The Crown Prince of France - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: The Duke of Orléans' Counterattack

Guizot was the first to react, summoning his subordinate seated at the far end of the banquet table. He instructed:

“Cesar, gather your men and investigate whether a dentist came into contact with Lenotre a month ago!”

Joseph pondered briefly and added, “If a dentist visited Lenotre’s residence, his servants should know.”

“But the servants’ testimonies didn’t mention this…” Guizot’s voice trailed off, and he froze. “No! Cesar, interrogate the servants as well!”

“Yes, sir!”

Outside the town hall, Lenotre’s fiancée had stopped crying. It was unclear whether the guards had driven her away or someone had informed her that the case would be reinvestigated.

By afternoon, the rotund mayor arrived with several municipal officials to invite Joseph to a banquet. Suddenly, Cesar rushed in and whispered urgently into Guizot’s ear. Guizot’s eyes lit up, and he turned to Joseph, bowing deeply before speaking in a high-pitched voice:

“Your Highness, as you predicted, Lenotre’s servant confessed after his arrest. He admitted that at the time of the crime, a dentist did indeed visit Lenotre’s home. The servant also took a bribe to provide false testimony.”

The guild president asked urgently, “And the murderer?”

“Cesar searched the dentist’s residence and found that he was an Englishman. His brother had fought in America and was killed by Lenotre. The dentist came seeking revenge.” Guizot coughed dryly. “However, Cesar accidentally killed him during the pursuit.”

More than a dozen municipal officials around them turned their gazes to Joseph. Their expressions were filled with awe and admiration. At the midday banquet, the crown prince had deduced the murderer’s identity based on scant clues.

Now, the police investigation results matched his deductions almost perfectly!

The rotund mayor immediately praised in a loud voice, “Thanks to the crown prince’s wisdom and foresight, the murderer didn’t escape justice.”

He then turned to his colleagues with a sly smile and whispered, “At least that woman won’t be causing trouble at the town hall anymore…”

...

That night, Joseph accepted the repeated invitations of the guild president, Fresselle, and stayed at his private villa. The town hall was too far from the Palace of Versailles, and Joseph didn’t want to travel back and forth.

Lying on the soft, luxurious bed, Joseph stared at the wall opposite him, his mind restless.

Throughout the day, the mayor and guild president had skillfully evaded his attempts to intervene in the police department. Rolling onto his side, he considered writing to the queen tomorrow if he still couldn’t persuade them. She could secure him a role within the police department.

Outside, Eymond lightly knocked on the door. “Your Highness, are you still awake?”

“Not yet. Come in.”

Eymond entered and respectfully handed Joseph a letter. “Your Highness, this was delivered by the police department. It appears to be from Mr. Lenotre’s fiancée.”

“From her? To me?”

Eymond’s tone grew somber. “Your Highness, she… she committed suicide tonight.”

Joseph felt a pang of sorrow. He hadn’t expected such a deeply devoted woman to exist.

He opened the letter and saw that the first lines were filled with gratitude towards Cesar and the other officers. She expressed her deep desire to thank the crown prince in person for uncovering the truth. However, due to the disparity in their status, she could only write this letter of thanks. The words of gratitude filled an entire page. At the end, she wrote that without Lenotre, her life was meaningless. Now that the police had avenged him, she intended to follow her beloved in death. She also requested that her wealth be divided between the crown prince and the police department after her passing.

Joseph was stunned by her bequest. Beside him, Eymond softly said, “Your Highness, it’s said that Miss Estelle left behind a fortune of 4,000 livres…”

...

By the banks of the Seine River stood the Palais-Royal, once a hunting lodge of Louis XIV and now the residence of the Duke of Orléans.

The House of Orléans had once served as regents during the reign of Louis XV, amassing immense power. Over a century, they had built a fortune rivaling that of the royal family.

The current Duke of Orléans had leveraged this legacy to expand his influence. Though he held no official position, he attended cabinet meetings and wielded significant power. A shrewd actor and lavish spender, he was a popular figure in political circles and highly esteemed among the nobility.

A luxurious carriage rolled into the Palais-Royal, halting before a flower-covered gallery. The duke descended via a set of steps laid out by his servants.

In the distance, voices from a speech echoed through the gardens. The duke glanced in that direction, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He knew a group discontented with the royal family was meeting there.

Indeed, the Palais-Royal had become a secret base for anti-royalist activity. Future leaders of the Feuillants, Girondins, and Jacobins were frequent guests. Additionally, forbidden goods, including controlled arms, were traded here.

The Duke of Orléans had spent decades cultivating his network, supporting any cause that could undermine the monarchy.

Casting his coat to a servant, he strode into the grand hall. As the doors opened, he saw his son berating a maid.

He coughed lightly and approached. “Philippe, what’s the matter?”

The youth turned, revealing himself as the same sharp-eyed boy who had taken a math exam with Joseph that morning. Pointing at the maid, he screeched, “This fool! She dared bring me tea when I’m in a foul mood! And it’s scalding hot!”

“What’s troubling you so much?”

“That Joseph!” Philippe clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. “He must have cheated! There’s no way he could have mastered university-level courses!”

After hearing the details, the duke frowned. He hadn’t expected the crown prince to earn the admiration of a scholar like Lagrange. After the debacle of Louis XVI, how had the royal line produced such a formidable heir?

He must suppress the crown prince’s rising prestige before it became an obstacle to toppling the king.

After soothing his son, the duke noticed his steward approaching briskly. Bowing, the steward announced, “Master, Monsieur Frouois requests an audience.”

“Lefebvre’s confidant? Show him to the study.”

...

In the study, the Duke of Orléans read the letter Frouois had delivered. A cold smile spread across his face as he handed the letter to his steward.

“The crown prince may have some cleverness, but he’s still a child. If he were content idling at the town hall, I’d have no way to deal with him. But he’s actively seeking involvement in police affairs.”

The steward, reading the letter, tutted. “Paris is a chaotic mix, especially the slums. Robberies and murders are unending. Even seasoned officials with decades of experience struggle there. The crown prince is setting himself up for failure.”

The duke nodded, smiling. “Since Joseph is so confident, let’s help him make a name for himself.”

He turned to Frouois. “Inform Lefebvre to appoint the crown prince as the police commissioner for the Saint-Antoine district.”

Police commissioner was a powerful role, second only to the police director, overseeing all law enforcement in one of Paris’s six districts.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

After Frouois departed, the duke instructed his steward, “Have Le Parisien and The Citizen’s Daily focus on the crimes and police management in Saint-Antoine. Highlight the commissioner in detail—our dear crown prince.”

“Yes, sir.” The steward bowed and exited.

The Duke of Orléans strolled to the window, gazing at the moonlit garden of the Palais-Royal. A smirk played on his lips.

“Once the Saint-Antoine district descends into chaos, let’s see how that Austrian harlot protects her son. Crown prince? Hmph. Soon enough, the people will think of you as just another fool like your father!”

His sneer referred to Queen Marie Antoinette, derisively nicknamed “the Austrian harlot.”

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