He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 452

(452) The Emperor’s Scandal Erupts

Originally, the French newspapers were under Napoleon’s absolute control.

“But how dare publish such news!”

However, not all newspapers wrote articles to Napoleon’s liking.

In particular, , led by Camille Desmoulins, a member of the National Assembly, a veteran of the revolution, and one of the key contributors to Napoleon’s rise to power, was different.

Although he was mindful of the Emperor, occasionally daring articles were published.

Like the newspaper the Emperor was shaking in his office at the Fontainebleau Palace.

-〈The Tuileries Palace: Are New Actresses Becoming the Mistresses?〉

However, Desmoulins looked at Napoleon with detachment and replied.

“Your Majesty, this newspaper article only deals with facts.”

“What? Desmoulins, are you mocking me now!”

“It is true that actresses frequently enter and exit the Tuileries Palace. I have already confirmed this through two or more different channels. Also…”

Desmoulins, now a councilor who had been ousted from the National Assembly, stated without a single stutter.

“The reporters have also confirmed that the actresses’ entry and exit times are in the early morning or at night.”

Napoleon glared at him with a face that looked like he wanted to slap Desmoulins across the cheek right then and there.

In fact, Napoleon often beat his subordinates in the original history.

However, Napoleon is in better health now than in the original history, and he tends to use less abusive language and violence.

This is partly related to Eugene’s correction of Josephine’s personality, but it is sadly one of the unrecognized achievements.

Besides, Napoleon owed Desmoulins a debt, so instead of beating him up, Napoleon gritted his teeth and pressed him.

“Councilor Desmoulins, I am disappointed in you.”

“I am the one who is disappointed in Your Majesty.”

“Why? Because I am intimate with actresses?”

Suddenly, Desmoulins widened his eyes.

“No. Because you are acting like the kings of the old royal family. What is this story about a bastard in the British Morning Post!”

Before he knew it, Desmoulins was holding a newspaper in his hand.

However, this newspaper was not , published by Desmoulins.

The name of the newspaper, written in English, was the .

Desmoulins vigorously shouted the contents of the newspaper, which Napoleon could not read directly because he did not yet know English.

“Why is the dictator of France, Napoleon, so obsessed with Warsaw? To answer this question, we must understand his relationship with a Polish noblewoman named Maria Walewska!”

It is daring to call the Emperor a dictator.

Even though he was reading a British newspaper verbatim, Napoleon would have ended up hitting Desmoulins for this alone under normal circumstances.

But this time, Napoleon was too embarrassed to get angry.

First of all, the name Maria Walewska was the problem.

Napoleon explained with a flustered face.

“Desmoulins, this is not true.”

“Are you saying you don’t know the noblewoman from the Duchy of Warsaw named Walewska?”

“No, I know her! After Austerlitz, when I established the Duchy of Warsaw, many nobles came to me to petition. That noblewoman was one of them.”

Suddenly, Napoleon clenched his fist and shouted.

“What I’m saying is, it’s not true! The Duchy of Warsaw has nothing to do with this woman! Of course, neither does that child named Alexandre that she supposedly gave birth to!”

Two years ago, in 1807, after winning at Austerlitz, Napoleon stayed in Prague for a while.

At that time, Eugene was too busy with other matters to control Napoleon’s affairs with women.

But then Polish nobles approached Napoleon.

Just like in the original history, Countess Maria Walewska met Napoleon at that time.

But Countess Walewska had a child, and the British reported it extensively.

“The reason I established the Duchy of Warsaw was solely for the balance of power in Eastern Europe!”

Of course, Napoleon’s cry really sounded like an excuse, not just because Desmoulins was critical.

Even if Eugene had been here, he would have thought it was a weak excuse.

Desmoulins nodded with a face that didn’t believe it at all.

“Ah, yes. Your Majesty.”

“Believe me! And withdraw that article immediately! Mistress! The only woman who can claim ownership in my bedroom is Josephine!”

“Of course, I naturally know that you wouldn’t replace [Madame Victoire – roughly translated as ‘Lady Victory,’ a popular nickname for Josephine] with actresses. But that doesn’t change the fact that Countess Maria Walewska gave birth to a son, and that the Countess is technically married, but her husband is incompetent!”

Madame Victoire, soon the wife of victory.

That is the nickname that French soldiers and citizens call Josephine.

Originally, in the original history, Napoleon eventually decided to divorce Josephine immediately after Maria Walewska gave birth to a bastard.

But now that he has a clear biological child, divorce is naturally not a consideration.

Nevertheless, there is a reason why the Emperor is being criticized for this issue.

“Also, the fact that Count Walewska is becoming a powerful figure in the Duchy of Warsaw.”

The problem is that international issues were decided through so-called pillow talk.

Even if he protests that it is not true, no one believes him.

Because Napoleon’s illegitimate child was born.

Just as the Emperor’s face was turning red, the commander of the Imperial Guard, Lannes, entered the office this time.

“Your Majesty, I think you should come out.”

“What’s wrong, Lannes? Has there been an emergency in the Imperial Guard or the defense of the Empire?”

“It seems there is an emergency in the Imperial Family.”

Lannes said with a reluctant face.

“The Empress has come to Fontainebleau.”

This time, the Emperor’s face turned white again.

***

French women are actually similar when it comes to expressing anger to their cheating husbands.

“How dare you! Ink on my face! Napoleone!”

Even though France is famous in Europe for its free love, there is still a line.

For example, even if you have a lover, you don’t have children, or it’s difficult if rumors spread.

Still, Josephine endured a lot in the original history.

But now there is no reason to endure.

The Empress, who gave birth to an outstanding adopted son and a precious biological son, Josephine’s position is truly unshakable itself.

However, even though Josephine came to find the Emperor, the Emperor disappeared somewhere and could not be seen.

Because of that, no one can stop the Empress, who is even more angry and jumping up and down in the hall of the Fontainebleau Palace.

Except for Marie Antoinette, the queen of the old royal family and in-laws, who came to accompany the Empress.

“Oh my, Empress. Please calm down. There are many lords and their spouses here. Are you going to spread rumors throughout European society?”

“It’s already spread, Queen! How could you do this? It’s not that I didn’t know Napoleon was cheating. But I endured it, and endured it again!”

“Men are all like that. You must endure it for the sake of Charles, ‘Crown Prince,’ and Princess Florence.”

Marie Antoinette deliberately mentions Charles Napoleon, a 7-year-old child, as the Crown Prince.

The intention is, of course, to prevent her daughter from getting involved in France’s complicated succession issue.

However, Josephine, who has no interest in political matters, shouted in anger over another issue.

“Louis only looked at the Queen. Can you understand me?”

It is famous that Louis XVI did not cheat.

Of course, Antoinette cheated instead.

Slightly pricked by conscience, Antoinette closed her mouth.

At that time, another high-ranking member of the imperial family, who was disturbed by the commotion in the palace, came in surprise.

It was none other than the Queen of Spain, Marie Therese.

“Mother, my goodness. Weren’t you supposed to be in Stockholm? Even the Empress?”

“Marie, no, Queen of Spain. I’m glad you look healthy. Charles, no, ‘Carl’ is doing well, right?”

“He’s healthy. I’m not doing well because I can’t see my child. But, why is the Empress here?”

Just as Queen Marie was briefly exchanging greetings with her mother Marie, Empress Josephine grabbed the Queen.

“Marie, you have to control Eugene properly.”

“Yes?”

“You shouldn’t be hit in the back of the head like me! To think he had a bastard, and even made the country independent because of the bastard. Where in the world does this happen?”

So, the real reason Josephine is angry is different.

It’s a matter of disgrace.

It’s a problem that Napoleon cheated, and it’s a problem that he had a bastard, but the bigger problem is that the Empress’s face was smeared in Parisian society.

If this was just a matter of feeling bad, Josephine would have waited until Napoleon returned to Paris.

But France is a country where the decline of the royal family’s prestige was one of the causes of the revolution.

If the economic situation worsens, this issue could be the cause of a civil uprising.

Suddenly, Marie’s eyes widened as she thought this far, and she held Josephine’s hand.

“This is a conspiracy, Your Majesty.”

“What are you talking about, suddenly? It’s because the Emperor played with his lower body wrong.”

“No, that’s not it. Unless Your Majesty is saying something crazy like he’s going to pass the empire on to his illegitimate child, there’s no way this would be such a fuss.”

Marie glared at the European royalty and nobles who were watching this way from outside the palace hall and whispered.

“Especially in a state where these lords are gathered.”

Whether the rumors had already spread inside and outside the palace, lords and ambassadors were peeking.

Perhaps not only the news about Napoleon’s illegitimate child, but also the gossip that the Empress had caused a commotion will spread throughout Europe.

So Napoleon’s face is bound to hit rock bottom.

Empress Josephine asked in surprise.

“So, then, I’m trapped?”

“It’s not the Empress who’s trapped. So, don’t worry too much.”

“Who is trapped, then?”

Suddenly, Marie snorted.

“Perhaps it’s the Emperor who played with his lower body wrong. Eugene will also have something to learn from this, Your Majesty.”

The lesson that if you cheat wrong, you can lose the throne.

***

Of course, it’s not just a coincidence that Marie left when Josephine was in turmoil.

“Is Josephine quiet? Eugene?”

In a corner room of the Fontainebleau Palace, in a secret room that is difficult for others to find, Napoleon asked anxiously.

One of Napoleon’s bad habits is to avoid his wife when she is angry.

Eugene sighed, trying to hide his pathetic expression.

“Father, to be honest, Marie is not in good health. It hasn’t been half a year since she gave birth. If you’re going to use her for this, I want to send her back to Seville.”

“Fontainebleau was originally a resort for the Bourbon royal family! It’ll be nice to feel like you’re back home!”

“I think it would be fortunate if she didn’t think of the tragedy of the old royal family [the Bourbons, who were overthrown during the French Revolution].”

It hasn’t been long since Marie gave birth.

It was already hard enough to come all the way here from Spain, but Eugene is not happy to be involved in this issue.

Besides, Pauline is lurking in the Fontainebleau Palace, making the situation even more precarious.

But Napoleon was defiant and got angry.

“Don’t talk like it’s someone else’s business! The fate of the Bourbons can become the fate of the Bonapartes at any time. This is a conspiracy by the British!”

Of course, there is no way that the would have reported it with just amazing reporting skills.

Even without investigating, it is obvious that the Alien Office [a department of the British Foreign Office responsible for intelligence and espionage] was involved.

But if Napoleon hadn’t cheated in the first place, wouldn’t it have been a simple matter?

Instead of pointing out the truth, Eugene bowed politely.

“Your Majesty, I’m glad you know it’s a conspiracy. Then…”

“Now that it’s come to this, there’s no choice but to overturn the board.”

“Yes?”

Just as Eugene was blinking, Napoleon’s eyes flashed.

“The British want me to be unable to move, or to be chased out by angry citizens, or to be unable to help Russia, which is at war with Britain. Then…”

Suddenly, Napoleon smiled with satisfaction and said.

“What if I conquer Russia altogether?”

At that moment, Eugene didn’t know how to stop Napoleon.

The Russian Grand Expedition.

The greatest tragedy of the Napoleon family and the French Empire, which could not be prevented in the original history.

Now, Napoleon has begun to consider it in another form.