Chapter 16: The Girls' New Fashion

Chapter 16: The Girls' New Fashion

Talking to someone smart always makes things easier. Joseph smiled and nodded, "Guizot's charges will likely be for hiring killers and harboring criminals. I'll make sure to explain everything clearly to the Queen."

"You are the embodiment of fairness, Your Highness," Monot said with a deep bow. "Please believe that I am forever loyal to the King, the Queen, and to you as well!"

"Thank you for your loyalty. Oh, and for the scimitar—I really like it."

With a huge weight lifted off his shoulders, Monot made some polite conversation before hurriedly taking his leave.

Just as Monot was about to depart, Joseph remembered that the Minister of the Interior was in charge of overseeing municipal affairs and police supervision across the country. This meant that Monot would be the one deciding on the new Chief of Police for Paris.

Given that Joseph planned to focus most of his energy on financial matters, it was essential to have a reliable person to carry on the police reforms. Additionally, the police department could serve as a cover for the intelligence agency he was planning.

So, he called out to Monot, asking, "By the way, who will be the next Chief of Police for Paris?"

Monot immediately thought of the Prince's police reforms and responded without hesitation, "Of course, Your Highness' opinion will be the most important in making that decision."

Joseph nodded in satisfaction. "Good, I'll make sure to give you my suggestions. And I'm certain that Guizot's actions had nothing to do with you. Safe travels, Count."

"Thank you for your trust, Your Highness." Monot bowed deeply, then backed away before turning to leave.

As he walked away, Monot finally exhaled the breath he had been holding. He resolved never to underestimate the young Prince again. Throughout their conversation in the carriage, the Prince had maintained control, showing a calm and composed demeanor that reminded Monot of the days when he had faced Louis XV.

He instructed his coachman to return to Versailles, muttering under his breath, "Truly the child blessed by the heavens. It seems I'll need to keep my distance from the Duke of Orléans from now on."

Meanwhile, Joseph's carriage resumed its journey. After about an hour, the sound of a long, melodic horn and a lively drumbeat echoed from up ahead.

Emon whispered, "Your Highness, we've arrived."

The carriage soon stopped, and two unfamiliar noblemen approached. One opened the carriage door, bowing deeply as he waited for the Prince to step out, while the other placed a wooden step before the door.

"Welcome back, Your Highness."

Joseph stepped out of the carriage, nodding to them as he took in the scene before him. Over a hundred uniformed guards lined both sides, their swords raised high. In the marble courtyard at the entrance to Versailles, hundreds of nobles had gathered on the steps, eagerly watching his approach.

As the Prince emerged, the crowd erupted in cheers, their voices drowning out the music played by the band.

Joseph was puzzled. "What's all this for?"

One of the noblemen quickly responded, "Your Highness, the King and Queen are here to personally welcome you."

Joseph rubbed his forehead, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the spectacle. It felt like he was returning home after a victorious battle against a foreign enemy.

But it made sense. Ever since Louis XVI ascended to the throne, he had been more interested in playing with locks than in ruling the country. The Queen, being a woman with only moderate abilities, could barely manage the affairs of state. Rumors of her lavish spending had only further eroded the monarchy's reputation.

Now, with the Prince's recent achievements—arresting the Chief of Police of Paris and nearly wiping out all criminals in the Saint-Antoine district—he had become the talk of Paris. With such an accomplished son, how could Louis XVI and the Queen not make a grand display of their pride?

And so, this unprecedented welcome ceremony had been organized. In fact, many nobles who couldn't fit in the marble courtyard were eagerly awaiting the Prince's arrival inside the palace.

As Joseph walked through the guard of honor, he looked up to see a stately woman dressed in a wide-skirted, purple silk gown with a white ermine shawl draped over her shoulders. Her tall hairpiece was adorned with two long feathers. This was none other than Queen Marie Antoinette.

Next to her, half-hidden behind her voluminous skirts, was a nervous-looking, chubby man dressed in a finely embroidered blue velvet coat, a black tricorn hat, and black calfskin boots. This was Louis XVI, King of France, renowned lock enthusiast, and social anxiety sufferer.

Joseph quickened his pace, heading toward them.

As he walked, the nobles on either side bowed deeply, creating the illusion of a great wave of color slowly sweeping up the steps toward the King and Queen.

Just as Queen Marie smiled warmly, preparing to open her arms to embrace her son, a young noblewoman in a low-shouldered dress to Joseph's right seemed to lose her balance in the cold. Her pale body swayed, and she fell forward.

Out of reflex, Joseph reached out to steady her. "Are you all right?"

The girl, with her eyes closed, leaned into him, her cold body nestling closer.

The other noblewomen around them immediately glared, their eyes practically shooting daggers. They silently cursed Alisa for using such a shameless tactic to get close to the Prince!

Previously, the Prince had been seen as unremarkable, even somewhat useless. Despite his noble status, he wasn't highly regarded among the noble ladies.

But now, with tales of the Prince's scholarly brilliance, his swift elimination of the Saint-Antoine criminals, and his quick resolution of a murder case spreading through Versailles, he had become the subject of endless fascination among the young women.

Talking about the Prince, collecting news about him, had become the latest trend among the young ladies at Versailles. Almost every conversation was dominated by discussions of the Prince.

The "Child Blessed by the Heavens" had become the dream lover of all these girls. Even those who knew they stood no chance of marrying him would be content just to be his mistress.

The tall girl on Joseph's left wasn't about to be outdone. She deliberately dropped her fan, exclaiming, "This dress is too tight—I can't breathe!" before leaning toward the Prince.

Joseph quickly extended his left hand to support her, and the air around them was suddenly thick with the scent of jealousy. Cries of "It's so cold!" and "I feel faint!" echoed around him as ten or so delicate ladies simultaneously stumbled toward him.

Just as Joseph found himself at a loss, Captain Crozod of the guards stepped forward, lifting the two girls from Joseph's arms with one hand each. He then barked orders to the other guards, "Help the young ladies to their feet!"

"Yes, sir!"

The noblewomen, who had appeared to be fainting, quickly regained their composure at the sight of the burly guards rushing toward them. They miraculously stood up straight, once again displaying their impeccable poise.

(End of Chapter)