I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 59

To the New World (2)

“Excuse me? What did you just say?”

I thought I had misheard, so I asked again, but the answer was the same.

“I’m going with you. If you don’t accept this condition, I won’t let you go. If necessary, I’m prepared to send a letter to my mother.”

“Marie… I understand your feelings, but this isn’t a pleasure trip. It’s a mission to infiltrate enemy territory under the guise of a major landowner leading slave traders to expand business. If we get caught, it won’t be life-threatening, but it could still be a more difficult journey than you think.”

“Let me make one thing clear, dear husband.”

There was a strange force in Marie’s voice that made it impossible to refuse her.

I guess blood is thicker than water.

She looked me straight in the eye and continued.

“Having to live alone in this palace for months without you is harder than anything else. So, I’m going with you. You’ll allow it, won’t you?”

“Uh…”

A request full of affection delivered in an imposing voice.

How could I refuse such a thing?

“I know I’m not going there to play, so I won’t act immaturely. If you don’t trust me, I can promise you for sure…”

“No, it’s not that at all. But as I said, I’m not going as Prince Louis Christian. I’ll be using the name Count Lamarche, which hasn’t been publicly announced yet, so your status will also be complicated.”

“Is there a problem? No one there would know my face anyway. Then I’ll be Countess Lamarche.”

“We can forge your identity that way, but there’s also the issue of attendants…”

“I’ll only take one attendant. And wouldn’t it be better to bring my wife along for the sake of disguise? Who would suspect someone who brings his wife along?”

She had a point.

Going with Marie would make the disguise itself more thorough.

A devoted husband who crossed the Atlantic to expand his business but couldn’t bear to leave his wife alone.

Taking on this kind of image would feel more approachable and less suspicious.

Above all, it wasn’t easy to refuse since she wanted it so much.

“The voyage to the Atlantic won’t be easy at all. It could be much harder than a carriage ride.”

“Of course, I know. I won’t complain at all.”

“And you might see some pretty shocking sights during the trip. That’s actually my biggest concern…”

The apparent purpose of going to the New World this time is to secure a supply of slaves.

That means we’ll naturally have to go to Africa first and meet the merchants who buy and sell slaves.

This process would definitely be very inappropriate for Marie, who grew up so preciously in the palace.

I still vividly remember her face when she struggled to watch the guillotine execution until the end.

Just imagining her struggling emotionally made me feel bad.

I know it’s impossible, but I just want her to see beautiful and happy things.

I wanted to give her a life where the smile never leaves her face.

Marie shook her head with a bitter smile, as if she had seen right through my heart.

“I know what you’re worried about. But I think this kind of experience is necessary for the future. How can someone who has only grown up like a flower in a greenhouse gain the love of the people who live in the real world? I want to become a princess whom the people of France can truly trust and rely on.”

When I first met her, she was closer to a princess who didn’t know the ways of the world, but she had grown this much already.

Is it thanks to the continuous exchange and contact with citizens in Paris, unlike the original history?

“If your heart is that firm, then there’s no reason to refuse any longer. I’ll tell His Majesty that I’ll go with you.”

“Yes! Then please take care of me in the future, Count.”

Matching her acting, already smiling with her eyes, I nodded my head, trying to maintain a dignified demeanor.

“Ahem, then I look forward to working with you, my lady.”

We tried to match the concept awkwardly, but soon burst into laughter and lay down on the bed together.

※※※

Two days before leaving for Africa.

I and Marie, who had completed preparations perfectly, were introduced to a person sent by Louis XV.

“I am Charles Geneviève Louis Auguste André Timothée d’Éon de Beaumont. Please call me d’Éon.”

Was he about forty years old?

She was a refined noblewoman with an elegant atmosphere.

Of course, that’s how it looked on the outside, and I knew this person’s identity well.

“Weren’t you originally in England?”

“It seems you’ve heard something about me. I have His Majesty’s order to guard the Prince… no, the Count and Countess, and to gather information from the British colonies.”

d’Éon de Beaumont, also known as Chevalier d’Éon [a French diplomat, spy, and soldier], was a man, unlike his appearance.

He was also a French diplomat and had been playing the role of a spy, and he was a bizarre figure who often cross-dressed for that purpose.

I was curious because I heard that he had never been caught even when cross-dressing, but when I actually saw him, he looked like a perfect noblewoman.

If someone didn’t know, they would really think he was a woman.

“I heard there were some problems with the royal family while you were in England, but it seems like it’s been resolved well.”

“It’s all thanks to the Count. Perhaps because His Majesty cherishes the Count, he promised to make all the minor problems disappear if I make a contribution this time.”

d’Éon had a lot of information about the royal family’s secrets as a spy.

He used this as a weapon to maintain his position as the British ambassador, but as a reaction, it became difficult for him to return to France.

In the original history, he would have come in after Louis XV’s death, but it seems like a butterfly effect occurred this time due to my existence.

“Then I’ll entrust the escort to you. But… are you going to continue to act as a woman from now on?”

“Of course. Because I am a woman. His Majesty has also acknowledged it.”

“…Ah, I see…”

Marie tilted her head, not understanding our conversation, but I started to get a headache about how to accept this person.

Since the King’s approval has been given, what more can I say?

I have to acknowledge her as a woman for now.

“Although the escort troops will come with us, there aren’t many because we have to hide the Count’s identity. So, I will closely escort you. I think I will mainly be responsible for the safety of the Princess Consort. Oh, and since I am His Majesty’s secret agent, you must never disclose any information about me.”

“Hoo… I understand. Since His Majesty told me to do it, I have no choice but to follow.”

Normally, I would never have allowed a man to be so close to Marie.

But d’Éon was a little different.

It is true that he was born biologically male, but strictly speaking, it was difficult to see him as a man now.

He may not know it now, but d’Éon suffered from a disease called Kallmann syndrome [a genetic condition that affects puberty and sense of smell].

In the case of men, it is a disease in which puberty is delayed, and d’Éon was particularly severe, and puberty did not occur.

In other words, secondary sexual characteristics hardly occurred, and he had no desire as a man.

Even though he wasn’t intentionally doing it, his voice was quite high-pitched to be called a man.

In a way, he might be the safest knight in the world to ask for the escort of a woman.

Marie, who didn’t know these facts at all, looked at d’Éon with sparkling eyes full of interest and anticipation.

“Wow, did you receive the title of knight even though you are a woman? That’s really amazing.”

“I am a woman, but I have lived as a man in the past. It’s just like a byproduct of that.”

“Still, amazing is amazing. The world is wide after all.”

I agree with that.

The world is wide and there are many strange people.

My head was throbbing, but in a way, there was no doubt that Louis XV had made the best choice.

A count accompanied by his wife and a noblewoman who is close to the countess.

Isn’t it a combination that no one would even suspect?

I sighed and boarded the ship with Marie and d’Éon.

“You must have heard about our schedule, right?”

“Yes. I heard that we will go to Gorée Island first. We will join the merchants who trade slaves there and then cross the Atlantic.”

“Okay. Nothing will happen, but if an accident occurs, make Marie’s safety your top priority. Got it?”

“Don’t worry. That’s why His Majesty sent me.”

d’Éon confidently assured me and returned to Marie, who was a little further away, looking at the harbor.

I was worried about whether she would be able to take a long trip on the ship, but it seems like it was an unnecessary worry.

She was seeing this kind of trip for the first time in her life, and she didn’t keep her eyes still for a moment with a bright face like a child.

“What is that over there?”

“That’s a mooring post, a pillar that keeps the ship from drifting away.”

“There are so many things I’m seeing for the first time. I feel like I’ve gone back to my childhood.”

The world would look like a treasure chest full of amazing things to her, who had just come out of the palace.

But soon, even if she doesn’t like it, she will see the ugly truth that this world is by no means a kind and warm place.

※※※

Gorée Island, which belongs to the modern city of Dakar in Senegal, is an island about 900 meters long and 350 meters wide.

Since France occupied this place in the 17th century, this island has been French territory.

France has put a lot of effort into defending this island, not because it is geographically well-positioned to advance into Africa.

It is because this island is the center of the largest slave trade in Africa.

To be honest, it’s not an area I particularly wanted to come to.

It is obvious that I will see quite a lot of unpleasant sights.

Squeak, whoosh.

The sound of the waves hitting the hull changed as we approached our destination, and the speed of the ship, which had been sailing smoothly, began to slow down.

I got up from my seat and went outside with Marie.

d’Éon, who had been waiting in the next room, joined us as soon as we came out.

“It seems we have finally arrived. Is there anything wrong with your health? And just in case, I will tell you again, but please pay special attention to your tone from now on.”

“I will. My lady, is there anything wrong?”

“Yes. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like anything is wrong.”

“That’s a relief. It may be slippery, so let’s move after the ship has completely docked.”

Finally, the ship stopped completely, and the three of us got off the ship side by side.

The guards who had disembarked first joined the slave traders and greeted us.

“Welcome, Count. It is an endless honor for such a noble person to come all the way here.”

The president of the trading company, the only one who knew my identity, bowed his head almost to the ground.

“The purchase work is in full swing, so I will escort you so that you can wait comfortably.”

He said that and pointed to a makeshift seat made to avoid the sunlight.

I nodded and let Marie rest first.

“Can we leave right away today?”

“Wouldn’t that be possible if the contract goes well? We are trying to hurry as much as possible. Time is money.”

The president’s gaze turned to the orange building near the sea.

The front yard of the two-story building with an impressive French-style horseshoe-shaped staircase was already crowded with people.

Marie, who was watching the scene from afar, asked d’Éon, who was sitting next to her.

“Perhaps… is that where the slaves are sold?”

“Yes. I’ve never been here before, but I think that’s probably it.”

The president, mistaking that Marie was showing interest, approached her with a business smile.

“You saw it well. That is the House of Slaves. It is the place where the goods are exhibited and sold for the last time.”

“Goods?”

“Yes, yes. The reason why the front yard is so noisy right now is because the auction is in full swing. Our company’s people are also participating now. Because you have a good eye, they will pick out excellent items.”

“Ah… I see. I guess they sell things here too.”

Marie didn’t seem to understand the words goods or things.

That’s why I was trying to wait as far away from the House of Slaves as possible, but the location wasn’t good.

“Wait a minute, President. Stop talking about that and come here. I have a little story to tell about the future schedule…”

Just as I was about to call him over before he said any more unnecessary things to Marie.

“Aaaaaaah! Get out of here! I’m going back!”

With a desperate scream, a black man chained up escaped from the auction house.

The man ran blindly, trying to get as far away from the people as possible, but unfortunately, that was impossible.

A guard on horseback who had appeared out of nowhere mercilessly struck the man in the back of the head with a club, knocking him down.

The guard didn’t even look at the man convulsing and bleeding, and came to us and bowed his head.

“It seems the shackles were rusty and fell off. I apologize for showing you an unpleasant sight.”

When I nodded without answering, the guard politely greeted me and returned to the fallen man.

Marie asked the guard, who was already carrying the man’s limp body on his horse and heading towards the pier.

“Excuse me… what happens to that person?”

“Person? Ah, you mean this. We plan to handle it as usual. This area is a collective habitat for man-eating sharks. We hand over defective products to that side for disposal. Burying them is also a hassle.”

As if to prove his words, the guard kicked the unconscious man’s body into the sea.

Then, as if waiting, a large splash of water rose and the man’s body was sucked into the bottom of the sea.

d’Éon covered Marie’s eyes so she wouldn’t see the sight.

And of course, even while this was happening, none of the merchants frowned.

They are accepting this whole process so naturally.

It’s natural.

All of this was normal in this era.

Even after going through death several times, I no longer shuddered when I saw bloody scenes.

Even when I saw slaves being sold miserably, my sense of human rights didn’t kick in and make me want to liberate them, or abolish slavery right now.

I already knew how the slave trade was conducted.

I had also written a paper on this topic, so I had seen a lot of visual materials.

So maybe that’s why the shock wasn’t that great.