CHAPTER 608: CHAPTER 599 MONARCH’S FRIENDSHIP

In the next week or so, Jerome Bonaparte accompanied the Victoria couple, along with Franz Joseph and Elizabeth, to various attractions in Paris to "check-in" and take photos, visiting orphanages, charitable hospitals, and the "affordable public rental housing" under construction.

The sympathetic Queen Victoria and Elizabeth each donated to the orphanage and charitable hospital, and Jerome Bonaparte reciprocated by ordering his media to give overwhelming publicity to Elizabeth and Victoria’s actions.

Under the strong influence of the media (mostly controlled by conservatism), the vast majority of Parisians believed that the Kingdom of Britain and the Austrian Empire are indispensable allies of the French Empire, and the previously underlying anti-British and anti-Austrian sentiments were quietly resolved under the information blitz from Jerome Bonaparte.

Only a few radical media outlets continued to tirelessly repeat statements such as the Kingdom of Britain/Austrian Empire’s undying intent to destroy us.

In response to these non-mainstream opinions, Jerome Bonaparte did not adopt an extermination approach but chose to let them be.

After all, the relationship between France and Britain could not be maintained smoothly forever.

As France’s comprehensive national strength increases, Britain is bound to shift from cooperation to confrontation, this confrontation might be overt or covert.

At that time, these radical media outlets will become mainstream thought.

To prevent being singled out for their "bound collection," Jerome Bonaparte also needed to appropriately relax freedom of speech.

When time quietly moved to early July, Prince Albert proposed to Jerome Bonaparte the return to the Kingdom of Britain.

"Jerome, we are returning to London!" Prince Albert, accompanying his wife after shopping at the newly established Paris department store, approached Jerome Bonaparte in the afternoon and said.

As soon as Prince Albert finished speaking, Jerome Bonaparte’s face showed a touch of astonishment and asked, "Is it that we’ve not treated you well?"

"No, no, no!" Prince Albert shook his head and sincerely replied, "Victoria and I are very grateful for your care during this time! We couldn’t be more satisfied with this trip to Paris!"

Prince Albert was indeed very grateful for Jerome Bonaparte’s company; the treatment he received in Paris was even something he couldn’t enjoy in London.

"Then why are you leaving so soon?" Jerome Bonaparte showed a look of reluctance on his face, as if he truly wished for the Victoria couple to stay longer in Paris.

Seeing Jerome Bonaparte’s expression, Albert couldn’t help but feel a surge of warmth in his heart. He subconsciously regarded Jerome Bonaparte as a friend he could foster a good relationship with. He jokingly responded to Jerome Bonaparte, "Soon? We have already been in Paris for more than two weeks! If we don’t return, our children might just turn the house upside down!"

Thinking of his few mischievous children, Albert’s mouth curled into a loving yet slightly helpless smile.

Compared to the "indifference" of Victoria towards their children, it was evident that Prince Albert had devoted a lot of effort to his few "rascals."

He hoped that each of his children, regardless of gender, would be qualified for a fulfilled future.

However, their few "little troublemakers" always gave him no peace of mind.

Looking at Albert before him, Jerome Bonaparte thought that the reason Prince Albert would meet God so early in his forties was probably not only due to Queen Victoria’s unfulfilled desires but also related to those children of his.

In history, those children of Victoria were not easy to deal with.

"Ah! It’s not easy for you either!" Jerome Bonaparte placed a hand on Albert’s shoulder and sighed.

"This is the responsibility a father and a husband should fulfill!" Prince Albert responded to Jerome Bonaparte with a smile on his face.

From Albert’s tone, Jerome Bonaparte sensed the responsibility of a man, and he couldn’t help but hold him in high regard!

"However, it won’t be long before you face the same problem as I do!" Prince Albert continued to say to Jerome Bonaparte, "Then you will find that the difficulty of educating children is not much different from ruling a country, it’s even much more challenging than ruling a country!

For a country, you can enforce the policies you deem right through measures. But you can’t change your children’s thoughts through force, demanding them to obey unconditionally, which will only cause rebellion in their minds!"

"Indeed!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded, also sighing, "Every generation of parents hopes that their children will surpass them, yet excessive hope breeds an abnormal control desire, making children follow the path set for them. If they offer any resistance and you start to speak some so-called great truths..."

Jerome Bonaparte relayed the wisdom summarized in future evaluations to Prince Albert. After listening, Prince Albert nodded in agreement, "How to educate children is indeed a big problem!"

"I only hope that my future children can be monarchs who can maintain their rule, that’s enough!" Jerome Bonaparte sighed deeply, knowing that the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

As long as his children could hold onto the throne of France without losing it, it would already be considered as overcompleted.

Jerome Bonaparte did not hope for his children to become figures like the Sun King Louis XIV or his uncle Napoleon. He only wished that his children would not become infamous individuals like Emperor Yang of Sui, Nicholas II, or Weiwei’s smile.

An accomplished leader can lead a country to a path of rapid development, while a foolish leader can topple a rising country within a few short years.

Of course, this also meant that Jerome Bonaparte must eliminate all threats for his son.

If he couldn’t clear the obstacles for his son, then he could only pray that his son would have the template of the P Society God Monarch!

"It’s not easy for anyone!" Prince Albert once again sighed.

"By the way! Albert, next time you visit, could you bring those children of yours along?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Prince Albert.

"Sure! In fact, they’ve long wanted to come to Paris!" Prince Albert responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte "blamed" Albert for not bringing his children this time.

Albert once again promised Jerome Bonaparte that next time he would definitely bring them to see the bustling Paris. Meanwhile, Prince Albert also extended an invitation to Jerome Bonaparte, hoping that Jerome Bonaparte and Empress Augusta would one day visit London. Then, he and Victoria could personally host them!

"After Augusta gives birth, the two of us will head to London! I hope you won’t shut us out by then! Otherwise, we really wouldn’t know where to sleep!" Jerome Bonaparte joked.

"Rest assured! Queen Victoria and I will warmly welcome you! We certainly won’t leave you without a place to sleep!" Prince Albert assured Jerome Bonaparte with a smile.

"It’s a deal!"

"It’s a deal!"

...

Jerome Bonaparte, seeing Prince Albert off from the office, wore a relieved smile. After so many days, his continuous efforts to improve favorability with The Victoria couple finally concluded.

Although in some major matters, Prince Albert wouldn’t give in due to friendship, Jerome Bonaparte believed that in some "minor issues," Albert’s friendship would still have some influence.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Jerome Bonaparte had just sat down in his chair when he heard the knocking, forcing him to sit upright and call out in a deep voice: "Come in!"

The door slowly opened, revealing Franz Joseph at the entrance.

Jerome Bonaparte immediately shifted from seriousness to warmth, standing up to shake hands with Franz Joseph, then invited him to sit on the sofa, inquiring, "What’s happened?"

Franz Joseph hesitated for a moment before explaining his purpose to Jerome Bonaparte; he had come to bid farewell!

"You’re leaving too?" Jerome Bonaparte said in surprise to Franz Joseph.

"Who else?" Franz Joseph paused for a few seconds, then asked.

"Victoria and Albert! Just now, Albert bid farewell to me!" Jerome Bonaparte joked with a puzzled look at Franz Joseph: "You two aren’t conspiring to abandon me and leave together, are you?"

"Of course not!"

Franz Joseph told Jerome Bonaparte that he really didn’t know Prince Albert was leaving as well.

"Ah! Both of you are leaving! This court of mine will become quiet again!" Jerome Bonaparte sighed.

Franz Joseph could only offer comforting words to Jerome Bonaparte and extended an invitation to visit the Mei Quan Palace.

"Don’t worry! I will certainly visit! However, it probably won’t be in the coming months!" Jerome Bonaparte told Franz Joseph: "So here, I extend my early wishes for you and Princess Elizabeth to have a blissful marriage!"

Franz Joseph expressed gratitude for Jerome Bonaparte’s blessing and, in return, bestowed blessings for the child Empress Augusta was carrying.