The Crown Prince of France - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Journey to Paris

The queen had not yet spoken when a tall, thin man with a cold and calculating expression suddenly cleared his throat. He stepped forward and said:
"Your Majesty, did I hear correctly that you wish for the Crown Prince to participate in governance?"

Queen Marie turned her head slightly and replied in a calm tone:
"Yes, Duke of Orléans. I made an agreement with the Crown Prince that if he completes his university studies, he may engage in state affairs."

The Duke of Orléans narrowed his eyes, thoughts swirling in his mind: The Crown Prince has always seemed mediocre. Why has he suddenly become so capable? Could it be that he has been hiding his true abilities all along? But why would he do that? And why reveal his talents now? What is he planning?

Regardless of the answer, the years of manipulation that had eroded the monarchy’s prestige had left its foundation unstable. If this so-called "genius Crown Prince" were to suddenly emerge, it could restore the court and public's confidence in the royal family, significantly undermining his own schemes.

This would be detrimental to his plans. He needed to suppress the Crown Prince somehow.

As this thought crossed his mind, he immediately raised his voice:
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is still very young and lacks political experience. I believe it would be more prudent to select an experienced minister to mentor him in governance for several years before involving him in state affairs."

Queen Marie frowned slightly. The Duke of Orléans had a point. Although the Crown Prince displayed remarkable talent, he was only thirteen years old. If he made a misstep in state governance, it could damage his reputation.

She turned to her son and said in a conciliatory tone:
"Joseph, perhaps it would be wise to study a bit longer."

Joseph glanced at the Duke of Orléans. As a time-traveler, he was well aware of the man’s true nature—Louis Philippe, a close relative of Louis XVI. Everyone believed he was loyal to the monarchy, but in reality, his family had long been plotting to overthrow the royal line and seize the throne.

In history, when the French Revolution succeeded, and the Girondins voted on whether to execute the king, the Duke of Orléans unhesitatingly voted in favor. His critical vote sealed Louis XVI’s fate with a tally of 301 to 300, sending him to the guillotine.

Joseph hadn’t expected him to be so quick to act. Without flinching, he countered:
"Your Majesty, Joan of Arc was my age when she defeated the English army three centuries ago. She proved her worth through action. Please trust in my abilities and give me the chance to prove myself!"

The Duke of Orléans responded in a tone of false concern:
"Your Highness, state governance is a serious matter. Confidence alone is not enough..."

Joseph interrupted forcefully with a sweeping gesture:
"Duke of Orléans, this is an agreement between the Queen and me. Please do not interfere."

He turned to Queen Marie again:
"Mother, if I serve as the assistant to the Minister of Finance, I can still learn under Bishop Brienne, can’t I?"

Several cabinet ministers in the room were taken aback. They hadn’t expected the young Crown Prince to confront the Duke of Orléans so boldly. Even the Prime Minister usually deferred to him.

The Duke of Orléans was momentarily stunned by Joseph’s direct challenge. It took him a moment to recover, and then he angrily exclaimed:
"The treasury is the lifeline of France! We cannot allow an inexperienced youth to meddle in such critical affairs!"

Several ministers nodded in agreement. Queen Marie, observing their reactions, turned back to her resolute son. Finally, she proposed a compromise:
"Joseph, you may first take a position at the City Hall. If you perform well, we can revisit the matter of involving you in fiscal affairs."

Joseph glanced around at the seven or eight cabinet ministers in the room, realizing that with them present, the Queen was unlikely to grant him full authority. It seemed he would have to bide his time at the City Hall for now. He nodded and said:
"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Duke of Orléans attempted to intervene again:
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince should first study..."

"It is decided," Queen Marie interrupted, raising her hand. She turned to Bishop Brienne and said, "Please continue with the discussion on tax reforms."

Joseph sat quietly, listening to the remainder of the cabinet meeting. He gained a deeper understanding of France’s dire financial situation—ninety percent of the discussions revolved around money, or more precisely, the lack thereof.

After the meeting, the Queen insisted on rewarding him, taking him to enjoy a variety of delicacies. He was overwhelmed by the assortment of elaborately crafted cakes, puddings, and macarons until his throat ached from the sweetness. Only then was he finally released.

Leaving the tea room, Joseph, weighed down with concerns, thought of adopting some of Louis XVI’s strategies.

When he arrived at the King’s chambers, he was informed that Louis XVI was engrossed in a “grand project” and had been holed up in his locksmith workshop for three days without emerging.

Joseph sighed heavily, thinking: With a father like this, how can we avoid the guillotine?

Shaking his head with a bitter smile, he turned to his butler, Eymond:
"Prepare the carriage. We’re heading straight to the Paris City Hall."

"As you wish, Your Highness."

As Joseph exited through the main gates of Versailles, he saw over a dozen carriages waiting in the marble courtyard, accompanied by some sixty or seventy attendants.

Recognizing many of them—his personal entourage of stylists, chefs, tailors, and more—he sighed and shook his head. Taking this crowd to City Hall? Chaos would be inevitable.

He promptly instructed Eymond to send them all back. After dismissing the entourage, he turned his attention to the royal silver carriage in front of him. Its elegant design, adorned with intricate carvings and gold accents, radiated luxury.

After a moment’s thought, he opted for a simpler attendant’s carriage, reasoning that traveling in the royal carriage would attract unwanted attention.

Soon, three modest gray-and-black carriages departed Versailles, speeding eastward toward Paris.

Versailles, situated in the western suburbs of Paris, was more than three hours away from the city center. Inside the carriage, Joseph yawned from boredom. Glancing around, he noticed a stack of documents on a small wooden table. Curious, he picked one up and found it to be detailed information on the Paris City Hall.

Looking across at Eymond, who smiled and bowed respectfully, Joseph realized that this had all been thoughtfully prepared by his butler. A man of exceptional foresight, Joseph mused, nodding appreciatively.

He began perusing the material, which covered the City Hall’s personnel structure, functions, and daily operations in great detail. On the third page, he noticed that the City Hall oversaw the Police Department.

Reading further, he confirmed that the Paris police were entirely under City Hall’s jurisdiction, and a spark of inspiration lit his eyes.

This role at the City Hall might not be a waste of time after all—it could be an opportunity to overhaul Parisian law enforcement.

For the people at the bottom of French society, chaotic public order was second only to heavy taxes as their greatest fear. Petty theft and robbery were commonplace, while violent crimes like home invasions and kidnappings occurred with alarming frequency. Meanwhile, gangs that extorted and oppressed citizens were a persistent scourge.

Modern policing had yet to emerge in Europe, leaving public safety dependent on community self-defense. Crime went largely unchecked, leaving the populace in constant fear.

Improving public safety would greatly enhance societal stability, which, in turn, could reduce public resentment against the monarchy.

As Joseph finished reviewing the materials and contemplated the details of reforming law enforcement, the carriage entered the city of Paris. The air immediately filled with a suffocating stench of rot and decay.

Table of content - Next Chapter >>>