Novels online

Chapter 1361: Bern's Choice

Nobel's expression was completely normal, and he even smiled more brightly: "Oh, Monsieur Erlach, it is truly an honor to make your acquaintance. Your demeanor and Madame Roberge's beauty are simply a perfect match."

As a Frenchman, he was long accustomed to such matters. In his view, it would be abnormal for a woman of Dorianne's age not to have a lover.

"Haha, look at you, but I quite agree." Count Erlach's face immediately broke into a smile. He returned Nobel's greeting, then firmly wrapped an arm around Dorianne's waist.

Nobel picked up a glass of wine from a passing servant's tray and gestured to Erlach. "I assume you must be from Lorraine, or perhaps Metz?"

The latter spoke with a pronounced German accent.

This time, both Count Erlach and Dorianne looked embarrassed.

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

Dorianne quickly interjected, "Klaus holds the title of Count and leads the Bern parliament."

A flicker of disdain crossed Nobel's eyes, but then he noticed the expensive fan in her hand and immediately regained his smile, bowing slightly to Erlach. "My apologies, you see, I should have addressed you as Count Erlach."

Nobel narrowed his eyes, saying casually, "That's not impossible. It would just require a small investment."

Dorianne sighed. "The government no longer sells official positions. Now, one must first pass the entrance exam for the University of Public Administration, and the requirements are even stricter for foreigners..."

Nobel gently swirled his wineglass. "If Count Erlach doesn't mind, your old friend might be able to offer some assistance."

Dorianne exclaimed in surprise, "You?"

Nobel nodded calmly. "I inherited my father's title two years ago, and I currently work in... ah, the Ministry of Trade, as the Head of International Markets."

Dorianne immediately burst into delighted exclamations. "Oh, my goodness, you're truly so accomplished for your age!"

Nobel waved a hand dismissively. "It's merely thanks to my family's influence."

Just then, two well-dressed nobles passed by. They raised their glasses to Nobel and spoke in an authentic Parisian accent, "Viscount Nobel, you're here as well?"

"Ah, Count Léona, and Baron Léger," Nobel replied, lightly clinking glasses with them. "I came with Count Mirabeau. As you know, this exposition is expected to bring in many orders."

"Indeed, the Ministry of Trade can hardly do without you these days."

"You're truly Count Mirabeau's most capable lieutenant."

After chatting for a while, Nobel turned and indicated to Dorianne, "If you ever need assistance, please don't hesitate to find me."

That evening, Count Erlach and his mistress waited for a long time by the ballroom entrance until they finally saw Viscount Nobel emerge.

In an upscale cafe next to the Karlsruhe Royal Palace, Nobel nodded. "It would be about 15,000 francs. I can help you secure a position in the Ministry of Trade, and if things go smoothly, you could be promoted to a managerial role within three years."

Count Erlach and Dorianne exchanged glances, their eyes filled with excitement and anticipation.

Serving as a manager in the French Ministry of Trade would be far more prestigious than being a Vice Chairman in Bern.

Viscount Nobel glanced at their expressions, then took a sip of coffee. "If you could manage another 30,000 francs, I could also try to speak with Monsieur Bailly on your behalf to have your noble title recognized by Versailles."

Count Erlach's heart was practically pounding out of his chest.

-- ésßØÑαrHe knew that a Swiss noble title meant virtually nothing in the eyes of the French. A French noble title, however, was a symbol of status recognized across all of Europe!

"Are... are you serious?"

"Of course," Nobel replied, as if discussing the day's lunch. "Monsieur Bailly holds me in high regard. You know, he's someone who frequently appears before His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince."

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

However, a look of distress quickly crossed his face. "Well, 45,000 francs, I'm afraid... If the railway project hadn't run into problems, I could certainly come up with more, but now..."

If the Bern railway project had proceeded normally, he could have personally pocketed eighty or ninety thousand francs. But currently, his total assets amounted to only a little over 30,000 francs.

Nobel leaned forward. "What is this railway project you're referring to?"

After Count Erlach finished explaining the situation, Nobel shook his head slightly. "This is indeed quite troublesome."

Dorianne interjected anxiously, "Could you perhaps find some connections within the Ministry of Transport, for example, to get them to provide a road-building team or something similar?"

Count Erlach shot her an exasperated glance. "What nonsense are you talking about? How could the French Ministry of Transport possibly support a Swiss project?"

A glint of avarice, however, flickered in Viscount Nobel's eyes. He looked at Erlach and said, "That, too, might not be impossible. It would simply require a considerable sum of money to facilitate..."

A little over an hour later, Count Erlach rushed back to his residence in a frenzy. He immediately summoned the Swiss diplomat that night and asked, "Do you know who the Head of International Markets at the French Ministry of Trade is?"

The latter yawned, pulled out a diplomatic directory from a leather briefcase, flipped through it for a while, and then pointed to an entry. "Viscount Nobel. Twenty-eight years old, from a Parisian political family..."

"He's in Karlsruhe?"

The diplomat flipped through it for a bit longer, then nodded. "Yes, he arrived with the French exhibition delegation."

"Have you met him?"

"No, I haven't. But his appearance is recorded here: tall, blond, and very handsome."

Count Erlach nodded emphatically. "That's him, alright!"

The next day, he indeed saw Viscount Nobel in the French exhibition area. The latter was following behind Count Mirabeau, appearing quite busy.

He immediately told his attendant, "Hogg, have them pack everything up. We're returning to Bern right away."

The attendant whispered in confusion, "My lord, didn't you say you intended to settle in Baden?"

"Stop chattering and hurry up!"

Count Erlach left 10,000 francs for his mistress, asking her to contact Viscount Nobel, while he himself departed Karlsruhe by carriage.

Half a month later.

Inside the Bern State Parliament building.

The protests outside the window made Speaker Haupert frown. He turned and firmly closed the window, then looked back at Erlach. "What did you just say? Merge with... France?"

"That's right!" the latter exclaimed excitedly. "Bern would secede from the Confederation and become a French province!"

"That way, the French Ministry of Transport would plan railways here, and we wouldn't have to compensate the investors anymore."

He pointed out the window. "And those ruffians out there would immediately return home obediently."

"Oh, and we wouldn't even need the funds we'd prepared earlier. Just like Reims and Lyon, the Ministry of Transport would allocate funds..."

Baron Fred, the legislator seated nearby, frowned and interrupted him. "Have you had too much to drink? Why would France ever agree to Bern's annexation?"

Indeed, the territorial concepts of European nations at that time were completely different from those of later generations.

A place as impoverished and backward as Switzerland, even if offered directly to France, would surely be refused. Pumping large sums of tax money into Switzerland's desolate mountain valleys would be utterly insane.

Count Erlach said with extreme pride, "Do you remember Dorianne?"

"Your French mistress?"

"Exactly. She has an old neighbor, one with very strong family ties: Viscount Nobel. He is currently the Head of International Markets at the French Ministry of Trade, and his connections reach all the way to the Crown Prince of France."