I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 71

Nerve War

Observing the aristocratic society of Versailles, one realizes it possesses a structure of thorough survival of the fittest.

When I first attended balls and banquets as a prince, no one lingered around me.

No matter how high one’s status or position, they couldn’t be recognized without corresponding power.

Of course, if one’s status was low, it wasn’t even worth discussing from the start.

Perhaps not many people have felt this reality as starkly as I have.

“Oh my, Your Highness seems to radiate more brilliance with each passing day. Ah, I am Count Ingel. I hope you will remember me in the future…”

“I am Count Taille. Your Highness, I heard you are planning to create a large-scale investment company. If the opportunity arises, our family would like to…”

“Your Highness, we would like to participate in securing vaccine sales channels as well…”

“Your Highness, I am Baron Damar. I believe I met the Princess Consort with you before. Do you remember?”

At first, I was treated like an outsider, but now, as if that never happened, countless requests for handshakes pour in.

Now, not only me but also nobles trying to gain favor with Marie in any way possible have increased.

As Marie steadily rises as the most popular person in Paris, people are gradually appearing to take advantage of her popularity.

Frankly, I feel more bitter than elated.

Sweet, they swallow; bitter, they spit out.

It’s such a natural principle of the world, but to do it so openly and confidently gives a different feeling.

However, Louis XV seemed genuinely pleased, thinking that these appearances of the nobles reflected my increased status.

“The procession grows longer each time you come here. I wonder if the line of people waiting to talk to you will extend beyond the palace walls in the future.”

“They must be doing so because they believe I have gained Your Majesty’s trust. Ultimately, isn’t this also thanks to Your Majesty’s influence?”

“Using that trust is precisely the ability. You have never disappointed me so far. The nobles know that too.”

The nobles at the center are more sensitive to the flow of power within the palace than anyone else.

Perhaps they are even better at grasping the king’s psychology than the king himself.

However, considering Louis XV’s personality, it’s hard to say that my position is completely stable yet.

I don’t know when this man will change his mind again like flipping his hand and return to his timid mode.

I need to be able to lead the political situation with my own power, even if the king doesn’t support me.

That’s why I’m putting all my effort into making plans like this now.

Just a little more, just a few more years.

“Your Majesty~ and Your Highness the Prince. Are you enjoying yourselves?”

A strangely excited voice was heard.

Turning my gaze, I saw a woman in a splendid dress that accentuated her voluptuous figure approaching.

It was Madame du Barry.

Louis XV naturally put his arm around her and laughed heartily.

“Oh, you said you didn’t want to, but what brings you here?”

“Well, there are so many people who can’t wait to devour me if they see me, so I was being cautious. But His Highness was considerate enough to ask the Princess Consort to be a companion for me, so I came to offer my thanks.”

Madame du Barry spread her fan wide and smiled with her eyes.

It wasn’t so much that she was deliberately trying to be charming, but rather that her actions naturally exuded charm.

“Haha… how grateful I am. All the other children can’t wait to slander that person.”

“Everyone has different thoughts and feelings. Actually, I was also treated as if I had rolled in from the outside, so I think I can understand the Madame’s position a little better.”

“Whatever the position, the important thing is that you are the only one who takes my side. Frankly, even if it’s the daughters… it’s a little disappointing that even the son and grandson are like that. Even though they are men themselves.”

I saved my words and nodded appropriately.

Frankly, wouldn’t it be stranger if I didn’t understand the Crown Prince and Crown Prince’s grandson’s feelings?

From their perspective, their father brought in another woman and was rolling around with her as soon as their mother passed away, so there’s no way they could see that in a good light.

Of course, I had no affection for the former queen, whom I didn’t even remember, so I didn’t care which woman the king was having an affair with.

“Someday, the princesses will also let go of their anger. I will also help so that the Madame can live more comfortably in the future, even if it’s just a small effort.”

“Oh my, you speak so beautifully. As expected, handsome people have such good personalities?”

“The Madame seems to like our grandson. Not just because he’s my grandson, but he’s truly a child I’m proud of no matter where I put him out, right?”

As Louis XV smiled like a fool for his grandson, Madame du Barry also nodded with a smile.

“Who else would our prince take after? He grew up so well because he received His Majesty’s blood. Come to think of it, I was wondering who he took after to be so handsome, but it was also His Majesty?”

“Hahaha, I’m old now, so it would be rude to my grandson if you said he looked like me.”

“What are you talking about? You’re still so wonderful.”

Watching the cheesy love affair in front of me made me feel strangely annoyed.

Was this the feeling of the people who were watching me and Marie?

After that, Madame du Barry praised me to an unusual extent.

I wondered why she was doing this, but when I turned around, I immediately knew the reason.

“Ugh…”

Marie, who had followed Madame du Barry, kept fidgeting.

I didn’t know what was uncomfortable, but she occasionally glared.

“Hmm…”

She couldn’t say it openly, but she clearly seemed dissatisfied.

Madame du Barry periodically looked back as if she was enjoying Marie’s reaction.

It wasn’t so much that she was trying to provoke her, but rather that she had an expression as if she thought it was cute.

Logically, I wondered if there was any benefit to playing such a prank, but Madame du Barry was originally that kind of person.

Her head is like a flower garden, so she doesn’t move with any logical judgment.

Therefore, she was a person whose unexpected actions could not be predicted at all.

One of the reasons I tried to win her over to our side was this.

Because there is no one as troublesome as a person who cannot be predicted in the world when they are turned into an enemy.

Of course, considering her capabilities, she is not a threat, but the fewer variables, the better.

While I was worrying about how to appease Marie when I returned to Paris.

“It’s been a while. I’m relieved to see you still look so hale and hearty.”

A person who could be a threatening variable revealed himself.

Louis XV reached out his hand to him with a welcoming expression.

“Welcome. You’re especially dressed up today. You must have attracted quite a bit of attention on the way here.”

“Even so, it cannot be compared to His Majesty the King and His Highness the Prince.”

The middle-aged man bowed with a polite and dignified gesture.

“Have you ever met our grandson? Christian, this person here is the Duke of Orléans.”

The Duke of Orléans looked at me without saying a word.

I also looked at him.

No one turned away first, as if they were having a battle of pride.

Just before a strange atmosphere was formed, I smiled and offered a handshake.

“It is an honor to meet the Duke of Orléans, who is said to be the noblest of nobles. I am Louis Christian.”

“I have heard many stories from my son. I am lucky to see the person who has been the biggest topic in France recently.”

I thought the Duke of Chartres would come as usual, but I didn’t expect him to come in person.

The Duke of Orléans is a high-ranking official with the title of the first nobleman of France for generations.

Every word he says in an official setting has politically important meaning.

Of course, even so, I was not feeling pressured at this point.

What is the reason why the Duke of Orléans came to this event in person?

Of course, it must be to observe me directly and assess my value.

This meant that my existence had become that much more threatening to the Duke of Orléans, so this was rather a positive sign.

In other words, it also meant that the completion of the plan was that much closer.

“However, it is rare to see not only His Majesty and His Highness the Prince, but also Madame du Barry and the Princess Consort in one place. What interesting topic were you discussing?”

“We weren’t having a very big conversation. My grandson was thoughtfully taking care of our Madame so that she wouldn’t be more alienated in the palace. I was praising him for his thoughtfulness.”

“I see. In that case, wouldn’t it be better if the Prince and Princess Consort entered Versailles? Since you are in Paris now, there seems to be a limit to how much you can care for her.”

Is he subtly trying to push me out of his territory?

As expected, he is an opponent that cannot be underestimated.

“I would like to do that too, but the assassin has not been caught yet. The investigation is still in progress, and I have made promises, so it seems difficult to go in right away.”

“However, there has been no proper result even though it has been going on for several years now. If it goes on for too long, other nobles may think that Your Highness has no intention of going to Versailles.”

“Don’t worry. Actually, I’m telling you this because I can trust the people here…”

“Hmm? Could it be that you have found some clues?”

When I hinted slightly, Louis XV immediately reacted.

Madame du Barry, who seemed to have a slightly sensationalist tendency, also perked up her ears and waited for me to open my mouth.

“I was going to tell Your Majesty separately, but the outline is slowly becoming visible. Perhaps I will be able to return to Versailles in about two years at the latest?”

“Oh, is that true?”

“Yes. The other party was also thorough and erased almost all the evidence, but that doesn’t mean I can’t find it.”

I deliberately looked at the Duke of Orléans and smiled.

The Duke of Orléans shook his head expressionlessly and dryly.

“If you make a false accusation, it will cause considerable damage to the prestige of the royal family. You must approach this very carefully until it becomes certain.”

“Of course. That’s why I’m putting so much effort into it now. In fact, I have already narrowed down the candidates for who did such a thing to a considerable extent. When I have enough evidence to the point where they cannot completely deny it, I will bring them to court.”

“What? You’ve already narrowed down the suspects?”

Deep wrinkles formed on the king’s forehead.

“Yes. However, if I tell Your Majesty at this point, I think things will get out of hand, so I am calmly collecting evidence. If you wait a little longer, I will be able to narrow down the suspects perfectly. I will tell you then. As the Duke of Orléans said, if the names of innocent people are mentioned, it would be like doing something terrible to them.”

“Okay… I will gladly wait because you are saying it. I don’t know where he came from, but if he lives in this France, no one will be able to escape my wrath. After giving him pain that will make him think it would have been better to die, I will cut off his head in front of everyone on the guillotine. Duke of Orléans, you also think this level of punishment is necessary, right?”

“…Yes. I certainly think it should be treated as a serious crime equivalent to treason.”

It must have been considerable pressure, but the Duke of Orléans showed no reaction.

If someone who didn’t know saw it, they would think he was a person in a completely third-party position.

“By the way, what brings the Duke of Orléans to see His Majesty? Do you have any business? If it’s a topic that’s difficult for me to hear, should I leave?”

“It’s not that secretive of a story. Since Madame du Barry is here, I’ll tell you. I heard that His Majesty has commissioned a diamond necklace from a jeweler to present to the Madame.”

“Hmm? Has that rumor already spread so far?”

“Rumors of that kind originally spread quickly. By the way, I heard that the price of that necklace is an enormous amount.”

The item that Louis XV ordered from the jeweler Böhmer was the most beautiful diamond necklace in Europe.

Böhmer was planning to create a necklace by weaving together more than 600 diamonds, and of course, the price was beyond imagination.

“It must be expensive. But what does that have to do with you?”

“Shouldn’t nobles cooperate with royal events? If His Majesty is okay with it, I would like to lend a hand in purchasing the necklace. Of course, I am not expecting any kind of reward or compensation.”

“Hmm? Is that true?”

“Yes. I think I have been too negligent to His Majesty, so please do not refuse this gift as an apology.”

No one in the world dislikes saving money.

If left as it is, Louis XV seemed likely to listen to the Duke of Orléans at any moment.

However, there was nothing particularly to be flustered about.

I already have the story in the records.

I already had a perfect plan on how to deal with it.

“Your Majesty, I would like to say a word, if I may.”

“Hmm? Did you also know about this matter?”

“Yes. Of course, I have also done some research on my own. That’s why I’m saying this, but it might be better to postpone the purchase of this necklace for the sake of Madame du Barry.”

The king had an expression mixed with surprise and bewilderment.

This time, it seemed unexpected even for the Duke of Orléans, and his eyes, which had been maintaining composure, twitched slightly.

I leisurely enjoyed that reaction and drove in the wedge.

“The first reason is because of that reason that Your Majesty also knows.”

“If it’s that reason… is it that?”

“Yes. It’s because of that thing we are preparing for. I am truly sorry to the Duke of Orléans, who does not know the circumstances.”

The Duke of Orléans’ expression stiffened as he could not even guess what ‘that’ was referring to.

Too bad, but this is not the end.

Since he walked in on his own, I will scratch his temper as much as possible.