I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 127

< Blessed are those who are earnest >

To be honest, I thought Jefferson had been patient for a really long time.

Perhaps he couldn’t quite believe the news from America and delayed because he had verified the facts through independent channels several times.

That meant Jefferson’s trust in me was that deep, and that’s precisely why he must be seething with betrayal.

“Your Highness! How could you stab me in the back like this!”

The voice full of resentment echoed through the drawing room.

It was originally an impossible diplomatic discourtesy, but how frustrated must he have been to make a mistake he would never make?

This much was well within the acceptable range.

It was, after all, a reaction I had induced.

“When did I ever stab you in the back? I have no memory of that.”

“Are you going to deny it when I already know everything? I’ve already received reports of everything that’s happening in the homeland.”

Jefferson, who was about to raise his voice, soon realized he was crossing the line and paused to catch his breath.

“…Ahem, I apologize. Anyway, I have ears too. It’s difficult if you keep pretending you don’t know.”

“There seems to be some misunderstanding. Are you perhaps talking about me starting a development project with the Federalists in America?”

“Of course. Isn’t Adams the one leading that project? The Federalists are now elated that they’ve greatly expanded America’s territory, and you’re helping them.”

“Well… it might look that way.”

I could see Jefferson’s face distorting in real time.

If I weren’t a prince of a nation, it wouldn’t be strange if he swore at me right away.

In fact, as Jefferson, who was stationed as the French envoy, trusted my words implicitly, it must have felt like a bolt from the blue.

Perhaps he thought I was in cahoots with the Federalists and had set him up.

“Your Highness! It’s not just that it might look that way, it’s that it can only be seen that way. The Federalists’ power is soaring in America right now. My comrades are sending me letters full of anger, asking what I’m doing.”

“You’re too hasty. How many years do you think that atmosphere will last?”

“At least a few years, I’m sure.”

“I suppose so. It’ll last until the next election. But were you planning to run in the next election anyway?”

Jefferson calmed down and paused to think.

I subtly hinted at some of the major events that would unfold to him.

“Anyway, the winner of the next election is already decided as George Washington. Washington won’t run for president anymore after the next election, so the time for the final battle is still at least six years away.”

“Is that certain information?”

“Believe it or not, it’s your choice. And by the time of the election after that, the achievements the Federalists have made will be faint in the public’s memory. The most important thing is what happened at that time.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Anyway, by the time of the election after that, a significant portion of the public will remember these achievements as Washington’s achievements. You need to know that in the face of Washington’s presence, Federalist or Republican is meaningless.”

Just as fireflies can’t shine in front of the sun no matter how hard they try, those next to an exceptionally talented person are hard to stand out.

Currently, Washington’s popularity in the United States is almost in the realm of faith.

In fact, the Federalists were boasting that they had achieved results, but the citizens were praising all of this as Washington’s achievements.

“Still… there’s no need to boost the Federalists’ morale, is there?”

“I couldn’t help it. Our Nouvelle France [New France] also needs to develop its territory, and if we can do that with the United States, we can minimize the damage.”

“I understand your position, Your Highness. But in the end, hasn’t it become more difficult for me to win the election?”

“Don’t worry. The more they develop now, the greater the effect of your Louisiana Purchase will be. Do you understand what I mean?”

Currently, the territory of the United States is, broadly speaking, surrounded and trapped by Nouvelle France and Nueva España [New Spain].

They are currently developing the territory they received from England, so they are not aware of it, but once the development is complete, they will inevitably feel frustrated.

What if we buy Louisiana and Florida at that time?

They will be hailed as national heroes by Americans who are crazy about territorial expansion.

Jefferson’s complexion, who had calculated that far, changed to a more comfortable one than before.

“So, Your Highness’s plan to support me hasn’t changed.”

“Of course not. As I’ve repeatedly said, isn’t the fundamental value of the United States freedom? But I think a centralized government goes against that ideology head-on.”

If they unite strongly around a powerful federal government, they will provoke their surroundings much more severely than in the original history, and I can’t let that happen.

The United States should be left to fight among themselves a bit more.

“…I understand. Then I’ll trust your words for now, Your Highness. But it doesn’t make sense to spend six years here without any results. Indifference is the most frightening thing for a politician. If you could show me even a small token of your trust in your words, I would feel reassured.”

“Of course. I’ll send you a small gift soon, so get ready to put your seal on it and wait.”

“Then I’ll trust you.”

Jefferson bowed politely and stood up.

Deon, who was watching his retreating figure, let out a quiet exclamation.

“I wondered why you accepted Adams’s proposal, but you were looking that far into the future. You are indeed Your Highness.”

“It was an exquisite excuse that was impossible to refuse, wasn’t it?”

“…Excuse? Was it a lie?”

“No. The superficial reason is as I said, but of course, that’s not the whole story.”

I enjoyed Deon’s astonished gaze and continued to speak slowly.

“If Adams doesn’t achieve any results and remains mediocre, he won’t be a match for Jefferson, will he?”

“Yes. I suppose…”

“Then, of course, my help won’t be that desperate, so it won’t be easy to control him from this side. But now Jefferson has no choice but to wait for the lifeline I give him, whether he likes it or not.”

Deon’s mouth dropped open as he listened to the explanation.

“Goodness…”

“If there’s something given, there must be something received. Isn’t that the way of the world?”

Of course, I’m definitely going to give him the presidential position he desires so much, so it’s not a deal where both sides lose.

This side can project influence in the United States, and Jefferson is happy because he becomes president.

Isn’t this a win-win?

※※※

After appeasing Jefferson and sending him back, I was left with only one concern.

“I need to think of an excuse to stay in France.”

“You have been here for quite a while.”

The reason I returned to Paris from Nouvelle France was because I heard the news that the king’s health had deteriorated.

But Louis XV was now doing a good job of managing state affairs without any problems, even if he was a little weak.

Considering his age, it was safe to say that he was very healthy.

So, I was starting to feel self-conscious about staying here.

“I haven’t achieved all the things I planned yet… Is there any good way?”

The nobles who are showing ominous movements in Versailles are now lying flat on their stomachs since I returned.

I have to prepare at least the minimum means to keep these people in check before I go back, but the results have not yet come out.

“I’m supposed to be the governor-general, but it’s not right to leave my post for several years without a plausible reason…”

“Why don’t you go and come back in half a year?”

“No. Once I go, I have to stay for at least a few years, and it’s going to be hard to come back without a good reason.”

“Hmm… it’s difficult. I don’t know.”

Just as Deon and I were racking our brains, Marie, who had brewed tea herself and brought it over, smiled brightly and asked.

“You want to stay in Paris longer, right? I know a very good excuse.”

“Oh, really?”

“Of course. Would you like to guess?”

Marie picked up a teacup and sat next to me.

She was in her usual elegant posture, but I noticed that her movements were subtly different.

It felt like she was being a little more careful.

In an instant, one possibility flashed through my mind.

The question of guessing is because it is an area that I can fully know according to reasoning.

And the movements that are somehow more cautious than usual, and the excuse that I can continue to stay in Paris.

Combining these, there is only one conclusion.

“Do you happen to be pregnant with your second child?”

“Wow… you got it in one go.”

“Actually, I’ve been noticing it for a long time. I was waiting until you told me.”

Huh. Fortunately, it seems that I avoided the choice of exploding with a wrong answer.

Because I have the original sin of not properly congratulating her when she was pregnant with our first child, I really don’t know what I would have heard if I had guessed wrong this time.

But a second child.

As soon as I realized it, I was already hugging my wife next to me and kissing her forehead.

“Thank you. You’ve really worked hard.”

“The reaction is completely different from last time?”

“I was too flustered last time because it was my first time… I’m reflecting on it.”

Her husband didn’t congratulate her on her first pregnancy and just sat there with a serious expression?

It was a huge mistake that I honestly have nothing to say even if I get nagged for the rest of my life.

As such, I was determined to make up for the previous disgrace this time.

But strangely enough, the moment I thought about the second child being born, the calculation that I could continue to stay in Paris completely disappeared from my mind.

I was just purely happy and happy again.

When I see my first son walking around and talking to me these days, I sometimes feel that everything in the world is futile.

Perhaps if a second child is born, and I see those wriggling hands and feet, that feeling will become even stronger.

What wealth and glory am I going to enjoy, stirring up Europe and the New World, occupying land, and trying to strengthen my power?

And if any harm comes to the children, how am I supposed to take responsibility for it?

I told Marie this story, but she said firmly without a moment’s hesitation.

“You should make the choice that you won’t regret the most in the future.”

At that time, I was struck by a thought.

The children were more lovely than anyone else in the world, and they were treasures I wanted to give everything to, but they were not me after all.

If I don’t run to the limit I can go to, there will definitely be a day in the distant future when I will regret it.

The opportunities I could have seized will surely haunt me in my head and torment me.

So there is no stopping.