Time flew by, and before anyone knew it, October had arrived. Ferdinand was still intoxicated with the joy of becoming a father. These days, he greeted everyone with a beaming smile.
"Your Highness, this is an invitation from Montenegro. Nicholas I invites you to attend the founding ceremony of the Kingdom of Montenegro," Foreign Minister Metev said.
Ferdinand laughed heartily. "It seems Nicholas I truly is an impatient man! He cannot wait even a moment. Montenegro's situation is far from as good as it looks on the surface; the Austro-Hungarian Empire already has its eye on them.
"Forget it. I'd better not go. It is best to refrain from letting the guest overshadow the host. Decline on my behalf. It will be enough for your Foreign Ministry to send a representative."
Letting the guest overshadow the host was merely Ferdinand's excuse. The real reason was that he was timid. Quite a few people within the soon-to-be-established Kingdom of Montenegro bore a grudge against Bulgaria. If someone nursed a hatred and sent a peanut his way, it would be a tragedy!
Still, Nicholas I's behavior greatly puzzled him. He was being far too eager about establishing the Kingdom of Montenegro, which did not fit his usual steady manner.
"By the way, does the Foreign Ministry know why Nicholas I is in such a hurry to establish the Kingdom of Montenegro?" Ferdinand continued.
Metev thought for a moment before saying, "Your Highness, Nicholas I seems unable to wait any longer. Our growth has greatly diminished their standing in the eyes of the Russians.
"Moreover, after Nicholas I's support for Serbia was exposed some time ago, he suffered retaliation from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Montenegro is now desperate to establish the Kingdom of Montenegro in order to push forward the next stage of reforms,