Five o'clock in the afternoon and all the Imperial Household Staff of the Palace of Versailles were busy in preparation for the incoming Congress of Paris.
Tables were being set, floors polished, and every detail was double-checked to ensure perfection. Beaumont, the experienced Lord Chamberlain, supervised the hustle and bustle with a keen eye, his directives clear and concise. The international delegates were expected to arrive within the hour, and every member of the staff was acutely aware of the importance of their roles.
Napoleon, on the other hand, was in his study, reviewing the final notes and documents for the Congress. His desk was strewn with papers, maps, and treaties. The magnitude of this event was not lost on him; decisions made during this Congress would chart the course of Europe's future.