After the nerve-wracking scene last night, the nobility almost had a sleepless night.
The next morning, they all rushed to the banquet hall of the previous day.
However, the banquet hall was completely transformed by now. The opulent draperies were long gone.
Instead, there were orderly tables and chairs, a simple setup, and the Empire's emblem hanging high, as if the air itself was imbued with solemnity and oppression.
The banquet hall had become a true "place of deliberation."
The nobles sat down according to their seats, many still anxious, recalling the scene of Joseph being taken away last night, their cold sweat not yet dry.
And this time, Louis was not late.
He arrived before everyone else, standing in the center of the venue early on with a calm and gentle expression.
He wore a well-tailored black uniform with gold trimmings, and even had the "Shield of the North" pinned on his chest.
