He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 315

(315) Whose Princess is New France?

While the Royalists killed the wrong person, their intended target survived.

“This is all the Bourbons’ fault!”

Specifically, Napoleon Bonaparte and Eugene were blamed.

Nevertheless, the citizens of France were consumed by anger.

This entire mess was caused by the Spanish Bourbon family.

“In the end, wasn’t it the Bourbon family that caused this disaster!”

“War with Spain! Exterminate the Bourbon clan!”

“Doesn’t the Spanish throne lack a successor? It seems like they’re already finished.”

Even the bourgeois gathered at the café [Le Procope, a famous Parisian café] were saying such things.

“No! There’s the bloodline of the Braganza royal family. Prince João’s son, Pedro, will succeed to the Spanish throne! We must hold them accountable! And also the royal family members living in Paris!”

Watching this, Jacob Helie, dressed in a suit, unfolded a newspaper.

A man leisurely reading a newspaper is a common sight in a café under normal circumstances.

However, it’s quite rare when all the other customers are as furious as they are now.

A gentleman passing by noticed the newspaper and inquired.

“Oh, what’s that?”

“It’s the Cordelier newspaper that came out today. There’s some very interesting news.”

“What is it?”

Deputy Director Surratt, Helie, cleared his throat and spoke loud enough for the café patrons to hear.

“The claim is that Princess Marie Therese, who survived, is the true successor to the Spanish throne.”

At that, the gentlemen in the café all gathered around.

-〈Marie Therese Charlotte, as the Princess of New France!〉

Le Cordelier, soon to be published by Desmoulins.

Of course, Desmoulins opposes the monarchy and dislikes the imperial system, but at the same time, Desmoulins is a patriot.

In the face of a national emergency, he cooperated with Eugene.

Precisely in terms of public opinion.

The bourgeois gentlemen looked at each other.

Simply put, these gentlemen are all former French parliamentarians or financiers—in other words, opinion leaders.

And they realized an aspect they had never considered.

The continued usefulness of Marie Therese Charlotte.

“Does that make sense? Of course, they’re from the same family, but she’s a woman?”

“Either way, the deceased Carlota, Princess of Portugal, was also a woman. Moreover, tracing back, isn’t she originally from the bloodline of Louis XIV [the ‘Sun King’ of France]?”

“But weren’t the succession rights all taken away by the Treaty of Utrecht [a series of treaties that ended the War of the Spanish Succession in the early 18th century] in the past?”

At that moment, Helie raised his voice and shouted.

“This is the era of the revolutionary government! What use are the treaties from the old royal family? The Consul can invalidate them!”

Watching the citizens murmuring and nodding, Helie quietly left the place.

After that, Armand Ganet followed as if escorting him.

But just as Helie was heading towards downtown Paris, he noticed a group of people moving.

-Step, step, step!

Helie was a little surprised this time and looked back at Armand.

“What, who are those people?”

“Oh, they’re friends from the Vendée [a region in western France known for its royalist sympathies].”

“Vendée? Why are people coming from there?”

Before Armand could even explain, the crowd began to shout.

“Save Princess Marie Therese!”

The former Royalists, or the 3,000 people who were rescued from the Nantes prison.

The so-called first Bonapartist citizens had come to Paris.

Henri Forestier, once the leader of the Royalists, led the chant.

“Save the Princess of New France!”

“New World in French hands!”

“Long live the Princess!”

The most agitated man among them was Jacques, a soldier who had once run to occupy Nantes under Rochejaquelein.

“Protect the Princess of New France!”

The whole of Paris began to seethe with slogans.

***

Even if it starts as incitement, a demonstration ignites spontaneously once it catches fire.

-Wow!

Today, Paris was filled with fierce demonstration shouts.

Fortunately, it is not a demonstration aimed at overthrowing the government, so it is not being forcibly dispersed, but it is an unsettling matter from the authorities’ point of view.

Anyway, no one knows what an uncontrolled crowd will do.

These problems are irrelevant to morality or ideology.

It is a kind of physics that the power of a group once assembled unleashes.

Glancing down at the citizens shouting outside the window, Finance Minister Lebrun clicked his tongue.

“Really, people with nothing to do.”

“They must be able to make a living these days. Otherwise, they wouldn’t even demonstrate for such a thing.”

“Well, Cambacérès, you always enjoy gourmet food, so I can’t trust you. By the way, what about the report from the New World? Talleyrand?”

Foreign Minister Talleyrand adjusted his glasses and replied to Lebrun’s question.

“The United States of America is eyeing Louisiana, as well as Florida.”

It has been three months since Spain negotiated with France to give Louisiana, soon Louisiana.

Enough time has passed for the news to reach the United States.

Although the Crown Prince’s tragedy has not yet been reported, American explorers are stirring around, saying they will explore the land of Louisiana.

If Fernando’s death is known, it may be the trigger.

Anyway, even in the original history, the United States strives to acquire Florida and Louisiana around this time.

“Indeed, New France is a troublesome land. The path France should take is not in the New World or India, but in Africa.”

“Foreign Minister, what about the Spanish issue? Did you receive word that Godoy [Manuel Godoy, the Prime Minister of Spain] is responsible?”

“It seems Godoy will be ousted, Minister of Interior. The heir to the throne has lost his life, so someone must take responsibility.”

Listening to Talleyrand’s answer, Lucien pressed his bloodshot eyes and asked again.

“Then, what about the New France negotiations?”

Strictly speaking, New France is not under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Interior.

Not even Florida.

Anyway, what happened within the territory of the home country is the general area of the Minister of Interior.

However, with no Prime Minister and Eugene, who was virtually the real power, in seclusion, someone needs to oversee the state affairs.

Minister of Interior Lucien is doing that role, but unlike usual, he doesn’t seem happy at all.

The terror has left a big scar on Lucien as well.

At that moment, someone rushed into the cabinet meeting room of the ministers.

-Tatadak!

Chief Aide Brienne was looking for Talleyrand.

“Foreign Minister! News has arrived from Madrid.”

“Hmm, surely it’s not a declaration of war?”

“The King has sent a personal letter.”

Looking around at the slightly nervous ministers, Brienne read the letter in a trembling voice.

“Send Marie Therese Charlotte, who will be the sole heir to the throne, to Madrid.”

All the ministers looked at each other and were speechless.

Currently, it is true that there is public opinion among the parliamentarians, centered on Desmoulins, claiming that Marie Therese is the heir to the Spanish throne.

Also, unlike France, Spain does not strictly apply the Salic law [a law that excludes women from royal succession].

Of course, it was partially introduced when the Bourbon family became the royal family, but in reality, queen succession has occurred even in later original history.

However, it is Carlos IV who would think that he lost his successor because of France.

How could he think of the princess of the former French royal family as the heir to the throne, or rather, the presumptive heir?

When neither Talleyrand nor Lucien could open their mouths, Lebrun jumped up.

“Are you really going to make Marie Therese the heir to the throne?”

“That’s what they say.”

“What about Pedro of Portugal?”

When Brienne couldn’t answer because he didn’t know the reason, Talleyrand muttered.

“In that case, the Portuguese royal family will seize Spain. The Bourbon royal family wants to avoid that situation.”

There is a precedent.

In the past, when the Habsburg family still controlled Spain, a situation arose where there was no direct heir.

At that time, Carlos II chose the grandson of Louis XIV, who had succession rights through the queen, instead of the Habsburg relatives.

Because he hated the discussions of the great powers to divide Spain.

The current king, another Carlos, also hated the Portuguese royal family and nobles occupying the Spanish court.

On the other hand, Marie has strengths.

The point is that there are no nobles around her.

“This is not something we can decide on our own.”

Lucien rose from his seat with a pale face.

“I will report to Consul. I will.”

This report is painful for Lucien, who hates the old royal family.

Everyone guessed but kept their mouths shut.

Because they couldn’t predict how the situation would unfold.

In a word, the ministers all wanted to avoid the sparks.

***

In the dark night, the Consul, who had not yet left work, greeted the Chief Aide in his office.

“Someone has to take responsibility.”

Eugene raised his head at Napoleon’s words.

The crown prince of a country has died.

No matter how much Spain is like a faded apricot, it is still a powerful country that still occupies most of the New World.

It also boasts the world’s fifth-largest naval power.

Someone has to take responsibility for that death.

“You’re going to become Emperor, Father?”

“Of course.”

“Then, you’ll exile me and become a monarch.”

Looking at his son, who understood his intentions very accurately, Napoleon nodded.

“Go to Italy. I’ll give you the position of [Viceroy]. It will take some time, but it will proceed soon.”

Viceroy, the position of a monarch assisting the king.

It is superior to the governor and exercises the rights of the king, but it is not a title, so it cannot be inherited.

It was a method used when Spain ruled the colonies, and Napoleon was mentioning it.

However, to appoint a Viceroy, the appointer must be a monarch.

So Napoleon has decided to become Emperor.

Eugene looked at Napoleon and smiled.

Italy is by no means a bad place to be exiled, and it is a place where Napoleon’s consideration stands out.

But the position Eugene wants is different.

“If you’re going to give me the position of Viceroy, give me another position.”

“Where? Should I do it in Egypt?”

“New France.”

The moment Napoleon’s eyes widened, Eugene said.

“I heard that a rebellion has already broken out in Florida. Then, someone has to go and deal with it.”

Napoleon stared at Eugene and opened his mouth again.

“From the beginning, you wanted that place.”

“Yes.”

“Did you deliberately kill the people of the Bourbon royal family?”

Eugene shook his head without hesitation.

“That’s not it.”

He never wanted the death of the royal family.

Because it was obvious that it would be a huge burden on Marie.

Napoleon, who was quietly looking at Eugene, took out a personal letter from his bosom.

-Tak!

Eugene inadvertently received the letter and asked.

“What is this?”

“This is a personal letter sent by King Carlos IV of Spain. The content is simple. He will make Marie his successor.”

“Yes?”

Looking at Eugene’s completely dumbfounded face, Napoleon smiled strangely.

“You really didn’t predict it. Well, I didn’t predict it either. The royals are really strange people. He’s going to make a niece who killed his own child his successor?”

Nevertheless, Spain had no choice but to choose.

The best way for the vested interests of the current royal family to maintain power is to set up a puppet.

Furthermore, isn’t it good as a shield until Carlos gets a new child?

Napoleon asked Eugene, who still had a dumbfounded expression.

“You can’t just give it away. Can you?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, think of a way.”

At that moment, sparks flew from Napoleon’s eyes.

“I’ll give you the New World. No, I’ll give you Marie. But you have to solve this.”

It was the first mission that Napoleon, who had decided to become Emperor, entrusted to [Viceroy] Eugene.