I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 12

Sardines vs. Baguettes

11.

Darkness settled over the Palace of Versailles, a place bustling with activity throughout the year.

Even this location, teeming with visitors during the day, enjoys a relatively peaceful atmosphere at night.

This grand palace, a symbol of the Bourbon dynasty’s royal authority, is situated approximately 22 km southwest of Paris.

A garden even more expansive than the palace grounds unfolds magnificently, where the royal family displayed their power, beyond the reach of the Parisian high nobility’s influence.

The Hall of Mirrors, located in the central main building on the palace’s second floor, served as the backdrop.

Within the King’s study, at the heart of the Hall of Mirrors, King Louis XV examined a letter with a troubled expression.

“…Grandfather.”

Crown Prince Auguste, the King’s grandson and heir to the throne, spoke hesitantly.

The King turned his gaze to his grandson, his eyes reflecting concern.

“Auguste, you must have heard the news as well, haven’t you? We received very unfortunate news from Austria today.”

“Yes. I heard that the engagement might be called off.”

“…Indeed. Maria Josepha, who was betrothed to the Crown Prince of Naples, is reportedly battling smallpox. Her recovery seems unlikely, so we must prepare for that eventuality. Even if she miraculously survives, it’s almost certain she will lose her beauty. Consequently, the marriage proposal will undoubtedly be withdrawn.”

“Is smallpox spreading in the Austrian capital?”

Smallpox is a disease known to be unstoppable by human intervention.

Auguste shuddered involuntarily and swallowed hard.

Deaths from smallpox were not uncommon within the Bourbon royal family.

Auguste was acutely aware that no fewer than three of his aunts had succumbed to smallpox at a young age.

Louis XV’s expression deepened as he recalled the painful memories of losing his daughters.

“Yes. Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, her fifth daughter Elisabeth, and her ninth daughter Josepha have contracted smallpox. Theresa and Elisabeth have somehow recovered, but it’s generally believed that Josepha will not survive. Therefore, there’s a strong possibility that her sister Carolina will go to the Kingdom of Naples in Josepha’s place.”

“So that’s why they said my engagement would be canceled.”

Originally, Maria Theresa’s tenth daughter, Carolina, was intended to become the Queen of France.

However, with her sister Josepha’s death from smallpox, the scheduled order was moved up by one.

It was a headache for Louis XV, but he also considered it fortunate in some respects.

This was because Carolina was a strong and capable princess, resembling her mother.

On the other hand, his grandson Louis Auguste, the future king, was a good person, but lacked charisma and leadership.

So much so that his tutors constantly requested that he discipline the Crown Prince.

Furthermore, he suffered from social anxiety and nearsightedness, hindering his communication with others.

Louis XV had also faced criticism for being indecisive and hesitant throughout his life, so he wasn’t in a position to judge others, but this situation was different.

Moreover, the crucial difference between him and his grandson lay in their attitude towards women.

Louis XV freely took mistresses and, while he favored them, he was not unduly influenced by them.

However, Crown Prince Louis Auguste had never even slept with a woman, let alone taken one.

If he married a strong-willed princess from Austria, there was a high probability that he would be controlled for the rest of his life.

It might have been fortunate that Carolina was going to Naples instead of France.

“The engagement has been canceled, but the marriage itself hasn’t been. Theresa has one last daughter. Once the situation stabilizes, I believe there will be discussions about her marrying you.”

“…Is that so…”

Auguste’s face, which had briefly brightened, quickly paled again.

It was the reaction of someone who clearly wished the marriage would be canceled.

Ultimately, a deep sigh escaped the King’s lips at his grandson’s lack of spirit.

“I can’t understand it at all. Auguste, don’t you have any desire for women? You’ll be fourteen next year. It’s about time you started feeling restless with curiosity about women and your sex drive started to awaken. But for some reason, you don’t seem to have any interest in women at all.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“I’m asking just in case, but you don’t like…men, do you?”

At the almost whispered question, Auguste jumped up and shook his head vehemently.

“Wh, what are you talking about! It’s not like that. It’s just…I think sleeping with a woman is something for…later, when I’m older…”

“You’re old enough already. Do you know what I was like at your age? I wasn’t intimidated at all when I had my first night with the Queen, who was seven years older than me. Yes, I could have gone at it all day long.”

In fact, Louis XV’s sexual appetite was so great that the Queen alone couldn’t satisfy it.

He also had his mistress, Madame de Pompadour, but even she often complained that she couldn’t handle the King’s desires.

Even as he approached 60, he was still considering taking a new mistress after Madame de Pompadour’s death.

So, looking at his lukewarm grandson in his teens, he couldn’t comprehend it and was incredibly frustrated.

“I’m saying this out of concern, but if you show such a [lack of interest] when you become king, the nobles will have no choice but to look down on you. What noble in the world would fear a king who can’t even perform his duties as a man properly?”

“I’ll try.”

“Hoo…I can’t understand how this is a matter of effort.”

“…I’m sorry.”

This wasn’t the first time this conversation had occurred.

Each time, his grandson gave the same parrot-like answer, making him feel like he was about to explode.

He even suspected that there might be a problem with his grandson’s physical function.

If so, it would be a very serious matter because he might not be able to secure future generations.

Louis XV was far more concerned about this issue than the suddenly complicated political marriage.

“Yes. It will be a few more years before you formally get engaged, so try to make that effort. I heard that Theresa’s youngest daughter has a lively personality, but she is gentle and adapts well to others.”

“Is that so? That’s a relief.”

“Tsk tsk, you’re being called weak because you’re showing such a relieved reaction right away. At times like that, you have to show the magnanimity that anyone is fine… No, that’s enough. Anyway, you said you’d make an effort, so I’ll trust you and watch.”

“Grandfather, what’s the name of that youngest princess?”

“Name?”

Louis XV picked up a stack of papers on his desk.

“I heard it recently, but I keep forgetting because I’m getting old. Let’s see… I think I put it around here.”

He put on his glasses and carefully examined the documents under the light.

“I found it. She’s one year younger than you. Her name is Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna. Her skin is said to be very fair and clear, so she will be quite a beauty if she grows up like this.”

In 18th-century Europe, many people had smallpox scars, and skin problems were widespread due to the heavy use of cosmetics that were harmful to the skin.

Therefore, flawless skin was highly valued as a beauty standard.

Auguste wasn’t a eunuch, so he naturally wanted his future wife to be beautiful.

“Maria Antonia… I should remember that.”

“That’s only the name when read in the Austrian way, so it will be different when she comes to France. When she comes over here, she will renounce her Austrian nationality and adopt everything French.”

“Ah, that’s right. Then, by the time I meet her in person, she won’t be using the name Maria Antonia, so it would be better to remember her French name.”

“Yes. If we say her name in our way, we can pronounce it like this.”

Louis XV personally wrote down and pronounced the name of the youngest Austrian princess who would come to France in the future.

“Marie Antoinette.”

“Marie Antoinette…”

Auguste stared at the paper and repeatedly muttered the name.

Unless a major event shakes the entire country, she will undoubtedly become his fiancée.

※※※

Preparations for the first vaccine development in human history were progressing smoothly.

The materials to persuade people had already been prepared and simply needed to be presented to everyone.

And finally, today was the day when the key figures in this project, including Edward Jenner, who had just arrived from England, would gather in one place.

The other three, except for me, must already be in the conference room, getting acquainted.

Even though England and France are enemies, all three are intellectuals, so they should be having a rational conversation…

“Seriously, even if the intention is good, having to work with an Englishman is such a pain!”

“Who do you think is happy to work with you, Professor? And if you don’t like it, just quit. No one’s stopping you.”

As if that would happen. France and England met.

The first thing I saw when I opened the door was Guillotin and Jenner pointing fingers at each other and arguing, while Antoine Laurent sat far away, munching on popcorn.

The two, caught up in the heat of the moment, didn’t even notice my arrival and continued to raise their voices.

“No, when I think about it, it’s ridiculous that an Englishman is involved in eradicating smallpox. Which country was it that spread smallpox among the poor Native Americans during the last war?”

“Oh my~ Who would think that France treated the indigenous people of its colonies generously?”

“No matter how hard we try, we can’t compare to England. Honestly, isn’t England the ultimate authority in the world when it comes to exploitation, plunder, or massacre?”

If I kept watching, it could escalate into a murder case, not just a scuffle.

I knew that the national sentiments between England and France were hostile, but witnessing it firsthand was something else.

The modern relationship between Korea and China or Korea and Japan was mild in comparison.

The current England and France had been fighting each other for years, shedding blood, so it was natural for them to act this way.

Citizens who had lost loved ones in the war with England were abundant in Paris.

Of course, the same was true in England.

It would be strange if they didn’t harbor animosity towards each other.

But that’s why, if the plan succeeds, my reputation could rise even further.

The national animosity between the two countries is even more intense than I expected.

This wasn’t a bad thing for me, but a good thing.

Yeah. I like it even more.

“Well, it seems like things are getting too heated, so let’s all calm down and talk.”

Guillotin, who belatedly noticed my presence, gave an awkward smile as if nothing had happened and sat back in his chair.

“Haha, I didn’t even realize you were here and showed you an embarrassing [scene].”

Guillotin had been introduced to me as the son of a high-ranking aristocrat and firmly believed it.

Strictly speaking, it’s true, so I wasn’t lying.

“I understand how you both feel. But this is something that can save the lives of thousands, no, hundreds of millions of people. So, let’s put aside emotional reactions for a while and think about the greater good. I hope you will be polite to each other while you are here.”

“Of course, I will be thoroughly polite in front of Laurent Lavoisier and [young master]. But even so, people who make pies with sardines…”

“Who says they make pies with sardines! Please say something that makes sense!”

“Who else would it be! It’s you British!”

“That’s a baseless accusation!”

Even with Jenner’s rebuttal, who was gritting his teeth and denying it, Guillotin snorted and continued to retort.

“Why is it baseless? Everyone who has visited southwestern England testifies to it. Playing with food is crossing the line!”

“You don’t know much, but there are delicious dishes in England too. Dishes like roast beef weren’t taken from France and modified?”

“I knew you’d say that. The story of roast beef always comes up whenever there’s a discussion about food. I don’t know why the British only talk about roast beef like parrots whenever there’s a discussion about food. Is that all you have to be proud of? Is that why you’re risking your lives to occupy India? Because your food is so terrible, you’re trying to absorb the cuisine by eating India.”

“So, it seems that the French only have cuisine to boast about? Is it because you’re losing to us in everything else? Ah~ that’s right. Come to think of it, we won the chess game last time, didn’t we? You lost the war, your colonial management is poor, and you even lost at chess, so it’s a relief that you at least excel in cuisine.”

This time, Guillotin glared as if his berserk button had been pressed.

“What did you say!”

“Did I say something wrong!”

These people.

Are they really great individuals who left their mark on history?

How can they be so childish?

It felt like I was watching my European friends arguing over which country’s beer was the best when I was studying abroad.

I suddenly had a headache thinking about how I would have to mediate these mentally young men in the future.

Moreover, the argument didn’t end there.

Surprisingly, the two continued to argue over nonsensical topics for almost 30 minutes and even grabbed each other by the collar.

“You sardine pie bastard with a hole in your mouth!”

“Did you say everything you wanted to? I’m going to break your baguette head!”

Oh, Guillotin grabbed his collar. Is that the famous Guillotine Choke?

If this were someone else’s problem, I would have enjoyed it while munching on popcorn.

But the problem is that these are the people I have to work with in the future.

Moreover, I felt ashamed for some reason when I saw the pathetic [sight] of these adults.

The young Lavoisier, noticing my gaze asking him to intervene, cautiously approached and asked.

“But do British people really make pies with sardines?”

“……”

It seems that this guy was most curious about that from the beginning.

Yeah, I was a fool to expect anything, so how can I blame them?

I sighed and began to adjust my future schedule in my head.