Murat picked up the teacup again but did not drink imdiately.
He rotated the cup slowly in his hand as if organizing his thoughts.
"Sicily," he said at last, setting the cup down again.
Napoleon II waited.
Murat leaned back slightly in the chair.
"As you know, when your father reorganized the Italian states years ago, the Bourbons fled Naples."
Napoleon II nodded once.
Napoleon II nodded once.
"They retreated to the island."
"Yes," Murat said. "The House of Bourbon established themselves firmly in Sicily after losing the mainland. With British assistance at the ti, they managed to maintain control over the island."
Napoleon II’s expression remained neutral.
"The British were always fond of supporting the Bourbons whenever it inconvenienced France."
Murat gave a small shrug.
"That was years ago. Britain is less eager to intervene now, especially with how powerful France has beco."
Napoleon II said nothing but his gaze remained attentive.
Murat continued.
"The island is currently ruled by King Ferdinand of the Bourbon line. Officially he still claims legitimacy over the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies."
Napoleon II raised an eyebrow slightly.
"A claim he has held for quite so ti."
"Yes," Murat replied calmly. "And he has never accepted my rule in Naples."
Napoleon II leaned back slightly.
"That was expected."
Murat nodded.
"The Bourbons never forgave their removal from the mainland."
Napoleon II folded his hands together again.
"And now?"
Murat leaned forward.
"Now the situation on the island is beginning to fracture."
Napoleon II gestured lightly.
"Explain."
Napoleon II looked down at the map.
"Why are the rchants dissatisfied?"
"Because the Bourbons keep the island closed," Murat answered. "Naples has modernized its ports and expanded diterranean trade routes. rchants in Sicily know they would make far more profit trading with the mainland."
Napoleon II nodded slowly.
"So they look north."
"Yes."
"And the Bourbons block that."
"Correct."
Napoleon II rested his elbow lightly on the desk.
"That creates political pressure."
Murat continued.
"It is not only the rchants. The countryside is unstable as well. There have been revolts in several provinces over the past two years."
Napoleon II raised his head slightly.
"Organized revolts?"
"Mostly local uprisings," Murat said. "Peasant groups, angry landowners, small militias. Nothing that threatens the Bourbons imdiately, but enough to keep their army busy."
Napoleon II tapped a finger lightly on the desk.
"So the island is simring."
"That is a good way to put it."
Murat returned to his seat.
"The Bourbons still control the governnt, but they are spending more ti suppressing unrest than managing the island."
Napoleon II studied him carefully.
"And you believe the situation could collapse if external pressure were applied."
Murat smiled faintly.
"Yes."
Napoleon II leaned back in his chair again.
"Well for that, you don’t need a battleship to make them concede or whatever you plan. You could just send in the military in the guise that their soldiers killed your soldiers in scuffle. Are there any contested border disputes you have with Sicily?"
Murat rubbed his chin slowly, thinking over the question.
"Actually," he said after a mont, "there is."
Napoleon II did not move. He simply watched him.
Murat leaned forward and pulled the map of southern Italy closer across the desk.
His finger moved to the narrow stretch of water between the mainland and Sicily.
"The Strait of ssina," he said.
Napoleon II looked down at the map.
The strait was narrow, barely a few kiloters at its closest point. On one side lay the city of Reggio in Calabria under Murat’s rule. On the other stood the Sicilian city of ssina, firmly under Bourbon control.
"The waterway itself is not the problem," Murat continued. "It is the small islands and coastal batteries around it."
He tapped a small marked point along the Sicilian coast.
"Capo Peloro."
Napoleon II raised his eyes slightly.
"The northeastern tip of Sicily."
"Yes," Murat said. "The Bourbons maintain a coastal garrison there. Officially it exists to protect ssina from pirates and smugglers."
Napoleon II said nothing.
Murat gave a faint smile.
"In practice, the garrison spends most of its ti harassing Neapolitan fishing vessels and rchant traffic."
Napoleon II leaned slightly forward.
"They claim the waters?"
"They claim far more than they should," Murat replied. "Their patrol boats frequently push into the middle of the strait and accuse Neapolitan ships of trespassing."
Napoleon II studied the map again.
"And there have been incidents."
"Several," Murat said. "Two months ago a Sicilian patrol vessel boarded a Neapolitan fishing ship and detained the crew overnight."
Napoleon II raised an eyebrow.
"On what grounds?"
"Illegal fishing in Bourbon waters," Murat replied dryly.
Napoleon II allowed a faint smile.
"Convenient."
Murat nodded.
"It caused quite a bit of anger in Reggio."
Napoleon II leaned back again.
"So the tension already exists."
"Yes."
"And there is a garrison stationed near the disputed area."
"About one hundred soldiers," Murat said. "Mostly infantry with a few coastal artillery pieces."
Napoleon II remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he spoke calmly.
"That could be useful."
Murat’s eyes narrowed slightly with interest.
"You have an idea."
Napoleon II rested his hands together on the desk.
"The situation already provides a convenient stage."
Murat leaned forward.
"Go on."
Napoleon II pointed toward the strait.
"If Neapolitan patrol vessels approach the contested waters, the Sicilian garrison will respond."
"That is very likely."
Napoleon II nodded.
"And if tensions escalate, shots may be fired."
Murat’s expression slowly shifted into understanding.
"You want them to fire first."
Napoleon II did not answer imdiately.
He simply looked at the map.
"That would be the ideal situation."
Murat chuckled quietly.
"And if they do not?"
Napoleon II looked up.
"Then events may require encouragent."
Murat leaned back slightly.
"Encouragent."
Napoleon II spoke calmly.
"A patrol vessel approaches the disputed waters. A confrontation occurs. Tempers rise. A shot is fired."
Murat folded his arms.
"And if the Sicilians refuse to shoot?"
Napoleon II’s voice remained level.
"Then the confrontation escalates."
Murat watched him carefully.
Napoleon II continued.
"The garrison at Capo Peloro is isolated."
"Yes."
"There are no large cities nearby."
"Correct."
Napoleon II tapped the desk lightly.
"If the garrison were attacked and destroyed quickly..."
Murat’s eyes sharpened.
"...there would be no witnesses."
Napoleon II t his gaze directly.
"Exactly."
The room fell quiet for a mont.
Murat slowly smiled.
"And the bla would fall on Sicily."
Napoleon II shrugged lightly.
"A border clash in disputed waters. There would be confusion, firing, no one would know from an outside perspective. You can bla it on Sicily."
"And you have our backs with this?"
Napoleon II nodded. "Yes."
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