I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 39

Revenge is Mine (1)

The Duke of Chartres, the future Duke of Orléans, chattered about inconsequential matters before departing.

He couldn’t have traveled all this way solely to offer congratulations and crack frivolous jokes.

I sensed his underlying motive: to observe and assess me for some hidden purpose.

While I hadn’t anticipated encountering him so abruptly, it wasn’t an entirely unwelcome development.

I was able to confirm my initial assessment – that I could never truly befriend that slippery character.

In fact, he, who would later champion liberal thinkers, posed a significant obstacle to my expansion of power.

His ambitions strangely mirrored my own, as I, too, sought to garner the support of the Third Estate and win them over to my side.

I’ll need to devise strategies to keep him in check, but for the moment, the impending wedding ceremony takes precedence.

“My dear, are you feeling well? The ceremony is about to begin in a few minutes.”

“Thanks to Your Majesty’s thoughtfulness, I am perfectly comfortable.”

“Good. You should relish being the center of attention on such a grand stage. You remind me the most of myself out of all my grandchildren.”

It feels somewhat unsettling to be told I resemble someone renowned for constantly having women on his arm.

Objectively speaking, I don’t believe I possess that particular trait.

In any case, I concur with the sentiment that I should savor this moment.

Even if societal norms have evolved in modern times, in this era, it’s an unparalleled, once-in-a-lifetime event.

As the sound of instruments heralded the commencement of the wedding ceremony, everyone returned to their designated seats.

I, too, took my place and awaited the bride’s entrance.

Finally, the doors swung open, and as the bride appeared, all eyes, including my own, turned towards her.

The extravagant dress, demanding all attention, was the first thing to capture my gaze.

It was a quintessential Rococo-style gown, lavishly adorned with delicate ribbons.

Was it called a *robe à la Française* [a wide, panniered dress popular in the 18th century]?

I recall chuckling about it when I saw it in a document previously, jokingly referring to it as a “social distancing dress” due to the skirt’s absurdly wide circumference.

But witnessing it in person, it was so breathtakingly beautiful that I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

Is it simply that the clothes are enhanced by the wearer?

I could roughly imagine the expression on my face.

I must have been wearing the same gobsmacked expression as the groom seeing his bride in her wedding dress that’s so often parodied on the internet.

As I placed the ring on the bride’s finger as she slowly walked towards me, her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Subsequently, the wedding proceeded as planned, enduring unnecessarily complicated and protracted sermons and rituals.

With the ceremony concluded, a banquet was held to celebrate my successful marriage.

I showcased my dancing skills, honed through relentless practice that left me with blisters on my feet, and as I shared wine with Louis XV, I suddenly felt a wave of intoxication wash over me.

If I imbibe any more, I fear I’ll lose my memory. Perhaps I should slowly make my way back?

That’s what I thought, but when I awoke, bright sunlight streamed into the room.

My head throbbed in sync with the chirping of birds outside.

I squinted, gulped down some water, and gradually regained my senses.

“I really need to curtail my wine consumption.”

Is it because I died without ever savoring the finest wines in my previous life?

I seem to have an insatiable compulsion to taste expensive wine, regardless of the circumstances.

It’s understandable that I indulged with Louis XV yesterday, but I must exercise caution in the future.

I absolutely cannot afford to die now, so I must be wary of even a falling leaf.

But that’s not the immediate concern.

“…I really went all out.”

I wasn’t the only occupant of the bed, which was so expansive that I could comfortably roll around.

Seeing the bare skin peeking out from under the blanket, memories of yesterday flooded back.

“…It was blissful.”

First, I meticulously cleaned up any traces of the passionate encounter that lingered on the bed, lest someone should discover them.

“Are you awake?”

Maree, who had opened her eyes at some point, gazed up at me and smiled radiantly.

“Yes. Did you sleep well?”

“Well… it was enjoyable, but not entirely comfortable. It was rather… intense.”

“…If you were uncomfortable…”

“No, no. My body feels a little sore, but I didn’t dislike it.”

Seeing her beaming smile, I felt a surge of pride for some inexplicable reason.

At least I’ve confirmed that this body isn’t physically inadequate, so there shouldn’t be any issues in that department in the future.

It took Auguste nearly seven years to consummate his marriage with Maree, but I accomplished it in a single day, so I’ve fulfilled my promise to surpass Auguste, at least in this regard.

Of course, any man in this position would have likely fared better than Auguste.

“I’m planning to remain at the Palace of Versailles only until today and return to the Tuileries Palace tomorrow. Is that agreeable to you?”

“Of course. The Palace of Versailles is magnificent and lovely, but it feels a bit too crowded.”

“If you had become the Crown Princess, countless people would have been camped outside this bed from this morning onward.”

“I made a wise choice. I should only visit here occasionally. I don’t think I could endure living here for the rest of my life.”

That’s probably accurate.

Contrary to the common perception of Marie Antoinette as unconditionally extravagant, her tastes were far from purely luxurious.

What she sought was elegant beauty, not simply ostentatious displays.

The Petit Trianon Palace, which she used as her private residence during her time as queen, comprised only about eight rooms and exuded a pastoral ambiance.

Although I haven’t lived with her for an extended period, I wholeheartedly concur with that assessment.

Maree’s personality is perfectly suited to residing in an environment where she can relax appropriately, as she does now.

“I have an appointment to meet someone today, so I should depart soon. Let’s have lunch together if our schedules align.”

“Yes. Countess Noailles said she would further instruct me in palace etiquette. But she’s rather strict.”

“I observed her once when I returned to the country, and I could discern that she possessed that particular demeanor.”

“Right? Honestly, it’s a bit burdensome, but I’ll be entering Versailles later, so I need to learn it properly from now on.”

It’s fortunate that Maree has a schedule this morning.

I was wondering if it would be inappropriate to leave the bride alone the day after the wedding night, but there’s no need to worry about it.

If Countess Noailles is in charge of her education, she’ll be held captive until lunchtime.

“Then I’ll be off.”

“Yes. See you later.”

I lightly kissed her forehead as she fluttered her eyes like a baby deer and departed the room.

Now, shall we go and reel in the person who is second most anxious on this French soil?

※※※

“First of all, congratulations on your marriage. I sincerely wish you continued success in the future.”

“Thank you. Receiving congratulations from the Prime Minister gives me even more confidence that I can do well.”

Even though it’s merely a formality, a private meeting with the second-in-command of France, the Prime Minister.

In the past, I might have been a little nervous, but now I’m perfectly relaxed.

“Oh, now that I think about it, I haven’t congratulated you on your appointment as Prime Minister. I should have visited you and presented you with a gift, but I apologize for the oversight.”

“No, how could I, as a prince… I should apologize because I was the one who insisted on dispatching Your Highness to Austria, so you endured that hardship.”

“It’s quite alright. Everything ultimately worked out well thanks to you, and I met the most lovely woman in the world. When you think about it, isn’t it all thanks to the Prime Minister?”

“The Princess must be very happy. Your Highness’s devotion to his wife is truly profound…”

Maurepas smiled awkwardly, glanced at me, and continued.

“Now that I think about it, I heard that Duke Choiseul was seeking an audience with Your Highness.”

“That’s correct. The Duke seemed rather displeased that Prime Minister Maurepas wouldn’t grant him a meeting.”

“That’s… I simply had an overwhelming workload at that time and couldn’t find the time to meet with anyone. As you know, His Majesty is urging me daily to apprehend those involved in the assassination attempt on Your Highness.”

The dark circles under Maurepas’s eyes were so pronounced they seemed about to reach his nose, a testament to his suffering.

Frankly speaking, his mental state couldn’t be sound, knowing he faced arrest if he failed to achieve a breakthrough.

If the situation persisted, he risked setting a record for the shortest tenure as Prime Minister.

“So, have there been any developments?”

“Unfortunately, there have been no breakthroughs as yet. In fact, there is a dearth of evidence, no witnesses, and the incident itself occurred in distant Austria, making it exceedingly difficult to investigate.”

“I understand perfectly well. If he were the type to reveal his hand so readily, he wouldn’t have committed such a heinous crime in the first place.”

No matter how much Maurepas racks his brains, there’s no possibility he’ll apprehend the true culprit.

Esterhazy is dead, so the only individuals privy to the details of this case are myself and the Austrians.

Bishop Bérment and Charles Gravier are completely unaware of the intricacies of the situation.

Consequently, he inevitably requires the cooperation of myself and Theresia, but I’ve deliberately withheld information.

Information pertaining to this case is exclusively shared with the investigators I’ve personally organized.

There was a plausible justification for this.

If I rashly divulged information to other nobles, it would be problematic if it reached the ears of the mastermind.

Even if Maurepas attempts to act independently, he has no chance of making progress.

Meanwhile, the High Court [Parlement of Paris, a court of appeal] is seizing this opportunity to sway public opinion and launch an all-out assault on Maurepas.

Coincidentally, the headline of the newspaper on the table caught my eye.

[The Prime Minister’s administration is already faltering. Not even a clue to the attempted murder of the royal family.]

Maurepas had already experienced failure once when he attempted to suppress the court. Now that he hasn’t even achieved results in the assassination investigation, he has no recourse even if the media tears him apart.

There was no reason for the court, which had already been in a precarious situation, to consider Maurepas’s circumstances.

Thus, he must have requested to see me under the guise of offering congratulations.

A person whose intentions are so transparent poses no threat whatsoever.

Maurepas, having confirmed that my gaze was fixed on the newspaper, broached his request as expected.

“Your Highness. As you can see, the media is treating this case with undue levity. They may be pleased to have a target for unilateral criticism, but this type of reporting only impedes the resolution of the case.”

“Well, the media has been engaging in such behavior for quite some time, so there’s no alternative but to remain unfazed. Prime Minister, you’re enduring a great deal.”

“That’s… but still, the media tends to heed the court to some extent, so if the court were to order them to refrain…”

“Ah. So you’re suggesting that I instruct Malesherbes [Guillaume-Chrétien de Lamoignon de Malesherbes, the head of the censorship] to ensure that no articles are published that excessively criticize the Prime Minister.”

Maurepas bowed his head as if ashamed.

It must be humiliating for him to make such a request of me, whom he had previously opposed.

Just observing this action, I could discern how mentally cornered he was.

Even if he didn’t kneel and beg like Choiseul, it was evident that he was slowly approaching his breaking point.

“I apologize for the discourtesy I have shown Your Highness thus far. But if you are a wise Highness, you will surely understand. I did not attempt to restrain Your Highness for personal gain or ambition. Furthermore, I have never harbored a desire to harm Your Highness, I swear to God in heaven.”

“I am aware. The Prime Minister merely sought to weaken the court, which is detrimental to stable state administration.”

“That’s correct. The reason I appeared to be keeping Your Highness in check was solely because I believed Your Highness was too closely aligned with the court…”

“Then there’s no reason for me, who maintains a close relationship with that court, to assist the Prime Minister, is there?”

Maurepas’s face, believing he had been outright rejected, was etched with despair.

If I deliberately exclude him here, it would be easy to remove him from the position of Prime Minister.

But that would be a very short-sighted measure.

There was little to gain from cracking down on Maurepas, who had already lost influence in the political arena.

What I was attempting to gain by capitalizing on this opportunity was something else entirely.

“Your Highness. Even if that’s the case, please reconsider one more time…”

“There’s one thing the Prime Minister is misunderstanding. In fact, I’m not as closely aligned with the court as the Prime Minister believes.”

“…Yes?”

“Frankly, it’s impossible to resolve France’s deep-seated problems unless we address the issue of the High Court. If I attempt to implement reforms, they unconditionally reject the bill, so how can I accomplish anything?”

“No… yes, that’s certainly true, but…”

For a moment, Maurepas’s facial muscles twitched strangely as he struggled to keep up with the flow of the conversation.

He must be incredibly disconcerted, having firmly believed that I was in league with the High Court.

Regardless of his reaction, I extended an offer.

It was the famous ‘an offer you can’t refuse’.

“If the Prime Minister cooperates with my endeavors, I guarantee that you will not suffer any repercussions. Moreover, I will actively support future reforms.”

“What kind of cooperation…?”

“I intend to dissolve the High Court. If it’s a judicial institution, it should have remained faithful to its original purpose.”

After much deliberation, it’s not dissolution… what I’m trying to do is actually reassemble it.

I will completely remove the corrupt upper echelons of the court and completely take over the High Court.

Now, shall we begin?