Except for Jerome Bonaparte, no one would know that Louis Napoleon's sudden death led the whole Europe to move along a diverted historical path, with a layer of unknown haze shrouding Jerome's heart.
Jerome realized he must tread carefully at every step. With the "pillar" of the House of Bonaparte cut down in youth, he must become the new "pillar," to support the followers of Bonaparte and open up a new world for them.
Looking at the motionless body of his cousin lying in bed, Jerome immediately issued his first command: "Percy!"
"Here!" Percy responded immediately.
"The body of my cousin cannot remain for too long, so can we perform cremation on his body!" Jerome Bonaparte asked Percy.
As soon as these words were said, everyone's expression changed slightly.
Percy's expression was somewhat stiff.
The tearful Miss Howard angrily accused Jerome: "Your cousin is not yet cold in his grave, and you already wish to cremate his body!"
Faced with Miss Howard's angry accusation, Jerome Bonaparte only then realized that cremation was not a tradition in Europe.
Catholicism even considers cremation to be disrespect to the body, a vile act preventing the completion of resurrection.
Even in the United Kingdom led by the Anglican Church, it was not until the end of the 19th century that cremation gained prominence.
In 1848, no European countries were willing to cremate bodies.
It was my negligence!
Jerome, whose thoughts were still stuck in modern society, glanced at the indignant Miss Howard and then at the variously expressed Bonaparte Party Members, decisively admitting his mistake.
Only then did Miss Howard and the Bonaparte Party Members' expressions improve.
Since cremation was not an option, Jerome considered a certain form of embalming for his cousin's body.
This embalming technique, from ancient Egypt to now, has become a mature process. Jerome's uncle (as Louis Napoleon referred to his uncle) Emperor Napoleon was embalmed after death and then put on public display.
It's said that someone even made a cut on the body, for which Jerome silently mourned his uncle, whom he'd never met.
Percy followed Jerome Bonaparte's command, prepared to look for a qualified embalming master at daybreak the next day.
"Where do you intend to take Louis?" The astute Miss Howard quickly realized Jerome Bonaparte's plan.
Jerome Bonaparte, with an air of sorrow, said, "My cousin must return to France! That is his home! He is a hero of the French Republic, and heroes should be honored at the Military Glory Hall!"
A hero? The Military Glory Hall?
Miss Howard did not know what Jerome intended to do, but a woman's intuition told her that this fellow seemed to be planning to use Louis's body for something.
However, she was merely the lover of Louis Napoleon and had no right to stop Jerome Bonaparte, the rightful relative, from making decisions.
Once the matter of handling his cousin's body was briefly settled, Jerome Bonaparte perked up and told everyone present: "All of you have been exhausted for these past days, you can go back and rest! Tonight, I'll keep watch alone."
Percy and others insisted on also keeping watch over Louis Napoleon's body, so Jerome Bonaparte could only agree to their request.
Together they removed Louis Napoleon's clothes and changed him into his favorite First Empire military uniform, which he wore during the coup at Boulogne, while wiping his body and covering it with a tricolor cloth representing the French flag, embroidered with a soaring eagle.
This was the flag Louis Napoleon dreamed would fly over France, but now it could only cover his body.
After completing all this, Jerome and others stood around Louis Napoleon, quietly watching the flag draped over Napoleon III.
On that day, no one in the Louis Napoleon Mansion rested, the torrential rain stopped around 5 o'clock, and the dark clouds over the London City were blown elsewhere by the strong wind.
On the morning of May 9, at seven o'clock, a tinge of dawn finally appeared in the eastern sky, and the fiery red sun rose slowly, with sunlight streaming through the windows onto Louis Napoleon's body.
Noticing this, Percy hurriedly drew the curtains, allowing sunlight to only reach the side of the bed.
By 9 a.m., more gentlemen gradually appeared on the streets, wearing tall top hats, holding walking sticks made of unknown wood, leisurely walking on Saint James Street.
Percy also prepared to set out to find a renowned embalming expert in the London Region, accompanied this time by Talan who drove the carriage.
After Percy and Talan's departure, Dr. James, as usual, came to inquire about Louis Napoleon's condition.
As he pushed the door open, he saw the flag covering Louis Napoleon's body and the few sorrowful faces of Jerome and the others.
With a serious face, Dr. James came up to Jerome Bonaparte and said some comforting words.
Jerome Bonaparte likewise expressed his gratitude to Dr. James for coming.
"I am merely fulfilling my duty! Moreover, your cousin's illness did not improve with my treatment! Speaking of which, I am ashamed to be a doctor!" The dissipating of life (or perhaps of money?) brought a long sigh from Dr. James, who inquired about Jerome's plans.
Jerome "sincerely" told him that he would take his cousin back to France, and then participate in the French elections.
Having heard the answer he wanted, Dr. James consoled Jerome once more before leaving in a hurry.
Watching Dr. James's hasty departure, a satisfied smile appeared on Jerome's face.
On the other hand, Percy and Talan invited London's best embalming expert, and after settling the price at 100 British Pounds, the doctor began working on Louis Napoleon's body.
Jerome and others did not crowd the room, instead leaving downstairs, leaving only Fleury to supervise the progress.
Before long, a grand carriage stopped in front of the Louis Napoleon Mansion.
The Royal Family's butler, John Brown, descended from the carriage and knocked on the mansion's door.
The doorman Percy was astonished to see John Brown; the arrival of the British Royal Family was something he had never anticipated.
"Count Percy, hello!" John Brown saluted Percy.
"Butler Brown, hello!" Percy nodded with lowered brows, squeezing out a small smile on his mournful face.