The Crown Prince of France - Chapter 254

Chapter 254: Aftermath

At present, the distinguished figures attending the nobles’ conference were consumed with anxiety, their bloodshot eyes betraying their urgency as they pressed the military to quickly quell the local riots. In their desperation, no one had the time to care about the “Abolition of Privileges Act.”

Without the leadership of these prominent nobles, other aristocrats who sought to preserve their privileges were no match for the abolitionists, who now enjoyed the support of numerous robe nobles.

In recent days, even the streets of Paris saw gatherings of citizens advocating for the abolition of noble privileges. Of course, these events were orchestrated under Joseph’s direction.

Queen Marie Antoinette glanced at the document in her hand and sighed, her brow furrowing. “The riots have grown increasingly severe. Count Morneau and others have even been killed by the mobs. I’m in no mood to discuss these proposals right now.”

“Your Majesty, suppressing the riots and passing these proposals are not mutually exclusive,” Talleyrand said with a bow. “In fact, the content of these proposals will soothe the poorest members of society and greatly aid in halting the unrest.”

His expression brimmed with reverence. “Your Majesty, abolishing noble privileges will significantly alleviate the burden on the peasants and improve their lives. This act of compassion will cause tens of millions of French farmers to be eternally grateful for your benevolence and to remember your grace forever.”

His words moved Queen Marie Antoinette slightly.

Previously, her reputation had been maliciously tarnished with rumors accusing her of being extravagant and callous, such as the infamous “If they cannot afford bread, let them eat cake.” These slanders had plunged her popularity into the depths.

Now, this proposal had gained the support of most nobles. If she could sign it into law, her public image would undoubtedly receive a substantial boost.

Moreover, it would indeed help pacify the riots.

She nodded decisively. “Very well, let us discuss this matter thoroughly at tomorrow’s cabinet meeting.”

...

In the detention room on the second basement level of the Bureau of Public Safety, Joseph, dressed in a red hunting outfit, pushed a cup of tea—sweetened with three heaping spoons of sugar—toward Count Morneau and sighed. “The Malet Brothers have confessed. It was the Duke of Orléans who ordered them to frame your son.”

Count Morneau’s pupils contracted sharply, and he nearly spilled the scalding tea.

He had been apprehended in Brittany. In truth, if not for his reluctance to part with his money and his attempt to quietly issue a large bank draft to a British bank amidst the riots, he would not have been captured by the Bureau of Public Safety.

The major banks now had inspectors dispatched by the French Reserve Bank. Any significant transaction was subject to legality checks. Morneau’s issuance of a draft worth hundreds of thousands of livres had immediately drawn attention, and the Bureau had taken him into custody the following day.

“I... Your Highness...” The former Minister of the Interior could only stammer out two words after a long pause.

Joseph raised his hand to interrupt him, speaking coolly. “Your greatest mistake was trusting the Duke of Orléans.”

“Your Highness...”

Joseph nodded. “You once stood by my side when I needed help most, yet you later opposed me for personal gain.

“However, I am not one to forget old friendships.

“Surely you’ve noticed that the newspapers have never published a word about your alleged misappropriation of reserve grain, which caused food shortages. That is because I suppressed the news.”

A glimmer of hope appeared in Morneau’s tearful eyes. “Your Highness, I was wrong... Your kindness, I truly...”

Joseph interrupted again. “But you did kill an innocent coppersmith family in the Marais District, and you brought immense disaster upon the entire nation.

“Now, I offer you one final choice: exile to Nice or Dauphiné...”

Morneau’s face turned deathly pale, and his eyes widened in horror as he repeatedly shook his head. “No, please, not that...”

He was the mastermind behind the food crisis. If he were exiled to the heavily affected southern regions, any leaked information would see him torn apart by enraged citizens.

Joseph continued, “Or you could testify, as a misguided accomplice, that the Duke of Orléans is the true culprit behind it all. In that case, you will be exiled to Nancy. But it must be supported by irrefutable evidence.”

“No...” Morneau’s complexion grew ashen. Accusing the most powerful duke under the royal family was nearly as suicidal as facing execution.

Joseph smiled. “You needn’t worry. This testimony will be revealed only after the Duke of Orléans is no longer among the living.”

Morneau leapt from his chair in shock and cried out, “No, no... Are you saying he... he’s dead?”

This was precisely why Joseph had kept him alive.

As long as the Duke of Orléans lived, his vast influence and immense wealth could shield him even from indisputable evidence. At most, he would be heavily fined and publicly reprimanded, but not exiled.

But if he were dead, then with crimes such as orchestrating famine and inciting riots pinned on him, no one would dare—or want—to defend his reputation.

While the Marquis of Saint-Véran knew little about the inner workings of the grain crisis, Morneau understood it in its entirety.

The former Minister of the Interior shuddered at the sight of the smiling young man before him. After a long silence, he lowered his head and mumbled, “Yes, yes, Your Highness. I have his letters. I will do as you say. I’ll testify... yes, testify against him...”

The next day, during the cabinet meeting, Queen Marie Antoinette signed the “Abolition of Noble Privileges” decree, which was unanimously approved by all ministers.

Thus, the feudal privileges that had severely hindered France’s industrial and capitalist development officially became history. A dawn of opportunity emerged on the path to France’s industrial revolution.

Simultaneously, Baron de Bréteuil, the Minister of Justice, dropped a bombshell that shook all of France: the long-missing Minister of the Interior, Count Morneau, had surrendered to the High Court and revealed that the mastermind behind the southern grain crisis was none other than the Duke of Orléans!

For a time, even the “Abolition of Noble Privileges” decree faded from public attention. From the halls of Versailles to the streets of Paris, everyone was passionately discussing the revelation.

As Joseph had predicted, by afternoon, numerous nobles gathered at the Trianon Palace to plead with Queen Marie Antoinette on behalf of the Duke of Orléans.

Three days later, word arrived from Armor: the Duke of Orléans had been killed by rioters using stolen cannons.

Versailles was shaken once again.

This time, however, people merely demanded the suppression of the riots and harsh punishment for the culprits. No one raised the issue of pardoning the Duke of Orléans.

At the window, Joseph watched as the indignant nobles clamored for the military to restore order, smiling and shaking his head.

Of the fifty-two nobles featured on his deck of cards, forty-eight had already been struck down by the wrath of the people.

The remaining four had survived either due to the excellent defenses of their estates or to insufficiently populous local uprisings. In some cases, agents of the Bureau of Public Safety had made errors, forcing an interruption of the plan.

According to the prearranged strategy, the southern provinces should now be in the aftermath phase. If all went smoothly, the rioters would soon return to their homes, and order would be restored across the provinces.

The Paris Bureau of Police had dispatched numerous officials to the riot-stricken regions half a month ago to “guide” local law enforcement.

This was only the first step in the aftermath.

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