I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 69

Appeasing the local leaders of Corsica went off without a hitch.

Most of the leaders who had cooperated with France were delighted to receive noble titles and swore their allegiance.

I paid particular attention to the Bonaparte family.

During my stay, I lodged with Carlo Bonaparte, the family head, and accommodated his requests in various ways.

“Now that I think about it, it’s not fair to only look after the second child. I’ll see to it that the firstborn also gets into a good school.”

“Your Highness, I don’t know how to repay this favor…”

On the third day of my stay in Corsica, Carlo finally invited me to his mansion and introduced me to his family.

I held Napoleon, who was almost two years old, in my arms and greeted his mother, Letizia Bonaparte.

A great beauty, she couldn’t hide her gratitude that I, the Prince of France, was taking an interest in her children.

“Thank you, thank you. When the children grow up, I will teach them to never forget Your Highness’s kindness.”

“You don’t have to go that far. Kindness is given without expecting anything in return. I simply wanted to help the people of Corsica integrate as citizens of France.”

It wasn’t common for a prince to pay so much attention to a remote border region.

As I stayed longer than they expected, the people of Corsica reacted quite favorably.

Of course, Deon, who accompanied me, didn’t seem to understand my actions at all.

“Your Highness, is there a political reason you’re staying in Corsica for so long?”

“Well…”

“Limoges is right next to Your Highness’s territory, and I understand the intention of recruiting the next Superintendent of Finance, but… isn’t Corsica just a waste of time?”

Deon, who had finished his deal with Louis XV, was now practically my and Marie’s exclusive bodyguard.

From her… no, *his* point of view, it was inevitable that he would be anxious about me being in a land that had revolted until recently.

“I’ve achieved all the goals I came here for, so I should return soon.”

“Was the stabilization of Corsica the goal Your Highness was aiming for? Is this place that strategically valuable…?”

“It is. Though no one knows it now.”

Of course, I had no real interest in Corsica itself.

For me, the only reason this place mattered was that it was the land where Napoleon was born and raised.

But that fact alone was worth this much attention.

It’s none other than *the* Napoleon.

I have to make him my man by any means possible.

“I don’t know what value this backwater of the Mediterranean has… but if Your Highness is so sure, there must be a reason. Is it a secret that shouldn’t be overheard?”

“You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”

Logically, if I said I saw the talent of a child who couldn’t even walk yet and invested in him, I’d be considered a madman.

I can’t say this to Marie, let alone Deon.

Deon, who doesn’t know the whole story, may be frustrated, but what can I do?

If you’re so upset, you can become a prince yourself.

“Anyway, you said you’ve achieved all your goals, so I’ll start making arrangements to return.”

“Okay, please do. If it’s delayed any longer, Marie might actually cry, so I have to go quickly.”

“Then you’ll go straight back to the Tuileries Palace [the main residence of the French royal family in Paris] as soon as you get back?”

“No, I’ll go to Versailles first. There’s someone I need to meet and appease.”

Deon tilted his head as if he didn’t understand.

“Shouldn’t you see Princess Marie first?”

“It won’t take long. It’s just a matter of appeasing one sulky old man.”

“An old man…?”

“Former Superintendent of Finance, Terray, who was pushed out by Turgot. If that old man goes around complaining, it could be a big problem, right? He was allowed to step down with a personnel change instead of dismissal, but if he’s human, he can’t help but feel resentful.”

Deon nodded silently.

The key to this plan was to finish the war preparations without England noticing as much as possible.

Louis XV gave strict orders to all the Secretaries of State not to reveal this matter.

He even threatened to impose a penalty equivalent to treason on anyone who rashly spoke out.

By now, the ministers must be racking their brains over how to compile the war budget without making it obvious.

But there’s no such thing as a secret that never gets out in this world.

The most important thing to keep in mind when carrying out such a plan is to prevent traitors from emerging.

In that respect, no one should be forced out with complaints.

“I spoke to Terray well enough before leaving Versailles, so he must understand.”

“That’s right. Logically, no matter how dissatisfied he is, committing treason is another story.”

I had no objection to Deon’s conviction.

Most people always prioritize their own safety when planning things.

That was true for Terray, Deon, and even me.

That’s human nature.

※※※

…I’d been thinking that France had been strange recently.

When I asked the nobles I was close to, I got similar answers.

The cause was clear.

“Prince Christian… that man is at the center of all this.”

Looking back, things had been strange since the smallpox vaccine incident.

“What *is* that human being…? No matter how much I think about it, I can’t understand him. Isn’t his talent too great?”

The Duke of Orléans couldn’t understand, no matter how hard he tried.

It was possible to brush off the fact that he suddenly created a way to eradicate smallpox.

Sometimes there are geniuses who are ahead of their time.

But there’s a limit to a person’s ability; they can’t do everything alone.

The possibility that a genius in science is also a genius in politics or diplomacy was infinitely low.

Such an absurd thing shouldn’t happen, and shouldn’t exist.

“But what *is* that human being…”

Looking at his actions, it was as if all the common sense I had up until now was being shattered.

“He made a vaccine… I don’t know how he did it, but he got a daughter from Maria Theresa [Empress of Austria] and improved relations with the Pope.”

Not only that.

I didn’t know the details, but it seemed he had brought back useful information from the New World [the Americas] this time.

No one else in France knows anything about the New World, so how could he have achieved results and returned in half a year?

My son, the Duke of Chartres, seemed to be making various efforts to find out Christian’s secret, but so far he had achieved nothing.

The Duke of Orléans, who knew his son’s abilities well, was also baffled.

Clearly, if you possess that much knowledge and information, there must be a source somewhere.

But no matter how hard I tried to find out, I couldn’t find even a speck of a clue.

Rather, there was a possibility that our movements were being exposed because we were being too obvious.

“I should have gotten rid of him in Austria, no matter what…”

I can only regret missing an opportunity that will never come again.

Now I can’t even assassinate him, even if I wanted to.

Wherever he goes, the prince is accompanied by the best elites, and people with confirmed identities taste the food several times in advance.

The food distribution routes are also thoroughly investigated, so there’s no room for error.

“Tsk… I need something to turn this situation around…”

What’s really the worst is that this Christian has become close to the current Crown Prince [the heir to the throne, later Louis XVI].

Originally, the plan was to spread the idea that Christian was a threat to the Crown Prince’s faction.

The most ideal situation was that the royal family would be in conflict with each other and tear each other apart.

However, as Christian continued to build up the Crown Prince’s prestige, the Crown Prince’s faction completely dropped their guard against Christian.

In particular, Count de Morépas, who was at the forefront of the Crown Prince’s faction, seemed to recognize Christian as one of his own.

If things continue like this, my dream will end as a brief delusion that can’t be achieved.

If it were just that, it would still be okay.

What if Christian finds out about the conspiracy that the Duke of Orléans has planned?

On that day, the family will be destroyed, and the title of Duke of Orléans will be confiscated by the royal family.

That should never happen.

In other words, the Duke of Orléans had no choice now.

I have to bring down Christian, no matter what.

However, no matter how much I worried, to the point of getting alopecia areata [hair loss due to stress], I couldn’t think of a good way.

Has God really abandoned me?

Just as I was about to resent the innocent God for not listening to my prayers, fortunately, a helping hand reached out to him.

“Duke, Superintendent of Finance Marie-Thérèse is asking to see you.”

“Superintendent of Finance?”

Although they didn’t interact much regularly, the Duke of Orléans welcomed him with joy.

I’d heard rumors that he’d recently had some problems with the King.

I don’t know if it’s true yet, but if it is, I might be able to use it effectively.

Terray, who entered with the guidance of the servant, didn’t look very good at first glance.

I heard that he had health problems, and it seemed the rumors were true.

“It’s been a while, Duke.”

“Yes. I haven’t been to Versailles much because I’ve been busy with work. But what brings the busy Superintendent of Finance here?”

“Haha… I’m not the Superintendent of Finance anymore. Strictly speaking, I’m the *former* Superintendent of Finance.”

“Yes? What does that mean…?”

“Well, wouldn’t it be obvious? I was fired for opposing His Majesty’s policies.”

The Duke of Orléans was startled by Terray’s blunt words.

“No… is that true?”

“I wouldn’t come all the way here to lie, would I? There will be a formal announcement soon.”

“Heo…”

“I wanted to complain, but it seems there’s no place for me in Versailles anymore. So, when I came to my senses, I came to Paris. No… when I think about it, Paris isn’t that welcoming either. Prince Christian is here.”

Deep in Terray’s voice was a feeling of anger.

The Duke of Orléans judged that this might be a breakthrough.

He subtly agreed with Terray’s words and probed his inner thoughts.

“Prince Christian seems to be trying to build his power in Versailles while pretending not to. I’m a little worried about that.”

“That’s what the Duke said. I know he’s good at what he does, but these days he tends to handle things a little unilaterally. I think he’s become arrogant with His Majesty’s trust. No matter how logically I refute it, he doesn’t even pretend to listen.”

The Duke of Orléans was secretly cheering.

So it was certain that there had been some conflict between them recently.

“Huh… what kind of problem was it that His Majesty dismissed you, who has been dedicated to France until now?”

“Ah, that’s… tsk. No. I want to tell you everything, but it’s a matter of security, so it’s difficult to reveal it.”

“If it’s a secret, you don’t have to tell me. I’m not trying to dig anything out. I just think it’s absurd that the Superintendent of Finance, who has dedicated decades to France, is stepping down like this.”

“I honestly think so too. Heo, gee… even if he’s a prince, what does a young man know? Young people these days lack respect for adults. It wasn’t like that in our day.”

Terray kept grumbling and tapping on a table.

“I agree that there is such a tendency. But are you going to step down like this, Superintendent of Finance?”

“What can I do? His Majesty trusts the prince so much.”

“Then all you have to do is lower the prince’s trust.”

“…Do you have any good ideas?”

Terray couldn’t hide the expression on his face, even though he pretended not to.

“I can’t do it alone, but if the Superintendent of Finance helps me, it’s definitely possible.”

“If Prince Christian is dismissed, I can continue to hold my position… If the Duke’s plan is plausible, I’m willing to lend a hand.”

“Yes. Then listen. Prince Christian doesn’t have much of a weakness right now. But it’s not impossible to attack him. Isn’t there someone he cherishes the most?”

“…Are you talking about the Princess?”

The Duke of Orléans smiled with satisfaction.

Marie Antoinette.

She is now the most popular person in Paris, but the higher she is, the greater the damage when she falls.

And if the social reputation of his wife is tarnished, it will naturally damage her husband as well.

However, it was by no means easy to slander the Princess, who is currently popular with the citizens of Paris.

Terray coldly pointed out that point.

“In some ways, Antoinette is as difficult to touch as Prince Christian. What are you going to do?”

“Recently, His Majesty ordered a jeweler to make the finest diamond necklace on this continent to present to his mistress, Madame du Barry. If the Superintendent of Finance helps me, I will use this to set a trap.”

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that was hard to come by.

The Duke of Orléans vowed this time.

I can do it if it’s not anyone else but me.

I will transform a ray of light shining in this frustrating situation into the light of the family.