Napoleon in 1812

Chapter 117

Perhaps it had not been leaked by them. Because Napoleon knew better than anyone else about the loyalty of his guards. There were many people who were suspected of being the culprits of the leak, such as officials from the theater that had made his reservation or government officials from the city of Nancy.

"No one would have known that so many people would gather to see us. They even analyzed our movements and followed us passionately! No leader in France has ever received such luxurious attention."

Napoleon's soft words were like an affirmation that they would not be held guilty of this, and it was a direct medicine to melt the frozen atmosphere. Baron Lacenne and other security guards and attendants breathed a sigh of relief. Marie-Louise asked Baron Fain.

"Then why don't we rent the entire theater under the na me of the imperial family just for today? Then at least we will be able to enjoy it comfortably."

"Today's concert is so popular... There are more than one or two people who made reservations. If the executive power is mobilized to enforce it, there is nothing impossible to do, but it would harm the honor of His Majesty and Her Majesty."

Nevertheless, Marie-Louise, who usually enjoyed opera, was determined to watch today's performance. The opera 'Fidelio' , which Beethoven produced and composed himself, performed at the Opera Theater, was not an easy performance to watch.

If it had been like usual, Napoleon would have persuaded Marie-Louise to give up watching the performance, but because he felt a sense of debt for various reasons, he promised to watch the performance she wanted together.

"I salute His Majesty, the Emperor of the Great Empire, and Her Majesty the Empress. I'm Joseph Romani, the ownerof the OperaTheater. This is themost

honorable moment in my life! It is an infinite honor for the theater and our family to serve you!"

"I wanted to see the opera performance at your theater today, but now that the situation has come to this, I'm a bittroubled. Is there any goodwayto do? I

want to trust the theater owner's thoughts so that it does not harm the customers of the theater who reserved thisperformancein advance."

Imperial Guard, bodyguards, and attendants were surrounding the theater owner Joseph Romani. In terms of shape, it seemed like the Emperor was using his position to force him to give up seats for the performance.

The reservation had already been made under the name of Bonaparte, but it was so crowded that it became difficult to enter the theater itself. Joseph Romani, who had been pondering at Napoleon's words for a while, said this.

"Today's Fidelio performance will be held once more at 9:30 p.m. If your Majesty wants, we can reschedule your reservation to the best seat for that time period. Also, unlike the 6 p.m. performance, there are quite a few seats left. If you wish, we will empty one area to welcome Your Majesty."

Joseph Romani apologized for bothering the Emperor and said that he would empty half of the concert hall altogether.

The headline 'The French Emperor Napoleon waited for this performance at the theater!' would make a good promotional text.

The owner might have further intentions, but it seemed pretty good for Napoleon and would not do any harm. If it was this much, Napoleon could see it at a cute level and pass it.

"We should do that, Your Majesty. It is said that not only outside the theater but also nearby streets are full of people gathered to meet Your Majesty. We don't know what kind of unsavory things will happen if we go through them, so I think it's better to get rid of the trouble and wait for the next performance."

Napoleon, nodding at the words of Baron Lacenne, the captain of the guard, looked at Marie-Louise. She was the one who wanted to watch the opera performance the most, so her judgment was the most important. Marie-Louise sighed lightly.

"If that is your will, then there is nothing I can do. Let's watch the next performance."

With the consent of the imperial couple, Baron Lacenne persuaded the crowd who gathered to see Napoleon by saying, 'The Emperor and the Empress have canceled the opera performance due to unavoidable circumstances, so please disperse and go back to your business to free the boulevard!'

There was a commotion, but it would be sorted out. Some of the people might expect Napoleon's cool speech, but he was honestly tired and wanted to rest a little. Meanwhile, Marie-Louise suggested.

"How about taking a look around the city center while eating for the rest of the time before the performance? It's been a while since I came out of the palace, so I don't want to go back early."

"It's going to be hard because there are so many people who came to see us... Well, it should not be bad."

She seemed to want to enjoy this short break more. As the Empress, Marie-Louise had to stay often at the court, but she had an extroverted personality.

As he said earlier, Napoleon was tired, but there was nothing he could do because he promised to lose to her unconditionally today.

'But if not now, when can I relax and enjoy this kind of leisure? It may be the luxurious last break that I can enjoy as the Emperor of France.'

Marie-Louise had a joyful expression. Seeing that, Napoleon's body was tired, but his heart was proud.

The place where Napoleon and his party were going to stay for a day was the city hall, located in the center of Nancy. Originally, there were going to go back to the official residence right after watching the opera performance, have a late meal and rest, but the order changed due to the small incident.

First, the imperial couple decided to relieve their fatigue after dinner after being guided to the official residence. Before that, Napoleon sent a message to the officials of Nancy.

Don't waste your precious manpower while preparing useless protocols or welcome greetings. Those who prepared and those who received are tired. It's best for them to focus on their respective duties as if nothing happened.

"Dinner is being prepared in the hall of chandeliers. We will move to the dinner hall soon."

Hmm.

Listening to the horseman's voice, Napoleon looked through the window at the city of Nancy. Even under the darkened night sky, the city's citizens looked bright as they traveled enthusiastically through the streets.

There were lanterns lit in each building, with chattering of men and women of all ages in between them. It was around sunset, so he could not see their expressions in detail, but he heard their bright-colored voices. Nancy, full of hope, happiness, and relaxation, was a great city at a glance.

It was very enjoyable to see the cities and countries developing through the reforms he led, and the people who regained their happiness.

Scenes that were not seen in the Empire that Nabot had ruined would now be easy to see anywhere in France. Napoleon's face also had a small smile.

Meanwhile, an object caught his gaze. The object in front was getting closer as the carriage moved forward. It was a barrel of rum, and a cart that appeared to have carried it.

The two objects were located right next to the streetlights that illuminated the road. They were common items that could be found anywhere in the city. Especially around bars, rum and beer barrels were always rolling around.

However, in this common landscape, Napoleon felt a little uncomfortable. The street where Napoleon and his party were now passing was a 'street of clothes' filled with clothing stores, fabric manufacturers, repair shops, and laundries. There were no bars or pubs, and no drunken citizens to be seen.

Every day at 6 p.m., local police patrolled the streets and imposed penalties on the locals who let objects spoiling the air in the streets, and they strictly managed obstacles that interfere with traffic on the central road where carriages passed.

There were no exceptions in any city in France. Napoleon knew it well because it was one of his own bills in discussion with the Imperial Council.

'It's 6:20 p.m. right now. Less than 20 minutes have passed since the city's officers inspected the streets once. In other words, the barrel and cart were brought by someone in a short time. There is no bar and no one drinking around, so who?'

"Stop the carriage for a moment."

"Your Majesty?"

"I told you to stop the carriage."

The horseman looked puzzled, but did not disobey the Emperor's order. When the imperial couple's carriage stopped, all the guards and attendants accompanying them stopped walking. They stood in front of the carriage and tried to ask why the Emperor stopped the march. It was then.

Booooom-1!

A huge noise shook the earth, like lightning in the dry sky, and the carriage loudly. Red flames and black debris spreading in all directions devastated the neighborhood like a gunpowder warehouse hit by an explosion.

The shouts, screams, and cries of the people who were swept away directly or indirectly by the explosion rang out alternately. This was no longer a street mixed with vitality and peace.

Guards and citizens collapsed while groaning. Startled by the sound, horses that were cut off from the carriage ropes ran wild. There were houses and shops on fire, and citizens fleeing in fear of another explosion.

Napoleon, who was the first to come to his senses in the midst of extreme chaos, responded first. He calmed Marie-Louise, who was greatly shocked.

"Ojemine! Ojemine (Oh my God)l!"

"Caml down, Marie!"

"Explosion... An explosion!... Lord Christ! Please protect this young subject!!..."

"We're all safe! The situation is over. Close your eyes and catch your breath."

When he hugged her strongly and stroked her back, Marie-Louise, who was panting as if she was out of breath, gradually stabilized. Napoleon leaned out of the carriage while the maids took care of her, who was in tears.

Guards and officers, who were wary of the surroundings, managed the injured and caught suspicious people recklessly, freaked out at the scene.

"There might be another explosion or shooting! It's dangerous, so Your Majesty must go inside the carriage and stay safe!"

"In such dark conditions, sniping is difficult even with for a British green coat. If I die here, think of it as the will of the Almighty God."

Napoleon looked at the explosives and the surrounding area with sharp eyes. The rum barrel and cart, which stimulated his senses, were indeed dangerous substances aimed at his life.

Explosives, wicks, and embers must have been hidden there. For an emperor, the threat of assassination could be said to be routine.

However, most of the assassination attempts were filtered out by secret inspectors, intelligence organizations, and court guards that protected Napoleon's surroundings. It was the first time since he moved to this world that he was directly exposed to this threat.

"...I will cancel all schedules and return to the residence at the city hall. Issue a formal summons to the mayor and the head of the local police office, and other people who have any connection to this incident. If they refuse, immediately exercise your right to arrest them."

"I will obey your order, Your Majesty!"

"We must uncover the truth of today's situation in detail. Search for criminals regardless of means or methods."

Napoleon's eyes gleamed blue.

"...Is this letter really from Viscount Cathcart?"

"That's right, Your Excellency."

Prime Minister Charles Grey received a secret letter from the Ambassador to St. Petersburg. His hands trembled and his face seriously stiffened.

What was written in the letter was like a detonator that would literally create a tremendous ripple effect through the European continent.

It was a great event that could shake the whole of Europe, and was incomparable to what had happened so far. And it was something that the British did not know until now.

"Why the hell are they doing this!? We even begged them to wait like that, but they arbitrarily made such an extreme conspiracy!?"

The incident committed by their allies could never be called a small conspiracy. They ignited a huge explosive containing thousands of pounds of gunpowder. Soon there would be a huge explosion that would wipe out all of Europe.

He was not angry because they made a dirty plot. Charles Grey would consider all means if they could get rid of Napoleon. The reason why he was truly angry was the fact that Britain was excluded from all this.

Thanks to this, Britain was unable to prepare at all to respond to the subsequent ripple, and it was quite likely that it would be driven to the forefront of the incident due to its previous belligerent diplomatic activities. In other words, it created a situation in which Russia acted and Britain would pay for the consequences.

"We should also contact the former subjects of the Kingdom over the sea, and proceed with the planned action as soon as the gunfire sounds."

"Sir, then?..."

"I think we should advance our war one step further. If Russia's crazy Tsar wants to go to war so badly, he should do it."

It was a point of no return.

Once they passed it, they would not be able to come back. Charles Grey judged that Alexander I had passed the critical point from the moment he devised this ridiculous conspiracy.

TL notes

Such an assassination attempt actually happened in Paris on December 24, 1800: the Plot of the rue Saint-Nicaise. Napoleon and Josephine were in a carriage heading for the opera when a cart full of gunpowder exploded near them. They were not hurt but 22 people died and several houses got destroyed.

Napoleon first suspected the Jacobins to be behind it and arrested some of them, but Joseph Fouche, who was then the Police Minister and a former Jacobin, tried to protect them. He later found out that it was a royalist conspiracy.