He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 279

(279) The Neutral Country in the North Avoids Eugene

A man who lives for the fun of it was in Copenhagen.

“Ahem, I may look like this, but I’m a British admiral. Unemployed at the moment, though.”

Born in Westminster Palace, no less, Sydney Smith sipped his coffee with a conceited air.

In fact, his father was the head of the Royal Guard.

Yet, Sydney himself still didn’t hold any British title.

The only title he had was a knighthood bestowed by the King of Sweden, and the medal on his chest was also Swedish.

It’s a title that no one in London cared about, but it was different here in Copenhagen.

It signified a soldier recognized by Sweden, a rival nation.

Women sitting at a café in Copenhagen harbor buzzed excitedly around Sydney.

“Oh my, Admiral. Have you ever sailed a ship yourself?”

“Haha! I used to in my younger days. An admiral is someone who gives orders, not someone who grabs the ropes directly. But I was once a common sailor myself. I worked hard as the navigator told me!”

“How far have you been, Admiral?”

Sydney squinted and pretended to look across the sea.

“Well, have you heard of my exploits in this Baltic Sea? Actually, as a boy, I went all the way to America across the Atlantic!”

The truly amazing thing is that all this, which sounds like a boastful liar’s tale, was actually true.

Sydney became a sailor in his teens and participated in the American Revolutionary War.

In his twenties, he participated in the Russo-Swedish War during his vacation and was credited with defeating the Russian fleet.

Incidentally, he ended up killing many of his own country’s officers because British officers were participating in the Russian fleet.

Since then, Sydney’s 36-year life had been spent traveling between the Eastern Mediterranean and the Caribbean, sometimes losing and sometimes winning.

Of course, there was also an incident where he was imprisoned in France and then escaped.

The adventures he recounts are almost too shabby.

Unfortunately, the beauty sitting right in front of him only smiles with a face that doesn’t quite believe him.

“America, I’d love to go there someday. But I’ll probably never get the chance. What’s it like?”

“When I was there, it was in the middle of a war. When the Americans were making a fuss about independence, I went to suppress it. I was a villain, haha!”

“Oh my, you were a bad person. So, did justice prevail?”

Sydney winked at the noblewoman who had a more striking beauty than the other women.

“Of course, justice always prevails. Her Royal Highness Louise Augusta. Hehe.”

It’s a sarcastic remark implying that America was justice.

If he had said this in London, he would have been summoned to the Admiralty immediately.

But what’s even more surprising is the title Sydney used.

Louise, the beauty, only giggled and didn’t add anything else.

Those who were drinking coffee at the café also paid their respects for a moment, but then just smiled and looked at Sydney.

It’s a display of the individualistic aspect of the people of Copenhagen, or Denmark.

Then Louise asked Sydney with a strange smile.

“Is Egypt, where you returned defeated, like that too, Admiral?”

“That’s a bit of an exception. It’s not that I lost, but that stupid Nelson died.”

“Are you confident that you can win if you fight again?”

Sydney scratched the tip of his nose lightly and burst into a hearty laugh.

“Of course, I’m confident on the sea! It’s just that my enemies always fight on land. Haha!”

“Your notoriety has reached even here. The bane of all kings, the magic bullet of the revolutionaries.”

“You even overthrew the Emperor recently. Oh, that’s right. Come to think of it, isn’t he your husband’s lord?”

Louise sipped her coffee primly and tilted her head.

“Our Duke of Schleswig-Holstein is actually loyal to the King of ‘Danmark’ [Denmark]. Besides, the Holy Roman Empire has been dissolved, hasn’t it?”

“You speak as if it’s someone else’s business.”

“That’s probably because we’ve been living apart for quite some time, wouldn’t you say?”

Louise, with a captivating smile, whispered as she put down her coffee cup.

“So, that’s why a married woman can meet and chat with the Admiral like this.”

Sydney flared his large nostrils and sparkled his eyes.

“If you give me your time tonight, I’ll give you another wonderful night.”

A British admiral and a Danish royal are exchanging fiery glances.

The discreet customers of the Danish café simply turn their heads and say nothing.

However, if the palace officials knew this fact, they would have been greatly alarmed.

Louise’s status is noble, and her bloodline could potentially hold the Danish royal succession.

Even if not, she could at least become the heir to the important territory south of Denmark, the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein.

Louise, with a blush on her cheeks, stared at Sydney and gently pushed his cheek away.

“Hmm, I think we should postpone that, Admiral. Look, can you see a ship coming in over there?”

“Ships are always coming into this Copenhagen harbor, aren’t they? Where is it from, ‘Norway’? They bring in a lot of wood and metal from there.”

“Hahaha! You know quite a bit. But that ship seems special.”

Louise narrowed her eyes and smiled.

“It’s coming from Calais. I think it’s the ship you’ve been waiting for.”

Sydney turned his gaze to the harbor.

A large warship is entering the harbor under the guidance of a Danish ship.

The flag fluttering on the deck is a prominent tricolor.

Sydney smiled as he saw the ship that anyone could recognize.

“Finally, it’s here.”

It seems that the guest he was waiting for has finally arrived in Copenhagen.

***

Danton, unable to get off the warship Horus, lay on the deck and cried out.

“Oh, I’m going to die. Why is the North Sea so rough and the waves so high!”

It’s a name that doesn’t quite fit the North Sea, but warships don’t discriminate against the sea.

Also, they are sometimes used for diplomatic purposes to show the power of the country, not just for military purposes.

For example, when going to promote a military alliance.

Eugene chuckled and got off the ship, retorting.

“The sea is always like this. Ippolito, you seem to be holding up surprisingly well?”

“Is it just me? Somehow, I feel less seasick than in the Mediterranean. It can’t even be compared to the Atlantic.”

“The wind itself is much more constant, though. Isn’t that right, Nicolas?”

However, Captain Nicolas shook his head firmly.

“You came when the weather was good, Patron. When the weather is bad, there are huge tsunamis and storms.”

So-called 잔 파도 [residual waves] are also extreme in the Mediterranean.

However, the North Sea has been known as a rough sea since ancient times, and even in modern times in the original history, there are occasional accidents.

Fortunately, nothing happened when Eugene was moving, but there is no guarantee that it will be the same when he returns.

Ippolito, who was stepping on the harbor, asked a question that suddenly came to mind.

“Hey, aren’t we going back in the winter?”

“If the Tsar of Russia sends us back safely, yes.”

“Please, let’s go back by land. I don’t want to die.”

Then, a cheerful English voice suddenly rang out.

“Wow, the only men who beat me at sea are afraid of waves! I can’t live with such shame!”

Eugene turned his gaze and tilted his head.

“Who are you?”

“How can this be! Even though it’s the way of the world that the winner takes all the glory and the loser is thrown to the bottom! How can you not recognize the opponent you fought against at the risk of your life!”

“You fought me? You seem to be British.”

The man, whom he had never seen before, was smiling.

But the only Englishman Eugene knows is Baring.

He has fought many battles and met foreigners, but surprisingly, he has rarely seen British people directly.

At that moment, a platinum-blonde beauty walked from behind the man and giggled.

“Giggle, don’t tease him too much, Mr. Smith.”

The beauty greeted Marie-Thérèse, who was following Eugene from behind.

“Nice to meet you, Princess Marie-Thérèse.”

“Do you know me, Mademoiselle?”

“Oh my, thank you for thinking I’m young. But I’ve been married for a long time. My name is Louise Augusta. I saw the Princess’s face in a portrait a long time ago.”

At that moment, Marie asked in surprise.

“Are you perhaps the Duchess of Holstein?”

The Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein.

In later original history, it is famous as the territory that Prussia fought and took from Denmark.

Since the Middle Ages, the King of Denmark has ruled in the form of occupying the title of Duke.

This medieval form of rule is still common in Europe in the early 19th century, for example, the land of Norway is attached to Denmark as the personal territory of the King of Denmark.

However, the implications of the Duchess of Holstein in 1800 are different.

Louise Augusta of Denmark of the House of Oldenburg.

She is the daughter of Denmark’s ‘Mad King’ Christian VII and the only sister of Regent Crown Prince Frederick.

Louise Augusta, a Danish princess famous as a beauty of Northern Europe, greeted Marie with a bright smile.

“Yes. I heard that you lost everything because of the revolution, but I’m glad you seem to be doing well.”

“My goodness, how did you come all the way here? Did you come without any attendants?”

“If you’re talking about attendants, there’s this cheerful ‘knight’ here, isn’t there?”

Then Sydney interjected with a conceited air.

“Woohoo! Yes, this body is a knight recognized by the King of Sweden. Did you know that I completely destroyed the Russian fleet in my younger days? Well, you might not know since this is only the second time we’ve met.”

Eugene looked at Sydney and smiled bitterly.

There are people in the world who are really great, but they are underestimated because they brag about it themselves.

Perhaps Sydney, who has always been rated lower than Nelson in the original history, is such a person?

But, the number is wrong.

“I see. Come to think of it, this is the third time we’ve met.”

“Huh? The third time? Have we met anywhere other than Syria?”

“In Toulon.”

Eugene smiled, twisting his lips as he stared at Sydney.

“I saved the Mediterranean fleet that you were trying to burn.”

Conversely, Sydney widened his eyes and cheerfully hit Eugene on the shoulder.

“We’ll have a lot to talk about today? Hahaha!”

It was the moment when Eugene and Sydney, who had been facing each other on the battlefield for a long time, met for the first time.

***

Copenhagen is the capital located on the east side of Zealand Island, the true center of Denmark.

“But why are we here?”

Just as Ippolito was tilting his head, Louise, who was walking in front as if guiding them, laughed.

“Well, that’s because Denmark is a friendly country to France, isn’t it?”

“I’ve never heard of Revolutionary France having any allies, Madam.”

“Haha, it’s refreshing to be called that. Monsieur Charles, was it? Our Denmark is a neutral country. But it was also the only maritime exit for blockaded France, wasn’t it? Throughout the war.”

Then Nicolas Surcouf, who was following as an attendant, added.

“When going from the North Sea to Russia, you have to pass through the waters controlled by the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden. Denmark is unavoidable.”

“Then can’t we just go straight to Sweden? Surcouf?”

“The Swedish royal family is hostile to the French Revolution. I don’t know much about politics, though.”

Princess Louise nodded lightly and stopped walking.

“Yes. There’s also talk that Count Fersen will soon become Prime Minister, isn’t there?”

At that moment, Marie was startled.

Fersen, Marie Antoinette’s lover and former Swedish ambassador to France.

He is also the heir to a prestigious family in the Kingdom of Sweden, second only to the King.

It seems that he still sees Antoinette every time he comes to Paris, and he seems to be running to the pinnacle of power in his own country.

Suddenly, Marie’s gaze turned to Eugene.

Could it be that the reason he avoided Sweden was because of Marie?

Then Princess Louise’s words were heard.

“Well, this is the accommodation where you will be staying. Amalienborg, our kingdom’s proud royal palace.”

In an instant, everyone was impressed.

“Wow!”

For Marie, who once lived in the Palace of Versailles, no building looks very big.

The same is true for Amalienborg.

However, the scenery of the palace surrounded by canals was beautiful enough to amaze people.

The palace, already covered in snow, stands out.

Louise stood next to Marie and asked with a bright smile.

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

“It’s wonderful.”

“It’s a very humble place, but I hope you have a pleasant stay.”

At that moment, Eugene looked at Louise and said.

“That means there is no official schedule, Duchess.”

Like all diplomatic envoys, Eugene did not just bring one ship.

A negotiating team was dispatched to Denmark by land in advance.

The Danish royal family was also notified that the son of the French Consul, a former princess, and a former president were coming.

However, the person who came to greet them was not the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Cabinet or a great aristocrat, but a princess who had already married.

Louise Augusta, the Danish beauty but a married princess, smiled leisurely.

“We have to be mindful of England, too.”

October 1800.

The princess of the northern kingdom of Denmark greeted Eugene.

Implying that Denmark maintains neutrality.

It was the day when Eugene’s first diplomatic mission encountered an unexpected reef.