He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 309

(309) The Bomber Cadoudal Arrives in Paris

Even in an era without a royal court, those who plot conspiracies roam throughout Paris.

“Don’t you find it strange, Director Lafayette?”

Madame de Staël, the daughter of Necker, the former finance minister during the old royal regime, was one of them.

However, it was indeed odd for a woman to visit his home and question him like this.

Especially since Lafayette was married, and his wife resided perfectly well in their home’s bedroom.

With an unpleasant feeling, Lafayette glared at Madame de Staël.

Of course, as a high-ranking member of the Freemasons, he couldn’t simply chase her away.

“What is strange, Madame de Staël?”

“I understand the reason for Spain’s actions. They need territory. Tuscany would be more useful than useless Louisiana.”

“If you know so well, then what is strange? Former Princess Marie Thérèse Charlotte was originally a bride sought after by the world. Her value is simply being rediscovered.”

However, unlike his compliant answer, Lafayette’s expression was far from pleasant.

Clearly, the marriage proposal from the Spanish royal family was a diplomatic state secret.

Yet, a noblewoman, not even a government official, knew this fact and came to ask the opposition leader.

*Is there anything in this country where confidentiality is maintained?*

Of course, he had seen confidentiality fail since the days of the old royal regime.

Madam de Staël asked again with a face that showed no surprise.

“Are you saying that sincerely? This is a [plot] aimed at Eugene Freiherr. Why is the Grand Master of the Freemasons ignoring this truth?”

Instantly, Lafayette narrowed his brows.

“Many young men fail in their first love, Madame de Staël.”

“Oh my, you’ve forgotten the political [support base] that Freiherr stands on.”

“Isn’t that the Bonaparte Club? Or perhaps the Italian Legion faction and the Orient faction within the military.”

Staring intently at Lafayette, who was subtly changing the subject, Madame de Staël smiled mysteriously.

“You’re wrong. It’s the soldiers and citizens from the Vendée. Those people are Freiherr’s absolute base. You know that very well, don’t you?”

The Bonaparte Cartel, the Orient Legion, and the Eugene Club members.

That core group was essentially formed during the Vendée expedition.

Furthermore, the 1.5 million citizens of the Vendée and the survivors in that vicinity at the time are now voters who fanatically support Eugene.

A significant number of the citizens who are enthusiastic in Paris are also those who came from the Vendée.

The problem is that their original identity was genuine royalists.

“But, the princess is going to Spain. From the perspective of the Vendée people, it’s like having the princess taken away. Precisely, the knight of the princess, who must protect her!”

Gazing at Madame de Staël, Lafayette turned his gaze to the coffee cup.

“That’s an excessive analysis.”

“Is it? Hmm, then won’t you tell me something deeper? I’m free tonight.”

“I am not free.”

At Lafayette’s cold reply, Madame de Staël did not linger and rose from her seat.

“That’s a shame. Should I go see Hippolyte Charles? Hohohot!”

Lafayette stared intently at her back until Madame de Staël left the drawing room.

Certainly, Madame de Staël’s analysis, as the mistress of powerful figures, was accurate.

Then who orchestrated this conspiracy?

At that moment, someone spoke from the door behind the drawing room.

“Why are you meeting with that seductress, Grand Master?”

Lafayette replied without turning around.

“If she were just a woman who liked men, she couldn’t move the French political scene without a proper husband.”

“She’s useful?”

“State your business. Monsieur Cadoudal.”

Then, a stout man with a truly massive physique entered the drawing room.

“Hehe, to welcome this Chouannerie spy, the Marquis is indeed generous.”

It was the ultra-hardline royalist Cadoudal who had contacted the former constitutional monarchist Lafayette.

***

Chouannerie, a term referring to the hardline royalists.

The name originated from the legendary royalist supporter, Jean Chouan, and it signifies the most hardline faction among the Bourbon supporters.

Cadoudal was the leading figure of this Chouannerie faction at the time.

In the original history, he would have led the Vendée rebellion in 1801, only to be defeated by Hoche and exiled to England.

However, because Napoleon suppressed the Vendée rebellion so quickly, hardline royalists like Cadoudal lost their footing.

As a result, he led sporadic uprisings in the Brittany region before fleeing to England early on.

But why did Cadoudal come to Lafayette?

Lafayette glared at Cadoudal and asked.

“You brought Pitt’s secret letter?”

Cadoudal nodded.

“That’s right. Furthermore, I am carrying out the instructions of Philip d’Auvergne de Bouillon.”

“What conspiracy?”

“Didn’t Madame de Staël say it just now? To use the princess to undermine Freiherr’s base, and furthermore, to overturn France.”

Suddenly, Cadoudal’s eyes gleamed.

“Pitt wants revenge on Freiherr, who brought him down, you seize the opportunity to regain power, and I, as a royalist, return to Paris. Wouldn’t that be a good thing for everyone?”

So, he was saying he infiltrated as Pitt’s messenger.

Of course, Cadoudal had set foot on the European continent several times after his exile.

He had especially visited Spain on numerous occasions.

However, there was no reason to tell Lafayette all these truths.

Although he contacted him under Pitt’s instructions, Cadoudal did not trust Lafayette.

Cadoudal only trusted himself.

Even the Bourbon royal family’s claimants to the throne did not particularly trust Cadoudal.

He simply believed that a country ruled by a king was just, and he was working to return France to the ‘good old days.’

On the other hand, Lafayette looked at Cadoudal and the letter alternately, with a displeased expression.

If he were only the messenger of the former British Prime Minister, Lafayette would not have had any reason to meet Cadoudal, who came from a peasant background.

However, Cadoudal brought another person’s letter of introduction.

The letter from the Grand Master of the English Freemasons, Duke John Murray of Atholl.

During the Irish rebellion, this was the British Freemason collaborator who supported the rebellion from behind and cooperated with Lafayette.

In other words, from Lafayette’s perspective, he was an ally as a Freemason.

Since such a person sent a letter of introduction, it was difficult to refuse.

Staring intently at the letter of introduction, Lafayette suddenly gazed at Cadoudal.

“I refuse.”

Cadoudal looked at Lafayette and shrugged his thick shoulders.

“Oh, you’ll regret it. This is Prime Minister Pitt’s letter.”

“Since the Grand Master of the English Freemasons sent a letter of introduction, I will give you time. Leave this place immediately.”

“Did you perhaps call the police?”

Lafayette replied with a cold attitude.

“They will be storming in here soon.”

Cadoudal twisted his lips and stood up abruptly.

It had already been 10 years since he became an exile.

He was long accustomed to running away.

Moreover, he did not think that the cowardly constitutional monarchists would readily help.

Cadoudal only came here with a purpose.

“Ha! Director Lafayette, you will regret it. Not joining hands with me!”

Immediately after Cadoudal quickly left the place, other people rushed into Lafayette’s mansion.

-Clatter!

It was the gendarmerie [military police] of the Paris Security Command.

Especially this time, Savary himself was entering, as if considering the seriousness of the matter.

After briefly looking around, Savary approached Lafayette.

“Are you alright, Director?”

Lafayette sighed and nodded.

“I will cooperate with the investigation. I will say everything I know.”

It was then.

-Bang!

The explosion violently engulfed Lafayette’s drawing room.

***

Eugene, in fact, heard all these circumstances a little late.

“Cadoudal?”

The head of the Shurtai [Eugene’s intelligence agency], Rochejacquelein, nodded with a troubled face.

In fact, strictly speaking, Rochejacquelein was Eugene’s closest aide, but he could not be called the real power of the Shurtai.

This was because the Shurtai itself was an organization created by Eugene, centered around Ellie.

Moreover, in a situation where he had to take control of the Shurtai, he had also gone on the Orient expedition with Eugene.

Still, his reputation as the ‘Retaker’ of Florida was high, so he was not ignored, but there was still a delay in reporting.

Especially if it was information investigated by an unruly agent like Vidocq.

“Yes, *Patrong* [Boss]. I apologize for the late report.”

“Why did Vidocq, no, Pauline, investigate that?”

“It seems she suspected that it was related to the Spanish royal marriage.”

Suddenly, Rochejacquelein narrowed his brows and explained.

“The problem is that it seems to be true. Intelligence has been obtained that Philip d’Auvergne put Cadoudal on a ship heading to Madrid. The facts have not yet been confirmed.”

Philip d’Auvergne de Bouillon.

This person was originally a lower-ranking officer in the British Navy.

However, in 1779, when he was 25 years old, a strange stroke of luck came to Philip, who had become a prisoner of war while fighting against France.

Jacques Léopold de Auvergne, the Duke of Bouillon, the ruler of the duchy between France and the Holy Roman Empire, sent someone.

The Duke of Bouillon did not have a son, and while looking for a close relative, he unexpectedly pointed to Philip.

Philip, who knew that his ancestors had come from France a long time ago, but did not know that they were great nobles, was tempted by the luck.

However, the time was the late 18th century, an era when the succession of nobles was only possible with the approval of the royal family.

After trials and tribulations, Auvergne was recognized by the British and French royal families as the successor to the Duke of Bouillon.

And then the French Revolution broke out.

The Duchy of Bouillon was absorbed into the French Republic, and Philip lost the duchy.

Afterward, Philip became the leader of spies plotting to overthrow the French Republic.

“Philip d’Auvergne? Isn’t he the claimant to the Duke of Bouillon! He was famous for sending numerous spies to France at one time!”

“This is a big problem. It’s certain that they are plotting something suspicious!”

“We will mobilize the entire Shurtai to ferret out Auvergne’s subordinates!”

The Deputy Director Jacob Ellie, the Italian Director Francesco Tolli, and the Overseas Director Karl Schmeister exclaimed in surprise.

In fact, considering Philip d’Auvergne’s background, this reaction was natural.

As of 1801, he was truly a hidden figure in the world of espionage.

However, Eugene firmly shook his head.

“No, find Cadoudal.”

Deputy Director Ellie scratched his head and asked.

“Yes? Ah, of course, he is a dangerous figure as a hardline royalist. But he is just a henchman.”

“That guy is not just a henchman.”

“What do you mean?”

It was the moment when Eugene was considering how to explain.

-Bang!

An uninvited guest burst into the Paris Bonaparte Cartel office.

But no one stopped him.

It was Junot, a comrade who had shared life and death with Eugene on the battlefields of the Orient.

“It’s a disaster, Eugene!”

“What’s wrong, Junot?”

“A bomb exploded at Lafayette’s house!”

At the scream of the Security Commander Junot, Eugene was surprised and grabbed Junot, asking.

“Is Lafayette dead?”

Junot shook his head with a bewildered face and replied.

“That’s not it, but he is unconscious with serious injuries. Savary, who went after receiving Lafayette’s report, is also seriously injured and in the same condition. Who on earth would do this, in Paris!”

At that moment, Eugene turned to Rochejacquelein.

“Find Cadoudal immediately.”

“Yes? No, what does that guy have to do with it?”

“That guy is a royalist bomb expert. Find him immediately!”

Eugene trembled and shouted.

“Clearly, he’s the culprit!”

Cadoudal, that guy is the one who plots the assassination of Napoleon in the original history.