"Uncle, actually, you’re more suited to join the Holy See than I am!"
Lucien Louis’s eyes carried a hint of melancholy, and his tone was slightly despondent. He couldn’t comprehend how his uncle, who hadn’t studied theology, could write such an article. Could it be that there are people in this world born with innate knowledge?
Thinking of this, Lucien Louis looked at Jerome Bonaparte with a touch of admiration in his eyes.
Perhaps God has indeed not abandoned the Bonaparte Clan!
Lucien Louis inwardly suggested to himself as a means of rationalization.
Jerome Bonaparte clearly underestimated the enormous influence of the article he plagiarized throughout the 19th century. From Lucien Louis’s expression, the article’s effect was indeed quite good, and he maintained a silent, aloof demeanor as he looked at Lucien Louis.
"Uncle, I have a request!" Lucien Louis said to Jerome Bonaparte with extreme humility and respect.
"Lucien, our blood is shared! There’s no need to use the word ’request.’ Feel free to let me know if you need any help!" Jerome Bonaparte responded in a lighthearted tone.
Lucien Louis shook the manuscript in his hand and said to Jerome Bonaparte, "I hope to become the first reader of your magnificent work!"
"Of course!" Jerome Bonaparte quickly agreed to Lucien Louis’s request, then pointed to his head and said, "However, you might have to wait a while, as this piece is no less wordy than a novel!"
"I’m willing to wait!" Lucien Louis continued to flatter, "A timeless masterpiece always requires meticulous polishing! I’m sure His Majesty will cheer upon seeing your work—it’s something more precious than a chest of treasures."
Jerome Bonaparte and Lucien Louis discussed the content of the article for a long time. Jerome Bonaparte took notes on some important points during their conversation. As a theology doctor, Lucien Louis indeed surpassed Jerome Bonaparte, who was like "a duck pushed onto a perch," in the theological field. With Lucien Louis’s help in theological theory, Jerome Bonaparte once again clarified his writing content, direction, and what needed revision.
The two talked from noon till dusk, and after inviting Lucien Louis to a simple dinner, Jerome Bonaparte ordered Captain Leti to ensure Lucien Louis’s safe return home.
Walking alone in the dimly lit and slightly chaotic Rome is not a wise choice.
Captain Leti, carrying a necessary musket, hailed a carriage on the streets of Rome. Lucien Louis and Captain Leti both sat in the carriage, and amidst the jingling of bells tied with red cords atop the carriage, it slowly disappeared into the night.
Looking through the window at the departing carriage, Jerome Bonaparte returned to his desk to continue on the manuscript he had yet to complete.
In the next four days, Jerome Bonaparte, apart from necessary daily meals, was bent over the desk with intense writing.
After four days of tireless writing, Jerome Bonaparte finally finished the introduction of the book.
Looking at the piles of paper on the desk, filled with dense French characters, Jerome Bonaparte exhaled and muttered, "Finally done!"
Then, he wiped the sweat from his forehead, capped his dip pen, and organized all the manuscripts, awaiting the invitation from the Holy See.
At 3 o’clock in the afternoon on May 23.
A black carriage appeared in front of the inn, quietly entering with Bishop Muzarelli in black robes to knock on Jerome Bonaparte’s door.
"Your Excellency, Bishop!" Jerome Bonaparte greeted the bishop who appeared once again.
"Your Highness, the carriage is ready! His Majesty has been waiting at the Vatican Palace for a long time!" Bishop Muzarelli said to Jerome Bonaparte.
Led by Bishop Muzarelli, Jerome Bonaparte boarded the Holy See’s carriage.
Captain Leti was left at the inn to await news.
In the carriage, Bishop Muzarelli first apologized to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Highness, I apologize for not providing a conveyance befitting your status. His Majesty fears that excessive ceremony might attract attention from other factions in Rome!"
Similarly disinclined to expose his whereabouts to the Roman people, Jerome Bonaparte agreed with Bishop Muzarelli’s cautious approach.
The black carriage departed near the Ancient Roman Colosseum, circled most of Rome, and finally arrived near St. Peter’s Square.
After getting off at St. Peter’s Square, Bishop Muzarelli led Jerome Bonaparte into the Vatican Palace.
Upon entering, Jerome Bonaparte was stunned by the opulence before him. The entire hall seemed to be shrouded in a faint golden hue. The Roman-styled dome and Greek-style columns formed the architecture, making Jerome Bonaparte feel transported to the period of the Ancient Roman Republic. The ceiling depicted a "Genesis" pattern made from marbles of various colors, and the walls were adorned with gold-framed portraits of several generations of popes. Michelangelo’s "Peter" from the Renaissance showcased in the right corridor, further made him feel as if he had journeyed from Ancient Rome to the Renaissance.
The centuries-old Holy See encapsulated almost all cultural heritage from Ancient Rome to modern times, as well as the original sin that began with Ancient Rome.
Jerome Bonaparte stared at the artistic collections and gold ornaments in the Vatican Palace with a shocking urge to loot them all.
Bishop Muzarelli gazed at Jerome Bonaparte with a smile, reminiscent of his own astonishment when first witnessing the sight.
But as his visits increased, the shock gradually turned to routine, and the desire to climb higher grew ever more intense.
"Your Highness, we should get going!" Bishop Muzarelli reminded Jerome Bonaparte.
"Hmm? Hmm!" Jerome Bonaparte, regaining his senses, left with Bishop Muzarelli.
The two traversed St. Peter’s Church, and after navigating winding corridors, finally arrived at the Vatican Palace. Bishop Muzarelli led Jerome Bonaparte to a study within the Vatican Palace and said, "His Majesty is inside!"
Jerome Bonaparte pushed open the door, revealing an elderly man with a white gold-edged saint robe, holding a golden scepter inlaid with jewels of various colors, wearing a white papal crown. This white-haired, round-faced elder appeared before Jerome Bonaparte.
He was none other than Pope Pius IX, the ruler of the Pope State, God’s representative on earth.