Napoleon II scanned the man who was walking toward him. He had black hair with an average build, wearing an imperial suit. As a Bonaparte, he looked kind of like him, but Napoleon II was more striking in face card.
This is his first ti seeing his cousin, and he is to be his royal secretary for the duration of his reign.
"Your Imperial Majesty," Charles Bonaparte bowed his head. "It’s an honor and a pleasure to et you finally."
Napoleon II nodded, satisfied by the way he carried himself.
"At ease," Napoleon II said and Charles straightened his posture.
He continued. "Armand already inford you that I have a job for you. And that job is similar to his but to my father."
"I was inford," Charles confird simply. "And I accept wholeheartedly the task and responsibility of the monarch’s secretary."
"Good, let’s continue this in my office," Napoleon II said.
Napoleon II turned and pushed open the office door,
He stepped inside first. Charles and Armand followed, closing the door behind them.
"Stand there," Napoleon II said, nodding toward the space across the desk.
Charles complied imdiately, hands clasped behind his back and his posture was straight.
Napoleon II moved around the desk and sat. He didn’t rush. He adjusted the chair once, then looked up again, studying his cousin in silence.
"So, cousin," Napoleon II said. "Sotis, when I speak too formally to family mbers, I feel too stiff. Do you know what I am saying?"
"I do, and I understand it," Charles replied, chuckling.
"So, Armand here has done a great job for my father. And I was hoping that you’d do the sa for ," Napoleon II finished. "Or better."
Charles’s smile faded into sothing more focused. "I wouldn’t accept the post if I didn’t intend to."
Armand shifted slightly beside him but said nothing.
Napoleon II leaned back, fingers resting against the arm of the chair. "My father trusted Armand because he could separate loyalty from judgnt. I need the sa. I don’t want a cousin who agrees with everything I say."
Charles nodded. "Then you won’t get one."
"Explain."
"If you ask for my opinion," Charles said, "I’ll give it straight. Even if it’s inconvenient. Especially if it’s inconvenient."
Napoleon II studied him for a mont longer, then glanced briefly at Armand.
"That sound familiar?" he asked.
Armand allowed himself a thin smile. "Too familiar."
"Good," Napoleon II said. He shifted forward slightly. "Now, as for your job. You will handle my personal correspondence, my schedule, reports from every minister which will be coming here in the palace but of course there’s no report yet. Basically everything. Of course, the pay and benefits are good. But fail to do your job...you will be terminated from the post. Simple as that."
Charles inclined his head. "When do I start?"
"Today..." Napoleon II said. "Did you already have breakfast beforehand before we et my ministers, or the state council?"
"I haven’t really Your Imperial Majesty. The first thing I did when I woke up was to prepare for this eting."
"That’s so eager of you," Napoleon II said. "But I can’t have you eting them without you having breakfast. Beaumont!"
Beaumont swiftly entered. "You called, Your Imperial Majesty."
"My cousin here hasn’t had breakfast yet. Is there sothing left in the kitchen that he can eat without much preparation? You know, bread or sothing."
"I’ll check, Your Imperial Majesty. But is there anything His Imperial Highness would want for his breakfast?"
Napoleon II looked at Charles. "You can request breakfast. Do it until there’s ti."
Charles hesitated for half a second, then answered plainly.
"Bread is fine," he said. "And coffee, if that’s available."
Beaumont inclined his head. "It is. I’ll have it brought in imdiately."
He turned and left without another word, closing the door softly behind him.
Napoleon II leaned back again, studying his cousin with renewed interest. "You didn’t ask for much."
"I don’t need much in the morning," Charles replied. "Eating heavy before work dulls the head."
"That’s sothing my father would’ve approved of," Napoleon II said. "He hated sluggish minds."
Armand shifted his weight slightly. "He still complained when he skipped als."
Napoleon II let out a short breath through his nose. "He complained about everything."
Charles allowed himself a small smile but said nothing.
"While we wait," Napoleon II said, "tell this. Why did you accept?"
"It felt to like it was calling. And I want to do sothing significant like you."
Napoleon II watched him for a mont longer.
"That answer sounds rehearsed," he said.
Charles shook his head. "It isn’t. I wouldn’t know how to rehearse sothing like that."
"Hm." Napoleon II leaned forward slightly. "Then let be clear about sothing before we begin. This position isn’t ceremonial. You won’t be standing behind just to look important. You’ll hear things that shouldn’t leave this room. You’ll read reports that will make people uncomfortable. So of them will be family."
"I understand," Charles said. "And I’m prepared for it."
Armand glanced at Charles, asuring him again, then spoke. "If you fall behind, it won’t be the Emperor correcting you. It’ll be ."
Charles t his eyes. "That’s fine."
The door opened again.
Beaumont returned carrying a tray, simple and efficient. Fresh bread wrapped in cloth. A cup of dark coffee, steam rising faintly. A small dish of butter.
He set it down on the side table near Charles.
"Your breakfast, Your Imperial Highness."
"Thank you," Charles said. He stepped over, poured a little butter onto the bread, and ate standing, unhurried but deliberate. He drank the coffee in two steady sips, then set the cup down.
Napoleon II rose from his chair and walked toward the window, hands clasped behind his back.
"In ten minutes," he said, "the ministers will enter this palace believing they understand the direction of this empire. Most of them don’t."
Charles swallowed the last bite and folded the cloth neatly. "And my role?"
"You listen," Napoleon II said.
Charles nodded once. "Understood."
Beaumont withdrew quietly.
The clock on the wall ticked forward. Napoleon II returned to his desk and opened a folder, skimming the first page without fully reading it. Armand remained where he was, arms crossed now, eyes half-lidded in thought.
Ten minutes passed.
A knock sounded at the door.
Beaumont entered, expression composed.
"Your Imperial Majesty," he announced, "the ministers have arrived and are assembled in the antechamber."
Napoleon II closed the folder.
"Good," he said. "We’ll et them in the Council Room."
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