Upon Napoleon's return to Paris, he promptly returned to their estate to Chantilly with his family.
Arriving at the grand foyer of the chateau, Napoleon was greeted by the manservants, maids, and other household staff, who had been eagerly awaiting his return. Their faces lit up with joy and excitement as they caught sight of their esteemed master.
"Welcome back, General!" one of the servants exclaimed, bowing respectfully. "We've missed you greatly."
Napoleon nodded graciously, acknowledging their heartfelt greetings.
As he walked through the familiar halls of the chateau, memories of his time here flitted across his mind, giving him a nostalgic tinge. He recalled the days when he would casually walk around the hallways, admiring its architecture and appreciating the history that resonated within its walls. The Chateau de Chantilly held a special place in his heart, for it was here all wholesome memories were created with his family.
Passing by the opulent drawing room, Napoleon's gaze fell upon the grand piano that stood in the corner. He tilted his head to the side, it wasn't there when he left.
"Ah…I just bought it two months after you left," Ciela explained as she noticed Napoleon's surprise. "I bought it for our daughter."
"For Aveline?" Napoleon glanced at Ciela, and then Aveline, who was fiddling her tiny fingers bashfully. "Does that mean she can play piano?"
"Well, she's been practicing for over a year and she can play simple tunes now," Ciela replied, her voice filled with pride. "She has a natural talent for it, I must say."
"Really?" Napoleon gasped softly in awe. "Aveline, can you play for me?"
Aveline's eyes sparkled with excitement as her father made the request. She nodded eagerly. Without hesitation, she hurried to the piano, her small figure barely reaching the keys.
Taking a seat on the bench, Aveline positioned herself with utmost seriousness. Her fingers hovered above the ivory keys for a brief moment, gathering her focus. Then, with a deep breath, she began to play.
The room was filled with the enchanting melody that flowed effortlessly from Aveline's fingertips. Napoleon watched his daughter in awe, his eyes fixed on her nimble fingers as they moved across the keys.
"Astonishing," Napoleon commented, his breath taken away.
After three minutes, Aveline finished the piece with a flourish. She rose up from the bench and pitter-pattered towards Napoleon, a wide grin on her face.
"Did you like it, Papa?" she asked,
Napoleon bent down, his eyes sparkling with pride. "That was absolutely magnificent! Now, how about Francis?"
"Well…Francis is a different one, my dear," Ciela spoke. "Instead of taking a liking to music, he had taken an interest in science. He had read all the papers you submitted to the French Academy of Sciences."
"Wait…really?" Napoleon raised a brow. "That paper is too technical for your age…"
"Not for him," Ciela proudly said.
"Papa," Francis began eagerly, "I've been studying thermodynamics, and I have a question for you."
Napoleon smiled, intrigued by his son's passion for scientific inquiry. "Okay, what is it?"
Francis took a moment to gather his thoughts before posing his question. "In your work on thermodynamics, you discussed the concept of energy conservation. You stated that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only transferred or transformed. However, I have been pondering about a scenario. If a system were to lose heat to its surroundings, wouldn't that be a loss of energy? How does this align with the principle of energy conservation?"
Napoleon's eyes widened slightly, impressed by Francis' analytical thinking. He paused for a moment, considering the question carefully.
"You raise an interesting point, Francis," Napoleon began, his mind delving into the depths of thermodynamics. "While it may appear that the system is losing energy in the form of heat to its surroundings, the total energy of the system and its surroundings remains constant."
He continued, explaining the fundamental principles of energy transfer and the concept of a closed system. He elucidated how the energy lost by the system as heat is actually gained by the surroundings, thus maintaining the overall balance of energy within the system and its environment.
Francis listened intently, absorbing every word with a voracious appetite for knowledge. As Napoleon concluded his explanation, a look of satisfaction and understanding crossed Francis' face.
"You and I are going to be best buddies in the future," Napoleon said, patting Francis's shoulder.
***
Eight o'clock in the evening, Napoleon had just finished eating dinner with his family. As he made his way towards his office, his mind filled with thoughts about the situation in France and the recent defeats in Northern Italy. The news of the republics he had established being retaken by the Austrians and Russians weighed heavily on him.
"Well this is to be expected," Napoleon let out a forced chuckle.
Not only that, the situation overseas was not looking good for France. Their territory in the Caribbean, Saint-Domingue, faced significant unrest, threatening the stability of the entire region. Reports of uprisings and rebellions caused deep concern for Napoleon.
Although he had also expected that to happen, it would be best if France could keep it. After all, it would be the primary factor for France to extend its control in Northern America, which is what he dreamed of, France having territory in North America.
An hour later, Napoleon was cooped up in his office, writing reports of his expedition in Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula for the Directory. As he meticulously drafted his accounts, reliving the triumphs and challenges he had faced, a soft knock on the door interrupted his concentration.
"Come in," Napoleon called out, setting his quill aside and looking up expectantly.
The door creaked open, and Ciela entered the room, her presence filling the space with an air of grace and allure. Napoleon's eyes were immediately drawn to her, noticing the way the soft moonlight that streamed through the window accentuated her features. She was wearing a white satin nightdress that clung to her curves, gracefully flowing down to reveal her slender legs.
Napoleon's gaze lingered on her, momentarily captivated by her beauty. It had been a while since they had shared a moment alone, and the sight of her stirred a longing within him.
Ciela approached Napoleon's desk with a subtle smile on her lips. Sensing the intensity of his gaze, she moved closer. She leaned against the edge of the desk, her proximity allowing him to catch a whiff of her delicate fragrance.
"Even in our home, you are still working. You have marched a thousand miles and your body needs rest," Ciela said softly as she sat on his lap.
Napoleon's gaze softened as Ciela settled herself on his lap. He can feel the softness of her butt cheeks against his legs. She turned to him and leaned closer to his face, planting a passionate kiss on his lips.
Seconds later, she broke her away from the kiss and licked her lips.
"I missed you…" Ciela whispered, her warm breath caressing Napoleon's skin.
"Me too…" Napoleon replied in a whisper, his hands tracing her finely shaped thigh which seemed to slide smoothly under his touch.
Napoleon's hands moved upwards, caressing Ciela's waist and then trailing along her spine, pulling her closer to him. Their bodies molded together, fitting perfectly as if they were made for each other. The rhythm of their breathing quickened, matching the accelerating pace of their hearts.
Ciela's fingers danced along the nape of Napoleon's neck, sending shivers down his spine. Her touch ignited a fire within him, an insatiable hunger that demanded satisfaction. Their lips met again, their kiss deepening, and developed into something steamy.
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