Crown Prince Time

Joseph glanced instinctively at Alexandra, who had a larger role and was still energetically introducing a composite board Wine Cabinet on stage, and couldn't help but smile and nod.

"She's such an angel, beautiful and adorable, and incredibly diligent in everything she does."

Well, among the entire crew, the Russia little girl's product placement performance was the most natural and smooth; he definitely deserves a lot of praise.

Queen Mary, however, sensed something else in his words and subtly cast a smug glance at her husband, as if to say, "See? I was right, wasn't I? Our son really does like the Russia Grand Duchess."

Louis XVI looked at the little girl on the stage. To be honest, he was a little dissatisfied with her Russia heritage, but when he thought of his son calling her a "little angel," his heart softened.

He was also influenced by Enlightenment thought, and his requirements for Royal House marriage were far less conventional than his father's. On the contrary, because of his love for Queen Mary, he felt that his son should also choose a girl he liked.

"Never mind, what matters most is that Joseph likes her," Louis XVI thought to himself. "At least she's a real girl, and a princess at that."

Although Joseph had denied to his father from the beginning that he was attracted to men, Louis XVI had witnessed countless homosexual incidents at the Versailles Palace —which was even quite popular among the Nobility —so he had always been worried about his son's sexual orientation, and only now could he truly put his mind at ease.

Louis XVI also looked at Queen Mary and nodded, indicating his approval of the "Crown Princess Consort" on the stage. Then, the two of them showed a smile of aunt-like satisfaction.

After all, the Crown Prince will soon be 16 years old, and the engagement has finally been settled...

Joseph had no idea that his parents had just decided on the future Crown Princess Consort of France. He was watching Baron Tyrell Shaw on stage, distributing Soda to his family's distinguished guests, when he suddenly frowned slightly. Was there a bit too much product placement? Hmm... an hour and a half of Drama, only 35 minutes of commercials, it should be alright...

However, the audience quickly lost focus due to the overwhelming number of advertisements, and the King family began chatting idly in their VIP boxes.

"My dear, I really love the furniture you gave me," Queen Mary said with a smile, feeding her son a piece of nut shortbread. "It's the best birthday present I've received all year. Oh, and of course, this gift is also very nice."

As she spoke, she pointed to her hair ornament:

"Isn't it adorable? Your father made it by hand!"

Joseph looked at the slowly rotating birdcage above his mother's head, when suddenly the mechanical nightingale inside flapped its wings and jumped out, chirping merrily.

"Actually, it can also play a short section of ' Ode for Queen Anne's Birthday '." Louis XVI raised his head proudly.

Joseph blinked, then asked hesitantly:

"Dear Father, how long did it take you to make this hair accessory?"

"Not much," Louis XVI said with great pride, "Only two and a half months, well, plus some design time. Mr. Florent said that even he couldn't have done it better..."

Upon hearing this, Joseph couldn't help but rub his forehead, thinking to himself, "No wonder there's been no progress in the development of the new Rifled Gun. It turns out you've been tinkering with birdcages all this time."

"Never mind," he shook his head silently. Come to think of it, his father didn't receive a salary, so his "working" hours were naturally flexible. But he'd still have to remind him from time to time...

Queen Mary's birthday celebrations concluded amidst laughter and joy, Soda immediately became a hot seller throughout Paris —even though a single bottle cost as much as 6 Livre. Long queues stretched for hundreds of meters in front of the "Yiju Furniture Store" furniture store in the Louvre Palace District...

However, Joseph did not anticipate that his product placement on the Queen's birthday would have a very negative impact.

Following the established practice, major theaters in Paris began incorporating product placements into their Drama, much like the court theaters. This was, of course, because product placement brought them substantial revenue, making it an indispensable practice.

At the corner of Rue de Richelieu, the Comédie-Française is showing "The Marriage of Figaro".

A couple exchanged a glance when the actors on stage started mentioning "Source of Elegance Perfume Shop".

The man said in a low voice:

"Looks like it's ' Crown Prince Time ' now. Let's go grab Coffee first."

"OK, dear."

Well, France audiences naturally hated the soft advertising, and upon tracing its origins, they learned that it was His Highness the Crown Prince who first came up with this scheme.

Thus, "Crown Prince Time" naturally became a synonym for product placement in advertising.

Brussels.

Inside the Parliament Building, Karl II glared angrily at the United Kingdom court messenger, but when he remembered the signature of George III on the letter on the table, he could only sigh.

"Please tell His King that I will lead my troops back to Hanover as soon as possible."

Although he was the Governor of Hanover, he was more of a "tool" of George III, so when the King of the United Kingdom ordered him to stop supporting the Southern Netherlands Rebels, he had no choice but to obey.

After the messenger left, Karl II gazed at the faint Powder Smoke in the distance, and a strange sense of relief welled up in his heart.

In reality, deep down he had already decided that he could not possibly defeat the French Army.

However, the humiliation of being captured made it impossible for him to face this retreat.

But the King of the United Kingdom's order just now solved this problem for him.

"Alas, for the sake of loyalty to His Majesty, I can only endure this humiliation for now." He muttered to himself as he walked towards the gate, waving to the Orderly Officer, "Order Maeterlinck to lead two regiments to guard the South Line; the rest of the troops to assemble immediately in the northern suburbs of Brussels."

"Yes, Marshal!"

Van der Noot and the Southern Netherlands Dutchmen quickly learned of the unusual Hanover Army. Although they were surprised, they simply went to inquire with Karl II about the situation.

Meanwhile, Karl II, escorted by Guard guards, had already reached a point fifty miles outside of Brussels.

Van der Noot and his men were unaware that they had been sold off as commodities. They frantically organized the Southern Netherlands National Guard to take over the defense of Brussels while simultaneously seeking help from the Prussian Army in Liège.

Prussia, the administrative center of Pozztan.

Sanssouci Palace.

William II frowned and said:

"This means that all our significant investments in the Southern Netherlands will be in vain!"

Lord Grenville, the United Kingdom Minister of Foreign Affairs, gave a simple smile.

"Your Majesty, if I may be so bold, the most pressing issue for you right now is how to end the war in Silesia as quickly as possible."

"If my information is accurate, Prussia's Finance must be in dire straits."