I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 205

205. You Do It, Governor (205/355)

You Do It, Governor

One week after Beatrice and Charles’s future was decided.

With everyone’s blessing, Marie safely gave birth to our fifth child.

A lovely baby girl, precious as could be.

If it had been a boy, there might have been more talk with Sweden, so this was fortunate.

And after Marie spent a few weeks recovering, our entire family, except for the youngest, crossed the Atlantic together for the first time.

I felt like if we didn’t do it now, we might not have another chance for the family to spend time together.

Leaving the newborn behind was hard, but King Louis XVI himself offered to take care of his niece, so we could entrust her without worry.

Still, it’s amazing and worrying that Charles, who is still so young, will become the Crown Prince of the Holy Roman Empire.

“Actually, I thought going all the way to Nouvelle-France [New France, a French colony in North America] was too far, but I’m grateful the kids were happy to come along.”

“They probably know this is the last time they’ll get to spend quality time with their dad.”

In fact, the main purpose of this trip to Nouvelle-France was to broaden the horizons of our eldest son, Theodore.

It turned into a large-scale family trip, but everyone is happy, so it’s all good.

“Sister, I guess reading ‘The Prince’ [a political treatise by Niccolò Machiavelli] about three times is essential before going?”

“It doesn’t hurt to read it, but I’m not sure if it’s a good fit for the current Holy Roman Empire. But even if you become the Crown Prince, it will be a while before you actually handle state affairs, so don’t be too impatient.”

“Well… I still think it’s better to prepare as much as possible.”

A conversation between the future Queen of Sweden and the Holy Roman Emperor—this is a rare scene.

Of course, to me, it just looks like cute children playing house.

I wanted to jump into the conversation, but my policy is not to interfere until they ask for help themselves.

They’ll probably ask me something soon anyway, so I’ll just be patient.

And so, we safely arrived in Nouvelle-France.

Like the reports of its recent remarkable development, the scenery of Toronto had changed a lot from my memory.

The children also seemed more interested in the surprisingly developing city than the crowds of welcomers.

“Wow~ I’ve only heard about it, but it’s really something.”

“Looking at it like this, it doesn’t seem to be behind Paris?”

“I agree. Seeing it in person is different from just hearing about it.”

Now and then, the children’s eyes sparkle when they see something new.

Now, I just need to take care of the piled-up work as Governor and show the children various new things whenever I have time to strengthen our family bond.

Of course, it’s not just a family outing; I also hope that the children, who will become kings of other countries in the future, will broaden their horizons even a little more.

Perhaps this trip will be a more important experience for Beatrice and Charles than for Theodore.

After all, Theodore will have me by his side to teach him things, but those two won’t.

“Alright, kids. You’ve never seen a large-scale factory in operation, have you? The competitiveness of a country will depend on how successfully it industrializes. So, take a good look around and ask anything you’re curious about.”

“Yes!”

“Thank you, Dad!”

The two eager children were ready to absorb new knowledge.

I’m glad I chose a place with a completely different tech tree from Europe.

Who knows?

Maybe my children will be recorded in the history of Sweden and the Holy Roman Empire as the greatest monarchs.

Just imagining it makes me feel proud and want to dance.

My mood, which had reached its peak, sank as soon as I opened the door to the Governor’s office.

“You’ve arrived, Governor Sir.”

“Yes. Thank you for handling the acting duties until now. You don’t seem to be doing well.”

Lavoisier, who greeted me looking almost like a zombie, had a huge bald spot on the crown of his head.

It was the so-called stress-induced alopecia areata [a condition that causes hair to fall out in small patches] that I had experienced when I was in graduate school.

“You didn’t look this bad when I saw you in Europe last time…”

“Governor, somehow the amount of work to be done in this crazy land never decreases.”

Laplace, with a bald spot almost the same size as Lavoisier’s, said with a tearful face.

“The speed of technological and systemic development is too fast! No matter how much we increase manpower, the amount of work concentrated here never decreases!”

“Well, I guess so.”

Even in the original history, the development speed of the United States in the 19th century was enormous.

But Nouvelle-France is experiencing that hypergrowth of the United States in an even more compressed way.

It would be stranger if there were no social chaos.

Moreover, the burden on the acting governor and the Nouvelle-France Assembly, who have to control all of this… just imagining it makes my head hurt.

“Governor! I’m not lying, I’ve been working an average of over 100 hours a week for the past few months. But Lavoisier won’t approve my vacation request. Isn’t that an abuse of power and tyranny! I’m telling you now that you’re back, Governor.”

“What? Hey, I’ve been working more hours than you on average, so what makes you think you can take a vacation alone? No one can take a vacation until I take a vacation! That’s the absolute rule applied to the Nouvelle-France Governor’s office!”

“What are you talking about, you crazy bastard? Can you still say that after seeing all the hair that’s fallen out of my head?”

“My hair is falling out too, but you want to go get treatment alone? No way! We’re all going bald together!”

Laplace and Lavoisier grabbed each other by the collar and started fighting, screaming almost maniacally.

I quietly closed the door, worried that the children might see this scene.

I can’t do that. I can’t give them a vacation right away, but I should drastically reduce their workload.

As someone who couldn’t stop writing papers even when I saw my hair getting thinner day by day.

I can’t help but sympathize with that pain.

※※※

To Theodore, who had lived in France his whole life, Nouvelle-France was like a magical land full of mysteries.

This place was completely different from Paris or Orléans.

The Black people and Native Americans, who are now the main members of the French Second Army, the symbol of terror in Europe.

They weren’t exactly mainstream here either, but they were still quite visible.

In addition, the unfamiliar scenery of the industrial cities surrounding the Great Lakes stimulated curiosity.

“Are these Great Lakes really lakes and not seas?”

“Yes. The water that gathers at the end of Lake Ontario flows towards the Atlantic, but it is classified as a lake.”

“This is the first time in my life I’ve seen such a large lake.”

“If you combine all five of these lakes, they are larger than most countries. They are so big that they even have waves, so it’s easy to mistake them for the sea at first.”

Lavoisier’s expression, who was freed from the duties of acting governor during Christian’s stay, was much brighter.

The missing hair didn’t come back right away, but his face, as he volunteered to be Theodore’s guide, was filled with the happiest smile in the world.

“This Nouvelle-France is truly a land with tremendous potential. Governor Christian is convinced that Nouvelle-France will become stronger than any country in Europe in just 100 years.”

“…I haven’t seen everything, but I think that could really be the case. I heard that if you go south from here, you’ll see a completely different landscape. Is that true?”

“Yes. The area around these Great Lakes is the most developed industrial city in the world. And the central region is the most fertile granary in the world. There’s a reason why it’s called a land blessed by God.”

“…My father foresaw the potential of this land and put so much effort into it.”

If England had continued to hold this land, how would history have flowed?

Perhaps France would never have caught up with England and would have remained a second-rate country forever.

I also understood the source of my father’s confidence in not caring about England occupying India.

Once again, I realized that there are areas that people can’t truly grasp without seeing them with their own eyes.

If he were appointed governor, what could he accomplish in this land?

While lost in thought, Theodore suddenly came to his senses at the sound of Lavoisier’s voice next to him.

“By the way, there are rumors that the Governor is planning to appoint Theodore as the next Governor…”

“There are such rumors, but nothing is certain. In the first place, there’s no way my father would give me, who hasn’t even had my abilities verified, the position of Governor. Wouldn’t people like Lord Lavoisier, who have protected this land until now, be more suitable for such important positions?”

In fact, people like Lavoisier might not look kindly on those who succeed through their father’s connections like him.

If he were in that person’s position, how unpleasant would it be?

He would have worked harder than anyone else, but if a greenhorn came to take office just because he was the Governor’s son.

Knowing such obvious truths, Theodore waved his hand, pretending to have no interest in the position of Nouvelle-France.

But…

“What are you talking about! Of course, Governor’s eldest son, Theodore, should be the next Governor!”

“…Yes? But still, experience is…”

“Experience is meaningless in the face of overwhelming genius! I, Lavoisier! I have assisted the Governor for a long time, more than anyone else in France!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, that’s right! In my opinion, Theodore is the spitting image of the Governor in his childhood. As proof, you immediately saw the potential of this Nouvelle-France.”

Isn’t that something anyone with a head on their shoulders could do?

I think it would be more of a problem if you didn’t know.

Before Theodore could say anything, Lavoisier continued, spitting out words.

“If there is a lack of experience, Laplace and I can help you from the side. In Nouvelle-France, the Governor is like a living god. If Theodore comes, the citizens will surely welcome him with open arms!”

“But I don’t have the confidence to do as well as my father…”

“A lion does not give birth to a cat! In my opinion, Theodore, you have more than enough qualifications.”

It hasn’t even been a week since I set foot on Nouvelle-France, so what did you see that made you say I have enough qualifications?

Still, listening to Lavoisier, who endlessly sang praises next to him, made him start to think that maybe he really was.

“Oh! Even the way you use your fork and knife shows dignity. Truly the qualifications of a Governor!”

“Does handling a knife and fork have anything to do with the Governor’s duties?”

“Of course it does!”

“For example?”

“…Ah, now that I think about it, I forgot that there is still a schedule left. Please wait a moment!”

Lavoisier’s praise offensive became more and more intense, and eventually, he would scream with emotion even when he was just sitting in a chair and resting.

At this rate, I might get praised with ‘Wow, he’s drinking water! Is he a genius?’

If the next Governor is decided, the powerful position of Acting Governor will naturally disappear.

There’s no way Lavoisier wouldn’t know that, but as expected of a talent that my father noticed, his detachment from power was admirable.

I don’t know what it means to be the Governor of this land yet, but I didn’t feel too bad about becoming the Governor of such a rapidly developing place.

Why, doesn’t praise make even whales dance?

Looking into Lavoisier’s eyes filled with a certain desire, a spark of passion began to boil in Theodore’s heart as well.

You Do It, Governor End