The sunset’s afterglow fell on the faces of Jerome Bonaparte and Lucien Louis, and it was about time for them to part.
As they prepared to say goodbye, Lucien Louis once again asked Jerome Bonaparte, "Where should I meet you again?"
Jerome Bonaparte immediately pointed to Letty and said, "Tomorrow, Letty will meet you here and inform you of my residence. How does that sound?"
Jerome Bonaparte gently stamped the cemented pavement of Piazza Venezia with his long leather boot.
Captain Leti slightly bowed to Lucien Louis as a sign of respect.
"I understand!" Lucien Louis looked at Letty once more, as if to memorize her appearance.
The uncle and nephew parted ways at Piazza Venezia. Jerome Bonaparte and Captain Leti found a decent inn near the Ancient Roman Colosseum, and the off-season innkeeper, upon learning that Jerome Bonaparte was there for a long-term stay, showed unprecedented enthusiasm.
He not only promised Jerome Bonaparte delicious food but also hinted that he could arrange for "hospitable" Roman girls for him.
After a brief moment of internal temptation, Jerome Bonaparte’s sense of sacred duty eventually outweighed his desire to procreate, and he resolved not to indulge in the city of Rome.
Nonetheless, he nodded slightly to show understanding and took out five gleaming little beauties, handing them over to the innkeeper.
The innkeeper, seeing the gold pounds in Jerome Bonaparte’s hand, was first surprised, then returned to his usual smile, accepting the coins from Jerome Bonaparte.
Nowadays, who could hold a grudge against money? The innkeeper didn’t care about the identity of the guests; as long as they could bring him profit, he would even deal with the Devil.
Jerome Bonaparte officially settled into the inn.
The story splits into two paths.
Lucien Louis, upon returning home, soon faced the reproach from his father, "Prince Cono" Charles Bonaparte.
In the courtyard of Bonaparte Palace, Prince Cono Charles Bonaparte, with a stern expression, pointed at Lucien Louis, his voice booming as he scolded, "Louis, didn’t I tell you to come home early? Why are you back so late? Don’t you know how chaotic Rome is right now? You’re already 20 years old, not a child anymore! Can’t you ease my worries a bit?"
With his head lowered, Lucien Louis, pretending to be a good student, listened to Charles Bonaparte’s reproach. He knew that if he dared to retort even a little, he wouldn’t have a moment of peace all night.
His brother probably couldn’t stand their father’s nagging, which is why he moved out!
Lucien Louis silently snarked to himself.
Having finally secured two days off from the Rome Theological College, did he have to waste it on listening to his father’s nagging? Truly miserable.
Half an hour passed as Charles Bonaparte lectured, and once he believed he had finally eradicated his "son’s" careless thoughts, he stopped scolding.
A parched Charles Bonaparte swallowed his saliva and continued to inquire, "Speak! Why did you come home so late after all?"
Lucien Louis recounted the situation he encountered at the gates of Rome to his father.
However, he omitted the part about meeting his uncle, Jerome Bonaparte.
After hearing Lucien Louis’ explanation, Charles Bonaparte nodded, satisfied, and said, "Louis, I’m very pleased! You have the ability to distinguish right from wrong!"
Then, switching to a serious tone, he said, "But the way you handled things was quite poor!"
"Why was it bad? Isn’t it our duty to punish the Evil People?" Lucien Louis argued somewhat defiantly.
Charles Bonaparte looked half pleased, half worried at his 20-year-old son, who still retained an innocent heart. He got up and patted Louis’ shoulder, saying, "This world has its own rules of operation. For example, the coachman’s family you helped, did they thank you?"
Lucien Louis hesitated for a moment before shaking his head, saying, "He kept refusing my kindness. Why is that?"
"That’s what I meant by the rules of the world! Those guards at the city gates might be insignificant to us, but in the eyes of the coachmen, they are colossal..." Charles Bonaparte explained patiently and then patted Lucien Louis’ shoulder, saying, "I’m not against you helping the weak; in fact, I’m very pleased. The filth of the Holy See hasn’t tainted you, but sometimes you need to learn to be tactful in doing things."
"Father, the Holy See isn’t corrupt!" Lucien Louis retorted, "Our great-grandmother and great-uncle are devout believers, especially great-uncle, who is a Cardinal!"
Charles Bonaparte was briefly stumped. Having lived with his grandmother (Empress Dowager Letizia) and great-uncle (Cardinal Fish) for many years, he understood that they were among the few devout and kind-hearted believers.
"Sigh!" Charles Bonaparte sighed and said, "They are products of an era. If it weren’t for my uncle, your great-uncle, His Majesty Napoleon, great-uncle would never have become a Cardinal!"
"Then... couldn’t we just put another Bonaparte on the throne?" Lucien Louis blurted out without thinking.
"No, we can’t! Times have changed, and we no longer have the chance!" Charles Bonaparte clearly did not wish to believe in that elusive dream of restoration anymore.
Before Lucien Louis could finish speaking, he realized he might have let something slip.
"Uncle? Who?" Charles Bonaparte asked in a resounding voice, "Pierre? Louis (Napoleon III)? Or Jerome?"
"Noth... nothing..." Lucien Louis took a step back, filled with regret in his heart.
In the end, he couldn’t withstand Charles Bonaparte’s pressing, admitting to meeting Jerome Bonaparte and informing Charles Bonaparte of Louis Napoleon’s death.
"Louis... is he really dead? Has Jerome now become the leader of the Bonaparte Clan?" Charles Bonaparte murmured, his pupils dilated and unfocused.
Even though he didn’t like his cousin, he still felt sad about his cousin’s death.
The Bonaparte Clan had few members left!
"Yes!" Lucien Louis responded.
Charles Bonaparte learned from Lucien Louis that Jerome Bonaparte wanted to meet the Pope.
"Is the Bonaparte bloodline truly a curse?" Charles Bonaparte hadn’t expected that despite all his caution, his second son would follow the path of his younger brothers, leading him to question the correctness of his previous attitude of sheer avoidance.
"Father..." Lucien Louis looked timidly at Charles Bonaparte.
Charles Bonaparte glanced at Lucien Louis and asked, "Louis, do you want to become a Cardinal like your great-uncle?"
"Of course!" Lucien Louis nodded in response.
Charles Bonaparte seemed to make up his mind, returned to his room, and took out a radiant ruby from a drawer.
This was a relic from the Empress Dowager, and now he intended to use this relic to pave a way with the Pope for the Bonaparte Clan.