Chapter 351: The Two Most Powerful Women in Europe
The young nobles who had accompanied Caralis and Marissa began to whisper among themselves, occasionally casting playful glances their way.
After all, they had been boasting about their exhibition entries for over a month, and everyone's ears were practically numb from hearing about it.
Yet, they had arrived with such fanfare today, only to find nothing.
"No, there must be some mistake!" Caralis exclaimed defensively. "My painting really was entered into the exhibition..."
"I need to go ask the person in charge of the art exhibition!"
Marissa quickly found a steward from the Château de Charlotte. After hearing her query, the steward led her towards the third floor, with Caralis following close behind.
The steward opened a storage room on the floor, lit a candelabra, and gestured apologetically towards a table in the corner. "I'm very sorry, honored young lady, but due to a severe termite infestation in room 229, the paintings there were affected and are no longer suitable for exhibition. Château de Charlotte will compensate you double for any losses incurred."
Caralis rushed forward, quickly found her work among a pile of scattered canvases, and unfurled it, only to freeze on the spot.
In the candlelight, her painting bore several marks caused by formic acid reacting with the pigments, and even had the corpse of a termite stuck to it...
Filiberto's assistant was extremely meticulous. If his boss said there was a 'termite infestation,' he would certainly arrange everything to look as if there truly had been one.
Caralis instantly let out a piercing shriek and ran downstairs in tears...
In the main exhibition hall on the ground floor of Château de Charlotte, Alexandra, dressed in a fashionable light green gown, was completely oblivious to the dramatic scene unfolding on the second floor.
She moved gracefully, maintaining the most impeccable ladylike demeanor, as she slowly passed rows of exquisite paintings, accompanied by Alexei and Count Alexander Sergeyevich Stroganov, the Russian ambassador to France.
"This is a masterpiece by Monsieur Lorrain!" Count Stroganov murmured, gazing at "The Embarkation of Saint Ursula" on the wall, unable to suppress his awe.
He was a true art connoisseur; if not for the important task entrusted to him by His Imperial Majesty today, he would undoubtedly spend half the day admiring this renowned painting.
After the "Russian Art Delegation" had lingered in the exhibition hall for nearly an hour, a melodic horn call suddenly sounded from outside Château de Charlotte, followed by the orchestra beginning to play.
The crowd stirred instantly, then began to surge towards the exit of the hall.
Count Stroganov looked at Alexei and whispered, "Count Bobrinsky, it must be them."
Alexei nodded. He knew that "them," as the ambassador referred to, meant the King and Queen of France.
He promptly gestured for Alexandra to also head towards the main entrance.
Soon after, Louis XVI and Queen Marie appeared at the entrance of the exhibition hall. Prompted by their nearby attendants, they immediately noticed the richly dressed Russian Grand Duchess and her retinue.
Seeing the French King approach, Alexandra and her companions hurried forward, bowing respectfully. "It is a great honor and surprise to meet Your Majesties here."
Queen Marie looked with some surprise at the sweet-faced girl before her, whose hair was styled in thick braids. She smiled kindly. "I am also delighted to meet you. You are always welcome in the City of Art — Paris."
Subsequently, Alexandra and her retinue naturally joined Queen Marie in touring the art exhibition.
The young girl soon stepped aside at her uncle's signal, and Ambassador Count Stroganov stepped forward two paces to Queen Marie's side. He spoke respectfully, "Your Majesty, His Imperial Majesty has commanded me to convey his sincere greetings to you and His Royal Majesty the King."
"Please convey my thanks to His Imperial Majesty for his concern," Queen Marie replied, nodding politely.
Stroganov was quite familiar with the Queen, and immediately began discussing art. After they had viewed nearly half of the exhibits on the ground floor, he deftly shifted the conversation to the purpose of his visit. "His Imperial Majesty holds immense admiration for you. He has frequently praised to his ministers the exceptional success of the financial, military, and judicial reforms you have spearheaded in France in recent years. Simultaneously, in foreign affairs, you have achieved accomplishments that have captured the attention of all Europe."
Queen Marie blinked, finding something odd about the statement, but still gave a slight nod. Indeed, France had developed quite well in the past two years, even acquiring the province of Tunisia.
Stroganov continued, "His Imperial Majesty particularly extols your North African strategy, which, with astonishing strategic deployment, yielded substantial benefits while having minimal impact on the international order."
"Furthermore, His Majesty expresses his profound appreciation for your support of our country in the Black Sea region and for aligning your stance with ours regarding the Ottoman Empire."
He subtly observed Queen Marie. Seeing her seemingly unflustered, he secretly admired her, confirming what His Imperial Majesty had said: the Queen of France was the only woman on the entire European continent who could be compared to Her.
Like her, Queen Marie was ambitious and possessed extraordinary shrewdness, each guiding their respective nations step by step out of difficulties and towards flourishing development.
In reality, Queen Marie was far from 'unflustered'; she was utterly bewildered. 'What strategy in North Africa is there to commend? Wasn't it just that their Bey couldn't stand Ottoman rule and, admiring France, came requesting annexation into France?'
'What support did I give Russia in the Black Sea?'
'And how exactly are we aligned on the Ottomans?'
'What is he talking about?'
Stroganov took a breath and continued, "Furthermore, regarding the 'Swedish Proposal' that your Foreign Minister, Archbishop Talleyrand, mentioned during his embassy to Petersburg two months ago, His Imperial Majesty wholeheartedly approves. His Majesty believes that..."
"Please wait a moment." Queen Marie's brain was overloaded. 'What 'Swedish Proposal'?'
"Could you please tell me exactly what Archbishop Talleyrand said?"
Stroganov secretly nodded. 'As expected, she is a cautious and rigorous ruler, concerned that her foreign minister might not have accurately described the policy, so she wants me to repeat it in person.'
He cleared his throat and stated, "Archbishop Talleyrand said that you support Russia's claims to eastern Sweden, and that the Gulf of Finland should become a Russian internal sea..."
Queen Marie grew even more perplexed. She had no idea that this was a "pie in the sky" promise Joseph had dangled before Russia.
At this time, the Russo-Swedish War was raging, and Russia's powerful army had already gained a significant advantage. Catherine II was undoubtedly plotting how to carve out more territory from Sweden, yet she worried about intervention from other European powers.
So Joseph played to her desires, indicating that France would agree to Russia occupying eastern Sweden. As long as Russia's gaze remained fixed on Sweden, then Poland would be safe.
Historically, it was precisely because Sweden defeated Russia in the Battle of Svensksund in 1790, dashing Russia's ambitions for Swedish territory, that Catherine II then turned her predatory sights towards Poland.
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