CHAPTER 565: CHAPTER 556: WANT A FREE RIDE? ARE YOU WORTHY, SWEDEN?

The occupation of Sevastopol not only represents a phased victory for the French Empire in the Crimean War but also signifies a significant extension of the lifespan of the Empire’s regime.

Favre, below the stage, understood that the empire established by Jerome Bonaparte would not be overthrown in a short period; they would have to lie low for a long time until Jerome Bonaparte had exhausted all the prestige he accumulated in Crimea before they might have a chance to topple him.

However, would Jerome Bonaparte do as they wished?

After the unanimous approval of the bill, Jerome Bonaparte customarily expressed gratitude to all the members present and then left the Bourbon Palace amid the cheers of his entourage.

That evening, foreign envoys, generals, dignitaries, and bankers invited by the Tuileries Palace gathered to celebrate the French Empire’s victory at the Sevastopol Fortress.

Every foreign envoy willing to accept the invitation to the Tuileries Palace understood that Jerome Bonaparte invited them at this time to declare to the countries behind them: although France had not acted for a long time, it did not mean that France was in decline; its power still had the ability to shake the diplomatic order of the entire European continent.

No matter how much they detested this regime mixed with revolution and conservatism, they could not ignore the power of the imperial regime.

Those willing to go to the Tuileries Palace held the purpose of allying with France; regimes that already had close ties with France similarly sought to deepen their relationship.

The ball officially began at 7 PM. After Jerome Bonaparte, wearing Lev’s formal suit (exclusive skin, as it were), and his dance partner arrived at the ballroom of the Tuileries Palace, everyone was surprised to find that the dance partner accompanying Jerome Bonaparte was not Empress Augusta but Lady Eugenie, dressed in a light blue gown.

"Empress Augusta is currently pregnant and cannot attend the ball!" Jerome Bonaparte explained to the guests present.

The guests then remembered that Empress Augusta was already pregnant, so it was not surprising for the Emperor to bring another lady to the ball.

In Paris, a mistress is the best social business card!

After the brief episode, elegant music began to play in the ballroom.

Jerome Bonaparte gently took Eugenie’s hand and started dancing gracefully to the music. After one dance, the Swedish Diplomatic Envoy approached Jerome Bonaparte.

"Your Majesty, could I have a moment of your time? I would like to talk to you!" the Swedish Diplomatic Envoy said respectfully to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Alright!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded, then released Eugenie’s hand apologetically, saying, "I’m very sorry, but I cannot accompany you for a second dance!"

"It’s nothing!" Eugenie shook her head and replied, "I can manage on my own! Your Majesty, go ahead with your affairs!"

Jerome Bonaparte hesitated for a moment but eventually took Eugenie along.

"This... the feelings between His Majesty and Lady Eugenie are truly deep!" the Swedish Envoy said with emotion, pointing at Jerome Bonaparte.

"I cherish every lady who has accompanied me along the way!" Jerome Bonaparte answered the Swedish Envoy sincerely.

Upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s reply, the Swedish Envoy was filled with respect.

"Alright! Mr. Envoy, let’s not talk about these side topics!" Jerome Bonaparte changed the subject and asked, "Should we find a quiet place to talk?"

"If that’s the case, that would be perfect!" the Swedish Envoy nodded in agreement.

Thus, Jerome Bonaparte and the Swedish Envoy quietly left the ballroom and found a secluded room to have their conversation.

"Mr. Envoy, I wonder what you want to discuss with me?" Jerome Bonaparte asked the Swedish Envoy as soon as he sat down.

The Swedish Envoy glanced at Eugenie with a look full of meaning.

"Don’t worry! Eugenie is not considered an outsider!" Jerome Bonaparte replied.

Since Jerome Bonaparte said that Eugenie was not considered an outsider, the Swedish Envoy simply acted as if Eugenie did not exist.

"Your Majesty, I think you should know about what has happened in our kingdom recently!" the Swedish Envoy said with a cautious tone.

"The Kingdom of Sweden? What happened?" Jerome Bonaparte asked, feigning ignorance, "What has happened in the Kingdom of Sweden? Could it be that the Russian Empire has conducted special military operations against you?"

"What are special military operations?" the Swedish Kingdom Envoy asked in confusion.

"Just another term for declaring war!" Jerome Bonaparte explained.

"That’s not the case!" the Swedish Kingdom Envoy shook his head in response and then added, "However, the Russian Empire’s army has been frequently mobilizing in the Finnish Region recently!"

"Oh!" Jerome Bonaparte replied briefly with an onomatopoeic word.

Noticing Jerome Bonaparte’s lack of interest in the current situation in the Kingdom of Sweden, the Swedish envoy anxiously said, "Your Majesty Bonaparte, very recently, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Britain, Palmerston, sent a mission to Sweden. You are aware of this, are you not?"

"Oh! I know a little!" Jerome Bonaparte continued to feign disinterest in the affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden as he responded.

"Our King... that is, the son of His Majesty John (Bernadotte), hopes to join you!" The Swedish envoy responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Join us!" Jerome Bonaparte was momentarily stunned, then asked the Swedish envoy, "In what way does my brother Oscar want to join us? By declaring war directly on the Russian Empire? Or does he intend to mimic the Austrian Empire?"

"That depends on the level of support you and Prime Minister Palmerston are willing to give to our country!" The Swiss envoy coyly hinted.

Jerome Bonaparte immediately realized that his so-called "brother" likely wanted to take advantage of both him and Palmerston without offering anything in return.

The so-called "level of support" was nothing but military support.

To put it bluntly, the Kingdom of Sweden wanted to freeload on England and France, mainly the armies of the French Empire.

They intended to use the army of the French Empire to expel the Russian Empire from Finland, and then he would lead an army to reclaim Finland, achieving the unification of Scandinavia.

"You should discuss this matter with Britain!" Jerome Bonaparte was clearly uninterested in taking the chestnuts out of the fire, let alone doing so for the descendants of "traitors."

"Your Majesty!" Seeing the situation, the Swedish envoy quickly flattered, "Who in all of Europe doesn’t know that the army of the French Empire stands unmatched in Europe."

"What does our army being unmatched in Europe have to do with the Kingdom of Sweden?" Jerome Bonaparte retorted, "Are you suggesting that France should help you conquer Finland?"

"Your Majesty, do you not want to defeat the Russian Empire?" the Swedish envoy asked.

"I do! But I don’t want the soldiers of the French Empire fighting desperately for the territorial expansion of another country!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to the Swedish envoy with a sarcastic tone, "Especially for the descendants of traitors!"

The sarcasm of Jerome Bonaparte made the Swedish envoy feel a sense of humiliation. Due to factors like national power, the Swedish envoy could only suppress his inner humiliation and respond to Jerome Bonaparte, "Then I shall not disturb you any longer!"

"You’re welcome to leave, Mr. Envoy!" Jerome Bonaparte extended his hand toward the Swedish envoy with a gesture "please leave."

The Swedish envoy, feeling utterly humiliated, left the room.

After a while, Eugenie questioningly asked, "Aren’t you still at war with the Russian Empire? Logically, you should be trying to ally with them! Why are you becoming hostile instead?"

"Because they are not worth my effort to ally with!" Jerome Bonaparte shrugged his shoulders and said to Eugenie, "Their asking price is simply too high! Where on earth does business work like that?"

"Business? Isn’t this war?" Eugenie curiously asked.

"Business is really not much different from diplomacy! Both sides have a bottom price in heart, and then they quote the highest price. If they meet a willing buyer, they also engage in a lengthy conversation to create an atmosphere of selling at a loss, making the buyer feel they got a good deal! But if they meet a reluctant buyer, even the lowest price is just pointless shouting!" Jerome Bonaparte spread his hands and said in a flippant tone, "Unfortunately, I am that reluctant buyer! The Swedish envoy may think they got a good price from Palmerston, and then want to sell it again here. Finding a suitable buyer between the two of us!"

"Aren’t you afraid that they will turn to the United Kingdom?" Eugenie questioned.

"Not afraid! Because Palmerston simply cannot offer the Kingdom of Sweden their asking price!" Jerome Bonaparte confidently responded.

Based on his connection to the British Army, Jerome Bonaparte deduced that if Britain wanted to defeat the Russian Army in Finland, they would need to commit at least 70,000 to 90,000 troops, yet currently the total domestic force of the Kingdom of Britain doesn’t even reach 90,000.

Unless Palmerston was willing to implement forced conscription in support of the Kingdom of Sweden, it was simply impossible to aid Sweden.

Of course, if Palmerston were really willing to fight the Russian Empire for the Kingdom of Sweden, Jerome Bonaparte would likewise welcome it with open arms, even dispatching additional fleets in the Baltic Sea to escort the British.

To send a fleet? Yes!

To send an army? No!

Whether the British Army defeats the Russian Army, or the Russian Army defeats the British Army.

There is nothing detrimental to the French Empire.

After all, the Russian Empire is the current enemy of the French Empire, while the Kingdom of Britain is the future enemy of the French Empire.