Chapter 3

Napoleon's Genius Son - Chapter 2 (3/547)

(2) His biological father is a rogue officer.

In the future, in the original history, everyone in the world may not know Eugene, but Eugene's mother does.

That's because she is the famous first wife of Napoleon.

So, does Eugene have a biological father?

“Hahaha! What a pleasant day it is. The world is spinning around!”

Although no one remembers, there is a legitimate father who still exists.

In the Saint-Germain district, in the back alley of the Beauharnais mansion.

A man in an officer's uniform, drunk, entered.

Alexandre de Beauharnais.

The second son of the Beauharnais family and Eugene's father.

Alexandre spun around happily, singing.

“Oh, my love. The sweet scent of you is more delightful than any crown!”

Eugene, who had been looking at him indifferently, snorted.

“You've never even worn a crown. What are you talking about?”

“Hahaha! It's a metaphor, my little one. You're too young to understand love!”

“Yes, so did you meet a new lover today?”

The young officer, Alexandre, winked at Eugene.

“Huhuhu, no. Today, I played a round of cards with my comrades. The lover thing is a secret from your mother. Well, we'll break up soon anyway.”

Currently, Eugene's mother is not at the Beauharnais mansion.

Three years ago, in 1785, Alexandre began living separately from his wife, Josephine.

The reason is simple.

Suspicion of infidelity.

The matter is complicated, but in summary, it's simple.

The suspicion that Eugene's younger sister, Hortense, is not his biological child.

In fact, Alexandre himself is not in a position to talk.

Nevertheless, this led to their current separation, and Eugene's mother is at a convent.

Conversely, Alexandre is raising Eugene as a widower.

Of course, he mostly leaves it to the maids.

At that moment, the drunken Alexandre, swaying from the wine, hit a decoration on the wall.

-Clank!

A sword fell from the wall.

“Oh, why is this here?”

Hastily picking up the sword, Alexandre checked if it was damaged.

The sword, adorned with dazzling jewels and gold and silver, was truly a magnificent sight.

Literally, a "treasure sword" in the shape of a cross.

Suddenly, Alexandre gazed at the sword in awe and murmured.

“Frank, Mason, Sabre.”

In English, it would be:

Freemason Sword.

If you ask if it's from the famous Freemasons, the answer is yes.

The late 18th century was the golden age of the Freemasons.

Mozart was a member of the Freemasons, and the person who bestowed this sword, Lafayette, was also a member, as was George Washington of this era.

Is Alexandre a member?

No.

He just received it as a gift.

From the hero of the American Revolutionary War, the famous French general, Lafayette.

Eugene, who had been examining the sword, asked.

“Is this the sword you received from the New World?”

“Haha! That's right. It was my best time. Back then, I fought the British under General Lafayette. I named you Eugène, not Eugen, as a symbol of that victory.”

“Don't talk like you're old. You're still young.”

Though he speaks like an old soldier, Alexandre was born in 1760.

He is only 28 years old, a young officer.

He serves in the Royal Heavy Cavalry Regiment, the Champagne unit, and holds the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Surprisingly, Alexandre is a veteran of the famous American Revolutionary War.

The year the United States gained full independence was 1783.

So, from the current perspective, it was only five years ago.

Around 1781, when Eugene was born, Alexandre fought bravely in America.

It was then that he received this sword from Lafayette for his distinguished service.

Of course, Eugene remembers the sword in a different way.

‘This must be the famous Beauharnais sword.’

A story about how the Beauharnais family met Napoleon.

In any case, the revolution is approaching.

Being a soldier is a huge advantage.

However, Alexandre never made a name for himself in history.

In other words, he was incompetent.

Alexandre himself knows this fact best.

Alexandre, laughing, placed the sword back on the wall.

“Huh, the peak of my life is over. Eugene, you will be the heir of the Beauharnais family. The prodigy, Eugène de Beauharnais!”

Prodigy.

At just seven years old, Eugene is already known as an extraordinary child.

It's because of card games.

While most would discourage a child from playing card games, Alexandre was surprised and delighted.

Alexandre knew about the craze for prodigies that swept 18th-century Europe.

Even if he was ordinary, if his child was extraordinary, it could change his life.

Isn't that what the genius composer Mozart, still popular in Vienna, proved?

Of course, Eugene responded indifferently.

“I'm not Mozart, though.”

“What does music matter? The glory of life is made with guns and swords. You must go to the Brienne Military School! Go and become an officer serving His Majesty the King! You can be a genius soldier!”

“Ah, yes. I see.”

To already be thinking of making his child a soldier is absurd.

Of course, in this era, there is no concept of children's rights.

Still, being a soldier is a tough job.

At that moment.

-Bang, bang, bang!

A loud knocking on the door startled everyone.

“Alexandre! Are you there? You! When are you going to pay your debts? Huh?”

The maids were startled, and Alexandre held his breath.

Conversely, Eugene clicked his tongue.

Debt.

Being a drunkard, gambler, and womanizer, all these things cost money.

However, even as a lieutenant colonel, a soldier's salary in this era is predictable.

Though he is the son of a marquis, being the second son, he has no other sources of income.

Naturally, the shortfall is covered by debt.

Alexandre, pressing himself against the wall, whispered to Eugene.

“Say I'm not here. Eugene.”

“You know he's here, don't you?”

“Even so, you say I'm not here in situations like this!”

Eugene shook his head and went to the door.

“Hello, Monsieur Lecamier. My father is not here right now.”

Of course, as the second son of a marquis and a royal army officer, one doesn't borrow money from thugs.

A gentleman standing outside the Beauharnais mansion frowned.

He was Jacques Lecamier, the owner of the prestigious Lecamier Bank, originally from Lyon near the Swiss border, who was trying to expand into Paris.

He had lent money to Alexandre, who was a problematic debtor, causing him a headache.

Lecamier, the creditor, frowned and looked at Eugene.

No matter how money-oriented a banker, it's hard to scold a seven-year-old child.

“Ugh, leaving it to a child like this! Tell your father that if he doesn't pay the principal and interest by the end of this month, I'll go to your grandfather!”

“How much do you owe?”

“Ha, do you even understand? It's 6000 livres! Principal only!”

Fuming, Lecamier left, and Eugene whistled.

“Wow, six months' living expenses.”

Livres, French gold coins.

In short, Eugene's father, Alexandre, is currently in debt for six months' living expenses.

***

Where does a rogue noble officer go when he is in debt?

“Phew, he must be a usurer. He's definitely a descendant of the Jews or a Protestant! Hmph!”

To his lover's house, of course.

A mansion so large it can't be compared to the Beauharnais mansion.

Alexandre and Eugene arrived at the famous Schloss, a grand mansion.

To somehow get money, they came here.

Alexandre's lover, Amélie, giggled and brought out coffee.

“So, you've run to my house? Hehe!”

“Who said I ran? I came to see you, Amélie. Huhuhu!”

“Ah, anyone who hears you would think you're a loving man.”

Gently pinching Eugene's cheek, Amélie smiled.

“Our cute Eugene must have been surprised. Right?”

Eugene, who had been quietly eating a cookie, bowed politely.

“Yes, Madame Hohenzollern.”

Amélie Zephrine von Schloss-Kirchberg.

Alexandre de Beauharnais's current lover.

The mistress of this grand mansion, she is no ordinary person.

However, the title Eugene just used is even more significant.

Hohenzollern.

The name of the future Prussian royal family.

Strictly speaking, it's a branch of the Hohenzollern family, the ruler of Sigmaringen in southwestern Germany.

Still, she is a royal family member.

Why is a royal family member here?

There is a complicated story, but in summary, it's simple.

Amélie, the daughter of a German nobleman educated in France, disliked Germany and loved Paris.

So, three years after her marriage, she left her husband and son and came to Paris.

To this mansion, where her brother, the ruler of Schloss, Frederick, lived.

Amélie giggled and stroked Eugene's head.

“This child is always so polite. I wish my child would grow up like this.”

“Hmph, how would Germans teach such manners? It's only possible in Paris.”

“That's true. Sigh, if it weren't for family issues, I would divorce and bring my child here right away.”

Suddenly, Alexandre kissed Amélie's hand and smiled.

“I look forward to the day we can marry officially, Amélie.”

Eugene was inwardly impressed by his father's true talent.

His skill in charming women.

Amélie was already looking at Alexandre with a dazed expression.

A low-ranking nobleman who became the lover of a princess (ruler's wife), that's Alexandre.

He's not an ordinary man, as evidenced by his marriage to Josephine.

At that moment, another man in an officer's uniform entered the mansion with a servant.

“Phew, it's cold. Huh? What are you doing here again? Alexandre?”

It was Frederick Schloss-Kirchberg, the owner of this mansion and Amélie's brother.

The ruler of a territory between France and the Holy Roman Empire, but his real job is different.

He is a general (brigadier) in the Royal French Army.

Of course, it's an honorary position without a command.

Seeing Frederick, Alexandre's eyes lit up.

“Hey, my comrade Frederick, the heir of Schloss. Could you lend some money to this poor and needy comrade?”

“Get lost! I don't have any. Besides, this mansion isn't mine. It belongs to the architect Pierre Rousseau. I have to pay 200,000 livres before it's mine.”

“200,000 livres? Good heavens, what did you do?”

The grand Schloss mansion, famous in Paris.

But in reality, it's a mountain of debt.

Frederick, the ruler of Schloss, smiled bitterly.

“The budget exceeded my expectations. The world is ruled by budgets, my friend.”

Eugene clicked his tongue.

This is the life of the nobility on the eve of the French Revolution.

On the surface, it's grand mansions, banquets, and dazzling jewels.

But in reality, most of it is built on debt.

Of course, there are truly wealthy grand nobles, but most nobles are in debt.

Just like the French kingdom is built on a mountain of debt.

In a sense, the French Revolution might have been the bursting of a debt bubble.

At that moment, Amélie narrowed her eyes and pinched Alexandre's cheek.

“Instead of chasing after useless things, why don't you seek the royal favor?”

“What do you mean?”

“No matter how much debt you have, if the royal family bestows a favor once, it will be enough to cover 6000 livres.”

That's true.

However, Alexandre is not a grand noble and has no particular connections to the royal family.

His father, the marquis, also has no significant ties to the royal family.

“How can I reach out to the royal family?”

“There are ways. Here.”

“Huh?”

Amélie's gaze turned to Eugene.

“Our [prodigy] Eugene might be able to. I'll give you a chance to meet Her Majesty the Queen.”

Again, this is the age of prodigies.

The royal family would meet a prodigy from a low-ranking noble family.

***

Naturally, Eugene, a reincarnated gambler, is not pleased.

Of course, Eugene's opinion was ignored.

“Great! Eugene, this is an opportunity!”

Without asking Eugene, Alexandre excitedly returned home after asking Amélie.

But Eugene still didn't understand.

Of course, it would be surprising for the royal family to see a prodigy.

But how would that solve Alexandre's debt?

Was he supposed to perform some trick?

“What opportunity?”

“Page!”

“Huh? Wait a minute. You want me to become a royal page?”

At that moment, Eugene realized what Alexandre and Amélie were talking about.

First, introduce Eugene as a prodigy to the royal family.

Then, Eugene catches the eye of the French royal family and becomes a page.

Once a page, he not only earns a salary but also has a better chance of receiving the royal family's "favor."

This favor means receiving gifts of wealth.

Of course, this entire process is easier said than done.

Catching the royal family's eye, being appointed as a page, and receiving favors are all difficult.

But the real problem is different.

“What's the point? A royal page is a noble honor!”

Seeing his overly enthusiastic father, Eugene finally couldn't hold back.

“Father! It's 1788!”

The year 1788.

This year is very significant.

It's the eve of the French Revolution.

In just one year, the revolution will break out, and the royal family will be executed one by one.

In fact, the Alexandre in front of him will also be guillotined due to his poor choices.

In the original history.

And yet, he wants to connect with the royal family just a year before their downfall?

It's madness.

Of course, Alexandre, unaware of this, laughed and drank wine.

“Huhuhu! Not like in the time of King Louis XIV! Still, the royal family is the center of this country!”

“No, the timing is really bad!”

“I will send my son to the royal family! Oh, glorious France! Finally, I will have a connection to the royal family!”

It's not for nothing that Alexandre was guillotined in the original history.

He really has no sense.

Sighing deeply, Eugene entered his room.

Taking out a timeline he had written in Korean, Eugene frowned.

“Good heavens, sending me as a page just before the French Revolution. Well, it does seem like something that could happen.”

Should he go?

This is a crossroads.

At that moment, silver letters appeared before Eugene's eyes.

Eugene blinked.

The silver letters he thought only appeared during gambling.

But they appeared at this moment.

At the crossroads, they were telling him to go to the royal family.

After staring at the empty space where the letters had disappeared for a long time, Eugene suddenly smiled.

“The royal family. Maybe I should take a look.”

Perhaps now is the time to take a gamble.

On March 3, 1788.

The day Eugene de Beauharnais went to the French royal family.