Two hours later, in the Chateau de Chantilly, Ciela watched Francis and Aveline playing in the courtyard. Her gaze never left them as she was concerned that they might hurt themselves.
For her, this was a respite from the exhausting and demanding work of their business, which was growing rapidly thanks to France's adapting to industrialization. Over the last few months, she had worked tirelessly, securing mining rights overseas such as in the Viceroyalty of New Granada where the modern country of Venezuela is found.
France, despite being blessed with favorable geography and abundant natural resources, faced a critical deficiency: the scarcity of its most essential resource, oil. Although France did possess some oil reserves, they proved insufficient to meet the demands of industrialization. Even in the original timeline, France had to rely on oil imports from Africa, specifically Algeria, Nigeria, and Libya.
Ciela held a fervent desire for France to rise as a global superpower with her husband in the reins. To achieve such a status, France needed to attain self-sufficiency, going beyond mere adequacy. It was crucial for France to surpass its neighbors in terms of progress and innovation. At present, Western powers were utilizing steam power to fuel their industrialization, but Ciela firmly believed that oil would be the successor to steam. She was resolute in leading France into that future.
However, Ciela faced a looming problem as she secured oil mining rights—the Viceroyalty of New Granada, a Spanish territory she had left. Her family, an influential noble lineage close to the ruling monarch, resided there. Despite her efforts to change her name and identity, she feared the intertwining of their fates in the future. Ciela had meticulously concealed her past, assuming a new identity and creating distance from her influential Spanish family.
Fortunately, nothing had surfaced to link Ciela's current life in France with her past in Spain. Nevertheless, the persistent worry lingered, and she remained vigilant in guarding her secret.
She didn't disclose to Napoleon the true reason behind her clandestine departure from her newfound family in Spain. The truth was a somber reality that many noblewomen of her time faced—they were treated as political tools, and are bound by the expectations and constraints imposed by society.
She remembered her mother suggesting that she marry the son of Carlos IV, the man she remembered in her real history that would coup his own father.
Ciela was determined to prevent such a fate from befalling her. She had made the decision to leave Spain behind and seek out Napoleon in France, the person she had admired in her previous life and who, coincidentally, had been reincarnated in this world. However, in this new reality, the specific identity of Napoleon held little significance for her. What mattered most was that the Napoleon she revered in her past life was equally as magnificent as her husband in the present and the one she had genuinely loved.
"Madame Bonaparte?" Beaumont called gently.
Ciela snapped her attention away from her thoughts as she looked up to see Beaumont.
"Yes, Monsieur Beaumont?"
"General Bonaparte is arriving," Beaumont informed.
Ciela's heart leaped with excitement at the announcement. She quickly gathered her composure and turned her attention to the courtyard where Francis and Aveline played.
"Francis, Aveline," she called out. "Come, my darlings, your father has arrived."
"Papa has returned?!" Aveline exclaimed.
Ciela nodded. "Yes, my sweet Aveline. Let us go and greet him together."
Aveline's eyes widened in excitement, and she immediately abandoned their play, rushing to her mother's side. Francis nonchalantly followed suit. Holding their hands tightly, Ciela led them towards the entrance of the Chateau.
Beyond the iron gates, Ciela saw an ornate carriage coming to a halt escorted by cavalrymen dressed in an impeccable military uniforms. One of the cavalrymen hopped off his horse and made his way toward the carriage's door, opening it with a flourish. The figure inside, adorned in a blue military uniform adorned with golden accents, stepped out with dignified grace.
Napoleon stepped off the carriage. His gaze swept across the courtyard, taking in the sight of Ciela and their children standing at the entrance of the Chateau.
"Papa!" Aveline exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement any longer. She let go of Ciela's hand and dashed towards Napoleon, throwing her small arms around his father's legs.
Napoleon lifted Aveline into his arms, a wide smile gracing his face.
"I miss you so much, papa!" Aveline cried cheerfully.
"And I miss you, my little sunshine," Napoleon replied tenderly as he kissed the top of her head.
He then walked towards Ciela and Francis, who stood there waiting for him.
"Francis…silent as ever I supposed," Napoleon said, stroking Francis's hair. He flickered his gaze to Ciela. "Darling…you are as beautiful as ever."
"Oh you silly," Ciela giggled, feeling her cheeks flush with a delightful warmth.
"Where is my kiss?" Napoleon asked teasingly.
"I'll give it to you later…"
"Ahh! Mama and Papa are flirting in front of me!" Aveline giggled mischievously, squirming in Napoleon's arms.
Napoleon looked at Aveline with a confused expression. "Where did you learn that word?"
Ciela rubbed her head bashfully. "I think it's my fault, she happened to read this romance novel that I was reading."
"Oh…so you can read now huh?" Napoleon pinched Aveline's nose playfully, making her giggle even more. "Well, it better be a child-friendly romance novel. Oh, anyway, Ciela, I want to introduce you to my personal bodyguard, or more formally, the commander of the Les Guides de Bonaparte. Jean-Baptiste Bessières.
"Bessières?" Ciela repeated the name as she shifted her gaze to Bessières who stepped forward upon Napoleon's introduction. She knew that man, he was also one of the Marshals of Napoleon Bonaparte. First it was Murat, now Bessières.
"Madame Bonaparte," Bessières began, bowing gallantly before Ciela. "It is an honor to finally meet you. General Bonaparte has spoken highly of you and your contributions to our endeavors."
Bessières extended his hand towards Ciela, and she reciprocated, offering her hand for him to brush his lips against her knuckles in a chivalrous gesture.
"Ahh... Papa! This man just kissed Mama's hand!" Aveline exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise.
Napoleon chuckled softly, his gaze shifting between Ciela, Aveline, and Bessières.
"Don't worry, my little sunshine, that is just a polite way of greeting a lady."
"Ah, Papa, is that how you greet other ladies too?" Aveline asked, her innocent curiosity shining in her eyes.
Napoleon's laughter grew louder, and he exchanged a playful glance with Ciela. "Well, my dear, I reserve such greetings for special occasions and special people like your mother. Oh anyways, darling. Prepare for a feast tomorrow, my generals in my campaign and the men who had proved themselves on the battlefield will be coming over tomorrow."
"Wait…really?" Ciela exclaimed, still processing Napoleon's words. If she heard that right, that means Berthier, Augereau, Masséna, Sérurier, Murat, Lannes, and Bessières will be coming over to their chateau.
"Indeed," Napoleon replied.
"Beaumont, you heard my husband. Prepare for a grand reception," Ciela instructed Beaumont, who nodded and quickly went off to make the necessary arrangements.
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