"Being invited by the Rothschild Clan is my honor!"
"Please don't say that!" The old butler still wore a humble expression, respectfully saying to Jerome Bonaparte, "The bloodline of the Bonaparte Clan is respected no matter where it goes. That man (referring to Emperor Napoleon) once made all of Europe tremble!"
Jerome Bonaparte nodded noncommittally and then spread his hands helplessly, saying, "In today's era, the nobility of bloodlines is far inferior to the power of money! What's more, people only fear my uncle's power, while the majority of the Bonaparte Clan, including myself, are nothing more than a group of Corsican pigs basking in my uncle's glory! The Great Revolution created us, but it also destroyed us!"
"Indeed! Revolution, such a simple yet violent term! It can make the rich become destitute overnight, and similarly, it can make the poor suddenly wealthy overnight!" The old butler nodded in agreement with Jerome Bonaparte's words.
The two continued talking while walking through the courtyard of the Rothschild Mansion.
The wide courtyard was filled with a variety of flowers and plants, with a rocking chair placed on one side. Next to the rocking chair was a stone-assembled round table, on which lay a bundle of newspapers. If Jerome didn't guess wrongly, the newspapers should be today's morning edition.
The entire courtyard appeared particularly serene under the moonlight.
It's hard to imagine this is the residence of one of Europe's wealthiest individuals, as there is no trace of the stench of money here; everything seems so natural.
This unusually harmonious scene completely changed the moment Jerome entered the mansion's main hall, which could be described as opulently extravagant.
A Persian exotic-style carpet was laid between the main hall and the stairs, with gold-plated handrails and portrait paintings hanging on the walls, glaringly illuminated by the chandelier's candlelight. Blue and white porcelain from the Qing Dynasty was placed in the corner of the living room, next to the exquisite fireplace adorned with beautiful weapons and master's oil paintings, and in front of the fireplace sat a leather sofa, even the cushions were plump, so sitting on it must be extremely comfortable.
If compared to the Louvre Mansion, it would be like a rural village girl hopelessly trying to outshine a wealthy princess beyond compare.
Each extravagant decoration represented the Rothschild Clan's immense wealth.
Jerome estimated that even all the assets of future President Ma couldn't be richer than the current Rothschild.
Throughout Europe, the only people who could surpass the Rothschild Clan in terms of wealth were likely the royal families of the Five Countries of England, France, Prussia, Austria, and Russia, who possessed a long history and authority and were the wealthiest group in Europe.
"Please come this way!" The old butler solemnly led the way for Jerome Bonaparte.
Under the butler's guidance, Jerome Bonaparte traversed a narrow corridor to the dining room at the end of the hallway.
Two male servants in white cotton waistcoats bowed upon seeing the butler and Jerome, and the dining room door was opened, presenting a passage just wide enough for one person to pass through.
Looking inside through the door gap, the dining room was also enveloped in golden hues. A long dining table was placed horizontally in the room, and from Jerome's perspective, he couldn't see Baron Lionel Rothschild in the dining room.
The old butler also stopped at the dining room door, still respectfully saying to Jerome, "Baron Rothschild is waiting for you in the dining room!"
Looking ahead at the passage that could only accommodate one person and the luxurious figure in the dining room, Jerome's heart beat a little faster.
To relieve his inner tension, he slightly opened his mouth, exhaling a breath of warm air.
Accompanied by a breath and intake, Jerome's mood finally calmed down a little.
Jerome followed the flow and entered the dining room, where a middle-aged man looking around his 40s sat at the head of the long dining table on the left, and Jerome instantly recognized the man as Baron Lionel Rothschild.
"Your Highness, I'm sorry for inviting you as a guest at this time. You didn't encounter any issues on the way, did you?" Baron Lionel Rothschild courteously greeted, but from his words, Jerome Bonaparte didn't hear much genuine concern. It felt more like a routine inquiry of "Have you eaten?"
"Thanks to you, everything was fine!" Jerome Bonaparte also gave an equally routine response.
The male servant in charge of the dining room led Jerome Bonaparte to a seat, positioned to the left of Rothschild.
Once everything was ready, the banquet officially began.
The servant responsible for serving dishes picked up a tray, which was covered with an aluminum lid. In the 19th century, when the aluminum industry was undeveloped, aluminum products symbolized status.
Two trays were placed in front of Lionel and Jerome, and as the aluminum lids were slowly opened, the exquisite blue and white porcelain plates came into view.
Needless to say, the plates must have also been shipped from the Qing Dynasty, with a cluster of plump, black "little pearls" in the center, emitting a chilling air suggesting they had been chilled.
Jerome Bonaparte picked up the shining aluminum spoon placed beside him and gently scooped a spoonful into his mouth. A burst of overwhelming flavor combined with the fresh and salty taste of seafood filled Jerome's mouth.
After a long while, Jerome reluctantly swallowed the caviar.
"Sturgeon caviar from the Russian Empire, I hope you like it!" Only after Jerome had completely swallowed did Rothschild speak, "I deeply regret the passing of your brother!"
Another obligatory expression of regret, without even the slightest genuine sorrow reflected. Please, could you make your acting a bit more convincing?
Jerome silently critiqued in his heart, but still verbally expressed thanks for Rothschild's "concern."
With the first dish concluded, the servants cleared away the plates. The second dish was presented before Jerome, featuring foie gras from France adorned with several caviar pieces, making the whole dish appear exceptionally sophisticated.
Jerome took the aluminum table knife placed beside the plate in his right hand, with his left hand's steel fork pierced into the foie gras, gently slicing off a small piece to chew in his mouth.
"Your brother once had a loan deal at our Rothschild Bank; I wonder if Your Highness is aware of it?" Baron Lionel Rothschild dabbed lightly at the sauce remaining on his lip corner with a handkerchief, getting to the point.