CHAPTER 599: CHAPTER 590: THE TERRIFIED PAPAL ENVOY

"I want to cause panic in Pope Pius IX! If I don’t instigate panic in Pius IX, how can we expect him to bow to us!"

Jerome Bonaparte’s face twisted with a hint of mischievous smile, imagining the panicked look of the Pope’s envoy.

In such a case, he would be able to negotiate terms with Pius IX in a calm and collected manner.

Although Jerome Bonaparte himself didn’t care about the sanctity of the crown, he had to consider the matter for the sake of his unborn child.

After all, his child wouldn’t be able to claim a throne through "real battles" like he did.

In case his unborn child turned out to be mediocre, having Pius IX act as the child’s "godfather" would be enough to deceive the peasants in rural France.

And in the meantime, win the support of some Orthodox Faction individuals.

However, Jerome Bonaparte guessed that the stubborn old religious zealot Pius IX would most likely not come personally.

Even if Pius didn’t come personally to Paris, he would have to send me a cardinal! Jerome Bonaparte thought to himself.

In a sense, the Kingdom of Sardinia was a vicious dog in the hand of Jerome Bonaparte. As long as it snarled and intimidated the Apennine Peninsula, both the Austrian Empire and the Pope State would be terrified!

"Your Majesty, what do you want the Pope State to do?" De Luy asked Jerome Bonaparte.

"I hope Pius IX can offer his blessing to my child after birth!" Jerome Bonaparte answered De Luy.

Hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s condition, De Luy heaved a sigh of relief, fearing Jerome Bonaparte might make an unrealistic demand.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured! I will definitely convey your condition to them!" De Luy quickly responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"You don’t need to tell them the condition directly!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and said to De Luy: "You just need to tell them! If they want to persuade me to change my mind, the best way is to convince Empress Augusta! Only the Empress can influence me!"

De Luy realized that Jerome Bonaparte was preparing to strengthen the Empress’s influence in the court. Although the Bonaparte clan represented by the Emperor was not favored by the Orthodox Faction nobles, it didn’t mean that the Empress wasn’t liked by them.

Based on the information De Luy gathered from his wife, there was a group of Orthodox Faction noblewomen around Empress Augusta.

Without even thinking, De Luy knew those high-minded Orthodox Faction members were unwilling to submit to His Majesty like they did with the Bonaparte Emperor, instead opting for a diplomatic approach through their wives, attempting to secure a place in the new Empire.

A large portion of them were generals idling at home. If the Empress Augusta had the influence of the Church behind her, the power gathered around the Empress would become the second-largest force after the Emperor.

It seems more frequent visits with the Empress are necessary!

De Luy was determined to ensure his wife increases her presence in front of the Empress.

Although his tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs was nearing its end, De Luy believed that through persistent efforts involving the wives, he could return to the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" De Luy nodded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Alright! That’s all I have to say!" Jerome Bonaparte said as he rose from the sofa.

De Luy also stood up immediately, then escorted Jerome Bonaparte out of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After watching Jerome Bonaparte leave, De Luy ordered his Secretary of State to prepare a carriage heading to the Paris Cathedral.

Even though the Secretary of State was puzzled as to why De Luy would head to the Paris Cathedral at that moment, his obedience to his superior prevented him from questioning too much. He quickly found a carriage marked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emblem for De Luy.

Riding the carriage, De Luy traveled east along the Seine River, crossed a floating bridge connecting Paris Island, and arrived at the entrance of the Paris Church.

Disembarking, De Luy entered the cathedral, where he saw the Paris Cathedral Bishop.

At that moment, the Bishop was solemnly praying to empty seats. De Luy’s arrival made the Bishop halt his prayers.

"Minister De Luy, what brings you here?" asked the Bishop perplexedly, closing his prayer book.

"Your Excellency, Bishop, I’m here to inquire whether His Holiness the Pope’s envoy to France is here!" De Luy immediately asked the Bishop.

"Why are you looking for the Mira Envoy?" the Bishop inquired further.

"It’s like this! I’ve heard some news..." De Luy revealed to the Bishop about Jerome Bonaparte’s meeting with Cavour.

"Cavour, that instigator of mobs again!" A glint of disgust flashed in the Bishop’s eyes.

"That’s right! Cavour does have a penchant for stirring national emotions in various situations!" De Luy shrugged noncommittally and replied to the Bishop.

"Come with me, please!" the Bishop said to De Louis.

The Bishop and De Luy both entered the confessional room behind the church and stopped at the door of one confession box.

"Lord! Forgive me! I really am not..." the voice of the Mira Envoy came from within the confessional box.

De Luy quietly asked the Bishop what exactly the Mira Envoy was confessing about.

"Minister, it is very ungentlemanly to privately inquire about others’ privacy!"

Although in this era, a priest "comforting" a young boy was not considered a big issue, it would still tarnish the Church’s reputation.

After all, the "holy" Church surely does not condone such homosexual behavior.

De Luy and the Bishop stood by the door for quite a while before the Mira Envoy finished his confession.

The Bishop gently knocked on the confessional’s door, and a cautious voice from within asked, "Who?"

"It’s me!" the Bishop said in his usual tone.

"Your Grace, please come in!" the Mira Envoy instantly responded.

The Bishop and De Luy entered the confessional, and the Mira Envoy, dressed in a suit, couldn’t help but show a panicked expression upon seeing De Luy: "Minister Luyis, why are you here!"

"Minister De Luy was here to deliver a message to His Holiness Pope Pius IX!" the Bishop quickly covered for the Mira Envoy.

"Delivering a message, huh!" the Mira Envoy breathed a sigh of relief, then asked what De Luy wanted to relay to Pope Pius IX.

De Luy repeated to the Mira Envoy what he had just told the Bishop.

"My God! What did His Majesty Bonaparte and that heretic actually say!" the Mira Envoy inquired of De Luy.

"Your Excellency, I’m sorry, but I don’t know what His Majesty discussed with Cavour!" De Luy replied to the Mira Envoy, "However, I can guess! It’s most likely about the matters of the Apennine Peninsula!"

"Does His Majesty plan to help Sardinia unify Italy?" the Mira Envoy shouted uncontrollably.

"Your Excellency, it cannot be ruled out!" De Luy replied to the Mira Envoy, "After all, His Majesty once lived on the Apennine Peninsula for a time! He still harbors certain feelings for the nations there, and Miss Vilnius is also a patriot!"

"Vilnius!" the Mira Envoy gritted his teeth at De Luy, "She is the spy Cavour placed at His Majesty’s side! You should arrest her immediately!"

"Sir Envoy, I am just a Diplomatic Envoy! The task of arresting a spy should be left to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Percy (with Marcel Yale always behind the scenes)!" De Luy put on a helpless expression and responded to the Mira Envoy, "Moreover, I don’t believe Vilnius is a spy! At best, she is expressing her love for Italy to His Majesty!"

"Minister, if Vilnius seduces His Majesty for years to come, who knows if His Majesty won’t go to war for Sardinia!" the Mira Envoy couldn’t wait to answer De Luy.

The most terrifying weapon in the world is none other than pillow talk!

If His Majesty is really swayed by that witch Vilnius, the Pope State might be doomed!

"I am also powerless!" De Luy responded to the Mira Envoy.

"Your Excellency, I don’t believe you came all the way from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs just to tell us this! You must have a solution!" the Bishop spoke with a serious expression and inquired.

"Your Excellency, you must have a way, right!" The Mira Envoy looked eagerly at De Luy.

With the Bishop and the Mira Envoy watching, De Luy spoke up, "Has your Church not already established a connection with Her Majesty the Empress, is that correct?"

"You mean..." The Mira Envoy immediately understood what De Luy meant.

"Her Majesty the Empress is now carrying the future of the Empire!" De Luy said to the Mira Envoy, "Even if Her Majesty wants the stars in the sky, His Majesty would try his best to get them for her! If you are willing to appeal to Her Majesty the Empress, then this matter can be easily resolved!

Of course, you also need to cater to Her Majesty the Empress’s preferences!"

"What does Her Majesty the Empress like?" With his mind in utter chaos, the Mira Envoy could not think at this time and immediately inquired of De Luy.

"Is there anything greater than a mother’s love in this world!"