Chapter 55: Poisoned Chalice (3) "Did you say Her Majesty the Queen sent you?"
"That is correct, Commander."
Bishop Talleyrand bowed his head as he answered Lafayette.
"As I already told you, Commander Lafayette, we've already secured the royal family's support, and starting with this man—Bishop Talleyrand—we plan to move public opinion in the Assembly step by step."
"…Finance Minister. Why are you laying all your cards on the table for me like this?"
Commander Lafayette lowered his head and thought for a moment, then looked me straight in the eyes.
Normally, if you're in business and you lie, you're screwed. In business, credibility is always—shit—credibility, you know?
"If I set things off first and then try to explain everything from one to ten afterward, that's exhausting, isn't it? I'm just telling you in advance where and how I'm going to set off the bomb. More than anything, I'm not crafty enough to scheme behind Commander Lafayette's back."
I shrugged as I replied.
"Hmm…"
At my words, Lafayette crossed his arms and let out a short hum.
"It doesn't seem like you're planning to start right away, Finance Minister. When are you setting the day to carry this out?"
Yeah. That's right.
We probably have to lie low for a few months.
From this era's perspective, we already forced through reforms that were radical—if we make another huge mess on top of that, the Assembly and everything else could end up in an actual civil war.
They say it's all the same in the end, but people feel differently when you take everything at once versus taking it little by little.
"Of course, as you said, Commander, it's difficult right now. So I'm thinking of launching it about three or four months from now."
"Three or four months… three or four months. Understood. Then I'll need to finish the full reorganization plan for the National Guard by then."
"Huh? Is there a reason to reorganize the National Guard again, Commander?"
At my words, Lafayette gave a bitter smile.
"Deserters keep coming out among the officers almost daily. I even heard there's a regiment where both the regimental commander and battalion commander deserted, so a lieutenant—the company commander—has taken over as acting regimental commander. The name was… Nicolas Davout, I think."
What? A lieutenant as acting regimental commander—what the hell…
"And that's not all. Seventy percent of naval officers fled long ago—by ship—to England, Spain, or the Netherlands, so our naval power is basically dissolved. If a war breaks out, we'd have to forcibly conscript every merchant-ship officer just to get any ships afloat."
"…This isn't just a normal mess."
I said it before I could stop myself. Lafayette looked at me and gave a small snort of laughter.
"And yet, thanks to someone, we'll manage to clean up that mess in three or four months."
"Ah… ah…"
"Haha, that's enough, Finance Minister. You don't have to worry about it that much. But…"
Apparently my office has run out of coffee these days, and it looks like I'll be working a lot of overtime. Lafayette added with a smiling face.
"…I'll have it stocked with the highest-grade coffee…"
"If possible, I'd like dessert as well, Finance Minister."
"Yes."
"And for reference, I like pumpkin pie."
As if I'd dare say no, sir.
"You come back after so long, and what you say is you're taking away manpower that was already short, Boss."
"Come on, Mr. Florian. Everyone's got the know-how now—nothing's going to happen just because one person's gone."
Haha. Why are you glaring at me like that?
Unable to resist Commander Lafayette's desperate request—no, threat—I'd finally returned to Paris and was putting my hands on this and that.
For the coffee, I'd already ordered the best high-end stuff and loaded it onto a carriage. The only thing left was someone to make dessert.
"So, I can at least understand hiring one more person. But why do you have to take Head Chef Marie, of all people?"
"N-no, I want to do that too, but what can I do when I just can't find anyone? And Marie cooks the best, so of course we have to take Marie."
After the Bastille fell and Paris turned into a cauldron of excitement, most people with money had disappeared and were reluctant to come outside.
But our disagreement ended, ridiculously, not because of us—because of a single remark from the kitchen staff, starting with Marie, which gave me the win.
"Oh, I'm fine with it. When would ordinary people like us ever get to go to a palace in our lives? Hohoho."
"Right, right. We just work ten more minutes, that's all, isn't it? Tell her to enjoy the palace sightseeing for our share."
"Marie, you know you have to tell us everything you saw when you get back, right?"
The kitchen staff who'd shared hardship with her every day for five years all, with one heart and one mind, happily accepted Marie's trip to Versailles.
In the end, Mr. Florian nodded with a look that said he couldn't do anything about it.
Mm-hm. That's right, that's right. It's not like I asked for something outrageous. Justice wins.
"…Understood, Boss. Then may I ask one thing as well?"
"Huh? Ah, yes—what is it, Mr. Florian?"
"I used some of the reserve grain from the warehouse. That's fine, right?"
"Huh? Ah—how much did you use?"
"About… twenty tons…?"
"…You didn't use it for something weird, right?"
"Of course not. Like you did, Boss—I used it for poor relief."
"Ah, if it's that, then it's fine. I thought it was something serious."
I waved my hand a few times.
Wait—then we have to place another grain order again. How is it that things always keep piling up?
"Mm. Looks like we'll need to go see Mr. Jefferson again sometime soon, Mr. Florian."
"You mean the additional order? Yes, understood. Shall we keep the contract terms the same as last time?"
"Rather than that, a little mor—"
At that moment, someone came bursting into the office, panting.
Mr. Florian and I saw the face of the person who'd opened the door and entered, and we both furrowed our brows at the same time.
"…Do you have unpaid taxes or something?"
"No, Boss. I worked with you for years—of course I paid everything."
Then why is that bastard here?
"…Mr. Florian, please step out for a moment."
"F-Finance Minister, Your Excellency! I-it's been a while. H-haha…"
"…'Your Excellency'? Since when have you ever treated me that respectfully?"
At my words, the man who barged into the office grinned with cold sweat streaming down his face, wearing an expression that was neither quite laughing nor quite crying.
"H-haha…"
"Anyway."
I tapped the office desk lightly with my fingers as I spoke.
"Why are you here, Monsieur Lavoisier?"
"T-that is…"
Lavoisier spoke in a crawling voice.
"No—more importantly, how did you know I came to Paris?"
Right. It was obviously that DuPont bastard.
I shook my head and opened my mouth.
"Forget that. Just tell me why you came and go back. I have a lot to do."
"S-save me, Finance Minister!"
"Huh? Did I, without realizing it, try to kill you, Monsieur Lavoisier?"
There were plenty of times I definitely wanted to kill you, sure, but I've never actually done it.
Lavoisier pleaded.
"Th-the Bastille fell to the rabble, and…I haven't rested peacefully for even an hour! Every time I go out, I feel eyes stabbing into my back—"
"Why are you coming to me about that? Did I hire those people to tail you?"
"N-no, that's not it, but…"
"Isn't it all because of what you did, Monsieur Lavoisier? I don't really understand why you're coming to me like this."
Lavoisier kept talking, panting hard in agitation.
"Every time I lie down, I remember it! The Bastille commander's head, hanging on a pike, passing in front of my house! That man, de Launay—he used to come to my home sometimes and drink tea before leaving. When a neighbor gets turned into that overnight, how can anyone stay sane?!"
No, fuck… so what do you want me to do about it?
I said irritably.
"So what are you asking me to do? Are you saying I'm some evil alchemist and you want me to reattach de Launay's head?"
"Finance Minister, Your Excellency! I want to live! I have not the slightest desire to hang on a pike like de Launay! I—I only collected taxes according to the law!"
"Tch. You did it even though you knew that law was an infamous evil law."
"…"
At my words, Lavoisier shut his mouth and only trembled, hands shaking violently.
After trembling for a long while, Lavoisier finally dropped to his knees on the floor and said in a choking voice,
"I—I want to live. Please… please tell me what to do, Finance Minister…"
What am I supposed to do with this?
"…Why are you coming to me like this? Go to the Marquis de Condorcet, explain the whole story, and ask him to help you."
"G-Guillaume de Toulon—maybe the people of Paris don't know the Marquis de Condorcet, but they know your name. There's no one who can protect me but you!"
"…The people of Paris know my name?"
"Of course! The face of the revolution who doesn't bend even before the king—Guillaume de Toulon. There isn't a citizen of Paris who doesn't know your name! So please!"
Lavoisier clung to me, practically prostrating himself.
"…Do you have jewelry, gold, or silver at home?"
"I—I do. I'll bring it all to you!"
"Ah, for fuck's sake! I'm not taking that!"
If you touch black money in business, you get stabbed—more than that.
Lavoisier looked at me with wavering eyes.
"Th-then…?"
"Convert all of it into grain and distribute it to the citizens of Paris. Then you might at least keep your head on your shoulders."
At my words, Lavoisier nodded again and again, still trembling.
Come to think of it, this guy was a chemist, wasn't he? Oh—oh—I can feel his brain spinning fast.
"Monsieur Lavoisier. You're a chemist, right?"
"Y-yes."
"Can you make something that would… freeze roads quickly?"
"F-freeze roads? How long a stretch—"
"From Reims… to Versailles."
"Even if you tell me to make that right aw—"
"What?"
"I-I will do it, no matter what, Finance Minister, Your Excellency!"
A royal carriage on an ice road—ha. That'll chew up a lot of time, won't it?
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