I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 194

Became the Genius of the French Royal Family 194. Dream Team (194/355)

People’s behavior is largely related to their expectations for the future.

The prospect of a good economy, the anticipation of a plentiful harvest.

When such optimistic expectations become widespread, people’s lives naturally become more relaxed.

The general sentiment in Europe right now was exactly like that.

Among them, France enjoyed an unprecedented sense of peace throughout society.

In Paris, large-scale construction projects were underway daily, and food prices had surprisingly decreased over the past decade.

In addition, most people had even seen their tax burden decrease, so they couldn’t help but feel that their lives had improved.

And what happens when society as a whole becomes more prosperous like this?

Even commoners, who initially only wanted basic necessities, gradually began to desire cultural experiences.

As evidence of this, theaters in Paris were packed with visitors every day.

The hugely successful professional soccer league was attracting so many spectators that new stadiums had to be built.

In particular, Football Club Orléans, which I had a hand in establishing, was already generating substantial operating profits.

The passion of Europeans for soccer must have been ignited around this time, as incidents resembling hooliganism were already occurring.

“Hey! Lyon sucks at soccer.”

“What nonsense! You guys got crushed by us 2-0 last time!”

“So, what’s your ranking now? Paris is second only to Orléans, right? Lyon is fourth, right? You suck!”

“Wow… these Parisian fanatics are disgusting. You’ll still get your heads smashed by Orléans in the finals, so keep hyping yourselves up.”

“What did you say? You wanna get beat up?”

“What, did I say something wrong? Hit me, hit me!”

As the season progressed, these minor assault incidents occurred at nearly every game, and requests to increase the number of security guards poured in.

I’m not sure if this is a prime example of cultural enrichment… but isn’t their immersion in soccer a result of not having to constantly worry about basic survival?

Thanks to that, I’ve been spending busy days attending soccer games, operas, and plays.

The play I came to see with Marie today was the latest premiere performed by the recently reorganized National Theater Company.

“Brutus… you too!”

“Rome no longer needs a dictator! We will regain our freedom and dignity!”

The actor playing Brutus, dressed in traditional Roman attire, shouted fiercely and swung a mock sword.

The veteran actor playing Caesar scattered the red liquid he had prepared in advance and fell to the ground.

There have been many plays about the Roman era, but now that Romanticism [a movement emphasizing emotion and individualism] is sweeping through society, the trend is at its peak.

To be honest, the script is lacking compared to modern works, and the direction is somewhat amateurish, but that’s part of the charm.

Of course, this only applies to me; other people were watching the stage with bated breath.

After a while, the curtain fell, and thunderous applause erupted.

Marie, who seemed to have enjoyed it quite a bit, elegantly clapped her hands towards the stage with a satisfied look in her eyes.

“I didn’t have high expectations, but I’m pleasantly surprised.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“It was fun, but it was also the first time in a while that I enjoyed leisure time alone with you. So, how could I not be happy?”

Indeed, I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t been able to dedicate much time to her.

It was also difficult to spend quality time alone with Marie because she was pregnant with our fourth child.

“But now that postpartum care is over, we can spend time like this more often.”

Marie, upon hearing my words, gave me a charming smile that belied her status as a mother of four, and gently took my hand.

Even though she was pregnant, I should have paid more attention to her; I feel a strong pang of conscience.

I should cancel the soccer game I had planned for tomorrow and reschedule for an orchestra performance.

She must have had a hard time giving birth to our fourth child, so I should prioritize what Marie wants for the time being.

Now that I think about it, if we have one more child, we’ll have enough to form a basketball team.

I was a little hesitant, wondering if Marie would be uncomfortable, but she seemed to want to have even more children.

“Thanks to God’s grace, all of our children are growing up healthy, so I think we only need about two more in the future.”

“Hmm? Not one, but two?”

In my opinion, having two sons and two daughters is the ideal balance, but it seems that the prevailing mindset of this era is different.

Well, Marie’s mother, Theresa, had as many as 16 children…

“If all four were sons, it wouldn’t matter, but if there are only two sons, aren’t you worried?”

“Worried? About whom?”

“I don’t know about you, but everyone around me sees it that way. Even my brother keeps asking in letters.”

“His Majesty Joseph II? Why is that man so interested in how many sons his sister has?”

Last time, he inquired about the future of our first son, Theodore, so I made it clear that he would succeed me as the Governor-General of New France.

Of course, nothing was confirmed yet, but I eliminated any room for him to scheme in advance.

I thought he would give up on his own after that, but could it be that he shifted his focus to much younger children?

If he was serious and not just testing the waters, it would be truly annoying.

“My brother doesn’t even conceal his intentions anymore? He said that even if the first child can inherit your position, the second or third cannot, so he can adopt his nephews whenever he needs to…”

“I can almost hear his brain working. I thought he would change his mind once the Holy Roman Empire [a complex political entity in Central Europe] stabilized a bit, but it seems to have backfired.”

If it’s Marie’s bloodline, there’s no question of legitimacy, and above all, he’s probably calculating that he can continue to benefit from France’s prosperity.

Joseph II’s persistence was evident in the fact that he was pretending to give up because I seemed uninterested, but he was starting to approach Marie.

“What should we do? Should I handle it as we discussed before?”

“Please do. You seem to be able to handle things more calmly than I do in this area.”

After roughly concluding the conversation and leaving the VIP seats, reporters who had been waiting outside swarmed us with questions.

“Prime Minister! I understand that this play was planned by the Paris National Theater Company. It seems to align with the current trend of re-examining ancient Greek and Roman culture. What are your thoughts on Greek and Roman culture?”

“No matter which culture you delve into, you’ll eventually find its roots. In fact, all European countries share Rome as their common ancestor. And ancient Greek culture had a profound influence on that Roman culture. The value of the classics shines even brighter as time passes. Roman and Greek culture will continue to live and breathe in our lives forever.”

“Princess… no, Madam, would you like to say a word?”

“Me too? Well, in my personal opinion…”

As Marie continued to speak, the reporters frantically scribbled with their pens, making noises as they brainstormed headlines.

Even though I didn’t explicitly instruct her, she understood my intentions and concluded the interview with praise for Greek culture.

Then, in the carriage returning to the palace, she let out a peculiar laugh.

“I wondered why you wanted to see a Roman-era play alone with me~ It turns out you had an ulterior motive?”

“No, it’s not really an ulterior motive… you could say I’m fulfilling my public duties while enjoying private entertainment.”

“Yes, yes, anyway, in a few days, the story of you and me watching the play will be all over France, and the Greek culture craze, which is already a huge trend, will gain momentum once again. I’m not being sarcastic, but it’s truly remarkable. To have envisioned this long ago… predicting the rise of Romanticism requires a deep understanding of art.”

“When it comes to art, who else but Louis Christian?”

“Ah, you were also the one who recognized Mozart’s genius before anyone else, right?”

Mozart, Beethoven, and Delacroix, the master of Romanticism, were all figures I knew through historical knowledge, but knowing is one thing.

To others, Prime Minister Louis Christian was a versatile individual with a wealth of knowledge not only in politics but also in art and various cultures.

In European high society, which values aristocratic refinement, this perception is a significant advantage.

You could say that it emanates an aura distinct from ordinary people.

“But there’s one thing I don’t understand. I grasp the intention to ignite public opinion for Greek independence, but will it be as effective as you anticipate?”

“Why do you ask?”

“First of all, the Ottomans [referring to the Ottoman Empire] will never willingly grant Greek independence, so war is inevitable, right? Then Russia will undoubtedly seize the opportunity and intervene. My brother will likely see it as a chance to expand his influence southward, so he’ll try to join in as well.”

“That’s correct.”

“Then the more distant powers will obviously disapprove. For example, a country like England will never allow Russia to extend its power southward. It hasn’t been long since Russia signed an agreement not to advance south towards the Black Sea…”

Every prediction is accurate.

As she foresaw, England opposed Greek independence in the early stages of the historical timeline.

Not only England but also other major powers initially displayed lukewarm reactions.

But now it’s different from then.

Because I am intentionally fostering public sentiment for Greek independence, the speed at which sympathy for Greece is spreading in each country is unparalleled compared to history.

Probably by next week, most discussions among French intellectuals will revolve around topics related to Greece.

“If England is astute, they will gradually realize it, just like you. That’s why I’ve already invited a guest to the palace.”

“Ah~ the ambassador who is visiting today is…”

“Yes. It’s the British Ambassador.”

Until now, England and France have often been enemies, but that doesn’t mean they are always in conflict.

Why, even during the American Civil War, didn’t they reach tacit agreements and profit handsomely?

The only times the two countries clashed were during the inevitable power struggles between nations vying for European dominance.

If there was no compelling reason to fight… no sensible leader in this era wanted to engage in costly wars.

※※※

“Prime Minister! What on earth is France trying to do!”

You’re going to make my ears ring.

The British ambassador, who had been invited, exhibited the reaction I had anticipated and was furious.

“No, this is unacceptable so soon after signing a peace agreement. Don’t you understand the current state of public opinion? If the government openly expresses interest in Greece, we won’t be able to contain it!”

“What exactly do you mean by ‘won’t be able to contain it’?”

“Don’t feign ignorance… of course, Greece will demand independence! And people all over Europe will rally, insisting that they must save their oppressed Greek brethren.”

“Actually, according to the peace treaty we advocated this time, we shouldn’t disregard Greek independence. It’s also a matter of principle that Greece, the cradle of European culture, is currently under the yoke of Islamic rule.”

“Huh, really… even if France is allied with the Holy Roman Empire or Russia, aren’t you conceding too much? What will you do if they advance into Greece and establish a foothold? The home country will never stand idly by. Even if it means tearing up the peace treaty.”

I fully understood the British side’s reaction.

Strictly speaking, it’s understandable that they’re furious, feeling betrayed.

So now I have to play my prepared card.

“Of course, you will. We fully understand your country’s position. So, you don’t need to worry excessively. If you convey my message accurately to the British Parliament and Prime Minister Pitt, they will surely understand.”

“…Don’t tell me France isn’t going to support Greek independence either?”

“No. Greece must achieve independence. However, it must stand as a completely independent nation, free from the influence of the Holy Roman Empire and Russia. Naturally, your country and ours will need to provide appropriate support until they are stable.”

The British ambassador was astute enough to realize that this implied profiting under the guise of providing support.

Calming his emotions, he stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“…The Ottomans will never recognize Greek independence. War is inevitable.”

“I know. That’s why I’m conveying France’s intentions to the ambassador in this manner.”

“So, what the Prime Minister is suggesting is…”

“That’s right.”

I slowly slid a glass filled with French wine in a British glass towards the ambassador.

“Even old adversaries sometimes unite against a common foe. Everything is for the sake of lasting peace.”

“Heh…”

“France and England. An alliance of two great empires. Would you be willing to consider it?”

It’s time to assemble the modern equivalent of Pelé and Maradona, the dream team of the century, with Paris and London as the two central pillars of the world at this juncture.

End