He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 167

167. A Dizzying Encounter

◈ The Intelligence Club

October 1788.

The revolt of the populace, whom they had regarded as ignorant and insignificant, swept through French society in an instant.

The raging flames of the French Revolution, which erupted like wildfire, made the hearts of the European people race and inspired a sense of anticipation.

However, the nobles trembled with fear.

The nobles of England were no different.

The terrible events that took place in French society were vividly conveyed throughout English society, especially in clubs frequented by aristocrats.

The uneasy and gloomy atmosphere of the British aristocracy was palpable even in the Intelligence Club, which boasted many members from noble families.

“Have you heard what the citizens who revolted in a Paris prison two months ago did?”

A baron, his neck concealed by a powdered wig, chattered while sipping coffee at the table next to Theo.

“What specific story have you heard?”

“Tell us if you’ve heard anything new.”

As members gathered around the baron, he lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret.

“It’s about the riot that took place at the Bastille Prison in France.”

A gentleman with glasses, seated nearby, chimed in, feigning knowledge.

“Ah, I know of it. Isn’t the Bastille Prison a prison for political prisoners in Paris?”

The baron nodded.

“That’s right. But it’s only nominally a prison for political prisoners. In reality, there wasn’t a single political prisoner incarcerated there. There were only about six or seven petty criminals or mentally ill individuals.

The French government also considered the Bastille Prison to be of little strategic value and had no plans to continue using it as a prison. Naturally, the defenses were weak, and few soldiers were stationed there.”

“But why did the citizens target that useless prison instead of Versailles, where the king resides?”

The gentleman with glasses interjected again.

“I’ve spent time in Paris before, so I know a little about the layout. It takes at least six hours to walk from Paris to the Palace of Versailles, where the king resides. It’s simply too far.”

The baron nodded and continued.

“Precisely. When the French king decided to dissolve the National Assembly, which represented the common people, the enraged populace sought an outlet for their anger. The Bastille Prison, which had once imprisoned politicians, writers, and journalists, became the target.

In any case, it was a symbolic building of the government, and Versailles was too distant, so they made that poorly defended prison a sacrifice.

So, the citizens demanded the release of the prisoners and the surrender of the prison. The commander there was the son of the governor of the Bastille region.

He tried to negotiate to appease the angry citizens and promised the protesters that he would not order his men to fire, but the prison’s soldiers, few in number amidst the huge crowd, were terrified.

During the negotiations, a soldier fired a shot, and the citizens completely lost their minds.

The citizens captured the commander, the governor’s son, cut off his head, impaled it on a spear, and paraded it around Paris.”

“Oh, my goodness!”

“That’s not all. While marching, if they encountered the house of a noble with some reputation in the area, they broke in, decapitated them, and committed robbery….”

The gruesome tales of the protests continued to circulate.

The nobles who heard the story unconsciously touched their necks. It felt uncomfortably close to home.

An old gentleman sitting with Theo, sipping tea, smiled wryly and said.

“Haha, these days, everywhere you go, you only hear terrible stories about the popular uprising in France.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

As Theo nodded in agreement, he noticed Admiral Matthew Benthall, who had been scanning the club from afar, finally entering.

He was currently the third-highest-ranking officer in the navy, the Admiral of the White [a senior rank in the British Royal Navy].

“Over here, Admiral Benthall!”

When Theo stood up and raised his hand, the admiral smiled warmly and approached him.

“Oh, dear, am I a little late? I apologize, Lord Sanderson.”

“No, I haven’t been here long myself.”

Benthall, after taking a seat, exchanged pleasantries with the other old gentleman, mentioning trivial events that had transpired in the interim.

Today’s meeting had been arranged after Theo contacted Admiral Matthew Benthall a few weeks prior.

Due to the rapid changes unfolding in France, the entire military, including the navy, was on high alert, making meetings difficult to schedule.

However, Theo had information he needed to obtain, so he sent a letter to the admiral requesting this meeting.

After exchanging brief greetings, Admiral Benthall produced a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket.

“This is the information about the person you inquired about in your letter.”

Theo’s ears perked up at the news he had been anticipating.

The admiral, retrieving a magnifying glass and placing it on the bridge of his nose, opened the paper and began to read.

“The friend you mentioned… Horatio Nelson, has been confirmed to currently hold no command authority within the navy.”

“What? No command authority?”

Theo questioned Admiral Benthall.

“What do you mean he has no command authority within the navy?”

“The Nelson you asked me to find is indeed an officer in our British Navy. It turns out that Commodore Maurice Suckling, the Navy Comptroller, whom I know personally, is his uncle.”

“……”

“Nelson was assigned to the East Indies as an adjutant on Suckling’s ship and participated in a battle with the North American Army. Then, about five years ago, he was given command of a small fleet.

However, four years ago, he was sued for illegal seizure after confiscating four American ships near Antigua for enforcing the Navigation Act [a series of laws restricting the use of foreign ships for trade between England and its colonies].

Consequently, he had to leave the navy for nearly a year to attend court proceedings, and it appears he has not been able to regain command authority to this day.”

“How old is he now?”

“Currently… he must be about 30 years old.”

“30 years old….”

Horatio Nelson.

He was a legendary admiral of the British Navy, a figure I had heard so much about in modern times.

However, Theo possessed almost no accurate knowledge of his life.

He didn’t even know his current age.

He merely remembered that he made the French army tremble with his brilliant naval warfare tactics, that even Napoleon, who dominated Europe, feared Nelson, and a few famous naval battles.

‘I expected to hear his name around the time the French Revolution broke out, but it’s been strangely quiet. It would be fortunate if Napoleon didn’t appear, but if Napoleon follows the historical trajectory and only Admiral Nelson is missing, isn’t this like the Imjin War [Japanese invasions of Korea in the late 16th century] without Admiral Yi Sun-sin [a Korean naval commander famed for his victories against the Japanese navy]? That would be a disaster….’

Even when I inquired among my acquaintances, almost no one seemed to know his name.

If history is slightly altered and Nelson, like ‘William Eden,’ fails to exert his powerful abilities, there is a risk that a completely different historical timeline will be created by Napoleon’s power.

Theo had sought Benthall’s help out of growing anxiety.

‘Was there a period in actual history when Nelson lacked command authority like this? Or has history already been altered? If history has been twisted, this is a very serious matter….’

Europe could be brutally trampled by the French Revolution and the powerful Napoleonic army that would follow.

However, England, across the sea, was never invaded by Napoleon’s army.

The role of Horatio Nelson was crucial in preventing that.

‘Whether history has changed or not, I have to meet Nelson somehow and assess the situation.’

Theo’s worries deepened due to the potential alteration of history.

◈ A few days later. Theo Marriage Agency, 5th floor CEO’s office.

It was just past lunchtime.

Lucy entered to inform him that a scheduled client had arrived.

“CEO! Count Dominici from the Kingdom of Naples, along with his daughter, have arrived and are waiting in the consultation room on the first floor.”

“Really? They’re already here? Okay. I’ll be down shortly.”

As he put on his coat and prepared to go downstairs, Lucy, who was following him, couldn’t help but speak her mind.

“CEO? But, Count Dominici’s daughter seemed a little… unusual.”

“What do you mean?”

“Not only did she not resemble her father at all, but it felt like her father was extremely subservient to her.”

As expected of the quick-witted Lucy.

Theo brushed it off.

“Hmm, she must have inherited her mother’s appearance. And… well, perhaps he dotes on her because she was his only daughter, born late in life.”

Lucy tilted her head.

“Even so, how can you be so servile to your own daughter? It made me uncomfortable to watch. But… she was incredibly beautiful. Is that why he cherishes her so much?”

“……”

Theo, descending to the first floor, knocked on the door of the VVIP consultation room.

Knock knock-

Thump-

The door opened, and Count Dominici greeted Theo as he entered the consultation room.

“Ah, Lord Sanderson. Welcome.”

“Yes, Count.”

Count Dominici gestured towards a woman sitting with her back turned.

“Say hello. This is Princess Maria of the Kingdom of Naples.”

The woman slowly rose from her seat and turned around.

And with a gentle smile, she met Theo’s eyes.

‘……!’

Dark brown hair, almost black, and intense, cool eyes.

Provocative and curious eyes the same color as her hair.

Flawless skin, a high nose, and full lips.

A chilling sensation surged through Theo’s heart.

‘…….’

Neither in modern times nor in the 18th century,

It was a dizzying feeling he had never experienced before.

Princess Maria approached and greeted him.

“Hello. I am Maria de Bourbon.”

“Ah, yes. Nice to… meet you, Princess. I’m Theo Sanderson.”

Count Dominici said with a smile.

“Our princess probably speaks English better than anyone else in our kingdom. There will be no communication issues.”

As the count stated, the princess’s pronunciation and intonation were impeccable.

“Yes, judging by your pronunciation, that certainly seems to be the case. Let’s take a seat first.”

Theo, sitting face to face with Princess Maria, found it difficult to maintain eye contact.

‘Why am I acting like this?’

His pupils dilated, and his heart pounded.

Theo, who always observed men and women from the detached perspective of a cold-blooded analyst.

To Theo, the image of a man falling in love at first sight was always ridiculous and foolish.

But he was horrified to find himself exhibiting such a pathetic display now.

‘If I objectively analyze my feelings… isn’t this the typical behavior of someone who has fallen in love at first sight?

I can’t believe I’m engaging in this foolish act of falling in love based solely on the appearance of the opposite sex… It’s just an illusion caused by hormone secretion! Get a grip!’

He recalled the foolish people he had sighed at while counseling them in modern times.

Theo himself was now behaving in the same way.

But be careful. Women tend to recognize when a man has fallen for them much faster than men.

‘I must never… never let her realize!’

Theo must remain faithful to his role as an intermediary who introduces potential partners.

He could never allow himself to display the ridiculous sight of a referee in the stadium falling in love with one of the players.

Theo struggled to suppress his emotions by mobilizing all his psychological knowledge.

Twitch- Thump-

He tried to wiggle his toes and focus on the texture of the pen he was holding.

He made every effort to divert his mind elsewhere.

“……Then the income from the Kingdom of Naples’ exports must be considerable?”

He questioned the count at length about the economy of the Kingdom of Naples.

Count Dominici replied nonchalantly.

“Well, you could say that. But Lord Sanderson? Let’s discuss that later and focus on matters related to the princess first.”

“Ah, yes. Of course. I was just about to do that.”

Theo hurriedly proceeded with the consultation.

“Our company has a procedure to assess compatibility when arranging marriages. Let’s begin with that.”

Theo opened the matching questionnaire placed beside him and began to ask questions.

“Does the princess generally enjoy conversations? That is……”

Even during the compatibility assessment, Theo continued to observe his own behavior from an objective standpoint.

And if even a hint of emotion threatened to surface, he did his best to objectify and suppress it.

Fortunately, the princess seemed to notice nothing unusual in Theo’s demeanor.

* * *

When the one-hour matching questionnaire was completed, Count Dominici, who had been observing from the side, said with a satisfied expression.

“Hehe—as expected, this is an exceptional marriage agency. Seeing how meticulously you analyze the princess’s personality, it implies that the other party is also matched based on that assessment, correct?

Then, logically, if their thoughts and tastes align well, their married life will be harmonious.”

“That’s correct.”

“Haha, I’m very pleased. I’ve been married for over 30 years, but I’m still suffering because my wife and I disagree on everything. On the other hand, my younger brother and his wife get along so well and have so much fun.

Lord Sanderson, I have high expectations. Please find the best partner for our princess.”

“Yes, of course, I will do my best.”

Theo barely managed to complete the initial consultation without betraying his feelings.