He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 421

Napoleon Favors Arranged Marriages

The Bonaparte family gathered in the Tuileries Palace hall after a long time.

“It’s been a while since our whole family has gathered. Hahaha!”

Emperor Napoleon laughed heartily.

In fact, as a constitutional monarch, Napoleon had many responsibilities.

Reporting victory to the parliament, convening the cabinet and approving postwar measures, and proclaiming victory to the citizens.

However, after streamlining these procedures with a triumphal return, he prioritized a family gathering.

He looked delighted to see Charles Napoleon and Florence, whom he hadn’t seen in a while.

Of course, not everyone viewed Napoleon’s return with pure joy.

Suddenly, Hortense asked with a sulky expression.

“Father, does that mean you acknowledge Princess Marie as part of our family too?”

At that moment, the hall fell into a slightly awkward silence.

Marie Therese stood right next to her father, Eugene.

In truth, this gathering was intended for the Emperor’s immediate family only.

Marie had not yet formally married Eugene.

Since the birth of the Empire, members of parliament with Jacobin [supporters of radical egalitarianism and popular sovereignty] origins often complained that the spirit of the revolution was fading.

However, Marie, a direct princess of the old royal family, was a symbol of the Bourbons [the former ruling dynasty of France] that the revolution had sought to eliminate.

Was it really appropriate for her to be here when she wasn’t even officially family?

Instantly, Napoleon laughed heartily.

“Of course. In fact, I even invited Marmont, who isn’t even engaged!”

Leticia, who had been slightly frowning at those words, clicked her tongue.

Originally, in history, Leticia and her daughters all rejected non-Bonaparte royalty.

Who could be considered royalty if not a Bonaparte?

They particularly disliked the Beauharnais family.

Eugene, Hortense, and above all, Josephine.

Fearing that they would dilute Napoleon’s inheritance rights, the Bonaparte family often launched subtle offensives.

In the past, there was even an incident where [mistresses] were deliberately favored to cast doubt on Josephine’s fertility.

But now, Empress Josephine had given birth to two of Napoleon’s children.

Florence, and Charles Napoleon.

In particular, the birth of Charles, the most likely heir, was politically important, but it also stirred complex emotions in Leticia’s heart.

Furthermore, they were ultimately nieces and nephews to Eliza, Pauline, and Caroline.

If valuing blood was a Corsican tradition, then conversely, when there was someone connected by blood, hostility was bound to weaken.

Besides, even if it wasn’t Pauline, who still liked Eugene, other Bonapartes had some degree of intimacy with the Beauharnais.

On the other hand, Marmont, who was unexpectedly singled out, rolled his eyes and replied, standing behind like a bodyguard.

“Uh, Your Majesty. I just came to attend.”

“Quiet! Caroline, what do you think? Do you have any intention of marrying Marmont?”

Marmont was embarrassed, but Caroline raised her head sharply.

“If, if, if my brother allows it, I, of course, have considered it. However.”

“However? What is it?”

“Surely you wouldn’t leave my husband as just a division commander, would you? Brother?”

The Bonapartes and their relatives in the hall exchanged glances.

Today’s biggest potential event was Caroline’s marriage, as Leticia had emphasized.

From Napoleon’s point of view, it was the marriage that could be decided with the least political burden.

On the other hand, it was also a marriage that Napoleon didn’t particularly favor.

For example, Eliza ended up falling out of Napoleon’s favor because she married Baciocchi.

Still, that was something she did before Napoleon became emperor.

But Caroline was Napoleon’s sister, who was already an empress, and Marmont was just a division commander.

Napoleon’s idea was to strengthen the still-developing Bonaparte family through strategic marriages.

However, the only marriage that truly embodied this idea was Louis’s marriage to the Habsburg family [one of the most influential royal houses of Europe].

From his older brother Joseph, who married early, to his youngest sibling, none of them had a properly arranged marriage that significantly benefited the family.

Napoleon, looking at Caroline with a slightly annoyed look, asked back.

“What position do you want?”

“You should at least promote him. You can’t give him a duchy like my brother Louis, but you could give him a city rulership like my sister Eliza, right?”

“Do you think governing a country is like giving children gifts?”

In a very short time, the atmosphere was about to cool down.

“I think the rank of General of the Army and the commander of the Holland Defense Forces would be good.”

Everyone turned their heads.

Eugene was sipping his wine and smiling.

Napoleon tilted his head, with a thoughtful look on his face.

“Holland? The Netherlands, or the capital area of Batavia [former name of Jakarta, Indonesia], isn’t it?”

“Although it is nominally a republic, isn’t it within France’s sphere of influence? We need to gradually make it a French territory like Switzerland.”

“Well, the hereditary presidency is vacant now, right?”

Suddenly, Marmont’s eyes flashed.

“If you allow me, I will do my best. Your Majesty!”

It was truly a heaven-sent opportunity, a feeling that he might become the ruler of the former Netherlands.

It seemed like a huge exception at first glance, but in fact, Marmont’s position was special.

Since the Bonaparte family fell into ruin in old Marseille, he frequented the house and was loved by Leticia.

Also, the Bonaparte family had a unique island culture.

It’s a custom to treat those who are considered adopted children as family, in addition to blood relatives or in-laws.

Eugene, Marmont, Junot, Duroc, and, unexpectedly, Hippolyte were included in this category.

Of course, these were mainly those whom Leticia personally baked bread for.

Among them, Junot was also about to marry Laure, from the Permont family, whom Leticia regarded as family.

Originally, Murat would be included in this category in history, but now Marmont was marrying Caroline.

So, it wasn’t necessarily strange to be included in the so-called [Royal Family].

“Okay. Let’s do that! Let your mother and your parents talk and decide on the wedding date. Oh, and.”

Suddenly, Napoleon looked back at Empress Josephine, who was slightly anxious.

“Oh, I saw the son of the Margrave of Baden this time. Was it Karl Ludwig? He looked decent.”

Then, Josephine’s eyes sparkled.

“Wouldn’t it be good for Stephanie’s marriage partner?”

“It’s not ideal now because the west bank of the Rhine has been taken away. But if the Habsburg family gives us the east bank of the Rhine, the situation will be different.”

“That’s a relief!”

Stephanie is the daughter of Eugene’s father, Alexandre’s cousin.

However, she lost her parents during the Great Revolution and has virtually grown up under Josephine’s care.

Eugene sometimes used her as Marie’s lady-in-waiting, but now she is 17 years old and it is time to prepare for marriage.

But suddenly Eugene opened his mouth.

“I am against that. Your Majesty.”

Again, the atmosphere in the hall began to cool down.

***

First of all, Stephanie’s face turned pale.

“Brother!”

Although she is about a sixth cousin, the Beauharnais family does not have many relatives.

Also, Stephanie is familiar with Eugene because Josephine raised her from a very young age.

But why is Eugene blocking a marriage that could change Stephanie’s life?

“Eugene. Why are you doing this!”

Leticia was also surprised and urged Eugene in a low voice.

In fact, Eugene has often acted against Napoleon’s wishes when it comes to marriage.

There is no reason for Napoleon to like the Bourbons, and he did not welcome his marriage to Marie.

It was only because of the sudden death of the Spanish throne successors that they responded with the expedient measure of betrothing Eugene and Marie.

However, if Eugene intervenes in the marriage issue like this, Napoleon will naturally have to think about it.

Should Eugene’s marriage be left alone?

But when everyone looked at Napoleon with fear, they saw an unexpected expression.

Napoleon was smiling.

“Why? It’s not a bad marriage for Stephanie? Rather, it’s a better marriage than Emily, who is engaged to Rochejacquelin.”

Eugene also smiled at Napoleon.

The Bonapartes, Beauharnais, and Bourbon families in the hall were all baffled.

Why doesn’t Napoleon get angry when he opposes his will, and why doesn’t Eugene fear Napoleon at all?

Suddenly, Eugene calmly explained.

“The Grand Ducal House of Baden has few descendants. Even Prince Karl Ludwig’s father died in a carriage accident. I cannot send Stephanie to such an unfortunate family.”

“What? Unfortunate? Hahaha! That’s a good excuse. Let’s say so. Do you perhaps want Prince Ludwig of Bavaria?”

“Of course not. The Wittelsbach family of Bavaria is not a good match either. They are famous for producing madmen from generation to generation.”

It’s a completely absurd excuse.

However, absurdly, everything Eugene said is a historical fact.

The Grand Ducal House of Baden has been full of misfortune for generations, Karl Ludwig is politically unlucky, and he even cheats.

The Wittelsbach family, the Grand Dukes of Bavaria, are famous for their handsome men and beautiful women, but they also have genetic qualities that produce many madmen.

Moreover, Ludwig von Wittelsbach, the successor to the current Grand Duke of Bavaria, causes a famous actress scandal in history.

It’s the so-called Lola Montez scandal.

Lola is a famous actress in the mid-19th century, and the Grand Duke falls in love with Lola and neglects politics, focusing only on women, and is kicked out of the Grand Duke’s position.

Instead of these truths that no one would believe, Eugene smiled and threw out another suggestion.

“Neither. I want Your Majesty to choose a general from his own country rather than a foreign prince.”

“If it’s a general, who would be good?”

“Well.”

Suddenly, Eugene looked back at his chief aide, who was standing behind him.

“Wouldn’t my old friend Hippolyte Charles be good too?”

Hippolyte, who had been watching the situation with interest until then, widened his eyes.

“Me?”

Then, Napoleon also laughed and clapped his hands.

“Oh, yes. I have always thought of Hippolyte as family too. Hahaha!”

Of course, Stephanie and Hippolyte had bewildered faces.

At that time, Marie felt a strange feeling.

From the gazes of Eugene and Napoleon, who were standing next to each other.

It was as if they were talking to each other with their eyes, or looking at each other.

***

In the bedroom of the old Orleans Palace, now commonly called [Beauharnais Palace], Marie, who was brushing her hair, said with a smile.

“Hippolyte looked like he was about to die, Eugene.”

Eugene, who was lying on the bed watching Marie’s figure, snorted.

Compared to what Hippolyte does in history or now, getting married is closer to a reward.

Anyway, isn’t he marrying a beauty who is 16 years younger than him?

Besides, I can’t just leave Stephanie alone, because Stephanie is one of Napoleon’s affair partners in history.

“Hippolyte is at an age to settle down now. He’s already 33 years old, he can’t just live as a socialite forever.”

“You didn’t ask Stephanie’s intentions. She’s only 17 years old and has many dreams.”

“Why is our princess suddenly talking about love marriage? Why, are you dissatisfied with being engaged to me in an arranged marriage?”

When Eugene asked teasingly, Marie approached with a serious face.

“I’m still not married, so I’m anxious. I don’t know when I’ll have a baby.”

For a moment, Eugene, who had widened his eyes, smiled and hugged Marie.

“Were you anxious about that? Well, you’ll have to marry me soon whether you like it or not?”

“What’s with the predatory tone? Why?”

“Your Bourbon family is in trouble. Is it Borbon in Spanish?”

Eugene said a huge secret in a casual tone, as if there was a problem in the market.

“Ferdinand VII, the former King of Sicily, who is a distant uncle to you, has been captured. He is being escorted to Paris.”

“What?”

“So, it’s time to talk about a new [king] in Spain.”

This is the real reason.

The reason why Napoleon couldn’t bring up Eugene’s marriage today.

The reason why the two kept watching each other today.

Eugene looked at the surprised Marie and said.

“Spain, heir to the throne, Princess Marie.”

Now is the time for the succession to the Spanish throne to hit the Paris political scene.