The Crown Prince of France - Chapter 229

Chapter 229: Upholding Justice

Joseph saw the report's conclusion, which stated, “The British Consul to Tunis, Hollis, committed suicide due to personal reasons,” and couldn’t help but shake his head with a smile.

“The British really do cling to their old traditions, ruthless even toward their own.”

Although France had a substantial number of captured Tunisian Guards to testify against Hollis, the British government insisted it was slander, and with Hollis now dead, there was no evidence to refute their claims.

Joseph, however, wasn’t bothered. After all, France had no intention of going to war with Britain at the moment. Besides, he had reaped immense profits in Tunis, so he dismissed this small episode without further thought.

He continued reviewing the documents, which covered a wide array of matters: the promotion of scientific composting, progress on the Saint-Étienne Industrial Development Zone, mileage for new wooden railways, advancements in high-pressure steam engines, experimental cannon production at the Royal Armory using fire cap mechanisms, and the influx of affordable Russian flax and American cotton, which had revitalized Lyon’s textile industry.

The sheer variety of tasks kept him occupied until the sun set.

Overall, France's industry, agriculture, technology, and military were all on track and entering a period of growth. Though the day’s work left Joseph exhausted, it also filled him with satisfaction.

Casting a glance at the last few documents, he decided to finish them all before dinner.

The next file was a request from the Paris Police Academy.

Thanks to the academy’s attractive benefits and promising post-graduation prospects, a large number of commoners had applied, with recruits traveling from far-off regions like Gascony, Lyon, and Brittany.

Even though Froyent had set exceedingly high admission standards, over 800 students were still accepted, bringing the academy’s total enrollment across two cohorts to nearly 5,000 students.

This number far exceeded the academy’s original capacity, leaving many cadets forced to share beds.

As a result, Froyent was requesting approval to expand to a new campus or establish a branch school.

Joseph smiled and immediately wrote down an address at the end of the application, instructing Froyent to continue admissions. He set the document aside for staff to deliver back to the academy the next day.

The address he provided belonged to an estate gifted to him by Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette for his birthday.

Joseph’s birthday was in late October, but as he had been in Tunis at the time, he hadn’t celebrated it. Still, his parents had sent the gift regardless.

The estate, situated just outside Paris, was of little use to him. Since its buildings were already constructed and the land was well-leveled, it would make an ideal extension for the police academy. Cadets could settle in and begin training with minimal effort.

Once the current 5,000 cadets graduated, combined with the Guard Corps, Joseph would command 8,000 elite soldiers. Including the Moulin Corps, his forces would total 12,000.

Considering that the entire French military only numbered around 110,000 to 120,000, and most of them were far less well-trained than Joseph’s forces, he was confident that, barring a nationwide mutiny, he could ensure the royal family’s safety.

Around 7 p.m., Joseph yawned and picked up the last file on his desk.

To his surprise, it was from Denico, manager of Paris News.

After skimming the contents, Joseph discovered that Denico was complaining about recent issues with the Press Bureau’s review standards.

Over the past two weeks, the bureau had repeatedly rejected news regarding the Viscount Ambor Arson Case, preventing the story from being published despite its significance.

Denico, upon inquiring with other newspapers, found that their reports on the case had also been blocked.

Arguing that the case didn’t involve the royal family and posed no harm to the public, Denico leveraged Paris News’ connection with the Crown Prince to file a direct complaint with Joseph.

Joseph frowned. The Press Bureau was under the jurisdiction of Count Morneau, and it was clear that he had likely accepted bribes to suppress media coverage of the case.

“That incorrigible embezzler...” Joseph muttered, shaking his head. He picked up a pen and wrote a letter reprimanding Morneau, warning him to rein in his behavior or risk investigation by the Office of Justice.

Stretching his sore shoulders, Joseph stood and headed toward the dining room. But just as he stepped out of his office, he heard Eymond’s voice from the staircase:

“Miss Fraise, if you wish to see the Crown Prince, please submit an appointment request first. Once it’s approved, I’ll notify you...”

Fraise? Joseph immediately thought of that eccentric young woman with the same surname. What could she want now?

Curious, he called out, “Eymond, let her up.”

“Oh, yes, Your Highness.”

Soon, Solène ascended the stairs, her dark blue dress flowing with her brisk stride. She curtsied anxiously. “Your Highness, thank you for agreeing to see me.”

Joseph nodded slightly in return and gestured for her to enter the office. “You seem to be in some urgency?”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Solène looked slightly uneasy. After all, she had yet to repay the 5,000 francs she had indirectly cost the Crown Prince last time, and now she was here to ask for another favor.

Summoning her resolve, she thought to herself: This is for justice. His Highness will surely understand!

Taking a deep breath, she met Joseph’s gaze. “Your Highness, please save those two heroes. I know I’m being presumptuous, but I truly have no one else to turn to.”

“Heroes? Who are you referring to?” Joseph asked, puzzled.

“The Malet brothers.”

Joseph frowned. “Who?”

Solène’s large eyes blinked rapidly. “Haven’t you heard about the Viscount Ambor Arson Case? Oh, right, the press hasn’t covered it. Those vile bureaucrats...”

Realizing she had inadvertently insulted royal appointees, she quickly changed the subject.

“Here’s the story, Your Highness: a poor girl named Céline had been harassed for a long time by the shameless Viscount Ambor.

“Her father, a mere coppersmith, dared not resist him. I helped her in secret on several occasions.

“Then, last month, that wretched noble kidnapped her and took her to his villa! I was planning to sneak in that night to rescue her, but the Malet brothers arrived first.

“They heroically set fire to the viscount’s estate, distracting everyone inside, and rescued Céline. The next day, she was safely reunited with her family.”

Joseph raised his eyebrows. “They set the house on fire to rescue her?”

“Yes, Your Highness. With only the two of them, it was a clever strategy,” Solène replied matter-of-factly before hastily continuing. “But two days later, they were arrested and swiftly sentenced to execution by the High Court.

“Your Highness, they are brave protectors of the downtrodden and don’t deserve such a fate. Please, I beg you to save them!”

Joseph immediately recalled the Press Bureau’s suppression of news regarding the Ambor Viscount’s arson case. Narrowing his eyes, he pondered: Could it be that Morneau was actually doing something right for once? Was he suppressing the news to keep the Malet brothers from becoming the center of public attention?

Perhaps the reprimanding letter he had drafted for Morneau didn’t need to be sent after all.

He turned to Solène and asked, “How many were killed or injured in the arson?”

“Viscount Ambor and his three henchmen died, and over ten others were injured. But they all deserved it!”

As she spoke, Solène stepped forward and knelt on one knee. “Your Highness, the Malet brothers are imprisoned in the Bastille and are scheduled for execution next week. I implore you to pardon them!”

Joseph helped her up, frowning. “This case occurred just last month. Why is the execution so soon?”

According to current legal procedures, even with irrefutable evidence, it usually took at least three to five months from sentencing to execution. The case had happened barely half a month ago.

Solène replied anxiously, “I don’t know either. I tried twice to rescue them but failed both times...”

Joseph’s eye twitched. “Rescue? Are you saying you attempted a jailbreak at the Bastille?”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Solène seemed unbothered by the notion. “I even saw them both, but the cell locks were impossible to pick.”

Joseph nodded. “That’s not surprising. Those locks were personally crafted by my father.”

After the infamous Diamond Necklace Affair two years prior, during which Jeanne de la Motte escaped from the Bastille, Louis XVI had personally designed and installed a batch of new locks using a dual-tooth mechanism that was exceptionally resistant to tampering.

He gestured to Solène. “Please return home for now. I will look into this matter.”

“Thank you so much, Your Highness!”

...

That evening, after a simple meal, Joseph sent couriers to Versailles to inquire with the Minister of Justice about the case.

The following day, Baron de Bréteuil personally came to Joseph’s office to report the details.

“Your Highness, the two brothers are minor nobles with no prior reputation for heroic deeds,” the Justice Minister explained. “After their arrest, they quickly confessed to the arson.

“I suspect the High Court expedited the execution because they deemed the brothers’ actions egregious and because Viscount Ambor was a figure of considerable influence.”

Joseph frowned and shook his head, sensing something was amiss.

Later, on his way to visit the Paris Police Academy, he took the Justice Minister with him and stopped by the High Court.

In the High Court Chief’s office, Chief Judge Dipore nervously lowered his head. “This indeed violates procedure, Your Highness. But the arsonists’ guilt is clear, and they would end up at the guillotine sooner or later. I will carefully review the case and submit a formal report to you.”

Joseph eyed him sharply and smiled. “I need to know the truth behind this case, Chief Dipore.”

Dipore forced a laugh. “W-What truth could there be?”

“In that case, I’ll hand this case over to Danton or even let the Supreme Royal Court review it.”

Dipore broke into a cold sweat and hastily signaled to a subordinate, “Bring Judge Croay here immediately.”

Judge Croay, who had overseen the arson case, arrived shortly afterward. Seeing the Crown Prince and realizing the case might escalate to the Supreme Royal Court, Croay divulged everything he knew.

Moments later, Joseph frowned at him. “Are you saying that Count Morneau instructed you to expedite the sentencing and execution of the brothers?”

“I swear, Your Highness, I only did so because Count Morneau paid me 30,000 livres and pressured me as a cabinet minister. I dared not defy him!”

Joseph’s astonishment deepened. Morneau had not only suppressed news of the arson but also bribed the judiciary to hasten the execution.

What is he trying to accomplish?

Joseph ordered, “Immediately detain Judge Croay for investigation, and keep this matter confidential.” He then left the High Court.

...

Later, Joseph summoned Fouché and tasked him with investigating the arson case, instructing him to focus on Morneau.

Within three days, Fouché presented his findings to the Crown Prince.

“Your suspicions were correct, Your Highness,” the intelligence chief reported. “The woman named Céline and her family supposedly left for Tunis seven days ago to farm. In reality, they were killed shortly after leaving Paris. Local farmers reported the crime.”

“Was it Morneau’s doing?”

“While there’s no direct evidence, it was almost certainly his men,” Fouché confirmed. “We also discovered that Morneau’s illegitimate son, Anthony—the one granted inheritance rights six months ago—had been feuding with Viscount Ambor over that woman.

“This was common knowledge among the nobility. Both men were infatuated with her, and Anthony had even assaulted her multiple times.”

Joseph’s expression darkened. “Get to the point.”

“Yes, Your Highness. The Malet brothers were close associates of Anthony. When Ambor kidnapped the woman, Anthony ordered his men to ‘punish’ him. The brothers, apparently unsure how else to deal with Ambor, resorted to arson.”

“So after their arrest, Morneau feared the truth would come out and suppressed the news. Then he bribed the judiciary to threaten the brothers into silence and expedite their execution, ensuring there would be no evidence left behind.”

“That scoundrel!” Joseph slammed his hand on the desk. “Keep a close watch on Morneau’s household to prevent Anthony from escaping. But take no further action for now.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Fouché said, bowing before leaving.

Joseph stared at the investigation report, frowning deeply. Morneau’s actions warranted severe punishment, but as Minister of the Interior and the third-ranking member of the cabinet, removing him could destabilize the political landscape. How can this be handled without causing a major political crisis?

...

The situation took an unexpected turn.

The very next day, every major newspaper’s front page blared the headline: “Interior Minister’s Son Implicated in Ambor Viscount Arson Case, Summoned for Questioning.”

The revelation sent shockwaves through Paris.

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