I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 27

Death Game (2)

As the confusion in my head cleared, I quickly replayed the events leading up to this moment.

I received this marriage proposal from Marie Antoinette after being granted an audience with Empress Theresia, a pleasant stroll through the palace, and a friendly conversation with Marie.

And…

“Um, Mr. Christian, you don’t look well. I hope my request wasn’t too much?”

Marie’s voice pulled me back from the brink of deep thought.

I realized I had returned to the point in time when I was speaking with her.

My sudden silence must have seemed strange to her.

However, when I looked at her, she wore a worried expression rather than one of suspicion.

I could imagine my complexion wasn’t the best right now.

In situations like these, I needed to remain calm.

I had to project an image of normalcy.

Suppressing the negative emotions bubbling inside, I forced my usual relaxed smile.

“No, it’s nothing. I’m just a bit tired from the long journey.”

“Is that so? I understand. I was so happy to finally meet someone I could converse with that I was only thinking of myself. Perhaps we should forgo the concert…”

“It’s quite alright. I’m just a little weary, and a nap will set me right. I’m eager to experience Vienna’s renowned cultural scene, so please, allow me to accompany you.”

“Yes! Then I’ll do my best to be a good guide. Despite my appearance, I’ve received a considerable amount of artistic education. I have some knowledge of these things.”

I listened to her, interjecting appropriately as she continued to speak excitedly.

“This is truly the first time I’ve had such an engaging conversation with someone I’ve just met. I’m really looking forward to the concert.”

*Just met.*

That casually uttered phrase struck me as odd.

I felt like we had shared several conversations, even if they were brief.

We had attended a concert together, engaged in various activities, and made plans for the following day.

All of that had vanished in an instant.

This was a sensation I hadn’t experienced in the previous two regressions.

If this weren’t my third time reliving this, I might have been quite shocked.

“I also feel like you’re not a stranger, Princess. Perhaps it’s because we share many common interests.”

The person I believed I was close to was now acting as if she were seeing me for the first time.

I didn’t feel sadness.

Instead, I felt fortunate to have returned before I became too attached.

However, the sense of alienation, as if I were the sole inhabitant of a different timeline, was unsettling.

“Oh, I’ve been talking for too long, keeping someone who’s tired. I’ll inform the staff so you can rest comfortably.”

“Yes, thank you for your consideration. But before I retire, may I ask you one question?”

“Of course.”

“It seems that His Majesty Joseph II is not at Schönbrunn Palace. I’m concerned about his health…”

“Ah! That’s certainly not the case.”

Marie, startled, glanced around to ensure they were alone and then sighed in relief.

“So, my brother, no, His Majesty is currently at Hofburg Palace, but it’s for a rather trivial reason. Wait, a trivial reason doesn’t mean he neglected to greet honored guests for a petty reason, but…”

Marie’s face grew tearful as she realized she had committed a diplomatic faux pas.

“I understand perfectly. Empress Theresia oversees practical matters, so he may be unable to attend due to circumstances. I’m not implying anything by that. I’m simply asking in the hope that no misfortune will befall this joyous occasion uniting our two countries through marriage.”

Etiquette was secondary; Joseph II’s whereabouts were paramount.

I didn’t suspect Joseph II of orchestrating my death, but I needed to examine every variable.

Marie glanced around again, confirmed their privacy, and lowered her voice.

“My brother is not in a good mood right now… or perhaps he’s deeply troubled. That’s why he’s resting at Hofburg Palace.”

“Perhaps due to a disagreement with Empress Theresia?”

In theory, Empress Theresia’s eldest son, Joseph II, was the current Holy Roman Emperor.

However, Empress Maria Theresa always made the important decisions regarding state affairs.

This was because Joseph II held the somewhat contradictory position of being both the Holy Roman Emperor and the Crown Prince of Hungary and Bohemia.

He wasn’t a mere figurehead like his father, Franz I, but the pressure he felt as he aspired to be an active, enlightened monarch must have been immense.

Now, the nearly 30-year-old emperor was being controlled by his mother and unable to spread his wings.

“Originally, my brother and mother have differing political views. I don’t understand why they clash so fiercely, but it seems very important.”

“I imagine His Majesty Joseph II desires active expansionism, while Empress Theresia seeks stability.”

“Still, my brother is wise and cares for his family. He will reconcile with my mother soon.”

The ideological clashes between the two were historically well-documented.

But was it reasonable for the emperor to sulk and avoid public appearances because of a fight with his mother?

Marie was trying to downplay the situation, but that was the only conclusion I could draw.

Empress Theresia had also shown a moment of embarrassment at my question.

Perhaps he was truly sulking.

Or perhaps he was plotting something while feigning distress.

Anything was possible, and hasty judgments were a recipe for disaster.

“Princess, is there any way to arrange an audience with His Majesty Joseph II? As the head of the diplomatic mission, I believe I should meet the Holy Roman Emperor.”

“Hmm… I think it might be possible. I’ll mention it to my brother.”

I had heard that Joseph II was very fond of Marie Antoinette, so this would likely be effective.

I shouldn’t have to resort to this when I was the representative of an allied nation meeting the emperor, but it seemed necessary.

Finding the culprit was my top priority, but I couldn’t be too obvious.

If I acted overly cautious, the assassin would likely remain hidden.

Strengthening security might avert the assassination, but I wouldn’t rely on passive measures.

Offense was the best defense.

If someone intended to kill, they couldn’t complain if they were killed in return.

I would show them the consequences of baring their teeth first.

※※※

Marie’s letter worked wonders.

Joseph II immediately invited me to see him.

“He was ill but has just recovered.”

A weak excuse, but difficult to refute.

The person who hadn’t shown his face until my death in the previous loop couldn’t have suddenly recovered.

I assumed he was never ill.

In the carriage to Hofburg Palace, I reviewed the relationships around me.

After considering everything, poisoning seemed the most likely cause of death.

The chills and headaches I had mistaken for a cold matched the symptoms of poisoning.

However, I couldn’t pinpoint the source.

Dozens of dishes were served at the banquet celebrating Auguste and Marie’s marriage.

Esterhazy, Vermond, and Charles Gravier had also brought rare foods as gifts.

Adding the tributes from Schönbrunn Palace, the possibilities multiplied.

The culprit likely exploited these opportunities to poison me.

I could rule out an assassin attacking me in my sleep.

The security was tight, and everyone entering and leaving was identified.

If an assassin breached security and killed me, the alliance between France and Austria would end immediately.

The guards from France wouldn’t have been negligent.

“But even if I’m poisoned, the aftermath will be similar.”

Even without a security breach, Austria would be held accountable for inadequate protection.

Austria would take the blame.

It seemed logical to dismiss Austria as a suspect, but I couldn’t be so naive.

Austria would be in trouble if I were assassinated.

However, Austria’s current power structure complicated things.

Joseph II, the nominal emperor controlled by his mother, Maria Theresa, couldn’t exert his power.

Moreover, Empress Theresia and Joseph II were in conflict.

Even if Joseph II wasn’t the culprit, his followers might have acted independently.

If Empress Theresia were ousted, Joseph II would seize power.

Even if the probability was less than 1%, I had to consider all possibilities.

I had asked Marie to arrange the meeting to make this clear.

Anyone who could benefit from my death would be a suspect.

I wouldn’t act conspicuously.

If I was too cautious, the assassin would hide.

This meeting might provide some information.

The other party was the Holy Roman Emperor.

…Or so I thought.

Joseph II was cynical and cold-hearted, but in a different way than I expected.

I had imagined Joseph II as an idealistic emperor who had lost faith in humanity but loved his family and sincerely desired reform.

“…You’ve met my mother, so you know she always tries to highlight her own presence.”

He wasn’t the type to badmouth his mother to others.

“Um… well… she’s a dignified person.”

“Who do you think is the best female monarch of this century?”

“Yes? That’s obviously Empress Theresia…”

“I think it’s Empress Catherine II of the Russian Empire.”

I didn’t know how to respond.

I had come to investigate Joseph II’s connection to my assassination, but I was listening to his complaints.

“It’s the same this time. It’s the marriage of my youngest sibling, whom I wouldn’t trade for anything, but I should have been entrusted with the negotiations. If you’re going to decide even that unilaterally, what’s the point of my existence?”

“Yes. Your Majesty is the Holy Roman Emperor, so you have the right to step forward.”

“That’s right. It’s all my powerless father’s fault. He was too submissive to my mother. That’s why my mother is trying to treat me the same way she treated my father.”

He was insulting his deceased father.

Was this the Holy Roman Empire’s version of filial piety?

Joseph II’s words defied common sense.

“Does Your Majesty oppose the marriage alliance between France and Austria?”

“Of course not. I think an alliance with France is essential to check Prussia. However, even if it’s a political marriage, I sincerely hope that my beloved sister will be happy. There’s no law that says there can’t be love in a political marriage, right?”

“That’s absolutely right.”

“So, if the person who marries my sister is someone who can really cherish her, I couldn’t ask for more… I mean, I don’t really understand my mother’s intentions.”

Was it appropriate to discuss this with a foreign prince?

Even if it was an allied nation… Was he testing me?

Joseph II had openly complained about Empress Theresia in a meeting with another king.

He was pathetic, and his inferiority complex and anger towards his mother were immense.

“By the way, let me hear your opinion. Is it just me who feels that my mother is handling things too unilaterally?”

“…I think there’s a slight sense of that.”

If he wanted sympathy, I should play along.

But Joseph II’s complexion worsened.

He stroked his chin and clicked his tongue.

“It’s certainly true that Empress Maria Theresa is autocratic. But it doesn’t feel good to hear someone else badmouthing my mother.”

Was he crazy…?

I held back a curse and bowed in apology.