Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

“Wait,” Lady Adelaide’s eyes widened, “perhaps I misheard, but did you just say, Queen?”

“Yes, Queen.” Joseph confirmed once more, “I assure you, the Queen of Modena, personally crowned by the Pope.”

“But, how could that be…”

Joseph gestured for her to continue walking as he explained, “You know, His Majesty Ercole III has no heirs. If you marry, when he passes away, you would naturally take over Modena.

“As for the coronation, the Pope will offer it to you proactively.”

Lady Adelaide’s hands hung in the air, astonished, “I remember Ercole III having a daughter, whose son is already of age. Perhaps Ercole III might leave the duchy to that young man.”

“No, he won’t.” Joseph replied confidently, “Even if our country agreed, the other member states of the Mediterranean Security Organization would firmly oppose.”

Lady Adelaide immediately understood.

Ercole III’s daughter had married the son of Queen Theresa of Austria; their children bear the Habsburg name!

Currently, the various Northern Italian countries have firmly tied their interests to France; how could they accept a neighboring country ruled by the Habsburg family?

Though Lady Adelaide resided in the Palace of Versailles, she was not a lady solely preoccupied with dancing and playing games.

On the contrary, she was well-versed in politics.

During the time Louis XV was gravely ill before his death, she had once briefly presided over the governance of France.

This was one of the main reasons Joseph decided to send her to Modena — her competence was enough to handle the situation.

Joseph continued, “I believe His Majesty Ercole III understands this point himself.

For him, marrying you and receiving France’s full support during his final days, making Modena unprecedentedly strong and enjoying the pinnacle of life, would be the best scenario.”

Lady Adelaide’s heart began to race.

She was a capable woman, never content to die of old age in the Palace of Versailles. She indeed yearned for a marriage and love she had never had.

And as long as she went to Modena, all of this could be fulfilled.

Yes. She nodded silently in her heart, her life should end with the title of a Queen!

She looked at the Crown Prince, showing a grateful smile, “Oh, dear Joseph, you are so considerate. I will follow all your arrangements.”

Half a month later.

France’s marriage envoy arrived in Modena, officially conveying the French Royal Family’s affirmative stance on the marriage to Ercole III and Lady Adelaide.

In fact, the Duke of Modena had already learned of this news through the Sharp Signal Tower over ten days prior and was thrilled at the time.

The fact is, Lady Adelaide was a renowned beauty across Europe in her youth, which was why she was rumored to have affairs with several European monarchs. Young Ercole III, as a Crown Prince of a small nation, never dared to entertain any presumptuous thoughts about her.

Even the old King of Spain, Charles III, couldn’t forget about her even on his deathbed.

Although she is older now, that elegance and grace have not diminished.

Ercole III felt as though a youthful dream had finally come true. At least, in this respect, he had triumphed over the King of Spain.

Moreover, he knew that Lady Adelaide had amassed a rather substantial dowry.

Thus, Ercole III signed the marriage treaty with the French envoy that day and formally dispatched an emissary to the Palace of Versailles to propose.

…

The day after the pre-Fair ball, Queen Mary summoned Joseph to her tea room to sample the seasonal desserts.

In the Petit Trianon Palace, after Joseph tasted all the desserts on the table, he wiped the crumbs from his mouth with a napkin, and smiled at his mother, “I presume there is something you want to discuss with me?”

“Ah, indeed.” Queen Mary, troubled about how to begin, received a “divine intervention” and immediately followed the lead, “Our country and Austria have been at war for a long time…

Yes, the war was arbitrarily instigated by Vienna, causing significant harm to our country.

They must pay an adequate price for this, such as ceding territories in Northern Italy.

However…”

Joseph immediately interjected, “But the war must end, as continuing it benefits neither side.

Moreover, Vienna was deceived by the British; if they are willing to correct their mistakes, I don’t see the need to push them to the brink.”

Queen Mary blinked, feeling her lines were all taken by her son, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Joseph stuffed a piece of strawberry pudding into his mother’s mouth and continued:

“You see, His Majesty Leopold II once fought the Prussians alongside me. His Majesty Franz II is also my cousin; I would not embarrass him too much, would I?”

Queen Mary, chewing the dessert, just kept nodding.

Joseph picked up a cocoa-flavored macaron to feed his mother, “I will try my best to persuade the ministers to preserve Vienna’s basic dignity; rest assured.”

Queen Mary, quickly finishing what was in her mouth, looked at her son with some concern:

“Dear, you are now shouldering the heavy responsibility of France’s regency, and you cannot just consider the sentiment for Vienna while overlooking our country’s losses; the compensation needed must be obtained.”

“Mm, rest assured, I will end this war with dignity,” Joseph said while feeding Queen Mary more dessert, looking around, “Where is that violinist gentleman from last time? I’d like to hear him play.”

Beside him, the Countess of Debeninac signaled to the outside, “Mr. Lashape, the Crown Prince requests your presence.”

Thus, over an hour later, Queen Mary watched her son depart from the Petit Trianon Palace, gently letting out a sigh of relief, feeling she had fulfilled Count Moses’s request.

She wasn’t really harming France’s interests; she knew Austria had to compensate France, though she wished to spare an old friend from excessive suffering.

However, she hadn’t noticed that, although Joseph seemed to have said a lot just now, there wasn’t a single definitive commitment.

The following morning, Count Moses-Ariento, the Austrian envoy, unsurprisingly sought an audience with Joseph.

He had already received Queen Mary’s answer yesterday, knowing that the Crown Prince of France might show leniency, so he felt somewhat reassured.

After a solemn exchange of formalities, Count Moses respectfully addressed Joseph seated opposite, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, the Tugut Cabinet, which committed grave errors, has already been dismissed.

“On behalf of Count Kaunitz, I wish to privately discuss the ceasefire with you.”

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