The Two Most Powerful Women on the European Continent
The young Nobility who had come with Clarice and Marissa had begun to whisper among themselves and occasionally glanced at them with mocking eyes.
You know, they've been bragging about participating in the exhibition for over a month now, and everyone's ears are practically numb from hearing it.
They came with great fanfare today, but saw nothing.
"No, there must be some mistake!" Clarice protested loudly, "My painting really was exhibited..."
"I need to ask the person in charge of the art exhibition!"
Marissa quickly found a steward from the Chateau, who, after listening to her questions, led her to the third floor, with Clarice following closely behind.
The steward opened a storage room in the building, lit a candlestick, and gestured apologetically to the table in the corner. "I'm very sorry, Your Excellency, but due to a large influx of termites in room 229, the paintings there have been damaged and are no longer suitable for exhibition. Chateau will compensate you double for any losses incurred."
Clarice rushed forward, found her work among a pile of scattered scrolls, and quickly unfolded it, only to freeze in shock.
By candlelight, her painting showed several marks from the reaction between formic acid and pigment, and even a dead termite...
Displaying such a painting would undoubtedly only make it a laughing stock.
Philiberto's assistant was very meticulous. Since the boss said there was a "termite infestation," he would definitely arrange everything to look as if there really had been a termite infestation.
Clarice let out a piercing scream and ran downstairs crying...
In the main exhibition hall on the first floor of the Chateau, Alexandra, dressed in a light green dress that was the most fashionable in Paris that season, had no idea about the dramatic scene that was taking place on the second floor.
She was behaving with impeccable manners, displaying the most quintessential ladylike demeanor, as she slowly walked past rows of exquisite paintings, accompanied by Alexei and Count Alexander Count Stroganov Sergeyevich, the Russia Ambassador to France.
"This is Mr. Lorrain's masterpiece!" Count Stroganov exclaimed softly as he gazed at the painting "Embarkation of Ursula" on the wall.
He was a true art connoisseur; if it weren't for the important task His Majesty the Emperor had given him today, he would have spent most of the day admiring this famous painting.
Just an hour after the "Russia Appreciation Group" lingered in the exhibition hall, a melodious Bugle Call suddenly came from outside the Chateau, followed by the start of a band performance.
The crowd stirred and then began to surge out of the exhibition hall.
Count Stroganov glanced at Alexei and whispered, "Count Bobrinsky, it must be them."
The latter nodded; he knew that the "they" the ambassador referred to were the King and Queen of King of France.
He quickly gestured for Alexandra to also walk towards the gate.
Before long, Louis XVI and Queen Mary appeared at the entrance of the exhibition hall. With the prompting of their attendants, they immediately noticed the elegantly dressed Russia Grand Duchess and her entourage.
Seeing the French King approaching, Alexandra and the others hurried forward and bowed very respectfully. "It is a great honor and surprise to meet you here."
Queen Mary looked at the sweet-looking girl with thick braids in front of her with some surprise, and smiled kindly, "I'm also very happy to meet you. Welcome to the art capital, Paris, often."
Afterwards, Alexandra and her entourage naturally followed Queen Mary to visit the art exhibition.
The little girl quickly stepped aside at her uncle's prompting, while Count Stroganov, the ambassador to France, stepped forward to the side of the Queen of France and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty the Emperor has instructed me to convey his sincere greetings to you and His King."
"Please convey my gratitude to His Majesty for his concern." Queen Mary nodded politely.
Stroganov and the Queen were acquainted, and they immediately began chatting about art. After viewing nearly half of the exhibits on the first floor, he shifted the topic to his mission: "His Majesty the Emperor greatly admires you. He has repeatedly praised you to his ministers, saying that your leadership in recent years in France Finance, military, and Judiciary reforms has been extremely successful, and that you have also achieved remarkable success in foreign affairs, attracting attention throughout Europe."
Queen Mary blinked, sensing something was amiss, but nodded slightly nonetheless. Indeed, France had developed quite well in the last two years, even acquiring a province in Tunisia.
Stroganov continued, "His Majesty the Emperor particularly admires your North Africa strategy, which, with its astonishing strategic layout, has yielded substantial benefits with minimal impact on the international landscape."
"At the same time, His Majesty also highly appreciates your support for our country in the Black Sea region and your alignment with our country's stance towards the Ottoman."
He glanced at Queen Mary and, seeing her seemingly calm demeanor, secretly admired her. Just as His Majesty the Emperor had said, the Queen of France was the only woman in all of Europe who could be compared to her.
Like her, they were ambitious and possessed extraordinary skills; each led their country step by step out of difficulties and ushered in a period of vigorous development.
In reality, Queen Mary was not "unperturbed," but rather somewhat bewildered—what strategic advantage did her North Africa have to offer? Wasn't it their Bey, unable to tolerate Ottomans rule and admiring France, that had come to request annexation by France?
What support has China given Russia in the Black Sea?
How did they come to agree on the Ottoman?
What is he saying??
Stroganov took a breath and continued, "Furthermore, His Majesty the Emperor strongly agrees with the ' Swedish Proposal ' mentioned by your Minister of Foreign Affairs, Archbishop Talleyrand, during his mission to Saint Petersburg two months ago. His Majesty believes..."
"Please wait a moment." Queen Mary's brain was overloaded. What "Swedish Proposal"?
"What exactly did Archbishop Talleyrand say?"
Stroganov nodded to himself, thinking that he was indeed a cautious and meticulous ruler who was worried that his Minister of Foreign Affairs's description of the policy was not accurate enough, so he asked me to repeat it to him in person.
He cleared his throat and said, "Archbishop Talleyrand said that you support Russia's claims to eastern Sweden, and that the Gulf of Finland should become an inland sea of Russia..."
Queen Mary was increasingly bewildered. She had no idea that this was a pie-in-the-sky promise from Joseph to Russia.
At this time, the Russo-Swedish War was raging, and Russia's powerful army had gained a considerable advantage. Catherine II was certainly scheming about how to take more flesh from Sweden, but she was also worried that the Europe powers would intervene.
Joseph then played to their interests, suggesting that France agree to Russia's occupation of eastern Sweden. As long as Russia's eyes remained on Sweden, Poland would be safe.
Historically, it was precisely because Sweden defeated Russia in the Battle of Svensksund in 1790, thus thwarting the latter's ambitions for Sweden territory, that Catherine II turned her hunting focus to Poland.