As Victor Emmanuel II and the others were discussing, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta also returned hand in hand.

Upon entering the hotel, the Emperor’s Aide, the Austrian Ambassador, and the Sardinian officer sitting on the sofa in the hotel lobby all stood up simultaneously, among them the Austrian Ambassador called out "Your Majesty" to the newly arrived Jerome Bonaparte.

Upon hearing the call, Jerome Bonaparte turned his gaze toward the direction where the Austrian Ambassador was, and there he saw Franz Joseph’s aide, roughly understanding these people’s identities.

Thus, Jerome Bonaparte softly said to Empress Augusta, "Let’s go!"

Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta slowly approached the Austrian Ambassador and the others, the Austrian Ambassador and the Emperor of the Austrian Empire’s aide hurriedly and respectfully said to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, Empress!"

"I remember you, you’re the aide beside Franz Joseph, right!" Jerome Bonaparte pointed to the Emperor’s aide, pondered for a moment, and then continued, "I remember your name is... Joseph Yelach... should be this name!"

The Emperor’s aide... no, Joseph Yelach showed a joyful expression upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte call his name, "Your Majesty, I am Joseph Yelach!"

"This is..." Jerome Bonaparte pointed to the Austrian Ambassador beside Joseph Yelach and asked.

"This is our ambassador to the Turin region, his name is Stephen Ferdinand!" Joseph Yelach quickly introduced the Austrian Ambassador to Jerome Bonaparte.

"It’s an honor to meet both of you, Your Majesties!" Ambassador Stephen Ferdinand respectfully responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"I’m also very pleased to meet you here!" Jerome Bonaparte similarly replied politely, then turned to ask Joseph Yelach, "Colonel Yelach, did Franz send you here?"

"Yes! Your Majesty!" Joseph Yelach nodded and answered Jerome Bonaparte, "The Emperor specially appointed me to invite you to Milan, he said he hasn’t seen you in a long time and truly hopes to meet with you soon!"

"What about Qianqian? Is Qianqian also there?" Augusta, standing beside Jerome Bonaparte, immediately inquired.

Joseph Yelach was briefly stunned, then quickly understood that "Qianqian" referred to their Empress Elizabeth, "Of course, Empress Elizabeth is also in Milan, she also really misses Empress Augusta!"

"Hmm! I understand! Thank you for your effort!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and responded to Joseph Yelach, "And please go back and tell Franz Joseph that Empress Augusta and I will depart for Milan in the next few days!"

"I will convey your message accurately!" Joseph Yelach respectfully answered Jerome Bonaparte.

After finishing Franz Joseph’s arranged task, Joseph Yelach and Stephen Ferdinand then bid farewell to Jerome Bonaparte and left the hotel, while Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta also returned to their hotel room.

Inside the room, Jerome Bonaparte softly said to Empress Augusta, "Augusta, do you think that guy Victor Emmanuel will invite us to the Turin Royal Palace with the excuse of hosting a ball or banquet tonight?"

"Probably not!" Empress Augusta shook her head and said to Jerome Bonaparte, "Inviting us only now might be a bit too late!"

"Who asked Joseph Yelach to come at this time?" Jerome Bonaparte shrugged his shoulders and said to Empress Augusta, "Besides, I didn’t specify a time for Milan just now, theoretically we could leave Turin for Milan tomorrow!

Which means Victor only has one day, he must seize it properly!"

After saying this, Jerome Bonaparte folded his legs and sat on the sofa, waiting quietly for the arrival of the spokesperson from the Turin Royal Palace.

About half an hour later, a knock on the door sounded, Jerome Bonaparte glanced at Augusta with a hint of teasing in his eyes and whispered, "What did I say!"

"What if it’s not?" Augusta rebutted.

"I said it will be!" Jerome Bonaparte said confidently, then slowly walked to the door and asked with a slight authority, "Who is it?"

The visitor outside the door immediately answered that he was from the Turin Royal Palace, sent by Victor Emmanuel II to invite Jerome Bonaparte to attend the ball being held at the Turin Royal Palace tonight.

"Why wasn’t the ball announced earlier?" Jerome Bonaparte looked at Empress Augusta with a complacent expression and deliberately asked the attendant outside the door with feigned dissatisfaction.

"Because His Majesty Victor heard that Your Majesty was planning to visit Milan soon, he specially decided to hold an additional ball!" The butler outside the room replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Who will attend the ball?" Jerome Bonaparte continued to ask.

The butler outside the room quickly listed all the key officials of the Sardinian Kingdom.

"Alright, go back and tell Victor! Empress Augusta and I will definitely attend tonight’s ball in full dress!" Jerome Bonaparte said to the outside once again.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The butler outside the room breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, "Then... Your Majesty, if there’s nothing else, I will take my leave!"

"Hmm!" Jerome Bonaparte said indifferently.

After the butler left, Jerome Bonaparte sat once again beside Empress Augusta and said, "I told you it must have been Victor Emmanuel sending someone over!"

"You guessed right!" Empress Augusta casually praised.

...

At 6:40 that evening, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta, dressed in elegant attire, set off from the hotel.

As they stepped out of the hotel, a gold-trimmed double-axle convertible carriage appeared in front of Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta.

Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta, arm in arm, climbed into the carriage, which sped off towards the Turin Royal Palace with them aboard.

Ten minutes later, the grand building of the Turin Royal Palace came into Jerome Bonaparte’s view, and at the foot of the palace steps was a large crowd, seemingly waiting for someone.

As the carriage approached, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta realized that the crowd was led by Victor Emmanuel II and consisted of the Sardinian rulers.

"Victor has quite the entourage!" Jerome Bonaparte whispered to Empress Augusta, leaning in.

"It’s time to get off!" Empress Augusta said to Jerome Bonaparte.

The carriage came to a stop in front of Victor Emmanuel II, and before the butler could open the door, Jerome Bonaparte pushed it open himself and stepped out, followed closely by Augusta.

Victor Emmanuel II stepped forward to shake Jerome Bonaparte’s hand, saying, "Welcome! Welcome!"

"Victor, you really flatter me!" Jerome Bonaparte smiled at Victor Emmanuel II.

"It’s nothing!" Victor Emmanuel II said nonchalantly, then invited Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta to accompany him into the Turin Royal Palace.

As the two monarchs entered the palace, the music in the hall resumed.

Accompanied by elegant music, Jerome Bonaparte and Victor Emmanuel II arrived at the ballroom.

The Sardinian courtesans, originally seated in the ballroom, also rose to greet them, bowing slightly to Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta.

Jerome Bonaparte, Victor Emmanuel II, and Empress Augusta sat down in the ballroom chairs. Victor Emmanuel II first asked Jerome Bonaparte if he would like to dance, and upon receiving Jerome’s refusal, Victor Emmanuel gave the order for the ball to begin to an attendant.

The attendant took a few steps forward, then struck the ground with a gem-encrusted scepter, announcing the official start of the ball.

Under the elegant melody, ministers and high-ranking nobles of the kingdom led their dance partners gracefully across the dance floor.

Meanwhile, on Jerome Bonaparte’s side, Victor Emmanuel II also began his inquiries to Jerome Bonaparte, "Jerome, I heard Franz’s aide came to see you today!"

"That’s correct!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded to Victor Emmanuel II, "I also promised him to leave for Milan tomorrow or the day after!"

Upon hearing this, Victor Emmanuel II felt inwardly fortunate for having invited Jerome Bonaparte today.

Otherwise, Jerome Bonaparte might have left Turin the next day.

"Do you think the peace talks are likely to be successfully concluded?" Victor Emmanuel II asked Jerome Bonaparte.

Nonsense! I called him here, and the script was written by me! If the talks don’t succeed, what am I even performing for! Jerome Bonaparte thought to himself but maintained a calm expression as he said, "It’s possible! Victor, rest assured! I will do my utmost to protect the Kingdom of Sardinia’s interests!

I’ll try to get the Austrian Empire to abandon their demands for investigation!"

"Thank you!" Victor Emmanuel II whispered to Jerome Bonaparte.

"However, I can’t guarantee that Franz Joseph will follow my advice! You know he’s a stubborn person..."