I am the Dauphin of France

Chapter 3: Journey to Paris

Before the Queen could respond, the tall, thin man with a cold expression suddenly cleared his throat and stepped forward: "Your Majesty, did you mention that the Crown Prince will participate in government affairs?"

Queen Marie turned her head, her tone calm: "Yes, Duke of Orléans, I agreed with the Crown Prince that if he completed his university courses, he could participate in state affairs."

The Duke of Orléans' eyes narrowed, his thoughts racing: The Crown Prince has always been mediocre; why has he suddenly become so impressive? Could it be that he has been pretending all this time? But why would he do that, and why reveal his abilities now? 

Whatever the reason, the Crown's prestige has greatly diminished under my manipulation, and its position has become unstable. If a 'genius Crown Prince' suddenly appears, it will surely bolster the court's confidence in the monarchy.

This would be very detrimental to my plans. I must find a way to suppress him! 

A thought flashed through his mind, and he immediately said loudly: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is still young and inexperienced in governance. I believe it would be more appropriate to select a seasoned minister to teach him the intricacies of governance for a few years before he participates in state affairs."

Queen Marie frowned slightly. 

The Duke of Orléans had a point. Although the Crown Prince was incredibly gifted, he was only thirteen. If he made mistakes in governance, it could harm his reputation.

She looked at her son and, in a conciliatory tone, said: "Joseph, perhaps you could study a bit longer."

Joseph glanced at the Duke of Orléans. As a transmigrator, he knew this man’s true nature—Louis Philippe, a close relative of Louis XVI. 

While everyone thought he was loyal to the crown, he had been plotting to overthrow the royal family and seize the throne for himself since his father's time.

In history, after the French Revolution succeeded, the Duke of Orléans unhesitatingly voted in favor when the Girondins decided whether to execute the king. His crucial vote ultimately sentenced Louis XVI to death by a margin of 301 to 300. It could be said that it was his decisive vote that sent Louis XVI to the guillotine!

Joseph hadn't expected him to jump out so soon and thus didn’t back down: "Your Majesty, Joan of Arc was my age when she defeated the English army. She proved herself through her actions. Please trust my abilities and give me a chance to prove myself!"

The Duke of Orléans said earnestly, "Your Highness, state affairs are of great importance and cannot be managed by mere confidence..."

Joseph wasn’t one to put up with him. He decisively interrupted: "Duke of Orléans, this is a matter between Her Majesty and me. Please do not interfere."

He then turned to the Queen: "Mother, if I become the Assistant Minister of Finance, I can learn from Bishop Brienne, can't I?"

The cabinet ministers were taken aback, not expecting the young Crown Prince to have the courage to confront the Duke of Orléans directly. Even the Prime Minister usually had to consult with him.

The Duke of Orléans didn’t expect Joseph to be so disrespectful, and after a moment of stunned silence, he shouted angrily: "Finance is the lifeline of France! It cannot be entrusted to an inexperienced youth!"

Several ministers nodded in agreement. Seeing this, Queen Marie looked again at the resolute Crown Prince and ultimately offered a compromise: "Joseph, start at the City Hall. If you perform well, we can discuss your involvement in financial affairs."

Joseph glanced around at the seven or eight cabinet ministers in the room, realizing that with them present, it would be difficult for the Queen to give him a free pass. It seemed he had no choice but to spend some time at City Hall first. He nodded: "Yes, Your Majesty."

The Duke of Orléans wanted to continue stirring trouble, stepping forward: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince should first learn—"

"That’s enough," Queen Marie interrupted, raising her hand. She looked at Brienne, "Please continue discussing the tax reform."

Joseph sat aside, listening to the rest of the cabinet meeting. He gained a deeper understanding of France’s dire financial situation—90% of the meeting was about money, or rather, the lack of it.

After the meeting, the Queen insisted on rewarding him, dragging him along to taste a variety of sweets. It wasn’t until his throat was sore from the exquisite, diverse cakes, puddings, and macarons that he was finally set free.

Joseph, burdened with thoughts, left the tea room and suddenly considered following in Louis XVI’s footsteps. 

When he reached the King's quarters, he was informed that Louis XVI was engrossed in a "world-shaking masterpiece," having spent three days and nights in the lock workshop without coming out.

Joseph felt a wave of exhaustion. With a father like this, how could he avoid the guillotine?