I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 47

All Roads Lead to Rome (2)

I admit it.

My perception was naive.

Trying to get the Crown Prince to do this and that unnecessarily was my biggest mistake.

This person isn’t someone who can pull off various acts so skillfully.

It needs to be simpler.

More extreme.

If he utters sentences longer than two lines, it’s immediately obvious, so I have no choice but to make everything end in a single sentence.

“Everything else is unnecessary. Let’s just practice facial expressions all day today.”

“Facial expressions, like what…”

“Just glare. Always put strength in your eyes and frown.”

“Then it will be difficult to continue the conversation…”

That’s true.

There’s no way a conversation can flow smoothly with someone who’s glaring all day.

But it doesn’t matter since I have no intention of letting the Crown Prince have a conversation with the delegation anyway.

“Don’t worry about the conversation. After all, you only need to practice five sentences.”

“Huh? How can I talk to the delegation with just five sentences?”

“I’ll signal with my fingers, so just look at my fingers and say the corresponding word. Since it’s only one sentence, it won’t be difficult to put strength into your tone.”

I first held up one index finger.

“First, when I hold up one finger, it means this: Nice to meet you.”

“…?”

“And when I hold up two fingers, say this: I understand.”

“No, wait a minute…”

When I hold up three, it means: I don’t think I can do that.

In addition to this, I created patterns for four and five fingers, just as many as the number of fingers.

Of course, Auguste couldn’t hide his reluctant expression, wondering if this was really okay.

“If I cut off the conversation with such short sentences, won’t they think I’m… rude?”

“It’s a hundred times better to be seen as rude than to be perceived as weak.”

“Is that… so?”

“Yes. The purpose this time is to change the existing perception of you. I’ll take care of the minor things anyway, so you just need to set the atmosphere.”

The important thing is not to make Auguste talk too much.

If they’re veteran diplomats, they can immediately tell what kind of person he is after exchanging just a few words.

But no matter how much of an Auguste he is, he won’t make a mistake by putting strength in his eyes and cutting off each word.

“Alright, let’s start from the beginning. Put strength in your eyes.”

“…Like this?”

“Yes. Lower your voice a little more from there and say it.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“A little lower!”

Fortunately, Auguste had terrible nearsightedness and had a habit of squinting when focusing on something.

Using this, it wasn’t difficult to make him put strength in his eyes.

All I had to do was tell him to look closely at the decorations on the other person’s clothes.

Then, naturally, Auguste would narrow his brow and lean his body forward slightly.

To others, it looked exactly like a glare.

After focusing on posture correction, eye contact, and tone for several hours, it was finally completed to a usable state.

I should have done this from the beginning.

Auguste reliably moved as coded, inconspicuously checking my fingers right next to him.

“…Nice to meet you. I understand. I don’t think I can do that.”

“Good, good, perfect.”

Now it’s time to say goodbye to human Auguste for the time being and become Mechanical Auguste.

If I just endlessly repeat the five patterns and glaring, there’s no way an error will occur in the middle.

It won’t be perfect with just this, but I can gradually add the rest.

After practicing and improving his skill for several hours, Auguste suddenly asked a question.

“But Christian. Aren’t you scared?”

“Yes? Are you saying you’re not scared of the road to the Papal States?”

“No. You experienced something like that in Austria… Your life could have been in danger if you had made a mistake. And I heard that you were once threatened by the court.”

“Well… I was chilled to the bone.”

Frankly speaking, it wasn’t just scary.

The fourth poisoning death didn’t even give me time to recognize it, so let’s leave it at that.

I remember the moment my life was cut off in the other deaths so vividly that I shuddered.

Of course, other people recognize that I lightly overcame all of that, but the emotion I felt cannot be explained by a word like fear.

“If I had experienced such a thing, I would have said I couldn’t do it, even if it was my grandfather’s request. So when I heard you say you would help me, I thought, ‘Isn’t he afraid of dying?'”

“No way. I guarantee you, there’s no one as afraid of death as I am. There’s nothing more painful than death in the world. Really.”

“Haha, then it sounds like you’ve experienced death before.”

I have. Not just once, but five times.

So at least as far as this field is concerned, I am the ultimate authority.

I just smiled instead of answering.

Auguste interpreted my smile in a different way and nodded to himself in admiration.

“Even if there is a threat to kill you, you won’t run away even if you’re afraid? You really have a knightly spirit.”

“It’s not that grand. I just couldn’t survive if I didn’t fight.”

“A struggle to live… Maybe that’s why you stand out among our brothers.”

This was the first time Auguste called me a brother with his own mouth.

Perhaps aware of this himself, he cleared his throat awkwardly and continued.

“Anyway… After talking to you, I know that you’re not someone who isn’t afraid of death, and you’re definitely aware that you’re being threatened. But you still offered to help me, so I’m honestly grateful.”

“I’m grateful if you see it that way.”

“You saved my face in the marriage in Austria, and you could have made excuses and gotten out of this, but you didn’t, so I know your heart well enough. There are people around me who say I should be careful of you, but honestly, I can’t understand those words anymore.”

After all, I don’t have a legitimate right to the throne.

From Auguste’s point of view, other heirs may seem more 불안 [unstable] than me.

Even if that’s not the case, all I have to do is create a situation where that happens.

“I will guide you to the best future. I won’t tell you to believe me, so just watch.”

“Okay. I look forward to working with you.”

Auguste is definitely a good person, and even if he’s a half-brother, he’s still my brother.

He just made himself and those around him unhappy because he rose to a position beyond his capabilities in the worst situation.

So, as promised, I will help him achieve the best outcome.

But there’s no guarantee that the best outcome will match the future Auguste is thinking of.

※※※

In the end, the work of automating Auguste continued until before sunset.

By the time I returned to the Tuileries Palace, the surroundings were already dark.

After eating a simple meal and plopping down on the bed, Marie, wearing a light nightgown, took a seat next to me.

After hesitating for a moment, I told her that I would be going to the Papal States with the Crown Prince, and she looked at me with a dumbfounded gaze.

“…How long has it been since you came back from Austria, and they’re sending you abroad again?”

“…Huh?”

“Are you some kind of professional diplomat?”

Somehow, she seems more upset than I expected.

No, now that we’re newlyweds, anyone would be upset if their spouse left them behind and went all the way to the Vatican.

This is a problem I need to apologize for.

Realizing this quickly, I immediately bowed down.

“I’m sorry! That’s how it turned out.”

“I’m sure His Majesty asked you directly, right?”

“…I could have refused, but considering the future, I thought it would be right to go…”

“I see.”

When the smile disappears from someone who always smiles brightly, there’s nothing more frightening.

No wonder she’s Maria Theresa’s daughter, the expression she makes when she’s angry is exactly like her.

Honestly, I’m feeling even more intimidated because I’ve been unilaterally forcing concessions so far.

“Recently, there’s been almost no time to be together except for dinner, and even then, you go to bed early because you’re tired. I thought we could finally be together today, but His Majesty called you away. And when you come back, you tell me you’re going to the Papal States…”

“…I have no excuse. But was the school tour today… fun?”

“Yes~ It was fun. I felt a lot too.”

“Ah… I’m really glad it was fun.”

She put down her teacup and smiled, somehow looking even more charismatic.

As I was slowly reading her expression, Marie, who had been setting the mood, suddenly burst out laughing.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. I’m not that angry, I’m just a little sad.”

“…Huh?”

“It’s not like you’re doing it on purpose, and I can see how busy you are from the side. I also know that you’re worried about me and sorry that you can’t take better care of me. But if I complain that I’m sad, that would disqualify me from being a good wife. And you’ve prepared this too.”

Picking up the newspaper on the bedside table, she read the headline visible under the candlelight in a low voice.

“Princess Marie Antoinette from Habsburg [the ruling house of Austria]. Surprised by France’s superior culture. I can’t imagine life without Paris now.”

“Ah, I was going to show you that newspaper anyway, but I guess you already saw it.”

“Was this what you were talking about with Lavoisier [likely Antoine Lavoisier, a prominent French chemist and nobleman] last time?”

“I think it’s time to start using the media. Of course, it might seem like I’m putting down Austria, so you might feel bad.”

I’ve been thinking countless times about how to improve Marie’s image in France.

And every time, the answer always comes down to one thing.

Using the media.

But it doesn’t end with simply publishing articles about Marie in the newspaper.

Even in the original history, Marie Antoinette held many events to improve her image.

And of course, she promoted this by mobilizing newspapers.

However, the effect was minimal.

Of course, Marie at that time and Marie now have different positions and recognition.

Most importantly, the decisive difference is that I know the sensibilities of new media, which are stained with all kinds of nationalistic content.

Why did Antoinette arouse antipathy from the citizens of France?

The biggest reason is that she couldn’t erase the impression that she was a foreigner from Austria.

In addition, she even gave the impression that she was invading France’s unique territory by leading fashion and culture.

In that situation, even if she did 빈민 [poor people] relief activities or something, it didn’t look good.

“To gain favor with people who have a strong sense of pride in their country like France, you must first unconditionally praise them. Not in a clumsy way, but in a really serious way.”

“Um… So you’re saying that I should say that France is better than when I was in Austria?”

“I’m really sorry to say this to you, who has a deep affection for your hometown… but this is how you determine your first impression.”

“Don’t worry. I have to live as a French person now, so I can do that much if necessary. Above all, your work will be better if I get closer to the French people.”

I was even prepared to persuade her if she was upset, but it was unexpected.

I wonder if she heard any stories when she entrusted the guidance to Robespierre.

“Thank you for understanding. Then I’ve told Lavoisier… I mean, the father, not the son, about the details, so you can do what he tells you to do while I’m away.”

What I’m trying to do is to 그대로 [as is] bring 국뽕 [nationalistic fervor] YouTube to the French version.

The name can be just the French cultural adaptation of an Austrian woman… no, a princess.

I’ve already secured a newspaper company and scouted several talented painters.

The plan was to publish not a short article, but a series of articles for at least several months to as long as a year.

I’ve already drawn a lot of content that is unimaginable at this time.

Sensational and stimulating articles were no less common at this time, but their sophistication does not reach modern times at all.

I’ve watched so many videos that I can refer to on how to stimulate and gain a response.

When I think about it, I wonder why I watched those videos, but there were some that I couldn’t help but click on just by looking at the title.

A world of survival of the fittest where you couldn’t survive without attracting aggro [attention/controversy].

Even if I apply it to this era, there are plenty of titles I can draw.

[Finally admitted! Even the Habsburg princess fell for French food]

[Was Austria actually envious of France? The truth told by the Habsburg princess]

[French culture admired by the whole world. A sincere story from Princess Marie, who grew up in Austria]

[Is the Palace of Versailles the envy of the whole world? Schönbrunn Palace [the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers] is a copy of the Palace of Versailles]

I think it would be something like this.

An article about a princess from Habsburg eating a baguette, watching a play by Pierre Corneille at the Comédie-Française [one of the few state theaters in France], and 욕하는 [cursing] England.

What French person wouldn’t want to see it?

The newspaper president drooled and begged me to leave it to him when I told him about the plan.

When I come back from the Papal States, I hope the perception of Marie will have changed at least a little.

She was looking at the data I had organized when she suddenly smiled strangely and sat close to me.

“I’m a good wife who follows her husband’s instructions and doesn’t nag, so you won’t say anything if I ask for appropriate compensation, right?”

“Of course. I have to do everything I can for you.”

탁 [sound of something being placed].

As soon as I finished speaking, Marie pushed my shoulder and knocked me down on the bed.

“Then can I monopolize my husband’s nights until the day we leave for the Papal States?”

A seductive smile was full on her lips as she sat on my waist and looked down at me.

It was a tiring day with so many things to do, but how could I not react to such a seductive word?

I laid her down on the bed in reverse and smiled slyly.