Although Sofia told herself to calm down, after being tired all the way and suddenly encountering such a grand welcome, without even a trace of buffer, Sofia was still so nervous that she didn't know how to move.
She tried her best not to show any further embarrassment.
But still, Sophia felt frustrated.
Her first appearance in Russia was decidedly not a good one.
But Johanna didn't pay attention to this scene at all.
After the banquet, Johanna was immersed in the glory of the banquet. She couldn't wait to write to her husband to show off:
"Here, everything is so brilliant and everyone is so respectful to us. I even thought everything seemed like a dream.
The people who dined with me were all ladies and gentlemen specially arranged by Her Majesty the Queen, and I was served like a queen.
During the banquet, the trumpets in the room and the drums of the honor guard outside are all paying tribute to us...
It looks so unreal.
None of this seemed like something that could happen to me, who was so pitiful. I had only heard drums to welcome me in a few palaces before.
"
When Sophia fell asleep, Johanna tossed and turned excitedly, and then she heard soft footsteps.
"who?"
Johanna was immediately alert. Although she was vain, she was not a fool, especially since she had a special mission.
A soft voice came from outside:
"Madame, I am Lachetadier, and I have the Baron Madefield."
Johanna's eyes suddenly lit up. She knew that these two were the helpers specially instructed by Frederick.
Johanna glanced at her daughter. After traveling continuously for so many days, Sofia had already fallen asleep.
She was also very tired, but this tiredness was replaced by a stronger emotion.
That is to flex your muscles on the world stage.
The daughter didn't know about this, and neither Frederick nor she planned to tell Sophia.
All Sofia needs to do is become the Crown Princess.
Johanna opened the door softly, then closed it and looked at the two men outside the door.
These two people had met at the banquet, but there were many people at the time, so they just chatted briefly, and all they talked about were greetings.
The Marquis de La Chatadier is a very gentlemanly man. His aquiline nose is particularly eye-catching, but it does not make people feel gloomy.
Baron Madefield, on the other hand, appears to be much more honest. As ambassador to St. Petersburg, he has worked conscientiously in this position for nearly twenty years.
Both Frederick and St. Petersburg were accustomed to this baron, and no one complained about his appointment.
The Marquis of La Chatadier smiled and said:
"Madam, I think it would be better if we go to another room to talk."
Johanna nodded without hesitation.
She serves as the unofficial envoy of Prussia, and she is now the mother of the candidate for the crown prince. A princess who is already a mother has a sensitive status, and naturally she does not want to be seen.
In a secret room, the Marquis de La Chetadier lost his smile and put on a serious look on his face.
Johanna had no idea what these two people were going to tell her. Compared with these two people who knew St. Petersburg very well, she was a blank slate.
So Johanna listened.
The Marquis de La Chatadier said:
"Dear madam, you can't rest tonight, you must rush to Moscow overnight."
Johanna was stunned for a moment, a little surprised and a little reluctant.
The fatigue of the long journey made her almost fall apart. Coupled with the energy consumed by the party, she now wished she could just sleep like her daughter.
The Marquis of Lachetadiere gave his reasons:
"Madam, Her Majesty the Queen has just left. Your arrival in Moscow overnight will make Her Majesty the Queen feel friendly, and... you can also participate in the birthday celebration of Her Majesty the Crown Prince."
"Compared with other princesses, this is the advantage you have in arriving early."
Baron Madefield added:
"I have prepared Russian national costumes for you and the little princess. You and the little princess had better change into them when you are received by Her Majesty the Queen."
"And don't forget to kiss the Queen's hand."
A marquis and a baron, both of them had a tempered luster on their faces, and their brows were full of experience, and the content of the conversation made Johanna feel like she was doing something big.
She immediately put her reluctance behind her.
Seeing that they only told them these things, Johanna happily returned to the resting place with her clothes and woke up Sophia who looked confused.
Sophia got up in confusion and listened to her mother's arrangements.
Johanna woke up the entourage again.
Just in the dark, they boarded the new motorcade arranged by the Marquis de La Châtadier and the Baron Madefield.
This convoy consists of 30 sleigh horses and will lead them from St. Petersburg to Moscow, more than 700 kilometers away.
The snowfields along the way have been packed very solidly, enough for the convoy to speed along.
At 4 o'clock in the afternoon the next day, they arrived at a villa only 45 miles away from Moscow.
Here, Sophia almost fainted.
I was really tired along the way.
When she was young, she was not even as energetic as her mother.
In this villa, Sofia dressed up carefully while enjoying hot fish soup and coffee.
They will enter Moscow at night.
She put on clothing with traditional Russian patterns, a rose-red silk dress trimmed with silver, and because of the cold weather, she wore a Russian fur coat.
While the two were preparing nervously, sleighs drove out from the Royal Palace in St. Petersburg.
These sleighs were filled with angry princesses.
Because they arrived late and accepted the banquet, they were panicked when the ambassadors from various countries told them that a princess had already set off ahead of them.
I wish I could vomit out all the food I ate at the banquet and the time I spent talking and laughing.
Then they also got into the carriage and sped off.
Watching the princesses leave one by one, the Marquis de La Châtadier showed a smile on his face.
During the banquet, he spent a lot of time praising these princesses, praising them from head to toe, from hair to clothes.
I wish I could say the same thing ten times just to delay it.
Apparently, he did.
At this point in time, every little thing represents an opportunity.
As for Baron Madefield, after the banquet was over, he began to arrange for people to pack their bags.
The Queen has gone to Moscow, and ambassadors from various countries have to rush there one after another.
Because, for a few months at least, St. Petersburg will be the political center there before it turns into a desolate swamp.