Chapter 5

Napoleon's Genius Son - Chapter 4 (5/547)

(4) The Cute Sister at Versailles is a Princess

France is still a monarchy, and the court is the center of the nation.

“To make a fortune, we need to get close to the royal family!”

To the west of Paris, about 19 kilometers away, there is a forest.

It was originally a hunting ground for the French royal family.

However, 100 years ago, the famous Sun King Louis XIV changed history by renovating a neglected palace here.

Versailles.

In the future, it is a world-class tourist attraction visited by 15 million people annually.

Of course, it is now 1788, and it naturally has an owner.

Covering an area of 800 hectares, or more than 8 kilometers in diameter, the vast grounds feature a massive garden, palace, and grand fountain.

Alexandre got off the carriage with a bright smile.

His face looked as if he had successfully entered the palace.

In contrast, Eugene scratched his head lightly.

Given the palace's size, entering it would not be easy.

“This is the famous Palace of Versailles.”

“Right? Hahaha! A paradise in the middle of the forest! It's much cleaner than Paris, isn't it?”

“Um, I heard there are few restrooms here.”

It's a well-known story.

The Palace of Versailles, which looks clean on the surface, has no restrooms.

Of course, this is a lie.

Versailles did have restrooms, but there were few of them, and they were mostly eliminated when the palace was converted into a museum.

Moreover, the few restrooms were generally used by the royal family, and Versailles, being so vast, housed many nobles.

It was impossible for so many nobles to use the few restrooms.

Alexandre nodded seriously.

“Indeed. In this place, not going to the restroom to take care of one's business is also a form of etiquette!”

“That seems far from [etiquette]...”

“You just need to use perfume well! Anyway, if you need to pee later, just sneak into the garden and do it!”

Alexandre, who was seriously educating his son about public urination, had a gleam in his eye.

“Come on, let's go! Our family's fate will be decided today!”

The carriage could only go as far as the outskirts of Versailles.

Only a select few high nobles could use carriages or horses inside.

The lesser nobles Alexandre and Eugene had to walk into the palace.

At the center of the vast garden, a fountain with a statue of Apollo was dazzling.

Eugene, seeing the fountain's water spouting, couldn't help but exclaim.

“Wow, it really is magnificent.”

“Of course! This is where the highest-ranking people in France, with the most wealth and power, reside!”

“It just seems like a place that ruins the country.”

Muttering quietly, Eugene looked beyond the fountain at the massive palace.

“I never got to see it in the modern era, but I'm seeing it now, unexpectedly.”

Like all palaces, the core of Versailles is where the king resides.

Although the metric system had not yet been introduced, a building over 600 meters long was visible.

This is the heart of the palace, Versailles.

However, this place is mainly used for official events, so Eugene had a different destination.

The inner part of the palace, known as the king's 'apartment.'

“His Excellency, the Count of Artois, Alexandre and his son have come to pay their respects to His Majesty.”

On the second floor of the palace, the valet who guided Eugene and Alexandre announced.

A nobleman, dressed in splendid attire, turned his head from his indifferent posture.

In contrast, Eugene's eyes widened slightly at the nobleman's name.

The Count of Artois, the king's younger brother.

And later, the King Charles X of the original timeline.

“Hmm, the second son of the Duke of Boarné?”

“Yes, Your Excellency, the Count of Artois. My father is the Duke of Boarné.”

“Well, that's good. Since you were introduced by the Duchess of Zikmaringen, your father's status isn't important. Where is the child?”

The Count of Artois, stroking his chin, looked at Eugene.

“I greet you, [Le Grand Monsieur]. I am Eugene, the son of Alexandre de Boarné.”

Eugene, with a very elegant demeanor, greeted in Latin.

At seven years old, it's not easy for a child to maintain proper etiquette with accurate pronunciation.

Especially in Latin.

Language, along with mathematics and music, is a skill that easily demonstrates genius.

Of course, Eugene, having studied French history in his previous life, had learned Latin as well.

The Count of Artois, who had been indifferent, suddenly showed interest.

“Eugene? Ah, an English name. Is that the case with your family too?”

“Um? No, not really. This child's name was given to commemorate his father's participation in the American Revolutionary War!”

“Is that so? Well, it doesn't matter. The king dislikes the English, but not English names.”

Smirking at Alexandre's excuse, the Count of Artois gestured.

“Come, follow me. The prodigy and his father.”

Le Grand Monsieur.

Originally, [Monsieur] is used in modern times to mean 'Mr.,' but in this era, it is a term of respect for nobles.

Especially for the king's brother.

Of course, this title originally belonged to the Count of Artois's brother, the Count of Provence.

However, the Count of Provence does not engage much in public activities.

Why?

He is extremely obese.

Thus, those who flatter the Count of Artois call him [Le Grand Monsieur], meaning 'the great brother of the king.'

This is why the Count of Artois is pleased by this title.

Eugene followed the Count of Artois down the second-floor corridor of the Palace of Versailles.

Gold decorations.

Countless mirrors.

A dazzling chandelier, not lit during the day.

A place where the Baroque style is fully realized.

The Hall of Mirrors.

Eugene, overwhelmed, muttered.

“It's completely different from the streets of Paris.”

“Huh? Of course. The royal family didn't just abandon the Louvre in Paris for no reason. This is the pride of our royal family and of France!”

“Yes, Monsieur.”

Eugene did not want to upset the king's brother, who looked pleased.

However, being different from Paris is not a point of pride.

Paris is the center of France, whether in modern France or 18th-century France.

The fact that Paris, the core of the nation, is different from the royal palace means that Paris is lagging behind, which implies that France is deteriorating.

Yet, they proudly boast only about the palace's splendor.

This would not be a problem 100 years ago.

The issue is that it is now 1788.

All this splendor could be shattered at any moment.

In just one year.

*Click.*

Eugene's thoughts were suddenly interrupted.

In the center of the Hall of Mirrors, the door to the king's bedroom opened.

The door opened, and the sound of a lock being turned echoed loudly.

“Huh? Ah, the Count of Artois.”

A man wearing glasses, the owner of the room, turned his head.

Eugene took a deep breath.

This is Louis XVI.

***

One of the misfortunes of the state is that the king's hobby is not state affairs.

“Your Majesty, are you making another lock?”

“This is my only time. Haha!”

“Hmm, can you spare a moment? There's a child the Duchess of Zikmaringen mentioned before.”

The Count of Artois mentioned the noblewoman from the Holy Roman Empire, the Duchess of Zikmaringen.

She is the current lover of Alexandre, who is standing stiffly.

In contrast, Eugene quietly observed the room.

Unlike the lavish decorations outside, the king's bedroom is quite modest.

In fact, this is not where the king usually stays.

He spends more time in the Petit Trianon, a small palace located in the south garden outside the palace.

This Versailles Palace itself is not a place suitable for living.

It's all Louis XIV's fault.

Even the cause of the French Revolution can be traced back to him.

While Eugene was briefly recalling history.

“Ah, that prodigy? Where is he?”

The king, Louis XVI, raised his glasses and looked around.

Louis XVI's severe nearsightedness is not a well-known fact.

However, his hobby of repairing locks and clocks is famous.

A lock he had been fiddling with was still on the desk.

It may seem funny, but it's not an easy hobby.

Even in modern times, a watch can cost millions of dollars.

In the 18th century, it was even more expensive.

Looking at the high-end pocket watch, Eugene greeted respectfully.

“Greetings, most noble and powerful king, by the grace of God, King of France and Navarre. I am Eugene de Boarné.”

It's quite long, but compared to the titles of other kings and emperors of the same era, it's quite simple.

This is the official title of Louis XVI.

Louis XVI, narrowing his eyes, looked at Eugene and asked.

“Eugene? An English name?”

Eugene was slightly surprised, but this does not mean Louis XVI is angry.

It's due to his severe nearsightedness.

18th-century glasses were not as sophisticated as 21st-century ones.

From the king's perspective, showing interest in a child he could easily ignore is significant.

In modern terms, Eugene is the son of a colonel in a military unit, while Louis XVI is higher than the president.

Even if he is the grandson of a duke, there are countless nobles without inheritance rights.

Yet, he is showing interest.

Seeing the king's seemingly kind eyes, Eugene smiled.

“Yes, it is. My father, Alexandre [Colonel], participated in the American Revolutionary War as a commemoration.”

“The American Revolutionary War? Ah, yes. We sent troops there.”

“Um, yes. When my father won, the Americans gave him this nickname.”

Eugene, slightly flustered by Louis XVI's casual tone, quickly continued.

“The Duke of New Continent.”

Louis XVI, standing up, stroked his plump chin.

Surprisingly, he is a large man.

According to records, Louis XVI was over 190 cm tall.

However, his slightly hunched shoulders make him seem less tall.

His imposing presence is even more noticeable.

In contrast to the slender Count of Artois, his build is more prominent.

The nearsighted, large man, Louis XVI, smiled.

“Indeed, so you chose an English, or rather, an American name?”

Eugene, slightly widening his eyes, bowed.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Eugene also answered in English, but he was slightly surprised.

For the King of France to speak English is truly remarkable.

Of course, Louis XVI is known to have been good at foreign languages.

He is said to have translated the famous English historian Gibbon's "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire."

However, this is the 18th century, a time when France and England are bitter enemies.

Moreover, Louis XVI's only military achievement in his lifetime was the American Revolutionary War.

Yet, he speaks English as if it's someone else's story.

He is certainly not stupid.

However, it is clear that he is not wise.

If this anecdote were to spread outside, it would not be well-received.

On the contrary, Louis XVI seemed to like Eugene, laughing heartily.

“I like it. I don't know if he's a prodigy, but he's quite smart. To be fluent in English at this age.”

“Then, would you consider him as a page? I heard you need someone to attend to the princess.”

“Hmm, a child is fine. But I need to hear ‘Marie’s’ opinion on this.”

The Count of Artois shrugged, and Louis XVI responded.

Page.

A title given to a young boy who serves the royal family.

This is exactly what Alexandre wanted.

Just as Eugene was about to look up at Louis XVI, a priest entered the king's room.

“Your Majesty, I have something to discuss regarding the finances.”

“What is it, Cardinal Brienne?”

“Well, due to the bonds we need to pay off this month... We may need to introduce a new tax.”

The chief advisor or prime minister of the Kingdom of France.

Cardinal Brienne.

He seems to have come in a hurry to discuss financial matters.

With a troubled look, Louis XVI sighed and left with the minister.

“Let's talk about it later. Sigh, another problem today.”

As the king left with his chief advisor, only three people remained in the bedroom.

Alexandre, the Count of Artois, and Eugene.

In the empty room, Eugene thought about the priest he had just seen.

Cardinal Brienne is like a relief pitcher in baseball.

He appears to put out a fire and then leaves.

The problem is not Cardinal Brienne but the reason he became the chief advisor and then left.

Financial collapse.

The French royal family is steadily moving towards its downfall.

In such a situation, is being a page really a good thing?

At that moment.

“Hmm, by the way, Alexandre, can you play [jeu de paume]?”

“Um? Ah, I can't play, no! Of course, I can!”

“Is that so? Then, let's go to the court and play a game? I need to lose some weight. My lovers keep complaining. Tsk.”

The Count of Artois, chatting casually,