Late October 1858.

After a half-month state visit (tour) in France, the Victoria couple officially departed from Paris on the 27th.

At this moment, the sky over Paris remained shrouded in a gray haze, with few pedestrians on the streets.

However, the train station in the suburbs of Paris presented a different scene, taken over by the military, where crowds gathered, and every passage and every step was guarded by the Imperial Guard in black double-breasted coats and high collar military hats, stationed there by order of the Emperor of the Empire to maintain order.

As the first golden rays of morning dispersed the haze over Paris, a carriage marked with a golden bee emblem appeared from the mist, escorted by a regiment of the Imperial Guard, slowly approaching the train station.

The officer commanding this guard hurriedly ran to the station’s lounge and informed the Emperor’s Aide, Colonel Bourbaki (Charles Dennis Shout Bourbaki), guarding outside the lounge.

"I understand! I will inform His Majesty! Prepare to receive them!" Colonel Bourbaki nodded and responded to the officer.

"Yes!" The officer saluted Bourbaki before leaving.

Bourbaki turned and gently knocked twice on the red wooden door of the lounge.

A few seconds later, a slightly weary voice from Jerome Bonaparte came from the room, "Bourbaki, have Victoria and Albert arrived!"

"Your Majesty! Queen Victoria’s carriage has already arrived at the train station!" Bourbaki faithfully reported the arrival of the Victoria couple.

Two minutes later, the door slowly opened, and Jerome Bonaparte, in formal attire, hand in hand with Augusta, emerged from the lounge.

Bourbaki quickly bowed to show respect.

"Let’s go!" Jerome Bonaparte responded lightly, then went with Augusta towards the main entrance of the train station.

When Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta reached the main entrance of the train station, the carriage carrying Queen Victoria and King Albert stopped right at the gate.

The Victoria couple, alighting from the carriage, stood before Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta, their faces simultaneously showing surprise and emotion.

Despite having declined Jerome Bonaparte’s farewell, they did not expect him to still appear.

As France’s unofficial national anthem "To Syria" played gloriously in the square in front of the train station, the Victoria couple and Jerome Bonaparte entered the train station together.

At the platform, Jerome Bonaparte customarily urged Albert and Victoria to stay.

"Why leave so soon! France still awaits your visit in many places, many people are eagerly anticipating your arrival!"

Queen Victoria similarly responded formally to Jerome Bonaparte, "...Even though my husband and I thoroughly enjoy France, there are many issues in Britain awaiting our attention!

...A short separation is merely for a better reunion, our friendship will not fade due to parting, instead, it will grow stronger...

Albert and I warmly welcome you and Augusta to visit Britain!"

Next time! There might be no next time!

Jerome Bonaparte glanced lightly at Albert, his eyes revealing a hint of sadness.

If his memory was correct, Albert would depart from life in the coming years.

This could very well be his last meeting with Albert. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Although Jerome Bonaparte lamented Albert’s impending death, he did not intend to warn him.

Historical speculation pointed to Crohn’s disease complications as the likely cause of Albert’s death, a disease without any solution in the 19th century.

A friendly reminder could not extend Albert’s life but might incur Victoria’s resentment.

Too many family members of patients in later generations vented their anger on doctors due to ineffective treatment, leading to tragic events.

If such anger were directed at a monarch, it would only brew a greater tragedy.

Jerome Bonaparte had no desire to become Victoria’s object of resentment, so he could only insincerely say this.

"Looking forward to our next meeting!"

With the train’s whistle sounding, the four understood it as the signal for departure.

Under the watchful eyes of Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta, the Victoria couple boarded the train, which would take them to Calais, from where they would transfer to a warship returning to the Kingdom of Britain.

Watching the train gradually disappear northward, Jerome Bonaparte turned to Augusta and said, "Let’s go! Let’s go home!"

...

In the two months following the Victoria couple’s farewell, Jerome Bonaparte set about using the prestige from territorial annexation to purge "unlawful elements" outside the empire’s system [1] and "corrupt elements" within the system [2].

Nearly a thousand "unlawful elements" and "corrupt elements" were arrested by the fearless Imperial police, rescuing thousands of promising French youth gone astray.

Among them, in the roughly 200-member Paris Observatory newspaper office, 170 were identified as "unlawful elements," and it was thanks to Felix Godan’s discerning eye in identifying loyalty that 30 outstanding French youths were saved from these 170 "unlawful elements."

Afterward, Jerome Bonaparte warmly received Felix Godan, highly praising him as "capable of both apprehending and saving, notably outstanding in ability."

Praised, Felix Godan diligently proposed to Jerome Bonaparte the idea of transforming "unlawful elements" through labor reform, allowing them to thoroughly cleanse their hearts and become new men.

The labor reform location he proposed was a mine not far from Paris.

Considering France’s shortage of coal resources, Felix Godan suggested these individuals use their knowledge to commence coal mining near Paris.

Of course, this suggestion was resolutely rejected by Jerome Bonaparte.

All "unlawful elements" were handed over to the Imperial Supreme Court, where many received sentences ranging from three months to a year.

Moreover, a few "unlawful elements" joyfully received special "touring" privileges in Algeria and Belgium.

[1] These are primarily newspaper office members surreptitiously printing material that undermines France’s economy and sows discord in France and England, daring not openly oppose the empire while unwilling to give up their right to speak.

[2] Mainly those "rigid republicans" within the Legislative Corps and some extreme "Mountain Party" members.