The Crown Prince of France - Chapter 283

Chapter 283: Expanding Paris

Joseph’s carriage was still three or four kilometers from the Palace of Versailles when he noticed that the surrounding area was already packed with people.

Eymond glanced out the window and explained, “Your Highness, the official competition is still two days away. These people must have come from other regions to watch the games.”

Normally, entering the Palace of Versailles required strict adherence to a dress code, but during the Star of France competition, the palace square was open to everyone, much like during the King’s birthday celebrations.

As a result, countless ordinary citizens camped outside the square, eagerly awaiting the competition to begin.

They were far from bored, however. The immense influence of the Star of France had attracted merchants of all kinds who had set up their stalls.

From snacks to fruits, toys to hats, painters to cobblers, the vendors lined the open spaces along the road for seven or eight kilometers. The cacophony of hawking, music, and lively chatter created an enormous open-air commercial street.

Enterprising individuals even set up hundreds of tents under the trees, turning them into makeshift inns.

Fearing the large crowds might cause chaos, Bishop Brienne had deployed the palace guard to patrol the “commercial street,” lending it the bustling atmosphere of a city market.

Joseph looked at the lively scene outside the carriage window, and a thought suddenly struck him:

Why not take advantage of this momentum to establish a permanent commercial street here?

With France’s continuous development, Paris was bound to see a growing population. Especially after the Fashion Week and the Standardization Congress, not only would more French minor nobles flock to Paris, but foreign residents would also increase.

Currently, the number of foreign residents living in Paris had already approached 1,000, most of whom resided near the real estate projects tied to Fashion Week. Additionally, tens of thousands more came to the city for short stays.

This rising trend also brought an urgent need for expanding Paris.

Furthermore, the isolation of the Palace of Versailles from Paris was increasingly detrimental to policy dissemination and the royal family’s public image.

Joseph had long wanted to integrate Paris and Versailles, and now he saw an excellent opportunity to do so.

With the construction of the wooden railway connecting Versailles to Paris, the foundational conditions for integration were already in place. It was time to put this matter on the agenda.

...

The carriage stopped in the marble courtyard, but Joseph noticed that among the welcoming crowd, Queen Marie Antoinette was absent.

Eymond leaned in and whispered, “Your Highness, Her Majesty the Queen is likely upset with you.”

Indeed, the Queen’s lady-in-waiting, Countess Debonynac, quickly pushed through the crowd and approached, curtseying politely. “Your Highness, Her Majesty the Queen requests your presence immediately upon your return.”

She glanced around and added quietly, “Your Highness, you’ve been far too reckless this time, sneaking off to North Africa. You probably don’t realize how much Her Majesty has been worrying; she hasn’t been able to sleep properly for days.”

“Uh...” Joseph rubbed his forehead in exasperation. Why did this feel like being scolded by a parent after staying out all night?

He reluctantly followed Countess Debonynac to the Trianon Palace. Upon entering the front hall, he saw Queen Marie Antoinette standing with her back to him.

Joseph hurried forward to greet her, his voice warm and cheerful. “Mother, I’m back...”

“Hmph!” Marie Antoinette tilted her head at a forty-five-degree angle, deliberately avoiding his gaze. “So, you still remember to come back?”

“Of course!” Joseph stepped closer with a bright smile. “Ah, the world’s most beautiful, intelligent, and kind-hearted mother! I haven’t seen you for almost a month, and I’ve missed you terribly!”

“Really?” The Queen kept her head tilted, her tone icy. “You dared to sneak off to such a dangerous place and then lied to me about staying within the country?”

“Well, Tunisia is technically part of our country now.” Joseph moved to face her and took her hands, gently rubbing them against his cheek. “See? I’ve returned safe and sound.” As he spoke, he signaled to Eymond.

Eymond promptly instructed the servants to bring in several exquisite chests and open them one by one.

Joseph introduced the items with a smile, “Look, this is a Tunisian-style gown designed by their finest tailor specifically for you.

“This is a pearl necklace, crafted from North African pearls that I personally selected for you...

“And this scarf is...”

Despite his efforts, the Queen’s expression remained stern. Sighing, Joseph finally decided to use his trump card.

“Mother, can you guess who I brought back for you?”

“Who?” The Queen shot him a glance, unimpressed. “It doesn’t matter who pleads on your behalf; it won’t work!”

“Jeanne.”

“Hmph, I said no one could...” She froze mid-sentence, her eyes widening in shock. “Who did you say?!”

“Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Rémy,” Joseph said with a faint smile. “That con artist.”

Marie Antoinette grabbed his arm, her eyes filled with disbelief. “Are you serious? How did you find her?”

“Ahem, actually, I went to Tunisia specifically for that.” Joseph embellished the story, describing how he captured British spies and used them to negotiate for Jeanne’s return. In his version, his sole purpose from the outset was to recover the person who had humiliated her.

“Oh, my sweet child! My darling boy, thank you so much!” Marie Antoinette, moved to tears, embraced him tightly. “But you shouldn’t have taken such a risk! Tripoli is at war... Joseph, your life is more precious than anything to me! That wretched woman wasn’t worth it! Oh, I’m so touched. My son has grown up to be a brave knight, washing away my shame. And to think I was blaming you... How wrong I was...”

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Joseph extricated himself from her embrace and motioned for the servants to bring desserts like cake and pudding. He then presented the red Tunisian gown adorned with gold accents and curved designs, holding it up in front of her. “Mother, you must try this on. It’s stunning and will suit you perfectly...”

...

An hour later, a thoroughly exhausted Joseph left the Trianon Palace, heading straight to the office of Minister Bailly, intending to discuss developing a commercial and research district between Paris and Versailles.

Still, his time with Queen Marie Antoinette wasn’t without its benefits. She had agreed to let him travel abroad freely, provided he took the Swiss Guard and informed her in advance.

After assigning Bailly to begin planning the Paris expansion project, Joseph hurried to the General Staff’s office building.

The General Staff, due to its unique nature, was housed in a two-story building next to the Royal Armory.

Though small, the office was a hive of activity. Dozens of civilian officers moved between offices with various documents, their urgency starkly contrasting the typical leisurely pace of traditional military offices.

Upon learning of Joseph’s arrival, Berthier and several officers came out to greet him.

Before they could even bow, Joseph asked the question on his mind: “Has that officer named Napoleon reported in yet?”

The Chief of Staff was momentarily taken aback by the Crown Prince’s interest in the young captain—just recently promoted—but quickly nodded. “Yes, Your Highness. He reported in two days ago and is now assigned to the First Artillery Regiment of the Royal Guard.”

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