<h4>Chapter 259 Sister from Another Country</h4>


    "Will you not grant me entry, dear sister?" Isabe''s voice held a intive note as she stood beyond the gate, her gaze fixed firmly on her sibling.


    "What brings you here, Isabe?" Her voice was tinged with suspicion.


    Isabe took a step closer, her eyes softening as she beheld her sister. "I''ve longed to have a conversation with you, to meet my nephew and niece," she admitted, her gaze drifting to Ci''s gently swelling baby bump. "And it seems congrattions are in order—you''re expecting your third child."


    A subtle tension hung in the air, and Isabe''s plea grew more urgent. "Sister, please, it''s been too long. Will you deny me this chance to reconnect?"


    "Madame Bonaparte," he ventured cautiously. "I''m not privy to the details of your discussion, but this chilly gateway hardly befits such an important conversation. Please, if you wouldn''t mind, return inside the pce where it''s warmer. Of course, along with her."


    Isabe, relieved at his intervention, offered a gracious nod. "Thank you, kind sir."


    "Are you by yourself?" Ci inquired as she looked behind Isabe. There is a stagecoach and its driver…and there''s none.


    Isabe nodded in answer.


    "Very well, Beaumont, please open the gate," Ci instructed, her voice softening as she relented to the inevitable reunion.


    The heavy gates of Versailles creaked open slowly, and Isabe entered the Pce.


    Then they were escorted back inside the Pce''s ballroom, where the celebration was still alive.


    Isabe, guided by Beaumont, marveled at the splendor around her. "This is quite an exquisite celebration for a birthday party," she remarked, her gaze sweeping over the elegantly dressed guests and thevish decorations that adorned the ballroom.


    Ci, leading the way, turned to face her sister, her brows narrowing in suspicion. "How did you know about their birthday?"


    "Your twin''s birthday is public knowledge in France, sister. I simply asked the locals," Isabe answered. "I can''t believe how much your life has changed here in France. You were an industrialist with yourpany ranking as the number 1 in the country and in the world, and your husband is the most powerful man in the world, the First Consul."


    Isabe''s words were met with silence as Ci continued walking through the throngs of people. Then, Ci saw her husband, speaking with three individuals.


    As she drew closer to a group where her husband was engaged in conversation with three individuals, her steps slowed. The soft murmur of their conversation reached her ears, and Ci strained to listen.


    "Your Excellency, I assure you, you will like the steam-powered warships that we have designed for the French Navy,"


    "I look forward to it next week, Monsieur Sané," Napoleon said.


    "Minister of Navy, Monsieur Decrès will join me in the proposal."


    "It''s perfect timing, I have ns for the navy that need to be implemented immediately."


    Secondster, Napoleon''s sharp eyes flicked toward her, his expression briefly shifting from the weighty matters of state to the unexpected sight of his wife''s approach. A faint smile yed at the corners of his lips as he acknowledged her presence, and the subtle shift in his demeanor did not go unnoticed by those around him.


    "Oh, darling, you''ve already returned," Napoleon greeted Ci.? Then, his eyes moved to the beautifuldy standing with Ci. "Who is this lovelydy?"


    Ci, with a gentle smile, introduced Isabe to her husband. "Darling, thisdy is Isabe de Casteno," she said and added. "She is my little sister."


    Isabe performed a graceful curtsy by lifting the side of her elegant gown slightly. "It''s an honor to meet you, Your Excellency,"


    Napoleon''s discerning eyes studied the striking resemnce between the two sisters. Their eyes, face, hair—every feature bore the imprint of their shared bloodline. It was his first time seeing a family member of Ci, and he was aware of their existence a long time ago when Ci shared about her past.


    But how did Isabe find her sister? And why did she appear now?


    Napoleon turned to face the people he had been talking with until now and spoke. "Gentlemen, will you excuse us for a moment?"


    The men nodded in acknowledgment, clearly understanding the shift in priority as the First Consul turned his full attention to his wife and her sister.


    "Follow me. We''ll speak about this somewhere private," Napoleon beckoned.


    Isabe and Ci followed Napoleon as he led them away from the crowded ballroom, heading towards a quieter and more secluded part of the pce.


    As they reached a small, elegantly furnished sitting room, Napoleon gestured for the sisters to take a seat on a pair of plush chairs while he settled into one opposite them.


    Napoleon leaned forward, his expression serious yet weing. "Now, please, tell me how this unexpected reunion came to be. Isabe, how did you find my wife, and why did you choose this moment to visit?"


    "Your Excellency—"


    "No need to be formal, Isabe," Napoleon interrupted and continued. "You can address me casually, you are, after all, the sister of my wife. Call me Napoleon."


    "Very well, Napoleon. So about how I find my sister is something I won''t share. Just take it as me retracing all my sister''s steps. The reason why I decided to make an appearance on your children''s birthday, is that I figured out this is a perfect time."


    "So you won''t tell me how you found her huh?" Napoleon smacked his lips. "Well, I don''t care about it. What I care about is why you made an appearance?"


    "It''s simple, I want to hear why my sister abandoned our family," Isabe revealed. "Why did she leave our home without telling us?"


    "Because I don''t want to be controlled by our father who wants to marry a man I don''t like, and that I feel suffocated," Ci interjected sharply.


    "That''s all?" Isabe snapped her words, her voice tinged with frustration. She had expected a more profound exnation, something that could justify the years of separation.


    "Yes…that''s all," Ci confirmed.


    "Do you have any idea how it affected me and our mother?" Isabe''s voice quivered as she continued. "Our mother couldn''t sleep most nights. She would cry, worried about you, ming herself for your departure. She would sit in your room, surrounded by your belongings, as if hoping you''d return at any moment."


    Ci''s face paled as she listened to her sister''s heartfelt words. She had never fullyprehended the pain her absence had caused her family, particrly their mother.? But it''s a decision she didn''t regret.


    "How is mother?" Ci asked.


    "She''s okay but she still couldn''t move on. I promised to her that I would find you, wherever you were. And once I do, I will bring you back to her."


    "That is not possible anymore, Isabe," Ci said. "I have a family here and I love my life here."


    "I''m not asking you to return to the family," Isabe rified. "I want you to visit her, speak with her. That way, perhaps some of her pain can be eased."


    Isabe continued, her eyes pleading with her sister. "It''s been far too long, Sister. Our mother deserves to see you again, even if it''s just for a visit."


    Napoleon, who had been listening to their solemn conversation chimed in. "Look, darling, I will not interfere with your family affairs but I think visiting your family in Spain is not that bad of an idea."


    "Is father and brother still there?" Ci inquired again, ignoring Napoleon.


    "Yes…" Isabe confirmed.


    Ci sighed deeply. "I will consider it, Isabe."


    As Isabe was about to thank her, the door of the room swung open, revealing Napoleon''s mother Letizia with Francis and Aveline in tow.


    "Mother," Napoleon rose from his seat as his mother entered the room, a warm smile on his face. He crossed the room and embraced her tenderly.


    Letizia returned her son''s embrace. "You shouldn''t disappear in the ballroom like that, not when your children are left alone."


    Napoleon rubbed his hair and smiled sheepishly. "My bad mother."


    "Uhm… Mama," Aveline called as she approached Ci. "Who is she?"


    "Thatdy there is my little sister, Isabe," Ci said. "Your aunt."


    Aveline and Francis stared at Isabe, their eyes widening slightly.


    Isabe smiled warmly and bashfully waved a hand. "Hello."