Palace of Versailles, France
Spring 1846
The Americans had not been gone for long when Charles-Louis returned to the Emperor's office.
The doors closed softly behind him, leaving the room quiet again. Outside, the gardens remained bright beneath the afternoon sun, almost peaceful enough to make the meeting that had just ended feel distant. But the papers were still on the table. The maps were still open. The requests from Washington still sat where they had been placed.
Napoleon II stood beside the table, looking down at the marked lines across North America.
He had not moved much since the American delegation left.
Charles-Louis approached without speaking at first.
He knew better than to interrupt too soon.
Napoleon's attention remained on the map.
"The Americans are confident," he said at last.
Charles-Louis stood across from him.
"Yes."
"More confident than they should be."
"Yes."
Napoleon looked toward him.
"And Mexico?"
Charles-Louis exhaled quietly.
