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Chapter 670: The Papal States' Anomaly

In the Crown Prince's cabin, Perna sat behind an exquisite wooden table, taking small bites of her breakfast. She couldn't help but steal glances at Joseph across from her, her cheeks instantly flushing.

Her eyes, however, brimmed with a happy smile before she quickly lowered her head, pretending to focus on the food on her plate.

She hadn't performed her usual examination on the Crown Prince today—last night's full body check-up had confirmed everything was perfectly normal. In fact, it was almost *too* normal...

Just as her thoughts drifted, Eman entered, knocking softly, a tray in hand. He placed two servings of fried fish fillet and toast before the Crown Prince and her, then bowed respectfully.

The aide's expression remained calm, as if the scene before him was simply an everyday occurrence.

A maid walked past Eman, heading towards the inner part of the cabin along the wall.

Perna froze for a moment, then sprang up as if shocked, taking a few quick steps to block the maid. She offered an embarrassed smile: "Um, Diana, wait, I'll tidy the room later..."

Right, space on the ship was limited, and the bed was very narrow, so last night's bedding was still on the floor. Perhaps some traces were there too. If the maid saw it, Perna would truly die of shame.

Joseph, who had grown accustomed to others making his bed over the years, also realized what was happening. He cleared his throat. "Ahem, Diana, you needn't bother."

Joseph exchanged a glance with the intensely bashful Perna. Both simultaneously broke into a tacit smile.

Joseph motioned for Eman to leave as well, then gently pressed Perna into a chair by the dining table. "Please eat your breakfast first," he said softly. "You might get seasick once we set sail, and lose your appetite."

"But the room..."

"Leave it to me."

Watching Joseph's busy figure, Perna's heart immediately swelled with deep sweetness.

The Pyroscaphe's funnel billowed black smoke as it resumed its race, but the Crown Prince's cabin remained untidy...

Two days later.

The steamship returned to Paris first, leaving the second-place "Seven Birds" over 90 kilometers behind.

The entire inland shipping industry was immediately shaken as if by an earthquake! Hundreds of journalists quickly sent countless reports about the race back home.

Camelia was still somewhat weak, having developed a low fever since yesterday morning. This made Perna extremely anxious, and she directed the arriving imperial physicians to lift her onto a carriage.

Annemarie Herriot, however, was directly escorted away by the palace guard. What had happened on the ship had already been conveyed back to Versailles by land.

Count Herriot, the father of the noble young lady who pushed Camelia into the water, had been nervously waiting at the dock. He cautiously approached only after the Crown Prince had finished presenting the awards to the winning ship.

"Your Highness, I swear to God, that was merely Annemarie's own foolish act. I was completely unaware..."

He had already found out that the Austrian girl was not just the Crown Prince's maid, but also the granddaughter of the Queen's wet nurse. His arrogant daughter surely hadn't bothered to learn any of this before acting.

Count Herriot had seven children, three of whom were daughters. He absolutely did not want Annemarie to bring the royal family's wrath down upon his family.

Joseph merely cast a cold glance at him, then turned and climbed into his carriage. "The judges will deliver a fair verdict."

When Joseph returned to Versailles, after having lunch with the King and Queen whom he hadn't seen in days, he found Talleyrand waiting at the entrance to his chambers.

"You've returned from Rome?" Joseph gestured towards the reception room, turning his head to Talleyrand. "Let's discuss this inside."

The Foreign Minister limped after him, his head bowed, a look of vexation on his face. "Your Highness, His Holiness, the Pope, has indicated his unwillingness for the Holy See to interfere in the situation in Poland."

Joseph settled onto the sofa, his brow slightly furrowed. "Did you mention 'Forging Catholicism's Spear' to him?"

Talleyrand nodded. "Yes, Your Highness, I earnestly brought it up with His Holiness. He seemed, ah, to have some reservations. I mean, he was clearly interested when he first heard it, but then refused to pursue the topic further."

"Please, have a seat." Joseph interlocked his fingers and shook his head. "The Pope's decision will have a certain impact on our strategy for Poland. What do you believe His Holiness Pius VI is concerned about?"

Talleyrand hesitated. "Perhaps, he doesn't wish to offend the Russians?"

Joseph shook his head again. "Russia holds no real influence over the Papal States. Even if there are some trade dealings, such minor interests are completely insignificant compared to re-establishing a power close to the Holy See in Eastern Europe. Furthermore, if Poland can defeat Russia, it would be a divine strike from the 'Spear of God' against the Eastern Orthodox heretics. This would multiply the Holy See's prestige manifold."

At this time, the Roman Curia was far from its medieval glory—

Though France was nominally called the "Eldest Daughter of the Church," it actually maintained its own independent ecclesiastical system and did not accept management from the Roman Curia.

Britain, Prussia, the Netherlands, the Nordic countries, and most of the German states had already converted to Protestantism.

Even in Bavaria, Salzburg, and other remaining Catholic strongholds, Protestant reform movements were stirring.

Only Spain and Austria remained as the Roman Curia's last "reserves."

Therefore, Poland, which had recently established Catholicism as its state religion through its constitution, became a rare "growth point" for the Holy See after many years.

Joseph had originally intended to use this to gain the Roman Curia's support for Poland—though the Holy See's control had waned, in the hearts of tens of millions of Catholics across Europe, it was still the legitimate representative of God.

If the Holy See could issue a call to "resist the Eastern Orthodox heretics" for Poland, even if it didn't inspire Catholics from various countries to travel to Poland and participate in a "Holy War," it could at least significantly boost the morale of the Polish people. There was a stark difference in spirit between simply resisting aggression and resisting aggression in accordance with God's will.

This was also one of Joseph's strategies for Poland.

Unexpectedly, Pope Pius VI had refused.

"So, why would the Pope forgo such immense benefits?" Joseph mused, lightly stroking the sofa's armrest, falling into deep thought. 'There must be a greater interest at stake...'

Talleyrand added, "Or perhaps he is facing a threat that compels him to relinquish those benefits."

Joseph looked at him. "You're absolutely right. Among the countries involved in the Polish situation, Russia is Orthodox, Prussia is Protestant. Only Austria could have a connection with the Holy See."

Talleyrand looked surprised. "But Austria adheres to a national policy of protecting Poland, so it shouldn't..."

Joseph narrowed his eyes. "No, I believe it's very likely Austria."

He knew very well that historically, Austria had never been gentle when encroaching on Polish territory.

"If the Papal States abandoned their support for Poland because of Austria, then everything makes sense."

The Papal States had territorial disputes with almost all the neighboring Italian states—this was no longer the era of Pippin. Sardinia, Tuscany, and the Two Sicilies, though all Catholic nations, were adamantly demanding the Pope return their respective territories.