I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 352 The Two Most Powerful Women in Europe

The young nobles who came with Karalis and Marissa began to whisper to each other and glanced at them with teasing eyes from time to time.

You know, they have been bragging about their participation in the exhibition to everyone for more than a month, and everyone's ears are numb.

As a result, I came here with great fanfare today, but saw nothing.

"No, there must be some mistake!" Karalis argued loudly, "My paintings are really exhibited..."

"I have to ask the person in charge of the exhibition!"

Marissa quickly found a steward of Charles Castle, who, after listening to her questions, took her to the third floor, and Karalis followed quickly.

The butler opened a utility room in the building, lit the candlesticks, and gestured to the table in the corner with an apologetic look: "I'm sorry, dear lady, due to the large number of termites in room 229, the paintings there have been affected and are no longer suitable for exhibition. Xia Libao will double the compensation for the losses caused."

Karalis rushed over, found her work from a pile of scattered scrolls, and quickly unfolded it, but was stunned on the spot.

Under the candlelight, there were several traces of formic acid and pigment reaction on her paintings, and even a dead termite was stained...

If such paintings are put on display, they will undoubtedly become a laughing stock.

Filiberto's assistant was very careful in his work. If the boss said there was a "termite plague", then he would definitely arrange everything as if there was a real termite plague.

Karalis immediately let out a piercing scream and ran downstairs crying...

In the main exhibition hall on the first floor of Charlemagne, Alexandra, wearing the most popular light green dress in Paris that season, had no idea of ​​the bloody scene happening on the second floor.

She was following all etiquette and acting like a lady, as she walked slowly past rows of exquisite paintings, accompanied by Alexei and Count Alexander Sergeyevich Stroganov, the Russian ambassador to France.

"This is Mr. Lorrain's masterpiece!" Count Stroganov looked at the painting "Ursula Embarks on the Voyage" on the wall and couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.

He is a true art connoisseur, and if he hadn't had an important task assigned by His Majesty the Emperor today, he would definitely have spent most of the day admiring this famous painting.

Just after the "Russian Appreciation Group" had been wandering in the exhibition hall for nearly an hour, a melodious trumpet sound suddenly came from outside the Xiali Castle, and then the band began to play.

The crowd suddenly became agitated and began to rush out of the exhibition hall.

Count Stroganov looked at Alexei and whispered, "Count Poplinski, they should be here."

The latter nodded, knowing that the "they" the ambassador was referring to was the King and Queen of France.

He quickly motioned to Alexandra to move towards the gate as well.

Soon, Louis XVI and Queen Marie appeared at the entrance of the exhibition hall. Reminded by their attendants, they immediately noticed the Russian Grand Duchess and her entourage who were dressed in gorgeous clothes.

Seeing the King of France coming over here, Alexandra and others hurriedly greeted him and saluted very solemnly: "It is a great honor and surprise to meet you here." Queen Marie looked at the girl in front of her with thick braids and a very sweet face with some surprise, and smiled kindly: "I am also very happy to meet you. You are welcome to come to the capital of art - Paris often."

Afterwards, Alexandra and her entourage naturally followed Queen Mary to visit the exhibition.

The little girl quickly made way at the signal of her uncle, and the ambassador to France, Count Stroganov, took two steps forward and came to the side of the French queen, saying respectfully: "Your Majesty, His Majesty the Emperor ordered me to express my sincere greetings to you and His Majesty the King."

"Please thank Your Majesty for his concern for me." Queen Mary nodded politely.

Stroganov and the queen were also familiar with each other, so they started the conversation by talking about the artworks. After visiting nearly half of the exhibits on the first floor, he turned the topic to his mission: "His Majesty the Emperor admires you very much. His Majesty has praised you to the ministers many times, saying that the financial, military, and judicial reforms you have led in France in recent years have been extremely successful, and that you have also made achievements in foreign affairs that have attracted the attention of the whole of Europe."

Queen Mary blinked, and although she felt something was a little strange, she still nodded slightly. Yes, France has indeed developed well in the past two years, and has also obtained a province in Tunisia.

Stroganov continued: “His Majesty the Emperor particularly admires your North African strategy, which has achieved fruitful results with its amazing strategic layout and minimal impact on the international situation.

“At the same time, His Majesty also expressed great appreciation for your support for our country in the Black Sea and your consistency with our country in your attitude towards the Ottoman Empire.”

He quietly glanced at Queen Marie, and seeing that she seemed calm, he secretly admired her in his heart. It was just as His Majesty the Emperor said, the Queen of France was the only woman in the entire European continent who could be compared with her.

As ambitious as she is, and as capable as she is, they have each led their country step by step out of difficulties and ushered in vigorous development.

In fact, Queen Marie was not "calm", but a little confused - what strategy could she promote in North Africa? Wasn't it that their Bey couldn't stand the rule of the Ottomans and admired France, so he came to ask to join France?
What have you done to support Russia in the Black Sea?

How can we agree on Osman?

What is he saying? ?

Stroganov took a breath and continued, "In addition, His Majesty the Emperor strongly agrees with the 'Swedish Plan' mentioned by your Foreign Minister Archbishop Talleyrand when he visited St. Petersburg two months ago. His Majesty believes that..."

"Please wait a moment." Queen Mary's brain was overloaded. What "Swedish plan"?
"May I ask what Archbishop Talleyrand said specifically?"

Stroganov nodded secretly. He was indeed a cautious and rigorous ruler. He was worried that his foreign minister's description of the policy was not accurate enough, so he asked me to repeat it in person.

He coughed lightly and said, "Archbishop Talleyrand said that you support Russia's claim to eastern Sweden, and the Gulf of Finland should become Russia's inland sea..."

Queen Mary was even more confused. She had no idea that this was a "big pie" that Joseph had painted for Russia.

At this time, the Russo-Swedish War was in full swing, and Russia's powerful army had gained a considerable advantage. Catherine II must have been thinking about how to tear off more meat from Sweden, but she was worried that the European powers would interfere.

Joseph then played to France's wishes and said that France agreed to Russia's occupation of eastern Sweden. As long as Russia's eyes were still on Sweden, Poland would be safe.

Historically, it was because Sweden defeated Russia in the Battle of Svensksund in 1790, cutting off the latter's thoughts on Swedish territory, that Catherine II turned her hunting target to Poland.

(End of this chapter)