The night had settled upon the city of Paris, its streets bathed in a soft glow that emanated from the electric street lamps lining the boulevards. A gentle mist hung in the air, adding an ethereal quality to the scene as carriages passed by, their wheels gliding silently over the cobbled streets.
One of the carriages that graced the streets was that of Ciela Bonaparte, making its way through the enchanting city. Seated next to her were her children, Aveline and Francis, their heads resting gently on her shoulders as they gazed out at the illuminated cityscape passing by.
Seated across Ciela was Talleyrand, who watched her and her children with genuine warmth in his eyes. The flickering light from the electric street lamps cast a soft glow on his face, accentuating the lines that etched his distinguished countenance. He observed the tender bond between Ciela and her children, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.
"You have a truly beautiful family, Madame Bonaparte," Talleyrand remarked, his voice carrying a touch of admiration.
Ciela returned a radiant smile as she stroked the hair of her children affectionately. "Thank you, Minister Talleyrand. Though I must say that I hear it quite often when we are out and about in the city, people often stop to marvel at their bright smiles and lively spirits. It warms my heart to see them grow and flourish."
Talleyrand nodded, his gaze lingering on Aveline and Francis. "Indeed, their vitality is contagious."
"Mama... are we near?" Aveline interrupted.
Ciela chuckled softly, her fingers gently combing through Aveline's silky blonde hair. "Almost there, my darling. Isn't that right, Minister Talleyrand?"
Talleyrand leaned forward slightly, his eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint. "Indeed, Madame Bonaparte, we are just moments away from our destination. In fact, may I suggest that you dispense with the formalities and simply call me Talleyrand? My closest friends and colleagues call me Talleyrand."
"Talleyrand it is, then. Thank you for the invitation and for accompanying us on this delightful evening."
The carriage turned a corner, and the silhouette of the Château de Valois loomed closer, its grandeur becoming more apparent with every passing second. The soft glow from the electric lights within the château spilled out onto the grounds, casting an enchanting aura around the magnificent estate.
"We have arrived," Talleyrand announced.
The carriage came to a graceful halt, and the footman quickly opened the door, extending his hand to assist Ciela and her children in stepping out onto the cobblestone path leading to the château's entrance. The air carried the scent of blooming flowers, adding to the magical atmosphere that enveloped them.
The headlines of the newspaper covered Napoleon's successes in Egypt, and how he was expanding French Republic territory overseas.
"All of those headlines captivate the people of Paris, causing them to love and idolize Napoleon. I must say, your newspaper is good at spreading propaganda."
"Correction, Talleyrand, it's not propaganda, it's the truth. My husband has reached Mecca and is now The Emirate of Diriyah."
"Well... it sounds too good to be true," Talleyrand responded. "But don't misunderstand me, Madame Bonaparte, I am simply just impressed and awed at your husband's successes. Is there a reason why you started a newspaper company?"
Ciela leaned back in her chair, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. She clasped her hands together and met Talleyrand's gaze with a steady resolve. "Indeed, there is a reason, Talleyrand. The power of information is immense where it could shape public opinion."
"And the public opinion towards Napoleon is good thanks to you," Talleyrand interjected. "Now a lot of people in France are hailing him as the hero of the republic. When the Army of Europe is failing, Napoleon's Army of the Orient is winning. Some even called for his return...speaking of which, have you heard back from him?"
Ciela shook her head. "No, it's been four months since he last wrote to me. The last message I got from him is that he is preparing to invade Basra, Persia, Afghanistan, and Balochistan."
"I see...well to tell you the truth, Madame Bonaparte, according to the military reports, your husband is returning to France with some of his generals. The command of the Army of the Orient is transferred to General Kleber. As for the operation, it didn't go forward because the Directory didn't send them the required numbers of reinforcements to conduct the operation."
"Wait...my husband is returning?" Ciela gasped softly and then sighed in relief.
"Yes, Madame Bonaparte...I find it odd that Napoleon wouldn't inform you about his return...maybe he wanted to surprise you? If that was the case then I blew it...Napoleon is going to scold me."
"I can pretend that I didn't hear that," Ciela chuckled. "I'm glad that he is returning. It's been so long since I last saw him."
"Great...returning back to our discussion, so the newspaper, it's making your husband a popular figure to the people of France, I do believe that you have a reason why you are doing that aside from disseminating the truth? Has Napoleon expressed his desire for political power to you?"
Ciela nodded solemnly.
"I see now...you are giving him a huge help, Madame Bonaparte, The people now longed for Napoleon, some even want him to take control of France."
"Whatever decision my husband makes, I will support him," Ciela declared firmly. "Napoleon possesses extraordinary leadership qualities and a vision for a stronger, more prosperous France. If the people have faith in him, if they see him as the one who can bring stability and progress to our nation, then I believe it is worth considering."
"Great...this is great," Talleyrand smiled.