I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 108

Sorting Out the Hierarchy

“Even if we part ways with them, there’s no need to worry… Does that mean we’re not even worth their concern?”

Victorie, belatedly regaining her senses, glared fiercely at Marie.

In contrast, Marie remained composed, tilting her head slightly.

“Pardon? I never said anything like that?”

“What… All three of us heard it. Didn’t you say there’s no need to worry about the aftermath!”

“Well, I meant that the Princesses are not so undignified as to retaliate just because they’re a little upset. I’m disappointed that you’ve misinterpreted my intentions like that.”

“Wh-What nonsense… It was clearly a dismissive remark to anyone!”

Sophie also joined her sister Victorie, but the atmosphere around them remained chilly.

Marie turned to the servants lined up outside and asked,

“Did I really speak in a way that seemed to disregard the Princesses?”

No sooner had she finished speaking than more than ten women shouted in unison.

““There was no such thing.””

To be in charge of the royal family’s servants at the Palace of Versailles, one cannot disregard any family.

The intention of these people, not just one but almost all of them, taking Marie’s side and showing it off like this is clear.

It means showing the difference in power outright.

Victorie and Sophie immediately backed down under the pressure that forced them to feel it, whether they liked it or not.

“Th-That is… It could have been heard that way, or something…”

“I see.”

Marie faced the three princesses and sat down.

Then, smiling brightly, she poured tea into their cups herself.

“But Princesses, if you accuse someone based only on suspicion, misunderstandings are bound to arise. Even the Crown Princess was deeply hurt by the Princesses’ words and actions. Shouldn’t you apologize for this part?”

“We… apologize to the Crown Princess?”

“Yes. And come to think of it, I should receive an apology too. I almost became an undignified person who intimidated the Princesses, didn’t I?”

Victorie and Sophie gaped.

How could she blatantly put them down and then ask for an apology?

Even if they conceded and apologized to the Crown Princess, shouldn’t Marie be the one apologizing to them?

Just as Victorie was about to protest, Adelaide, the oldest and somewhat perceptive, stopped her younger sister.

“···Wait. Antoinette, the reason you came here is… you heard that we were oppressing the Crown Princess… and you’re here to warn us not to do that in the future?”

“Surely not. How could I dare to warn the Princesses? I’m just conveying my wish to correct the mistakes that have already been made and to prevent the same thing from happening in the future.”

In the end, it was the same words, but the meaning that she would never lose her justification was clearly conveyed.

Moreover, Marie’s words were even more humiliating for the princesses.

It was because she was only receiving an apology for what had happened so far, and in the future, they should take care of themselves.

Adelaide, Victorie, and Sophie now understood her intentions, but they could not easily answer.

Accepting it was no different from surrendering, and as they resisted, they slowly became aware of their position.

In fact, the three princesses were already too old to marry.

No royal family from other countries would take them, and their status as princesses did not allow them to go as the second wife of an old nobleman in the country.

In other words, they had no choice but to live unmarried until they died.

In the end, their power was only meaningful under the reign of Louis XV, where the background of being a princess could have meaning.

On the other hand, Marie Antoinette was not below the three princesses, even if only considering the background of inheriting the blood of the Habsburg imperial family [one of the most influential royal houses of Europe].

Moreover, the most powerful person, Louis-Christian, is her husband.

In addition, the relationship between the couple was rumored to be so lovey-dovey that there was no other couple like them.

The Crown Prince, who would become the next king, already trusted and relied on Christian, so his power would not weaken in the future.

No, rather, when the next king ascends the throne, his power will be even stronger than it is now.

Thinking coldly, the three princesses were not in a position to raise their necks [defy] in front of Marie.

“···Umm······.”

As none of the three princesses readily answered, Marie clicked her tongue softly and tapped the table.

“Princesses, the Crown Princess is waiting, but are you going to continue to say nothing?”

Adelaide hesitated and looked at Crown Princess Juliana.

Hiding behind Marie, she pretended not to see Adelaide’s gaze and did not make eye contact.

“Princesses, this is not just a quarrel between us. The Princesses, who should uphold the etiquette of the Palace of Versailles more strictly than anyone else, have not kept it, so how can they be a role model for their subordinates?”

As Marie said that and picked up the glass in front of her, the servants standing outside shouted again in unison.

““That’s right, Princess. You must not show such an attitude to the Crown Princess!””

The interior echoed as more than ten people shouted at the same time.

The princesses, completely overwhelmed by the momentum, had slightly reddened eyes.

When would they have been in this situation?

The princesses, who had always been the superiors, had no immunity to being in the position of the inferior.

The first time they felt the inferiority of power.

Moreover, the powerlessness that they could not do anything even if they received this treatment.

Furthermore, Marie, who had been regarded as a pushover, was now coming out so coldly that even a strange sense of fear arose.

The three princesses, feeling various complex emotions in one place, soon knelt before the grim reality.

“I’m sorry… I have committed an unforgivable rudeness to the Crown Princess.”

As Adelaide bowed her head first, Victorie and Sophie, who were watching, also bowed their heads.

“···I promise to respect the authority of the Crown Princess in the future.”

“I also apologize… for bothering Princess Antoinette.”

Marie deliberately looked down at the princesses, who were bowing their heads, without saying anything for a few seconds.

Of course, the princesses could not lift their gaze until they heard an answer.

About a minute passed. Finally, Marie, who smiled with satisfaction, nodded and turned her head to Juliana.

“How is it? The Princesses are apologizing like this.”

“···Okay. I will also show generosity this time and move on.”

“The Crown Princess is so merciful. The Princesses will also be grateful.”

What could they do when they said this much?

The princesses could only say thank you and bow their heads once again.

※※※

“You handled it much faster than expected.”

After hearing the whole story from Marie, I was inwardly surprised that the conclusion was reached faster than expected.

“You said that if you hesitate after making a decision, only unexpected variables will arise.”

Marie smiled brightly as if it were nothing.

I’m a little touched that she was so mindful of my usual words and actions.

After listening to everything, there was nothing to criticize about the way this matter was handled.

However, one thing.

I was a little worried that she, who was only kind, had come out so strongly.

“The aunts must have been very embarrassed. They couldn’t have imagined that you would come out this strong.”

“I couldn’t help it. If I had tried to prevent both sides from getting upset in a half-hearted way, both sides would have ended up feeling uncomfortable. So it’s better to decide on a route clearly.”

“I would have done the same. Besides, if you’re determined, you have to show a clear difference in power, and you faithfully carried that out.”

Even I didn’t expect that she would drag the maids of the Palace of Versailles in droves and put direct pressure on them.

What was the atmosphere like then… Just imagining it sends chills down my spine. Perhaps guessing my thoughts, Marie smiled bitterly and sighed softly.

“Actually, I wasn’t very comfortable either. The Princesses aren’t that bad people.”

“I know. It’s just that the timing and situation weren’t good.”

There were plenty of reasons why the princesses didn’t like Madame du Barry [Louis XV’s mistress].

They were just doing what they could to drive out Madame du Barry in their own way.

Pressuring the Crown Princess or checking other princesses is something that can happen enough in any country’s palace.

“I also thought it was too harsh to do this much… but if I do this much, the atmosphere of the palace will be comfortable in the future. If I had to, I was prepared to do even more.”

“It was a good decision to firmly suppress the princesses, but it was the most appropriate decision to proceed in a way that enhanced the prestige of the Crown Princess.”

In the future, Crown Princess Juliana will rely on Marie whenever she has difficulties.

Maybe it will be a relationship similar to the relationship between me and Auguste.

Marie must have considered all those points and planned this plan.

Considering her so far, it was truly a remarkable growth.

Marie also knew that fact well, and asked me in a voice filled with strange anticipation.

“How is it? Can I get a passing grade with this much?”

“Of course.”

“Then······.”

Marie’s voice lowered slightly.

“Can I be of help to you in the future? Not just as a wife, but as someone you can really trust… Can I be that kind of person?”

Her feelings were conveyed through her slightly stiff body due to tension, her moist eyes, and her slightly trembling fingers.

And I could naturally understand why Marie was showing such remarkable growth.

At the same time, she looked so lovely that I couldn’t express it in words.

I took her hand with sincerity, so that it would never feel like lip service.

“Of course. No, you’re already that kind of person.”

“That’s a relief. Really······.”

Marie smiled more happily than ever and hugged me.

Fortunately, my sincerity was fully conveyed.

But the very next moment, as she put a little strength into her body, my body fell onto the bed as it was.

“······?”

My bewildered appearance was reflected in her eyes, which were smiling seductively as she looked down at me.

“I’ve been thinking.”

“······Yes.”

“Wouldn’t our child be lonely if they didn’t have siblings?”

“······.”

What answer can I give here?

“I hope the second one is a daughter.”

I was just timidly expressing my wish.