He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 3

(2) My Real Father is a Scoundrel Officer

In the future, in the original history, everyone knows Eugene’s mother, even if they don’t know Eugene.

Because she is the famous Napoleon’s first wife.

Then, doesn’t Eugene have a real father?

“Wahahaha! Another pleasant day. The world is spinning!”

Though no one remembers him, there is definitely a real father.

Faubourg Saint-Germain [a historic district in Paris], Boarnais Mansion in the back alley.

A man in an officer’s uniform, drunk, entered.

Alexandre de Beauharnais.

The second son of the Marquis de Beauharnais and Eugene’s father.

Alexandre spun around, singing merrily.

“Oh, love! To smell your sweet fragrance is more enchanting than a crown!”

Eugene, who had been watching him with a nonchalant expression, snorted.

“You’ve never even worn a crown, so what are you talking about?”

“Hahaha! It’s called a metaphor, my little one. You’re too young to know love yet!”

“Yes, so did you meet a new lover and come back?”

The young officer, Alexandre, winked at Eugene.

“Hehe, no. Today, I just had a card game with my colleagues. The lover story is a secret from your mother, okay? Well, I’ll be breaking up with her soon anyway.”

Currently, Eugene’s mother is not at the Beauharnais Mansion.

Three years ago, in 1785, Alexandre began living separately from his wife, Josephine.

The reason is simple.

Suspicion of infidelity.

The matter is complicated, but to summarize, it’s simple.

The suspicion that Eugene’s younger sibling, Hortense, is not his child.

In fact, Alexandre himself is not in a position to criticize others.

In any case, the two are currently separated, and Eugene’s mother is at a monastery.

Conversely, Alexandre is raising Eugene as a widower.

Of course, mostly leaving it to the maid.

At that moment, Alexandre, staggering from the wine, hit a decoration on the wall.

-Clang!

What fell from the wall was a sword.

“Oh dear, why is this here again?”

Alexandre hurriedly picked up the sword, constantly checking if there was any damage.

The sword was dazzling, decorated with splendid jewels and gold and silver.

A cross-shaped sword that can literally be called a [treasure sword].

Suddenly, Alexandre looked at the sword as if in a trance and recited.

“Franck, Masonry, Sabre.”

In English, it’s like this:

Freemason Sword.

If you ask if it’s the famous Freemason, then yes.

The late 18th century is the heyday of Freemasonry [a fraternal organization with roots in stonemasonry].

Mozart was also a member of the Freemasons, and Lafayette, who bestowed the sword, was also a Freemason, and George Washington, a figure of this era, was also a Freemason.

Then, is Alexandre a member?

No.

He just received it as a gift.

From General Lafayette, the hero of the American Revolutionary War and a famous French general.

Eugene looked closely at the sword and asked.

“You received that sword from the New World, right?”

“Haha! That’s right. It was my best time. At that time, I was under General Lafayette and fiercely defeated the British bastards! The reason I named you Eugene, or Eugene, is because it was a symbol of victory at that time.”

“Don’t talk like an old man. You’re still young.”

He speaks like an old veteran, but in fact, Alexandre was born in 1760.

He is just a young officer at the age of 28.

He is serving in the Champagne unit, a royal cavalry regiment, and holds the rank of major.

Surprisingly, Alexandre is a participant in the famous American Revolutionary War.

The year the United States became completely independent was 1783.

So, from the current point of view, it was only 5 years ago.

Around 1781, when Eugene was born, Alexandre fought bravely in America.

It was then that he received this sword, recognized for his achievements by Lafayette.

Of course, Eugene remembers that sword in a different way.

‘That must be the famous Beauharnais sword.’

As an anecdote of how Napoleon and the Beauharnais family met.

Anyway, when you think about it, the revolution is coming soon.

Being a soldier is a huge advantage.

However, Alexandre ultimately failed to leave his name in history.

In a word, he was incompetent.

Alexandre himself knows that fact best.

Alexandre laughed as he placed the sword on the wall.

“Hmph, the heyday of my life is over. Eugene, you will be the standard-bearer of our Beauharnais family. The prodigy Eugene de Beauharnais!”

Prodigy.

Eugene is only 7 years old, but he is already famous around the area as an extraordinary child.

Because of card games.

Usually, people would stop a child from playing card games, but Alexandre was surprised and delighted.

Because Alexandre also knew about the prodigy craze that was sweeping through 18th-century Europe.

Even if he is ordinary, if his child is extraordinary, that alone can change his life.

Isn’t that a fact already proven by the genius composer Mozart, who is still popular in Vienna?

Of course, Eugene replied nonchalantly.

“Sorry, but I’m not Mozart.”

“What’s with music? The glory of life is made by guns and swords. You must go to the Brienne military school! Go and become an officer who supports His Majesty the King! You can become a genius soldier!”

“Ah, yes. I see.”

To think of making his child a soldier already, it can be said to be an absurd father.

Of course, there is no concept of children’s rights in this era.

Still, it is obvious that being a soldier is a difficult job.

At that moment.

-Thump, thump, thump!

Suddenly, there was a loud knocking on the door.

“Alexandre! Are you there? You! When are you going to pay back the debt? Huh?”

The maids were startled and looked over, and Alexandre held his breath.

On the other hand, Eugene clicked his tongue.

Debt.

Drinking, gambling, and even having affairs all cost money.

But even though he is a major, a soldier’s salary is obvious even in this era.

He is the son of a noble family, but as the second son, he has no other source of income.

Naturally, the lack of money is being dealt with through debt.

Alexandre hurriedly leaned against the corner of the wall and said to Eugene.

“Tell them I’m not here. Eugene.”

“I think they know you’re here?”

“Still, you have to say I’m not here at times like this!”

Eugene shook his head and went out the door.

“Hello. Monsieur Recamier. My father is not here right now.”

Still, if you are the second son of a marquis and an officer in the royal army, you don’t borrow money from thugs.

A gentleman standing outside the Beauharnais Mansion frowned.

Jacques Recamier, the owner of the quite famous Recamier Bank.

Originally, he was the head of a bank in Lyon, near the Swiss border, but recently he has been trying to advance into Paris.

That’s how he lent money to Alexandre, but he was a headache because he was a bad debtor.

The creditor, Recamier, frowned and looked at Eugene.

Even if he is a money-worshipping banker, it is difficult to intimidate a 7-year-old child.

“Ugh, leaving everything to such a young child! Tell your father. If he doesn’t pay back all the principal and interest by the end of this month, I’m going to go after your grandfather!”

“How much debt do you have that you’re doing this?”

“Ha, would you even know if you heard it? A whopping 6000 livres! That’s just the principal!”

Watching Recamier disappear in a fit of anger, Eugene whistled softly.

“Wow, that’s six months’ worth of living expenses.”

Livre, that is, French gold coins [the currency of France before the French Revolution].

In short, Eugene’s father, Alexandre, is now carrying half a year’s worth of living expenses as debt.

***

Where do scoundrel noble officers go when they are suffering from debt?

“Hmph, like a loan shark. He must be a descendant of Jews. Or a Protestant! Yes!”

None other than his lover’s house.

Alexandre came to a mansion that was incomparably larger than the Beauharnais Mansion with Eugene.

To somehow get money with a crying voice.

Alexandre’s lover, Amelie, laughed and brought out coffee.

“So, you ran away to my house? Pfft!”

“Who said I ran away? I came to see you, Amelie. Hehe!”

“Oh, anyone who hears that would think you’re a loving man?”

Amelie smiled, lightly pinching Eugene’s cheek.

“Our cute Eugene must have been surprised. Right?”

Eugene silently ate a cookie and bowed politely.

“Yes, Madame Hohenzollern.”

Amelie Zephyrine von Salm-Kyrburg.

Alexandre Beauharnais’ current lover.

Just looking at the fact that she is the mistress of this large mansion, she is no ordinary person.

However, the title Eugene just said is truly more than that.

Hohenzollern.

It is the family name of the later Kingdom of Prussia [a former German state].

Of course, strictly speaking, it is a branch of the Hohenzollern family, and she is the princess of Sigmaringen in southwestern Germany.

Still, she is definitely the wife of a royal family.

Why is the wife of a royal family here?

There is also a complicated story here, but to summarize, it is simple.

Amelie, the daughter of a German lord who was educated in France, hated Germany and liked Paris.

So, three years after getting married, she left her husband and son and came to Paris.

To this place, the mansion where Amelie’s older brother and lord of Salm, Frederick, is.

Amelie laughed and stroked Eugene’s head.

“Really, this child is always polite. I hope my child grows up like this.”

“Hmph, how can the Germans teach such manners? It’s only possible in Paris.”

“I know. Sigh, if it weren’t for family matters, I would divorce right away and bring my child.”

Suddenly, Alexandre smiled, kissing Amelie’s hand.

“I also look forward to the day when I can have a formal marriage with you, Amelie.”

Once again, Eugene was inwardly impressed by his father’s true ability.

The skill of seducing women.

Before he knew it, Amelie was looking at Alexandre with dreamy eyes.

A man who became the lover of a prince’s wife, despite being a lower-class nobleman, that is Alexandre.

Well, just looking at the fact that he married Josephine in the first place, he is no ordinary man.

At that time, a man in an officer’s uniform entered the mansion with a servant.

“Oh, it’s cold. Huh? What. What about your house? Why are you here again? Alexandre?”

He is the owner of this mansion and Amelie’s older brother, Frederick Salm-Kyrburg.

He is the lord of a territory between France and the Holy Roman Empire, but his real job is separate.

Because he is a general (brigadier general) in the French Royal Army.

Of course, it is a kind of honorary position without a commanding unit.

Alexandre’s eyes lit up when he saw Frederick.

“Hey, my comrade Frederick. Heir to Salm. Won’t you lend some money to this poor and impoverished comrade?”

“Get lost! I don’t have any either. Don’t you know that this mansion isn’t even mine in the first place? It belongs to the architect, Pierre Rousseau. Not until I pay back 200,000 livres.”

“200,000 livres? Good heavens, what did you do?”

The huge mansion, the Salm family’s mansion, famous in Paris.

But the reality is that it is a pile of debt.

The lord of Salm, Frederick, smiled bitterly and replied.

“Well, the budget exceeded what I expected. The world is ruled by budget, my friend.”

Eugene lightly clicked his tongue.

This is what the lives of nobles are like just before the French Revolution.

On the surface, it is full of large mansions, banquets, and splendid jewels.

But in reality, all of that is mostly made up of debt.

Of course, there are also great nobles who are truly rich, but most nobles were suffering from debt.

Just like the Kingdom of France is also piled up with debt.

In a sense, the French Revolution may have been caused by the swelling of debt.

At that time, Amelie narrowed her eyes and pinched Alexandre’s cheek.

“Instead of looking elsewhere, why don’t you receive the grace of the royal family?”

“What are you talking about?”

“No matter how much debt you have, if the royal family bestows a favor once, that much will disappear. About 6000 livres.”

That’s right.

However, Alexandre is not a great nobleman, and he has no special ties to the royal family.

In fact, his father, the marquis, is not a person who has a great relationship with the royal family.

“How can I reach out to the royal family?”

“There is a way, isn’t there? Here.”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Amelie’s gaze turned to Eugene.

“Our [prodigy] Eugene might be able to do it. I’ll give you a chance to meet Her Majesty the Queen this time.”

Once again, this era is the era of genius.

The royal family will meet even the son of a lower-class nobleman just because he is a prodigy.

***

Of course, Eugene, who is just a reincarnated gambler, is not happy.

Of course, Eugene’s will was ignored.

“Yes! Eugene, this is an opportunity!”

Without asking Eugene, after asking Amelie, Alexandre happily returned home.

But Eugene still didn’t understand.

Of course, it would seem amazing to the royal family to see a prodigy.

But how does that solve Alexandre’s debt?

Is he supposed to show off a trick?

“What opportunity?”

“Page!”

“Yes? Wait a minute. Are you telling me to go into the royal palace as a servant?”

Only then did Eugene realize what Alexandre and Amelie were talking about.

First, they introduce Eugene as a great prodigy to the royal family.

Next, Eugene catches the eye of the French royal family and enters as a page [a ceremonial attendant or servant in a royal court].

Once you enter as a page, the page itself has a salary, but it becomes easier to receive the [grace] of the king and the royal family.

This grace means giving wealth in simple terms.

Of course, all of this process is easy to say, but it is actually very difficult.

Catching the eye of the royal family, being appointed as a page, and receiving grace.

But the real problem is separate.

“What’s wrong with that? Being a royal page is originally the honor of a nobleman!”

Looking at his father, who was recklessly happy, Eugene couldn’t help but shout.

“Father! It’s 1788 now!”

The year 1788 AD.

What this year means is very clear.

It’s the eve of the French Revolution.

If only one year passes, the Great Revolution will occur, and the royal family will be beheaded one after another.

In fact, even Alexandre in front of him will eventually have his head cut off by the guillotine because he stood in the wrong line.

It is the future of the original history.

But to make connections with the royal family one year before the downfall, not even 5 years ago?

It’s crazy.

Of course, Alexandre, who doesn’t know that fact, laughed and drank wine.

“Hehe! Of course, it’s not as much as during the reign of King Louis XIV! Still, the royal family is still the center of this country!”

“No, now is really not a good time!”

“I will send my son to the royal family! Oh, glorious France! Finally, I am connected to the royal family!”

It’s not for nothing that Alexandre was beheaded in the original history.

He really has no sense.

Taking a deep sigh, Eugene entered the room for now.

Taking out the timeline written in Korean, Eugene frowned.

“Good heavens, to try to send me as a page right before the French Revolution. No, it seems like there was an event like this originally.”

Should I really go?

This is truly a crossroads of choice.

At that time, silver-white letters appeared in front of Eugene’s eyes.

[To the Royal Family.]

Eugene blinked.

It was the silver letters that he thought were only displayed in gambling.

But it was displayed at this moment.

At the crossroads of choice, go to the royal family.

Eugene, who had been staring blankly at the disappearing letters in the air for a long time, suddenly smiled.

“The royal family, huh? Shall I take a look?”

Maybe, now is the time to take a gamble.

March 3, 1788 AD.

It was the day that Eugene de Beauharnais went to the French royal family.