Bab 411: The Declaration of War

Empire of France, seven o'clock in the morning. The Place de la Concorde in Paris was bustling with activity as journalists and civilians alike gathered, drawn by the promise of an important announcement from the Empress of the French Empire. The usually calm morning was now a scene of anticipation and curiosity.

Journalists, having arrived early, were busy setting up their camera equipment, ensuring they had the best angles to capture the Empress's speech. The air was filled with the clicking of cameras and the murmur of reporters discussing potential reasons for this sudden gathering.

Civilians, initially on their way to start their daily routines, found themselves drawn to the growing crowd. Word of mouth had spread quickly about the Empress's appearance, leading to a diverse mix of people filling the historic square. Some were office workers in suits, others were local residents, and there were even a few tourists who had stumbled upon the event by chance.