He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 311

(311) Gaining Three Advantages with a Spanish Royal Marriage

Unaware of all these conspiracies, the Bonaparte couple is very interested in the marriage.

“I may not be the queen, but I can’t help but be involved in this marriage, Napoleone.”

Royal marriages are usually overseen by the queen.

Of course, the monarchy hasn’t even been decided by a national vote or parliamentary resolution, let alone Napoleon’s final decision.

However, the foremost person in France is clearly Napoleon, and his wife is Josephine.

Therefore, Josephine has an expression that suggests she believes her words are justified.

Of course, from Napoleon’s perspective, it was a bit absurd.

“Are you saying that because you want the Bourbon royal family to return?”

“I only met the Duchess of Orléans because I felt sorry for her. Why would I restore the Bourbons unless you become king?”

“King, huh? Haha, that has a nice ring to it.”

Napoleon glanced at Josephine, who was stubbornly denying it, and said sternly.

“But I will decide this matter entirely. Eugène’s legal father is me, and furthermore, the power to decide the fate of the former royal family rests with me as Consul. Of course, including the marriage.”

Napoleon knows that Josephine is involved in the so-called royal family restoration pamphlet incident.

In fact, Josephine met too many people.

The Duchess of Orléans, who is being discussed now, is one of them.

Louise Marie Adélaïde de Bourbon, once called the wealthiest heiress before the French Revolution, is currently in Normandy.

Her husband, the Duke of Orléans, and her son, the Duke of Chartres, are both in exile, so how can she be in France?

Because she was virtually divorced from the Duke of Orléans even before the revolution.

In the original history, she still went to prison during the Reign of Terror [a period of extreme violence during the French Revolution] and was eventually forcibly deported.

However, the Duchess of Orléans was famous for her charitable activities, and unlike the original history, she benefited from the survival of the constitutional monarchists in France.

Thanks to this, she was not exiled from France and continued to travel to and from Paris, participating as a member of society.

But Josephine met Marie Antoinette and, at the same time, also met the Duchess of Orléans.

Instead of mentioning all these problems, Napoleon only talked about the rights of the patriarch.

Then Josephine shook her head.

“I’m not against it. I’m saying we need to hurry!”

Just as Napoleon slightly raised his eyebrows, Josephine argued.

“Do you know who is behind the royalists right now? The great nobles of the old royal family. The funds, the plans, all come from those people!”

“Did you hear that from the Duchess of Orléans too?”

“Y-yes! Anyway, the important thing is that we must eliminate their place to rely on!”

In fact, she heard it from Marie Antoinette.

However, Napoleon guessed but did not ask, instead looking at Josephine’s belly.

Feeling Napoleon’s gaze, Josephine continued, feeling somehow proud.

“I heard that you might become a monarch.”

“From whom? Did Eugène say that?”

“Eugène doesn’t bring up such things to me at all. Isn’t it already widespread in society? They say that the day Rosetta Dole or whatever came to France, people shouted, ‘Vive Napoleon’ [Long live Napoleon].”

Suddenly, Josephine’s eyes lit up.

“If you are to become a monarch, there must be no room for the Bourbon family to return. To do that, Marie Thérèse Charlotte must disappear from France!”

This is not just Josephine’s idea.

It is the unanimous conclusion of Josephine, Marie Antoinette, and the Duchess of Orléans, who connected the two.

The Bourbon royal family is now difficult to restore.

But Marie Thérèse Charlotte still has value as a bride.

And the Spanish royal family wants her as a link for territorial exchange?

Of course, it is a marriage that must be rushed before the political winds change.

But Napoleon stared at Josephine and gave a seemingly cold smile.

“Isn’t that a story that holds even if she dies?”

Josephine was startled and waved her hands.

“N-n-no way! Kill Marie! How can you say such a terrible thing! That child is also a friend of Hortense!”

“Oh, don’t be so surprised. It would be a disaster if the baby in your womb had a miscarriage.”

“Napoleone, promise me you will never do that!”

Napoleon chuckled and pinched Josephine.

“Of course, I promise. Who do you think I am, a murderer? Besides, I have to be mindful of Eugène on this matter.”

Now, Eugène is not the child Napoleon saw when he first met him.

He is not the nouveau riche [newly rich] aide who went with Napoleon when he dragged him to Italy.

After the success of the Egyptian expedition, Eugène has clearly become a powerful figure with his own independent power.

Of course, Napoleon is still confident that he can completely subdue Eugène.

Still, arbitrarily deciding even Marie’s problem is definitely crossing the line.

Life and death are a joke, but even marriage cannot be decided arbitrarily.

Josephine, unaware of his inner thoughts, nodded with a relieved face.

“That’s right. Because of Eugène, it would be better to push this marriage forward first.”

“You used to be so eager to marry off Eugène.”

“It’s good for anyone to get married quickly, right? Do you know that you are neglecting all three of them right now?”

Eugène, Marie, Pauline.

The three Josephine is talking about are these.

However, from Napoleon’s perspective, in fact, all three of his younger sisters, including Pauline, have not yet been married off.

Because the first [stone] to be removed is vehemently refusing to marry.

“Hmph, it has to be up to me. My younger brother Lucien is already jumping up and down, refusing a political marriage.”

Josephine snuggled closer to Napoleon on the bed, seeing his slightly troubled face.

“Then, will you do it? This marriage?”

Napoleon stroked Josephine and playfully kicked away the dog that was rushing in.

“Of course. I’ve already promised, and there’s nothing I can’t do to get three things with one marriage! Ugh, this damn dog!”

It was then.

-Thud!

Suddenly, the bedroom door opened, and Napoleon and Josephine were startled.

The person standing at the door is Eugène.

Josephine was startled and got up, quickly adjusting her clothes.

“Oh, Eugène. What’s wrong?”

Napoleon, who was in a bad mood because he was disturbed by the dog when things were going well, and now even Eugène appeared, also spoke up.

“Hmm, haven’t you passed the age of looking for your mother because you’re scared at night, Eugène?”

“I have something to tell you.”

“If it’s about Marie’s engagement, it’s a no. This is a matter of national importance.”

Eugène, facing Napoleon who coldly dismissed him, declared with a firm face.

“That’s not the problem. [Terrorism] has been confirmed.”

At that moment, Napoleon jumped up like lightning.

***

At Malmaison, on the second floor, the sound of kicking was heard loudly from Napoleon’s study.

-Bang!

The bookcase, which had been nicely decorated until recently, was destroyed by kicking.

However, neither Josephine, the mistress of the mansion, nor her son Eugène, nor even the summoned ministerial-level officials could say anything.

Because Napoleon’s anger was so justified.

With sparks flying in his eyes, Napoleon looked back at the three ministerial-level officials.

“Fouché, Junot, and Lucien.”

Police Minister Fouché.

Commander of the National Guard Junot.

And Lucien, the chief of domestic affairs and security.

All three should have known, and some had realized it, but the report only came in now.

“Why is the report only coming in now? Lafayette was injured? No, Savary was also injured?”

“Well, it was uncertain who the culprit was. There was also the possibility of an accident.”

“Did Lafayette plot a rebellion! To have a gunpowder explosion accident at his home! Is that what you call it, Fouché!”

Fouché shrank back at Napoleon’s fiery rebuke.

Fortunately, Napoleon’s gaze turned to the next target.

Just as Junot swallowed hard, Napoleon asked, grinding his teeth.

“Who is the culprit, Junot?”

“I still don’t know. The gendarmerie [military police] is mobilizing all its forces to search the back alleys.”

“Stop talking nonsense and tell me what you suspect! You were investigating something!”

Junot glared resentfully at Eugène, who had come to report first, and lowered his head.

“There is a possibility of the Vendée rebels, Cadoudal.”

This time, Napoleon paused for a moment.

Because it was a name he didn’t know.

Originally, in the original history, Napoleon issued a widespread amnesty to royalist rebels around this time and interrogated Cadoudal directly.

But now, he hasn’t exiled that many royalists.

Besides, due to the problem of Russian exiled royalty, the amnesty for exiles among the royalists has not yet been formally declared.

So Napoleon didn’t know who Cadoudal was.

But at least it is certain that he is a dangerous element.

Suddenly, Napoleon’s gaze turned to the last ministerial-level official.

“Lucien, declare martial law domestically.”

There are two concepts that people don’t know well that were created in this era.

Coup d’état [a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government] and martial law [temporary military rule over a civilian population].

They are words that do not fit the revolutionary government at all, but the French revolutionary government used both words frequently.

Military law is declared to prevent a coup, and a coup occurs in a state of martial law.

Declaring martial law is one of the duties of the Minister of the Interior.

But Lucien narrowed his brows and opposed it.

“It’s not that much of an emergency.”

“The leader of the opposition party was seriously injured. Also, by terrorism. You don’t call this an emergency?”

“But if we suddenly declare martial law, domestic unrest will increase extremely. The economic situation is just getting better. Besides, can we catch terrorists by declaring martial law?”

In fact, Lucien’s words are common sense.

Strictly speaking, martial law is an order declared to catch coup forces or uprising forces.

But the problem now is one ultra-hardline royalist carrying out a bomb terror.

Should we really declare martial law to catch this one person?

The surprising thing is that Napoleon’s intuition is actually correct.

Because Cadoudal actually has a wide network of organizations and is trying to carry out terrorism.

Then, Eugène opened his mouth.

“Rather, let’s use it, Father.”

Napoleon turned his gaze like lightning.

“What are you talking about, Eugène?”

“It is certain that the culprit is Cadoudal. Savary has been tracking him from before. Rochejacquelin has also grasped his whereabouts to some extent.”

“You know where he is? Then we have to catch him!”

Eugène paused for a moment, choosing his words, and told Napoleon.

“It’s the Spanish envoy’s residence, Father.”

The Palace of Fontainebleau is a place under Napoleon’s control.

But at the same time, it is also where the Spanish powerful vassal is staying, and diplomatic relations are at stake.

It means that you cannot bring troops in arbitrarily.

Napoleon rolled his eyes and frowned.

“Is this some kind of Spanish conspiracy?”

“That can’t be. Godoy desperately needs this marriage. He has no benefit even if Father dies. He is someone who has nothing to do with Lafayette.”

“Then, is it a royalist conspiracy? Obstructing this marriage?”

Eugène nodded.

“That’s right. But, what if we use this opportunity to impress the necessity of the monarchy on the entire nation?”

Napoleon raised his eyes.

Lucien and Junot blinked, not knowing what he was talking about.

Only Fouché was surprised and shouted.

“Freischütz [a marksman in German folklore whose bullets are guided by a supernatural force]! No, Chief Secretary! This is dangerous!”

“Fouché, are you scared?”

“No, that’s not the problem!”

Then Napoleon raised his hand.

“This is going to be fun.”

A royalist bomber is at the Spanish envoy’s residence.

Whether he knows it or not, there is a high possibility that the terrorist will do something at an event held by the Spanish envoy.

Then let’s face the terror in a prepared state.

Eugène is saying this now.

If he fails to stop it and the bomb explodes, Napoleon is also in danger.

But Napoleon is a gambler.

He decided to bet on stopping this terror and widely publicizing to the people that Napoleon needs to become a monarch.

“Let’s do it. But, how are you going to stop the gunpowder?”

Eugène took a deep breath.

He can’t say that he will use the notification of the silver letters.

Instead, what Eugène saw was the dog at Josephine’s feet.

“We have to use these guys.”

Of course, he doesn’t mean to use Josephine’s pet dog.

-Woof woof woof!

Amid the loud barking, the night deepened at the Malmaison mansion.

In the plan to take advantage of the Chouannerie’s [Royalist insurgents in Brittany and Normandy] conspiracy.

Eugène’s plan to gain three advantages with one move, aiming for territory, monarchy, and the breakdown of Marie’s marriage, has begun.