I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 316

Many key figures who would later dominate the French military shared a common background. They were all part of a group that had been a prominent topic in France: the ‘Children of Orléans.’ Napoleon, Davout, Jean Lannes, Masséna, and even Berthier all belonged to this group, rising through the ranks to become Marshals of France, Grand Marshals of the Army, and Ministers of War.

Though the name ‘Children of Orléans’ became less common as Louis-Christian became known as the Prime Minister rather than the Duke of Orléans, its legacy lingered.

Of course, not all of the Children of Orléans were active on the front lines, basking in the spotlight.

Émmanuel Grouchy, for example, was considered one of the Children of Orléans but never achieved the rank of Marshal. Instead, he served as Christian’s chief of security for many years.

Others like Claude Victor, Nicolas Soult, and Pierre Augereau were also part of the group but didn’t receive as much attention.

People crave heroes, but the more heroes there are, the less dramatic each one becomes. Thus, those who demonstrated the most outstanding talent and achievements among the Children of Orléans inevitably overshadowed the others.

However, some individuals with exceptional talent and skill missed their opportunities.

Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte was one such person.

Born into a bourgeois [middle class] family, he joined the military at the age of 17 instead of continuing the family business.

In pre-reform France, those not of noble birth could not become officers. Despite his recognized abilities, Bernadotte seemed destined to end his career as a non-commissioned officer.

But then, a helping hand reached out to him.

The Duke of Orléans, who valued talent regardless of social status, extended his support.

“Your talents are too great to be wasted as a mere non-commissioned officer. I will help you unleash your full potential.”

Being backed by the most powerful figure in France was an unparalleled opportunity, and the young Bernadotte recognized it immediately.

Burning with ambition, he seized the Duke’s hand without hesitation.

Initially, everything went smoothly.

The Duke was often busy, but Princess Antoinette ensured his well-being.

“The Princess is truly an angel. She has so much to do, yet she takes such good care of us…”

“Indeed.”

The dinners at the Tuileries Palace [the royal palace in Paris], which had become almost regular gatherings, were a vital source of energy for the Children of Orléans.

Bernadotte found comfort in meeting others in similar situations.

André Masséna, despite his exceptional abilities, had been unable to shine due to his commoner status. Berthier, though of noble birth, was easy to talk to and played a central role in the gatherings, making him a likable person.

“By the way, did you all know? Recently, His Highness has been eyeing even younger talents besides us. I heard they’re about six years younger than Bernadotte.”

“Younger than me? Are they just newly enlisted soldiers? Or students?”

“I heard they’re students at the military academy.”

“Military academy? Are they nobles?”

“Some are nobles, and some aren’t. Thanks to the Duke’s grace, commoners have entered the military academy, so they must see him as their lifelong benefactor.”

A commoner attending the military academy?

Bernadotte felt a slight pang of envy that someone was enjoying a privilege that had been denied to him.

Of course, he hadn’t been able to attend the military academy because he had already been commissioned and met the Duke of Orléans.

If he had been six or seven years younger, like those students, he might have been able to enter the military academy himself.

There was no point in feeling resentful. It was just a matter of age.

Seeing Princess Antoinette gracefully approaching from afar, he wondered if it really mattered.

Honestly, what was so great about the military academy?

Who among its graduates could dine so frequently with one of the most esteemed figures in France?

“Is everyone enjoying the meal?”

“Yes! It’s the most exquisite food imaginable!”

“We are so grateful to be invited to such a glorious occasion!”

“Don’t be so nervous, and please, make yourselves comfortable.”

Princess Antoinette ordered more food to be brought out before turning away.

She seemed to think that her presence might be making people uncomfortable.

Not only was she beautiful, but she also possessed a kindness that made those around her feel at ease.

He could understand why medieval knights considered it an honor to serve such noblewomen.

“Um… Princess.”

As Berthier cautiously spoke, Marie, who was about to return to the palace, turned her head slightly.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“That’s not it. I was wondering if we could see the juniors whom His Highness personally recommended to the military academy…”

“Ah, those children? I did call for them, but they’ve just entered the academy and seem to have difficulty finding the time.”

“They declined the Princess’s invitation?”

“They said they want to graduate early with the shortest possible course to meet his expectations, so I don’t plan to call them before graduation. He seemed to like that even more.”

They dared to decline the Princess’s invitation and focus on self-improvement?

And he was pleased with that?

Bernadotte could feel how much the Duke cherished those students.

At the same time, he felt a strange emotion rising within him.

It was an emotion he had never experienced before, so he didn’t yet know what it was.

In any case, Bernadotte’s perception of Napoleon Bonaparte had taken a turn for the worse even before they had met.

※※※

“Haa… I can’t understand it.”

“Why again? Are you still sulking about Napoleon?”

“Who’s sulking? I just don’t understand. Berthier, you’re already receiving as much favor from His Majesty as Napoleon’s gang.”

“I think you’re similar…”

“Similar my ass. I’ve hardly ever seen my name in the newspapers.”

Where did it all go wrong?

It had been decades since the Children of Orléans had dominated the headlines.

Everyone was demonstrating their abilities in their respective positions, but Bernadotte felt left out.

France had achieved a great victory in the war against Britain and had become the undisputed strongest nation in the world.

Napoleon Bonaparte, the Grand Marshal of the unified French forces.

Berthier, the Chief of Staff of the French National Defense.

Grand Marshal Davout and Minister of War Jean Lannes.

In addition, his friends who had dominated the battlefields, such as Masséna, Bessières, Murat, and Michel Ney, all held prominent positions.

“Didn’t you go to the French Middle East Command this time? It’s still a position responsible for one region, so I don’t know what you’re complaining about.”

“Do you really not know? I’m the only one being sent to the periphery! While you guys are playing a part in the great wars that will go down in history, I’ve been stuck doing odd jobs in the backwater!”

“Atlantic France… I mean, the old Nouvelle-France [New France, the historical area of French colonization in North America], His Majesty told you to go, but you didn’t listen.”

“That was the biggest misjudgment of my life.”

Long ago, when Nouvelle-France had not yet been fully developed, Christian sent the Children of Orléans to the New World.

It was a win-win-win plan to expand the territory, allow his confidants to gain experience as officers, and have them play an active role in the upcoming war.

However, Bernadotte failed to grasp Christian’s true intentions at the time.

Instead, he thought that if all the other competitors went to the New World, he would receive relatively more attention, so he took a gamble.

While all the other peers went to the New World, Bernadotte took a completely opposite direction towards the Italian front.

Unlike his friends who were active in Nouvelle-France, he wouldn’t immediately become an officer commanding troops, but he thought that gaining experience in the regular army would be more valuable.

But the results were as clear as they could be.

Napoleon achieved tremendous results in the New World and returned as a general with numerous soldiers under his command.

Was that the reason?

Bernadotte had no place in the great revolution that transformed France into a constitutional monarchy.

Why not?

How could he attract attention when he had only a few dozen soldiers to command?

After the great revolution, when commoners were allowed to become officers in the regular army, Bernadotte, like his other peers, rose to the rank of officer.

“You may feel wronged, but the fact that His Majesty immediately appointed you as a regimental commander is proof that he favored you, don’t you think? At least, that’s what I think.”

“That’s true. I have no complaints about His Majesty.”

His friends, who had been tested in the New World and the Revolutionary Wars, were immediately promoted to the rank of division commander or higher, but Bernadotte could not.

Of course, he was sincerely grateful for the position of regimental commander.

He could prove his abilities in the next war.

But what was this?

Bernadotte had no place in the war with Prussia.

Napoleon, who was in overall command, led the marshals who had worked with him for a long time, and Bernadotte was tasked with blockading the straits to prevent the British from landing.

He was furious, but it was a rational decision that left no room for objection, which only made him sad.

Of course, he wasn’t completely without opportunities.

Christian mainly dispatched Bernadotte to overseas territories.

He showed outstanding prowess in suppressing rebellions in overseas territories or conquering British colonies.

However, he received surprisingly little attention.

Whenever he achieved something, Napoleon would seize all the attention by achieving something even greater, as if he had been waiting for it.

He didn’t do it on purpose, but he was a guy you really couldn’t like.

“If His Majesty gave me a little more opportunity, I could do it too!”

“Well… I don’t think you could surpass Napoleon’s achievements. I’m satisfied with the current situation.”

“Berthier. You must be satisfied since you crushed Prussia and Britain!”

“You did a great job occupying Panama, didn’t you?”

“Even if I were a French citizen, I wouldn’t be interested in taking over a small piece of land like Panama! While one side is crushing the Qing Dynasty [the last imperial dynasty of China], I was suppressing a shitty land like Panama…”

Of course, His Majesty said that Panama would become a place of tremendous value.

I am grateful that he said that to boost my morale, but frankly, I still don’t believe it.

What use is that land where only mosquitoes swarm?

And this time, he’s telling me to stabilize some areas of the Arabian Peninsula, which used to be a British colony… I can only feel bitter.

“I don’t understand what His Majesty is trying to get from that land, which is only hot and barren… Could it be that he’s punishing me because I seem to have too many complaints?”

“Bernadotte. His Majesty said that even if he abandons everything else, he must secure that place. Even if we return it later, we must extract as much as possible.”

“So, I don’t understand what he’s trying to extract.”

Could it be that Napoleon is trying to keep me in check by slandering me to His Majesty?

No, there’s no other way to explain it.

“If you come out like that, I have my own ways. You don’t know that the Queen still thinks highly of me…”

Bernadotte put his brain into full gear to avoid going to Arabia.

Napoleon, you go to the Middle East.