I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 148

Louis XV has fallen.

If the king, who had ruled France for over 70 years, were to disappear, chaos would inevitably ensue.

Austria had a unique structure with two emperors, minimizing the impact of Maria Theresa’s death, but France is different.

Especially now, France is in a state where Louis XV’s power is much stronger than in the original history.

Will the consistent policies to strengthen royal authority be checked, or will the next king take the same path?

Not only the nobles but also the bourgeoisie and citizens will have to be on their toes.

Fortunately, when I arrived in Paris, the atmosphere of the city was the same as usual.

The news that the king had fallen ill had not yet spread, which meant that Louis XV was still holding on.

Logically, if the king had died, the rumors would have spread no matter how hard they tried to hide it.

Perhaps they are claiming that his health has only slightly deteriorated, given Louis XV’s advanced age.

“What would you like to do?”

Grouchy, who had now fully established himself as my personal bodyguard, asked.

He was trying to appear calm, but it was obvious that he had been restless ever since we boarded the ship to Paris.

The more this happens, the more I have to pretend to be okay so that my subordinates don’t panic.

“Since time is short, let’s go straight to Versailles.”

“Understood. I will have the carriage ready immediately.”

I thought I had gotten used to returning from the New World, but now my mind is in turmoil again.

Looking back, quite a long time has passed since I first met the king in Paris.

Louis XV was not a person with many qualities to respect, either coldly or humanly.

He was extremely fond of women, indecisive, and more suitable as a negative example.

Still, I couldn’t deny that he had a human side.

Above all, since I entered the palace, Louis XV had given me unwavering trust and affection.

That’s how I met Marie, and before I knew it, I had a child and learned the affection of a family.

The beginning was definitely my meeting with Louis XV.

But I knew from then on that this day would come.

I just regret that the time has come so soon.

The position of King of the Great Kingdom of France was ultimately futile in the face of the passage of time.

“The weather is nice.”

The skies of Paris and Versailles were clear without a single cloud.

If Marie were here, she would have held my hand silently.

I suddenly missed my wife and children, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time.

Whether he knew how I felt or not, the sky was just blue and high.

※※※

“How is His Majesty’s condition?”

“…Shouldn’t we prepare?”

As soon as I got out of the carriage at the Palace of Versailles, I heard the whispering voices of nobles filled with anxiety.

Certainly, the atmosphere here is different from Paris.

Just looking at the faces of the nobles who were buzzing, I could immediately see how they viewed the situation.

“Oh, Christian. You’ve finally arrived!”

Auguste, who found me, ran out without regard for the attention of those around him.

His eyes were sunken, and I could tell without asking how much he had been suffering.

The fact that he was the next king was nothing more than a heavy burden to him.

“Yes. I came as soon as I received the letter. It seems the situation is really bad.”

“Yes. The doctor’s opinion was that we should prepare for the worst. But fortunately, after hearing that you were coming, His Majesty has been holding on well.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes. I think it’s his will not to close his eyes until he sees you. He told me to bring you as soon as you arrived, so let’s go right away.”

As Auguste and I walked, the nobles parted like the Red Sea before Moses, making way.

Some of them were already treating Auguste like a king.

When we arrived right in front of Louis XV’s bedroom, the crowd noticeably thinned out.

Before opening the door, I said a word to Auguste, who looked anxious.

“Brother.”

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“Even if His Majesty recovers his health, the fact that you will sit on the throne will not change. You should start preparing to get used to it.”

“…Hoo, is that so? But no matter what, I can’t get used to it. I can’t help but break out in a cold sweat just thinking about whether I can really do well.”

Still, Auguste is sitting on the throne more than 10 years later than in the original history.

He has had much more time to prepare, his foundation is solid, and the situation surrounding the country is not bad.

Of course, that didn’t guarantee a smooth reign.

“You don’t have to worry too much. The New World is almost settled, so I will stay in Paris for a while and assist you.”

“Really? You really don’t have to go back?”

“Yes. Fortunately, loyal subordinates are watching over me. I have given all the orders, so they will take care of it.”

Auguste’s face, which had been almost dead, brightened noticeably.

He sighed in relief, wiping his chest.

“Then I can rest assured. I wish His Majesty would have stayed healthy for at least 5 more years…”

“I saw the nobles milling about earlier. Have any nobles approached you to ask for favors or make other requests?”

“Of course, there are countless. Most of them seemed to want to enjoy a little more power and freedom than they do now.”

As expected, they are not deviating from my expectations.

Of course, compared to Louis XV, Auguste seemed like an easier person to win over, so I would have done the same.

“Please write down a list of any high-ranking officials who stand out in your memory and give it to me later.”

I didn’t wait for Auguste’s answer and slowly opened the door that Louis XV was waiting behind.

Perhaps it was just my imagination, but the sunlight coming through the cracks in the window felt warmer today.

Louis XV, who was lying on the bed looking at the flowers, turned his head weakly when I entered.

He wasn’t like this before I went to the New World, and I couldn’t feel any vitality in his face.

In this era, people in their late 70s and early 80s can have drastically different physical conditions from today to tomorrow.

There is no guarantee that they will be healthy today just because they were healthy yesterday.

It would be even more absurd if the state I saw a few months ago was the same as now.

“The weather is very nice today. You came just in time.”

“I am sorry that I could not come sooner.”

The white-haired king smiled weakly.

The appearance that had been praised throughout Europe in his youth was now full of wrinkles.

Nevertheless, his face looked surprisingly calm.

“When I first collapsed, I was very upset because I thought it was really the end. But lying here and looking back on my past life, I have enjoyed enough luxury.”

Louis XV’s voice was filled with pride, as if there was not a single lie in his words.

He raised his emaciated hand and slowly placed it on my shoulder.

“And it was all thanks to you. So I definitely wanted to thank you.”

“You flatter me.”

“No. If you hadn’t been there, the court would have clearly grabbed my ankles [hindered my progress] every time I did something. And if you hadn’t prepared in advance, how could we have achieved such great results in the war with England?”

Louis XV’s lips naturally turned upward as he looked back on the past.

“When I think about what my last years would have been like without you, it’s terrifying. I would not have been able to shake off the defeat of the Seven Years’ War, the citizens would still be suffering from smallpox, and the authority of the royal family would have fallen and not recovered. If I had passed on a country in that state to Auguste… the thought alone sends shivers down my spine.”

“It was possible because Your Majesty trusted me. If that had not been the case, the glory of France would never have existed.”

“Yes. That is the achievement that I am most proud of. I recognized your ability and gave you unwavering trust. I have already told Auguste to trust you like I do, so he will not bother you.”

“Thank you. I will do my best to assist my brother.”

“Yes… I’m sorry that I seem to be burdening you until the very end, but I wanted to say this. Take good care of Auguste as you have done for me. France needs you.”

A heart that worries about the future of the kingdom and his grandson.

Was that strong will what had kept him holding on to his breath, trying to leave his body until now?

“Don’t worry. France will continue to develop and expand more brilliantly in the future. Your Majesty will be remembered as the greatest king in the history of the Kingdom of France.”

“Yes. I wanted you to make such a confident promise.”

The promise now was certainly not a lie.

Of course, Louis XV would have no idea how Auguste would be praised or in what direction France would develop, but there would be no need to list specific facts.

Now, it is enough to just tell him with conviction so that his journey can be peaceful.

Louis XV nodded slightly with a more than satisfied face.

“I’ll go first.”

“……”

I wanted to say something, but my voice didn’t come out well.

“Thank you. It was so good to see you at the end.”

“…I was grateful too.”

“Yes.”

There was no strength in his voice as he murmured softly.

It was such a small voice that it was hard to hear unless you put your ear to it.

“I wanted to see the France that you will develop, but even if I can’t, it’s okay. You were the hope and light of my France.”

“…Your Majesty.”

“I lived a very good life.”

Even though I was in the position of sending him off, I felt like I was being congratulated.

“The sky is clear and the sun is bright, so it’s a good day to travel. I understand why Maria Theresa complained that the day she left was not good. I’m lucky until the end.”

The doctor opened the curtains wide so that more sunlight could come in and bowed his head solemnly.

I also bowed my head with the feeling of seeing off the last of my grandfather, not the king.

“…I will enjoy it as much as possible, as you said. As late as possible.”

With those words, Louis XV closed his eyes.

The attending physician, who carefully examined the king’s body, shed tears and announced his death.

I covered Louis XV’s body with the flag symbolizing the royal family and turned away.

“As my grandfather said, I will enjoy it as much as possible before I go. As late as possible.”

Thus, an era came to an end.

Once I leave this door, a different France than before awaits.

Uncontrollable chaos will pass and new laws and justice will be born.

Now that Louis XV is gone, I will not hesitate.

Grasping the doorknob of the new era, I opened the door and stepped out without hesitation.