The Crown Prince of France - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: The Girls’ New Fashion

Talking with a clever person is always easy. Joseph smiled and nodded. “Guizot is likely guilty of hiring assassins and shielding criminals. I will explain this clearly to Her Majesty the Queen.”

“Your Highness is truly the voice of fairness,” Count Morneau said, immediately placing a hand on his chest in salute. “Please believe me, I will always remain loyal to the King and Queen, and to you as well!”

“Thank you for your loyalty. Oh, and your scimitar—I am quite fond of it.”

Morneau felt a heavy weight lift from his heart. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he excused himself and left in haste.

Suddenly, Joseph recalled that the Minister of the Interior, who oversaw municipal governance and police supervision across France, was also responsible for appointing the Chief of Police in Paris—a position currently held by Morneau.

As Joseph intended to focus his efforts primarily on financial reforms, he needed a trustworthy person to carry out the overhaul of the police system. Additionally, the police department could serve as a convenient cover for an intelligence agency he was planning.

He raised his hand to call Morneau back and asked, “By the way, who will succeed the position of Paris Chief of Police?”

Morneau immediately thought of the Crown Prince’s push for police reform and replied without hesitation, “Naturally, I will defer to your Highness’s recommendation.”

Joseph nodded in satisfaction. “Good. I will provide my suggestions soon. Also, I firmly believe that Guizot’s actions have nothing to do with you. Please, go on your way.”

“Thank you for your Highness’s trust.” Morneau gave a deep bow, backed away three steps, and turned to leave.

After walking about ten meters, he finally exhaled deeply. However, he no longer dared to treat the Crown Prince as an easy-to-fool youth. During their conversation in the carriage, the Crown Prince had firmly controlled the dialogue, displaying calm confidence and skill that reminded Morneau of his dealings with Louis XV in his prime.

As his carriage driver set course for Versailles, Morneau muttered under his breath, “Truly a son favored by the divine. It seems I should distance myself from the Duke of Orléans in the future.”

Joseph continued on his journey for another hour when the sound of a sonorous horn, accompanied by the lively rhythm of military drums, broke the stillness.

Eymond leaned closer and whispered, “Your Highness, we have arrived.”

The carriage soon came to a halt. Two unfamiliar nobles approached, with one opening the carriage door and bowing in waiting, while the other placed a wooden step before the door.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, welcome back.”

Joseph stepped out of the carriage, nodded in acknowledgment, and cast his gaze forward. A hundred impeccably uniformed guards formed two rows, their swords raised high to the sky. Beyond them, the marble courtyard before the Palace of Versailles was crowded with hundreds of nobles, clustered eagerly on the steps, their eyes fixed on him with anticipation.

As soon as the Crown Prince appeared, a cheer erupted from the crowd, overwhelming even the music played by the band.

Joseph was taken aback. “What is the meaning of this?”

The two nobles quickly explained, “Your Highness, the King and Queen are here to personally welcome you.”

Joseph rubbed his forehead. This ceremony resembled the reception for a general returning in triumph from a war against a foreign enemy...

It was no surprise, though. Since ascending to the throne, Louis XVI had immersed himself in crafting locks and had done little of note. Queen Marie Antoinette, though diligent, was limited by her abilities and had only barely managed to maintain governance. Rumors of her extravagant spending had further eroded the royal family’s reputation.

Now, the Crown Prince had stunned Paris by imprisoning the Chief of Police and clearing out nearly all the criminals in the Saint-Antoine District. He had become the focal point of discussions across Paris.

With such an achievement, how could Louis XVI and the Queen resist celebrating on a grand scale?

Thus, this unprecedented welcoming ceremony was held. Many nobles who were not permitted to stand in the marble courtyard waited anxiously inside the Palace of Versailles.

Joseph walked through the honor guard. His eyes landed on the woman standing at the top of the steps—a regal figure wearing a voluminous purple silk gown with a white ermine shawl draped over her shoulders. Her towering coiffure was adorned with two long feathers.

It was Queen Marie Antoinette.

Beside her stood a pudgy man, half-hidden behind her. He wore a blue velvet coat embroidered with intricate silver threads, a black tricorne hat, and black calfskin heeled shoes. His expression was tense. This man was none other than the current King of France, the famous locksmith and social recluse—Louis XVI.

Joseph quickened his steps toward them.

As he advanced, the nobles lining either side of his path bowed deeply in greeting. The area before the palace’s grand entrance became a rippling sea of colorful waves flowing upward toward the stairs.

Just as Queen Marie Antoinette smiled warmly and prepared to embrace her son, a young noblewoman in an off-shoulder gown to Joseph’s right seemed to falter from the cold. Her pale body leaned forward as she collapsed.

Joseph instinctively caught her and asked with concern, “Are you alright?”

The girl closed her eyes and nestled her icy form into his arms.

Nearby noblewomen immediately shot her dagger-like glares, their teeth clenched in anger: Alisa, you wretched schemer! Using such underhanded tricks to get close to the Crown Prince!

The Crown Prince had once been dismissed as unimpressive and mediocre, earning little favor among the noblewomen despite his lofty status.

However, stories of his recent deeds—“astounding Lagrange with his intellect,” “eliminating crime in the Saint-Antoine District in two days,” and “solving a murder case in three minutes”—had transformed him into a legend.

Discussing the Crown Prince and gathering news about him had become a new fashion among the young women of Versailles. They could barely finish three sentences without mentioning him at least twice.

The “Son Favored by the Divine” had become every girl’s dream. Even those who knew they could never marry him longed to become his mistress.

A tall girl on his left thought, Hmph! I can do that too. She tossed her fan to the ground and gasped, “My dress is too tight; I can’t breathe!” before leaning toward Joseph.

Joseph quickly caught her with his left hand. The air grew thick with jealousy as exclamations like “It’s so cold!” and “I suddenly feel faint!” rang out. In no time, more than a dozen young women were swooning toward him.

Joseph, flustered and unsure of what to do, was soon rescued by Captain Kessold, who stepped forward, plucking the two girls from Joseph’s arms and barking at the guards, “Help the young ladies up at once!”

“Yes, sir!”

The “unconscious” noblewomen peeked as the burly guards approached and, miraculously, regained their balance, standing gracefully as if nothing had happened.

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