He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 546

Outskirts (24) The French European Empire Union is Declared (End of Outskirts)

December 1825, Christmas was approaching.

“I heard there’s something big planned for this Christmas.”

A street in Paris, starting from the Arc de Triomphe and leading to the Place de la Concorde.

On the Champs-Élysées, a pretty girl in neat attire spoke.

She wasn’t old enough to drink coffee yet, but holding a coffee cup gave the impression of being precocious.

However, none of her attendants dared tell her not to drink coffee.

In front, Eugene II, also young but recklessly drinking coffee, tilted his head.

“What is it? Is it a declaration that I’ve caught Metternich? I haven’t caught him yet.”

“No! I don’t know exactly, but I heard it from Dad—I mean, His Imperial Majesty. It’s an event encompassing the entire empire.”

“Is this the time to hold such an event? Public opinion is still unsettled.”

Then the pretty girl, Princess Paulina of the Kingdom of Naples, scoffed.

“Isn’t it obvious that you divert attention with events when public opinion is bad? Fifth cousin once removed, Eugene Junior?”

In fact, in terms of lineage, Paulina was a fifth aunt, and Eugene II was a fifth nephew.

But there was almost no age difference between them, with Paulina being a month older.

This was because Pauline became pregnant slightly earlier than Marie when the Great War ended.

“Shh, Princess Paulina. If you keep doing this, it’ll be revealed that I’m running away from home.”

“What are you talking about? You’re already back home. And you couldn’t even catch Metternich.”

“I almost caught him in Rome. If only…”

Eugene II flicked his coffee cup in a Champs-Élysées cafe and licked his lips.

“If only our little ‘grandmother’ hadn’t fallen for another man.”

At that moment, the ‘grandmother’ came running from the other side of the Champs-Élysées, making a fuss.

“Wow, Paris is still the best for gourmet food! Have you guys tried this? It’s a new parfait! They sell it at Carême’s restaurant!” [Antonin Carême was a famous early 19th-century French chef and pastry chef.]

Of course, the ‘grandmother’ was 40 years old, and her appearance still looked like she was in her early 30s.

Also, like an Italian woman who had fallen for French culture, she was still burning with romance.

Even during her trip to Rome, she had a fiery romance with a young cardinal.

Seeing Queen Pauline of Naples, who was still serious about romance, Paulina frowned.

“Mother, will you be participating in this event? Dad—I mean, His Imperial Majesty—is also coming.”

“He’ll probably come with a new lover. Should I go with a new young lover here too?”

“Mom, please!”

Pauline giggled, putting Eugene II’s arm around her chest and linking arms with him.

“Or, should I say you’re my lover and take my ‘nephew’? Huh?”

Suddenly, Pauline’s face hardened, and Paulina, unaware of it, got angry.

“If you keep doing that, I’m going alone!”

“Be quiet, Paulina.”

“Why should I?”

Pauline still smiled, half-hugging Eugene II.

“I think I saw a familiar face.”

Eugene II swallowed hard.

Although there was quite an age difference and she was his grandmother in terms of lineage, Pauline was still full of sexual charm.

Especially since genes determine sexual preference, Eugene II was bound to be weak to Pauline.

After all, his father had always been weak to Pauline.

Unable to pull himself away, Eugene hid his constantly throbbing body and asked.

“Who is it, little grandmother?”

“Oh, our little Imperial Prince. Call me Pauline. We had such a good time, didn’t we?”

“That’s very misleading. Ahem. But who is it that makes you so serious?”

Eugene II hurriedly avoided Paulina’s gaze.

In fact, they really had a good time, but it would be troublesome if Paulina found out.

Because having a ‘good’ time with Paulina was also Eugene II’s plan these days.

At that moment, Pauline bit Eugene II’s ear and whispered.

“Katrina Bagration, Metternich’s lover.”

Eugene II felt a desire that heated up his whole body, then stopped.

Metternich.

A being that must be caught.

Pushing Pauline away, Eugene II’s eyes flashed.

“I have to move.”

A boy who likes cases more than women.

It’s time for Eugene II, an aspiring detective, to move.

***

The Place de la Concorde was a festival ground.

“Today, the new Ampère Legion of Honor will be awarded!” [André-Marie Ampère was a French physicist and mathematician and one of the founders of the science of classical electromagnetism]

The chamberlain’s voice, amplified by the electric megaphone currently under development, could be heard.

The listeners were citizens, dignitaries, and royalty.

One of the highest-ranking royals, who was strolling and listening to the story near the platform, turned to another highest-ranking royal.

“The chamberlain is old, but his spirit is good, Uncle.”

“Well, he’s a very healthy person. More than that, why don’t you come to Paris more often? Eugene Junior is considered a runaway.”

“Until my mother came back, I was also in a state of forced runaway, Uncle.”

‘Charles’ Boarner Bonaparte, who was now almost a young man, smiled at ‘Charles’ Napoleon Bonaparte.

“I’m glad you two seem to be getting along better.”

On the other side, there was also a girl who approached the white-bearded Prime Minister who was preparing for a speech and looked at him with wonder.

“Wow, a new grandpa!”

“Oh, Princess. I’m not a grandfather, but the Prime Minister.”

“Prime Minister Grandpa! Look at the beard!”

The girl, Jeanne, pulled on Prime Minister Lafayette’s beard.

Lafayette was embarrassed, and those around him were horrified.

But the Emperor and Empress have only one daughter, and no one dared to rush in at this place.

At that time, a woman in white came and lifted Jeanne up.

“Jeanne, you can’t bother the Prime Minister too much.”

Then Lafayette stroked his sore beard and let out a sigh of relief.

“Princess Florence, it’s been a while.”

“I’ve never left Paris. I watched every time the Prime Minister gave a speech.”

“I’ve also heard that the Princess is dating a subversive. You should be careful.”

Somehow, it didn’t seem like something to say to Princess Florence, who saved him from the beard crisis.

But from Lafayette’s point of view, he had been planning to advise her for a while.

Because Victor Hugo was indeed a subversive who writes really dangerous things.

Princess Florence Bonaparte, a doctor, smiled awkwardly.

“Hugo is not that dangerous. I’ll tell him to come and say hello later.”

Outside the platform, there was also a sharp gaze checking the state of the event.

It was the gaze of Empress Dowager Letizia Bonaparte.

However, as if she didn’t like the extremely splendid decorations, Letizia kept calling out to the servants and maids.

“Spending so much money on an event! Isn’t that silk from the East? How much is it, really?”

“Empress Dowager, why are you being so unsophisticated? It’s nothing compared to the Palace of Versailles 35 years ago.”

“That’s why the old royal family went bankrupt, Empress! What is the current Empress doing? Even if she’s from the royal family, she has to save money so that she doesn’t get criticized by the people!”

Josephine, the former Empress and, so to speak, the [Grand Empress Dowager], could not stop Letizia either.

Letizia busily roamed the venue in search of the Empress.

However, at that time, the Empress was having a secret meeting in an annex of the square a little away.

“Marie, it’s been a while.”

Empress Marie stared at the woman who used to be a queen.

“Mother, are you happy? You haven’t come from Sweden at all.”

“It’s very busy there too. I’m even busier helping Fersen.”

“Come and see Charles. He said he’s coming today. Ah.”

Looking out the window of the annex, Empress Marie told Antoinette.

“There he is, our King of Naples.”

However, the King of Naples, Louis Charles Bourbon, was busy for another reason.

First, he was looking for the person in charge of security for the event.

In the end, the person Louis Charles caught was Duroc, the former chamberlain and the host of this event.

“Where is His Imperial Majesty?”

“Why are you asking, Your Majesty the King of Naples? He is scheduled to come out soon.”

“Then, it would be better not to come out for now.”

Louis Charles said urgently to Duroc.

“There is intelligence that ultra-hardline terrorists centered on Metternich have come to Paris today.”

It was urgent information obtained by the Naples Public Security Police.

This information could be trusted.

Because it was an information network created by Salicetti, the head of information for the French Empire, second only to Rochejacquelein.

Duroc’s face hardened.

“I’ll call Rochejacquelein first. Huh?”

Suddenly, Duroc’s face turned pale.

Louis Charles also turned around and was surprised.

It was because Emperor Eugene was walking over.

Without any guards.

“Your Majesty!”

However, Emperor Eugene was very calm.

Was it because he didn’t know the danger?

No.

Rather, Eugene was the one who was second to none in sensing danger in this place.

Eugene smiled as he looked at the [Silver Letters] that came to mind.

“It’s been a while since I’ve received an [Alert].”

In an instant, a group of people jumped out from among the citizens.

“Kill the tyrant! Viva Deutsch Revolution!” [Long Live the German Revolution!]

The number was 10 in total.

In their hands were the latest firearms and grenades.

Screams echoed through the square, and the guards moved urgently.

But they couldn’t stop only one person.

A person they didn’t pay attention to because he was old.

It’s Metternich.

The moment Metternich, filled with joy, tried to throw a grenade.

-Click, bang!

Smoke rose from the muzzle.

From Eugene’s muzzle.

And, from Eugene II’s muzzle.

The sound of a grenade explosion rang out.

The sound of Metternich’s body exploding was loud.

“I shot first! Your Imperial Majesty!”

In the midst of the commotion, Eugene II shouted, and Eugene turned his gaze.

“Eugene?”

When the Empress jumped out in surprise, Eugene smiled at his second son.

“A new sharpshooter. Rochejacquelein, catch them. The traitors.”

As calmly as if nothing had happened.

***

Today, the weather in Paris was very clear.

-Click, click, click!

The Legion of Honor shone in the sunlight.

Those who received the medal were those who had made a name for themselves in each field of the empire.

Among them, Joubert of South Africa, who received the medal with tears in his eyes, could also be seen.

Everyone returned to their seats, and Eugene stood on the platform.

“Today, there were [traitors] who tried to cause an unfortunate incident.”

The citizens nodded with serious faces.

Usually, if this happens, the event is completely suspended.

But the Emperor was proceeding with the event with a calm face.

Even the arrogant Parisians, who sometimes looked down on the conciliatory Emperor, became aware at this moment.

That the Emperor was the greatest general in Europe and also a hero who had gone through many battlefields.

“I think everyone knows what those traitors were trying to prevent.”

Eugene pointed to those who received the medal.

“That is exactly what those who received the medal here symbolize.”

The medal, the Legion of Honor, symbolized one thing.

“Our empire of [French people].”

He didn’t say the French Empire.

He didn’t say Eugene’s empire.

He only said the empire of French ‘people’.

Eugene, the Emperor of the citizens, turned to his son, who had the same name as him.

“15 years, the same amount of time has passed as when my son Eugene II was born here. During that time, I have upheld the will of the late Emperor Napoleon and worked to complete the [Citizen Empire].”

Empress Marie blushed slightly.

In fact, strictly speaking, Eugene II was not born when the reign of Eugene I began.

He was a child who was ‘born’ at the time.

That means he was eventually conceived during the mourning period.

Nevertheless, it is also true that Eugene II was ultimately with Eugene’s reign.

“You will be seeing, hearing, and feeling the results.”

Those who are living in the era created by Eugene.

The French citizens look at Eugene.

Remembering everything about the empire again.

“Now, I declare that it is time for the French Empire to move forward one step further. This is the consensus of the citizens, the desire of the entire Europe, and the demand of the times.”

Suddenly, a flag was unfurled.

-Fluttering!

A circle with stars drawn on it.

In the center is the new symbol of the French Empire, the bee.

A golden bee discovered in a tomb from the ancient Merovingian dynasty, which Eugene newly adopted as a symbol.

“European Empire Union.”

The golden bee in the center, the stars spread around the flag.

What this symbolizes is simple.

Europe, with the French Empire at its center.

And, the world.

“Today, I declare the birth of the European Empire Union, with France at its center!”

With Emperor Eugene’s declaration, the citizens erupted in cheers.

-Waaaa!

December 25, 1825, Christmas Day.

The European Empire Union was born.

This is the 19th century, the new era created by Eugene.

Epilogue – Modern Paris is noisy, bustling, and peaceful.

The sky in Paris is clear.

-콰콰쾅! [Sound of a loud explosion]

Except for the sound of explosions, it is peaceful.

All over the Champs-Élysées, Parisian citizens come and go, shouting slogans.

Very angry, diverse races, people of all ages and genders.

“Kill the dirty rich!”

Of course, if they really killed the rich, there would probably be tear gas exploding in the streets.

It’s not quite a tear gas atmosphere yet, so many citizens are watching the protesters.

Suddenly, police officers with batons were deployed.

“Aigo, I’m going to die! Save me!” [Aigo is a Korean expression of distress]

“Beat down the terrorists! Chase them away!”

“Long live the revolution! Death to the Emperor!”

An old gentleman, leisurely watching the scene from a Champs-Élysées cafe, opened his mouth.

“Isn’t it a bit much to insult His Imperial Majesty?”

The old gentleman is holding a smartphone.

Considering that gentlemen of this age generally still prefer newspapers to smartphones, it can be said that he has modernized.

Conversely, the young man with glasses sipping coffee in front of him is reading a newspaper.

The young man scoffed at the old gentleman and said.

“What are you talking about, Professor Damelin? The public opinion to abolish the imperial government is approaching nearly 30 percent. It’s unprecedented.”

“No, the Prime Minister is at fault, not His Majesty. Murong.”

“It’s the same thing, Professor!”

The disciple Murong argued with Grand École [prestigious French higher education establishment] Professor Damelin.

“In the end, the Emperor appointed the Prime Minister. All of this is because the people can only choose a leader once in their lifetime. Either implement an Emperor term system, or allow a vote of no confidence!”

Of course, Damelin would see it as half-baked talk.

If he wrote a political science doctoral thesis on this topic, he might give him a failing grade.

But before the professor could point it out, someone else spoke from behind.

“You seem to have a lot of complaints about the Emperor, Monsieur.”

Slightly black hair and eyes.

He seems to be of mixed race, which is common these days.

I wonder if he has Asian blood mixed in.

Murong looked at the black-haired young man and asked displeasedly.

“What, who are you?”

“Ah, I’m a gambler. I was playing a card game with friends for the first time in a while, and I overheard some interesting talk.”

“If you’re a gambler, you’re probably not a public security officer, right? According to the Imperial Constitution, my freedom of speech is guaranteed. Don’t think about reporting me. I’m not plotting treason.”

The black-haired young man smiled.

“Freedom of thought is guaranteed for everyone. It’s always the action that’s the problem. I’d like to hear your valuable opinions.”

Then Murong cleared his throat and began to lecture again.

“Ahem! Well, to put it simply, it’s not the Emperor himself that’s the problem. First of all, the problem is that the Emperor is only selected from the Bonaparte, Bourbon, and Beauharnais families!”

“If they were selected from other families, wouldn’t that not be a monarchy?”

“The reason for tolerating the monarchy is simple! It’s just that elected presidents or prime ministers are just bureaucrats!”

Murong slammed the newspaper on the cafe table and shouted.

“It’s difficult to make responsible decisions on important national affairs! But if that is virtually monopolized by one family, it will inevitably lead to dictatorship!”

There is a contradiction in what Murong is saying now.

First of all, the basic principles of a monarchy are lifetime tenure and hereditary succession.

If, instead, an elected official is chosen from a wide range of eligible voters, it is no different from a lifetime tenure republic.

But Murong acknowledges the monarchy while denying the premise.

He is unable to break away from the framework of the citizen empire that has lasted for 200 years.

Besides, there is also the issue of numbers.

The black-haired young man tilted his head and asked.

“I think you just said three families.”

“Look at this guy. Is this your first time living in France? It’s common sense that those three families are virtually one and the same due to long-standing intermarriage!”

“I’ve been living abroad for a long time. My father was stationed in a place called Korea in East Asia.”

Then Professor Damelin clapped his hands.

“Ah, Korea. Isn’t that the first East Asian country that our France opened up to? It’s a country that joined the First World thanks to our France. Haha!”

That was already 200 years ago.

A country that had long pursued a closed policy, Joseon [historical Korean kingdom].

However, it could not resist the trend of gunboat diplomacy.

When France occupied Ganghwa Island and demanded opening, Joseon eventually accepted.

Now, both Korea and France are keeping quiet about this old story, as they consider forced opening to be a historical blemish.

Only the French signs prevalent in Korea’s Seoul Special City reveal traces of the old history.

The black-haired young man smiled instead of pointing that out.

Instead, Murong shouted at Damelin.

“The First World? If you put it that way, does that mean the ‘People’s Republic of China’ is the Second World?”

“Well, isn’t that how it’s usually classified? The Second World, centered on the People’s Republic of China, and the First World, centered on our France, and then the former independent states of the Hispanic Union or Africa are the Third World.”

“The South American independent states are foolish. If they had followed our France’s lead, they would be enjoying a prosperous life like New France.”

Until just now, Murong was denying the monarchy and shouting for liberalism.

But towards the South American independent states, like a Frenchman, he is saying that it would have been better to accept domination.

Just as the black-haired young man lowered his head to hide a brief bitter smile.

Murong shouted powerfully again.

“Anyway, the monarchy has fundamental problems. So it’s only natural that those protesters are protesting!”

At that moment, a grenade flew in.

-Swoosh, Bang!

The explosion and smoke filled the air and then disappeared.

The cafe turned into a scene of chaos.

The citizens of Paris are tolerant of protests, and in fact, they are often indifferent to protesters.

They believe in the freedom of protest as long as it doesn’t interfere with them.

But it’s a different story if you throw a bomb.

“Ugh! It’s a terrorist attack!”

“Damn protesters! Using bombs!”

“Ambulance! Call a doctor!”

Amidst all sorts of screams, the black-haired young man, with a perfectly fine face, asked Murong.

“You said the protesters were justified?”

Murong screamed, covered in blood.

“Damn it! Who knew they would throw a bomb! Oppose terrorism! Terrorists go to hell!”

Watching the scene, the black-haired young man said a word to the cafe master and stepped forward.

“Here, please call an ambulance.”

The master recognized the young man, bowed politely, and immediately took out his cell phone.

The sound of sirens is loud.

The sound of explosions is also everywhere in the streets.

It seems that Republican radicals have committed the act.

Just as the black-haired young man was about to step into the back alley of the Champs-Élysées to avoid the explosions.

“How is it? The world you created?”

Someone asked the young man.

The young man stopped and turned around.

A black-haired beauty who looked Asian at first glance was standing there.

The black-haired young man quietly looked at the beauty and shrugged his shoulders.

“The world I created, what do you mean?”

“Eugene Beauharnais Bonaparte, are you going to deny it?”

“That is my name, and also the name of my distant ancestor.”

The black-haired beauty whispered with a smile to the young man from the Bonaparte family, Eugene.

“It’s also the previous life you lived.”

Eugene, that is, Emperor Eugene I, stared coldly at the beauty.

No one has recognized Eugene since he was reborn.

It’s only natural.

People usually don’t do things like reincarnation.

He even looked for Marina Paulin or Hippolyte to see if they might have come back to life.

The reason he went to Korea was actually to see if he had any parents from his previous life.

None of them appeared before Eugene.

But someone who recognizes Eugene has appeared.

“Who are you?”

The black-haired beauty smiled brightly.

“Isn’t it floating in front of your eyes right now?”

Instantly, silver-white letters appear.

[Maestro.]

Only these silver-white letters give Eugene a sense of reality.

It announces that the previous life existed and that he has been reborn.

It was also thanks to the notification that he was able to avoid the explosion just now.

But the silver-white letters say.

This woman is the Maestro.

“Maestro, it probably doesn’t mean craftsman. Does it mean master?”

“That’s right.”

“The owner of these silver-white letters. Furthermore.”

Eugene said, staring at the black-haired beauty.

“You’re the one who sent me to the era of the Great Revolution.”

The black-haired beauty did not deny it.

“So, did you like this world?”

So, the beauty knows.

That Eugene lived through the era of the Great Revolution.

Also, the fact that he was a successful gambler rather than a failed scholar before that.

Furthermore, the truth that he is the one who created the current completely changed world.

Looking around the messy Champs-Élysées, Eugene shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, the French are still noisy.”

“But your family has been protected. The national structure, the intentions, even the European Empire Union.”

“The minimization of world wars is something I can be proud of. Although I didn’t do it directly.”

Eugene narrowed his brows as he recited what he thought was his greatest achievement.

“But you wouldn’t have reincarnated me just for that reason. Who are you, and what is your intention? Above all, why did you appear before me now?”

Clearly, the woman in front of him is not an ordinary person.

First of all, she knows about the silver-white letters.

She also definitely knows that Eugene was reincarnated.

Even if there is someone else who reincarnated him, it is clear that she knows a part of that secret.

Unlike Eugene, who has just been living without knowing anything.

“All of this is a Tutorial.”

But this is too much.

Tutorial.

It usually means instructions, but the extended meaning is this.

Trying out a play as a test before starting the main game.

Eugene shouted in embarrassment.

“What? Are you saying that everything I’ve achieved is fake?”

“That’s a misunderstanding. This is real. However, it was all just a test phase for you.”

“A test. Did you evaluate me? Why?”

The black-haired beauty answered very simply.

“It’s preparation for fighting a great war in another world, not this one.”

He changed history, built an empire, and prevented war.

All of that is for another war.

It’s very ironic.

But if you think about it, Eugene was a general in the Revolutionary War.

Furthermore, he was the son of Napoleon, who created the era of the Great War.

It’s not strange to say that everything in his life was preparation for another war.

Eugene looked at the black-haired beauty and shrugged his shoulders.

“This is going to be a long story.”

“Oh my, are you not refusing?”

“Do I have a choice? No, even if I did, I would refuse.”

Suddenly, Eugene’s eyes flashed and he smiled.

“I don’t avoid gambling if there’s a gamble to bet my life on.”

Eugene has always been a gambler.

Whether it was the era of the Great Revolution, the life of a scholar, or even now as a collateral imperial family member.

There is a very interesting gambling table in front of him.

There is no gambler who would avoid this situation.

The black-haired beauty smiled.

“As expected, my eyes were not wrong.”

“That’s right, by the way, who are you?”

“Well, if you’re asking for my name.”

The black-haired beauty turned around and whispered as she walked ahead.

“I’m Yejin, the guide for those who change history.”

Now, it’s time for Eugene to participate in a new gamble.

Noisy, bustling, and peaceful.

Leaving behind the new Paris that Eugene himself created.

-Waaaa!

Of course, the city where revolution is always present remains the same.