I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 260

< Catastrophe >

Though they were called eternal rivals, England had never truly considered France an equal.

Frankly, weren’t the French just lucky fools who benefited from their blessed land?

With such land and a large population, France was simply a foolish country that always bickered with its neighbors without ever truly overwhelming them.

And ever since their conflicts, England had almost always emerged victorious.

The Seven Years’ War was a milestone that starkly revealed this fact.

Although the English didn’t derive much enjoyment from it compared to the resources they poured in. In fact, France, having lost the war, suffered far greater damage than England.

Until then, England’s rulers were confident that their era had arrived.

They had completely seized the initiative in India and driven France out of the New World.

‘Now, the British Empire stands tall as the undisputed strongest power in Europe!’

Some hasty individuals openly proclaimed such things.

Even cautious ones, while saying they didn’t know for sure yet, inwardly believed that the balance of power had shifted.

But when did this trend begin to crack?

It seems it began when a French royal bastard caused a stir throughout Europe by claiming to have found a vaccine to cure smallpox.

At first, it was merely irritating.

To bring in an English doctor, create a vaccine, and then present it entirely as his own achievement.

But in the end, a bastard is just a bastard.

A bastard royal without even the right to succession is just a nobleman… no, even less powerful than an average nobleman, a nobody.

The powerful figures of the British Empire didn’t pay much attention to such trivial gossip.

What was the court culture of France like?

It was such a rigid environment that even the notoriously strict royal families of other European countries shook their heads in disbelief. [Versailles was known for its intricate etiquette and strict social hierarchy.]

No matter how talented, a bastard would have a hard time gaining a foothold in Versailles.

Among those interested in such gossip, some even made bets on it.

This was England’s cold assessment of the bastard who suddenly appeared in France.

“I was the same.”

Pitt recalled the first time he heard about Christian.

He was very young, but the memory was vivid.

Because a huge incident occurred that even the proud British could not ignore.

[The Empress of Austria, staking everything on an alliance with France, marries her daughter to a bastard royal.]

How could the Habsburg family, the most proud in Europe, make such a decision?

Moreover, the shock was doubled when a plot to assassinate the bastard royal was discovered during the wedding negotiations.

In fact, it was generally believed that England or Prussia would benefit most if this alliance fell apart.

England had to be careful, as they could be misunderstood in this situation.

‘This should be interpreted as the Empress of Austria trying to strengthen the alliance with France to the point of giving her daughter to a bastard. A major war may break out.’

Even his father, who boasted extraordinary insight, did not pay much attention to the bastard at this time.

Because he understood it all as a grand scheme between France and the Holy Roman Empire.

Pitt also agreed with his father’s opinion at this time.

However, as incidents continued to occur and France continued to prosper, the name of the bastard royal always followed.

Louis Christian.

After suffering a major defeat in the American Revolutionary War and handing over the dominance of the New World to France, no one in England called him a bastard royal anymore.

No, they couldn’t.

As the first nobleman of France, the Duke of Orléans, and furthermore, the one who completely overturned the existing French system and seized the position of Prime Minister, he was the biggest obstacle England had to overcome.

“Hoo… difficult.”

Pitt smiled bitterly as he looked at the complaint from Wellesley.

The report from him was neatly summarized in one line.

‘It’s a complete disaster.’

Well, I didn’t expect much in the first place.

Even though Wellesley is a soldier close to a politician, how could he persuade Christian?

Even if I had been in that position, the result would not have been much different.

When I first saw Christian as a child, I didn’t realize.

That this human would become such an annoying and hopeless existence.

“I really don’t know what to do.”

If I could, I would just assassinate him.

But I had a feeling that even that would be anticipated by that human, and he might even turn around and beat us.

I sincerely hoped that such a stupid guy would not come out in the parliament.

So much so that he had secretly warned the ruling party members.

But I had to admit that I was cornered to the point where I couldn’t help but think of such things.

“Damn… why did the Lord create me and then create that human Christian?”

Strictly speaking, Christian was born before me, but this is a matter of feeling.

Honestly, I was sure that England would be the master of the world right now if it weren’t for that bastard.

Of course, the military geniuses under Christian could not be underestimated.

Napoleon, Jean Lannes, Davout, all of them were tremendous talents that could never be underestimated.

But this world is not so easily decided by military talent alone.

Even if the whole of Europe were to fall, the power of the British Empire would eventually overcome it.

If it weren’t for Christian.

“Should I back down here… or should I keep going……”

He was about to scratch his head out of habit, but he stopped abruptly.

If I touch it here, another handful of hair will fall out, and I was about to do something I would regret again.

According to Wellesley, who came from Beijing, there is a limit to how much more time we can delay.

Now I really have to make a decision, but no matter how much I rack my brains, I can’t see a way out.

And yet, the damn parliamentarians are most angry at me for taking a hands-off attitude, saying, ‘Do something for us!’

Especially that bastard Percival.

‘Pitt cannot beat Christian. I admit that he has done well so far, but isn’t this ultimately a relative problem? England needs a strong prime minister who can stand up to Christian!’

Informants have been reporting that he has been saying these things openly recently.

What can I say… I had a lot to say, but I decided to just shut up because it felt like I was seeing myself before I became Prime Minister.

Should I just step down and let him try?

I guarantee that he will know the reality after only a month in this position, but if I let him act as an agent, he will know.

“Did I overestimate a month? He’ll want to curse his past self after only half a month.”

Come to think of it, this seems like a really good idea.

If I say my health has deteriorated and go into seclusion, that bastard will have no choice but to lead the cabinet, right?

If I had just a little less patriotism for this country, I would have put this idea into action right away.

That’s how mentally exhausted Pitt was.

However, the only reason I don’t step down from this position is.

Because I can clearly see the future where any of the politicians will be completely thrashed by Christian.

I’d rather bear the burden myself, having become a little immune to it so far… I can’t stand to see another bastard crash the ship into a reef when it’s so obvious.

“If only… if only I could see a gap to exploit……”

His worries deepen, but time is running out.

Pitt searched frantically for information from all the countries in Europe, hoping for something that could be a lifeline.

No matter how many scenarios he considered, England alone could not directly oppose France’s will now……

※※※

Until a month after Wellesley, who came to negotiate, was thoroughly outmaneuvered by my glib tongue and returned.

The reorganization of Asia proceeded smoothly.

The diplomats to be dispatched to Joseon [Korea], Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam have all been selected, and the detailed treaty contents have all been reviewed.

“Now I feel like the goal is slowly becoming a reality. How about your side?”

“Yes. Currently, the situation in Qing [China under the Qing Dynasty] is deteriorating day by day. The imperial family’s control over the provinces shows no sign of returning and is only getting worse.”

“What about the other side?”

“The forces united around the Han Chinese are growing day by day. They seem to be taking the position that the current Qing imperial family’s legitimacy should be denied and a new emperor should be enthroned.”

Good, good.

Divide… no, should I say it elegantly, divide and rule?

This side’s strategy was being carried out so successfully that it couldn’t be better.

Please, I beg you, please continue to run wild like that in the future.

“I know you’ll take care of it, but you know that even if those guys start acting in earnest, our civilians should not suffer greatly, right?”

“Of course. I am grasping information in real time and operating the military. You can think of it as being ready at any time.”

“This place is different from Europe. If a problem actually breaks out, they will rush in simultaneously over a very wide area.”

“That’s what I want. That’s the only way I can use all my abilities.”

Napoleon looked full of life, like a fish in water.

In fact, Napoleon’s reputation has spread beyond Europe to all of Asia due to the last invasion operation, but it still feels insufficient.

I know the reason roughly.

I knew very well how many tactics he devised and how much he trained his men to fight Qing.

He said that he had come up with all sorts of strategies with Davout to fight against the 100,000-strong army, but he couldn’t use any of them.

It was not simply because he was a war maniac who wanted to wage war, but actual verification was necessary to find the optimal tactics for utilizing new weapons.

And it is my job to maximize national interests through this.

I’ve also put Robespierre to work for this, so shall we go listen to him?

“Prime Minister! Prime Minister!”

What, are you using telepathy or something?

I was going to look for him anyway, but the way he’s running over here looks 불안불안 [anxious, uneasy].

“You were here…! Ah, Commander Napoleon is here too.”

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem with any of the countries that have agreed to the treaty?”

“A problem has occurred, but it’s not in Asia… it’s in the home country.”

What are you talking about? A problem broke out in France?

Did they fight among themselves in the parliament again while I was away?

That’s why I didn’t want to leave my seat.

“Hoo… well. It’s always my role to handle accidents, so I can’t help it. I’ll take care of it this time too, so tell me slowly what happened.”

“That’s… the Queen has returned to the Lord’s arms…”

“What?”

This… was an unexpected accident.

Of course, no matter how much it is me, I can’t do anything about the lives of the dead.

I would at least regress if I died, but this is not a matter that can be done.

“My brother must be very sad.”

Such perfunctory words came out naturally, but what I’m more concerned about is.

“Return immediately… no, I shouldn’t. First of all, the situation in the home country… no, no. I need to write a letter to the Tsar of Russia, so bring me paper!”

It was the reaction of a troublesome alliance tied together by a blood alliance.

< Catastrophe > End