As they waited for the Foreign Secretary of the British Empire to arrive, Napoleon II had ordered Beaumont to prepare confectioneries that would appeal to the taste of a British person.
If the British insisted on seeing themselves as refined arbiters of taste, then France would meet them on that ground as easily as any other.
A small service table was rolled into the office not long after. Porcelain plates rested on a silver tray, carrying butter biscuits, sponge cakes, and sugared almonds. Last but not least, the most important one, is tea.
Napoleon II gave the arrangement a brief look and nodded once.
"That will do," he said.
Charles stepped back beside the desk just as a knock sounded against the door.
Beaumont's voice followed.
"Your Imperial Majesty, the Foreign Secretary of the British Empire, Lord Henry Palmerston."
Napoleon II straightened. "Send him in."
The door opened.
