In the dining room of the Palace of Versailles, Napoleon Bonaparte sat with his wife, Ciela, and their children, Aveline and Francis. The room was adorned with fine china and polished silverware, setting the stage for a lavish dinner.
Manservants moved quietly around the table, bringing in a trolley cart laden with mouthwatering dishes. The roasted duck, coq au vin, and assorted vegetables were presented with precision and care.
As the family enjoyed their meal, Napoleon cleared his throat to get their attention.
"I received an invitation today," he began, "Louis de La Rochefoucauld is inviting all of us to his daughter's birthday celebration on December 30th, 1800."
Aveline and Francis looked at each other, while Ciela glanced at Napoleon.
"Louis de La Rochefoucauld? Your classmate in Brienne?" Ciela said.
"That's correct," Napoleon nodded in confirmation. "This is a surprise to me because it has been fifteen years since our last contact."