I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1361 The Choice of the State of Bern
Norbert's expression remained unchanged; instead, his smile widened even more: "Oh, Mr. Erlach, it is a great honor to meet you. Your elegance is a perfect match for Madame Robertge's beauty."

As a Frenchman, he was used to this kind of thing. In his view, it would be abnormal for a woman of Dorian's age not to have a lover.

“Hehe, look at what you’re saying, but I think so too.” Count Elach smiled broadly, returned the greeting to Norbert, and then put his arm around Dorian’s waist tightly.

Norbert took a glass of wine from a tray carried by a passing servant and gestured to Elach: "I suppose you are from Lorraine or Mace?"

The latter spoke with a strong German accent.

This time, both Count Elah and Dorian found themselves in an awkward situation.

"Well, actually, I'm from Bern."

Dorian quickly chimed in, "Klaus holds the title of Earl and leads the Bern Council."

A flicker of disdain crossed Norbert's eyes, but he quickly noticed the expensive fan in her hand, and immediately put on a smile, bowing slightly to Elach: "I'm so sorry, you see, I should address you as Count Elach."

Dorian seemed to have her secret exposed, and said somewhat dejectedly, "Actually, I was just talking to Klaus about how nice it would be if he were working in France."

Norbert narrowed his eyes and said casually, "It's not impossible, it just takes a little money."

Dorian sighed: "The government stopped selling government positions a long time ago. Now you need to get into a public administration university first, and the requirements for foreigners are even higher..."

Norbert swirled his wine glass gently and said, "If Count Elach doesn't mind, your old friend might be able to help."

Dorian asked in surprise, "You?"

Norbert nodded calmly: "I inherited my father's title two years ago, and I am currently... ah, the head of international markets in the Ministry of Trade."

Dorian was immediately overjoyed: "Oh God, you are so young and promising!"

Norbert waved his hand: "It's just relying on the family's power."

Just then, two well-dressed nobles passed by, raised their glasses to Norbert, and said in fluent Parisian, "Viscount Norbert, you've come too?"

“Oh, it’s Count Leonard and Baron Le Jean.” Norbert clinked glasses with them. “I came with Count Mirabeau. As you know, there will be many orders at this fair.”

"Yes, the Ministry of Trade can't do without you now."

“You are Count Mirabeau’s most capable assistant.”

After chatting for a while, Norbert turned to Dorian and gestured, "If you need any help, please feel free to come to me anytime."

That evening, Count Elach and his mistress waited for a long time at the entrance of the ballroom before finally seeing Viscount Norbert emerge.

In an upscale café next to the Karlsruhe Royal Palace, Nobel nodded and said, "About 15,000 francs. I can help you get a position in the Ministry of Trade, and if all goes well, you can be promoted to supervisor within three years."

Count Elah and Dorian looked at each other, their eyes filled with excitement and anticipation.

Being a manager at the French Ministry of Trade is far more prestigious than being the Deputy Speaker of the Bern Parliament.

Viscount Norbert glanced at the two men's expressions, took a sip of coffee, and said, "If you can come up with another 3 francs, I can try to speak to Mr. Baie and have your title transferred to one recognized by the Palace of Versailles."

Count Elah's heart was pounding in his chest.

It's important to understand that Swiss titles mean absolutely nothing to the French. French titles, on the other hand, are the universally recognized symbol of status throughout Europe!
"You...you're serious?"

“Of course,” Norbert said as if he were talking about lunch. “Mr. Bai thinks highly of me. You know, he’s someone who often appears before His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Count Erlach had naturally heard of the French Minister of Trade's reputation, and was so excited that he didn't know where to put his hands.

However, a troubled look quickly appeared on his face: "Well, 45,000 francs... sigh, if the railway project doesn't have any problems, I can come up with more, but now..."

If the Bern railway project proceeds as planned, he could even rake in 80,000 or 90,000 francs, but currently his total net worth is only a little over 30,000 francs. Norbert leaned forward: "The railway plan you're talking about?"

After Count Elach finished recounting what had happened, Norbert shook his head slightly: "This is indeed a difficult situation."

Dorian anxiously interjected, "Do you think we could use our connections at the Ministry of Transportation to get them to provide a road construction team or something..."

Count Elach gave her a disapproving look: "What nonsense are you talking about? How could the French Ministry of Transport possibly support a Swiss project?"

A glint of greed flashed in Viscount Norbert's eyes as he looked at him and said, "That's not necessarily impossible. It just requires a large sum of money to operate..."

More than an hour later, Count Elach rushed back to his residence and summoned the Swiss diplomat that very night, asking, "Do you know who the head of international markets at the French Ministry of Trade is?"

The latter yawned, rummaged through a leather suitcase and pulled out a diplomatic register. After flipping through it for a while, he pointed to one line and said, "Viscount Norbert. 28 years old this year, from a Parisian political family..."

"He's in Karlsruhe?"

The diplomat flipped through the documents for a while longer, then nodded and said, "Yes, it came with the French delegation."

Have you seen him?

"No. But his appearance is recorded here. Well, tall, blond, very handsome."

Count Elach nodded vigorously: "That's it, it's him!"

The next day, he indeed saw Viscount Norbert in the French exhibition area, who was following behind Count Mirabeau and seemed very busy.

He immediately said to his entourage, "Hogg, have someone pack our things. We're heading back to Bern now."

The latter asked in a low voice, puzzled, "Sir, didn't you say you planned to settle in Baden?"

"Stop talking nonsense and go!"

Count Elach left his mistress 1 francs to help her contact Viscount Norbert, and then left Karlsruhe by carriage.

half a month later.

Inside the Bern State Parliament building.

The protests outside the window made Speaker Haupt frown. He turned around and slammed the window shut before looking at Erlach again: "What did you just say? To be incorporated into... France?"

“That’s right!” the latter exclaimed excitedly. “Bern has broken away from the Confederation and become a province of France!”

"In this way, the French Ministry of Transport will plan the railway here, and there will be no need to compensate the investors."

He pointed out the window: "And those guys will soon be obediently going back home."

"Oh, even the funds we prepared beforehand are no longer needed. Just like in Lance and Lyon, the Ministry of Transport will allocate funds..."

Sitting beside him, Congressman Frey frowned and interrupted him: "Are you drunk? How could France agree to the annexation of Bern?"

Yes, at that time, the concept of territory among European countries was completely different from that in later times.

Even if a poor and backward place like Switzerland were offered to France, France would definitely not want it—investing a large amount of tax money in Switzerland's impoverished mountains would be absolutely insane.

Count Elach said with great pride, "Do you still remember Dorian?"

"Your French mistress?"

“That’s right. She has an old neighbor, the kind of family with whom she has a very good relationship, Viscount Norbert. He is currently the head of international markets at the French Ministry of Trade, and his connections reach even the Crown Prince of France.”

(End of this chapter)