He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 374

(374) The Royal Father Does Not Go to Spain

After four years, Josephine, now Empress, reunited with a princess from the old royal family.

“Your skin looks even better, Marie.”

Seeing her bring up beauty so quickly, she seemed every bit the Parisian woman.

But Josephine herself was actually from Martinique, a remote part of the New World.

You wouldn’t necessarily guess that, watching her stroke her Maltese dog.

Suddenly, Marie presented a gift she had carefully brought from the New World, smiling brightly.

“It’s all thanks to this Royal Jelly, Your Majesty.”

“Hoh, for the Princess—no, Your Royal Highness the Archduchess—to call me Empress. It makes me shy. Huh? What did you say?”

“It’s honey, simply put.”

In the Empress’s reception room at the Malmaison Palace, northwest of Paris, Marie Therese explained, gesturing towards the honey.

“It’s a special New World product, honey made by beekeepers in Florida. It’s honey specifically for the queen bee.”

Originally, honey production was a tradition in southern France.

It flourished even after the fall of Rome, during the Merovingian dynasty, to the point where bee patterns were commonly used in their art and heraldry.

However, sugar water was often given to the bees for mass production, diminishing the quality, and it remained a luxury item.

On the other hand, sugarcane was produced locally in the New World, and the Florida area, in particular, was warm, making it suitable for large-scale beekeeping.

Even in the 21st century of the original timeline, the world’s largest honey producer is by far the United States.

Therefore, there was bound to be a lot of honey made to raise queen bees, what they call Jelly Royal or Royal Jelly.

Moreover, since pure honey has a preservative effect, it could be transported directly from the New World without spoiling.

Of course, the real reason was that Pauline, tired of salted meat, had requested a large supply of honey.

“This is so good for the skin?”

“Of course. I’ve been out in the sun, but my skin is still perfect, isn’t it?”

“Oh my, now that I see it, you really are beautiful! When will our Marie have a child?”

Marie Therese was startled by Josephine’s sudden question.

Children.

Come to think of it, women Marie’s age usually have their first child in their late teens.

It’s natural for Josephine to talk about children.

But for Marie, who had her first sexual experience three months ago and is not formally married, it’s an embarrassing topic.

Marie was blushing as she recalled the night she spent with Eugene at the Boarneh residence in Paris the previous night.

Hortense, who was pretending to drink coffee elegantly next to her, interjected.

“Mom, I mean, Your Majesty, really. Marie is still unmarried.”

Only then did Marie fully register Hortense’s presence.

To be precise, she knew she was there, but she hadn’t fully processed Hortense’s situation.

She was exhausted from the journey, and preoccupied with Josephine, who was now the Empress.

She was so nervous just seeing Josephine, who had changed her status to Empress.

But Hortense has a very strong vested interest in the New World, doesn’t she?

Josephine doesn’t seem to realize that, and she only seems surprised by Marie.

Josephine looked back at Hortense with a bewildered expression and asked.

“You’re not married to Eugene yet? Weren’t you engaged four years ago?”

“No one has allowed it in the meantime, right? Of course, they wouldn’t just leave it alone.”

“Oh my, if it were me, I would have already gone to a church in America or Nouvelle-France [New France, a historical French colony in North America] and had the marriage ceremony. Huh?”

Suddenly, the quick-witted Josephine looked at Marie’s red face and smiled strangely.

“What is it? What is it? Did something happen?”

How nice would it be if she showed that perceptiveness towards her own daughter?

Besides, Hortense is practically an old maid.

However, Marie, mindful of her prospective mother-in-law, answered Josephine in a subdued voice instead of speaking up for Hortense.

“Ah, we haven’t been able to get married yet because we haven’t been allowed to.”

“Hehe, but you sleep in the same bed, right?”

“Well, since recently…”

Suddenly, Josephine clapped her hands.

“It’s something to celebrate! I don’t have to see Pauline, that arrogant sister-in-law, acting like my daughter-in-law anymore!”

Marie breathed a sigh of relief.

At least she doesn’t have to worry about her prospective mother-in-law opposing her marriage to Eugene.

It’s also fortunate that Josephine dislikes Pauline’s meddling.

These days, Pauline’s interest seems to have turned to Louis Charles, but I can’t help but get angry every time Pauline’s eyes linger on Eugene.

But then, Hortense spoke up.

“It’s a relief, but there are two problems.”

“What is it, Hortense? What’s with that dissatisfied face since earlier? Your brother is back after four years! Marie too!”

“Did His Majesty the Royal Father allow the marriage?”

In fact, this is the real problem.

Napoleon.

The man who revived the position of monarch, which had disappeared after the Great Revolution, with the title of Emperor.

A powerful man who is Eugene Bonaparte’s stepfather and virtually holds the power of life, death, and destiny.

He is also the one who betrothed Eugene and Marie but has yet to grant them permission to marry.

“Next, where is Desaix? I can’t find him no matter how hard I look.”

This is why Marie avoids Hortense’s gaze.

Anyway, she knew that Hortense and Desaix had an unusual relationship.

But it’s been four years, and she thought that Hortense might have found a new lover in the meantime.

Even Desaix, for that matter.

But that doesn’t seem to be the case.

After hesitating for a moment, Marie Therese tilted her head.

“Desaix stayed in the New World.”

Instantly, Hortense shouted.

“Why!”

Hortense trembled all over and raised her voice.

“I’m waiting here! Why!”

“Someone had to protect it in the New World.”

“Then who will protect me?”

Marie couldn’t look directly at the trembling Hortense.

Somehow, it was like watching Marie waiting for Eugene in the old days.

But Josephine shouted instead of Marie.

“Hortense!”

Empress Josephine glared at Princess Hortense and urged.

“Your family is in Paris. Here, Florence and Charles too.”

“But!”

“If you like Desaix that much, get permission and go to the New World. However.”

Suddenly, Josephine’s gaze turned back to Marie this time.

“There will be a war soon, right?”

This question is not directed at Marie.

It’s asking about Eugene’s thoughts, who would know the more accurate situation.

Marie couldn’t deny it.

It was then.

“Oh, Mom. Who is it?”

When she turned her head, there were two children.

A 10-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy.

Somehow, they seem to resemble someone.

Eugene, or Napoleon.

“Aren’t they cute? Florence has grown up so much. And, Charles, you’re seeing him for the first time, right?”

Marie’s face changed very briefly at Josephine’s bright smile.

That child.

Napoleon’s biological child, whose existence was unsettling to the upper class even in Nouvelle-France.

That’s why Eugene Bonaparte was given the position of Royal Father and virtually exiled to the New World.

Nevertheless, Marie couldn’t hate the child.

Eugene probably feels the same way.

Marie looked at the child quietly and smiled brightly.

“He has the same name as my brother. Hello? My name is Marie.”

It was the moment when Eugene’s half-brother, Charles Napoleon, met Marie Therese.

***

The Minister Without Portfolio [Talleyrand, a high-ranking government official] tilted his head, looking at the Commander of the New World Guards.

“Hmm, why did General Junot come to see me?”

Talleyrand and Junot had never had any contact before.

Also, shouldn’t Junot, who has just returned from the New World, meet with the Chief of the General Staff rather than the Foreign Minister?

But Junot looked at Talleyrand very leisurely and smiled.

“Call me Marshal. Talleyrand.”

“I don’t think you’ve been appointed Marshal yet.”

“Why are you pretending not to know? You know that His Majesty the Emperor will bestow the title of Marshal on me and Desaix anyway. Because there’s a share for the New World.”

Instantly, Junot, the lion of the battlefield, glared with his mane-like hair.

“I came instead of His Royal Father. To say that he will not go to Spain.”

If it were just ability or battlefield achievements, Junot would not be Marshal material.

Originally, even in the original timeline, Junot never becomes a Marshal.

However, as one of only two general-level officers who followed Eugene to the New World, the position of the Emperor’s direct subordinate and the Royal Father’s closest aide is important.

In fact, there are politicians who are not generals among the so-called 26 Marshals, so it is not necessarily strange that Junot is given the title of Marshal.

However, currently, the title of Marshal is given to only 7 people.

Therefore, if the title of Marshal is given to Desaix and Junot, they will be only 9 of the Empire’s 300 generals.

Also, he can be said to be an existence who can talk to Talleyrand, who is virtually the apex of the cabinet.

Talleyrand smiled strangely and asked back.

“That’s a very delicate matter, but why are you telling me? And why are you, General—no, Marshal-designate—telling me?”

“Are you telling me to follow the chain of command? If I had to say, it’s because you’re the one who told His Royal Father to go to Spain, and I represent the power behind the Royal Father’s Palace.”

“The position of Royal Father is only valid in the New World. It’s meaningless after returning to the homeland. Especially if you returned home without permission.”

Then Junot smiled, revealing his teeth.

“Then I’ll just have to be recognized in the homeland as well. Shadow Minister.”

The Royal Father’s refusal to leave for Spain.

It sounds simple, but the political implications are very large.

First of all, it’s a secondary problem that Napoleon’s planned European world strategy is disrupted.

The power structure of France is shaken.

Talleyrand stared at Junot and lifted his coffee cup.

“That’s an exaggeration, but let’s assume it’s true and ask. Why won’t you go to Spain?”

“What’s good about going?”

“You can become king.”

Talleyrand savored the Cuban coffee scent that came from Spain and said again.

“Not the fake throne you’ll receive here in France, but a real throne that you can pass down for generations.”

Junot snorted.

“Why not France?”

Talleyrand put down the cup.

This is the first problem.

The competition for the French Empire’s imperial successor.

Now, Junot is asking on behalf of Nouvelle-France.

Why can’t it be Eugene?

***

Finally, the Emperor faced the Royal Father.

“Your face is very tanned, Eugene.”

Not as much as Rochejaquelein or Lescure, but Eugene also roamed the sunny plains and seas of the New World.

As a result, his face seems to be quite dark, unlike when he was in France.

Eugene smiled, touching his face slightly.

“I’m finally greeting you properly.”

“Did you get enough rest? Did you see Josephine?”

“I haven’t seen her yet. I was relieving my fatigue last night.”

Then Emperor Napoleon had a strange expression.

“So, you had a good night with Duchess Marie?”

Eugene was not surprised.

Anyway, the Surtees [bodyguards] and the Royal Father’s Guards escort him, but this is Paris.

I suddenly remember the memories of my past life when I read the record that Fouché’s spies do not discriminate from prostitutes to thieves.

“I didn’t know there were Fouché’s spies in the bedroom.”

“I just confirmed that you went in together. I couldn’t get close because of Tournay.”

“Will you allow the marriage?”

The Emperor looked at the Royal Father, sat in the office chair, and rested his chin.

“If you go to Spain and ascend to the throne.”

Eugene stood in front of him and answered firmly.

“I will not go to Spain. Your Majesty.”

This is Eugene’s answer to the matter that the Emperor decided with the Minister in Paris.