Chapter 269 Napoleon Meets Ciela's Family
"See, that wasn't so hard, First Consul Bonaparte," Godoy said as Napoleon was boarding the carriage.
Napoleon halted in his tracks and glanced over his shoulder. "It was not. In fact, I have gotten something worth my while."
"You made some arrangement with the King of Spain perhaps?" Godoy inquired.
"Not an arrangement," Napoleon softly chuckled as he shook his head. "Rather a deal. Mr. Prime Minister, I'm afraid that I have to go."
"No problem, First Consul Bonaparte. Have a safe journey to the Duke of Castellano's estate. If there is anything I can do to assist, please don't hesitate to contact us. The Kingdom of Spain would be willing to assist you," Godoy offered.
Napoleon nodded appreciatively and climbed into the carriage. As the door closed behind him, he settled into his seat and gazed out of the window, lost in thought. The wheels of the carriage creaked as it began to roll forward, leaving the Royal Palace of Madrid behind.
Thirty minutes later, Napoleon arrived at the Palace of Castellano. The architecture of the palace was neoclassical, similar to the Royal Palace of Madrid but small in scale. Napoleon wasn't surprised even in the slightest that the estate of Ciela's father would be this grand. After all, the Duke of Castellano was the richest man in Spain. Thanks to him, Spain has its heavy industry.
The carriage pulled up to the grand entrance of the palace, where uniformed servants awaited to assist him. Napoleon stepped out of the carriage, and his boots hit the cobblestone courtyard.
A liveried footman approached Napoleon with a bow. "First Consul Bonaparte," he said, "the Duke of Castellano is expecting you. Please follow me."
Napoleon followed the footman through the palace's grand entrance. The interior was just as impressive as the exterior, with gilded chandeliers hanging from the ceilings and priceless artworks adorning the walls.
Finally, they reached a lavish drawing room where the Duke of Castellano awaited along with his family and Napoleon's.
"Papa!"
Aveline waved her hand at Napoleon with a bright smile on her face. She was seated beside Ciela, and Francis was seated on the opposite side of her.
"Your Excellency," Duke Castellano stepped forward and bowed politely. "It's an honor to host the First Consul of the mighty French Republic. Allow me to formally introduce myself, I am Duke Alfonso de Castellano, the Industrial Magnate and Advisor to the Crown."
Alfonso then extended his hand, offering a handshake.
Napoleon shook his hand without much of a thought and acknowledged him with an incline of his head. "The honor is mine, Your Grace."
"This is my wife, Duchess Catalina de Castellano," Alfonso turned to introduce his elegant wife, who smiled warmly at Napoleon and performed curtsy.
"A pleasure to meet you, First Consul," Catalina said.
"And my son, Fernando de Castellano."
Fernando, who had been quietly observing the interactions, nodded in acknowledgment but didn't offer any words of greeting. His demeanor seemed reserved and perhaps even somewhat discontented.
"I'm sure you already met my daughter, Isabella de Castellano."
Napoleon chuckled softly. "I do, and she was a lovely lady. Well, Your Grace, you have a beautiful wife, beautiful daughters, and a handsome son. Truly exquisite. Now I know where my wife, Ciela, gets her looks."
Duke Castellano, seemingly relieved by the compliment, replied, "Thank you, First Consul. I must say, your family is equally charming."
With pleasantries exchanged, Duke Alfonso suggested. "Since you are here, Your Excellency, why don't we have a feast?"
Napoleon rubbed his belly, feeling a sudden pang of hunger. He grinned in response. "A feast sounds delightful, Your Grace. I would be honored to join you."
The Duke clapped his hands, and servants were quickly dispatched.
"Please follow us, Your Excellency."
Duke Alfonso led the way to the dining hall of the palace, a grand room adorned with opulent decorations and a long, elegantly set dining table. The table was covered with fine linens, gleaming silverware, and crystal glassware. It was as exquisite as Versailles's dining hall.
As they took their seats, Napoleon found himself seated next to Duke Castellano, while Ciela and Aveline were on the other side, engaged in lively conversation. The feast began with a variety of appetizers, such as churros, tapas, and olives, showcasing the rich and diverse flavors of Spanish cuisine.
The Duke, ever the gracious host, kept the conversation light during the initial courses. They discussed matters of culture, the arts, and even the beauty of the Spanish countryside. Napoleon found himself genuinely enjoying the company of the Castellano family and appreciated their hospitality.
As the main course was served, a succulent roast of Spanish lamb. So far, the topics of conversation are amiable ones. As minutes flew by, Napoleon noticed Fernando's disinterested behavior. He wonders what's making him act like that. Is it about his sister's sudden disappearance? Displeasing him? If that was the case, he understood why he was feeling that way.
Fernando noticed Napoleon's gaze trained on him and he simply averted his eyes, choosing to focus on his plate.
After a few more bites of the succulent lamb, Napoleon decided to strike up a conversation with Alfonso.
"So, Your Grace, you are an industrialist of Spain. You have brought railroads and steel manufacturing to your country. I wonder, where did you receive the know-how of those things?"
Napoleon was curious as to how his invention from almost sixteen years ago spread around the world without him permitting it.
"I learned it from the British," Alfonso revealed. "When I was traveling in London I saw this company making steam locomotives of a fine quality, and I decided to bring that to Spain. I hired some workers and from there started a business. Same scenario with steel manufacturing."
"But you are aware that it was my invention right? I mean, I didn't invent it first, but I'm the first who developed the practical applications for steam locomotives and initiated widespread rail transport in Europe," Napoleon replied a hint of pride in his voice. "Sadly, I didn't get a penny out of it."
"Your Excellency, do you want me to compensate you for all the years we benefitted and profited from your invention?" Alfonso asked, his tone serious.
"No need, I just want to know how my invention reached Spain, that's all. I can't blame the companies, it was our lack of security…right darling?"
Ciela meekly nodded.
"Oh…speaking of my darling, I want to know how you found my wife, or your daughter if you prefer," Napoleon asked.
Alfonso glanced at his wife and sister who were sitting on the opposite side of the table. Catalina gave a subtle nod, indicating that he had her permission.
The source of this c𝓸ntent is fr𝒆e(w)𝒆bnovel