"An excellent monarch always thinks of aiming cannons at his capital, an excellent father always puts his son in danger. I am indeed an excellent monarch and father!"

For Jerome Bonaparte’s self-deprecation, Augusta was momentarily at a loss for words.

After all, Augusta, unlike Jerome Bonaparte, was not "pretentious," so she didn’t consider aiming cannons at Paris as madness, but rather as an inevitable action.

Just look, if back then Louis XVI had been able to decisively mobilize troops to besiege Paris like Louis XIV, the Great Revolution wouldn’t have happened, and the entire France would still be under the Capet Dynasty’s rule.

"Your Majesty, I think in the minds of most Parisians and Friedrich, you have always been an excellent monarch and father!" Augusta reiterated, then tried to explain on behalf of Jerome Bonaparte, "Indeed, the situation in Paris is somewhat turbulent, but it’s largely within a controllable range and has not reached the point of needing to bombard the capital with cannons!

Moreover, it’s not just Paris; the entire France, even Europe, is in an economic stagnation phase, and that’s not your fault!"

Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and complained to Augusta, "But the Parisians won’t see it that way. In times of high economic growth, they believe everything they have is earned through hard work and has nothing to do with the Empire.

Once the economy downturns, their interests are harmed.

At that time, they’ll heap all the blame for the economic downturn onto the Empire, thinking it’s the Empire’s policies causing their economic decline.

Sometimes, I quite envy the representative republic systems!

Because their presidents don’t have to pay the price for economic downturns, whereas I must bear the Parisians’ resentment for the market cycles!"

"Your Majesty, the term for the President of the United States is only 4 years and cannot be passed down to the next generation!

The Emperor’s term, however, is eternal and can be passed down through generations!!" Empress Augusta replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Forever?" Jerome Bonaparte let out a slight smile, seemingly disdainful of the word "forever," "If a dynasty could truly be passed down forever, then we would still be under the rule of the Bourbon Dynasty!

And the one serving as king wouldn’t be me, but Mr. Louis (Count of Chambord) who is still in Vienna dreaming of being a king."

At this point, Jerome Bonaparte pointed at Augusta and himself, saying calmly, "Augusta, we both know there’s no dynasty in France that lasts forever!

What we can do is smoothly pass the dynasty into Friedrich’s hands, and whether Friedrich can successfully pass it to future generations is something we probably won’t be around to see!"

Next, Jerome Bonaparte recalled the recent duel with Prince Monfort, and whispered to Augusta, "Augusta!

If one day...I mean if (to prevent Augusta from worrying, Jerome Bonaparte emphasized a bit)?

If one day I and the Empire no longer exist in this world, I hope you can fulfill the responsibility of a mother and raise Friedrich to adulthood! (To prevent Friedrich from losing maternal love like Napoleon II)

At the same time, you must tell Friedrich not to attempt to restore the Empire.

The Bonaparte Clan has done too much for the French Empire; he has no obligation to shoulder the burden of rebuilding the Empire. Striving to live happily is the most important thing!

And don’t let him join any foreign army, being a writer or a scientist is fine, or at worst, he can be a second-generation rich kid.

Anyway, the Bonaparte Clan’s foundation is enough for that kid Friedrich to live well for a while, as long as he’s not too extravagant.

However, remember not to let him join the military, especially not the British army! (To prevent Friedrich Bonaparte from becoming like Napoleon IV in history,)

Listening to Jerome Bonaparte’s continuous remarks, Augusta thought something major had happened in Paris, otherwise, why would the Emperor say such things.

So, Empress Augusta asked Jerome Bonaparte with a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, what is actually going on!

Why would you say such disheartening things! Did something happen in Paris again?"

"Not at all!" Jerome Bonaparte also realized that his recent words inevitably led people to think that something might have happened in Paris. He shrugged at Augusta, responding, "Nothing has happened in Paris! My recent words, you can just pretend you didn’t hear them!"

"Your Majesty, I hope you can promise me one thing!" Augusta, holding Jerome Bonaparte’s hand, pleaded slightly with Jerome Bonaparte.

Looking at Augusta in front of him, Jerome Bonaparte softened and responded. "Augusta, whatever you ask, I will agree to it!"

"Your Majesty! If one day the Empire truly faces misfortune, I wish to leave with you!" Augusta pleaded with Jerome Bonaparte.

From Jerome Bonaparte’s previous remarks, Augusta already vaguely guessed the Emperor’s intentions. She didn’t want to lose her husband.

"Augusta, the recent words were just a joke!

How could the Empire possibly face misfortune!" Jerome Bonaparte tried to change the subject; he had already resolved in his heart to stay with the Empire.

"Your Majesty, I’m just speaking hypothetically!" Empress Augusta clearly didn’t want the topic to change, and she emphasized, "If one day the Empire collapses, you must promise me that the three of us will leave France together!"

"Augusta, the Bonaparte Clan has only had emperors who failed, never ones who ran away!" Jerome Bonaparte repeated firmly, "For the Empire, and also for Friedrich! I must resolutely struggle alongside the Parisians!

Even if the struggle fails, I will have no regrets!

It’s nothing more than heading to the Gallows!"

The entire dining hall fell into an eerie silence after Jerome Bonaparte said this, followed by the sound of soft sobbing.

Jerome Bonaparte quickly tried to comfort Empress Augusta, "Augusta, things haven’t reached that point yet, so why are you crying!

Even if it comes to that, it’s not certain that I will fail!

Can the bodies of Parisians be stronger than cannons?"

However, Jerome Bonaparte’s consolation didn’t work, and Augusta continued to sob softly.

Until there was a "knock knock knock" on the dining room door, Jerome Bonaparte whispered to Augusta, "Augusta, you don’t want anyone to see you like this, right!"

For someone like Augusta, who always valued her appearance, being seen crying was akin to a death sentence.

Thus, Augusta quickly stopped sobbing, and Jerome Bonaparte promptly handed her a handkerchief.

Taking the handkerchief, Augusta shot Jerome Bonaparte a sharp glare and mumbled, "It’s all your fault!"

Jerome Bonaparte scratched his head, wondering how Augusta’s crying could be blamed on him,

Once Augusta had tidied herself up, Jerome Bonaparte then called towards the dining room door, "Come in!"

The dining room door slowly opened, and a chef dressed in a black suit entered the room, pushing a three-tier trolley, with a platter of food on each tier.

Jerome Bonaparte turned to Empress Augusta and asked, "My dinner has arrived, are you hungry? Would you like to eat a little with me?"

Augusta shook her head and declined Jerome Bonaparte’s invitation. The chef placed the trolley by Jerome Bonaparte’s side, then opened the lids on three covered dishes one by one.

The three platters contained foie gras with truffle jelly, Rouen duck meat bread, and Bellevue beef slices.

Despite Jerome Bonaparte’s repeated requests for simplicity, every dish on the table had been carefully selected by the chef.

The foie gras with truffle jelly was even a common dish when Jerome Bonaparte entertained foreign monarchs.

The cost of this single meal was enough to cover an ordinary middle-class Parisian family’s expenses for nearly half a month,

Looking at the three dishes before him, Jerome Bonaparte slightly furrowed his brow and quietly complained, "Didn’t I already tell you to keep it simple!

Why are there still so many meat dishes!"

The chef, thinking Jerome Bonaparte disliked meat, quickly bowed to apologize to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, I will change it for you immediately!"

Upon saying this, the chef promptly reached out to remove the dishes on the table, but Jerome Bonaparte raised his hand to stop him, "Never mind! It’s such a waste to throw them all away (Jerome Bonaparte knew that the leftover dishes would typically be sent to Paris to become a delicacy for the lower and middle classes, but he didn’t explicitly mention it)!

I’ll just make do and eat them!"

Jerome Bonaparte began devouring the delicious food on the table ravenously, having gone several hours without a meal.

Sitting beside him, Augusta propped her head with her hands, quietly watching Jerome Bonaparte eat. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

After about 5 minutes, Jerome Bonaparte finished all the food, letting out a contented burp.

Only then did Jerome Bonaparte remember Louis Feldbu, wondering if the guest who had hurried from Paris had eaten.

Jerome Bonaparte quickly asked the chef if Louis Feldbu had visited the dining room!

The chef informed Jerome Bonaparte that Louis Feldbu and André von Beichu had dined in the dining room two hours earlier.

Hearing this, Jerome Bonaparte intended to lead Augusta out of the dining room, but she lightly shrugged him off. After several attempts, Augusta finally did not continue to do so, and the two left the dining room arm in arm.