I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 36

Geopolitical Shift

“Kaunitz said you were quite the actor today.”

“I had to raise my stock to ease the burden on His Majesty, even if just a little.”

Today, Schönbrunn Palace was in more turmoil than ever.

On a celebratory day meant to commemorate the successful formation of a marriage alliance, an assassination attempt suddenly occurred.

It was a shocking incident where the head of the French delegation’s security detail tried to kill the representative and pin it on the Austrian side.

Just as the French prince brilliantly caught the tail of the scheme and resolved the situation, Empress Theresa dropped a bombshell.

This was like a bolt from the blue for those who had believed the princess would marry the crown prince.

“I originally expected it to be more chaotic, but thanks to your arrangements, things have become much easier. I must express my gratitude.”

“I simply did what I had to do. I, in turn, learned a great deal from Her Majesty’s skill in manipulating all unexpected variables to our advantage.”

As she told me, Theresa announced her plan to begin smallpox vaccinations throughout Austria simultaneously with the marriage announcement.

At the same time, extensive publicity began about me, Marie’s future spouse.

The Austrian people’s fear of smallpox was no less than that of the French.

In fact, it was probably worse.

It had only been a few years since Empress Theresa, whom the people respected, had been on the verge of death from smallpox.

Moreover, two princesses had died young from the disease, and another miraculously recovered but lost her beautiful appearance forever.

To top it off, even Joseph II, the second most powerful figure in the empire, had lost two wives to smallpox in quick succession.

With the pillars of the nation, the royal family, dying one after another from smallpox, the people had no choice but to tremble with anxiety.

Theresa used this very point to turn public opinion in her favor.

The princess who willingly chose marriage to eradicate smallpox a little faster and more efficiently, and the empress who supported that marriage.

And me, who promised to treat the country of my future wife with the same conditions as my own.

The citizens of Vienna genuinely welcomed and celebrated this marriage.

“Thanks to the wonderful performance you gave today, there wasn’t much backlash from the nobles. It seems to have made a great impression on those who saw it in person.”

“It would be a problem if it didn’t. I put so much effort into arranging it.”

While the enthusiastic support of the citizens meant the nobles had to be mindful, it didn’t mean everything was smooth sailing.

Fortunately, the nobles of Vienna were quick-witted and calculating, even if their pride was high.

As soon as I made my presence known, they quickly assessed my worth.

Since Joseph II and Theresa were both backing me, my position was unshakeable anyway.

The nobles were by no means fools. They knew that once a national agreement was signed, there was no point in arguing.

So, rather than resist the flow, it was better to get on board.

The nobles who initially wanted to voice their opposition actively expressed their welcome as soon as they saw the public’s reaction, as if they had never been against it.

I was fortunate to be in the audience chamber; otherwise, I might have been plagued by visits from nobles all day.

“By the way, what are you going to do with that guy in custody? Should we drag him back to France and have him punished there?”

“Yes. First, I hope we can get him to talk… By the way, how did Your Majesty get the information that Esterhazy was trying to assassinate me? Do you know who might be behind him?”

“That’s a bit ambiguous. When Kaunitz first brought the information, he didn’t seem so sure. So, I ordered Baron Thugut to stick close to Esterhazy, act appropriately, and extract information. Now that I think about it, I even suspected that you intended this situation and leaked the information.”

“If I could see that far ahead, I wouldn’t be a person but a god. Then, for now, we should focus on getting Esterhazy to talk and uncover the mastermind…”

“Your Majesty, I have an urgent matter to report.”

Before I could finish speaking, Kaunitz rushed into the room, shouting urgently.

For him, who always showed a calm demeanor in public, to be this flustered meant it was no ordinary matter.

“Did something happen? Did some nobles issue a statement opposing the marriage?”

“It’s a bit more serious than that. Esterhazy, who was in custody, is dead.”

“What?”

Theresa’s eyes widened, and then a blazing anger filled the space.

“How could a prisoner in custody be assassinated with such lax security? Immediately punish those responsible and investigate the circumstances!”

“Your Majesty, it seems he was murdered, but it appears to be death by poisoning. The doctor’s opinion is that he probably drank the poison this morning. There are also reports that he was sweating profusely and seemed abnormal from the moment the soldiers took him away.”

“So, he was already showing symptoms of poisoning then. Since it would be stranger if a criminal being dragged away after his plan was exposed had a normal face, no one paid attention.”

“Exactly as Your Majesty said. I can only apologize to His Highness the Prince. We should have been more careful; it was our fault.”

It was a bit unexpected, but it’s not something they need to apologize for.

Who could have known that even the assassin Esterhazy was already poisoned that morning?

I expected there would be an attempt to silence him, but I didn’t know they would act so quickly.

“But one thing is certain with this. Esterhazy was ultimately just a piece on the chessboard, and there is someone else manipulating him. A figure powerful enough to orchestrate something on this scale.”

“If they tried to silence Esterhazy after assassinating you, it’s clear they’re quite meticulous. You might need to be careful even when you return to France. Are you alright?”

“There’s no problem. I already expected the opponent wouldn’t be ordinary.”

After returning to France, my actions will change completely from what they have been until now.

I don’t know who it is yet, but if they don’t go this far, there’s no fun in finding them and chopping off their heads.

I’m going to find them and kill them, and if they are incompetent, I’ll be disappointed.

That possibility has disappeared, so I can now put all my efforts into it.

Good. Then let’s have a proper go.

Either way, I’m the one taking the lead from now on.

By now, the bomb I sent will be heading to France, so preparations for future actions are complete.

But unlike the confident me, Theresa had a somewhat uneasy expression.

“When I asked if you were alright, I wasn’t talking about you but my daughter, who will be your wife. It won’t be easy for her to adapt in France as it is, and if your problems overlap, it will be even harder, wouldn’t it?”

“Don’t worry. That won’t happen.”

“If something happens to you, aside from her being sad, you know I’ll be seen as a fool for sending my daughter to a prince who’s about to die, right? Your life isn’t just yours anymore, so you need to be especially careful.”

Tell me about it.

I can guarantee that I’m the last person in this world who wants to die.

Are you saying it’s okay because I’ll come back to life?

I had no choice but to choose that method this time, but I will never do it again.

Frankly speaking, even this time was almost at the limit.

If I experience pain at least five times longer than before next time, I’m not confident I can stay sane.

Some part of me will definitely break then.

“I promise you. I will never be in danger, and I will make the princess the happiest woman in the world.”

“That child really likes you a lot. If you’re a man, you’ll inevitably look elsewhere, but I hope you won’t stray too much and treat her well.”

“I’m someone who keeps my promises thoroughly.”

“Alright. I’ll trust you. Then, to keep your promise, why don’t you go out and spend time with her? I deliberately scheduled official events.”

What answer could I give when the highest mother-in-law in this country said that?

Of course, I could only bow my head at a right angle and shout my thanks.

“Oh, and I’m saying this out of a sense of unease…”

As I got up and was about to leave, she gave me one last piece of advice.

“I trust you wouldn’t, but even if you’re young, men and women are still men and women… Considering the face of the royal family, be careful before the official wedding. Do you understand what I mean?”

“…Of course.”

I nodded, feeling dazed as I hadn’t expected to receive such a warning, and Theresa subtly added one more thing.

“Of course, I’m only saying to hold back for now. After the wedding, work hard and have children. Fortunately, looking at your face, I don’t have to worry about descendants.”

“Ah, yes…”

Auntie, what are you talking about right now?

To tell me to have lots of children with a daughter who is only fifteen years old.

Of course, it was old enough to get married if you were royalty in this era, but as someone whose modern sensibilities haven’t completely disappeared, it’s a dizzying story.

In my previous life, I was just an squid in the laboratory, and in this life, I haven’t exactly slept with a woman.

So, of course, I never had any intention of causing a premarital pregnancy.

But now, it seems like everyone I meet thinks I have a lot of experience with women.

Is it because I received Louis XV’s superior genes?

Indeed, handsome people receive different gazes.

Feeling the unfairness of the world once again, I came outside, and Marie, who had been pacing in the garden, greeted me.

“Christian! Over here.”

Seeing her innocent smile, free of any worries, made me feel like my heart, which had been stained with schemes and plots, was being healed.

“Have you been waiting here all along?”

“I heard you would be coming out soon.”

Looking at her, I felt a sense of stability.

The anger and desire for revenge that had been boiling due to the long pain of death also seemed to fade away.

“Princess.”

“Yes?”

It might sound a bit out of the blue, but I spoke the words that came to my mind at this moment.

“I will make you the happiest woman in the world.”

Marie smiled shyly, and then stood next to me with a smile that was more dazzling than ever.

“I will make Christian the happiest husband in the world too.”

It’s a strange thing.

Now that the tension has been released, I can finally realize it.

That’s right.

I’m not going to be alone anymore.

As I realized that I, who had been alone since my previous life, would have a partner, something touching that I had never felt before rose up in my chest.

What do you call this feeling?

I’ve never felt it before, so I don’t know how to define it yet.

So I just smiled.

Unexpectedly, it wasn’t a bad feeling. Sincerely.

※※※

The achievements that Christian made in Austria were naturally conveyed to the Palace of Versailles.

Moreover, Theresa and Joseph II’s handwritten letters arrived with Christian’s report.

The report that Christian submitted to Louis XV was filled with content that stimulated French pride.

In some ways, it seemed brazen, but no one felt that way.

That’s how significant his achievements were this time.

In addition, there were letters from Joseph II and Theresa praising Christian.

No one could dare to find fault.

Louis XV, who was reading the report, was almost grinning from ear to ear and couldn’t stop laughing.

“Hahaha, look at this. Who would have imagined that this child would do so well?”

“His Highness’s brilliance is undoubtedly inherited from His Majesty’s qualities. In some ways, this can also be attributed to His Majesty’s virtue.”

“Yes, yes. I feel very good today.”

When Louis XV spoke about the outcome of the summit, most of the nobles doubted their ears.

That noble Empress Maria Theresa gave her youngest daughter to a bastard prince?

It was something that could not happen unless she had gone senile.

But Christian made the impossible happen.

France benefited enormously.

First of all, from the point of view that the Habsburg royal family had a marriage that was below their status, the status of the Bourbon royal family was further enhanced.

In addition, while forming a marriage alliance with Austria, the position of the Crown Princess was left vacant, saving a powerful diplomatic tool.

They didn’t have to bear the risk of making a Habsburg woman, whom the people didn’t like, the Crown Princess.

Whether they make a French woman the Crown Princess, or have a political marriage with another country, it is now up to France.

In addition, they even considered the possibility that the Crown Prince might be teased for having his scheduled fiancée stolen.

It was written that the Crown Prince of our great French kingdom is not suitable for marrying someone who has been decided so hastily.

Therefore, he asked for extensive reports to be made before his marriage announcement that he would marry someone more worthy of his dignity.

Louis XV was greatly impressed by his grandson’s consideration, who prioritized the prestige of the royal family over his own reputation.

“Being able to have such happy worries is also thanks to Maupeou, who suggested sending my grandson to Austria. It was a really good idea.”

“You flatter me.”

Despite receiving the king’s praise, Maupeou’s expression was not very bright.

In fact, he was genuinely embarrassed by what was happening now.

‘Did Theresa go crazy? What did she see in Christian to entrust her daughter to him?’

From the point of sending him to Austria, he could predict that a marriage alliance would be formed.

But of course, he expected the Austrian princess to marry the Crown Prince.

He never imagined that Christian would achieve this much.

How on earth did he talk to that old Theresa and Kaunitz to get them to fall for him?

‘I haven’t properly organized the High Court yet. Was I too naive?’

Maupeou’s original plan was to firmly establish the High Court while Christian was in Austria.

Fortunately, Choiseul, who had been making strong claims in the conflict between France, England, and Spain over the Falkland Islands, was ousted from his position after falling out of favor with the king.

Instead, Maupeou, who rose to the position of Prime Minister, tried to accelerate reforms and dismantle the rebellious High Court, but the High Court had unexpectedly good instincts.

If Christian returns in this state, the political landscape could be greatly shaken.

‘Duke Choiseul will also want to regain his influence, so I can use him to check Christian. So, let’s continue to hold hands for now…’

Maupeou, who was planning for the future in his head, suddenly sensed a strange atmosphere and raised his head.

Louis XV’s face, which had seemed so happy that he seemed like he was about to dance, suddenly hardened.

His hand, which had been reading the back of the report, trembled with anger.

“What is this…”

Maupeou, sensing an unusual situation, asked cautiously.

“Your Majesty, is there any problem?”

“What kind of bastard dared to plot such a scheme!”

Louis XV, who rarely got angry, raged and got up from his seat.

He tried to crumple the report, but barely maintained his reason and handed the paper to Maupeou as if throwing it.

“Find them. Immediately.”

“…Yes?”

“Those who committed this trash-like act. And find all those involved! I will order their execution myself!”

Maupeou’s face turned white as he hurriedly read the back of the report.

‘Esterhazy, that crazy bastard…!’

No one in their right mind could commit such an act.

And there’s no way he could have committed such an absurd act on his own.

As the thought reached that point, Maupeou’s spine became even colder.

‘This is a mess… This will put me and Choiseul on the list of suspects first. What was Choiseul thinking when he recommended such a guy as the head of security?’

Choiseul, who recommended Esterhazy. And Maupeou, who raised his voice to send Christian to Austria.

As an assassination attempt has occurred, these two cannot avoid suspicion.

In times like these, you have to strike first before someone points you out.

Maupeou quickly lowered his posture, and a desperate voice filled with determination came from his mouth.

“How dare they! His Highness the Prince, who has enhanced the prestige of Great France! I will definitely find the culprit and bring him before Your Majesty!”

The plan to check Christian, who had returned to his country, was put on hold at this moment.

In order to safely overcome this crisis and survive, you must first attach yourself to the one holding the knife.

Not only Maupeou, who was cornered, but all the nobles in this place noticed that the flow was changing.

And for the time being, who will be standing at the center of that storm.