I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 311

Life Doesn’t Always Go as Planned

The first World’s Fair ever held.

“The most advanced nation, the land of liberty and equality, our France possesses technology that surpasses all others, a fact already known to everyone in the world. But technology isn’t everything. As everyone knows, France also prides itself on leading Europe in music, art, and culinary culture.”

“French cuisine is indeed delicious, but we in Spain also take pride in our cuisine, which is second to none.”

“When it comes to cuisine, it’s the regional dishes of Italy. They have history and tradition dating back to Rome.”

“Speaking of cuisine, we British also…”

“Let’s be honest, you guys should just be quiet.”

While technological prowess and national power can be objectively measured, culture is different.

There isn’t a country in the world that doesn’t take pride in its own culinary culture.

Even the British, at every opportunity, loudly proclaim that British cuisine is objectively delicious.

“Of course, I know that every country in the world is developing its own unique culinary culture. I’m not saying we are the most superior. But I want to let you know that we are advocating for a more scientific, systematic, and advanced gastronomy. One of them is wine! I’m sure you all won’t deny that wine made from the soil of France is the best in the world!”

“Well… French wine is a specialty, after all…”

“Wine is to France as beer is to the Holy Roman Empire.”

“No, beer is to the Netherlands, not the Holy Roman Empire.”

“Ahem! Beer is to England. Do you know the rich taste of India Pale Ale?”

“You can talk about which country’s beer is the best when it’s your turn! Now is the time to introduce our wine. But those who come from abroad may find it difficult to know exactly what makes French luxury wines better.”

As France’s national power began to surge, the export prices of French luxury wines naturally soared.

The upper classes of each country rushed to buy the wines that the French aristocrats drank.

However, the French wine industry was so complex and broad that it was difficult to understand without a considerable level of expertise.

In the Bordeaux region, famous for producing many good wines, there are thousands of wineries, especially in the renowned Médoc area.

Wineries are usually called châteaux [castles or estates], and even if you pick only the top 1% in the Médoc region, there are more than 60. Enough said.

Is it realistically possible for foreigners to accurately distinguish these numerous wines?

As a result, unscrupulous merchants attached exorbitant prices to wines simply because they were from the Médoc region.

“To eradicate these fraudsters and ensure that everyone feels the same level of satisfaction at the same price, the finest wines will now be given their own grades. Currently, the grades are assigned to the top 1% of the more than 6,000 châteaux! There are 4 in the 1st grade, 15 in the 2nd grade, 4 in the 3rd grade, 10 in the 4th grade, and 18 in the 5th grade, for a total of 61. Even the lowest 5th grade wines are carefully selected from the top 1%, so their taste is already guaranteed!”

“Oh… so the 1st grade wines are presented to the imperial family?”

“Yes. The great Louis-Christian Emperor and Louis XVI, the master of the imperial family, both enjoy these 1st grade wines. Emperor Christian enjoys Château Latour, and Louis XVI enjoys Château Haut-Brion. For reference, Queen Antoinette loves Château Lafite Rothschild. Of course, they are all 1st grade wines.”

“I have to buy some. Where can I place an order? I have to buy all kinds. I hope you have enough stock?”

“No, no! I have to buy it too! This is a tribute to His Majesty, so please give me plenty!”

“Ahem! This is for our Prime Minister!”

Originally, people tend to be obsessed with grades, whatever they may be.

In particular, they had a habit of willingly opening their wallets to get their hands on something of the highest grade.

The 1st grade wines that the members of the French imperial family enjoy.

Just by having this label, the prices of these wines soared in an instant.

It attracted so much attention that the wine reservation counters were crowded with people from Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom], Japan, Manchuria, and even the Central Plains [historical term for China].

At least, the scene on the ground resembled a peaceful and prosperous era without any worries.

However, there was a place that could not laugh even when seeing this scene of national pride soaring.

※※※

I want to abdicate.

I think about it every day, but today I feel even more strongly that I want to abdicate.

Neither the World Cup nor the Expo can genuinely comfort this aging and tired human being, Christian.

I have a reputation to uphold, so I can’t watch soccer while eating chicken and beer and shouting wildly, so my stress isn’t relieved.

French citizens have such a strong idealized image of their great king that every action is restricted.

That’s why I should have abdicated, but I didn’t know that there would be so few people who understood my true feelings.

Right now, the parliament, the administration, and even my son, who is my successor, think that I just want to put everything down and rest comfortably.

Of course, that’s a little bit… well, not a little bit, about half of it, but the other half is not.

Currently, France is a constitutional monarchy, but since I also serve as prime minister, it is difficult to call it a complete constitutional monarchy.

The king, who should only reign, was the de facto [in reality] head of the administration.

In order to establish true democracy in the future, this system needed to be revised.

There are many countries that have regressed into virtual dictatorships by allowing permanent rule for the first president or prime minister.

My idea was that in order for France not to become like that, I should step down quickly and leave a good precedent.

There is a good precedent in the United States, Washington.

It must have been, but… this parliament took my noble intentions as an excuse and committed the atrocity of guaranteeing my lifetime tenure by law.

In this life without dreams or hope, is the news of my family the only comfort to me?

I was honestly worried when I sent them abroad, but the growth of my children was so remarkable that I could dismiss all of this as a concern.

Charles… no, Karl, who is now living perfectly as Joseph III, succeeded in completely reviving the Holy Roman Empire.

Not only Karl, but Beatrix’s actions as Queen of Sweden were even more outstanding.

Since she was the Crown Princess, Beatrix had put a lot of effort into Norway, which was in a state of personal union.

Norway had its own independent parliament, military, and currency, but its diplomatic power was limited, so it did not feel good about Sweden.

These accumulated conflicts will appear in the 20th century of the original history with an overwhelming figure of 99.5% in favor of independence.

Beatrix found a breakthrough in the cases of France and the Holy Roman Empire, which were frighteningly expanding their power.

England is reorganizing into the Commonwealth, and France and Rome are also reorganizing their own federations.

Spain is also showing such movements, and the countries of the Italian peninsula are gradually gathering in that form.

-In this situation, if we play separately, the Nordic countries will inevitably be isolated in the future.

If you do not respect other countries that have entered the system, it will inevitably lead to division.

And it is impossible for the countries that have fallen apart to grow alone in the current international situation.

Therefore, the Nordic countries need to unite in a form that respects each other.

To put it simply, this was the gist of the argument, but Beatrix realized this armchair theory with tremendous drive and activity.

There was also information that even Finland, which had broken away from the Russian Empire and achieved independence, was tempted by Beatrix’s argument.

Since they did not break away from Russia’s hands on their own, they must have felt considerable persuasion.

If this continues, we may be able to see a Nordic region that has become a huge entity in the future.

They were such lovely and capable sons and daughters that I wouldn’t mind putting them in my eyes….

‘How on earth did my son become the leader of Lebensraum [living space] and Anschluss [annexation]!’

Of course, that’s not the case right now, but I’m a believer in the inevitability of history.

Even though I have caused countless butterfly effects so far, there are major events that have not changed from the original history.

Before a major accident occurs, there must be dozens of minor signs.

Originally, it is a word used when identifying the cause of a major accident, but Heinrich’s law [a principle stating that for every major accident, there are 29 minor accidents and 300 near misses] was also well applied here.

Was World War II entirely caused by the existence of a failed art student?

From my point of view, who has tried to make numerous changes and acted as it is, I could not easily be sure.

Of course, there is no guarantee that the Holy Roman Empire will eat up Prussia and completely swallow the Germanic cultural sphere.

But the fact is that there is no guarantee that it is absolutely okay.

Since I have a history of performing too much… questionable behavior twice in the original history, it was difficult for me to simply acknowledge this.

Above all, no matter how much I am, I can’t just say yes to what my son is doing.

Even if he is a person who has become independent and left, once a son is always a son, right?

In the first place, he has been calling me father and begging me when he is in need, so he shouldn’t complain even if I give him some discipline as a father.

I took action to personally teach my lovely son that life doesn’t always go the way he thinks.

“So, Charles is trying to swallow Prussia?”

“That’s right. I’m still getting calls from informants in Prussia. It seems that he is planning to create public opinion by stimulating ominous rumors and pressuring Prussia through this.”

“Did Father allow that?”

“It seems that he interpreted my words as he pleased.”

“I wondered why he hurried back to his home country as soon as the meeting was over….”

The best card I used to screw over the Holy Roman Empire was another blood relative.

In particular, it was my lovely eldest daughter, Beatrix, who never tolerates her younger brother getting ahead.

The fact that she was recuperating in France, saying that she would give herself a reward for her hard work, was a great opportunity for me.

“But isn’t Prussia a weak country that collapses with just a touch? It seems that Charles can crush it in an instant if he wants to….”

“Yes. So maybe there won’t be much time left.”

“That means Prussia is feeling a tremendous sense of crisis… hmm… okay, that’s enough.”

Beatrix nodded a few times and then continued with a strange look in her eyes.

“Father. You know I have children, right?”

“Of course I know. Do you think I’ve forgotten the existence of my grandchildren? Your father hasn’t gone senile yet?”

“Then, shouldn’t we marry one of these children to the heir to Prussia?”

“Do you mean to form a marriage alliance? With Prussia?”

“No. I’m trying to have a marriage that presupposes not only a marriage alliance but also a personal union.”

Is she going to swallow them first before the Holy Roman Empire eats them?

It’s not an impossible method if you grill Prussia well….

“Still, our grandchildren are still quite young, but you’re already doing it without permission…? These days, happiness is said to be important even in royal marriages….”

“Hey~ Dad. Have you forgotten whose children my children are? There’s no way my children don’t know that the greatest happiness is power, right? Rather, they’ll thank me, right? Ohohot!”

No, how did that kind child become like this… Ah, no. She was originally like this.

Still, it’s not a bad proposal for France.

In order for France to maintain its position as the absolute number one, the most ideal structure is for mediocre children to fight among themselves rather than for the number two to be certain.

It would be even better if it became fixed like that even after ten years or a hundred years.

“Well, whatever… Even if they are my grandchildren, they are now princes and princesses of the Swedish royal family, so your opinion will be the most important. Here, have a glass of wine.”

“As expected, I get along well with Dad. I love you~”

“I love you too, my daughter.”

A father and daughter smiling like a decalcomani [mirror image].

A few days later, the news of the marriage between the Swedish and Prussian royal families caused the Kaiser’s angry roar to erupt in the palace of the Holy Roman Empire.