October 12, 1858.

At the gracious invitation of Jerome Bonaparte, Prince Albert and Queen Victoria, along with the British Secretary of the Navy, set off from London on a warship arriving in Normandy, and then took a train from the Normandy region to Paris.

When the train carrying Prince Albert and Victoria stationed at the Paris Railway Station, Jerome Bonaparte and Empress Augusta, who had been waiting at the station for some time, hurriedly ran to the side of the train to greet them.

Prince Albert and Queen Victoria descended the steps of the train side by side, and Jerome Bonaparte reached out with a smile and said to Prince Albert, "Welcome back to Paris! Albert!"

Albert similarly extended his hand to shake hands with Jerome Bonaparte, but his face did not carry a smile like Jerome Bonaparte, and he said indifferently, "Thank you!"

Jerome Bonaparte’s face revealed a hint of awkwardness, as he understood that Prince Albert was silently expressing his discontent with Jerome Bonaparte.

Standing beside Prince Albert, Queen Victoria, unlike Prince Albert, warmly embraced Empress Augusta.

Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte and his wife, along with the Albert couple, began to walk towards the outside of the train.

Queen Victoria and Empress Augusta smoothly began discussing topics often talked about by women, smiling as they walked towards the outside of the train station.

After delivering a brief moment of intimidation, Prince Albert began speaking with Jerome Bonaparte.

Both parties walked and talked, until they reached beside the carriages, and Jerome Bonaparte invited the Victoria couple to enter the first carriage while he and Empress Augusta sat in the second carriage.

After Jerome Bonaparte and the Victoria couple were seated in the carriages, they began moving towards Tuileries Palace.

Meanwhile, the Parisians, already informed about the arrival of the Victoria couple, were organized by the Paris Police Station to gather along Jerome Bonaparte’s path.

As the carriage arrived, the Parisians on either side would start cheering in cadence guided by undercover agents amidst them.

Soon, the carriage appeared in the view of the Parisians, and undercover agents among the crowd began shouting "Long live England and France’s friendship!" "Long live Queen Victoria!"

Upon hearing the cheers from the plainclothes, the surrounding Parisians also began to cheer, "Long live England and France’s friendship!" "Long live Queen Victoria!"

Within the carriage, Queen Victoria couldn’t help but reveal a joyful smile upon hearing the shouts of the Parisians. She turned to Albert and exclaimed, "Albert, listen to how welcoming the Parisians are to us!"

Seated in the carriage, Prince Albert’s expression remained unchanged, as he replied to Queen Victoria with a flat tone, "Victoria, the Parisians alongside the road are nothing but actors temporarily hired by Jerome Bonaparte!

Their shouts are nothing more than a rehearsed script."

"Albert, how can you say that!" Queen Victoria pouted as she said to Albert, "Am I not deserving of the French people’s admiration?"

Realizing his previous remark was somewhat untimely, Prince Albert quickly added, "You are! Certainly, you are!"

"Then why mention a script!" Queen Victoria retorted angrily.

"Victoria, you truly deserve the admiration of the French people!" Prince Albert explained slowly, "But if you listen to the outside’s calls, you’ll find every call is particularly coherent, seamlessly connected.

I can’t think of a country’s citizens that could coordinate in such harmony without organization!"

Prince Albert’s explanation didn’t satisfy Queen Victoria, who stubbornly argued, "I refuse to believe no one could manage it!"

Prince Albert was momentarily speechless, realizing that in such situations, it’s best not to argue with Victoria.

In moments like this, Victoria would only choose to stubbornly oppose.

...

Amidst the cheers from the French citizens lining the road (essentially all hired), the carriage arrived at Tuileries Palace.

Standing at the entrance of Tuileries Palace, Bashirio first ran to the first carriage, opened the door, and bowed to Prince Albert and Queen Victoria inside, saying, "Welcome to Tuileries Palace, Your Majesty Queen Victoria, Your Highness Prince Albert!"

Then Bashirio ran to the second carriage, opening the door for Jerome Bonaparte. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta stepped out of the carriage and walked slowly to stand in front of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, then invited the Victoria couple into the Tuileries Palace.

The Jerome Bonaparte couple and the Victoria couple climbed the steps into the hall of the Tuileries Palace, after which Empress Augusta considerately led Queen Victoria towards Friedrich’s room.

Only Jerome Bonaparte and Albert were left standing in place. After a while, Jerome Bonaparte spoke to Prince Albert, "Albert, why don’t we find a slightly quieter room to have a thorough discussion!"

Prince Albert paused for a moment, then nodded and replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "Alright!"

"Come with me!" Jerome Bonaparte walked ahead, with Prince Albert closely following behind him.

The two quickly arrived at a reception room in the Tuileries Palace, where they each sat on a chair with a backrest.

Jerome Bonaparte intentionally sat backward, pressing his chest against the backrest, and said to Prince Albert, "Albert... Regarding the Savoy and Nice issue, we admit there are indeed some problems on our side!"

"Only some problems?" Prince Albert said sharply to Jerome Bonaparte, "The annexation of Savoy and Nice by the French Empire is simply a blatant violation of the treaty signed in 1815!

If every country acted like yours, then all of Europe would immediately fall into large-scale chaos."

"Albert!" Jerome Bonaparte furrowed his brow slightly and said discontentedly, "The French Empire indeed didn’t do well in the Savoy matter, but to say I’m blatantly trampling the 1815 treaty is really giving me too much credit.

The initial violation of the 1815 treaty happened in 1830.

I remember in 1815, Europe didn’t have the Kingdom of Belgium.

Nowadays, Europe not only has the Kingdom of Belgium but also the Kingdom of Poland, and the Finnish Duchy has returned to the Kingdom of Sweden... Aren’t these also violations of the 1815 treaty?

Restricting the Russian Empire’s actions in the Black Sea, dividing the Russian Empire, isn’t that also part of the 1815 treaty?

Why can’t these actions be seen as violations of the 1815 treaty, yet the annexation of Savoy by France is considered a violation!"

Jerome Bonaparte’s series of rhetorical questions caused an awkward expression to appear on Prince Albert’s face. He also knew using the 1815 treaty as a shield indeed seemed somewhat undignified, but he couldn’t directly tell Jerome Bonaparte that Britain targeted France purely because the French Empire brought too much fear to Britain, so they imposed restrictions.

Saying such things would only bolster others’ morale and undermine his own prestige.

"The 1815 treaty I’m referring to is not an immutable agreement, but a condition that provides flexible changes under the premise of balance among nations!" Prince Albert tried to patch up his previous statement.

"Since you mentioned balance among nations earlier, I think France has not yet intended to disrupt the balance!" Jerome Bonaparte spread his hands and said to Prince Albert, "The French Empire, rather, has always been maintaining the balance among the major powers, not allowing any single country to dominate or provoke wars between major countries!

Of course, this inevitably means sacrificing the interests of some countries.

But I believe it’s all worth it!"

"What did the Kingdom of Sardinia gain by sacrificing Savoy?" Prince Albert questioned.

"Peace!" Jerome Bonaparte decisively responded to Prince Albert, "A hard-won peace!

If the Austrian Empire were to truly find that there are extreme nationalist forces within the Kingdom of Sardinia connected with the Savoy Royal Family, then the entire Austrian Empire might uproot the entire Savoy Royal Family!

At that time, even if France wanted to protect the Kingdom of Sardinia, it would be helpless!"

"Did Sardinia sacrifice Savoy just for a promise?" Prince Albert asked Jerome Bonaparte rhetorically.

"Yes!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded at Prince Albert and said, "Albert, I think you should understand! There’s nothing free in this world, and the protection of the French Empire is no exception!

If Victor Emmanuel II believes that Franz Joseph cannot completely annihilate him, then no matter how eloquent I am, it will be of no avail!

On the contrary, if Victor Emmanuel II believes that Franz Joseph is determined to eliminate him, he will naturally spare no cost to protect himself.

The French Empire is his best choice! Just like how I called you and the British Secretary of the Navy here to discuss the Mediterranean issue together!"

Jerome Bonaparte paused and then continued, "Besides, Savoy is just a part of the Kingdom of Sardinia’s territory, and even without this part of the land, the Savoy Royal Family remains members of the Sardinian Royal Family."