Josephine

𝓔𝓹𝓲𝓼𝓸𝓭𝓮 65: 𝓡𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓘𝓷 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓒𝓲𝓽𝔂 𝓞𝓯 𝓛𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼

November 13, 1979

Paris, Second French Empire

I cannot believe myself right now...

I am having tea...

With a bloody Bonaparte!

Americans had a bad history with this family, after Napoleon V launched a genocide on our homeland during the Third World War. We had established a republic of all things, well, my grandmother had and it seemed to be going well.

Until the grandson of Napoleon V, Napoleon VII staged a popular coup and declared the Second French Empire.

"So... Napoleon... what do you prefer to be called?"

"Imperial majesty will do my dear," He swiftly replied.

For a Frenchman he knew good english.

"I'm surprised you still wished to have my husband and I visit Paris after the... instability of the coup last week?"

"Well part of it is because I heard you two were so excited to visit France, but the other part is that I hoped that having an American monarch in Paris might legitimize my regime!"

Oh that rat!

"Ah, I see... well you know that my family does not exactly have the... warmest feelings towards yours..."

"I understand that your majesty, my grandfather did not handle that war well, what he did put a stain on our family that had once been respected and feared!"

"So what are your long term goals for your empire imperial majesty? Knowing that will help me determine whether or not to support this change,"

I sipped on my tea as Napoleon cleared his throat.

"Militarily? Fortifying the French border with the Germans, and perhaps intervening in Italy. Those blasted Piedmontese are constantly raiding the border!"

I nodded.

"Diplomatically? Forging an alliance with the Belgians, Danes, British etcetera, trying to restore the balance of power in Europe. Besides that, my plans are purely economical,"

So he isnt an expansionist. He easily could be lying to me though, so I can't fully trust him yet.

"Well at least you're not planning on carving out a continental empire like the first Bonaparte!"

"Oh god no! I mean, it isn't like we would stand a chance, Konrads armies would crush us!"

Well he's sensible, not delusional. He knows he can't openly fight a war, though it seems like he wants to stop German expansion westwards. A reasonable goal, Konrad nearly invaded Belgium though I threatened him otherwise. Luckily it didn't damage our relationship much.

"Look Napoleon, I'm willing to support your regime for a time, but I will need to see commitment from these promises, after say, six months, then I will recognize your government,"

"Very well, that is a reasonable proposal your majesty, I can agree to that,"

We shook hands and I stood up.

"It was nice to meet you Napoleon,"

"Likewise Josephine,"

---------------------------------------------------

A few hours later, as night began to fall over Paris, Mattéo and I sat together in a private part of a Parisian restaurant. The day had been rather exciting. We had toured the Louvre, something I was very excited about.