He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 275

(275) Danton Joins Hands with Eugene

As expected, I shouldn’t have left diplomacy to Napoleon.

“Wow, a Russian prince! Lucky you. I heard Princess Alexandra is quite the beauty?”

“You’re dead, Hippolyte.”

“To think, such a desirable groom for princesses! At this rate, we might even hear from the Habsburgs? Ah, right.”

Suddenly, Hippolyte, who had been teasing Eugene, clutched his stomach and laughed.

“Our Freischütz is after an 11-year-old girl! The Bavarian princess! Hahaha!”

This is the lounge of the Tuileries Palace.

The Tuileries Palace, as its name suggests, is a truly old palace and surprisingly large.

This means there are many rooms besides the offices that are not yet in use.

Enough for high-ranking generals to gather and chat.

Eugene glared at the adjutant gossiping about his superior in the very place where nobles once spread rumors, then snorted.

“Hippolyte, I know you’re after Madame Récamier.”

“Huh? What are you talking about, all of a sudden?”

“What would happen if I told Madame de Staël about this? I bet it would spread all over France, wouldn’t it?”

At those words, the other generals’ eyes gleamed.

Julie Récamier, known as the most beautiful woman in society, is naturally one of the targets of unmarried generals.

More than anything, the element of a fake marriage stimulated the generals’ desire for conquest while also eliminating any moral qualms.

Naturally, there were many generals interested in eliminating the handsome Hippolyte.

Hippolyte waved his hands, avoiding the gazes of Marmont, Duroc, and Junot, who were glaring at him.

“Ahem! My lips are as heavy as a lock. I have no doubt that my friend, General Freischütz, is the same! Ahem!”

At that moment, a young man sitting dejectedly in the corner of the lounge retorted.

“Princesses and all that are useless. Not cheating is the best.”

“General Lannes, what are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“I’m going to file for divorce soon.”

Suddenly, Jean Lannes shouted in a heated voice.

“My wife is pregnant with another man’s child! I’m sure of it, I didn’t sleep with her around the time of conception!”

Lannes has recently gained Napoleon’s trust and joined the Napoleon Club.

That’s why Lannes was also present when Napoleon announced the [Russian Imperial Political Marriage] to his closest aides.

However, Lannes was not at all happy about becoming a member of the Napoleon Club and was suffering from anger and depression every day.

Why?

The reason is simple.

His wife, whom he had left in his hometown before leaving for the battlefield, was suspected of infidelity.

The problem is that there is no genetic testing in this era.

“So, I was wondering if you could get the Consul to write me a confirmation.”

“What kind of confirmation?”

“A confirmation that I didn’t take a vacation and go home around that time. No, actually, I did go, but I didn’t sleep with her!”

Eugene turned away, looking at Lannes, who was making a very difficult request.

It wouldn’t matter if he hadn’t taken a vacation at all.

But he did take a vacation, and he did go home, but he claims he didn’t share a bed with his wife?

How can I help with this?

Somehow, a similar incident happened in the original history, and he was warned, but it seems Lannes ignored it.

“Why are you turning away? I really didn’t sleep with her!”

Ignoring Lannes, who was shouting from behind, Junot smoked a cigarette and asked.

“Hoo, let’s solve poor Lannes’ problem later. What’s urgent is you, right? What are you really going to do, Knight of the Princess?”

“It’s been a while since I’ve heard that nickname. There aren’t any Jacobins [members of a radical political organization during the French Revolution] here who want to kill me, are there?”

“Becoming the son-in-law of the Russian Emperor will make you even more dangerous. Well, the Consul is openly telling you to dump Pauline. But what about Marie?”

Marrying a Russian imperial princess means, of course, forgetting Pauline.

That’s something Eugene can do, though it’s not easy.

But Marie is different.

Eugene frowned and shrugged.

“A marriage is like tennis, or jeu de paume [a precursor to modern tennis].”

“A ball game? Do you even play that? You really are a noble.”

“I used to be a royal page, you know? I’ve seen it a lot. Anyway, there has to be give and take.”

Eugene pulled out the playing cards he always carried with him and said.

“Just because one side throws a card doesn’t mean the other side will play a card. It’s not like a card game.”

So, it’s like a ping-pong game.

A game that doesn’t work unless the other person accepts the ball you throw.

Political marriage games have that problem.

No matter how desperately Napoleon shouts, the Romanov family won’t respond.

That was actually the case in the original history.

Originally, Napoleon’s marriage proposal was directed at the Russian Empire, not Austria.

Junot roughly understood and chuckled.

“Sounds like a gambler. So, you trust the other side?”

Eugene flipped the card over and smiled.

“Right? Pavel I is definitely a mad emperor, but the Romanov family isn’t crazy.”

The card depicted a crazy clown, a joker.

***

Of course, just because Hippolyte’s mouth is shut doesn’t mean the rumors won’t spread.

“Talleyrand, is it true? Freischütz is going to Russia?”

Looking at the middle-aged man asking with a delighted face, Talleyrand leisurely drank his coffee and replied.

“It hasn’t been decided yet, Monsieur Danton.”

But if Danton knows, it’s no exaggeration to say that everyone in the court knows.

It’s not that Danton is late with information.

The problem is that the moment it enters Danton’s ears, it spreads everywhere.

Talleyrand clicked his tongue, imagining who among the Napoleon Club members was the most talkative.

It seemed to be Napoleon.

“What hasn’t been decided? I heard the Consul is running around saying he’s pushing for a marriage with a Russian princess.”

“Indeed. Ah, I see. The Consul must be very happy. It’s a matter of marrying off his grown son.”

“Who said he could? Has there been any discussion with Russia?”

Talleyrand sat at his desk in his private residence, elegantly placed his coffee cup, and replied again.

“Well, it’s something he wants to do but can’t. There is no Russian ambassador in Paris right now.”

“Right, it’s been a while since diplomatic relations were severed after the revolution! Besides, I heard that princess, Alexandra, was originally betrothed to the Habsburgs [the Austrian royal family]?”

“Isn’t the Habsburg family in shambles? It would be difficult to pursue the marriage again now.”

In fact, Princess Alexandra is already past her prime by royal standards.

There is a reason why she hasn’t married yet.

Originally, Russia was negotiating peace with Sweden, which was at war, and was considering marrying off the princess.

It’s not for nothing that Napoleon is touting the princess as a symbol of peace.

It is customary in this era to pursue marriage when almost all European countries are ending wars.

Thus, the marriage between King Gustav IV of Sweden and Princess Alexandra was almost concluded.

But an unexpected problem arose.

The princess’s religious beliefs became an issue.

It’s ridiculous that the princess’s faith in the Eastern Orthodox Church is becoming a problem in the Age of Enlightenment, which is just around the corner from the 19th century, but the Swedish royal family was serious.

They notified that they could not proceed with the marriage unless she converted to the Lutheran Church.

As a result, the marriage fell through, and Gustav IV married Alexandra’s sister-in-law, the Princess of Baden.

In the end, Princess Alexandra’s marriage was delayed, and she was just about to pursue marriage with Austria again.

In the original history, she would marry Emperor Franz of Austria’s brother, Joseph.

However, it is currently completely suspended due to the war.

“Hehe, so since we don’t have a royal family, we’re sending the Consul’s son?”

“There are similar cases in the Netherlands, Monsieur Danton.”

“Isn’t that practically a hereditary consul? Does Bonaparte dream of the same thing?”

At Danton’s very sharp remark, Talleyrand only offered a cup of coffee.

“Since you’re here, why don’t you have a cup of coffee before you leave?”

Danton snorted and waved his hand.

“I don’t need coffee. I need something else.”

“Is there something you want?”

“How about a Russian ambassador?”

At the unexpected request, Danton grinned at Talleyrand, who widened his eyes.

“It would be inconvenient for both of us if I stayed in the country anyway, wouldn’t it? But I’m loath to say this myself, but I have good social skills, don’t I?”

“Sending a former Jacobin as an ambassador to the Tsar? It would be a blessing if this didn’t start a war.”

“You can just attach a noble as my adjutant! Besides, I heard that Russians are good at French, right? Besides, a huge country like Russia would be very interesting, wouldn’t it?”

Talleyrand stared at Danton.

This former revolutionary, director, and agitator is by no means ordinary.

Also, he was the one who plotted the Coup of Fructidor [a coup d’état in France in 1797] with Napoleon.

However, Danton has one advantage.

At least he is not a supporter of the monarchy.

It would not be an advantage if he remained in the country, but it would be a great advantage if he went to Russia.

He cannot unite with the royalist exiled nobles in the Russian Empire.

In particular, he is a sworn enemy of the self-proclaimed Louis XVII and the Duke of Orléans.

“Okay. Then, first meet General Eugene Freischütz.”

“Huh, so it’s true that Freischütz is practically the prime minister. Is it true?”

“There are areas where he is, and areas where he isn’t. But this issue requires Freischütz’s permission.”

Suddenly, Talleyrand wore a strange smile.

“Maybe he will really become the Tsar’s son-in-law?”

If that happens, it would be a good thing for Talleyrand to get rid of one [competitor].

Of course, Talleyrand was also sure that it wouldn’t actually happen.

Danton, who noticed that fact, asked.

“You sound like it really won’t work?”

Talleyrand, a man four years older than Danton, replied elegantly.

“Well, diplomacy is like jeu de paume. It won’t work unless the Russian Empire accepts it.”

Nevertheless, throwing the ball is also diplomacy.

***

Looking at the man who would have already died in the original history, Eugene felt a strange feeling.

“So, you want to go to Russia as an ambassador?”

“Of course, Freischütz. Surely you don’t want to see me colluding with someone like Babeuf while staying in the country?”

“If you join hands with the Duke of Orléans, it’s the same thing, isn’t it?”

In fact, Eugene is just saying it.

If former Jacobin Danton joins hands with Louis XVII or Orléans, heaven and earth will be turned upside down.

Of course, politics is when those who were always on opposite sides cooperate.

However, Danton, who is treated as a national elder, has no reason to do so.

The reason he planned the coup in the past was because Danton’s own neck was in danger.

Even if his words are harsh, Danton’s political actions always make sense.

So why does Danton want the position of Russian ambassador?

“Huh, I can’t tell Talleyrand, but I have to tell you, right? Frankly, I need money.”

“Money? The country gives you a director’s pension, right?”

“How much do you think I get! I have a big family. I spend a lot! The pension is not enough. But the position of ambassador is a really lucrative position. There are a lot of bribes here and there.”

Suddenly, Danton smiled, wrinkling his nose.

“Besides, if I take on the position of Russian ambassador now, I think something interesting will be waiting for me. More than the British ambassador.”

When the world is in turmoil, you can gain great profits by being at the center of it.

The risk of losing your life also increases.

Danton knows that principle exactly.

Eugene stared at Danton and nodded.

“Okay.”

“Indeed, you’re planning something, aren’t you?”

“It’s not my marriage. Pavel I won’t accept that either.”

Then Danton stroked his chin and said.

“How about a Great British Alliance Front fighting against Britain?”

At that moment, Eugene was surprised and widened his eyes.

It was like hearing a glimpse into the future.

Of course, Danton shrugged, looking at Eugene as if he was strange to be surprised.

“Why are you so surprised? Russia has already fought with Sweden. They couldn’t break Sweden because of the British captain at that time. Alliances are not eternal.”

Perhaps common sense is the most surprising diplomatic solution.

Because Danton’s words now have the same conclusion as the most absurd solution in diplomatic history.

The method is just more moderate.

Eugene nodded.

“There is one bomb. However, you have to risk your neck to execute it.”

“What is it?”

“It’s true that we’re making Britain and Russia fight. However.”

Suddenly, Eugene lowered his voice so that no sound would leak out of his office.

“We’re making them fight not in Dover, but on the other side of the world.”

June 1800, the moment Eugene, trying to avoid marriage, was preparing a large bomb for Russia.