He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 537

Extracurricular (15) The Emperor and Empress Reconcile Amidst Piano Music

Art always endures slowly, yet transforms rapidly.

“But the concept of a genius pianist’s tour still exists. Heh heh.”

An old man with a cane chuckled, standing before a lavish concert hall.

The concept of a genius pianist’s tour was originally created by Mozart.

In previous eras, performances were the domain of musicians beholden to royal courts or nobles.

However, as Mozart traveled across Europe as a celebrated child prodigy, a new concept emerged.

A concert tour, similar to an idol’s tour in modern times.

However, this tour requires a genius performer equivalent to an idol.

Like Liszt, whom the old man had scouted.

Suddenly, from behind the old man, Talleyrand, a man who resembled Liszt in his younger years, bowed deeply and exclaimed.

“All of this is thanks to Your Excellency, the Senate President. Thank you! I will never forget your grace!”

“Adam Liszt, I should be the one thanking you. You came all the way to Seville when your son had to study in Paris.”

“If Your Excellency calls, I must go anywhere. Besides!”

Liszt’s father, Adam, looked around the concert hall and exclaimed.

“Isn’t this Seville’s newly built music hall!”

In fact, a dedicated concert hall is a recent concept that originated in Paris.

Aside from operas or plays, there had never been a stage dedicated solely to musical performances.

However, as the French Empire underwent rapid economic growth, there arose a demand to enjoy musical performances publicly.

The Emperor, needing entertainment to divert public discontent, initiated the creation of dedicated music halls.

Of course, the construction of the hall in Seville, a city within the Hispanic Kingdom Union, was entirely Talleyrand’s doing.

“It took half a year to build this place, rent it, and accommodate the dignitaries.”

“There were riots in the middle, but you are amazing!”

“That’s not something I handled. Ah, right.”

Talleyrand casually informed Adam.

“Did I mention? Today, the co-Queen of the Hispanic Kingdom Union will also be attending.”

Adam didn’t immediately understand, then his eyes widened.

In this Hispanic Peninsula, excluding Portugal, each country has two monarchs.

Among them, the one truly called the Queen is only one person.

The legitimate monarch of royal lineage, Queen Maria I.

Startled, Adam asked.

“Are you talking about Her Majesty the Empress?”

“Aren’t you from a Hungarian noble family’s butler? There’s no need to be so formal.”

“That’s not true! From the day you accepted my child into the Paris Music Academy, I am French! Oh, Her Majesty the Empress will listen to our Franz’s music!”

Adam Liszt, once a butler of the Esterházy family who was close to Haydn, grabbed his son.

“Did you hear, Franz? The great Empress of the French Empire will be listening to your music in person!”

However, the very handsome young man, Franz Liszt, only replied coolly.

“Everyone is the same audience to me. Father, and Your Excellency, the Senate President.”

Talleyrand smiled wryly, feeling like he had heard that somewhere before.

Originally, musicians were servants of the nobility.

However, after the revolution, musicians transformed into beings surpassing the old aristocracy.

This is because the revolutionary spirit values ability over status.

Recalling the great musicians who represented music after the revolution, Talleyrand said.

“Hmm, sounds like Beethoven.”

“Even if everyone is the same audience, only a few may understand my music.”

“Really? What do you think of the Empress who is coming today?”

If it were Beethoven, he would have told the Empress or Emperor to get lost.

However, Liszt is not such an ill-tempered boy.

With a smile on his sculpted, dazzling face, Liszt bowed gracefully.

“Weren’t you the one who invited me, judging that my music is needed, Your Excellency?”

Adam was startled and rebuked his son.

“Franz, what rude words are those!”

“No, excellent.”

“Your Excellency, the Senate President, please forgive him. He is still a child.”

Adam trembled before his greatest benefactor.

In fact, he had no choice.

After discovering his son Franz’s genius, Adam bet everything on his son.

Believing that he would become the second Mozart and surprise the world.

But when he came to Paris, he was unable to enter the academy because he was a foreigner.

The Esterházy family, his employer, did not allow remote work, and Adam was about to become a penniless unemployed man.

Talleyrand appeared at just such a time.

His son’s admission, Adam’s job, and even financial support for the tour.

He was truly a reliable sponsor who solved everything.

If he were to harbor anger, he was also a powerful man who could ruin the future of the still young Franz.

Nevertheless, Talleyrand only smiled casually, without a hint of anger, and replied.

“I believe he is by no means young when it comes to music. Franz Liszt, your piano skills must be as high as your pride. Because one more person is coming.”

This time, even the handsome young Franz was surprised.

“Could it be?”

Talleyrand chuckled, moving his cane.

“That’s right. His Majesty the Emperor is coming.”

So today’s concert is an event attended by both the Empress and the Emperor of the French Empire.

***

In any event, the Queen is first in the order of precedence [protocol].

“All the noble ladies of Paris are impressed by the young performer, sister. No, Your Majesty the Queen!”
The Grand Duchess of New France, Hortense, who was accompanying the Queen, made a fuss.

Usually, one would say something about when she would return to the New World.

However, the elegant Marie simply told Hortense instead.

“I don’t have the leisure to listen to music performances, Grand Duchess of Marengo.”

“Hehe, do you only listen to music when you have leisure? Rather, music is for finding peace of mind.”

“Looking at the dignitaries gathered here, it seems peace will disappear even more.”

Looking at the dignitaries gathered in the Seville Music Hall, Marie frowned slightly.

“All the great nobles, entrepreneurs, and clergy that I have to be wary of and deal with.”

The Hispanic Kingdom Union still maintains the old monarchy.

Moreover, real power has been transferred to the great nobles, clergy, and recently emerging capitalists.

Her authority cannot surpass Marie, who is also the Empress of the French Empire, but she cannot command them with a single word like an absolute monarch.

Therefore, Marie had to deal with the influential figures of the Kingdom Union with tension in everything she did.

The dukes, cardinals, and magnates gathered today are no exception.

“Your Majesty the Queen! It is truly an honor to have you at the concert!”

“The high-nosed [arrogant] musicians, nobles, and capitalists of Paris all applauded, I heard. A genius from Hungary! How about naturalizing him to our Castile [a region in Spain]?”

“What nonsense! If it’s a city of artists, it’s Barcelona. Order him to study at the Barcelona Academy!”

Looking at the influential figures who appeared wearing French-style formal attire, Marie replied.

“Art is for God, great nobles, clergy, and merchants of the Kingdom Union.”

The dukes, cardinals, and magnates only looked at each other.

In reality, the era is the new 19th century.

The authority of religion is plummeting in the era of scientific revolution.

However, everyone knows that Marie controls the court by emphasizing religious piety.

Marie told those who could not dare to resist the Empress of France.

“Therefore, we must all listen to the performance reverently.”

The dukes, cardinals, and capitalists looked at each other and smiled awkwardly.

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“As Her Majesty the Queen says, art is to reveal the greatness of God. Amen!”

“Should we send him to study in Rome? Ahem!”

Marie elegantly passed through them with Hortense.

The Queen, always first in the order of precedence, stands and sits in the center.

Everyone paid their respects to the Queen and then took their seats.

At that moment.

-Clang, clang, clang!

Only the guards entered, wearing hobnailed boots.

“Everyone, stand up.”

But it was a completely different uniform, not from Castile, Aragon, or Leon [regions within the Hispanic Kingdom Union].

“The Emperor of the French Empire, the co-King of the Hispanic Kingdom Union, the ruler of the New World.”

The chief chamberlain, Armand Ganet, once a page of Versailles [a former royal residence], shouted.

“His Majesty Eugenio has arrived!”

At that moment, the French Imperial Guard stood on both sides.

-Clack!

One person strode in between them.

Marie looked at him with horrified eyes.

The one who should never have set foot in this Kingdom Union had come.

“Eugene.”

The Emperor of the French Empire, the co-King of the Hispanic Kingdom Union, and the unfaithful spouse.

Eugene can stand next to Marie in anyone’s eyes.

But Marie can never allow it.

“What face do you have to come here?”

“There’s a misunderstanding. I have never committed a crime.”

“I saw something?”

As Marie asked in a very low voice, Eugene replied.

“That’s all a misunderstanding too. Did you even see me doing anything strange? Besides.”

In an instant, the performance began on stage.

-Bang!

A performance made possible by the century’s development of the piano.

A speedy, rapid-fire performance unfolded.

With the skill of a genius pianist.

***

First of all, intense piano performances are only possible if piano manufacturing technology has developed.

-Tan, ta-tan, tan-tan-tan! Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta!

The piano keys and strings must withstand strong staccato [short, detached notes].

Again, innovation in the architectural structure that makes the sound resonate is also necessary.

Of course, it is only possible because the performer’s skill is genius.

For a moment, Marie, who had been blankly immersed in the performance, whispered.

“Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since I’ve been to a concert like this.”

But Eugene shook his head.

“We only listened to music together during events.”

“Huh?”

“We’ve never listened to a performance like this together.”

Eugene replied, sounding as if he might spoil the mood.

“It’s the first time, so.”

But strangely, Marie felt her heart beating.

A soldier who couldn’t grasp the atmosphere and was sometimes pedantic [overly concerned with minor details].

But a man who was always honest in front of Marie.

Really, did he commit infidelity?

“You protected Paris, right?”

“That’s what I had to do as a monarch.”

“Surely not for Charles Napoleon?”

Eugene shook his head.

“No, for the Tuileries Palace [the Imperial residence] where Her Majesty the Empress would return.”

It’s not a lie.

Then, is it not a lie that he has never committed infidelity?

What was the naked figure I saw in the Tuileries Palace bedroom?

At that moment, Eugene quickly said.

“The successor could be Karl over there.”

“Of course, it should be.”

“That’s decided by a vote. It’s only possible if you show your capabilities. Fortunately for our Empress, my brother Charles has not shown any capabilities at all.”

Eugene whispered, pointing to his eldest son sitting on a lower platform.

“Besides, the succession takes place after I die. Do you want me to die that quickly?”

Marie glared.

She felt the touch of the pistol hidden in her chest.

But if the bullet from this pistol is aimed at Eugene, can Marie survive?

“No, absolutely not.”

In an instant, Liszt finished the performance, throwing his muffler.

-Tan!

Liszt’s showmanship, which became famous in later generations, in original history.

The dignitaries of the Hispanic Kingdom Union, previously so solemn, stood up for the first time.

The cheers themselves shook the hall.

“Waaaaa!”