Descending On France 1780
Chapter 294 - 288 ’Three Emperors Battle,’ but with double quotes

Chapter 294: 288 ’Three Emperors Battle,’ but with double quotes

Anning entered the banquet hall of the Royal Palace and saw a large group of young people gathered in one corner.

After Anning entered the venue, a group of middle-aged and older men swarmed around him like bees to nectar, creating a bizarre scene: young men on one side, ranging from those just old enough for social gatherings to those in their early twenties, while Anning’s side was all filled with uncles.

Napoleon soon noticed this: "Young men and uncles are like the North and South Poles of the Earth."

Anning looked at Napoleon’s youthful face and remarked sarcastically, "You are only 25 years old, and I am just five years older than you."

Napoleon retorted, "Anyone over 25 is an uncle. Accept the reality."

Anning shrugged, "Okay. So, what’s over there exactly?"

"Oh, it seems like a celebrity from the Paris social circle, someone named Mrs. Boarne."

Upon hearing this from Napoleon, Anning felt odd, thinking this version of Napoleon probably wouldn’t fall in love with Josephine.

Because his first love had already been taken by an Italian lady in Milan.

It shows that history isn’t interested in correcting such minor alterations.

Napoleon added, "By the way, my sister also came to this ball. She’s fourteen now."

Anning was puzzled, "What? That’s not right, wasn’t she born in 1780?"

"What are you talking about? She was born in 1779, I’ve told you before. She entered the Briena Military Academy three years ago to save money for the family. At that time, our family depended entirely on my military salary. Joseph was utterly unreliable! That’s why I agreed to her request.

"If I knew we would rise to prominence like now, I would have never let her go to the military academy."

Anning countered, "You seem biased against women who attend military academies. I’ll tell you, women who graduate from military academies have many advantages that those pampered misses in Paris can’t compare to."

Napoleon asked, "Do you have eyes in the back of your head, seeing that the lady has arrived?"

Anning turned sharply and saw Christina not far behind, smiling beautifully.

Anning stammered, "Uh, no, I didn’t see her. I genuinely believe women from military academies have a unique charm!"

Napoleon criticized, "That’s incorrect, it might make people think you harbor ill intentions towards women from the military academy. You should say, ’Ah, although the military academy may rob the ladies of some softness, to me, everything about her can be ignored. She is the most beautiful.’"

Anning joked, "Are you teaching me how to flirt now? Hey Lasalle, Napoleon is teaching me how to flirt!"

Lasalle immediately came over, "What, he has the nerve to teach? In Milan, he blushed so hard in front of Miss Langler and couldn’t even speak properly. You should have seen how embarrassed he was. And now he’s confidently teaching you to flirt? Is it because his correspondence with Miss Langler gave him courage?"

Anning laughed heartily; although he hadn’t seen Napoleon embarrassed in front of a beautiful woman, he had read the mushy love poems written by Napoleon.

Napoleon probably didn’t realize that his love letters would be published in future, otherwise he’d have burned those letters.

Anning happily mocked Napoleon with Lasalle, just as he used to tease online with his friends before time-traveling.

Thus, the air was filled with a merry mood.

Anning decided that in the future, his headquarters would have two sources of happiness: one being Bertier in women’s clothing, and the other the awkward and green Napoleon.

Seeing Anning laughing prompted the surrounding uncles to laugh along, many clearly clueless about what was happening yet they still smiled.

Anning noticed this and felt a sense of loneliness surrounded by lies and hypocrites.

Thank goodness for true friends like Napoleon and Lasalle nearby.

Oh, of course, there’s Robespierre too.

Suddenly, Anning had a vision, as if seeing the scene of him, his close friends Marat, Dan Dong, himself, and Robespierre toasting and chatting in the Jacobin Club.

The circumstances and scenes at this very moment are strikingly similar.

Anning was lost in thought, suddenly he heard a voice calling him: "Mr. Frost? Or should I say, General?"

Anning snapped out of his reverie and turned to find the source of the voice.

Then he saw a very familiar-looking middle-aged beautiful woman.

Familiar because he had seen this woman in portraits, and he had to admit, the painters of this era really captured the essence of their subjects well. Just by seeing the portraits passed down to posterity, you could recognize the actual person.

Wait a minute, how beautiful Princess Sissi must be! Geez, I hope my meddling doesn’t prevent Princess Sissi from being born.

Anning’s distraction was clearly misunderstood.

Josephine Boarne immediately revealed a triumphant smile, but Christina stepped forward, apologetically saying: "My fiancé often gets lost in thought like this, I am truly sorry, Madam Boarne."

Napoleon and Lasalle nodded together: "Yes, he’s always like this."

Napoleon added boastfully: "This is probably the quirk of intelligent people, honestly, I’ve never met anyone smarter than Andy."

Lasalle: "Yes, indeed. Definitely."

At this point, Anning had to snap out of his thoughts because his foot was stepped on by his fiancée—since Christina’s large skirt covered it, no one noticed this small detail.

He immediately saw Napoleon signaling desperately, then glanced at his fiancée, and got it.

Anning: "Uh, sorry, I just suddenly remembered... uh, the first time I met Christina at the dance. Before that, I always thought Christina was a man, even though her chest muscles were very firm. I never imagined that it was because she wrapped them too tightly, making them feel hard."

Josephine’s smile froze.

Christina’s smile also froze.

But the reasons for their discomfort were obviously different.

Anning: "Madam Boarne, I’ve long admired your reputation. Paul Barras often mentions you to me."

Anning deliberately used the full name to emphasize a sense of distance.

After all, ambitiousschemers like Paul Barras weren’t exactly the best role models in the eyes of Anning, a leader of the revolution.

Though Anning admittedly also wished to be an ambitious opportunist once.

Besides, Anning’s mention of Barras was a reminder to Josephine, implying, "I freaking know about your affairs", "I can meet eight men who have been with you just by having a drink at a club in Paris."

Josephine unexpectedly controlled her expression quickly, smiling at Anning: "Barras also often mentions you, saying you are the cleverest and most capable person in all of France."

Anning thought, wow, was the Napoleon from the last timeline lost in such sweet talk?

Anning was about to respond when a new, youthful voice entered the conversation.

"Ah, brother! Oh, this must be France’s Savior, brother’s guide and idol, Mr. Andy Frost?"