Palace of Versailles, December 7th.
Napoleon II was in the Palace’s garden along with his newborn daughter, Anna. That’s right, he has a new child and it’s a girl.
He was with his Chief of Staff, Charles-Louis who was silently observing his Emperor.
"Do you think I’m cursed with having only female children, Charles?" Napoleon II asked.
"Do you think having children is a curse, Your Imperial Majesty?"
"No, I didn’t an that. Maybe I am just wrong with the wording. Let rephrase that, am I destined to only bore female children? Because at this point, we might have to rethink the succession laws where they could continue my legacy."
"Sire, it’s only two. Your Majesty is still young. There is ti."
Napoleon II did not answer imdiately.
He adjusted his hold on the infant in his arms, supporting her head with one hand as he looked down at her face. The child was quiet, her small fingers curled loosely against the fabric of the blanket. She shifted slightly, her eyes opening for a brief mont before closing again.
"She doesn’t seem concerned with succession," Napoleon said.
Charles-Louis allowed a faint breath through his nose.
"She has more imdiate concerns, Sire."
Napoleon’s thumb brushed lightly across the child’s hand. The fingers tightened for a mont, gripping instinctively before relaxing again.
"She’s smaller than the last," he said.
"Yes, Sire."
Napoleon shifted his stance slightly, careful with the way he held her. There was none of the stiffness he carried in court. His shoulders had dropped, his posture less rigid than usual.
"What did the physician say?"
"Healthy, Sire. No complications."
Napoleon nodded once.
He looked down at her again.
"Anna," he said quietly, as if testing the na.
The child stirred again at the sound of his voice, though she did not wake fully.
Napoleon shifted his attention back toward Charles-Louis without fully looking away from the child.
"What of China?"
The change in tone was imdiate.
Charles-Louis straightened slightly.
"Our envoy has reached Beijing, Sire."
Napoleon gave a small nod.
"And?"
"Contact has been established with the Qing court. Formal audience was granted."
Napoleon’s gaze lifted now.
"They received him."
"Yes, Sire."
"And the terms?"
Charles-Louis took a brief mont before answering.
"Presented."
Napoleon studied him.
"And accepted?"
"Not yet," Charles-Louis said. "But negotiations have begun."
Napoleon looked back down at Anna, adjusting the blanket slightly where it had shifted.
"Explain."
Charles-Louis continued.
"The envoy delivered the position clearly. Direct diplomatic relations, expanded trade access, and formal agreents between courts."
Napoleon remained silent, listening.
"The Qing court did not reject the proposal outright," Charles-Louis added. "They have agreed to consider the terms and continue discussions."
"I see, so there’s still hesitation in them. However, I will consider it a success as they were received."
"That is correct, Your Imperial Majesty."
Napoleon II looked around the garden again and spoke.
"You know I kind of like the mont where I’ll sit here surrounded by a beautiful garden and be inford of the state of affairs of the Empire," Napoleon II comnted.
Charles-Louis gave a small nod.
"It allows clarity, Sire."
Napoleon shifted his stance slightly, adjusting Anna in his arms as she stirred again. Her fingers moved against the fabric before settling. He watched the motion for a mont, then looked back toward the trimd rows of hedges and the long path stretching across the garden.
"There’s no noise," he said. "No one interrupting. No council speaking over each other."
Charles-Louis remained where he stood.
"Only what needs to be said."
Napoleon gave a faint nod.
"That is why it works."
A brief pause followed.
The wind moved lightly across the garden, just enough to stir the edges of Napoleon’s coat. In the distance, guards maintained their positions, far enough not to intrude but close enough to respond if needed.
Napoleon shifted his attention again.
"What of our position there? The fleet."
Charles-Louis answered imdiately.
"Still anchored off Tianjin, Sire. Holding position. No further engagent."
Napoleon nodded once.
"Good."
He adjusted the blanket again, making sure Anna was covered properly.
"They need to see that we are not withdrawing."
"Yes, Sire."
"But also that we are not escalating without reason."
Charles-Louis inclined his head slightly.
"The current posture reflects that."
Napoleon remained silent for a mont.
"And the envoy?"
"He remains in Beijing under supervision. The court has not restricted his movent within the assigned areas, but he is monitored at all tis."
Napoleon gave a short breath.
"As expected."
Charles-Louis continued.
"There are divisions within their court. So favor maintaining their current system. Others see the need to adjust."
Napoleon looked up.
"Which side is gaining ground?"
"Unclear, Sire. But the fact that negotiations are ongoing suggests the latter has influence."
Napoleon considered that.
"They’ve been forced to see it."
"Yes, Sire."
Napoleon looked down again at Anna, his expression unchanged.
"Force opens the door," he said. "But it does not close it."
Charles-Louis did not respond.
Napoleon continued.
"That part requires control."
A brief silence settled between them.
Anna shifted again, letting out a small sound before settling back into the blanket. Napoleon adjusted his hold without thinking, his movents steady and practiced.
"Send instructions to the fleet," he said after a mont.
Charles-Louis straightened slightly.
"Yes, Sire."
"They are to maintain position. No unnecessary action. No provocations."
He paused.
"But if threatened, they respond without delay."
"It will be done."
Napoleon nodded.
"And the envoy—he is to continue negotiations, but he is not to concede beyond the frawork we’ve established."
Charles-Louis answered at once.
"Understood."
Napoleon looked out across the garden again.
"The mont we allow uncertainty in our position, they will hold onto it."
"Yes, Sire."
Another pause followed.
Napoleon shifted slightly, adjusting Anna once more as she moved in his arms. He lowered his voice a fraction.
"They will test us."
Charles-Louis gave a short nod.
"They already are."
Napoleon gave a faint breath.
"And we will let them."
Charles-Louis did not question it.
Napoleon continued.
"As long as the direction does not change."
The Chief of Staff remained silent for a mont before speaking again.
"There is another matter, Sire."
Napoleon glanced at him.
"Go on."
"The British have taken notice."
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