BXBX NOVEL Chapter 43 The Radical Decision
"Before we begin, I want to ask if this room is safe for discussing classified subjects," Napoleon began, his eyes darting around the grand salon.
"You don\'t have to worry about being eavesdropped, Napoleon, as no one would enter here without my permission. Though I suggest lowering the tone of your voice," Ciela replied, her voice adopting a formal tone.
Napoleon hummed in satisfaction and spoke again. "Ciela, since you came from the modern world and know a lot of things about this revolution and my personal life, I want to ask how this would unfold? Especially after the massacre in Champ de Mars."
Ciela grabbed the teacup from the saucer gracefully and sipped it.
"Hmm…things would start to get worse from here, Napoleon. Ciela placed her teacup back on the saucer with a delicate clink, her eyes fixed on Napoleon\'s troubled expression.
She told Napoleon everything, the insurrection the next year, the war of the first Coalition, and the execution of the royal family. As expected from someone who is from the future with an interest in world history, she would know about it. Even though he knew the answer, Napoleon thought it would be prudent to ask her, leading her to believe that he was not in the same situation as hers.
"I see, the royal family will be executed," Napoleon murmured. As someone from the modern world, he too thought that killing the royal family was just stepping out of the frying pan and into the fire. It was a decision that would further ignite the flames of discontent among the monarchies of Europe, turning the revolution into a full-fledged war.
For him, it was an unnecessary action made by the Jacobins, who feared that when France was defeated in the war, they would return King Louis to the throne, and have all the revolutionaries executed for treason. For them, it was the right action to protect the revolution.
Ciela observed Napoleon\'s troubled expression and recognized the conflict within him.
"Napoleon, what do you want to do, after knowing how the events would play out in the future?" She asked, her tone serious.
"Hmm, I\'m thinking of saving the royal family," Napoleon said.
Ciela\'s eyes widened in surprise at Napoleon\'s unexpected response. Saving the royal family went against the course of history she knew. Recalling the times when she was studying Napoleon Bonaparte. Although pragmatic about the revolution and cared only for his rise through the ranks, he expressed his disapproval of executing the king, believing that the revolutionaries made it just worse for France.
Ciela started contemplating the what-ifs if Napoleon decided to save the royal family. Well, it won\'t make any difference to Napoleon\'s rise to power. He would have been King in exile and be considered to have fled France and forfeited the throne. Louis XVI\'s escape could have been seen as an abandonment of his responsibilities as king and further undermined his legitimacy in the eyes of the French people.
Sure, the king might rally an army with the help of foreign neighbors but when Napoleon rose to power and led France out of economic downturn and brought stability, and got popular out of it. The King wouldn\'t have been able to rally support from the French population who were already accustomed to his leadership.
For her, she didn\'t care about the royal family, she cared about Napoleon getting all the power to himself, and she would do everything in her power to make it a reality. Everything that she has done so far is for Napoleon, and Napoleon only.
"If you want to save the royal family, Napoleon, you will have plenty of time to prepare. However, I don\'t think you would be present at the time of the insurrection as you would be called to service in July, escorting supplies to Nice."
Napoleon hummed in thought, Ciela was right. He would be called into active service as a Captain of an artillery regiment.
"Is that so? So how can I save the royal family?" Napoleon asked, wanting to hear more of her thoughts.
"It\'s simple, Napoleon. Let me take care of it. I will assure you with all my heart that I will save King Louis and his family, and help them escape out of this country. You are destined for greatness, Napoleon, and I can\'t jeopardize your future by allowing you to take part in the rescue of the King."
Napoleon gazed deeply into Ciela\'s eyes, his mind consumed with thoughts as he contemplated her audacious proposal. She had raised valid points that resonated with his concerns. Saving the royal family would undoubtedly jeopardize his own ascent to power if the revolutionaries were to discover his involvement. Yet, he couldn\'t help but worry about the feasibility of Ciela\'s plan. The insurrection of 1792 was not an ordinary uprising; it was a violent storm of enraged mobs descending upon the Tuileries Palace, leaving a trail of death in their wake. Despite having taught Ciela martial arts, he knew all too well the dangers that lay ahead in such a perilous mission.
Ciela noticed the turmoil swirling in Napoleon\'s eyes as he grappled with the weight of his decision. She understood his concerns and the risks involved in attempting to save the royal family amidst the chaos of the impending insurrection. And that made her feel special. Napoleon genuinely cared for her, and she could imagine Napoleon telling him not to go forward with it.
Napoleon opened his mouth and spoke. "I want no mistake."
Ciela\'s eyes widened again. It was different from what she imagined.
"Na–Napoleon…are you not even worried about my safety," Ciela asked, stammering.
Napoleon simply rose to his feet and walked towards her. And then, he extended his hands and patted her on the head.
"Eh?"
"Ciela, I trust that you will be able to pull it off. You are the only woman so far that has managed to surprise me at every turn. Of course, I care about you, that\'s why you must proceed with caution so that you can return to me."
Ciela grabbed Napoleon\'s hand, stopping it from moving on her head. "Moah…stop patting my head you silly, I\'m not a kid."
"Oh my, you don\'t want it?" Napoleon smiled mischievously, his eyes gleaming with warmth. "But I thought you enjoyed it."
Ciela blushed, her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink. She quickly averted her gaze, trying to hide her embarrassment. "I-It\'s not that I didn\'t like it…you dummy..!"
"Well, at least let me stroke your hair for a while. I missed stroking it since we separated," Napoleon said.
Ciela\'s heart fluttered at Napoleon\'s words, and a soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She couldn\'t deny that she missed the gentle touch of his hand on her hair. With a mix of exasperation and fondness, she finally relented, allowing Napoleon to stroke her hair.
"Fine, just for a while," she muttered, trying to sound nonchalant.
Napoleon\'s fingers delicately weaved through her hair, the soft caress sending shivers down Ciela\'s spine. As he continued stroking, a peaceful silence enveloped the room.
Moments later, Napoleon decided to break the silence.
"Ciela, I want you to show me around this Château."
Ciela turned her head slightly, her eyes meeting Napoleon\'s intense gaze.
Ciela felt a rush of warmth coursing through her veins as Napoleon\'s eyes locked with hers. There was a certain intensity in his gaze that sent her heart racing. She nodded in response to his request, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course, Napoleon."
Napoleon released his hold on her hair and stood up, extending his hand towards Ciela. She took it without hesitation, feeling a surge of excitement and anticipation. Together, they walked out of the grand salon and ventured into the vast corridors of the Château.