He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 420

(420) Paris is Abuzz with Bonaparte’s Marriage

February in Paris boasts sunny weather, quite mild for winter.

“It’s the perfect weather to welcome the returning soldiers, isn’t it, sister-in-law?”

Hortense, enjoying the Parisian sunlight while sipping her coffee, spoke with a somewhat haughty air.

Of course, the title is quite awkward for Marie Therese Cafe, who is listening.

Because Marie’s surname has not yet been changed to Beauharnais or Bonaparte.

“Just call me Marie, Princess Hortense. We’re not officially married yet.”

“Aren’t you getting married soon anyway? Honestly, how old are you, sister? You should have had at least three children by now.”

“Hortense, cough, well, that’s a bit…”

Marie, who nominally remains a virgin even though she shares a bed with Eugene, was about to choke on her drink when Hortense scoffed.

“Don’t tell me you’re using contraception? It’s better to have a child before marriage. Who knows if my brother might have an affair? Pauline still seems to be eyeing him.”

Of course, Marie doesn’t think Eugene would cheat.

In fact, because her father, Louis XVI, never had affairs, Marie’s distrust of men is rather shallow.

However, the fact that Pauline was eyeing Eugene was well known in Parisian society, and she had even accompanied him to Egypt, so it wasn’t a pleasant topic.

Turning her gaze to her coffee, Marie replied.

“Don’t be like that. It seems she’s been seeing Charles a lot lately.”

“Doesn’t it bother you? Becoming the sister-in-law of your rival?”

“I get along well even with people who were practically enemies. What’s more bothersome is Count Fersen, who comes to see my mother all the time.”

At that, Hortense’s eyes widened.

“Don’t tell me he’s in Paris again? Doesn’t he have anything to do in Stockholm?”

Of course, Fersen doesn’t come just to see Marie Antoinette.

The French Empire is currently the dominant power in Europe.

Although Britain and Russia are still intact, it means Sweden cannot ignore France.

Nevertheless, it is also true that the first thing Fersen does when he comes to Paris is to visit the former Queen, Marie Antoinette.

“He said he came to gift a Disby II [a type of dog]. Yesterday, it was.”

“II? Ah, I, is dead. Already.”

“It happened while I was in the New World. He was nasty to others, but he was a very kind child to our family.”

As Marie was lost in sentiment, thinking of the dead royal pet, Hortense slammed her coffee cup down.

“Forget about dogs. What’s important is marriage. We must push through with it this time. I’ll help too.”

“Hortense, why are you so enthusiastic? Actually, I’m, well, content as long as I can be with Eugene.”

“Will you feel the same way when you have children? Besides, what about me!”

As Marie was about to blush, Hortense gritted her teeth and shouted.

“My brother keeps using the excuse that he’s not married to keep putting it off with Mother. Deje sends letters from the New World! I’m going crazy. I might as well get any guy pregnant and get married! Even if he’s a cripple!”

In short, Hortense is furious about Deje’s situation in the New World.

If Deje were to declare a breakup, she would either give up or stage a suicide attempt.

However, surprisingly, the charming Deje still sends sweet letters every month.

Even sending a suicide squad in a situation where Britain is blockading the Atlantic.

So, Marie sighed as she watched Hortense, who was unable to date anyone else and was going crazy.

“I heard you’re meeting Talleyrand. Is that true?”

“Why? He’s old but unmarried, his manners are elegant, and he’s a gourmet. I don’t know about the bed, though.”

“Hortense!”

Suddenly, Marie glared at Hortense.

“The daughters of the royal, no, the imperial family must be chaste. They must be a model for the country, and they must not forget that their actions belong to the state! Talleyrand, that snake-like man!”

Of course, Marie has a reason for disliking Talleyrand.

He was one of the politicians who insisted on beheading Louis XVI.

However, as a result, Louis XVI committed suicide with the gun Eugene gave him, so this kind of talk cannot be openly discussed.

On the other hand, Hortense, who heard Marie’s words as advice from a former princess, snorted.

“Hmph, the new sister-in-law who’s been living with my brother before marriage has no right to say that.”

“I’m, well, I’m not a princess anymore, am I?”

“Have you already forgotten? As the presumptive heir to the Spanish throne, you are still technically a princess, aren’t you? I heard the Spanish are much more conservative than us.”

Hortense, who brought up a story that would shock the Spanish people if they knew, turned her head.

“Oh, it looks like they’re finally here. You’re late for the party, by the way.”

In the distance, the Imperial Guard gallops towards the Tuileries Palace.

-Clatter, clatter, clatter!

The adjutant leading the way, now the Emperor’s chief aide, Louis Charles Cafe, shouted.

“His Majesty Napoleon, Emperor of the French, Grand Master of the Legion of Honor, Grand Master of the Order of the Reunion, Grand Master of the Order of the Iron Crown, is arriving!”

Hortense, watching the scene from the balcony on the third floor of the palace, wrinkled her nose.

“Ugh, it’s so long.”

“The titles of the old French kings were even longer.”

“Then, what about the King of Spain?”

Before Marie could answer that it was much longer, another shout from Louis was heard.

“Also, the fiancé of the presumptive heir to the Spanish throne and Viceroy of New France! His Highness Eugene is arriving!”

Hortense said with a gleam in her eyes.

“Oh my, it seems he’s being recognized as her fiancé, though.”

Marie’s gaze was already fixed on the center of the cavalry.

A tall young man stands next to Emperor Napoleon.

Marie looked at the young man with an inseparable, burning gaze, tears welling up in her eyes.

“Yes. Eugene has returned safely.”

The time she spent praying to God every night for his safe return was finally over.

***

The Hotel de Brienne, which would later become the residence of the Minister of Defense in the original history, is bustling today.

“There’s talk that an important decision will be made at today’s party. Everyone, are you prepared?”

In fact, the owner of this place is, unexpectedly, Empress Dowager Madame Letizia [Napoleon’s mother].

Of course, Napoleon’s reign is a constitutional monarchy, and the Bonaparte family is not a hereditary royal family.

Therefore, Letizia has no legal authority or title.

However, the nominal and the actual are always different, and people call Letizia this.

Mère de l’Empereur, soon the Emperor’s mother.

However, Letizia never exercises authority or power in front of those who look up to her.

She only focuses on forging friendships with financiers and investing using the subsidies given by the Emperor and the assets supported by Eugene.

Rumor has it that half of Corsica’s real estate is owned by Letizia.

She currently owns the Château de Pont-sur-Seine, a fortress near Paris, but when she comes to Paris, she uses the shabby Hotel de Brienne.

It is a house that her third son, Lucien, took over from a bankrupt businessman before leaving for the New World and left to his mother.

Naturally, the Empress Dowager’s daughters, the princesses, who have gathered here, have displeased faces.

“Mother, regardless of important decisions, shouldn’t you change your residence first? There’s a lot of talk in Parisian society.”

“Elisa, there’s more talk about you marrying Félix Baciocchi, who is just a junior officer! Where is Baciocchi? Did he come wearing his uniform properly?”

“You don’t have to nag, I take care of that much. And Baciocchi is now a general in the Italian garrison!”

Pauline yawned at the sound of the eldest daughter, Elisa, and Letizia arguing.

“Mom, you’re so slow with the rumors? Baciocchi is no longer an issue.”

“What do you mean, Pauline?”

“Haven’t you heard? Elisa is dating a violinist. What was his name? Paganini?”

Niccolò Paganini, a renowned musician who would later be remembered as a genius violinist.

However, in those days, he was famous as one of Italy’s leading playboys.

He is currently staying in Lucca, the French army garrison where Elisa is staying with her husband.

Of course, it is not surprising that Elisa Bonaparte, the leading noblewoman of Lucca, has fallen into Paganini’s clutches.

It was an absurd story for Letizia.

“What? Good heavens! Something Pauline hasn’t even done!”

“Mom! I was a virgin until recently! Other than Louis Charles, there’s no one I’ve slept with yet! I’ve kissed a lot, though.”

“Giving your lips is not giving your chastity! Anyway, Elisa! Are you out of your mind? Are you going to tarnish your brother’s name!”

However, Elisa only snorted.

“Our wonderful brother has more lovers than there are forks in the house anyway, right? Compared to that, I’m nothing. Pauline too!”

Letizia sighed deeply.

“That’s why I can’t say anything to Josephine. My daughters are like this!”

“Why are you blaming us? It’s just because Josephine had a child.”

“Quiet!”

Suddenly, Letizia, who was leaving, slammed the door and glared at her daughters, especially Elisa.

“I clearly said that there is an important decision today. It’s about Caroline’s matter, who, unlike you, still has hope for marriage. Today, it will be decided whether Caroline can find a suitable partner!”

Caroline, who had been watching from behind, blushed.

In fact, if Eugene had seen this scene, he would have smiled bitterly.

Still waters run deep.

Caroline, in the original history, would snatch Murat first, then slander the Beauharnais family, and finally betray Napoleon.

But now, Caroline is just a maiden who wants to get married.

“That’s good. I heard Marmont is waiting today, right?”

When Pauline asked teasingly, Caroline blushed even more and replied.

“He said he made achievements in Jena this time. My brother also thinks highly of him.”

“Is that so? Well, I heard Eugene was going to take Marmont with him on purpose. He said to follow him if he wanted to marry you.”

“Eugene said that? Sister, are you still in contact with Eugene?”

Caroline asked in surprise, and Letizia also glared.

Could it be that Pauline is still seducing Eugene?

However, Pauline only replied nonchalantly.

“What are you talking about? Of course, I’m in contact. Unlike you, I’m a Hospitaller officer, you know? I was just having a meeting to send nurses.”

Only then did Letizia breathe a sigh of relief.

Even though she’s a wild daughter, she wouldn’t lie.

Anyway, today, the marriage of the youngest daughter will be decided.

“Okay, girls. Let’s go now!”

The carriage carrying the Empress Dowager and the princesses began to run with a dignified attitude.

To the Tuileries Palace, the venue for the Emperor’s family reception.

***

The Tuileries Palace is bustling busily from morning.

“Grandma!”

The first person to greet Empress Dowager Letizia upon arrival was none other than Florence.

“Oh, my granddaughter! How have you been?”

“Yes! Today, Papa, no, His Majesty came home!”

“You should say palace, our princess.”

Just as Florence was rubbing against Letizia, a woman greeted her in an elegant tone from behind.

“You’ve arrived, Mother.”

Empress Josephine, the mistress of this Tuileries Palace.

In fact, the reason why the Empress Dowager does not come to the palace often is also because Josephine is there.

Letizia has not yet completely forgiven Josephine, who married Napoleon on her own.

However, the slightly hardened expression loosens as she sees Florence and Charles-Napoleon, whom the Empress is holding.

At that moment, another woman, who was on her mind, came into Letizia’s sight.

“What, is Princess Marie coming too?”

“She has to. She’s Eugene’s fiancée, isn’t she?”

“Tsk, you shouldn’t let people who aren’t officially married in recklessly. How do you know what will happen?”

Unlike Josephine, Letizia cherishes Eugene.

In fact, even if it wasn’t for the affection of feeding him bread, she couldn’t help but like him because he always attached a competent banker to her.

However, Letizia cannot be happy that her beloved grandson Eugene seems to be suffering because he is obsessed with a strange woman.

But Josephine herself smiled bitterly and replied in a dissatisfied tone.

“What power do I have? Eugene brought her on his own.”

Letizia laughed at those words.

“I see, it seems we’re both the same.”

“Yes?”

“Then, shall we go meet the man we love the most together?”

Even if they don’t fully open their hearts to each other, the two women have something in common.

That is that they love one man the most in the world.

The adjutant and chief aide, Louis Charles, came into the hall and shouted.

“His Majesty the Emperor is entering!”

Now, the party where the Bonaparte, Beauharnais, and Bourbon families have gathered has begun.