Chapter 280 Formalizing

Chapter 280 Formalizing

The unexpected presence of the former King of France left the assembled multitude in a state of shock. Those who stood far from the? Arc de Triomphe had no choice but to rely on the whispers that swiftly spread through the densely packed crowd.

Questions rippled through the masses like wildfire. What could have possibly brought the former King of France back to the heart of Paris? The notion that Louis Capet had abandoned his subjects had been etched into their collective consciousness by the relentless drumbeat of media propaganda. Their minds raced with speculation.

Louis Capet's keen eyes scanned the sea of faces before him, searching for any sign of the reaction he had hoped for. He had dared to believe that, perhaps, a small fraction of France would welcome his return with open arms. Yet, the expressions that met his gaze were far from what he had envisioned – a sea of confusion and bewilderment painted across their faces.

His return had elicited not joy, but puzzlement, which somehow pained his spirit more than outright rejection.

As the seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity, Louis Capet found himself grappling with the enormity of the moment. This is the day he'll say farewell to the people of France, to repay the debts he had from Napoleon.

Napoleon was the one who saved his family at the height of the revolution, if not for him, they would have been at the mercy of the guillotine.

Meanwhile, behind Francis was Napoleon, tilting his head to the side as he waited for Louis to speak. It's been a minute now. Of course, he couldn't simply walk over there and urge him to speak, that would have been bad optics for Napoleon. Maybe Louis was fighting his inner battles and turmoil, seeking the right words to address the masses who had long regarded him as a distant relic of a bygone era.

Fifteen seconds later, Louis cleared his throat and spoke into the microphone.

"That was a great speech, Monsieur Capet," Napoleon praised.

"The Emperor of the Austrian Empire will be mad for offering my support to you. The royalists of France will feel betrayed."

"I can handle the royalists, thank you for your concern," Napoleon said.

"I am not concerned, I'm just saying what will happen. So when do you plan on becoming the Emperor? Is there a date?"

"Once all the people voted in support of me becoming an Emperor," Napoleon said and continued. "Which I will find out by the end of the year 1802."

"I see..."

Meanwhile, watching them talk was Francis, who has now realized the words from his father during their stay in Milan.

'So this is what father meant. He'll become an Emperor and I'll be his successor.'

It was not known to Francis that his father planned to become Emperor of France until this.

'I guess I will have to study and work harder to meet my father's expectations'.