Chapter 278 Dropping the Bombshell
As King Louis the Sixteenth followed Napoleon Bonaparte into the Palace of Versailles, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions. The opulence and grandeur of the palace reminded him again of his former life as the king of France, a time when he had resided in these very halls and wielded power. But now, he was a guest in his own former domain, it was a slap in the face of his past glory.
The interior of the palace was just as beautifully adorned for Christmas as its exterior. Lavish decorations adorned the walls and ceilings, and the scent of evergreen and spices hung in the air. Intricate wreaths, glistening ornaments, and garlands of holly and ivy adorned every corner of the room. The interior was bright thanks to the electric light bulbs that illuminated every hallway of the Versailles.
Napoleon led Louis to a luxurious sitting area near a grand fireplace, where a roaring fire crackled and cast a golden glow. Louis took a seat in one of the plush armchairs, and Napoleon settled across from him.
Meanwhile, Ciela walked forward and stopped by Napoleon's side. She leaned forward and Napoleon whispered into her ears.
Louis watched as Ciela leaned in to whisper something to Napoleon. Although he couldn't discern the exact words, their body language suggested an intimate understanding between the two.
After their brief exchange, Ciela stepped back, and a warm smile graced her face as she regarded King Louis. She then gracefully walked over to the door where Aveline and Francis were standing.
Louis glanced over his shoulder, wondering what she was about to do.
"Your father will speak with his guest. They'll join us for dinner after," Ciela said.
"Understood mother."
"Okay, mama."
With that, the three of them left the room, leaving King Louis and Napoleon to continue their conversation in relative privacy. For a moment, there was only the sound of the fire crackling but Napoleon broke the silence with a question.
"So, Monsieur Capet, what do you think of the Palace of Versailles? It has been our residence since I became the First Consul."
"I have noticed a lot of changes," Louis commented. "For example, the furniture isn't the last one I remembered. Some of the paintings on the hallways are gone, and it seemed like you electrified the palace."
Napoleon smiled. "We have done a lot of renovations and refurbishment to make it appear more…how should I say this…contemporary. My wife is not keen on using the same furniture used by generations of the royal family who resided in Versailles."
"I can understand that," Louis said.
"So, Monsieur Louis, let us discuss why you are here in Paris," Napoleon began with a serious tone.
"Here's a question from me, Napoleon, why did you accept my request to visit you?" Louis returned a question.
"I am the one who asked the question first so it's only natural that you'd be the first to respond." Napoleon's lips curled into a faint smile. "Don't worry, I'll answer your question after."
"Okay, the reason why I'm here, Napoleon, is that's why you proclaim yourself as Emperor," Louis revealed. "For me, this is a great insult. I'm the King of France; it is my birthright to rule France. You have no right to claim the title of Emperor."
Napoleon's expression remained stoic, his gaze fixed on Louis. "The answer to your question is simple, Monsieur Capet. It's to ensure stability in France and continue the legacy I have been working for our country."
"How?" Louis asked.
"Last year, I faced a grave threat to my life—an attempt on my existence. It was a royalist plot that unfolded as my family and I were en route to the opera. This perilous moment wasn't isolated; there were other sinister schemes from the Jacobins that my Minister of Police successfully thwarted. You see, the stakes were incredibly high. Had those assassinations succeeded, the Bourbons or the Jacobins could have dismantled everything I've painstakingly worked towards for our nation.
Think about it—the sweeping education reforms, the establishment of civil codes, the monumental infrastructure projects, and the painstakingly crafted machinery of our new government. All of it could have been swept away. It's a harsh reality that in the event of my untimely demise, I had to ensure political stability and safeguard my political legacy. The only viable way to achieve this was to become an emperor and secure an heir who could continue the work and preserve the political order I've painstakingly forged, even if I were no longer here to oversee it.
In a republic, political power is not inherited. The only ones who can leave power in inheritance are the nobles. I could not declare myself king, because that would go against the principles of the revolution. But an emperor, that is a different matter because people can vote for it."
After hearing his explanation, Louis was slightly convinced by his words. But—
"Remember the time we spoke, Napoleon. That if you return me to my throne, I won't undo all the progress you made?"
"But I can't trust someone with this," Napoleon replied. "Only I can execute my vision for France. You have your reign—Monsieur Capet, it's my time now—"
"IT'S MY BIRTHRIGHT!" Louis snapped, his voice crackling like a whip. Napoleon was unfazed by his outburst.
"Your claim to birthright, Monsieur Capet, is precisely the issue that led to the upheaval in France—the concept of birthright and inherited power. It's a notion that our revolution sought to challenge."
"But proclaiming yourself as Emperor of France would mean reintroducing that concept in France. When you die, your children will take over, and your children's children."
"You have a point, but I'm not the kind of father who would let an unprepared son take over the country. I have protocols in place to ensure that the heir won't lead France into ruin. Do these answers satisfy your question? If so, I can answer your question as to why I accepted your request."
"Is there—really no chance that you would allow the Bourbons to return to the throne?" Louis asked in a pleading tone.
Napoleon shook his head. "No, and the people of France have already taken a liking to me. So even if I were to return you to the throne, a lot of people would demand you to abdicate. I'm speaking based on facts. So far, two and a half million people voted in support of my ascendance to the rank of emperor. Only zero point zero nine percent of them voted against. It's a simple statistical reality, Monsieur Capet."
Louis couldn't deny the weight of such overwhelming support for Napoleon's rule. It was clear that the majority of the French populace had embraced this new era.
"You can answer my question now," Louis prompted.
"The reason why I accepted your request to visit me is simple. I need your help to convince the French royalists living in France or abroad. You haven't formally abdicated your throne, but the government has considered that if you abandon the nation, you forfeit your position as king. However, your presence here can serve as a symbol of reconciliation between the old monarchy and the new order."
"And why should I do that?" Louis asked as if challenging him to convince him.
"Because you owe me your life, Monsieur Capet. If not for me, the mobs that stormed the Tuileries Palace during the insurrection that took place on the 10th of August, 1792, would have killed you and your family on the spot. Remember the lady who saved you? The one clad in the red dress? I was the one who sent her to rescue you and this is the proof—"
Napoleon flicked his fingers and a manservant entered the room carrying a box. The manservant opened it and Napoleon pulled out something that made Louis's memories from 11 years ago resurface.
"That—thing," Louis uttered, his eyes widening.
"This is the weapon that the lady used and the dress that she was wearing at that time," Napoleon revealed as he held the evidence in his hands. "Consider your participation as a way of repaying your debt to me, Monsieur Capet. I only ask for one thing, that is you support my ascendancy to the title of Emperor of France through a speech."
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