He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 308

Pauline wakes up late again.

“Pauline, where have you been wandering lately, coming in so late!”

The morning at the Hôtel Comtesse de Brienne, commonly known as the Brienne Mansion, begins with Letizia’s scolding.

Originally the mansion of the Brienne family before the revolution, it is now owned by the Bonaparte family.

It is where Letizia resides, as she doesn’t particularly like her daughter-in-law Josephine and needs to care for her unmarried daughters.

Naturally, the money to purchase this mansion came from Eugene.

However, Pauline doesn’t particularly like this house that Eugene bought for her.

It’s because she can’t decorate it lavishly due to Letizia’s frugal tastes, and the ventilation isn’t very good either.

Perhaps it’s because the place was used as the official residence of the French Minister of Defense in the original historical timeline, so it feels rather austere.

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Pauline retorted to Letizia, who was in the drawing room.

“Mom, you should have said that when I came home last night.”

“You came in while I was asleep, so I didn’t have a chance to scold you!”

“Then just understand.”

Pauline said very brazenly, with her hands on her hips.

“I’m going around meeting men these days.”

Letizia and her sisters, who were sitting at the dining table in the mansion’s drawing room, exchanged glances.

“How can a grown woman say such terrible things so lightly!”

“Mother, isn’t it better that Pauline is meeting men?”

“What? Eliza! How can you say such a thing to your sister!”

The eldest daughter, Eliza, scoffed while eating her soup.

“It’s true. It’s better than meeting your nephew. At least you are meeting men who aren’t related, right?”

Pauline frowned.

Come to think of it, there seems to be another reason why Pauline dislikes the mansion that Eugene picked out for her.

It’s because of her annoying family.

“Take care of yourself. If you don’t meet any men like that, you’ll be treated like a simpleton even after you get married. Don’t you know how two-faced French men are?”

“Why wouldn’t I know? They demand chastity from women, but then they cheat on chaste women because they’re boring. I know that without having to frequent all sorts of salons like you do.”

“If you know so well, why do you only go back and forth between school and home?”

At that moment, Eliza put down her spoon and glared at Pauline.

“Only knowledge is the power that protects women. I will carve out my future with my own strength.”

Among Napoleon’s sisters, Eliza is the most strong-willed and intelligent.

However, this era is still the 19th century, and it is not yet a time when women can engage in independent social activities.

Of course, there is one person Pauline knows who does.

Pauline, who frequents salons, sarcastically mentioned a woman who came to her mind.

“Why don’t you meet Madame de Staël? I’m sure she’d love that.”

“No way! How dare you compare me to such a scandalous woman!”

“Well, she’s one of the most popular writers these days, along with Chateaubriand, isn’t she? Humph.”

Just as Eliza and Pauline were glaring at each other, Caroline, who had been sitting quietly, asked.

“Pauline, is it true that Mademoiselle Marie Thérèse is going to marry into Spain?”

Pauline was surprised and turned to Caroline.

“Wow, is there no such thing as secrecy in this country? How do you know that?”

“So it’s true! Marmont told me. That’s what they’re saying.”

“You’re still seeing Marmont? Your brother will hate that.”

Originally, in the original historical timeline, Caroline should have already married Murat.

However, because Napoleon and Murat’s first meeting was different, the Bonaparte family’s trust in Murat is not very high.

Rather, Marmont, Napoleon’s adjutant, who is just a passing acquaintance, frequents the Bonaparte family more often.

In any case, it’s a national secret diplomatic matter, but it’s being revealed too easily, even for a royal family.

But Letizia, who didn’t know, widened her eyes and asked.

“Marie Thérèse is going to marry into Spain? What does that mean? Then, what about Eugene?”

Pauline turned to Letizia and frowned.

“Mom, did you want Eugene to marry Marie?”

“He’s better than you. Of course.”

“Instead of supporting your daughter’s life, honestly, do you think there’s a better groom candidate than Eugene among the groom candidates I could marry?”

Marrying within the family is actually a secondary issue in this era.

In any case, if it’s a traditional wedding, you can get permission from the Vatican.

According to the revolutionary spirit, family relationships formed through adoption can simply be legally terminated.

However, Letizia, the miser who regards Eugene as her own grandson, snorted and retorted.

“Why not! Napoleon is considering marrying you off to the King of Hungary! Of course, the dowry is a bit of a waste, but it would be okay to spend that much!”

Pauline frowned deeply.

She remembers hearing it at the headquarters barracks when she encountered Napoleon’s army on her way back from the Orient.

Napoleon threatening to marry her off to Archduke Karl, who became the King of Hungary.

She thought it was just a bluff, but it seems it was being considered quite seriously.

Feeling a surge of revulsion towards Napoleon’s style of arranged marriage, Pauline jumped up.

“No way! I refuse to marry such an old man.”

“Where are you going! You have to eat your bread!”

“I have things to do!”

Pauline shouted as she quickly ran out.

“I have to go interfere with Marie’s marriage that even Mom wants!”

She has to thoroughly mess up Napoleon’s plans so that he won’t talk about arranged marriages again.

***

So, how can the young ladies of powerful families in the 19th century operate outside the mansion?

“So, you need to inform our Bonaparte family’s young lady about the situation.”

There is a very simple method.

It’s to move a man with power.

Of course, if that method involves making multiple lovers like Madame de Staël, there is the problem of a bad reputation.

But if you influence the lover of your brother’s subordinate and friend, your reputation will actually improve.

As Laure’s lover and Paris Garrison Commander Junot cleared his throat, his subordinate, Gendarmerie Commander Savary, turned his gaze expressionlessly.

“So, Mademoiselle Pauline is the one who’s been stirring up the police bureau and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs these days.”

“Please correct yourself. It’s Colonel Pauline Bonaparte, Senior Commander of the Nursing Unit under the Order of Saint John. And she’ll be promoted to Brigadier General soon.”

“My apologies, Colonel Pauline.”

Looking at the young lady who is diplomatically a colonel in a foreign army, Savary asked bluntly.

“First of all, how much have you investigated and come to me with?”

It’s like haggling over prices at the market.

However, when digging up information, the level of information you can find varies depending on the amount of information you have.

Pauline, who saw Eugene’s activities in Egypt from the sidelines, knew that much.

Pauline lightly recited what she had been investigating and finding out so far.

“The marriage is proceeding, the target is Marie, the essence is territorial exchange?”

“You know everything. What else do you want to know?”

“Don’t you think it’s strange?”

Pauline asked, her eyes sparkling, to Savary, the head of the military police [Gendarmerie].

“From what I saw in Egypt, things in the world don’t fall into place so perfectly like this. Unless someone is planning it.”

“Didn’t Godoy, the Prime Minister of Spain, plan it?”

“Oh my, why is our Gendarmerie Commander so naive?”

Pauline scoffed at Savary’s evasion.

“Sometimes people’s evaluations are wrong, but usually you can get a rough idea by looking at the country’s state affairs. Godoy is just a flashy womanizer, isn’t he?”

Godoy is the most powerful person in Spain.

Naturally, rumors about him have spread widely in French society as well.

Of course, he may be a capable person unlike the rumors, but looking at the current state of Spain, that’s unlikely.

But an incompetent womanizer sets up such a flawless plan?

It can’t not be strange.

“Besides, this seems like it benefits both Spain and France on the surface, but it doesn’t.”

“Why is that? I don’t think it’s a soldier’s job to evaluate that.”

“France gets the New World [Louisiana Territory], but it’s too far away to manage. Spain gets Tuscany, but it’s surrounded by French territory, right?”

Pauline revealed her thoughts while watching Savary’s eyes.

“France can take it away whenever it changes its mind. So my brother is willing to give up Tuscany.”

Of course, Pauline did not do a precise information analysis.

For example, she didn’t analyze the economic feasibility of Louisiana or assess the military occupation potential of Tuscany before speaking.

However, the world of macro-politics sometimes coincides with common sense.

Because it’s so big, there’s little room for variables to act.

Savary, the man who would later become the head of the secret police in the original historical timeline, smiled strangely.

“Interesting.”

“Both France and Spain suffer disadvantages. Aren’t the people who would like that determined? Royalists or my brother’s opponents? Or Eugene’s rivals?”

“You have a rich imagination, but I think you’re missing one thing.”

Savary quietly told Napoleon’s sister while looking at her.

“Our enemy countries.”

Although she analyzed it meticulously for a young woman of 21, something important was missing.

In the end, the Spanish royal marriage is a diplomatic issue.

The first priority to intervene in such a matter is none other than the foreign ministry of France’s enemy country.

Pauline, who hadn’t thought of that until now, was surprised and asked.

“Are the enemy countries moving? Where? Austria? England?”

“It could be Russia. But I’m the head of the Gendarmerie, not an investigator.”

“So you’re going to stand still? Hey, Commander Junot. Say something to your subordinate.”

Paris Garrison Commander Junot then whistled and intervened.

“Very interesting. Then we should leave it to an expert.”

“Do you have something in mind?”

“No, I just thought of it now. We should leave this to the secret police, right? Those guys have been traveling overseas a lot lately to recruit technicians.”

Pauline tilted her head.

“Who are you talking about?”

Then, Junot laughed and winked.

“Surratt.”

It’s about the secret intelligence organization that Eugene created.

***

There is a famous detective in Surratt who loves money.

“So, you’re the best investigator in Surratt? You don’t look like it.”

Vidocq, a young man in shabby clothes, shrugged and replied from the alley.

“Well, believe it or not. I’ll do anything as long as I get paid. The money?”

“I brought it. But who proves that your information is correct?”

“If it’s wrong, you can tell my boss, right? Or go to your brother and tattle.”

Pauline glared at Vidocq, but there’s no other way now.

Anyway, Pauline has used all the best connections she can use.

If she goes any further from here, she might get caught by Eugene or Napoleon before she can even grasp the reality, and she might not be able to do anything.

-Clang!

Vidocq whistled as he snatched the bag of silver coins thrown by Pauline’s bodyguard in the air.

“Wow, when did a noble lady like you save up so much money again?”

“The Order of Saint John also has a branch in France, you know? I’m in charge there.”

“Wow, you’re rich. I heard their French assets are enormous.”

From the bodyguard standing behind Pauline to the knights of the Paris branch of the Hospitaller Order.

Originally, immediately after the revolution, the Hospitaller Order was about to have all its assets confiscated by the government and its organization forcibly dissolved.

However, after barely overcoming the crisis, it reconciled with France during the Orient expedition and regained its French assets.

However, partly because the headquarters of the Hospitaller Order was built far away in Damietta, Egypt, it was difficult to entrust the Paris branch to just anyone.

But Pauline, Napoleon’s sister, happened to be a soldier in the Hospitaller Order.

Therefore, Pauline is also the chief of the Hospitaller Order in Paris.

Of course, since the Great Revolution has passed, it’s only a force that can be used as a source of funds like this.

“Give me the information you brought. How is it?”

As Pauline pressed, Vidocq grinned and recited what he had investigated.

“I found out that Cadoudal has entered the country.”

Pauline blinked at the name she had never expected.

“Who is that?”

“A bigwig among the Vendée rebels [Royalist rebels in the Vendée region]. Of course, Brittany was the central stronghold, not the Vendée.”

“I guess he’s like Rochejaquelein? So?”

Suddenly, Vidocq looked around and lowered his voice.

“This guy is originally an exile, but information has been obtained that he smuggled himself in after the Treaty of Amiens [a brief peace treaty between France and Great Britain]. It seems he came in disguised as an Englishman.”

“Why would an exile come in?”

“Well, but intelligence has also been obtained that this guy frequently traveled between Spain and England. What do you think?”

Pauline asked with a very excited face.

“So, England plotted the conspiracy?”

It seems that Savary’s reasoning was correct.

If this fact is revealed, she might be able to stop the marriage.

But Vidocq’s investigation didn’t end there.

Vidocq took out a rough portrait from his pocket.

“Besides, I became interested and stirred things up, and I found out that this guy and Cadoudal met frequently in London.”

“Who is this…unattractive person?”

“Haha! You’re the only one who would call this man unattractive, miss.”

Vidocq, who had been laughing for a while, said with sparkling eyes.