Chapter 153: Stunningly Beautiful (Female Protagonist Appears)

After the speech, the attendees of the banquet gave Napoleon a warm round of applause. However, many diplomats had a hint of a mocking smile on their faces. Is France truly a peace-loving country?

It's important to note that France's current territory was not simply given to them. It was painstakingly conquered by their predecessors, the Bourbon dynasty. Wasn't it the Bourbons' wars with the British that led to the government's bankruptcy, which in turn caused the angry populace to overthrow them?

Of course, even though this is what everyone thought, no one was foolish enough to say it out loud. The upper class values their image, and no matter how vile their actions in private, they will go to great lengths to gild their public personas.

This is the typical conduct of Europeans.

Afterwards, Napoleon greeted the envoys from various countries, even clinking glasses with Austrian Foreign Minister Metternich and Dutch Stadtholder Braddock. Despite their deep-seated animosity, everyone put on a façade of harmony.

Next came the time for toasts and mingling. The chefs at Versailles prepared French cuisine for the banquet, allowing the guests to enjoy a feast. Perhaps Europeans lack culinary talent, as the cuisine across Europe is generally unpalatable, with French cuisine being the only somewhat acceptable exception.

However, for most people, the delicious food was secondary. The main goal was to use this opportunity to build more connections.

Currently, high-ranking French officials have become the focus of attention, with almost everyone surrounded by a few admirers. Among them are French socialites and foreign diplomats. The revolutionary government of France is no longer seen as mere rebels and insurgents; they have firmly seized power and become the legitimate upper class, the elite.

Naturally, every French cabinet official is treated like a star, with everyone trying to forge good relationships with these newly minted nobles to gain benefits in the future.

Even Roland had several beautiful women approaching him. As Napoleon's position became more stable, Roland, his nephew, also came into the public eye.

It was well-known that Roland was favored by Napoleon and that he was extremely talented. Rumor had it that he had made significant contributions in the Italian War and was soon to be promoted to colonel upon his return home, just a step away from becoming a general. Such a rapid rise through the ranks is impressive.

Roland has now become a highly sought-after individual, even more so than some French generals.

"Hello, Mr. Roland. Would you like to dance with me?" At the banquet, a beautiful woman approached Roland with small, graceful steps and spoke softly to him.

The woman was dressed in a light pink gown, her long blonde hair flowing like water over her shoulders. Most captivating were her bright blue eyes, which could easily draw anyone in.

"Me... me?" Roland asked, pointing to himself in confusion. It was his first time interacting with such a beautiful girl, and he couldn't help but feel nervous. At this moment, he no longer felt like the clever and astute Roland Bonaparte from the battlefield but rather a naive and inexperienced youth.

He could even see Napoleon watching him eagerly from a distance, giving him a thumbs-up. What did Napoleon take him for? Did he think Roland was a playboy like himself?

"It seems there's no one else here, Mr. Roland."

Fortunately, Roland's nervousness did not put off the girl. Instead, she smiled gently at him.

Seeing her smile, Roland relaxed a bit. "What's your name?" he asked softly.

"Anya," the girl replied in a soft voice, her eyes smiling like crescent moons. "It's a banquet tonight. Won't you ask me for a dance?"

"Of course, my beautiful lady," Roland said, smiling back at her after their brief conversation.

Though Roland had little experience with romance, he had seen enough to know what to do. Following what he had learned from television in his previous life, he began to dance with the beautiful woman in front of him.

As soon as he placed his hand on Anya's waist, Roland's heart began to flutter. Anya's waist was soft, her skin smooth and fair.

"You seem quite nervous!" Anya said with a laugh, her eyes forming crescents.

"Me... well, I'm not very good at dancing," Roland admitted truthfully. He wasn't lying; he was indeed unfamiliar with this kind of European classical ballroom dancing.

"Hahaha! You are quite interesting. You know, Mr. Roland, I've heard a lot about your exploits from my family. Now that I've met you, you are quite different from what I imagined," Anya said with a laugh.

"Oh? And how am I portrayed in these stories?" Roland asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Let me think. On the battlefield, you are exceptionally clever, and you've invented a new kind of weapon. This weapon is very powerful. You once used it to lead the army to defeat the elite Austrian cavalry. So, I imagined you to be either a burly general or a scholarly figure with glasses, given your inventions. I heard you've also developed a new type of cannon!"

Hearing Roland's question, Anya first fell into a moment of contemplation before sharing her impression of him.

"Oh, is that so?" Roland responded with a smile.

Though his face remained smiling, a storm was brewing in his heart. "Why is this girl so interested in my new weapons? And how does she know about my new cannon? This is supposed to be a military secret! Ordinary people should have no knowledge of this."

Inwardly, Roland began to suspect that the beautiful girl before him might be a spy from another country. His suspicion was not unfounded; the events of the evening were too peculiar. First, this girl named Anya suddenly approached him and asked him to dance, and now she seemed to know all about his weaponry. All these factors pointed to something fishy.

Lost in his thoughts, Roland didn't even focus on the dance. 

"Ouch!"

The cry of pain snapped Roland back to reality. Looking down at Anya's expression, he realized his foot was stepping on hers.

"I... I'm sorry. Really sorry. I was lost in thought," Roland apologized, embarrassed.

"It's... it's okay! I know you didn't mean it," Anya said kindly, not bothered by Roland's mistake. Instead, she showed concern for him.

"It seems my performance tonight isn't very good," Roland shrugged.

"Maybe it's because there are so many people here. How about we take a walk in the nearby grove?" Anya suggested.

"What? The grove?" Roland exclaimed. 

A man and a woman alone at night in a grove? What was she implying?

Anyone else might have been thrilled at the prospect of spending time alone with such a beauty, possibly hoping for a romantic encounter. But Roland had no such thoughts. The more he interacted with Anya, the more he felt something was off about her. If it weren't for the fact that the banquet was full of dignitaries and he didn't want to cause a scene, he might have already called for her arrest.