The Crown Prince of France - Chapter 192

Chapter 192: European Clouds of War

At the center of the arena, Anna Solène lightly touched swords with her opponent in a ceremonial gesture. She then stepped back three paces, turned slightly, and placed her left hand behind her back, assuming a textbook starting stance.

The audience below began murmuring among themselves:

"Well, it seems this lady truly knows how to handle a sword."

"Don’t you know? She’s the sister of Viscount Fritz and studied under the Marquis de Launay, a master swordsman."

"The Marquis de Launay? That renowned Spanish fencing master?"

"Exactly, that’s him."

"Haha, it seems we’re in for quite a show today!"

The bell by the referee rang. Anna’s gaze sharpened instantly. Her rapier feinted toward her opponent's left chest while her nimble footwork pivoted her body to the right, her blade dropping low in a direct thrust aimed at the young man’s abdomen.

Her opponent, a tall nobleman, was no novice. Though caught off guard, his defensive stance remained firm as he swung his blade sideways in a powerful block.

Before their blades could clash, Anna withdrew hers and stepped back half a pace. Her eyes caught an opening in his upper body, and she immediately aimed another thrust at his face.

The young man, realizing he couldn’t evade in time, swung his sword in a broad horizontal slash, trying to force Anna back. However, she evaded like a butterfly flitting through a flower garden, gracefully stepping away from his blade and lunging at his thigh.

His next two clumsy blocks and counterattacks were effortlessly dodged by Anna, who retaliated with precise, sharp thrusts that had the audience applauding enthusiastically.

After just five or six exchanges, however, Anna’s heel struck something behind her. She instantly realized it was the edge of the platform. Panic set in as she understood her reliance on speed and agility had caused her to overlook the ring’s limited size.

Seizing her momentary distraction, her opponent swung his blade with decisive force—after all, with hundreds of nobles, including the Crown Prince, watching the match, he had no intention of holding back out of courtesy. He aimed to impress the King himself in two days with his skill.

Cornered by the wooden railing at the platform's edge, Anna had no room to dodge and was forced to raise her blade in defense.

A resounding “clang” echoed as her arm went numb from the impact. Physical strength was never her forte.

Her opponent pressed his advantage, attacking from another angle. Anna parried again, but the force of his strike bent her sword to the side. The young man immediately flicked his wrist, and the blunted tip of his weapon, sheathed in wood, pressed against her abdomen.

She had lost.

Anna stood stunned, her mind blank. She had come to claim the championship, only to lose in the very first round.

It wasn’t until the referee approached and urged her to leave the platform that Anna staggered down, dazed and crestfallen.

Her earlier confidence returned to haunt her. She had convinced the Crown Prince to wager on her victory, boasting that she would secure the prize money. The memory filled her with shame, and she wished she could dig a hole to bury herself.

She recalled the Crown Prince raising five fingers when placing his bet. Her heart sank. Given the royal family's extravagant ways, he must have bet at least 500 livres.

Or perhaps... 5,000 livres?

Yes! It must have been 5,000 livres!

Ruined. Completely ruined. Anna nearly burst into tears. The Crown Prince had helped her gain this opportunity to compete, and she had caused him to lose such a large sum of money. What should she do? Would he despise her now? Of course, he would!

Laughter from the audience filled her ears. Though it wasn’t mocking, most found the spectacle amusing.

To Anna, however, the laughter felt like a dagger to her pride. She hung her head low, her shoulders hunched like a kitten caught stealing, silently chanting to herself, No one sees me, no one sees me, no one sees me! She bolted past the audience, disappearing into the crowd.

No, this won’t do!
Shaking her head repeatedly as she walked, Anna clenched her fists. 5,000 livres! I can’t pretend this never happened!
Determined, she vowed that even though she didn’t have the money now, she would repay the Crown Prince in full one day.

...

In the stands, Maria Clementine waved her candy absentmindedly, looking disappointed.
“Cousin, I was planning to give this candy to that lady when she won, but she left so quickly.”

“Well, it’s alright,” Joseph said with a chuckle. “I only bet 10 livres on her.”

Maria tilted her head curiously. “Then where is she good at swordfighting?”

Joseph smiled faintly and didn’t answer, thinking to himself, In the Palais Royal, of course, where not even a hundred soldiers could pin her down.

As the afternoon’s fencing matches concluded, Joseph, accompanied by the Spanish Crown Prince and Maria, descended from the stands with laughter. His aide, Eymond, quickly approached and whispered in his ear:

“Your Highness, Archbishop Talleyrand has returned. He’s waiting for you in the reception hall.”

Joseph nodded slightly. He knew Talleyrand had much to report after traveling across the Americas and Europe.

Excusing himself from Antonio, Joseph handed Maria over to her lady-in-waiting and headed toward his chambers. Along the way, he remembered Antonio’s olive-green hat and made a mental note to prepare for its unveiling.

After some thought, Joseph turned and gave Eymond detailed instructions, who promptly departed to carry them out.

...

Back in the reception hall, Talleyrand greeted Joseph with a solemn bow.
“May God bless you, Your Highness. I couldn’t stop thinking of you after leaving Paris. I came straight here as soon as I stepped off the carriage.”

His words, though polite, subtly emphasized his loyalty. He hadn’t met with the Prime Minister or his direct superior, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, but came first to see the Crown Prince.

“Oh, I missed you too, Archbishop Talleyrand. Please, have a seat,” Joseph said warmly, gesturing toward the sofa. “Your journey must have covered over 7,000 nautical miles, correct?”

“More than 7,800, Your Highness,” Talleyrand confirmed. “I crossed the Atlantic twice.”

“You’ve worked hard,” Joseph replied, signaling for a maid to serve coffee and pastries. “You could have returned with Crown Prince Paul’s entourage.”

Talleyrand smiled. “Your Highness, I returned by ship and set out days after the Russian Crown Prince. Yet, here I am first. Besides, I thought it best to report some matters directly to you.”

Joseph leaned forward. “Please, go ahead.”

Talleyrand began his report, “As you anticipated, the Federalists in America strongly support purchasing warships and collaborating to combat piracy. If not for their financial constraints, Mr. Hamilton would have eagerly acquired an entire fleet.”

Joseph remarked, “Our intention is to offload surplus ships, not to bolster the American navy.”

“Indeed, Your Highness,” Talleyrand agreed. “However, they seem unusually interested in the Caribbean.”

Joseph nodded thoughtfully. “Your observations are astute. Once America has resources, it’s only natural they’d prioritize naval strength in the Caribbean.”

He recalled how, historically, the United States quickly built a capable navy that eventually clashed with France in the region, costing France significant Caribbean interests. Combined with the Haitian Revolution, French colonial revenues in the Americas had dwindled to nearly nothing.

Joseph continued, “When dealing with the Americans, we must both utilize and contain them. Above all, we must guard against their western expansion. Their hunger for North American territory is insatiable.”

Talleyrand, unconcerned, replied, “Your Highness, Americans are penny-pinching and lack resolve. I doubt they’ll risk challenging Spanish interests.”

Joseph refrained from elaborating further. History had shown that within a mere decade, the United States would absorb much of Louisiana from Spain, using strategic negotiations and persistence.

Talleyrand moved on. “Regarding trade, Mr. Hamilton privately assured me that, at equal prices, we’d have priority over Britain for their cotton exports.”

“Excellent,” Joseph said, pleased. With North America being the largest cotton exporter, securing a steady supply would bolster French textile production, strengthening its competition against Britain.

With American affairs discussed, Talleyrand shifted to his diplomatic experiences in Russia.

“Your Highness, upon my arrival in Saint Petersburg, I was promptly granted an audience with their Tsarina. Over the next ten days, she summoned me twice more, demonstrating her considerable interest in Franco-Russian relations.”

Joseph wasn’t surprised. France and Russia had overlapping interests, offering opportunities for strategic cooperation. Catherine II, one of Russia’s most astute rulers, was unlikely to overlook such potential.

Talleyrand continued, “The Tsarina expressed her gratitude for the firearms and uniforms you sent her, particularly the uniforms, which have become coveted items among her officers.”

Russia’s manufacturing capabilities lagged behind Western Europe. Despite producing flintlock rifles, their quality fell short of French standards. Even the secondhand muskets Talleyrand had obtained from America were seen as valuable assets by Russian soldiers. The Tsarina distributed the 15,000 Charleville muskets to her frontline troops in the Russo-Turkish War.

As for the uniforms, Joseph had specially commissioned them in Lyon to appeal to Russian tastes. With no strict standardization in Russian military attire, the French-designed uniforms stood out as stylish and modern. They were quickly adopted by Russian officers and noblemen.

Talleyrand chuckled, “The Tsarina mentioned that these uniforms are so popular they’ve already inspired new orders from Russian aristocrats. Two shipments of similar uniforms have been sent to Russia, each fetching over 100 livres per set.”

Joseph smiled faintly. The strategic intent behind these uniforms was clear. Beyond fostering goodwill, they opened a lucrative trade avenue. France's limited contributions—some muskets and uniforms—secured Russian support for France’s actions in North Africa, particularly against the Ottoman Empire. This arrangement allowed France to enjoy diplomatic benefits without committing extensive military resources.

Talleyrand elaborated, “The Tsarina also expressed support for our naval operations in North Africa and even suggested expanding activities to the Bay of Alexandria.”

Joseph narrowed his eyes in thought. The Bay of Alexandria bordered Egypt. Catherine’s suggestion implied Russia's acknowledgment of France’s sphere of influence stretching from Algiers to Egypt. This effectively isolated Britain and its Ottoman allies in the region.

“Her request comes with a condition, doesn’t it?” Joseph inquired.

Talleyrand hesitated slightly. “Yes, Your Highness. She hopes we’ll support Russia’s ambitions in Poland.”

Joseph sighed softly. Catherine’s interest in Poland was no secret. Historically, she orchestrated three partitions of Poland, carving it up with Prussia and Austria. While such moves strengthened Russia’s position, they destabilized European politics and invited backlash.

“Your Highness,” Talleyrand suggested, “perhaps we could use Poland to extract more concessions from Russia.”

Joseph shook his head. “Poland offers us limited direct benefits, but we must prevent Russia from seizing it too easily.”

Talleyrand frowned in confusion. “Why is that, Your Highness?”

“Because we must keep Prussia and Austria from aligning too closely,” Joseph explained patiently. He knew Talleyrand’s future role demanded a deep understanding of geopolitical dynamics.

Joseph elaborated, “On the continent, our most immediate rival is Prussia. Their ambitions on the Rhine River and their role as Britain’s proxy in Europe make them our natural adversary. Weakening Prussia weakens Britain.”

Talleyrand nodded thoughtfully. The Anglo-French rivalry was deeply ingrained, with both nations vying for dominance across Europe and the world.

Joseph continued, “To counter the Anglo-Prussian alliance, we need Austria on our side. Fortunately, Prussia and Austria are not natural allies. Their rivalry over Silesia is a prime example.”

Silesia, a wealthy province in northwestern Austria, had been annexed by Prussia decades earlier during the War of the Austrian Succession. The memory of that conflict, along with Britain’s interference, ensured lasting tension between the two powers.

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