In the dining room of the Palace of Versailles, Napoleon Bonaparte sat with his wife, Ciela, and their children, Aveline and Francis. The room was adorned with fine china and polished silverware, setting the stage for a lavish dinner.
Manservants moved quietly around the table, bringing in a trolley cart laden with mouthwatering dishes. The roasted duck, coq au vin, and assorted vegetables were presented with precision and care.
As the family enjoyed their meal, Napoleon cleared his throat to get their attention.
"I received an invitation today," he began, "Louis de La Rochefoucauld is inviting all of us to his daughter's birthday celebration on December 30th, 1800."
Aveline and Francis looked at each other, while Ciela glanced at Napoleon.
"Louis de La Rochefoucauld? Your classmate in Brienne?" Ciela said.
"That's correct," Napoleon nodded in confirmation. "This is a surprise to me because it has been fifteen years since our last contact."
"You know him, mama?" Aveline asked, her gaze flickering at her mother.
"Louis de La Rochefoucauld was Napoleon's classmate when he was studying at the military school at Brienne."
"Is Louis de La Rochefoucauld kind of like father's best friend?" Francis added.
Ciela shook her head. "Your father's relationship with Louis de La Rochefould at first was not close if I put it that way, but the longer they spent time together, they became good friends. They shared similar interests and bonded over their studies and military training. Isn't that right, darling?"
"Well, partially," Napoleon chuckled as he took a sip of his wine. "So, returning back to the invitation, I was thinking that our children should attend it."
Napoleon had always wanted his children, Aveline and Francis, to experience the joys of socializing with other kids their age. However, for the last five years, they had been kept isolated for their safety. The turbulent times brought about by the revolution didn't offer much opportunity for them to venture outside and play with peers. Napoleon was unwilling to take any unnecessary risks when it came to their well-being. Still, the decision to keep them sheltered wasn't unanimous. Ciela, his wife, shared his concerns about their safety, particularly during uncertain times. Yet, she also recognized the significance of socialization and exposure to different environments for their children's overall growth and development.
"I agree," Ciela nodded in agreement. "It's their chance to meet children of their age."
"Children of my age?" Aveline repeated, her eyes widening at the prospect of meeting new people and befriending them. For the last three years, she had been longing for a companion outside the confines of their home. "I want to go!"
"I would love to go, Father, Mother. But I'm afraid that I don't have any experience talking with people my age. It's going to be embarrassing."
"Don't worry, your mama will teach you," Ciela assured Francis with a reassuring smile. "You'll do just fine, my dear."
"So mama, papa, you are coming with us right?" Aveline asked, and in an instant, Napoleon and Ciela locked gaze at one another.
"Well, Aveline, on that date, I am going to be busy with work, meeting with my ministers, especially Talleyrand about the peace talks with the Austrian Empire. I won't be available at that time."
Aveline's enthusiastic face turned gloomy after hearing that.
"Then…how about you mama?" Aveline looked to her mother, her face softening with hope.
Ciela paused for a moment, considering her schedule. She knew how much this occasion meant to Aveline and Francis, and she didn't want to disappoint them.
"Well, darling," Ciela began gently, "I do have some prior commitments, but I can certainly make arrangements to clear up my schedule for that day.
Aveline's face lit up with joy, and Francis beamed with excitement. They were thrilled to know that their mother would be there with them, sharing in the experience.
"Really, Mama?" Aveline exclaimed, her voice filled with happiness.
"Absolutely," Ciela replied, reaching out to hold Aveline's hand. "I wouldn't miss this for the world.
Napoleon simply smiled, happy that their children won't be lonely on the occasion.
"I will make up for it next time," Napoleon reassured Aveline, seeing her disappointment. "As much as I would love to be there, duty calls, and I must attend to my responsibilities as the leader of our nation. But I promise you, we will have plenty of opportunities to spend time together as a family."
"It's okay, father, we understand," Francis said before turning to Aveline. "Right, sister?"
Aveline nodded, trying to hide her disappointment behind a smile. "Yes, of course, we understand, Papa. Your work is very important."
Tomorrow, we'll go shopping for gifts for Louis de La Rochefoucauld's daughter and some new clothes for you both," Ciela said warmly.
The children's faces lit up with excitement at the prospect of getting new things for the celebration. They continued to enjoy their dinner, chatting about the upcoming event.
As the evening wore on, they finished their meal and retired to their respective rooms. Aveline and Francis to their bedrooms, and Napoleon and Ciela to their office.
In the office, Napoleon and Ciela were having a conversation.
"I think in the future, our schedule won't allow us to be with our children together," Napoleon said, voicing his concern. "I think it's time that we hire a personal maid to look after them?" he suggested.
Ciela nodded in agreement with Napoleon's suggestion. "Yes, I believe that could be a good idea," she replied. "Having a personal maid would ensure that they have someone responsible to take care of them when we are occupied with our duties."
However, Ciela also expressed her worry about the security risks. "But we have to be cautious in choosing the right person," she added. "Given your position as First Consul, we cannot afford to hire someone without a thorough background check. We need to find someone we can trust implicitly."
"I'm going to look for a potential candidate tomorrow," Napoleon said.
"Very well," Ciela said as she rose from her feet. She walked over to Napoleon, leaned
over, and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. "I'm going to bed now. Don't stay up late, okay?"
"Thank you," Napoleon uttered.
"About what?
"For accompanying them to the birthday celebration," Napoleon said.
Ciela giggled. "You are welcome."
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