Bonaparte’s guidance, also participated in charity works and similar activities.

Several welfare-institutions-turned-hospitals named after Augusta were established in Paris, with Parisians voluntarily donating money and materials to the hospitals.

Through Jerome Bonaparte’s operations, Augusta could be said to have forged a "moral golden body," and unless any other moral issues arise in the future, Augusta would remain invincible in Paris.

On October 18th, Tuileries Palace released another major announcement.

The French Empire’s Emperor Jerome Bonaparte and the Wurttemberg Kingdom’s Princess will formally hold their wedding on October 31st, at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Such a rushed wedding is bound to lead to some oversights, but at this point, the only option was to speed up the process.

Under Jerome Bonaparte’s command, the servants of Tuileries Palace, Elysee Palace, and Fontainebleau Palace were all mobilized.

Flower and decoration shops all over Paris received overtime orders at once, and some sections of the road from Tuileries Palace to Notre-Dame Cathedral were being renovated at high speed, with the whole of Paris seemingly busy preparing for Jerome Bonaparte’s wedding.

Time quickly arrived at October 31st, when the wedding officially began.

Dressed in imperial robes, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta in full ceremonial dress, set out together in a double-bridged golden open carriage from Tuileries Palace.

Under the escort of the French Dragon Cavalry, the carriage advanced along roadsides piled with flowers, swiftly arriving near Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta stepped down from the carriage as cannons saluted in succession.

Amid the gaze of citizens outside the Notre-Dame, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta walked step by step into the Cathedral.

At this moment, the Archbishop of Notre-Dame, dressed in bishop attire, looked kindly upon the couple about to embark on the journey of matrimony.

Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta moved in front of the Archbishop.

The Archbishop waved his hand, and the "Holy Sons" on both sides began to chant hymns.