Five minutes later, in the King's Office, Talleyrand, Fouche, Joseph, and Lucien arrived.
"Aveline…Francis, do you recognize them?" Napoleon gently asked his two children, who promptly looked up to the newly arrived people.
"I recognize Uncle Joseph and Lucien," Francis said and Aveline nodded in agreement.
Napoleon smiled warmly at his children. "That's right. These are your uncles, Joseph and Lucien. They have come to see you."
"Hello, Uncle Joseph! Hello, Uncle Lucien!" Aveline greeted them with a bright smile.
Joseph and Lucien exchanged glances, their hearts touched by the innocence and warmth in the children's eyes.
"Hello, Aveline and Francis," Joseph replied with a tender tone, crouching down to their level.
"Oh…I met him too papa," Aveline said, pointing her fingers at Talleyrand.
"You met Talleyrand?" Napoleon tilted his head to the side and then glanced at Talleyrand. "Where did you meet my children?"
"Talleyrand invited me to dinner darling," Ciela interjected. "And in that dinner, he asked me if I support you rising up to a position."
"Is that true?" Napoleon asked, his gaze fixed on Talleyrand.
"That is certainly correct, Your Excellency," Talleyrand confirmed. "I couldn't help but notice it when I read all the headlines of the newspapers printed by your newspaper company. It's all about glorifying him, which is true."
"I see," Napoleon said.
"But who is this one, Father?" Francis asked, looking at Fouche.
"That is the Minister of Police, Fouche," Napoleon introduced.
"Hello young one," Fouche waved a hand to Francis.
"Now, darling, why don't you take a stroll with you three around?" Napoleon said, turning to Ciela. "There are a lot of places to be discovered in Versailles."
Ciela smiled and nodded, understanding Napoleon's intention. "Of course, my love. Aveline, Francis, let's explore the palace while your father does his duties."
"Okay," Francis and Aveline intoned, their hands being grabbed by Ciela who was then escorted by Lucas.
Lucien and Joseph smiled warmly as they watched Ciela, Aveline, and Francis leave the King's Office to explore the grand palace of Versailles.
Once they were gone, Napoleon turned his attention back to the four of them.
"So, everyone, how do you like my new outfit?" Napoleon said, showing off his First Consul uniform.
"It suits you, brother," Joseph said with a chuckle.
"I couldn't agree more," Lucien nodded in agreement. He continued. "So brother, now that you are the First Consul of France, we now need to make sure that it stays the same."
"What do you mean?" Napoleon asked as he gazed at Lucien.
"Well, even if both chambers were to vote for a new government, it doesn't erase the fact that it was done without the knowledge of the population. So I suggest that we hold a vote, legitimizing your position as the First Consul," Lucien proposed.
Napoleon considered his brother's suggestion carefully. He understood the importance of public support and legitimacy in his new role. While the chambers' votes were crucial in establishing the Consulate, he knew that the people's confidence in him as their leader was equally essential for a stable and prosperous government.
Basically, it would be them formalizing everything to the people.
"Very well, it's been a week and the people of France still don't know that there is a new government in place."
"That would be thanks to Minister of Police, Fouche," Talleyrand interjected and glanced at Fouche.
"Well I am simply following your instructions here," Fouche said.
"Okay, so how long would it take?" Napoleon asked.
"The proclamation of the new constitution to the public would be in the second week of December," Talleyrand said and continued. "We are also going to hold a public referendum, asking the people if they are okay with the idea of a single man having all the power. Another thing, Your Excellency, now that you have achieved power, you need to consolidate it."
"What do you have in mind, Talleyrand?"
"By first ensuring that you would place us in the power of position. I will be your Minister of Foreign Affairs and Fouche as the Minister of Police," Talleyrand said.
"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten our agreement," Napoleon assured the two of them. "So, about the consolidation, what is your suggestion?"
"Well, the first surefire way of consolidating power in your own hands is by offering the people of France peace, end the war with the coalition," Talleyrand suggested.
Napoleon hummed aloud as he walked over to the table where a revolving globe sat. He spun it gently, his mind deep in thought. "Ending the war with the coalition would indeed be a significant step in consolidating power," he mused. "Currently, the nations that are at war with us are the Kingdom of Naples, the Austrian Empire, the Portuguese Empire, and the British Empire. The Russian Empire pulled out after we defeated them in Switzerland and the Ottoman in the Treaty of Mecca."
"What are you thinking, Your Excellency?" Talleyrand asked curiously.
"Well, Talleyrand, achieving peace will be hard, it's not like we can ask them nicely," Napoleon said, chuckling. "In order to achieve peace, we have to impose it on them."
"I'm thinking of pulling out your troops in the Orient and having them fight here in Europe with their advanced weapons," Talleyrand proposed.
"Well, that would be difficult. The Army of the Orient still has to make the locals subservient to the French Republic, so we can't pull them out."
"Then why not mass-produce a lot of those weapons and distribute them to the Army of Europe?" Lucien suggested.
"We can't mass produce weapons for all of our infantry in Europe in time, the factories that are building them are not big enough to accommodate a huge volume of orders. Also, I don't think France can afford it. I'll have to lead an army and personally defeat the Austrians again in Northern Italy, just like how I slapped them two years ago."
"Well, if that's your decision, Your Excellency, we shall respect it. Now, another thing to fix is the economy of our country. As of right now, it's in ruins, and I hate to say it…it's bankrupt."
"That's not surprising," Napoleon said. "I want to meet the new Minister of Finance."
"I'll have that arranged, Your Excellency," Talleyrand acknowledged.
"As to you my brothers," Napoleon glanced between Lucien and Joseph. "You two must be wondering about your place in my government. I will reveal it to you now. Lucien, you will become my new Minister of Interior, and as for you Joseph…"
"I'm good so far, brother," Joseph interrupted. "I don't want to join in any politics for now."
"If you say so," Napoleon said.
"Thank you for the appointment, brother—I meant, Your Excellency," Lucien bowed his head.
Napoleon sighed. "We have a lot of work to do gentlemen."
***
Note: I have uploaded this chapter in the wrong order so I'm going to reupload this chap again, I will have to add some words because it states that I can only reduce 100 words. Chapter 144 and 145 have over a hundred word difference. Sorry for the inconvenience. That is all, thank you.
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m