Life of Being a Crown Prince in France-Chapter 1455 - 1361: The Choice of Bern State
Nobertโs expression showed no change, instead, he smiled even more brightly: "Oh, Mr. Elarch, itโs an honor to meet you. Your demeanor is just as fitting with Mrs. Robel Dayโs beauty." ๐ป๐โฏโฏ๐ค๐๐๐๐ฐ๐๐๐.๐ธ๐๐ฎ
As a French person, he was long accustomed to such things. In his view, a woman of Dorianโs age not having a lover was the real abnormality.
"Hehe, look at what youโre saying, but I also think the same way." Count Elarchโs smile immediately blossomed, returning the gesture to Nobert, then he strongly embraced Dorian by the waist.
Nobert picked up a glass of wine from a tray held by a passing servant and signaled to Elarch: "I guess you must be from Lorraine or Metz?"
The latter spoke with a strong German-accented French.
This time, both Count Elarch and Dorian fell into awkwardness.
"Ahem, actually, I am from Bern."
Dorian hastily made amends beside him: "Klaus holds an Earlโs title and leads the Bern Parliament."
Scorn flashed in Nobertโs eyes, but he soon noticed the expensive fan in her hand, and immediately resumed his smile, bowing to Elarch: "I apologize, you see, I should have addressed you as Count Elarch."
Dorian, however, seemed as if her heart had been pierced, and she said somewhat despondently: "Actually, I was just telling Klaus that it would be better if he worked in France."
Nobert squinted slightly, and with a casual tone, said: "Thatโs not impossible; it just takes a little bit of money."
Dorian sighed: "The government has long stopped selling official positions, now you need to first pass into the Administration College, and they require even more from foreigners..."
Nobert lightly swirled his wine glass and said: "If Count Elarch doesnโt mind, perhaps your old friends can lend some help."
Dorian was surprised: "You?"
Nobert nodded indifferently: "I inherited my fatherโs title the year before last and currently serve as the Director of International Markets in the... ah, Ministry of Trade."
Dorian was instantly overjoyed: "Oh, God, you are truly young and promising!"
Nobert waved his hand: "Itโs only thanks to the family strength."
Just then, two well-dressed nobles passed by, raised their glasses to Nobert, and in a genuine Parisian accent, said: "Viscount Nobert, you are here too?"
"Oh, itโs Earl Leona, and Baron Le Jean." Nobert gently clinked his glass with theirs, "I came with Count Mirabeau, you know, there will be many orders at this expo."
"Yes, the Ministry of Trade canโt do without you now."
"You are truly Count Mirabeauโs capable aide."
After chatting for a while, Nobert turned to Dorian and indicated: "If you need help, please feel free to come to me anytime."
That evening, Count Elarch and his mistress waited at the entrance of the ballroom for quite some time before they finally saw Viscount Nobert coming out.
In a high-end cafรฉ next to Karlsruhe Palace, Nobert nodded and said: "About 15,000 francs, I can help you secure a position in the Ministry of Trade, and if all goes well, you can get promoted to director within three years."
Count Elarch and Dorian exchanged glances, eyes full of excitement and anticipation.
Being a director in the French Ministry of Trade is far more prestigious than being any vice speaker in Bern.
Viscount Nobert glanced at their expressions, took a sip of coffee, and said: "If you can bring out another 30,000 francs, I can try to speak to Mr. Bailly and have your title recognized by the Palace of Versailles."
Count Elarchโs heart was pounding out of his chest.
Itโs known that Swiss titles are worth nothing to the French. A French title is the symbol of status recognized all over Europe!
"Are you, are you serious?"
"Of course." Nobert seemed to be discussing todayโs lunch, "Mr. Bailly holds me in high regard. You know, he can often be seen in front of the Crown Prince."
Count Elarch had naturally heard of the renowned French Minister of Trade, so enthusiastic he didnโt know where to put his hands.
However, his face soon showed a look of difficulty: "Well, 45,000 francs might be... hey, if only the railway plan wasnโt having issues, I could come up with even more, but now..."
If the Bern railway project proceeded normally, he could perhaps rake in eighty to ninety thousand francs, but currently, his assets total only a little over 30,000 francs.
Nobert leaned forward: "This railway plan you mentioned is?"
After Count Elarch finished explaining the situation, Nobert shook his head slightly: "This is indeed a tough issue."
Dorian urgently interjected: "Can you perhaps find some connections in the Ministry of Transportation, maybe have them provide a road construction team or something..."
Count Elarch gave her a disgruntled look: "What nonsense are you talking? How could the French Ministry of Transportation possibly support a Swiss project?"
But there was a glint of greed in Viscount Nobertโs eyes as he looked at him and said: "That might not be impossible. It just requires a substantial sum to work with..."
More than an hour later, Count Elarch hurriedly returned to his residence and, overnight, summoned a Swiss diplomat to ask: "Do you know who the Director of International Markets is in the French Ministry of Trade?"
The latter yawned, rummaged through a leather case for the diplomatic directory, flipped through it for a good while, and pointed to a line: "Viscount Nobert. Twenty-eight years old, from a Parisian political family..."
"Has he come to Karlsruhe?"
The diplomat flipped through it again for a while, nodded: "Yes, he came with the French delegation."
"Have you met him?"
"No. But his appearance is recorded here; hmm, tall, blond hair, very handsome."
Count Elarch nodded vigorously: "Thatโs him for sure!"
The next day, he indeed saw Viscount Nobert in the French exhibit area, who was following closely behind Count Mirabeau, seemingly very busy.
He immediately instructed his attendant: "Hog, have people pack our things, weโre returning to Bern now."
The latter whispered in confusion: "Master, didnโt you say you planned to settle in Baden?"
"Stop nonsense, hurry up!"
Count Elarch left 10,000 francs for his mistress to help contact Viscount Nobert, and then he took a carriage and left Karlsruhe.
Half a month later.
Inside the Bern State Parliament Building.
The protest sounds outside caused Chairman Haupert to frown deeply. He turned and shut the window forcefully before looking back at Elarch: "What did you just say? Join France?"
"Thatโs right!" The latter exclaimed excitedly, "Bern to detach from the Confederation and become a province of France!
"This way, the French Ministry of Transportation will plan railways here, and there would be no need to compensate investors."
He pointed outside: "Those guys would then obediently go back home.
"Oh, and we wouldnโt even need to use the funds we prepared; just like Reims or Lyon, the Ministry of Transportation would allocate funding..."
Sitting next to him, Mr. Fred interrupted, frowning: "Have you had too much to drink? Why would France agree to Bern joining?"
Indeed, the concept of territorial sovereignty in Europe at this time was completely different from later generations.
A place as extremely poor and backward as Switzerland, even if presented to France, would certainly be unwantedโputting large tax sums into Switzerlandโs barren mountain valleys is unquestionably foolish.
Count Elarch smugly said: "Do you remember Dorian?"
"Your French mistress?"
"Exactly. She has an old neighbor, the kind with very good family ties, Viscount Nobert. He is currently the Director of International Markets at the French Ministry of Trade, with connections reaching up to the French Crown Prince there."
