Chapter 8

Napoleon's Genius Son - Chapter 7 (8/547)

(7) Sell the royal American bonds to the kingdom's top nobles.

It is the late 18th century, the eve of the era of financial capitalism.

"Goodness! Julie! What on earth happened! Where are all the servants! To run away without protecting you!"

Some argue that the root of European dominance over the world lies in [bonds].

When the Qing Empire, Mughal Empire, and Ottoman Empire raised military funds through taxation, European monarchies borrowed money through bonds to fund their military.

This argument suggests that it allowed them to raise even more military funds.

This seems plausible when considering how modern states with large debts have managed to maintain their fiscal systems.

However, in the late 18th century, when financial techniques were not yet developed, it simply led to fiscal ruin.

These are the accomplices who are causing my fiscal ruin.

This is how the financiers, or rather the bankers, are viewed.

One of them, Jacques Lecamier, roared as if wailing.

"Your daughter, or rather your friend's daughter, is safe, though?"

Eugene, of course, looked at Lecamier indifferently and replied.

In fact, her clothes were torn and dirty, but Julie was fine.

Thanks to being washed at the Boarne mansion.

She couldn't change into clean clothes because there were none that fit.

Julie smiled and said,

"Yes, Mr. Lecamier. I'm fine. Fortunately, Eugene helped me."

"Eugene? Oh, the Boarne family's kid?"

"That's right. He's my savior!"

Jacques Lecamier's eyes widened.

Julie, still smiling, explained the situation with a sniffle.

She had gone out for a walk and ended up facing a wolf.

The servants who were accompanying her ran away, and just as she was about to be caught and eaten by the wolf, she met Eugene.

Wiping away her tears, Julie explained,

"If it weren't for Eugene, I would have died! Really!"

Jacques Lecamier, sweating, said to Eugene,

"Phew, thank you. Thanks to you, our daughter, or rather, my best friend Bernard's daughter, is safe."

Eugene raised an eyebrow and smiled.

This is one of the famous scandals of the French Revolution era.

The marriage of Jacques Lecamier and Juliette Bernard, a 30-year age gap between a young girl and an old man.

As the most beautiful woman of the revolutionary era, Lecamier's wife was bound to be a topic of conversation.

However, the real reason this marriage became a famous scandal is different.

There was a rumor that they were actually father and daughter.

The rumor was that Lecamier had fathered her through an affair with his friend's wife.

It seems that this was true.

"Is that so? I can't possibly repay the life of your daughter, or rather your friend's daughter, with money, can I?"

Eugene said, feigning a slip of the tongue.

Although he is only a 7-year-old boy, his tone is not that of a child.

Lecamier frowned and first led Julie inside.

After entrusting Julie to a maid, Lecamier asked Eugene,

"Hmm, how much do you want?"

"Well, if you could forgive my father's debt, that would be great. But I have something else in mind."

"Huh? You can't be thinking of marrying Julie, at 7 years old? Absolutely not!"

He was already worried that Eugene might want to marry her, a clear case of a doting father.

Of course, in the original timeline, Julie became a famous seductress in society.

But now, she is just an 11-year-old girl.

Eugene snorted.

"What are you thinking? I have no interest in little kids."

"You're a kid yourself, aren't you?"

"Shut up, Ipolite."

Just as Ipolite, who had come along, added a comment, Eugene was about to retort.

"Hmm, I was too surprised and lost my composure. So, what do you want? Prodigy of the Boarne family."

Lecamier cleared his throat and looked at Eugene.

Jacques Lecamier.

In the original timeline, he was recorded as the husband of Jeanne-Françoise Julie Lecamier, the most beautiful woman of the era.

However, he was a quite capable financier and became the founder of the Bank of France.

The Bank of France.

The central bank of France that existed until the modern era.

In short, he was the best manipulator of the latest financial techniques of the 18th century, [bonds].

In modern terms, he was a top-tier fund manager or cryptocurrency owner.

Eugene had no intention of missing the opportunity to use this top-tier financier.

"I may be called a prodigy, but I am still a child with limitations."

"Your sudden modesty is even more frightening. What exactly do you want?"

"I heard that you trade French East India Company bonds."

Lecamier looked at Eugene with a regretful eye, as befits a financier.

"So? You want me to repay you with those bonds?"

"No. I want something else. Something more valuable."

"What do you mean by that?"

In fact, 1788 was after France had already been pushed out of India by Britain.

Yet, the French East India Company was still thriving.

Surprisingly, the ships that most frequently sailed around the southern tip of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope, were not British or Dutch, but French.

In the 18th century, when maritime transport was the core of economic logistics.

The French East India Company was a quite successful investment at the time.

However, Eugene knew that a revolution would occur.

After the revolution, the revolutionary government would abolish the French East India Company.

"Is there any way I can purchase British government bonds?"

Eugene had a different asset in mind.

Government bonds, or debt certificates issued by the government to raise military funds or fiscal resources.

Among these, he needed bonds that would still have value even after a revolution.

Which country?

Undoubtedly, Britain.

If France were to fall, British bonds would become even more valuable.

Lecamier looked at Eugene with surprise and said,

"You are really smart, my boy. It seems the talk of you being a prodigy is not exaggerated."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"But I am a financier. A financier never gives anything for free."

Lecamier, who had been deep in thought, suddenly snapped his fingers.

"You might get something even more valuable for free. I'll give you this hint. Try to receive the royal [favor] once. It may be worthless to the royal family, but it has value to a financier like me."

"Really?"

"If you bring it, I'll take care of the exchange."

The moment Eugene, who had intended to repay Lecamier's favor, received a riddle.

***

Fortunately, Lecamier was rich enough to buy a pony for his daughter.

"Are you really not Jewish? You saved your daughter's life, and you only give a pony?"

Thanks to this, Eugene could go to work safely.

However, repaying the favor for saving his daughter's life was practically a rejection, wasn't it?

Of course, Eugene also slightly expected the royal favor.

However, the French royal family was suffering from fiscal ruin.

In the palace's secondary study, while taking a break and scribbling on paper with a pen, Eugene grumbled.

He just wanted to buy some bonds, the best asset of this era.

It is the 18th century, and stocks are as unstable as cryptocurrencies.

He couldn't possibly stockpile gold coins.

In any case, Eugene's life would be successful if he just met Napoleon.

However, at least Alexandre would die if things continued as they were.

He wanted to try to change something, but the first step didn't go well.

Then Eugene thought of Julie, whom he had seen yesterday.

She was only 11, but she was quite pretty after being washed.

"Hmm, so that beauty is going to marry an old man, or rather, someone she considers her father?"

"Hmm, our page, what beauty are you thinking about so deeply? Is she prettier than me?"

"No, of course not as pretty as you, Princess... Ah!"

Startled, Eugene turned his head, and there was Princess Marie Thérèse.

"Wow, the prodigy is really precocious! For a kid to already talk about beauties. Hehe!"

As Princess Marie Thérèse teased him with a smile, Eugene coolly and politely replied,

"Princess, what brings you here so early?"

"What do you mean? The royal family wakes up early and moves early. Just because our 'maman' doesn't attend all royal events doesn't mean I don't have to."

"Ah, there's an event? I'll come with you, Your Highness."

A page's duty is ultimately to assist the royal family.

However, Eugene had not followed the princess to an event she was attending.

It was probably the other pages who intentionally didn't inform him.

Perhaps out of jealousy of the parachuted Eugene, who had been appointed by the king.

Of course, the princess, queen, and Count of Artois favored him, so they couldn't directly harm him.

However, it seemed that this jealousy was coming back in this form.

The princess looked at the desk, raising her chin slightly.

"Hehe. So, what are you writing? Money?"

It seemed that he had scribbled to organize his thoughts, and she saw it.

Eugene decided to remain cool.

After all, he couldn't beg for favor from a young princess, could he?

"Money is the most important. It is in the royal family now as well."

"Is that so? Is our salary too small?"

"No, it's big for me. But it's not a large sum for my family. Also, my father is not in a position to inherit the family."

Then the kind-hearted princess looked at the page Eugene with pity and asked,

"Is that so? We have a bond called the 'Rente' in the royal family. Would you like it?"

"Ah, no, Your Highness. I'll decline."

"Hmm, I thought you were greedy, but you're not?"

It seemed that she was not just sympathizing but also testing him.

Eugene smiled wryly.

Still, he was a royal, wasn't he?

Thinking about it, the reason he saw the French royal family was because of the [Silver Gate] symbol.

In some sense, the Silver Gate was a sign that determined Eugene's fate.

Perhaps meeting this princess was his destiny?

Thinking about it, Eugene shook his head and said,

"By the way, you are surprisingly well-informed, Princess."

Pretending to raise her chin again, the princess replied haughtily,

"Hmph, I'm going to