When the grandfather clock placed in the ambassador's hall pointed to 1:55, the French Empire's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Valerovsky, appeared before the crowd.
All present, including Earl of Clarion, stood to pay their respects to the minister before them.
Valerovsky, the arbiter of the entire peace conference, first glanced at the eight ministers sitting at the round table and then glanced at the envoys in the audience seats, and slowly spoke, "Please be seated, everyone!"
Upon hearing Valerovsky's words, everyone present sat down, and Valerovsky slowly walked to the center of the round table, sitting with his back to the portraits of Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta.
Seated in his position, Valerovsky quietly awaited the beginning of the conference. Soon, the grandfather clock in the hall emitted two dull chimes, marking the start of the meeting at 2:00.
