To better accommodate visitors to the 1867 World's Fair, Napoleon III ordered the construction of a huge oval building on the Champ de Mars, with an artificial river winding through the spacious grounds.
So many people attended the exposition that inns were nearly splitting beds in half to accommodate them, while inside the oval building stood all manner of bizarre structures.
Napoleon III imitated his uncle in many ways, but he was ultimately not the same kind of man. Besides the nickname "the Painter," Napoleon III was also called the Sphinx. He was exceptionally skilled at concealing his emotions and almost never lost his temper. Even when a servant accidentally splashed soda water onto his neck, he merely moved the glass aside without saying a word or showing the slightest expression.
No matter how Napoleon III imitated him, he was not Napoleon. No matter how faithfully he followed his uncle's teaching of putting France's interests first, his eyes were never sharp enough to see through layers of darkness and mist to the future beyond.
"How did you find out?" The female member in the white Dior dress wiped the water from her face. "Was it because I answered something I shouldn't have? That girl hadn't read the Divine Comedy?"
"No." Severus put away the glass vial in his hand. "It was the perfume. Monica uses Venetian soap, while you use..."
"Overture 1870. They say it's a men's fragrance, but I like the scent." Susan cut Severus off. "I thought you people couldn't tell perfumes apart."
"Who do you mean by 'you people'?" Severus asked.
"All men who think wearing perfume makes them less masculine," Susan said with a smile.
"What is your purpose?" Severus asked.
"To find out why you're so eager to inquire about Napoleon I." As Susan spoke,