He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 448

(448) France is in Napoleon’s Belle Époque [Beautiful Era]

France itself is very peaceful.

–Clang!

Beneath the chandelier, where candlelight flickers lavishly, glasses clink together.

Although the Boarneh Cartel researches electricity, focusing on Volta’s discoveries, they are still a long way from inventing the light bulb.

The lights that illuminate the night are largely of two types:

Lights that burn oil directly or are made by solidifying it, and gaslights.

However, gaslights, first made in England in 1792, have not yet become popular in Paris.

In fact, this is because the Boarneh Cartel, which usually takes the lead in introducing new technologies, does not pay much attention to gaslights.

Furthermore, the wealthy tend to prefer fragrant candles to smelly gaslights.

Sipping the shimmering wine, Albert Permont, the host of today’s party, exclaimed.

“Wahahaha! Another wonderful day. Now, let’s listen to the music!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the string quartet began to play.

People listened to the music and began to dance enthusiastically.

Permont looked around with a satisfied feeling.

It has been half a year since he returned across the Atlantic from the distant lands of the New World.

Now Permont is no longer a pioneer of the New World but a successful Parisian merchant.

“Monsieur Permont, long time no see? Do you have something to show me?”

Looking at the voluptuous noblewoman who approached Permont and feigned familiarity, he felt a surge of satisfaction.

*Wasn’t she a woman famous for only associating with the best in Parisian society?*

Permont gestured to a servant to bring something, addressing the noblewoman who once shared a bed with Ippolito.

“It’s been a while, Madame Stahl. Well, this is Indian muslin. What do you think? It’s really soft, isn’t it?”

“Oh my! Monsieur Permont, you’re showing me Indian goods first, unlike someone who came from the New World?”

“Unfortunately, goods from Nouvelle-France [New France, i.e., French territories in North America] are not yet popular in Paris. They were a big hit in Madrid! Haha!”

India, or rather the Indian subcontinent, is often thought of as a British colony.

Of course, it is true that they occupied South India thanks to the long-standing strategy of the East India Company, especially Arthur Wellesley’s great success.

However, the Deccan Plateau and major regions of northwestern India are holding out under the name of the [Maratha Confederation] [A late 17th- to early 19th-century Indian confederacy that filled a power vacuum after the decline of the Mughal Empire].

So, the British forces in the southeast and the Marathas in the northwest are checking each other.

This structure collapses in 1818 in the original history.

Naturally, there were Indian goods that did not depend on England, but since England controlled the Indian Ocean, they mainly came through Egypt.

Egypt is where France is in the midst of building colonies.

Also, Permont was trading in the eastern Mediterranean, centering on Cyprus, so naturally he had a trading network there as well.

That’s why he called Madame Stahl, the top socialite of Parisian society, and showed her Indian cotton fabrics.

However, Madame Stahl seemed more interested in other things and asked with a bright smile.

“By the way, is your younger sister really marrying Marshal Junot?”

At the mention of his younger sister, Lhor Permont, Permont cleared his throat.

“Ahem! Madame Stahl, that’s not something you can talk about carelessly, is it? Marshal Junot has not yet proposed.”

“I don’t know when the marriage will take place. Is she following King Eugene, her lord? Isn’t it already six years since Mademoiselle Lhor went to the New World as a virgin?”

“She came with me, strictly speaking. Well, now she’s back in Europe to serve the Queen of Spain. Haha.”

Madame Stahl smiled at Permont, who was trying to change the subject as if he was embarrassed.

“Why did you return, Monsieur Permont, who has already built a huge fortune and business in the New World? I think it’s because of your sister’s marriage problem.”

In fact, it’s half true.

Permont followed Eugene on the Oriental Expedition and the New World development.

Thanks to that, Permont, who was just a military supplier, is now a wealthy merchant in the New World.

Of course, it is much weaker than the Boarneh Cartel or the Dupont Trading Company, which is comparable to it, but it is still an enormous fortune as an individual.

However, the reason he came to Paris at this time is because of Lhor’s marriage issue, which is slowly being discussed at home.

However, if he admitted it to Madame Stahl, the rumor would probably spread throughout Paris.

Lhor already has a notorious rumor, or truth, that she shares a bed with Junot as a virgin, so it’s not good to highlight it.

Permont smiled, lightly gesturing to have the muslin removed.

“Madame Stahl, how about this instead of such boring talk? Soon, [Suez] [Referring to the planned Suez Canal] will open.”

“Huh? Where is that?”

“It’s the Grand Canal in Egypt. It’s a new route connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean.”

On the tray that the servant brought back was a map.

“Originally, our Permont Trading Company’s business is based in the Eastern Mediterranean. Of course, that’s why I came back.”

Madame Stahl is not just a social butterfly.

In fact, even General Kleber, who is still in Egypt, was once Madame Stahl’s lover.

Also, if you know it, she is in charge of managing the French Freemasons since Grand Master Lafayette left for Nouvelle-France.

However, the Freemasons regard ancient Egyptian civilization as their origin from England, the origin.

Madame Stahl, who was interested in the word Egypt, narrowed her eyes.

“Heung, so you brought a lot of Indian muslin?”

“Of course, this actually came by land. It’s a kind of symbolic item.”

“It’s so thin that women will like it.”

Madame Stahl nodded, looking at the muslin cloth, which would surely be available in large quantities in the future.

“Soon, I’ll contact [Mode] [Fashion], who I trade with.”

In other words, it refers to fashion stores, or [boutiques] [Small, stylish shops], that started in this era.

Of course, there are also trading partners on the Boarneh Cartel side, centered on Rose Bertin.

However, Permont, who is running an independent business, needs new trading partners.

Permont kissed Madame Stahl’s hand, hiding his excitement.

“All the profits from the first muslin that comes in will be Madame’s.”

As if to celebrate the new deal, the string quartet’s performance was reaching a fever pitch.

–Jing, jijing, jijijing!

Of course, Madame Stahl’s bed may be like that tonight too.

***

Of course, not everyone in Paris enjoys parties.

“Okay, students! Today’s class is over. Don’t stray from the path and go straight home!”

This is the Pentemont Abbey, once home to Empress Josephine and Princess Hortense.

However, now the abbey was closed during the revolutionary frenzy, and instead, a girls’ school was established there.

Since it was originally an institution where women came to be educated, it is not a strange decision.

Even now that the Pope and the Emperor have signed a concordat [An agreement between the Pope and a secular government], and each church receives a certain compensation, this place is still a school.

Like a school, the students ran out as soon as class was over.

–Huddle!

Looking at the female students running out excitedly, Madame Campan, the headmistress of the Pentemont Girls’ School, sighed.

“Hoo, the kids are really noisy.”

“You’re still working hard on education, Madame Campan?”

“Huh? Oh my! Rose Bertin!”

Madame Campan turned to look at the elegantly dressed noblewoman and ran over in surprise.

“How long has it been? It feels like I haven’t seen you in 10 years!”

Madame Campan is the woman who was Marie Antoinette’s chief lady-in-waiting.

Even after the revolution, she continued to care for Antoinette, but recently, Antoinette’s ladies-in-waiting have increased and there is less work to do.

Therefore, she is running a large girls’ school that she had been running small with Marie’s help.

Originally, in the original history, Eugene and Hortense also attended the school opened by Madame Campan.

On the other hand, Madame Bertin, who returned to the fashion business immediately after the revolution, grabbed Madame Campan’s hand with an apologetic face.

“I’m sorry. Even while staying in Paris, I couldn’t find the time to come and see you.”

“Hehe, I’m serving the Queen, so you shouldn’t come. You might be caught by the Jacobin crowd who hate the Bourbons and die!”

“That doesn’t mean I didn’t trade with the ‘Princess’. Oh, she’s the Queen now, right?”

Madame Bertin said excitedly.

“I was commissioned to design swaddling clothes to wrap the baby because she’s about to give birth.”

Madame Campan nodded, moved.

“Time has already passed like that. Well, I heard that the Queen will soon have to go to Madrid, or rather Seville!”

“You said you couldn’t attend the wedding?”

“I couldn’t help it at the time. It was during the war. But this time, the King of Spain seems to have requested it from His Imperial Majesty.”

Madame Campan suddenly said with a nostalgic look on her face.

“It seems like only yesterday when he was a page [A young attendant or servant]. I never thought he would grow up to be king.”

Madame Campan remembers not only when Marie was a princess but also when Eugene was a page.

She vividly remembers Eugene risking his life to save Antoinette at the trial.

Even though Disby, who was so energetic at the time, is dead, and his puppy has been running around for so long.

At that time, Madame Bertin, who was thinking of Eugene who had called her after the Italian expedition with a slightly different feeling, shook her head.

“Oh, look at my mind. I didn’t come here to do this, but there’s someone I really need to meet with me before the Queen leaves.”

“Huh? Of course, I’m in charge of the Queen’s household affairs, but you can go and see her directly, right?”

“I’m too sorry to go see her alone now.”

Suddenly, a woman with a bright beauty entered the school gate.

“Long time no see, Madame Campan.”

At that moment, Madame Campan was surprised and ran again.

“Vige! Oh my, you’ve come back alive! Where have you been?”

“I wandered around England, Switzerland, and Russia. I didn’t starve. Still, there were people who bought my paintings.”

“How did you come back? I heard that Madame Polignac died, and I thought you were dead too!”

Elisabeth Vige Le Brun.

She is the best female painter of the late 18th century, fostered by Marie Antoinette.

However, because of her outstanding beauty, there were rumors that she was selected for her appearance.

In fact, Madame Polignac, who once served as chief lady-in-waiting, replacing Madame Campan, was really selected for her appearance, so it wouldn’t be a completely unfounded rumor.

Vige Le Brun, who still has a bright beauty, replied, shedding tears.

“His Imperial Majesty’s amnesty has been issued. Now, it seems that peace is really coming. I wish Madame Polignac could have come with me.”

The three women gathered here remember.

The splendid Palace of Versailles before the revolution.

Although there were tears of blood from the citizens behind it, it was the happiest time in their lives for them.

But the century is the 19th century.

Madame Campan, who was once a court lady-in-waiting but now teaches children of the revolutionary era, smiled.

“Heung, that’s true. The kids are wearing such lewd clothes. Hey, you there! Students shouldn’t wear such clothes!”

As the headmistress of a girls’ school who cracks down on translucent clothes, she runs with very energetic steps.

***

At the same time, smoke is flowing heavily in the middle of the Seine River.

–Beep beep, boo!

It’s quite a small boat, but it’s definitely steaming and moving forward.

It’s not very fast, but it attracts people’s attention just by being non-human.

Emperor Napoleon, who was smiling contentedly, turned his head and asked.

“Ho, is that what a steamboat is? Lucien?”

Lucien Bonaparte, who had just returned to his home country from Nouvelle-France, said in a solemn tone.

“That’s right, brother.”

“Call me Your Imperial Majesty.”

“I’m an American citizen, so there’s no reason to do that. If it weren’t for Eugene’s request, I wouldn’t have come.”

Napoleon glared at Lucien, who was acting very stiffly, with a displeased look.

However, when you think about it, Lucien has endured a lot just by not doing the anti-Napoleon movement.

Anyway, Lucien was originally a true Jacobin, so he even changed his name to Brutus.

Ignoring Napoleon’s face, who was holding back, Lucien turned his head and introduced.

“Here, Monsieur Fulton made that boat. Originally, there are many larger [steamships] [Ships powered by steam engines] in Nouvelle-France, but it is difficult to cross the British naval blockade, so only small items were brought through the detour.”

“The detour must be the Spanish route.”

“It’s also the route I took to come to France. Monsieur Fulton, please explain.”

Then Fulton, who was waiting next to him, came out and began to explain in fluent French.

“Basically, it is the [steam engine] [An engine that uses the power of steam to produce mechanical work] that has already been introduced to France. It burns coal and moves the ship with the power of steam instead of manpower.”

“Amazing.”

“Steam cars have already been introduced quite a bit in the New World. Furthermore, [iron roads] [Railroads], or rather railroads, are being built. Of course, I led it.”

He somehow has an arrogant attitude, but in fact, he deserves it.

Originally, railroads were introduced in 1814 in the original history, which was done by George Stephenson of England.

But it was an amazing event that railroads were being built in the United States even before 1809 was over.

Of course, Napoleon frowned, not knowing what it was.

“What is that, Fulton?”

Then Lucien stepped forward.

“I’ll explain from here, brother. Before returning to Nouvelle-France, there was a problem I really wanted to tell you about in France.”

At that moment, the steamship’s engine puffed out smoke again.

–Chikchikchik, puuuuk!

March 1809.

It was the day Napoleon heard a sermon on the darling of the industrial revolution, the railroad.

To Lucien, a former revolutionary who unexpectedly became a believer in steam engines.