"Ambitious?"
Albert's lips curved slightly upward, his intense curiosity shifting his focus from Louis Napoleon to Jerome Bonaparte. He unconsciously uttered a sentence in German.
Truly, within the veins of the Bonaparte Clan flows a rebellious bloodline unique to the Corsican people!
Prince Albert silently marveled to himself.
It has been over thirty years since Napoleon Bonaparte lost the throne, yet the Bonaparte Clan has never ceased their pursuit of royalty, and the Bonaparte loyalists have never given up for a single day.
From the Count of Leix and Stade (King of Rome), Napoleon Louis (Louis Napoleon's brother), Louis Napoleon, and now to Jerome Bonaparte, three members of the Bonaparte Clan's second generation have already been lost, yet they have not given up hope for the French throne.
Albert was unsure whether to commend them for their perseverance or to call them stubborn.
"Indeed, Your Highness!" Dr. James recounted to Prince Albert his entire conversation with Jerome in detail.
Prince Albert's brow occasionally furrowed and relaxed as he rose and paced back and forth in the small room.
Seeing this, Dr. James dared not remain seated on the sofa and quickly stood up alongside Prince Albert, one hand resting on the sofa and the other tightly pressed against his brown leather trousers, his eyes occasionally glancing at Albert.
"Your Highness, the tea is here!" A rugged Scottish-accented voice came from outside, pulling Albert from his thoughts back to reality.
Coming to his senses, Albert looked at Dr. James's embarrassed expression and once again wore an apologetic look on his face, "Dr. James, I'm terribly sorry! Because of me..."
"It's nothing, Your Highness!" Dr. James quickly waved his hand in response, then bowed and said, "It is my honor to serve the Royal Family!"
"Then please, have a seat!"
At Albert's invitation, Dr. James sat down again, and several servants carefully placed a small pine-carved round table in front of Dr. James and Albert.
Soon after, several plates of snacks, a small pot of tea, and two miniature teacups were placed on the table.
John Brown gently lifted the teapot and poured its contents into one of the teacups, then stepped back to the position where the servants stood.
Prince Albert carefully picked up the teacup, blew on the hot steam twice, and took a light sip, revealing a look of intoxication.
Though the taste of Indian tea is not as good as the tea leaves of its neighboring countries, it is abundant, ensuring that every Briton can enjoy authentic tea.
Tea paired with milk and sugar is even an essential staple for the Britons' sustenance.
After savoring it carefully, Prince Albert remembered Dr. James and intended to take the teapot to pour tea for him.
Unexpectedly, Dr. James acted first, "seizing" the teapot and refilling Prince Albert's cup with tea, while also pouring tea for himself.
The silent afternoon tea lasted only half an hour before ending. Prince Albert pondered many things, while Dr. James endured half an hour of torment.
"Your Highness, I should be going!" Dr. James bowed slightly and humbly expressed his wish to leave to Prince Albert.
Having received the answers he wanted from Dr. James, Albert also did not wish to let the doctor continue his "suffering," so he courteously expressed his hope to meet again and instructed John Brown to escort the guest out.
After Dr. James departed with John Brown, Prince Albert also left the side room, heading this time to a room located in the back garden of Buckingham Palace.
With Prince Albert's "knock knock" on the door, a graceful voice from inside replied in German, "Come in," and Prince Albert donned a smile that could intoxicate thousands of young ladies—a mature, charming man's smile.
A pregnant woman, her figure slightly swollen, sat on the long sofa with her hands folded, humming a lullaby from Germany, while cradling a soundly sleeping "little elf" in her arms.
"Victoria, do you know..." Albert seemed not to notice the "little elf's" presence, his voice seemingly more exuberant than usual.
"Shh!" Victoria made a silencing gesture and pointed at the baby she was holding.
Only then did Albert realize the child's presence, hastening to swallow down the words pressing at his lips.
But it was too late; the one-month-old "little elf" in Victoria's arms was startled awake by his father's entrance and "racket."
"Wah!"
The "little elf" cried out, and Victoria gave Albert a reproachful look, laughing awkwardly afterward.
Victoria resumed humming the German lullaby while gently rocking her arms.
The baby, under the tender care and melody of the mother, stopped fussing and gazed quietly at the mother in front of him.
A few maids outside the door, upon hearing the cries from within, thought the baby was hungry again and hurriedly found the nanny staying at Buckingham Palace.
The nanny followed the maids into the room, looked at Victoria and the Princess in her arms, and said, "Your Majesty, let me take over!"
Victoria once again cast a reproachful glance at Albert, handed the Princess over to the nanny, and instructed them to take good care of her.
The nanny carefully cradled the little Princess from Victoria's arms, slightly bowed to Victoria, and then left the room.
The room was left with only Victoria and Albert.
"It's all your fault! Waking up Louise!" Queen Victoria pouted her lips and complained to Albert like a little girl.
Probably no one could imagine a woman controlling half the world could show such a girlish expression.
Watching Victoria's innocent expression, Prince Albert embraced her and sat on the sofa, teasing, "If Lord Melbourne were to find out, he'd surely scold you again!"
As a disciple of the Whig Party, Lord Melbourne was infamously stubborn, and upon ascending the throne, Victoria was tutored by him as his daughter for four years, during which he taught her basic political skills and methods. Hence, Victoria held Lord Melbourne in high esteem.
"The Lord has retired to his castle; he has no time to bother with us!" Queen Victoria skillfully wrapped her arms around Albert's neck, displaying a coquettish expression.
PS: 1. Lord Melbourne: Former Party Whip of the Whig Party, British Prime Minister during the 1830s-40s, and teacher of Queen Victoria.