The Fox of France

Chapter 378: Collaboration

"What's the matter?" Belladonna blinked awake, asking.

"You should propose to me soon. I'll pretend to disagree at first, and then reluctantly agree when you propose again," Pauline stated earnestly.

"Huh?" Belladonna was taken aback. In theory, marrying a Bonaparte in today's France would be an absolute jackpot, politically and economically. Especially Pauline, Belladonna knew she was different from the other Bonaparte girls. Politically, she wielded considerable resources beyond being the favored daughter of the Bonaparte family; she had a tangible control over a portion of political resources.

Pauline controlled several fashion and literary magazines, effectively dictating the direction of avant-garde fashion. Leveraging these publications, she played a significant role in shaping the French ideology. Moreover, these magazines, along with her fashion and cosmetics lines, brought her substantial income. In terms of wealth, she was among the wealthiest in all of Europe. Marrying someone like Pauline meant marrying a goldmine, economically speaking. Not to mention the various political advantages.

Of course, Pauline had some less-than-ideal habits, but in France, wasn't that quite normal? Even King Louis XVI had his shortcomings. This was part of the glorious tradition of France, even akin to the Roman Empire in this aspect. It showcased the influence of Roman tradition in France.

So, those habits weren't a big deal, really.

Furthermore, Pauline was stunningly beautiful, with a unique sense of style. Her beauty, unlike the common feminine allure seen in some queens or princesses of other countries, was described by one admirer as:

"Princess Pauline has a unique beauty, like a vibrant tiger in the Indian jungle, like leaping flames…"

And another admirer described her as:

Considering just Pauline's charm, the green pastures of concern were insignificant.

Pauline's real issue was her occasional masculine demeanor, which caused her partners to seem similarly inclined, at least in the eyes of others.

Typically, a girl with some masculine traits might be called a tomboy or, at worst, a bit of a manly woman, though somewhat derogatory, the extent of it was limited. Sometimes, this trait even added a certain halo to her. Just like the boldness of the Greek Princess Xeni Ska, who was labeled a manly woman, yet statues were erected in her honor.

However, for a man to exhibit some feminine traits was less favorable. Lightly, he might be called effeminate, or worse, labeled as overly effeminate. In an era before the popularity of "pretty boys," society's disdain for such men was far more pronounced than for tomboys or manly women. Some found this situation nearly intolerable. Allegedly, Dāwù fell from grace because he feared marrying Pauline would tarnish his image in the military.

Yet, Belladonna seemed to not have this problem, or even if there were issues, they paled in comparison to Pauline's beauty. Considering Pauline's wealth and political influence, what problem was there, really?

So, Belladonna quickly spoke up, "Pauline, I…"

"Hahaha…" Pauline covered his mouth, "You fool, I was kidding with you!"

Then she pushed Belladonna aside, draped herself in a robe, stood up, walked to the dressing table, picked up a tortoiseshell comb placed in front of the mirror, turned her head, and began combing her hair.

Belladonna lay on the bed, wide-eyed, watching Pauline comb her hair.

After a couple of strokes, Pauline noticed Belladonna watching and chuckled, "Silly, did you realize I was teasing you just now?"

Belladonna shook his head dumbfoundedly.

Pauline put down the comb, walked over, bent down, and caressed Belladonna's face, "I love seeing you like this, silly. But let me tell you, I don't need you to propose to me a second time. I'm not that dramatic like Napoleon. He's obviously craving 'Imperial White Gold' so much he can't sleep, yet he pretends. So, propose to me quickly, and I'll say yes immediately."

"Belladonna, are you… serious?" Belladonna asked in bewilderment.

"What? You don't believe me?" Pauline said.

"Not entirely, it feels like I'm dreaming. Besides, this doesn't seem to fit your style, does it?" Belladonna replied.

"Oh, that's true!" Pauline blinked her big eyes.

"This really doesn't fit my style," Pauline said, then she stood upright, speaking earnestly, "So, Miss Belladonna, would you marry me?"

Belladonna had no idea what to say.

Pauline burst into laughter, shaking all over, unable to stop, then fell on the bed, landing on top of Belladonna.

After laughing for quite a while, Pauline stopped, resting her head on Belladonna's abdomen, and reached out to stroke Belladonna's face, "Belladonna, you're so adorable."

Then she raised her head, turned around, and lay beside Belladonna, looking into Belladonna's eyes, "Okay, no more joking. Let's talk seriously. I have something I need your help with."

As she spoke, Pauline patted Belladonna's shoulder.

"Well, that's more like it," Belladonna said, "Go on, what's the matter?"

"I want to participate in the Olympics," Pauline said. "I think becoming the first Princess Xeni Ska of the modern Olympics would make me a historical figure. I plan to compete in equestrian and shooting events, but there's a small obstacle. Napoleon and Joseph, those two idiots, won't allow me to register. So, I need your help."

"How could I help with that?" Belladonna asked in confusion.

"Joseph, in our family, even Napoleon wouldn't dare defy him. He said unless I'm married before the Olympics, he won't approve of me competing. I think…" Pauline leaned closer to Belladonna, "We're siblings, who else could help me? Joseph insisted my husband must be a man. How about it? Can you promise?"

"But this…" Belladonna suddenly understood how Pauline, this playful girl, was raised. Indeed, behind every mischievous child, there's a mischievous parent.

"Don't worry, if you agree, I promise you a few things. Firstly, I won't interfere with your extramarital affairs. You can bring your mistresses home; I won't object. Similarly, I won't interfere with how I carry on. I'll limit myself to bringing misters home. After all, I assume you won't have lovers. Also, I guarantee that if I have children, they'll be yours. How about it? But let's clarify beforehand, Joseph won't allow me to divorce."

"Pauline…" Belladonna hesitated.

"What? Don't want to help?" Pauline raised her eyebrows.

"How could I not help with your situation? Besides, I'm not at a disadvantage. But it's a bit sudden, I'm a bit…" Bellad

onna stammered.

"Don't worry, it's just a fake marriage. In name only," Pauline reassured.

"Alright, I agree," Belladonna finally said, thinking about the long-term benefits. If it's just a nominal marriage, it wouldn't interfere with Belladonna's life too much.

"Thank you, Belladonna. Don't worry, we won't inconvenience each other too much. I'll prepare the documents. As for the rest, we'll discuss slowly." Pauline smiled brightly.

From that day on, Belladonna and Pauline became nominal spouses.

It wasn't a marriage based on love but on a practical alliance. They would go on to navigate various trials and tribulations together, supporting each other in their endeavors.

The forthcoming marriage shocked the Bonaparte family and drew public attention, but Pauline was determined to pursue her Olympic dreams. Their alliance was a blend of ambition, strategy, and mutual understanding, an unexpected collaboration that would rewrite their destinies.

Their bond would evolve beyond a simple agreement, transcending the bounds of their initial arrangement, surprising even themselves with the depths it would reach.