Paris, Élysée Palace.
Napoleon III handed the document in his hand to Alexander Walewski and casually joked.
"The Americans certainly have imagination—trying to annex Cuba under the banner of humanitarianism. Tell me, do you think Austria will send warships to take a turn around New York or Boston this time?"
Alexander Walewski was not so flippant. He carefully read the intelligence in the telegram.
"Your Majesty, I don't think it's that simple. The Americans are recruiting allies."
"Recruiting allies?"
Napoleon III sat up straight and picked up the intelligence again, reading through it with a click of his tongue.
"The Americans truly are naïve. The Austrian Empire has just won a sweeping victory at the Madrid Conference and is riding high. Who would be willing to touch such bad luck?
The American navy probably can't even cross the Caribbean Sea!"
Alexander Walewski nodded.
"Your Majesty, you are quite right. But America's fighting strength should not be underestimated either. After all, they once defeated Britain.
And if the two countries go to war this time, the Austrians will have to cross the Atlantic Ocean, which will greatly weaken their combat effectiveness."
"You mean this is an opportunity?"
Napoleon III asked.
"No, I believe it is a trap. Louis XVI has already lost his head aiding America once before. We should not follow in the House of Bourbon's footsteps.
What we need is to recuperate and build up our strength. Leave this sort of thing to the British. They will certainly be very interested—naval warfare is precisely what they excel at."
Alexander Walewski analyzed calmly.
"Lose one's head aiding America? I never thought it would be the British's turn this time."
Napoleon III gave another dry laugh. He would not be as foolish as those feudal monarchs. He was the heir to