I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 82

Say You Want to Live

Palais-Royal.

The magnificent mansion, always bustling with people, was now as quiet as a mouse.

Although the number of visitors had been decreasing recently, it had never been this desolate before.

Was it because of the complete defeat in the debate held at the palace a few days ago?

Duke Chartres could think of no other reason.

His father’s recent lack of composure was also unfamiliar.

“Come to think of it, his expression wasn’t good when he returned yesterday either.”

His expression was so gloomy that he couldn’t even dare to talk to him.

Duke Chartres was not a dull-witted man.

He could roughly guess the reason.

He didn’t know exactly what his father was plotting, but he knew that his father had ordered something from Countess Lamotte.

In other words, his father was behind this diamond fraud case.

The reason why people stopped visiting was probably because the nobles who knew the truth were drawing a line.

“Tsk, if Father was going to push something like this, he should have at least given me a heads-up.”

Frustration surged.

Now that they were cornered, it was inevitable that the family would suffer enormous damage.

The reason why his father was constantly leaving the mansion was probably to try to clean up the mess.

But judging by the situation, it didn’t seem to be going well.

Then there was only one way to deal with it.

He was called here to explain what he had to do in the future, so he would go and give a direct opinion.

“If we transfer the title and real power to me in the long term and retire from politics…”

Of course, he would have to appease Prince Christian by giving up a significant portion of his interests, but there were still loopholes to escape.

What he was aiming for was the pinnacle of this country.

To ascend to the throne, he had to overcome this crisis.

However, when he opened the door and checked his father’s face.

Duke Chartres had a feeling that there might be more hidden truths that he didn’t know yet.

“…You’ve come.”

Duke Orléans, having confirmed Duke Chartres’ face, slowly turned around.

“Take it.”

The first nobleman of France. He, who had never lost his dignity and pride, handed over the documents weakly.

“Keep it.”

“…May I read it now?”

“Yes.”

What kind of content could be in it that made the atmosphere so heavy?

Duke Chartres’ eyes widened as he received it with trembling hands.

[Prince Christian Assassination: Regarding Executor Esterhazy and Post-Processing]

[Urgent Evidence Destruction of Assassination Failure: List of Those Who Need to Be Silenced]

[Diamond Sales: Countess Lamotte’s Identity Laundering]

These were temporary titles, but it was a document that made his head spin even without looking at the contents.

He had expected the diamond case, so he would put that aside, but the other documents were things he had never imagined.

“This assassination… is it what I’m thinking it is?”

“Yes. It’s the incident that turned the country upside down.”

“What on earth is this…!”

Duke Chartres, who was about to shout, closed his mouth.

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand.

Why on earth did he do this?

The father he knew was not the kind of person who would do such a thing.

“When Prince Christian went to Austria, he was at best a bastard who had just been recognized as a member of the royal family. But why…”

“That’s why I thought it would be easy to get rid of him.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Prince Christian, although a bastard, was a talented person with considerable ability and knowledge. I judged that if such a person was in the royal family, there was a risk that the royal family’s position would be strengthened in the future. So I planned to assassinate the prince and use this as an excuse to break off the alliance with Austria.”

Then, he could eliminate the risk factor that could become a variable in the future and at the same time tarnish the dignity of the royal family.

It had become the worst misjudgment now, but that was only a result-oriented perspective.

When he first conceived this plan, Duke Orléans thoroughly reviewed it several times and minimized the risk.

It couldn’t fail, and even if it did, he didn’t have to worry about being hit.

However, the existence of Christian, who saw through this plan and used it to strengthen his position, was heterogeneous.

“My only misjudgment was thinking that Christian might become a variable in the future. He was a monster that should never have been touched.”

Duke Chartres looked at Duke Orléans.

In his haggard expression, he could read the despair that was deeply rooted in his heart.

“I also reported several times that he was dangerous, but… was he that different?”

“Yes. You don’t know yet. You’ll know if you read all of this.”

Duke Orléans shook his head, clicking his tongue.

“I was played by him from beginning to end. Frankly speaking, I have no cards left. And no matter how much I struggle, I don’t think I can beat him.”

Duke Chartres heard the whole story of what had happened so far and how thoroughly his father had been defeated by Christian.

At first, he was angry at his father for doing this to him without saying a word, but after learning the whole story, even that thought disappeared.

Because he realized that even if he knew something and helped, nothing would have changed.

“…What is it? According to your words, is he… not even human?”

“I don’t know. Anyway, what’s certain is that we made the mistake of touching someone we should never have fought. The price… will be paid with our lives.”

“There must still be a way. It doesn’t make sense for my father, the Duke of Orléans, to be dragged to the guillotine like this. Even if it’s impossible to raise an army, we could just join hands with England…”

“All of our movements are already being monitored. As soon as I try to do something, the soldiers will arrest me for treason, and then neither I nor you can save our lives. Our family will be uprooted.”

Duke Chartres closed his eyes tightly.

No matter how he racked his brains, he couldn’t see a way out.

Literally, judging from the circumstances so far, Prince Christian was an existence beyond their recognition.

He had no idea how much he knew and how far he could reach.

How could he escape when such a person had already put a knife to his throat?

“Then are we just waiting for destruction?”

“No. That’s not it. Prince Christian suggested one thing, a way for you to live. Fortunately, he doesn’t seem to want your life. It was effective that I thoroughly excluded you from my plan for the sake of one in a million.”

It was an unexpected act of mercy.

He wondered if there was some ulterior motive, but from Christian’s point of view, it would have been advantageous to kill Duke Chartres if he could.

It was a proposal that could only be seen as having some affection for him, having faced him so far.

Frankly, it was unfair to be dragged to the guillotine for something he didn’t even do.

Still, Duke Chartres breathed a sigh of relief at the thought that he could save his life.

However. As soon as he heard the details, that feeling vanished.

“…Excuse me? You want me to take these documents and give them to Prince Christian?”

“Yes. That way, you can clearly draw a line between you and me, even though you’re my son.”

“But… but that’s…”

Logically, he understood.

Anyway, the reality is that everyone will die if things continue like this.

So, to save even one person, this was the best way.

However, the person who proposed this method was none other than Prince Christian.

This method, which he proposed as if he was doing a favor, only felt like mockery to Duke Chartres.

Suddenly, he recalled the story he had heard from the prince before.

At that time, he clearly said that in order to protect the family, the head of the family who had committed the wrong should be boldly cut off.

“I hope you will keep that gunnery and keep it.”

Prince Christian left such an answer as if he was mocking Duke Chartres.

He didn’t know it then, but he could understand it now.

The prince had already been drawing this picture from that moment.

A terrible sense of shame weighed heavily on his shoulders.

“Are you telling me to become a human who saved his life by selling his father?”

“You’re telling me to become a nobleman who condemned his father with tears in his eyes for the sake of the kingdom.”

Even as he spoke, Duke Orléans knew that he would not be recognized in that way.

To be accepted as such a heroic person, he should have reported it when Duke Orléans was in a favorable position.

But now, even a child can see that Duke Orléans is in a difficult situation.

How would it look to those around him if he revealed Duke Orléans’ weaknesses in this situation?

It would only look like a loach trying to escape alone because the situation had turned around.

He could clearly see the image of people pointing fingers at him, wondering if he wanted to live so much that he would do that.

“Living like that is not living.”

Duke Chartres imagined his future for a moment.

The numerous assets and titles held by the Orléans family would all be confiscated, and the only assets left to him would be a handful.

In the end, everything would be over.

The ambition he had held in his heart would end as an unattainable delusion without ever being realized.

“Son. As long as you’re alive, there’s always a way. Endure the humiliation for ten or twenty years. Then your time will surely come.”

“Are you telling me to take revenge at that time?”

Then Duke Orléans smiled bitterly and shook his head.

“No. Abandon revenge from your heart. Unless you inherit all my foundations, you can’t beat the prince. You must never reveal your teeth unless the prince stumbles and falls on his own.”

“But Prince Christian must have weaknesses too. If we look closely, there might be a way to attack him.”

“There are definitely weaknesses. But that’s just a sweet trap. I overlooked that point and tried to stab him rashly, which is why I’m in this situation.”

Prince Christian’s weakness is obvious to anyone.

It is the existence of Princess Marie Antoinette.

If he could do something to her, he could naturally damage Prince Christian.

But the moment he touches that weakness, he must also be prepared to die.

Duke Orléans sighed heavily and handed a few more documents to his son.

“Go to the Tuileries Palace as soon as possible. Prince Christian’s mind may change at any time. You need to ensure your safety as soon as possible so that I can prepare for the end with peace of mind.”

“…I understand…”

Duke Chartres got up.

He slowly took a step and looked back.

It was a short distance, but he hesitated for a long time before leaving the room, looking back countless times.

“……”

Soon after his son left, Duke Orléans, who was left alone, looked at the large clock on the wall.

3 p.m.

Now, he could see Prince Christian.

He put everything down and took out a piece of paper and placed it on the desk.

It was a will he was writing for the last time before leaving the world.

※※※

“Your Highness. So many letters have arrived from nobles who want to meet you today.”

I pointed to the pile of letters already piled up on the desk with my finger.

Then Lavoisier placed the letters he was holding on top of it.

“This is so easy to understand that I can’t help but laugh.”

Most of those who were sending letters as if their feet were on fire were from Duke Orléans’ faction.

Sensing that the situation was not normal, they were sending me lengthy confessions as if they had made a promise.

The contents were almost the same as if they had copied and pasted them.

In summary, they had no idea about the details of the fraud case, and if there was a culprit who instigated it, they would be at the forefront of condemning him.

To clear Marie’s injustice, they would do everything they could to show their loyalty to the royal family from now on.

Well, that’s what they said.

“There’s no need to push away those who are willing to crawl in on their own. I should set a date and hold a banquet at the palace. I can just send invitations to these people instead of replies. I don’t think I need to see these letters myself, so just tell the servants to check them.”

“That’s a good decision. Then I’ll do that.”

Just as Lavoisier was about to take the pile of letters out on a cart, Deon came in with the sound of footsteps.

“Your Highness. Duke Chartres has arrived.”

“I expected him to come sooner or later, and he doesn’t disappoint.”

I got up from my seat and greeted the guest who followed Deon with a smile.

“Welcome, Duke. What brings you here? Shall we play a game of chess today?”

“…No. I have an important matter to discuss today. Could you give us some space?”

“I will.”

When I nodded, Lavoisier immediately pulled the cart out.

Deon, who was in charge of security, stepped back, but did not disappear from sight altogether.

When I offered him a chair, Duke Chartres walked weakly and sat down.

“……”

“……”

A moment of silence passed.

I scanned Duke Chartres’ complexion.

His complexion was haggard, as if he had aged several years in just a few days.

“Are you not feeling well? I know a skilled doctor, shall I tell you?”

“…Your Highness. I have come today to give you important information.”

Duke Chartres bit his lip tightly and slowly placed the materials he had brought on my desk.

“I see. Have you made up your mind?”

“Yes.”

“Fortunately, it seems that you have not lost your gunnery [resolve].”

Duke Chartres’ shoulders trembled at the meaning of my words.

I leisurely scanned the materials he had brought and tapped the paper with my finger.

“To bring such materials, Duke Chartres’ loyalty is truly great. If there is anything you want, please tell me. I will do my best to listen.”

“…Don’t you know?”

“I don’t have the ability to read minds. I can’t know unless you tell me directly.”

It’s ridiculous that he’s trying to protect his pride clumsily when he’s come this far.

If you’re going to beg, beg thoroughly.

Duke Chartres, who understood the meaning of my words, took a deep breath and got up from his seat.

His tightly clenched fists trembled for about 10 minutes.

Soon, he closed his eyes tightly and knelt down.

And he bowed his head and shouted in a desperate voice.

“Please spare my life, Your Highness!”

Yes. You should have done this sooner.

Only then did I return the smile to my face and slowly nod my head.

With this, the first waste separation was completed.

At the same time, the spark for the most important second one was planted.

It was a satisfactory result beyond this.