He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 541

Outskirts (19) The Duke of Orléans in Canada is More Interested in Wealth

A former revolutionary, who once dreamed of becoming the monarch of France, gazes at the Atlantic.

“It’s cold. The North Atlantic in winter.”

The coast of Quebec is desolate.

Steep cliffs are everywhere.

It’s not much different from the French coast, but memories of home are always idealized.

With a somewhat bitter feeling, Archduke Louis-Philippe watches the sea when a coffin is placed before him.

-Clang!

Of course, it’s not a coffin for Louis-Philippe himself.

“It’s the body of a traitor, Your Highness.”

Listening to the now quite aged Duroc, Louis-Philippe shrugged.

“Even so, our former Grand Marshal has come in person. Duke of Frioul [a title of nobility in the French Empire].”

“Call me Duroc, Your Highness. Also, I bring the Emperor’s words that His Highness is not a traitor.”

“That’s really appreciated.”

It sounds almost sarcastic.

In fact, it can’t be helped.

The traitor in the coffin is Louis-Philippe’s father, the Duke of Orléans.

He went to France to see an opera, participated in the revolution, and died at the hands of rioters before returning.

However, instead of being punished, the rioters are treated as heroes who stopped the revolution.

Even Louis-Philippe, who is known for being good-natured, finds it hard to accept.

Naturally, as someone sent by the Emperor, former Grand Marshal Duroc continued calmly.

“I have also brought a permit allowing you to move freely in the New World.”

The permit brought by the Imperial Guard was received by the Archduke’s own guard.

However, the Archduke didn’t bother to look at the permit.

Surely, the former Grand Marshal wouldn’t forge the Emperor’s permit.

What’s important is the scope of the movement permit.

“Is it because I’m not a threat, unlike in France?”

“The United States of America is on the verge of civil war. Even to protect Quebec, His Highness’s efforts are required.”

“That’s not a welcome sound at all.”

Louis-Philippe clicked his tongue and stared at Duroc.

“To be honest, I like money more than war and power.”

Unfortunately, Duroc doesn’t look convinced at all.

Duroc stared back at Louis-Philippe.

As if looking at someone lying to survive.

It’s as if he’s looking at a cold-blooded man who would abandon even his father.

Eventually, only after Louis-Philippe’s face turned red did Duroc bow politely.

“I’m glad to hear that, Your Highness. Then, I will step back.”

“Give my regards to His Majesty. If possible, tell him I’d like to see him in person.”

“It seems difficult, but I understand.”

Duroc and the Imperial Guard cavalry disappeared towards the port of Quebec.

-Doo-doo-doo!

Suddenly, a cold voice was heard from behind Louis-Philippe.

“Your father-in-law has passed away, Louis.”

A beauty as cold as her appearance stood there.

Even as time has passed, the beauty from the frozen lands remains unchanged.

Perhaps it’s because this place is as cold as the frozen lands of Russia.

For a moment, Louis-Philippe, a warm Frenchman shivering from the cold, shrugged.

“Alexandra, this can’t be helped. It’s a kind of accident.”

“In the end, the Emperor killed your father after my father.”

“Do you want revenge? Alexandra?”

When Louis-Philippe asked jokingly, Alexandra replied seriously.

“No. But I hope you remember that the Emperor is our enemy. You too, and our children too.”

It’s a venomous statement befitting a princess of the dissolved Russian Empire.

The princess’s father is Alexander I, the last Emperor of Russia.

Strictly speaking, Pavel may be the last Tsar, but that’s just a legal issue.

Louis-Philippe, the son-in-law of the last Tsar, sighed as he looked at his wife turning away.

“Hmm, an enemy. If that’s the case, I might be one of the Empress’s enemies.”

The Archduke, who showed no desire for revenge even with his father’s coffin, muttered.

“There’s nothing more foolish than burning passion on impossible things. Our Archduchess should know that too.”

That’s what happened on the bleak coast of Quebec.

***

However, even in the magnificent Quebec Palace, it’s hard for the Archduke to be at ease.

“We need assurance that His Highness the Archduke has no interest in revenge.”

The words of an investment partner who came after a long time are terrifying.

“No, why does everyone I meet talk about revenge? I’m not a fool who indulges in negative emotions like revenge.”

“It would be good if others thought so too, but the investors in this railway project are all worried. They say they might be doing business with a traitor.”

“Mr. Nathan Rothschild! How can you say such a thing! How many years have you been trading with me!”

The Archduke, Louis-Philippe, shouted as he looked at the banker in front of him.

“I’m a practical person. If I have time to take revenge, I’ll make money in the meantime. Also, in this era, money is power!”

So, it’s the Archduke’s true feelings that he likes money more than revenge or power.

Of course, it would be nice to be able to take revenge if possible.

But what revenge can be taken against France, the world’s leading empire?

Also, his father was senile and jumped into a riot that had no chance of success.

Above all, Louis-Philippe doesn’t want to waste his life with negative emotions.

He’s been like that since he was an exile.

Among the exiled nobles who dreamed of revenge, Louis-Philippe lived by doing more constructive things.

Like being a tutor, for example.

Of course, the banker Nathan Rothschild doesn’t look convinced at all.

Nathan replied with a nonchalant attitude.

“Excellent words. But words are just words.”

“Don’t tell me to lower the profit ratio? Or limit the shares? I won’t tolerate that!”

“Somehow, those are tempting words. But I’m also a businessman with integrity, so I don’t do such highway robbery deals.”

The banker asked the Archduke, a pragmatist who values profit margins more than revenge.

“How about having your son, Prince Ferdinand, serve in the New France Defense Forces?”

This was a bit too much.

The Archduke Louis-Philippe was starting to consider calling his guards.

However, the person in front of him is an important channel that allows Louis-Philippe to exert influence outside Quebec.

Through [capital].

After cooling his anger for a moment, Louis-Philippe asked.

“Send a hostage?”

“It’s good to gain military experience too.”

“What if he gets caught up in the American Civil War and dies? Isn’t he my successor?”

Then the banker Nathan replied as if it were absurd.

“There’s almost no chance of him participating in the war. Conversely, even if he does participate, there’s no way they’d send the Prince of Quebec to the battlefield. It’s common sense.”

But the Archduke, a former soldier who once roamed the battlefields of the French Revolution, clicked his tongue.

“The battlefield doesn’t work according to common sense. Banker. Tsk.”

You never know what will happen on the battlefield.

However, as they talked, the Archduke’s mind calmed down.

It’s not just a matter of being angry.

Perhaps it could be a new opportunity.

The Archduke, who was deep in thought, clapped his knees.

“But in the end, Ferdinand is the one who will inherit my property. Okay, I’ll send him.”

“You’ve made a good decision. The investors will be very happy.”

“Instead, you’ll have to give me a stake in the military supplies contract. Of course, I’ll pay the capital for the stake.”

Nathan was speechless as he looked at the Archduke trying to expand his business with his son as bait.

“Ha, Your Highness is truly a true businessman!”

Even the ruthless Jews wouldn’t do that much.

Moreover, with the American Civil War scheduled, military supplies transactions are sure to bring enormous profits.

Just as Nathan was wondering if he should trade with the Archduke, he was urged.

“Are you going to do it or not!”

“I accept. It will be limited to 10 percent.”

“Let’s start with that for now.”

The Archduke, Louis-Philippe, shone his eyes.

“The civil war will last a long time. Then, even larger-scale arms deals will begin. And, Quebec happens to have weapons production facilities and plenty of surplus.”

Originally, when the Civil War broke out in the original history.

Many great capitalists were born in the United States.

But at this moment, there are other capitalists aiming for the American Civil War.

“Let’s make a lot of money. Your Highness.”

Among them, a Jew and a former revolutionary shook hands.

Truly, a deal to make a fortune was concluded.

***

Of course, the Archduke is different from a simple capitalist.

“Father. I heard you’re sending me as a hostage.”

The Archduke, who was looking out the window of his office, replied to his son.

“Your mother is so angry that she won’t see me.”

“I think it’s a decision to protect the Quebec Territory. It wouldn’t be strange if it were abolished at any time.”

“The Emperor doesn’t fire people that easily. This is for a possible future.”

Prince Ferdinand widened his eyes.

“The future? Could it be?”

Could it be that he dreams of revenge?

Of course, that’s not it.

The Archduke Louis-Philippe was dumbfounded and shouted.

“Are you misunderstanding me too, Ferdinand? I told you I’m not interested in revenge!”

“Then what future are you talking about?”

“After the Emperor’s death!”

At that moment, Louis-Philippe shouted like lightning striking outside.

“People eventually die. No matter how great a hero! Moreover, the more you overwork from a young age, the faster you die. This is the law of history!”

There are few people in the world who have observed Emperor Eugene I as deeply as the Archduke.

Even the Empress would not worry about Eugene’s lifespan.

But the Archduke is different.

The Orléans family is a royal family, but they noticed the changes in history and devoted themselves to the revolution.

They are that sensitive to historical changes.

But in Louis-Philippe’s view, the Emperor has been overworking himself since he was too young.

No matter how healthy he looks right now, such a person is bound to have problems.

Moreover, the Beauharnais family is not a family famous for longevity.

“You’ve heard of it too, right? The Emperor was called a genius from a young age.”

“It’s famous. Everyone in the French Empire knows about it.”

“I saw it in real time. The Emperor was really a genius. But.”

Suddenly, Louis-Philippe looked at his son and twisted his lips.

“If he lives a long life even after all that hardship, it would be strange. On the other hand, our Orléans family is very famous for longevity!”

What if the Emperor dies?

In a typical monarchy, the successor would inherit.

But the French Empire is an elective monarchy because of the ideology of being the successor to the Great Revolution.

“Then, what are you saying, Father?”

Louis-Philippe grinned.

“Yes. The next imperial election. Charles Napoleon and Karl Bourbon Napoleon are not showing much prominence. It’s the destiny of the successor of the great Emperor.”

“There’s also Duke Eugene Gibraltar.”

“Forget about that rascal. But now the war has broken out. In the New World.”

Suddenly, Louis-Philippe grabbed his son’s shoulders.

“While the Emperor’s son and brother are peacefully hiding, the Archduke’s son goes out to the battlefield and fights. How about it?”

This is what the Archduke thought of when he was about to get angry at the banker.

“I understand. I will live up to your expectations!”

“Nonsense. You just need to show your face. Dying is the most avoidable thing.”

“That too, I understand.”

Patting his son’s shoulders, the Archduke looked out the window again.

The desolate New World, Quebec.

This is all that has been given to the Archduke.

But if a person is alive, they can do anything.

That’s the spirit of the revolution, and the Archduke was a revolutionary.

“Yes. This is a battle between the Emperor and me, Louis-Philippe. Soon, it’s a life-or-death battle over lifespan.”

The rain of Quebec began to pour outside the window.

-Doo-doo-doo!

A man betting his life against Eugene.

It was the day Louis-Philippe sent his son to the Civil War.