I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 293

Became the Genius of the French Royal Family 293: Unforgivable (293/355)

After roughly outlining the future strategy and dismissing the assembly, I returned to my office for the first time in what felt like ages.

They say there’s no place like home, no matter how much you enjoy traveling, and I couldn’t agree more.

Even though I lived a life of luxury in the Forbidden City, it doesn’t compare to leisurely sipping a cup of coffee in the Prime Minister’s office.

“But why did you follow me here? You could have just gone home.”

“Ah, no! How could we possibly return home after this!”

In official settings where everything is recorded, I maintain formal language even when I’m frustrated, but there’s no need for that now.

Danton and Marquis de Lafayette, along with a few other assembly members who met my cold stare, bowed deeply, practically burying their faces in the floor.

“Prime Minister, we were wrong! Please forgive us!”

“We will do better in the future!”

“Oh really? I’d like to hear specifically how you’re going to do better.”

Answering with ‘We’ll work hard in the future, yes, we understand’ only works until elementary school.

Especially not for assembly members who have to decide on important national matters.

“If you accurately understand what you did wrong and promise to correct it, there’s room for improvement. But if not, I think you’ll have to face judgment in the next election.”

“Well, that is…”

“As the chairman, Assemblyman Danton should…”

As the other assembly members glanced around and subtly nudged him forward, Danton, now the representative, wiped away cold sweat and lowered his head.

“I postponed resolving fundamental issues to protect my personal position. And… um… I neglected the voices on the ground too much, and even after the battle… I think I excluded the opinions from the field too much.”

“It’s fortunate that you at least recognize the problems. And this situation is not only the responsibility of the Lower House but also the Upper House. Especially Marquis de Lafayette. You, of all people, who once served in the military, should have maintained your composure.”

“…I have nothing to say.”

Well, Lafayette is fundamentally a land-based soldier, so his understanding of naval warfare was lacking, but trying to pass all the blame onto the field is unacceptable.

Although the atmosphere in the Upper House might have been so toxic that Lafayette couldn’t do anything alone.

“But if we look at it positively, it’s fortunate that the problem has surfaced now. At least we can thoroughly examine the current outstanding issues and prepare countermeasures. We will start reforms as soon as the war ends, so the assembly should be aware of that.”

“Yes! Of course.”

Looking at these guys, even if I nurture them carefully, they might turn out like Elan [Édouard Daladier, a French Radical-Socialist politician, Prime Minister of France at the start of WWII] in the original history after about 50 years.

No, it’s not ‘might,’ but if I leave them as they are, they most likely will.

To compensate for this, I need to establish a modern general staff officer system, like Prussia [referring to the Prussian General Staff, known for its efficiency and strategic planning] in the original history, and also create an organization similar to the modern Joint Chiefs of Staff.

If I do this much, the legendary six weeks [likely referring to a period of rapid Prussian victories] of the original history or the recent Trafalgar [referring to the Battle of Trafalgar, a significant naval defeat for France and Spain] naval battle won’t happen, right?

“Um, Prime Minister.”

“What is it?”

“You seem to think that the war will be over soon, but even if we are in a favorable situation, it will take quite a while to actually fight the battles, I think.”

“I agree with Assemblyman Lafayette. It will take at least half a year for our fleet to regain its position and consolidate a favorable foothold based on that…”

When Danton added his agreement, the other assembly members nodded.

“Of course, it will drag on longer if we fight directly, but isn’t England not stupid? Especially Pitt [William Pitt the Younger, British Prime Minister], he will know that continuing the war will only harm them.”

If we continue to drag on here, the only outcome will be [England’s miserable demise!]

“If they want to withdraw at this point, will you accept it?”

“It depends on the conditions, doesn’t it? We have to get something that the citizens can accept.”

“I see. Well, the Prime Minister of England is a wise man, so he won’t drive the country into a pit by fighting a war he can’t win.”

“But if he does that, the current British Parliament will never be able to set foot in the political arena again…”

“Still, if they can judge the situation, they will propose a truce.”

In the end, the majority opinion was that England is not stupid, so there will be no more fighting, and smiles of relief spread across everyone’s faces.

“It’s amazing how we’ve gotten closer to the end of the war even though we lost the battle.”

“That’s why we need someone with rich strategic insight.”

“Indeed. What would have happened if we had only thought in a one-dimensional way that we were at a disadvantage because we lost the battle?”

“Everything seems to be going well since the Prime Minister came! France needs the Prime Minister after all!”

While the assembly members were showering him with compliments, Grouchy burst into the Prime Minister’s office in a hurry.

“Prime Minister! Urgent intelligence has arrived from England.”

“Look at that? The reaction is really fast.”

“It’s as you expected, Prime Minister.”

“The British bastards must be really desperate. Hahaha!”

Grouchy, glancing back at the assembly members laughing boisterously with a strange expression, took out a small piece of paper from his pocket.

“We need to convene an emergency meeting right now.”

“Huh?”

If it’s a proposal to hold peace talks, there’s no need to overreact this much. Did something happen?

“Perhaps England is making ridiculous demands for an unconditional ceasefire?”

“No. Prime Minister William Pitt has been impeached and removed from office.”

“…What?”

What kind of thought process led to that result?

“Okay. What’s the reason?”

“It’s not yet known in detail, but Pitt reportedly insisted on a truce on the condition that he concede a lot to France.”

So… they’re going to go all the way to the end.

I thought our assembly was hopeless, but I have to withdraw my opinion.

Wow, looking at them and then looking back at us, we’re like angels.

※※※

King Louis XVI of France shared a drink with his brother, who had returned after a long time.

He is now more loved and respected in France than the king himself, but I am not jealous.

I was not the type of person to be jealous in the first place, and my brother has always taken good care of me.

“So, how was Asia?”

“It was terrible. I thought my head would explode. But fortunately, I achieved all my goals.”

“The country was very noisy, but it became strangely quiet as soon as you returned.”

“I thought it would be like that too, but the commotion might last a little longer. The British Parliament has chosen the path of glorious demise.”

“Really? Then you’ll be busy from tomorrow. Let’s just have a drink until today.”

Louis XVI, keeping his brother in his room, opened a bottle of his favorite wine and poured it directly into his glass.

“Come on, you’ve worked hard in Asia, so drink up.”

“It is an honor that Your Majesty is so considerate…”

“Oh, forget it, just speak comfortably here. Actually, I have something to apologize for.”

Clink.

The clear sound of wine glasses clinking and the sweet aroma make me feel good.

As I started sipping the glass with a smile, my brother asked with a worried look.

“Do you often drink alone?”

“I think so since my wife left. Actually, I’ve been bothered by the fact that I didn’t fulfill my duties as king at that time. I feel sorry for her because I think this war itself might not have happened if I had done as my sister-in-law said…”

“I heard it from Marie [likely referring to Marie Antoinette]. But she doesn’t blame Your Majesty. Rather, she said that she seemed to truly love his wife, and as a woman, she felt sorry for him. Rather, the assembly and cabinet that didn’t respond properly should be blamed.”

“I’m grateful that you say that, but… it doesn’t change the fact that I didn’t do my part.”

I used to think a lot about what the difference was between my brother and me.

The conclusion was always that I could never be like that, but the feeling of guilt did not disappear completely.

Frankly speaking, how could I have lived as the king of the world’s strongest country, enjoying wealth and luxury, if it weren’t for my brother?

I would have increased the enormous debt left by the Sun King [Louis XIV] and my grandfather, rather than paying it off.

“Christian. But has the post-processing for Russia and England been roughly decided?”

“It’s not confirmed yet. I had a rough idea originally, but I think a stronger punishment should be imposed.”

“Really?”

“Originally, I was going to let England off with just India, and Russia with just Poland and Central Asia. Well… it was such a huge blow that it’s hard to say I was letting them off, but if they attacked first and got beaten, they should be prepared for that much.”

That’s right.

In fact, Louis XVI’s honest feeling was that he wanted to impose even more severe sanctions.

“Do you know what? The Russians are really vicious guys. I heard it while talking to my wife, but they are really heartless… They treated even the royal family who were pushed out of the power struggle too harshly.”

“That’s a scary neighborhood to begin with.”

“They used her as they pleased, and as soon as she died, they used it as an excuse to start a war. Frankly speaking, I want to break Russia into pieces.”

“…Is that so.”

My brother’s expression hardened slightly, but Louis XVI didn’t say anything more and looked down at the shimmering red wine.

My wife confessed that she had been unhappy throughout her time in Russia.

Otherwise, how could she have said that she felt more comfortable coming to France, where she had no relatives and the most rigid court culture in Europe?

Perhaps that’s why her children also had considerable animosity towards Russia.

I even heard them say that they didn’t like the fact that Romanov [referring to the Russian royal family] blood flowed through their veins.

“What makes me the angriest is the fact that they are using my wife’s death as a justification for war. When I think about how upset my wife, who is watching this from heaven, must be, I can’t sleep at night.”

“I didn’t think about that part. I’m sorry.”

“So you should treat your wife well while she’s alive. Don’t regret it later. Well… you’re doing well now, though.”

“I will keep that in mind. And I will fully consider Your Majesty’s feelings. Perhaps all French citizens who have a beloved wife and husband will sympathize with Your Majesty’s anger.”

My brother said that with a cold smile.

I don’t know about others, but I know.

Whenever my brother made that expression, there were bound to be cries of anguish everywhere.

I wonder if he has already calculated how to use this to arouse the public’s anger as much as possible.

After all, a born talent is a born talent.

The demise of the countless nobles who became his enemies and disappeared into the dew of the guillotine came to mind again on this night.

“Then I can trust you and watch, right?”

“Of course. I will guarantee the best entertainment.”

“Okay, okay. Then let’s drink all night today… no. Just have two glasses and go in. If you keep your husband, who has just returned from Asia, up all night drinking, your wife might kill me.”

I feel like something stuck in my chest is being washed away along with the wine seeping down my throat.

Others are only conscious of England, but I have no intention of doing that.

The petty and despicable Russian bastards.

Those who dared to defile my wife’s death will surely pay the price.

Some may criticize the king of a country for putting his personal feelings first, but so what?

If I go on a rampage, my brother will stop me.

End