Upon hearing this, the Marquis of Lucenay's demeanor faltered instantly. They had just recently blackmailed the Royal Family with the threat of "refusing to quell the unrest".
However, Joseph took a sharp turn in his approach:
"I've heard you intend to create an 'Alliance Front'?"
The Marquis of Lucenay immediately broke into a cold sweat, realizing Marquis de Saint-Veran must have confessed everything. He quickly waved his hands and denied:
"No, no, that was just…"
Joseph raised his hand to interrupt him:
"His Majesty is very displeased with your neglect of duty and allowing the rebellion in Auvergne to go unchecked. Moreover, your private collusion with other officers to influence the Royal Family's decisions is a very serious mistake."