He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 533

Extranumber (11) Stop the Revolution with Universal Suffrage

Indeed, the entirety of Paris was engulfed in riots for the first time in 36 years.

“It’s a riot! Order the deployment of all police forces in Paris! Where is the National Guard?”

Sûreté [French internal security service], the top intelligence agency of the French Empire.

Surprisingly, it is not located in Paris.

This is because the agency’s starting point is Bordeaux.

Therefore, Sûreté is safe from the flames of revolution.

Of course, if the Empire collapses, safety will be meaningless.

“What about Lyon?”

Suddenly, the head of Sûreté, the Director-General, asked, and the middle manager who was giving orders to the agents turned his head.

“Director-General, what do you mean?”

“Schulmeister, don’t pretend you don’t know. Republican sympathizers have infiltrated Lyon. If they move, Lyon will become a sea of fire all the way to Paris.”

“Don’t worry about those youngsters.”

Veteran spy Schulmeister laughed.

“I’ve already sent Vidocq.”

Director-General Rochejacquelein stroked his grizzled beard and asked.

“Isn’t Vidocq on Fouché’s side?”

“He’ll do anything for money. Now he’s even started a business, creating some strange thing called a detective agency.”

“He’s the type to switch sides if he thinks the revolutionaries have the upper hand. Well, I suppose Fouché is the same.”

Rochejacquelein muttered, staring at the report that came in at dawn.

“Not Louis XVII, not Babeuf, not even Metternich. The Duke of Orléans. Truly unexpected.”

It’s not like Sûreté has been idle.

They have been tracking down subversive elements and imprisoning them when their danger level exceeded a certain threshold.

Occasionally, they supported Fouché when he engaged in image management.

However, they never expected the revolutionaries to put forward such an unexpected figure.

The Duke of Orléans, whom they had forgotten, thinking he was past his prime. A surprising choice.

It was truly a surprise attack.

However, some spies remained indifferent even to the major event of the revolution.

An elderly Italian spy who had just entered from outside asked.

“I thought our job was to find the troublemaking Second Prince. What’s going on?”

“Don’t talk nonsense, Angelo Picco. Forget about the Second Prince. A situation has arisen that threatens the very existence of the Empire.”

“Can’t we just suppress all the rioters? But the Prince is one of His Majesty’s only three children. Besides, there’s an even bigger problem.”

Picco, the intelligence officer in charge of the Imperial Family, shrugged his shoulders, and Rochejacquelein frowned.

“It’s not a riot, it’s a revolution. So it’s not a simple matter. But what’s the bigger problem?”

There is a saying that the difference between a revolution and a riot is just a piece of paper.

However, to Rochejacquelein, a former royalist who experienced the Great Revolution, they are one and the same.

Rather, the term ‘riot’ is not a good choice for an intelligence agency, as it makes them underestimate the danger.

The situation must be clearly assessed in order to come up with countermeasures.

But Picco dropped a bombshell.

“The Queen of Naples has demanded of His Imperial Majesty that he either divorce the Empress and remarry her, or marry the Second Prince to her daughter.”

The Queen of Naples, also known as Pauline Bonaparte Bourbon.

She had a scandal with the Emperor in Egypt, and scandals continued thereafter, and recently, she caused a scandal by occupying the Empress’s quarters in the Tuileries Palace.

The problem is that this woman is actually the Emperor’s aunt when calculated by kinship.

Rochejacquelein spat out harsh words about Pauline, the sister of the great predecessor.

“Is that woman out of her mind! What is she talking about marriage in this emergency!”

“If His Majesty thought so too, the situation would be very simple, wouldn’t it?”

“Don’t insult His Majesty!”

But Picco wore a sly smile.

“Matters in His Majesty’s bedroom are also important intelligence matters for our Sûreté. You must have received all the reports. Why are you acting like you don’t know anything, Director-General?”

Then Schulmeister, Tolli, and even Ellie joined in the chatter.

“Actually, it’s normal to have a chief concubine in France.”

“If he only looks at the Empress, he won’t be popular with the people. I suspect that’s why this riot broke out.”

“Then remarriage is out of the question, isn’t it? The Queen of Naples should only remain a bedroom partner.”

At that moment, Rochejacquelein slammed the conference table.

-Bang!

Everyone became as quiet as a mouse.

Once just a figurehead, Rochejacquelein has been leading Sûreté for 25 years since then.

That’s enough time for even a scarecrow to develop intelligence.

Now the complete Director-General of Sûreté, Rochejacquelein’s eyes flashed.

“His Majesty has never committed any immoral acts with the Queen of Naples.”

What are immoral acts?

Sûreté spies looked at each other.

But they had submitted quite a few reports that the Queen of Naples had entered the Emperor’s bedroom.

Nevertheless, Rochejacquelein asserted.

“This is the official information of Sûreté. And it is the truth.”

“Ah, yes. Director-General.”

“Furthermore, imperial marriages are a matter for the Imperial Household Department to handle, not our concern.”

In other words, the marriage of the Second Prince Eugene II is none of their business.

“Prepare countermeasures and report. Remember that this is not a riot, but a revolution.”

Indeed, if the Empire collapses, the scandals of the Imperial Family will become nothing.

***

The Tuileries Palace in Paris has not yet been stormed by the revolutionaries or rioters.

“Who is the leader?”

Lafayette asked, thinking that Versailles would be better in times like these.

In fact, Versailles is quite far from Paris.

Originally, Louis XIV created it as if fleeing from the tiresome Paris rebellions, so it may be a natural thing.

Suddenly, Foreign Minister Maret rummaged through the report and replied.

“It’s the Duke of Orléans.”

“I’ve already seen it. That can’t be true. It seems like he was just dragged into it.”

“Originally, it was Darte, a former member of the National Convention [revolutionary assembly during the French Revolution], who led the movement with university students. Key union leaders, anti-government forces, and even royalists have joined in.”

Lafayette, who was touching his forehead injured while escaping, widened his eyes.

“Could King Louis Charles of Naples be involved?”

Maret shook his head.

“No. But we sent a letter to Naples telling him not to enter the country because of the risk.”

“Good, Minister Maret. Are there any subversive movements in the former Russian Empire or the Holy Roman Empire?”

“Sûreté would know better about this, but there are.”

Maret, a veteran official who once played an active role on the diplomatic front, sighed.

“Movements to stage anti-French demonstrations under the pretext of revolution are intensifying. It is presumed that Metternich and Jackson are behind it.”

Again, Lafayette had to widen his eyes again.

This was because an unexpected name came out.

Could it be that this revolution or riot is the result of an international conspiracy?

“Metternich is one thing, but isn’t Jackson from the United States of America?”

“He is the leading candidate for the next president. Recently, the number of immigrants from the former Holy Roman Empire has surged, and they have mainly gone to the United States of America. It seems they are using the relatives of those immigrants.”

“Could the Habsburg family be behind it?”

Maret smacked his lips.

“It could be. They didn’t go into exile empty-handed.”

During the Great Revolution, the revolutionaries suspected a Habsburg conspiracy whenever a problem arose.

At that time, it was regarded as nonsense by conspiracy theorists, but Lafayette felt a chill down his spine.

Perhaps it really could be.

“At this rate, Minister Fouché is right that we should kill them all.”

“Don’t treat him like he’s not there, Prime Minister. Of course, I’m always right. We should have killed the Habsburgs too.”

“The national insurance plan was announced last week. What’s the complaint?”

It was when Lafayette was looking around at the ministers, ignoring Fouché’s words.

“That hasn’t been properly publicized yet. Also, it’s not something you get right away, it’s something you get after you retire. Citizens want something right now. For example.”

An amazing story was heard from outside the door.

“The Emperor’s head, for example.”

The Prime Minister and ministers all froze.

Even in the Imperial Cabinet, where free discussion is encouraged, there are limits.

The Emperor’s life.

The ministers were dumbfounded and shouted.

“Such treasonous words!”

“H, h, how dare!”

“Who is it!”

Then the door opened and a very familiar face was seen.

“It’s me.”

Prime Minister Lafayette frowned and paid his respects.

“Your Highness the Grand Duke.”

The natural son of the late Emperor Napoleon, Charles Napoleon Bonaparte.

It was unexpected that Charles Napoleon would come in this situation.

Could he be aiming for the throne?

Lafayette recalled the sight of Louis XVI’s brothers during the previous revolution.

Charles Napoleon said with a nervous face.

“A extraordinary decision is needed to protect my brother. Allow me to see His Majesty. Prime Minister.”

However, Lafayette had neither the means nor the power to stop him, even if his ambition was true.

***

Strangely enough, the Emperor is staying at the Fontainebleau Palace south of Paris.

“So, you didn’t come to demand my abdication, did you?”

Looking at the Emperor who came out in his pajamas, Charles Napoleon swallowed hard.

For some reason, it felt like the Emperor had come out after doing something lewd.

Only the highest-ranking officials of the Empire know which woman is staying at the detached palace.

And Charles Napoleon is the highest-ranking official of the Empire.

Shaking off his miscellaneous thoughts, Charles hurriedly said.

“Not because he is my brother, but Your Majesty is the only one who can rule this Empire.”

“Suddenly, your flattery is excessive, Charles.”

“You can see it just by looking at this place, Paris.”

Charles Napoleon shook his head.

“Capitalists and workers. Industrialization and globalization. The times are changing and too complicated. Frankly, no one would envy Your Majesty’s position. Because everything you have to deal with is enormous.”

This is Charles Napoleon’s true heart.

It would be a lie if there were no flatterers recommending the throne.

There is also the argument that at least the descendants of the current Emperor should continue.

But the more he knows, the more he hates the throne.

Because it is full of things that he cannot handle.

“It’s not like you enjoy pleasure more than others.”

The Emperor clicked his tongue, looking at Charles who was slurring his words.

“I didn’t know even you would nag me.”

“Aunt Pauline is a bit much, even so.”

“It’s not something you need to worry about, Charles.”

The Emperor turned his body, speaking as if cutting it off with a single stroke.

“Anyway, we have to resolve this situation.”