He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 317

(317) Eugene and Marie’s Betrothal Ceremony of Exile

In European tradition, an engagement is an event blessed by God.

“But this feels more like an exile commemoration.”

Minister of the Interior Lucien muttered, looking at the ceremony with a bored expression.

This is the famous Notre Dame Cathedral.

A place mainly used by the old French royal family for weddings.

Even as the adopted son of the Consul, holding an engagement ceremony here, not a wedding, might seem excessive.

However, when you think about it, it’s not excessive at all.

The betrothal involves the presumptive heir of Spain, Louisiana is practically the dowry, and most importantly, the [Imperial Election] is at stake.

Moreover, both the betrothed are essentially being exiled to the New World as a result of this engagement.

Foreign Minister Talleyrand smiled, gracefully leaning on his cane.

“Originally, an engagement is a promise between families. So, this must be a promise between the Bonaparte family and the Bourbon, or rather, the Capet family. Therefore, this venue is necessary.”

“Then who will play the role of the bride’s father? Surely you’re not going to bring the self-proclaimed Louis XVII from St. Petersburg, are you, Minister Talleyrand?”

“Of course not. Wouldn’t that provoke a Jacobin terror attack aimed at the Bourbon family instead? I’ve been thinking about a suitable person.”

A strange smile appeared on Talleyrand’s lips.

“So, how about putting forward Count Fersen of Sweden?”

The ministers, who were looking around the cathedral preparing for the ceremony, all turned to each other.

It’s Eugene’s engagement ceremony, who may become a member of the imperial family in the future, even though he is still technically a commoner.

Also, it has only been 10 years since France broke away from the monarchy.

Everyone considers this engagement to be, so to speak, a state marriage.

But let’s say a Swedish prime minister-level figure is coming to the state marriage.

Calling a foreign aristocrat who had a scandal with the former queen?

Naturally, there’s bound to be controversy.

Lebrun, Cambacérès, and Lucien exclaimed separately.

“Good heavens. Isn’t that too much?”

“No, Minister Talleyrand has a point. When you lose your father early, your stepfather takes his place, doesn’t he? When you think about it, Consul Bonaparte is, so to speak, Eugene Freyschutz’s stepfather, isn’t he?”

“That’s different because it’s an adoption! Besides, the bride, Marie Thérèse Charlotte, is the Duchess of [Louisiana] or the northern [Nueva España] region! She can’t be the adopted daughter of a Swedish count!”

However, Talleyrand slowly shook his head and said.

“We’re just asking him to play the role of the bride’s father. Don’t you forget that this marriage is proceeding under one premise? The Imperial Election.”

Originally, state marriages are the business of the chancellor or the minister of the interior.

However, this matter involves diplomatic issues and is tied to political tactics.

Usually, Eugene has been in charge of handling such matters in Napoleon’s faction.

But since Eugene is the person involved and is busy preparing to move to the New World, Talleyrand is handling these issues as he pleases.

The other ministers were swept away by Talleyrand’s momentum and eventually agreed.

“So, the order is like this. Before the Imperial Election proceeds, we will first announce the engagement.”

“Next, as a result of this engagement, it will be announced that Emperor’s adopted son, Eugene Freyschutz, will be appointed as the [Viceroy] of New France?”

“That’s when Consul Bonaparte becomes Napoleon I as a result of the election, Minister Lebrun.”

The real purpose of this engagement is ultimately to establish an empire.

New France, the Bonaparte family acquiring the Spanish successor, and the propaganda of Eugene’s engagement as the hero of the Orient are all just facades.

The important thing is to change France’s form of government from a republic to an empire.

Talleyrand’s goal was to package the engagement so that no one could object.

“However, rumors will continue to spread during the election period.”

“What kind of rumors? That Count Fersen will become the princess’s stepfather?”

“That an overwhelming approval in the Imperial Election is necessary for northern Nueva España to be included in New France, and that it will be transferred to France through the marriage of the Emperor’s adopted son.”

Talleyrand gave a detailed explanation to Lebrun’s curious question.

Eventually, voters, especially in Paris, will implicitly realize.

That prosperity will come to France only if the Imperial Election proceeds smoothly.

In fact, it’s not entirely a lie.

Immediately, the New World territory rolls in intact.

Also, the Italian peninsula, excluding Tuscany and the Papal States, is waiting for annexation by France.

All are complex issues that can only be handled stably when there is a strong center called the Emperor.

Then Lucien said bluntly.

“In the end, the marriage becomes the most important justification for creating the throne.”

Talleyrand raised his eyebrows, smiled, and replied.

“Wouldn’t you say so? However, there is a tradition that coronations have been held in churches. The problem is how to handle this tradition.”

“We should ignore it. Why do we care about the church, Talleyrand? Even you were kicked out of the church, why are you saying that?”

“I ignore the church, like Minister Lucien. But the people don’t.”

Originally, even in the original history, Napoleon holds a church-style coronation to borrow the authority of the church.

However, in order not to succumb to the authority of the Pope, he performs the act of putting on the crown himself.

However, unlike the original history, he is currently promoting a constitutional monarchy through elections.

Is it really necessary to hold a coronation conducted by the church?

Then the expert in Roman law, Cambacérès, interjected.

“How about this? The coronation is changed to a declaration by the [Senate] in the old Roman style, and the engagement ceremony is done in the church style.”

At that, Lebrun, Talleyrand, and Carnot looked at each other.

“When you think about it, that would be pleasing the Spanish royal family, wouldn’t it?”

“The Spanish people still have great faith. This is a great way to promote friendly relations with the church on this occasion.”

“However, if that happens, you won’t be able to get a divorce.”

At that moment, Lucien couldn’t help but shout at the ministers.

“Ah, why? Marriage should originally be able to be divorced. But, Catholicism prohibits divorce, doesn’t it?”

He doesn’t like this marriage itself.

Moreover, he dislikes the empire even more.

But what torments Lucien is something else.

The death he saw at the terrorist site, and the world of power he has to climb over that death.

But Carnot, who is, so to speak, a technocrat, gave an absurd answer to that.

“In my opinion, if you say you’re going to divorce, Princess Marie will probably shoot Freyschutz, right?”

The ministers widened their eyes and burst into laughter.

“Puhaha! That’s a harsh joke.”

“You’re talking like you’ve never seen Princess Marie.”

“See her at the engagement ceremony later. How delicate a woman she is!”

However, the ministers did not realize that Carnot’s insight was not limited to the military field.

***

Of course, there are bound to be people who encourage it from the side.

“Marie, if Eugene ever cheats on you, stab him with a knife.”

Marie glanced at Count Fersen, who was speaking solemnly, and raised her coffee cup to cover her face.

Joy, embarrassment, anger, humiliation, and elation are mixed together at the same time.

She didn’t know what expression to make.

Marie, who barely calmed her mind, sat in the drawing room of the [Capet] family’s mansion and glared at Fersen.

“You’re talking nonsense, Fersen. You’re not my father.”

“I know. But it’s also true that I was commissioned by the French government to ensure that there are no international problems during this engagement ceremony.”

“Does Sweden support this engagement?”

Then a strange word flowed from Fersen’s mouth.

“Nya Sverige.”

Marie, who didn’t know Swedish, blinked and asked back.

“What is that?”

“Sverige, that is, Sweden’s colony in the New World. After being taken by the Netherlands, one of Sweden’s aspirations was to regain a colony in the New World.”

“Could it be that France has decided to give up somewhere? In Nueva España?”

Fersen shrugged.

“This time, France has decided to give up part of its territory in the southern New World. Of course, it’s not French territory, but Dutch territory.”

Nya Sverige is part of the famous Nieuw Amsterdam.

In other words, it’s New York in modern terms.

Sweden really once occupied it but was taken by the Netherlands, and since then, Sweden has not had a single colony in the New World.

But while Talleyrand was negotiating with Sweden, he decided to arbitrarily give up a piece of the [Batavian] Republic’s colony this time.

In later original history, it is called Dutch Guiana, or [Suriname].

From the Batavian Republic’s point of view, France had already regained Ceylon Island, so it was difficult to insist on Suriname, which was not very useful.

But why does France, or rather Talleyrand, need Sweden?

“The combination of Spain and France is difficult for European countries to accept. Even Russia, where pro-French forces are rising, finds it difficult to accept. But we can keep Russia in check.”

Fersen’s explanation hides a fact that is common sense only to diplomats.

Denmark is not enough.

In particular, Sweden is the only force that can check from the north when Russia suddenly goes wrong.

Anyway, Sweden is the only country in that era that could put St. Petersburg within military range through the so-called Northern War.

Marie didn’t understand everything, but she realized one thing for sure.

“Engagement has really become no ordinary thing.”

“Royal marriages are originally like that.”

“Did you love my mother?”

Fersen, who was staring at Marie, replied with a stiff face.

“Now, and also in the future, forever.”

Although Marie Thérèse and Louis Charles are not Fersen’s children.

But Fersen, who has no children, regards them as his own.

It is difficult for Marie, who still remembers the death of Louis XVI, to accept.

Nevertheless, Marie is now trying to get engaged to the man who caused Louis’s death.

That fact opened Marie’s heart just a little.

“I’ll allow you to be my stepfather, Fersen.”

Fersen smiled brightly and replied.

“Thank you, my daughter, Marie.”

At that moment, Marie frowned as if she wanted to slap him again.

However, Marie was not given time to do so.

Because Marie Antoinette, the mother who is busier than the bride-to-be at this moment, entered the drawing room.

“Oh my, Marie. You’re finally getting engaged! The Duchess of Nueva España! Really, our Louis also has a bright future. Oh my.”

“Antoinette, you’ve already come.”

Marie got up, looking at Antoinette, who was surprised and stiffened.

“Talk to each other. I have to go now.”

It seems that Marie cannot forgive either her mother or Fersen.

***

Originally, two clans, or rather three families, who could not tolerate each other, gathered in one place.

“Eugene Bonaparte and Marie Thérèse Charlotte Capet, do you swear to promise marriage by the will of God?”

The person presiding over the ceremony is Fesch, a half-sibling of the Bonaparte family.

Recently, Fesch became a cardinal thanks to the Pope’s pro-Bonaparte policy.

That’s why a mere Corsican village priest is presiding over the engagement ceremony in the heart of France, Notre Dame Cathedral.

Behind Fesch, the relatives of the engaged parties were seated with numerous guests.

People from the Bourbon, Beauharnais, and Bonaparte families.

“Are you going to leave this alone, Pauline?”

At that moment, Pauline, a friend of the Bonaparte family, raised her head and replied to Laure Permon’s question.

“Did you say they’re going to the New World?”

“Huh? That’s right. Is it their honeymoon? No, the wedding date hasn’t been set yet, has it?”

“I can’t let them go alone.”

Pauline stared intently at Eugene and Marie and twisted her lips.

“I’ll never miss it. Anyway, those two owe me, right?”

At that moment, Eugene and Marie exchanged rings.

-Clap clap clap!

June 1802.

Eugene and Marie’s engagement ceremony was held at Notre Dame.

An engagement ceremony scheduled for exile to the New World.

Or a day that will be recorded as the moment when France’s three major families, which will dominate the 19th century, are united.