He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 266

Napoleon’s Genius Son – Episode 266 (267/547)

(266) Marie and Pauline Meet at the Victory Reception

However, the *Grande France*, or ‘Great France,’ isn’t built on slogans alone.

“Now, let us shout for Great France! Our France is the true victor of Europe!”

“Ooooh! *Grande France*!”

“Let’s commemorate the era of Consul Napoleon! Haha!”

Of course, slogans are much easier than actions.

So, the people of Paris celebrate the victory with cheers.

Those gathered here are especially qualified to offer congratulations.

They are of a status to be invited to the Tuileries Palace, originally a royal palace, then the executive office of the revolutionary government, and now the Consul’s office.

The reason these leaders of the new Consul government have gathered today is simple.

A New Year’s party celebrating the victory is being held.

Among the invitees, one beauty stood out at a glance.

Amid the cheering guests, a middle-aged man with an elegant demeanor approached her.

“Wonderful, Madame Récamier. To meet the owner of the best salon in Paris here!”

Julie Récamier, a noblewoman renowned as the greatest beauty in Paris, covered her mouth with her hand and laughed.

“Thank you, Monsieur Talleyrand. But that’s too much flattery. How could my salon ever compare to Madame Bonaparte’s?”

“Rather, Madame Bonaparte has become such a powerful figure that she doesn’t have time to open a salon. Except for victory receptions like this.”

“Even so, there are salons like Madame de Staël’s, Madame Tallien’s, or Madame Desmoulins’s, right? I’m still far behind.”

Paris is still in the era of salons rather than cafes or clubs.

Especially since the Reign of Terror was shorter than in the original history, the salon culture was not destroyed.

Thus, countless noblewomen are reopening their salons and competing as soon as the war ends.

Madame de Staël’s salon, where mainly Jacobins [radical revolutionaries] gather, Madame Tallien’s salon, where the ousted Dantonists [followers of Georges Danton, a leading figure in the early stages of the French Revolution] often gather, and Lucille’s salon, where moderate Bonapartists gather, are representative.

However, Talleyrand shook his head.

“Well, I don’t think anyone can match you, Madame. Let’s see how many of those who come here are your guests.”

Talleyrand, briefly looking around the party hall on the first floor of the Tuileries Palace, counted on his fingers.

“First of all, Josephine, the best singer of recent times, has come. She also comes to your salon, doesn’t she?”

“Oh my, Josephine is even coming to the Tuileries Palace. Of course, my husband is her patron. Unfortunately, it seems he can’t sleep with her.”

“Hehe, isn’t it the same for you, Madame?”

Julie gave an embarrassed smile at the slightly sarcastic remark, and Talleyrand laughed again and pointed elsewhere.

“The new powerhouses of this era, the generals, are also visible. How many of them frequent your salon?”

“Generals Masséna, Lannes, and Augereau are people I really like. By the way, General Lannes hasn’t looked good lately. Do you happen to know what’s wrong?”

“Ah, well. When a young general is in a bad mood, it must be one of two things: either he lost a war, or his wife is cheating on him.”

Julie, surprised by the ‘gossip’ hinted at by Talleyrand, a social butterfly, asked back.

“Oh my goodness, is his wife really committing adultery?”

“Why are you so surprised? It’s common in Paris. Of course, General Lannes’s wife is not in Paris right now.”

“Where is she?”

Talleyrand, frowning deeply, looked at Lannes, who was talking to Augereau, and said in a low voice.

“General Lannes’s wife, Paulette, is in Lectoure, the general’s hometown in Gascony. She gave birth to a child while the general was in Italy.”

*Is that child really Lannes’s?*

That is the problem Lannes is currently facing as soon as he returns home.

Thinking it was somehow comical, Julie was about to wet her lips when Talleyrand turned around.

“But above all, there is someone else who brightens up the salon.”

“Is it a high-ranking politician like the minister?”

“Haha! Not at all. Rather than an old man like me, beautiful noblewomen must come for the salon to succeed.”

Pointing to his back with his thumb, Talleyrand smiled.

“At this reception, it would be those people. They also frequent your salon, don’t they? Hehe.”

At that moment, Julie Récamier, the best salon owner in Paris in 1800, was startled.

There is an unspoken rule that any *salonnière* [hostess of a salon] must follow.

Do not invite women or men who are bitter enemies at the same time.

But at this reception, there are two people who should not meet.

“Good heavens, wasn’t this reception hosted by Madame Bonaparte? Why did she invite both of them? Should I ask her directly?”

“Well, I guess it was only sent to Princess Marie?”

“Then why is Pauline Bonaparte here?”

The Bonaparte Consul’s sister, Pauline.

The only legal heir of the Bourbon royal family, Marie Thérèse.

The two are now in the same space, the first floor hall of the Tuileries Palace.

The host of the reception, Josephine, has committed an act that no rookie would ever commit.

“Well, isn’t it because Madame Letizia Bonaparte came?”

Julie sighed as she turned her gaze to Talleyrand’s relaxed words.

“Well, Madame Bonaparte can’t stop her.”

It was Napoleon’s mother, Letizia, who committed this act.

***

Of course, Letizia did not do this dangerous thing with malice.

“Pauline, walk straight. Don’t flirt with men!”

Letizia, wearing a simple dress, walked with her back straight and threw nagging words.

The ring on her hand is a diamond one that Eugene gave as a bribe a long time ago.

Although her son has become the highest authority in France, Letizia’s jewelry has not increased.

On the other hand, Pauline, a girl covered in dazzling jewels, retorted to Letizia with a nonchalant attitude.

“Why did you call me? You’ve been keeping me locked up at home.”

“There are terrible rumors that you were playing with your nephew and got pregnant. Pauline! At least you have to show everyone that’s not true!”

“I didn’t do anything. It’s a shame, though.”

At that moment, Letizia grabbed Pauline’s chin and gritted her teeth.

“You better not have. Otherwise, I would have thrown you into the sea off Corsica right away!”

Pauline shut her mouth at the ferocity.

Of course, no matter what, Letizia wouldn’t throw her daughter into the sea, but she could lock her in a room.

It is common for nobles to confine a virgin at home until a suitable marriage partner appears.

The same goes for the Bonapartes, or the Buonapartes family of Corsica, who are from the lower nobility.

Then, a plump middle-aged man came walking towards Letizia, greeting her.

“Oh, Madame. It’s a pleasure to meet you at this reception. It’s an honor.”

“Hoh, Monsieur Récamier. It is an honor for me to see you, Monsieur. You always give me the best results among the ‘bankers’ I deal with.”

“Oh, I have to work harder, Madame. By the way, I don’t see Mademoiselle Eliza or Caroline?”

It is Jacques Récamier, Julie’s nominal husband.

But the two have never shared a bed yet.

In fact, Letizia was happy to see Jacques Récamier not because he was her main banker.

Récamier is the protagonist of the best urban legend-like scandal in Paris.

A strange rumor that he married his daughter.

To put it bluntly, it’s like if you associate with a scandal maker, your scandal will be covered up.

Letizia sighed and replied.

“Those children seem to have played too much lately. Now, those children have to finish their studies well, right? This troublemaker dropped out of a perfectly good school, though.”

“Mom, come on, I’m a colonel, you know. I haven’t been discharged yet. His Holiness the Pope recognized my position!”

“Yes, His Holiness must have gone senile to recognize such a position.”

Looking at Letizia, who was frowning, Récamier smiled.

“Don’t worry, Madame. Rumors will soon disappear.”

“Thank you for your kind words. If this troublemaker had stayed quietly in a convent school, nothing would have happened.”

“It really will. Because…”

Suddenly, Récamier looked behind Letizia.

“An even bigger scandal is waiting.”

Letizia, who turned her gaze slightly, frowned.

It was Princess Marie of the former royal family who was approaching.

The scandal Récamier was talking about was probably related to Marie.

For example, the rumor that Eugene and Marie had a secret engagement ceremony.

But if they meet in a place like this, wouldn’t another scandal break out?

But Letizia didn’t have time to think for long.

Because Marie lightly bent her knees in front of Letizia and greeted her.

“Madame Letizia, hello.”

Letizia tried her best to smile politely and returned the greeting.

“Hoh, Mademoiselle Marie. What brings you here?”

“Well, Madame Consul invited me too.”

“I see. I don’t know where Josephine is.”

Letizia was about to light a fire in her eyes, thinking of scolding Josephine.

“Mademoiselle Pauline. How are you?”

Marie approached Pauline.

The noisy reception area became quiet for a moment.

Everyone is paying attention here.

Before the Orient Expeditionary Force returned, there was a scandal that stirred up Paris.

The women surrounding Napoleon’s adopted son, Eugene.

As people watched with interest, Pauline, a stowaway, sneered and retorted.

“Seeing you suddenly makes me feel bad, Marie?”

“Why is that? I don’t think I’ve ever harmed you.”

“Your very existence doesn’t suit this revolutionary France, does it? A princess of the former royal family.”

Letizia was most surprised by the almost abusive words.

“Hey, what are you saying! Excuse me, Mademoiselle. I will definitely educate her…”

That’s when it happened.

-Toc, toc, toc!

A woman entered through the silent reception attendees.

A beauty who attracts people’s attention more than anyone else.

Josephine, the host of the reception who was once the best salon owner in Paris, said with a smile.

“Mother, you’ve worked hard to come all the way here. A seat is prepared.”

Letizia, who was originally going to scold Josephine, frowned.

Because her daughter said unacceptable abusive words, she is not in a position to scold anyone.

Letizia stared at Josephine for a while and asked.

“Yes. Where is Napoleon?”

“He’s late today. He’s busy. Instead, he said he would send Eugene.”

“Eugene is coming? That guy never comes to say hello!”

Again, just as Letizia was about to get angry, Talleyrand shouted from afar.

“Oh, there’s the young General Bonaparte. Now, let’s all applaud!”

At that moment, the venue began to become noisy again.

-Clap clap clap!

-Waaah!

-Wheeew!

The moment Marie and Pauline hurriedly turned their heads, they heard Eugene’s chief adjutant, Ippolito, shout.

“The conqueror of the Orient, General Eugene Bonaparte, has arrived!”

Eugene has come into the fire.

***

Of course, Eugene did not come with the intention of staying in the fire.

“Why did you come?”

Eugene replied very quietly to Jacques Récamier, who was following him.

“Please tell your wife to take care of Marie and Pauline on her own.”

“Are you mistaking Julie for an assassin? It’s very simple if you just don’t come.”

“Since the Consul can’t come, I have to come. More than that, please handle Josephine so that she doesn’t run into my mother.”

Eugene sent a greeting to Josephine, who was sending a greeting from afar, and said quickly.

“Let’s see each other before the reception ends. Collot will come too.”

Marie and Pauline are about to approach.

Eugene will probably move quickly to the other side to avoid them.

Récamier, with a troubled face, beckoned his wife and smacked his lips.

“Something. Is there something you need to discuss today? Don’t tell me it’s a marriage?”

“What nonsense are you talking about? That’s something I’ll discuss with my mother or father.”

“No, marriage is originally expensive. I heard you’re short on cash these days. I was wondering if you’d borrow from our bank.”

Eugene smiled and twisted his lips.

“It’s true that I need money. For the Great France.”

The scandal between Marie and Pauline will surely be the most important concern of Parisians.

Letizia and Josephine will both be eager to scold Eugene.

But there is something else that occupies Eugene’s mind.

The plan to create a Great France.

Just like Napoleon.

Récamier stared at Eugene, nodded, and quickly moved his steps.

“I guess I have to do a very risky business for a long time. I’ll definitely make time.”

Then, it seems that Récamier’s role today is to prevent scandals.

Récamier headed to the center of the reception hall.

With his wife and daughter, Julie Récamier, the best beauty of the time.

“Now, let’s hear the heroic stories from the main players of this expedition. General Lannes! How was the Austrian army?”

The extremely hot January night in Paris was passing.