Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

When Brian and others carefully recorded the industrial development layout of the Rhineland, Joseph continued, “As for the wooden railways, just build some within the cities.

“The main mineral resources of the Rhineland region are close to the Rhine River, and they can be transported by ship to Baden and Strasbourg first. From there, they can be brought back to the country using the existing wooden railways.”

It would have been Carl Friedrich who would have been excited enough to kiss Joseph’s boots if he were here.

This essentially turns Baden into the central distribution hub for goods in the entire Rhineland, with the traffic income from caravans boosting Baden significantly.

Like that small country around the Malacca Strait in future generations, doing nothing, they could become a developed nation solely by the profits from passing merchant ships.

Brian and Mirabeau had a brief and quiet discussion before turning to Joseph, “Your Highness, according to what you just mentioned, we roughly estimate that the Industrial Development Fund needs an investment of thirty-five to forty million francs.”

Mirabeau added, “And when those coal mines are fully exploited, an additional investment of over thirty million may be needed.”

Although Joseph felt that this number should not be too far off, he still took a deep breath when he heard it.

Seventy million francs, purely in investment.

However, he also knew that this investment was necessary for development, so he nodded and said:

“Archbishop Brienne, please draft a detailed funding proposal and submit it to me as soon as possible. Oh, let’s set the total amount at fifty million francs.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Joseph then looked at Fulco, the director of the tax office, and began arranging the tax reform matters for the Rhineland region.

At this moment, Joseph felt the gaze of all the nobles directed towards him, then heard the court administrator loudly say, “Your Highness, which piece of music would you like to choose?”

Joseph secretly sighed.

He knew that it was now his turn as a representative of the younger generation of nobles to take the floor and lead the dance.

“Bach’s First Suite, please.”

He signaled to the band and then looked towards the young noble ladies, instantly receiving countless enthusiastic and fiery glances.

He would have liked to dance with Camellia, but in such a formal setting, her status was not quite appropriate. So he stepped forward and extended his right hand to a girl who was somewhat plump and around his age:

“Dear Sophie, may I have the pleasure of inviting you to dance?”

“Of course, my dear brother.” The girl immediately curtsied and placed her hand in his.

She was the eldest daughter of the Count of Artuwa, Louis XVI’s brother, and therefore Joseph’s cousin.

Joseph used to invite his sister Therese to “rescue” him in most situations where he needed to dance.

It was because whenever he invited other noble girls to dance, they would become entangled with him for a period of time thereafter.

And today, his sister was evidently engaged with another dance partner, so he had to ask Sophie for help.

The lively bray began to play, and Joseph and Sophie gracefully danced in the center of the Hall of Mirrors, surrounded by a dozen prominent young nobles accompanying them.

As Joseph spun around a circle, he caught a glimpse of Therese and Prince Modena Ludovico clinging closely to each other, dancing in perfect harmony.

Well, they had been glued together for a while, attending various balls, so they naturally coordinated well.

Joseph secretly thought: It seems I need to start arranging the wedding for my sister.

Yes, he had already persuaded Queen Mary to accept this Prince Ludovico from a minor nation as her son-in-law.

As a movement concluded, Joseph and the other nobles crossed paths and moved to a position closer to the edge.

Then he heard Queen Mary softly say, “Lady Adelaide, are you not feeling well?”

Joseph curiously looked over and saw his grandaunt, Lady Adelaide, Louis XVI’s aunt, covering her face with a fan, her shoulders trembling slightly, seeming to be crying.

“Oh, I’m fine. Thank you, Your Majesty the Queen.” Lady Adelaide took a deep breath and looked at Princess Therese, “It’s just, seeing the young people’s love as thick as honey makes me enviously breathless…”

Queen Mary turned to hug her gently and whispered, “Oh, you need not be envious, you see, we all love you.”

Joseph was somewhat perplexed; his grandaunt was single by birth and already in her sixties. Why did she suddenly lose composure seeing Therese and Ludovico so affectionate?

Sophie, seeing her cousin lost in thought, followed his gaze and then whispered, “Are you curious about Lady Adelaide?”

Joseph nodded.

His cousin immediately gestured with her eyes towards a circle of foreign dignitaries nearby: “I guess she might have seen Count Moses.”

Joseph looked towards the crowd and indeed spotted the middle-aged man—Moses Atogun, the former Austrian envoy to France. Well, after the two countries went to war, they no longer had envoys between them.

This Count Moses also had another identity—he was the ambassador who escorted his mother to her marriage.

As such, he held a special status in France, even at a time when relations between France and Austria were strained, he still had access to the Palace of Versailles.

A cold smile flashed in Joseph’s eyes; he knew what Mr. Moses was here to do.

However, dealing with his mother first rather than coming to speak to him suggested ulterior motives.

He then asked Sophie with some confusion, “But what is the relationship between Lady Adelaide and Count Moses?”

“You don’t know?” Sophie’s eyes danced with gossiping sparks, and she lowered her voice, “Emperor Joseph II had twice visited the Palace of Versailles, and both times Count Moses accompanied him throughout.”

Joseph blinked. How did this relate to the former Holy Roman Emperor?

Seeing him still looking puzzled, Sophie continued, “You might have heard that Lady Adelaide deeply loved Emperor Joseph II.

“After his wife passed away, she even tried to marry him. But he rejected her.”

Joseph nodded, so it was perhaps seeing Moses that triggered some emotions?

He was about to comment “Lady Adelaide is quite affectionate,” when Sophie added:

“Of course, some say her greatest love was Franz Xaver, oh, the Prince of Saxony.

“Hmm, or it might have been Emperor Charles III. But I don’t think so, because the king of Spain had already agreed to marry him, yet nothing ever came of it.”

Joseph sighed inwardly; it was more probable that Louis XV was reluctant to part with a dowry befitting his daughter’s stature, which left Lady Adelaide unmarried.

After all, none of this great grandfather’s five daughters were married…

He couldn’t help but bemoan the tragic fate of his grandaunt.

Suddenly, he thought of someone, reflexively looking towards Lady Adelaide.

Perhaps he could help make some amends for Louis XV.

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