He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 16

(15) Stop the King’s Escape

In the late 18th century, France also had a stock exchange.

“Good heavens, it was definitely worth 10 livres [French currency]! Today it jumped to 120 livres!”

Paris Stock Exchange.

It was an institution created in 1724 during the reign of Louis XV.

However, after John Law’s Mississippi Bubble [a famous financial scheme that collapsed], it became a place that wandered without a fixed building.

But stock speculators dreaming of a quick fortune exist in every era.

Even with the revolution underway, stock trading continues.

The problem is that the most actively traded item, the French East India Company’s stock, is fluctuating wildly.

The man holding this East India Company stock, Recamier, smiled and asked.

“So, will you buy it? Or not?”

In this era, stock trading is done face-to-face.

Stockbrokers or owners gather directly in the stock exchange building.

They trade as if haggling with each other, and that transaction price becomes the market price of the stock.

It’s similar to modern real estate transactions.

However, like government bonds, there are bankers who specialize in trading stocks.

Recamier was famous for bond trading even before the revolution.

The bankers who were already involved in stock trading frowned.

How did Recamier get his hands on so many East India Company shares?

“Don’t buy it if you don’t want to. I don’t care if I don’t sell it.”

“Ah, I never said that. Can’t you lower the price a bit?”

“No. This will go up even more.”

Jacques Necker, Jean-Frédéric Perregaux, Albert Gumpelzheimer.

All of them are tycoons in the French financial industry of this era.

In particular, Necker was a big shot who served as the Director-General of Finance.

But at the same time, they are all financiers, soon to be bankers, who are focused on making money.

A stock price’s repeated surges and plunges are an opportunity for financiers to gain income.

Naturally, they frequented the stock exchange, but unfortunately, they were preempted on the most important stock.

In today’s unstable France during the revolution, it is the largest, most powerful, and most successful company.

The French East India Company’s stock.

Suddenly, Recamier said to the bankers who were burning with greed.

“Just between us, the East India Company will soon be issuing a new dividend.”

“A dividend? How? The revolutionary government abolished the monopoly, didn’t it?”

“Oh, Mr. Necker. Have you forgotten? The ships that went to India before the revolution are about to return.”

As if leaking inside information, Recamier lured the bankers with a confident statement.

“So, French East India Company stock will soon skyrocket. Maybe it will jump to over 1000 livres. You know it once went up to 2500 livres, right?”

In the end, the three tycoons of the French financial world decided.

“Buy it!”

3000 shares of French East India Company stock bought for 10 livres.

Originally, in April 1790, that is, two months ago, the revolutionary government abolished the French East India Company’s monopoly.

Because of that, the stock price plummeted, and existing shareholders hurriedly sold off their shares.

Recamier bought those shares taking advantage of this gap.

Those shares were sold for exactly 12 times the price.

After concluding the transaction, Recamier left the exchange with a delighted face.

“That was a really good deal, Eugene.”

Eugene, who was waiting outside, smiled at Recamier.

“You’ll have to buy them again.”

“What? What do you mean? I sold them with a markup of 120 livres?”

“No. What you said about it going up to 1000 livres, it will really happen.”

The reason Recamier traded East India Company stock was all because of Eugene.

Recamier was the agent for the stock speculation deal that Eugene agreed with Bearing [likely a reference to Barings Bank, a British multinational investment bank].

Of course, Recamier knew that the East India Company’s monopoly would be abolished and jumped in.

However, the fact that it would rise to 1000 livres in the future was unbelievable.

In modern terms, it’s like a 100-won [Korean currency, roughly equivalent to a cent] stock suddenly becoming 100,000 won.

“Does that make sense? The monopoly has been abolished, so how can the East India Company raise its stock price like that?”

“What if sales triple?”

“What?”

Eugene spoke of the facts of the original history that he already knew.

“During the revolution, in 1789, the French East India Company recorded sales of 11 million livres.”

“Did it? That’s inside information, how did you know that again?”

“This year’s expected figure is at least 26 million livres.”

Eugene smiled at Recamier, who had his mouth wide open.

“When that sales figure is announced, the stock price will definitely skyrocket.”

Furthermore, in 1791, sales will rise to 35 million livres.

However, a problem soon arises.

Just before the start of the French Revolution’s infamous Reign of Terror, they will be caught in the purge.

Around that time, the stock price will plummet again.

Of course, Recamier, who does not know the future, could only sweat.

“Isn’t that completely gambling?”

This stock transaction does not only involve Recamier and Eugene’s money.

The capital of their largest investor and client, Barings Bank, is at stake.

If it fails, the transaction with Barings Bank will be completely cut off.

But Eugene replied nonchalantly.

“In any case, all financial transactions are gambling during the revolution, Monsieur Recamier.”

Recamier stared at Eugene and sighed.

“Since we’ve already started gambling, let’s follow the words of the gambling prodigy!”

Of course, this gamble can never fail.

***

However, Eugene’s gamble is nothing compared to France’s national gamble, the Revolution.

-Splash!

A shower of water falls from the sky.

Of course, it’s sewage.

Fortunately, Eugene wasn’t hit.

However, he was about to be hit right in front of his eyes, and he widened his eyes in surprise.

Priests, nuns, and citizens.

The citizens were surrounding the priests and nuns and pouring sewage on them.

“Get out, priests and nuns who haven’t taken the revolutionary oath!”

“You corrupt nuns! How dare you try to come in!”

“Now, repeat after me. Long live the revolution! May Christ be cursed!”

The vice president, Marceau, who was driving the horse with Eugene, clicked his tongue.

“Looks like they are non-juring priests and nuns. The citizens are going too far.”

Non-juring, referring to the faction of priests who did not take the oath required by the National Assembly to the French Church.

This ‘oath’ is none other than an oath of compliance with the law.

So what is this law?

It refers to the religious law created by the National Assembly.

A law that confiscates property, abolishes religious taxes, and forcibly appoints clergy as state officials.

However, France was originally a Catholic country, and the Catholic Church is loyal to the Roman Catholic Church.

Therefore, the National Assembly’s religious law oath is soon an oath to abandon the Vatican and be loyal to the state.

The state is, of course, represented by the National Assembly.

More than half of the priests, who were originally commoners, agreed.

However, the higher the clergy, the more nobles there were, and naturally, there were many who did not take the oath.

This is the non-juring priest.

In the eyes of Parisian citizens who sympathize with the revolution, they are nothing short of traitors.

Protecting Eugene from the sewage, Marceau smiled bitterly.

“I heard that patriots are getting more and more violent against non-juring priests, and it’s true.”

“That’s how much the church was a vested interest, Marceau.”

“No, those people are just ordinary priests and nuns. It’s not like we’re in a religious war, and we’re not Protestants, so aren’t we being a bit harsh on the priests?”

Eugene shook his head.

“The National Guard is just leaving them alone. It’s not a problem we can intervene in.”

National Guard soldiers passing by only glanced at the violence against the priest and left it unattended.

They even went so far as to giggle and harass the nuns.

Even Marceau, who was not a devout believer, shook his head.

But this is also the face of the revolution.

Looking closely, the clergy are vested interests of the old era.

They would have indifferently ignored the citizens when they were starving due to famine.

They are now paying the price.

Just then.

“Oh, I heard Mrs. Rose is opening a salon? Did you hear?”

Ippolito, a boy who is more interested in beauty than religion, asked Eugene while escorting him.

Eugene blinked.

Mrs. Rose, that is, Josephine.

But a salon is originally a social club opened by noble ladies.

How can Josephine, who has just returned from the colony, open a salon?

“What? No, I gave her a house, but I rarely go there. What’s with the sudden salon? With what money?”

“Why, you give her living expenses. I heard she’s opening a salon with that money?”

“No, even so. Did she borrow money?”

Eugene opened his mouth wide.

When I think about it, Josephine is famous for her extravagance in the original history.

She may not be to that extent now, but she will spend money without thinking.

Of course, a salon is not just a social club in this era.

It’s a kind of networking place where celebrities gather to see beautiful noble ladies.

Maybe she was envious of the noble ladies who opened salons when she was in Paris before.

But the timing is not good.

“I really can’t stop my mother. Especially in times like these.”

“Huh? No, why. There are quite a few riots this year, and it seems quite stable? It’s like a world of difference from when we left last year?”

“How long do you think this will last? Ippolito, what have you been listening to next to me?”

Ippolito was also next to Eugene when he was talking to Bearing before.

But he doesn’t seem to have understood the real meaning properly.

Eugene asserted to Ippolito.

“Don’t you know what it means that a big crash is about to start? It means it’s going to be like the eve of the revolution again.”

In 1790, the second year of the revolution.

During this period, France briefly regains stability.

Is it because of the Assignat banknotes [early paper money issued during the French Revolution]?

It’s not that, it’s because there was a good harvest.

But after a year, there will be another famine, and hyperinflation will hit again.

Furthermore, the time will come when citizens repeatedly cause riots again.

That’s when the infamous blood-red guillotine is used frequently.

It’s not yet a good time to open a salon.

But Marceau, with an awkward face, said next to Eugene.

“Oh, actually, I’m going to that salon too.”

“Marceau, if you sleep with my mother, I’ll kill you.”

“Oh, well, yeah. Your mother is beautiful, but she’s not my type. Don’t worry.”

Marceau chuckled and tilted his head.

“Then, should I tell her to stop the salon? Won’t your mother listen to you?”

Eugene smacked his lips and sighed.

In fact, Josephine is quite stubborn.

It is questionable whether she will listen to Eugene’s words.

“I don’t know if she’ll listen, but the people who come and go are the problem. Who’s coming and going?”

Then an unexpected name came from Ippolito.

“Oh, I know that. Count Mirabeau is coming.”

Mirabeau, the leader of the early French Revolution.

If Lafayette is the military leader of the National Assembly, then Mirabeau is the political leader.

Robespierre?

He’s just a promising young boy.

Eugene blinked and whistled.

“Wow, I should go to the salon myself?”

It seems that Josephine is opening a much bigger salon than I thought.

Of course, Mirabeau’s power ends in just 1791.

Why?

Because he dies.

But, doesn’t everyone die in the long run anyway?

***

A salon is originally a gathering where noble women host discussions on art, science, and philosophy.

But Josephine doesn’t have that level of culture.

So what will she use to gather people?

The answer is very simple.

“Kya, oppa [Korean term for older brother, used affectionately by a younger sister or female friend]!”

The moment Eugene entered Josephine’s mansion, originally the Count of Provence’s mansion, Hortense pounced on Eugene.

Her very colorful outfit and cute beauty stand out.

I would say she has the appearance to captivate European high society in the future.

Of course, she is still just a child now.

Eugene barely managed to get Hortense off him.

“Ugh, Hortense. Now, let’s be good, huh?”

“Why, you never come home. Where are you wandering around so much?”

“No, my father’s house is clearly my home, originally? More than that.”

Looking around the mansion for a moment, Eugene smiled bitterly.

“It’s really a mess.”

Splendid, luxurious, but not aristocratic elegance.

It’s a ‘party’ that reveals Josephine’s taste, who was just a rich girl from the colony.

During the revolution, there are people who are burdened by aristocratic culture but need high-end culture.

They are the old aristocrats and wealthy upper class.

Among them, those who are lining up for the revolution are gathering at Josephine’s salon.

Of course, their first purpose in coming to this salon is different.

It is Josephine’s dazzling beauty.

The men who flocked around Josephine and flattered her were laughing happily.

Among them, a very fat man stood out.

“Wahahaha! Really, madam, you speak so well. I was impressed! Huh?”

The fat man, Mirabeau, turned his head when he saw Eugene being welcomed by Hortense.

“Who is that boy over there?”

“Oh my, that’s my son. Eugene! Come here!”

“Your son, you say. Ah, I remember. That gambling prodigy!”

The rumor of the gambling prodigy who swept through high society two years ago when the royal family was still strong.

Mirabeau, who was originally a count’s family, knew the rumor.

As Eugene approached, greeting his mother lightly, Mirabeau looked at Eugene with interest.

The members of the National Assembly around him laughed and chatted.

“Hoo, is that the royal family’s old attendant? I’ve heard quite a bit about his reputation.”

“I heard that quite a few nobles lost money to that friend.”

“Maybe that’s how this salon is run? Hahaha!”

Of course, it’s a sound that looks down on Eugene.

But there’s no need to be noticed by the members during the revolution.

Because being noticed by them means that the guillotine is getting closer.

Nevertheless, Eugene needed to meet Mirabeau.

Eugene bowed and asked Mirabeau in a low voice.

“Count Mirabeau, are you okay?”

Mirabeau raised his eyebrows and smiled.

“Yes. He’s fine. He appeared at the joint festival a while ago.”

“That’s just for show. I’m asking if he’s really okay. The Queen and Princess too.”

“Hoo, you have an unexpected loyalty. In this situation.”

Eugene still maintained a serious attitude and told Mirabeau.

“I support the revolution, but the royal family is the symbol of France.”

Only then did Mirabeau stop laughing.

Eugene laughed inwardly.

The man who led the National Assembly more than anyone else during the revolution.

But in fact, he is the one who played the role of the royal family’s ‘double agent’.

That’s Mirabeau’s true identity.

In a word, Mirabeau is a person who is walking a tightrope between the royal family and the revolutionary faction.

Of course, Mirabeau also has a reason.

“You’re quite a reasonable friend. Yes, the destination of the revolution must be a constitutional monarchy. Where, there’s a friend who would like to meet a prodigy like you.”

That’s because he’s not a republican but a constitutional monarchist.

So why did Eugene have to meet Mirabeau?

It’s a royal family issue.

After returning home half a year ago, Eugene was frantically focused on the banking business.

To save the king, the queen, and above all, the princess.

He thought that he could find a way to save them once funds were secured.

Now it’s somewhat settled.

It was time to start contacting the royal family again.

But Mirabeau called the wrong person.

“Fersen! Come here for a second?”

Eugene was surprised by the unexpected name and widened his eyes.

Before he knew it, he saw a handsome man with gray hair approaching.

Mirabeau hurriedly introduced them and left.

“Let me introduce you. Count Fersen is a Swedish soldier. Oh, I’ll be right back. A beauty is waiting for me!”

It seems that he was recorded as a man who enjoys women, and it was true.

Anyway, Josephine is not the only beauty in this salon.

On the other hand, Count Fersen, who is a handsome man but doesn’t seem to be interested in other beauties, stared at Eugene.

Hans Axel von Fersen.

So, he’s the one recorded in history as Marie Antoinette’s lover.

Eugene hesitated, unsure of what to say.

Suddenly, Fersen spoke.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Pardon?”

“Princess Marie Therese talks about you all the time. It’s a shame I didn’t see you when I was at court. I hear you’re quite resourceful, even though you’re still young.”

It seemed the princess still remembered Eugene.

For a moment, Eugene thought back to a year ago.

The sight of the girl trembling with anxiety amidst the collapsing royal family.

The moment he had to leave her behind after promising to protect her.

Now, it was time to keep that promise.

Eugene replied lightly, as if he were a royalist aristocrat.

“I owe a debt to Her Majesty the Queen.”

“Perhaps, that debt… can it be repaid now?”

“Is the royal family in need of funds? Of course, I believe it’s my duty as a subject to help.”

Fersen stared at Eugene for a moment, then bit his lip.

“Very well, you are a nobleman too. I will trust you and speak frankly. The Queen also mentioned you.”

“What is it?”

“We need funds to help the royal family escape to Austria. What do you say?”

Originally, this was not something to discuss with Eugene, who was only about ten years old.

However, Fersen was very desperate.

No one was in a position to provide a large sum of money quickly, but a huge amount was needed.

On the other hand, Eugene’s eyes widened and gleamed.

This was it.

The [event] that Eugene had to prevent was approaching.

The King’s escape.

“It seems the time has come to repay the debt I owe to Her Majesty the Queen.”

The event that plunged the French Revolution into irreversible war, bloodshed, and terror.

The time to stop the Varennes Flight had come.

***

This place is in the heart of a bustling downtown.

-Thud, thud!

Someone painted on a huge wall and ran away.

Swiss guards ran after them, but couldn’t catch them.

All that remained was graffiti.

[Awaken the foolish King! Away with the Austrian woman! Viva la Revolution!]

This was the Tuileries Palace, the old palace where the royal family was currently staying.

“No, no, we missed them.”

Among the guards reporting in broken French, a noblewoman came out and screamed.

“Eek! They graffitied again, Princess! Those sans-culottes [literally, ‘without breeches,’ referring to commoners who wore trousers instead of the knee-breeches of the aristocracy] are really too much!”

It had been a year since the royal family was driven out of Versailles, southwest of Paris, and forcibly brought to Paris.

An old palace built by the famous Queen Catherine de Medici.

The royal family was forcibly residing in the Tuileries.

In the old days, the king used it as a residence, but it had been abandoned since the time of Louis XIV.

It was more uncomfortable, cramped, and above all, noisy than Versailles.

Anti-royalist citizens often caused disturbances like this.

But this was nothing.

Just last year, in October 1789, women stormed the Palace of Versailles with torches.

Princess Marie Therese Charlotte saw her world collapsing.

Marie came out of the palace and comforted the screaming noblewoman.

“Now, Madame Campan. Don’t be like that. We can just clean it up.”

“But, look at the content! How could they do this!”

“What is it, anyway? Eek?”

This time, Marie Therese was also taken aback.

It was a message insulting her mother’s origins, not her father.

And with very lewd graffiti.

How would the Queen, who was still suffering from insomnia, react if she saw this graffiti?

Hastily, Marie Therese looked at the graffiti and told Madame Campan, the head lady-in-waiting.

“We have to erase it somehow before Mother sees it.”

“Yes? What are you going to do, Princess?”

“First, something, like a rag. Bring it to me. And keep Mother from coming this way.”

Madam Campan hurried inside to call the maids.

However, the royal family had lost power, finances were under the control of the National Assembly, and many people had fled.

Immediately, the former head lady-in-waiting, Madame de Polignac, had also fled to Austria.

There were not many maids left, so it was unknown when Madame Campan would return.

Marie stared at the graffiti and began to rub the paint with her dress.

-Rub, rub, rub.

Even though the royal family had fallen, a princess was still a princess.

“P-Princess!”

“N-No, wait. W-We have to stop you.”

“N-No, we’ll do this, I mean, we’ll do it.”

French soldiers had left for the Revolutionary Army, leaving only Swiss Guards.

But on the contrary, the remaining guards were extremely loyal to the royal family.

The horrified guards tried to stop the princess in broken French.

Nevertheless, they couldn’t touch her, so they just stamped their feet.

Just then.

Someone dared to grab the princess’s hand.

The princess, Marie, was surprised and turned her head.

A young boy with brown hair was smiling.

“You’ve grown a lot in a year, Princess.”

“Eugene?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

At that moment, Marie grabbed Eugene and hit him.

“You, you traitor!”

Eugene screamed and dodged the fierce blows.

“Ugh, Princess, o-ow! I’m only ten years old!”

“You bad boy. You said you’d protect me! And you abandoned me!”

“No, I mean, I came back. I had to go get my mother, so I had no choice!”

The Swiss guards standing nearby looked at each other.

Since Eugene was the princess’s page, the guards knew his face.

Also, the princess hitting him didn’t exactly sound like she wanted them to arrest him.

The guards nodded, thinking it looked like a scene they had often seen in their hometowns.

They decided to look away.

In an instant, Marie grabbed Eugene and burst into tears.

“Why did you come so late? It was so hard. I was so scared!”

Now, Marie cried as if she had returned to her own age.

It was the day she welcomed her missed page, Eugene.

***

Eugene was not yet ten years old, and Marie was not yet thirteen.

However, one year during the Revolution was faster than ten years in the old era.

In one year, France had truly undergone a cataclysm.

Having been forcibly dragged from faraway Versailles to the Tuileries, what kind of world had the still young Marie seen?

It was a situation where mobs with rakes, clubs, and swords could attack at any time.

Eugene entered a room in the Tuileries Palace, faced Marie, and smiled brightly.

He felt proud.

The child had somehow endured a time that even adults would find difficult to bear.

“I will really protect you now.”

“Hmph, who’s protecting who at your age? Just stay by my side.”

“I can’t be a page anymore. I’m too old.”

Just as Marie was about to glare and scold him again, Eugene looked out the window and changed the subject.

“It seems Paris has become more dangerous.”

“Yeah. Sans-culottes? Madame Campan says it means short pants. Long pants are a symbol of nobles? Those people hate us so much.”

“I wish it was just those people.”

Sans-culottes, that is, the lower class citizens.

The most radical group during the French Revolution.

However, if the dissatisfaction with the royal family was limited to the sans-culottes, it could be prevented.

Because the National Guard and the regular border troops, who actually wielded military power, were not sans-culottes.

Rather, the officers were upper-class bourgeois, and the soldiers were mostly urban poor or peasants.

However, the problem was that the antipathy toward the royal family was growing.

Besides, the royal family itself was causing problems.

Although it didn’t seem to be the case yet.

Just then.

Marie grabbed Eugene and her eyes sparkled.

“Yeah. Do you want to go with me, Eugene?”

“Where?”

“To Austria. Mmph.”

In an instant, Eugene committed an impolite act.

He had blocked Marie’s mouth.

In the old days, he would have been dragged out and imprisoned immediately.

However, Eugene, regardless of impoliteness, looked around with extreme tension and said in a low voice.

“Never, ever say it out loud. It could become really dangerous.”

Marie blushed at the strange skinship, then widened her eyes.

Marie hadn’t actually said a single proper word.

But Eugene was speaking as if he knew everything about the situation.

As if he had heard about it beforehand.

Marie asked in a whisper.

“Could it be, do you know?”

“Even if I know, I don’t know. Haven’t you heard about my father? I heard he was also the chairman of the National Assembly.”

“Really? Is the chairman high up? Is he like Mr. Necker?”

Of course, the chairman of the National Assembly changed frequently in the early days of the revolution.

The reason why Alexandre, who was neither an outstanding soldier, a famous revolutionary, nor a great nobleman, served as the chairman of the National Assembly was simple.

It was because he was one of Lafayette’s close aides.

However, the fact that he served as the chairman of the National Assembly, the leading force of the revolution, had deep meaning.

Alexandre de Beauharnais, Eugene’s father, was a revolutionary.

Furthermore, as the revolution became more radical, this revolutionary faction would inevitably turn into a [republican faction].

In short, it meant that he would become an advocate for the abolition of the royal family.

Even in the original history, Alexandre eventually agreed to the execution of the king.

Why?

Because of the [King’s Escape] incident that Marie was about to mention.

Eugene leaned close to Marie.

From the side, it would look like children who were just beginning to realize their first love.

The Swiss guards were also watching with suggestive faces.

However, Eugene was serious.

“Listen to me carefully, Princess. Never, ever say anything. Pretend you don’t know anything, act like a child.”

“You’re the child.”

“Don’t you want to be with me?”

Then Marie trembled and shook her head.

“Never go anywhere! I’ll listen to you.”

Suddenly, Eugene looked into Marie’s eyes.

Her blue eyes were trembling with anxiety.

She was a girl who was just about to turn thirteen.

She was trying to adapt to the rapidly changing environment, but she was still a child.

Still, Eugene hugged Marie, who was bigger than him.

“Okay. I will definitely protect only the Princess.”

Eugene didn’t know what kind of situation would unfold in the future, but even so.

“No matter what happens.”

He wanted to protect only this girl.

***

The Varennes Flight, the king’s biggest blunder during the French Revolution.

“I need money, absolutely.”

Fersen ran to a newly opened cafe on the Saint-Germain street.

The name was Cafe de Beauharnais.

It was said to be an affiliated cafe of Beauharnais Banque, which was founded by the boy in front of him, Eugene.

Fersen, the man who was called the Queen’s lover and a powerful Swedish nobleman.

That man was pleading in front of a boy.

To save the Queen, to help the royal family escape, to get what was absolutely necessary.

Soon, the escape funds.

Eugene sat in the cafe, lightly tapped the table, and asked.

“How much do you need?”

“The escape cost itself requires at least 2 million livres [French currency]. Carriages, food, living expenses, and bribes during the escape.”

“That’s a huge sum. Especially in this era.”

Swallowing hard, Fersen asked.

“Is it possible?”

Eugene lightly took out a piece of paper from the table and picked up a pen.

-Swish, swish, swish.

Fersen’s eyes widened as he looked at the document with the endorsement.

“What is this?”

“It’s a check from the Dutch Hope Bank. Of course, as you know, I’m a minor. So this signature is just me making a payment request; it has no legal effect.”

“But?”

Eugene smiled lightly and replied.

“So, conversely, it means it’s difficult to track. If you go to the Hope Bank headquarters, you will be able to exchange it at the appropriate time.”

The amount was 2 million livres.

Exactly the money Fersen was asking for.

Fersen’s face lit up as he had been scraping together his private funds to prepare the escape funds.

“My God, thank you. You are young but truly a loyal subject!”

The next moment, Eugene raised a finger to his lips.

“Shh. Someone might hear us.”

Of course, this place was not just a simple cafe.

As the name suggests, it was a cafe that Eugene had set up for secret meetings.

Unlike ordinary cafes, access was restricted.

Furthermore, this sign was attached to the entire mansion outside the cafe.

[Banque de Beauharnais]

So, in fact, this was the headquarters of the Beauharnais Bank, which traded with the British Barings Bank, the Dutch Hope Bank, and the French Recamier Bank.

It was a place for trading bonds, speculating on stocks, and, above all, dealing with slush funds.

Therefore, all the employees and managers in the cafe were Eugene’s people.

None other than the members of the New World Martinique voyage.

Still, there was always a chance.

Eugene added a word to Fersen, who was nodding.

“Please keep this a secret from His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen.”

This time, Count Fersen, the Queen’s closest aide, tilted his head.

“Why? The royal family should know your merits.”

“It’s not too late to know after you succeed. Rather, if they know I’m behind it, His Majesty will think differently.”

“What do you mean?”

Eugene said in a low voice with a bitter smile.

“Have you forgotten who my father is? He’s General Lafayette’s confidant.”

“Huh? Ah, is it because they will be uneasy?”

“I don’t think so? They trust people too much. Also, Count Fersen, would you have approached me if you thought I was a traitor? Rather, I’m worried that they will tell me to persuade my father through me.”

Of course, Eugene’s words were lies.

Count Lafayette, the hero of the American Revolutionary War, and the head of the National Guard.

In later original history, he was branded as a constitutional monarchist and was a leader in the early days of the revolution who fell from grace.

However, surprisingly, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette hated Lafayette the most.

Because they thought he was suppressing them with force.

Of course, this was not true, so Louis and Queen Marie died one after another after Lafayette was deposed.

It was an example of how politically short-sighted the King and Queen were.

So, if they knew that Eugene had paid the funds, especially the Queen, she might be wary.

Of course, that wariness was in line with the truth.

On the other hand, Count Fersen, a nobleman who also trusted people well, nodded.

“Indeed. Well, if you can move the National Guard, they will think differently. I understand.”

He trusted people well, but Fersen was not a fool.

Even if Eugene could persuade Lafayette, the revolution was difficult to reverse.

It was no exaggeration to say that there was virtually no force within France that could overturn the revolutionary faction.

Most of the border troops had already defected to the revolutionary faction.

Besides, there were two reasons why the National Guard was so powerful.

One was that Lafayette commanded it, and the other was that it was at the forefront of the revolutionary faction that was gaining momentum.

If those two conditions disappeared, the National Guard would eventually be nothing more than a militia, not a regular soldier.

In any case, Fersen judged that there was no other answer but to escape.

“Then, I’ll proceed with the work!”

Fersen excitedly took the check and ran out.

Soon, Fersen would use the check, which was difficult for the Revolutionary Assembly to track, to prepare the escape funds.

However, there was a trap here.

“Whew, Eugene. If it’s like that, isn’t it only you who can track those funds?”

Suddenly, someone placed a juice on the table in front of Eugene and opened his mouth.

Ippolito Charles.

A boy who was Eugene’s secretary at Banque Beauharnais.

Eugene smiled coldly.

“Yes. He fell into my trap. Fersen.”

From the beginning, Eugene had no intention of letting the king escape.

This escape must fail.

Even to save the princess.