#855 - Diplomatic priorities

Joseph stood there, dumbfounded. "You mean? An engagement? With, with Russia?"

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Actually, Talleyrand had submitted a report to him about a marriage alliance with Russia more than two weeks ago. However, when Émange was classifying the reports, he wasn't sure whether to put it in the diplomacy or internal affairs category, and in the end, he stuffed it into the 'Royal Affairs' folder.

And Joseph had been busy fighting battles lately and had no time to deal with the trivial matters of the royal family, so he hadn't even looked at the report yet.

Queen Marie, seeing her son's expression, assumed he was too happy and his mind had gone blank, so she smiled and took his arm, saying:

"I know you like her, but you've been too busy with state affairs to propose to her. But you're already seventeen, and your marriage can't be delayed any longer, so your father and I discussed it and decided to help you..."

Joseph's brain wasn't blank at all at this moment, but rather overclocking. A Russian princess, that would be Alexandra, or Elena. Since his mother mentioned 'you like her,' it must be someone he's met, so it's Alexandra.

He was a little confused.

This little princess is not even eleven years old! How can they get married?

And, where did his mother see that he liked her?

Thinking of this, he suddenly understood.

Right, he had mentioned that he didn't want to marry a princess who was a close relative.

Then, looking around the European royal families, it seemed that only the Romanov family met the criteria among the major powers.

From this point of view, a Russian princess was indeed the most satisfactory...

Joseph suddenly remembered Alexandra's delicate and lovely little face, and her beautiful big eyes. Yes, she was definitely a beauty in the making.

Speaking of which, she was a descendant of Catherine the Great, who captivated all of St. Petersburg, so her looks were definitely top-notch.

As for her personality, she was kind, well-mannered, and sensible, beyond reproach.

According to the custom of the French court, he would definitely have to marry a princess, so Alexandra was almost the best choice...

Joseph habitually thought about political and diplomatic aspects again.

Apart from Russia's ambition towards Poland, there were basically no conflicts of interest with France.

And after Poland blocked the Russian offensive this time, it was estimated that Russia would not have any ideas about Poland for a considerable period.

So France and Russia could indeed reach a consensus of interests.

If France could enlist Russia as an external aid, the other countries such as Britain, Prussia, and Austria would have to think carefully if they wanted to form an anti-French alliance again.

After all, if France and Russia attacked from the east and west, the entire German region would be like a slice of ham in a sandwich, only waiting to be eaten.

Even Russia, as Britain's most important raw material provider, had considerable leverage over Britain. If Napoleon's continental blockade policy had been coordinated with Russia in history, it could have really 'starved' Britain to death.

Of course, it was unrealistic to expect Russia to risk its own economic collapse to cooperate with France in cutting off Britain's raw material supply.

Joseph couldn't help but look at Queen Marie, could it be that his mother was truly a hidden master, completing such a grand diplomatic layout while talking and laughing?

Queen Marie looked at her son's "excited and surprised" expression and showed a kind smile: "I knew you would be very happy. Then, let the astrologer choose the luckiest day next year for your official wedding."

"Ah, no..."

Joseph was immediately stunned. The Russian princess was still a child, was this a little too hasty?

He considered and said: "Perhaps, the wedding can be put on hold for a while, after all, Alexandra is still very young..."

Queen Marie couldn't help but pat her forehead upon hearing this, agreeing: "Dear, you are right, look, I was too happy and almost put you in the same terrible situation as your great-grandfather."

She was referring to the engagement of Louis XV with the Spanish princess.

At that time, the Spanish princess was only four years old, and Louis XV urgently needed an heir to consolidate his political position, so he broke off the engagement with the little princess.

This operation made the Spanish royal family feel humiliated and almost declared war on France.

But Queen Marie immediately felt that the Russian princess would be eleven years old soon, and should be able to have children soon, so the risk was not too great, so she said to Joseph: "Then sign the marriage contract secretly first, and get married when she is twelve or thirteen years old."

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Although Joseph felt that thirteen years old was still a little kid, he could let Alexandra come to the Palace of Versailles to adapt for a few years first, and it could also make them more familiar with each other.

"Then everything will be according to your will."

Queen Marie immediately smiled happily, then turned to whisper to her husband for a while, and the two of them looked at Joseph with an auntie smile.

On that day, the entire city of Paris, from the Palace of Versailles to the streets and alleys, was filled with singing and dancing, and people stayed up all night.

Joseph also drank until he was dizzy and lightheaded under the nobles' repeated toasts, and he relaxed for once in a while.

The next day, Joseph was awakened by warm and soft cherry lips. As soon as he opened his eyes and saw Camellia's bright eyes, the hangover headache began to torture him.

"Ugh, I'll never drink so much again." He rubbed his forehead.

Camellia immediately turned over, put on her expensive maid outfit, and then ordered the maid to bring an ice towel to wipe his forehead, and then gently massaged both sides of his forehead.

Her soft and tender hands took away some of Joseph's discomfort, and the maid whispered in his ear: "Your Highness, let me get you a cup of lemon coffee. You still have to rehearse for the summit this afternoon."

Joseph nodded, downed a cup of coffee, felt a lot more awake, and began to wash up seriously.

The Iberian-Apennine Summit will officially open the day after tomorrow. This is France's most core diplomatic affair at the moment, and he must familiarize himself with the process first.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, when Joseph arrived at the Tuileries Palace, which was the venue for the summit, he found that the gate was already crowded with people.

Teams of guards in different clothes held the flags of Sardinia, Parma, Genoa, Modena, and other countries, each occupying a corner, all craning their necks and looking towards the road.