He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 35

(34) Let’s Execute the Désirée Marriage Operation

Désirée, Napoleon’s first love and, in the original history, the woman who becomes the Queen of Sweden.

“Ouch! Why is the soup so hot, sister?”

The Clary mansion is very noisy today.

Étienne, who was nearly dragged to prison and killed, was saved, and a way was found to save the failing Clary Trading Company.

It is only natural to treat the benefactor of life and property to a meal.

The servants and family members are all running around to entertain guests for the first time in a while.

Among them, there is also an unskilled cook.

Looking at the youngest, Désirée, her older sister Julie clicked her tongue.

“You have to carry it carefully! It’s for the guests.”

“That’s why I’m doing it myself. Oh, and the princess’s knight has arrived, right?”

“Why, are you trying to steal him from the princess?”

Instantly, Désirée blushed and shouted.

“Oh, come on! It’s not like that, Julie!”

As befitting Marseille’s top merchant, the Clary mansion is quite large.

Still, the commotion in the kitchen could be faintly heard in the reception room.

François Clary cleared his throat and spoke to the guest.

“Hmm, it’s noisy because of my daughter. Sorry, where were we?”

“It’s alright. I mentioned that I wanted to discuss establishing a factory. And you happen to have a soap factory.”

“It’s just handmade soap. But what do you want to make, Monsieur Bonaparte?”

Now completely treating Eugene as an adult, Clary replied lightly to Eugene.

“I want to create a military factory cluster, or rather, a complex, in this Marseille.”

It’s not a light matter at all.

A military factory complex.

Soon, it means creating a series of complexes that produce and supply weapons and military supplies.

Of course, since this is not yet an era where mechanization has been introduced, the manufacturing itself must be done by technicians through handicrafts.

So, it’s like a manufacture, a factory-based handicraft system.

Still, as it is a factory, it needs land, workers, and equipment.

Clary’s cooperation, who has a handicraft factory for making soap, is essential.

Clary stroked his beard and nodded.

“Hmm, of course, this isn’t a naval port, but it is a port city. Importing gunpowder was also possible until the British fleet roamed the Mediterranean.”

“After all, most of the gunpowder materials come from outside. Especially saltpeter comes a lot from India. Even if not, many resources needed for weapon manufacturing come through this Marseille.”

“But why a military factory of all things? You need connections in the military for that.”

Then Eugene pointed to Joseph, who was sitting next to him, listening with great interest.

“Here, isn’t Monsieur Joseph here? Also, General Napoleon will surely become a big figure in the future.”

This is why Joseph was brought to the meeting with the Clary family today to discuss new business.

Joseph also proudly puffed out his chest.

Conversely, Clary looked at Joseph with distrust, then looked at Eugene and sighed.

“Hmph, it seems profitable. The military, huh. I don’t know if Fréron will leave us alone if we do that business.”

“How did you end up having a bad relationship with that guy?”

“It’s obvious. Being a royalist is just an excuse. He’s after our family’s money. Moreover!”

Suddenly, Clary gritted his teeth and lowered his voice.

“General Lapoype is behind that Fréron!”

Although he is a prominent magazine publisher, Fréron is not a very good politician.

Nevertheless, there is a reason why Clary, the wealthiest man in Marseille, is trembling.

General Lapoype, the commander of the Italian Army, is Fréron’s brother-in-law.

Clearly, in times of war, military supplies are a lot of money.

Moreover, now that he has entered the military, Eugene needed funds and supplies to use in the military.

Didn’t Eugene’s funds play a big role in renting cannons even in Toulon?

The military supply business is a perfect business to solve all of this.

However, listening to Clary’s words, Eugene realized that there was an unexpected obstacle.

“So, the primary obstacle to the military business is Fréron.”

“That’s right. But I don’t know how to solve it. You helped me for now, but I don’t know when and how he’ll harass us again!”

“Well, it’s not that difficult. If it doesn’t work out, we can just remove Fréron.”

Eugene chuckled at Clary, who was shocked and gaping.

“Ah, don’t worry. I’ll try to find a more amicable way.”

It was passed off as a joke, but it was by no means just a joke.

If there is an obstacle, remove it to solve it.

This is what Napoleon directly taught Eugene.

Besides, Fréron is already famous as a slaughterer.

Even if he dies, he’s not a person to be missed.

Joseph, who was shaking his head next to him, said.

“Wow, when our bank owner says it, it doesn’t sound like a joke at all.”

“Really? I’m also good at making jokes.”

“You only like making gruesome jokes. Oh, Julie! Let me carry that!”

Suddenly, Joseph spotted Julie bringing food and hurriedly ran over.

Eugene, who was staring blankly at the sight, gleamed in his eyes.

For some reason, he seemed to see a way to solve Fréron.

“That might be the way.”

It’s actually something that will happen in the original history.

***

Anytime, anywhere, celebrities are the subject of public interest.

Even in the late 18th century, during the revolution.

Among them, Désirée was by far the most interested in the Clary family.

“How did you get the nickname ‘Knight of the Princess’?”

Famous French cuisine of later generations has not yet been established among the general public.

This is because modern French cuisine was established after the royal family collapsed and the royal chefs opened restaurants.

However, the wealthy enjoying gourmet food is no exception in the late 18th century.

The Clary family, the wealthiest in Marseille, is no exception.

The table is full of food.

It cannot be compared to the black bread of the battlefield or the meals of the poor Bonaparte family.

However, Eugene swallowed the thought that it might be a little hard to digest with juice and smiled.

It’s not just Désirée, but the entire Clary family was looking at Eugene.

“There’s a misunderstanding. I just helped with the trial of Queen, no, Madame Antoinette [Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France during the French Revolution].”

“How did you help?”

“Well, I helped her with the difficult things she went through.”

He said something obvious, but Désirée’s eyes sparkled.

“Really, that’s amazing! You seem younger than me. How did you think of that?”

It seems to be a completely different world story for Désirée, who lived in this southern end of Marseille.

Eugene smiled and looked at the opposite side of the table.

Joseph was already flirting with Julie.

Narrowing his eyes, Eugene asked Désirée.

“By the way, how do you know Joseph?”

“Huh? Why are you asking about my sister? Do you have an interest in her?”

“No, I think I’m too young to be interested. Rather, it seems like Monsieur Bonaparte is interested.”

Then Désirée smiled brightly and started talking.

“I’ve known the Bonaparte family since I settled here in Marseille. Oh, and Napoleon? Ah, Napoleon has returned as a general!”

In an instant, Désirée put words on her lips that almost made Eugene choke.

“I heard you’re his adjutant? What kind of person is he?”

Like lightning, Eugene scanned Désirée’s eyes.

Fortunately, there was no special affection in her eyes yet.

Rather, she had a slightly favorable attitude towards Eugene in front of her.

A face full of smiles, leaning forward, and focusing on every word and action of Eugene.

In fact, Désirée was born in 1777, so she is not much different from Marie Thérèse.

Surprisingly, she is closer in age to Eugene than Napoleon.

Besides, listening to the story, it seems she has never seen Napoleon in person.

Lightly licking his lips, Eugene smiled subtly.

“He’s handsome.”

“Really? Wow, young, handsome, and a general!”

“But he’s ruthless to women.”

Eugene deliberately spoke the ‘truth’ about Napoleon in the history he knew.

“He is ruthless in order to get what he wants. That’s the kind of person he is.”

That’s why Napoleon abandoned Désirée and left for Paris in the original history.

To the ambitious Napoleon, Désirée, a girl with many dreams, was not a very helpful existence.

However, if you ask if Napoleon chose his wife only for profit, that’s not the case either.

From the beginning, Josephine was not necessarily an existence that would be beneficial to Napoleon.

Then Désirée asked in surprise.

“Could it be, mo, mo, body?”

“Well, that’s not exactly what I meant. It could be that way. I don’t know that far.”

“Oh my gosh. My sister said she was also interested in General Napoleon. I should tell her not to be interested.”

Eugene hurriedly grabbed Désirée’s hand as she tried to get up from her seat.

“Ah, Mademoiselle Désirée. Please keep that a secret.”

“Oh my, your hand… And I have to tell my sister so she doesn’t have unnecessary interest. Don’t you think so?”

“That’s because I have to keep my superior’s secrets well as an adjutant.”

Just as Désirée was about to answer, blushing slightly while holding Eugene’s hand.

-Bang!

Suddenly, soldiers poured in, breaking down the door of the Clary mansion.

“Clary! How dare you kick out my men under the pretext of General Napoleon? You anti-revolutionary!”

The one at the head was Fréron.

The Clary family, who were peacefully enjoying their meal, were ambushed.

As Fréron led the soldiers and pushed in, the Clary family screamed.

“François! Run away!”

“Aah, Father!”

“Break everything and catch them! You can do whatever you want with the women! Because they are the daughters of anti-revolutionaries!”

At that moment, Eugene blocked Fréron.

“Monsieur Fréron, what is this?”

As Fréron hesitated for a moment in embarrassment, Sergeant Philip stepped forward and shouted.

“Ha, this is the guy, Governor! This is the guy who dared to impersonate General Bonaparte’s adjutant!”

“Well, this guy, no, this boy is an adjutant.”

“Yes? Go, Governor, what do you mean?”

Fréron, the National Convention’s commissioner and mayor of Marseille, frowned and said.

“Lieutenant Boarneh. What is this all about? Are you going to tarnish your father’s reputation? How dare you stick with anti-revolutionaries.”

In the past, Fréron would have ignored Eugene.

But now Eugene is a young standard-bearer and major in the Revolutionary Army who has made achievements in Toulon.

Furthermore, his father, Alexandre, who is not making much of a contribution, is also serving as a brigadier general in the Northern Army.

Besides, the real problem is separate.

It is that he is Napoleon’s adjutant.

Napoleon, the hero of Toulon, who is in charge of this Marseille military headquarters and is the resident military attache [military officer assigned to a diplomatic post].

Here, Fréron even has a personal motive to become close to Napoleon.

Considering that point, Eugene smiled.

“Monsieur Fréron, I just didn’t want you to be at odds with General Bonaparte.”

“What? Why would I be at odds with General Bonaparte?”

“Because this family will now be related to General Bonaparte.”

Suddenly, Eugene pointed to Joseph, who was hugging Julie as if to protect her from across the table.

“Monsieur Joseph Bonaparte. He is the older brother of General Napoleon Bonaparte and the legal advisor of my bank, Banque Boarneh de Marseille.”

“I know who he is. Do you think I’ve only been to the Bonaparte family once or twice? Anyway, to see Pauline, uh-hmm! Anyway!”

“Also, he is very close to Miss Julie Clary.”

At that moment, Eugene winked.

“That’s right. Soon, the two will be married.”

It was a moment that shocked Fréron, the Clary family, and Joseph.

***

Anyway, what Eugene did is something that will happen in history anyway.

“Th, th, thank you for saving me! But this is not it! Are you going to block my daughter’s future!”

Of course, François Clary can’t help but think this way.

Joseph is a lawyer from a rural area in Corsica.

He is poor and has a family of eight children including himself and a widowed mother.

He is even the eldest son of the family.

It is grateful to help with the business, but isn’t it obvious that his daughter will suffer?

However, Eugene retorted coldly.

“Monsieur Clary. Are you going to let your whole family die?”

“What?”

“If you continue like this, Stanislas Fréron will drag you all to prison and execute you. That almost happened today.”

Eugene added to Clary, who had turned pale.

“But there is a protector here. The rising hero of Toulon, General Bonaparte’s brother.”

“Th, that’s right.”

“Now, there’s only one thing left. Miss Julie Clary, what do you think? Do you not like Monsieur Joseph?”

Again, everyone’s eyes turned to Julie.

Clary glared at her intensely, begging her to refuse, but Julie turned away.

Suddenly, Julie lowered her flushed face and parted her lips.

“I like him.”

Rather, Joseph was embarrassed and gaped.

“Wa, wait a minute. I’m not ready yet. I don’t even have a house to live in after we get married.”

“Don’t you like me?”

“No, I like you! But President Boarneh! This is something, it’s too much like lightning!”

Eugene lightly patted Joseph’s shoulder and said as if he knew everything.

“Revolutionary marriages are all like that. Wait a minute.”

At that moment, Eugene’s hand stopped.

He remembered something from what Joseph just said.

Quietly, Eugene repeated Joseph’s words to himself.

“Lightning.”

“Um, yeah. It’s like lightning. You have to think about things like this.”

“A man who acts faster than words, the speed that best suits this revolution, a man who is not afraid of Fréron, and a man who will not avoid self-sacrifice!”

The next moment, Eugene grabbed Clary’s hand.

“Let’s have another marriage. With your beautiful youngest daughter.”

There is only one youngest daughter in the Clary family.

Désirée Clary.

Napoleon’s first love.

The girl covered her mouth with her hand, her face flushed red.

Is this a proposal?

Unfortunately, no.

Of course, Clary, who misunderstood that way, asked Eugene as if he was dumbfounded.

“Could it be, you?”

“Yes? No, I’m only 12 years old. I’ll be 13 soon, but I’m far from getting married.”

“Then who are you talking about?”

Eugene made an effort to ignore Désirée, whose face was getting darker, and told Clary.

“There is a really good marriage prospect. He’s also a young, unmarried general.”

Anyway, Désirée will not be able to marry Napoleon.

Napoleon was not satisfied with Désirée for whatever reason.

However, as a result, Désirée marries the best husband for her, but the worst subordinate for Napoleon.

The traitor of Leipzig [battle in 1813 where allied forces defeated Napoleon], the future King of Sweden in the original history, Bernadotte.

That marriage must be prevented.

At the same time, he must still be the best groom for Désirée.

Above all, Eugene needs a connection.

Among such people, there is one more unmarried ‘general’ besides Napoleon.

“Louis Lazare Hoche.”

Napoleon’s rival and Eugene’s friend during the Revolution.

And Napoleon’s rival in love.