Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 51 In the Name of Napoleon (Seeking monthly votes)

Lionel was also quite surprised. The Sorbonne University was always quite strict in its management. Unless visitors were riding in the dean’s carriage, they had to get off at the gate and hand the carriage over to a servant or gatekeeper to park.

He himself would walk into the campus with the students and teachers.

The fact that this carriage could break the rules and enter directly suggests that it belongs to someone of unusual status.

Just then, someone leaned over and said in an envious tone, "That's really impressive..."

Lionel turned his head and saw that it was indeed Albert de Rohan—who had been hanging around him lately for no reason—so he asked, "Who is this?"

Albert shook his head: "I don't know—but I can guess."

He then pointed to the departing carriage: "Didn't you see the badge on his carriage?"

By this time, the carriage had already gone far away, and even though Lionel no longer had the 900-degree myopia he had in his previous life, he still couldn't see clearly.

Albert said with a hint of pride, "The golden imperial eagle, the crossed scepter, the bee, the crown... what do you say?"

Lionel was startled: "The Napoleonic family?"

Albert just described the coat of arms of the First French Empire, also known as the Napoleonic Empire, which is also the emblem of the Napoleonic family.

Although the Third Republic government tried its best to erase any trace of the emblem after the Second Empire collapsed 10 years ago, the history of 19th-century France and the Napoleonic family are inextricably linked, so the emblem is still everywhere.

However, using this badge is another matter entirely; probably only members of the Napoleonic family would not be disliked for it.

Lionel paused for a moment, then said somewhat uncertainly, "Weren't Eugène Bonaparte and Empress Eugénie both in England? How could the Bonaparte family appear so openly in Paris?"

Albert thought to himself that it was finally his turn to show off, so he coughed and began to educate Lionel: "Although His Majesty Napoleon III went to England with the Empress and the Crown Prince, many members of the Emperor's family still live here."

In France, and in Paris, the Napoleonic family still had no shortage of supporters. Under a republican system, having supporters meant having a chance to win votes; winning votes naturally meant gaining status…

Perhaps some of them are doing better than when the empire still existed.

At this point, Albert couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

Indeed, many "marginalized" members of the Napoleonic family lived well after Napoleon III fled to Britain, and some even became members of parliament.

Lionel had no interest in the complex entanglements between French politics and the Bonaparte family. He patted his clothes and said, "I understand, thanks for the explanation. Let's go to class."

Albert hadn't expected Lionel to react so calmly, so he quickened his pace to catch up with him: "Hey, Lionel, you're still taking a 'public carriage' to the Sorbonne? You're making me lose face."

How about starting tomorrow, you come to class in my carriage? I can have the driver pick you up first..."

Lionel refused without hesitation: "Public carriages are fine; they're crowded and warm!"

Albert persisted: "It's spring now, the weather will get warm soon..."

Lionel: "I can sit on the roof of the car and enjoy the breeze and coolness!"

Albert had no choice but to shut up.

Lionel glanced back at him, sighed inwardly, and finally explained, "I will buy my own carriage in the future."

Albert's eyes lit up, and he quickly chimed in, "A newspaper is asking you for an article now? I heard that Le Gaul offers the highest rate, one franc per line. You just need to write another one, 'The Old Guard,' and you can..."

Hey, wait for me…” ——————

Lionel's class didn't last long. The first time get out of class ended, he saw the familiar figure of Dean Dunn: "Leon, the dean would like to see you in his office."

Lionel noticed that more and more people were calling him by his nickname "Leon" lately...

He suddenly remembered something a celebrity once said in his past life: "Don't blame yourself for not having good people around you; once you become famous, you'll be surrounded by good people!"

I'm still just a junior student, but from teachers to classmates, the number of "good people" has visibly increased.

Following in Dunn's footsteps, he arrived at Dean Henry Patan's office—the last time he had been here was over a month ago, with Albert by his side.

Mr. Dunn knocked on the door before opening it and stepping aside to let Lionel in.

As soon as Lionel entered the office, he saw a man in his early twenties sitting upright on the sofa. He had thick black hair with natural waves; his face was well-defined, with a high nose, thin but arrogant lips, and a slightly pointed chin, exuding an almost cold and resolute air.

His figure was tall and upright, as if he was born to wear military uniforms and dress uniforms—he was indeed wearing a "half-dress uniform" with imperial characteristics, a dark blue uniform in the style of a military academy, with silver buttons polished to a shine, gold trim on the shoulders symbolizing honor, and a bee-shaped brooch on his left breast.

That was a secret symbol passed down through the family—the bee, a symbol of the empire's immortality.

Dean Henry Patan introduced, "This is Lionel Sorel, the author of 'The Old Guard,' from the Alps, and one of the most outstanding second-year students in the Faculty of Arts."

Before he could introduce the young man on the sofa to Lionel, the man stood up and extended his hand to Lionel: "Napoleon Victor Jerome Frederick Bonaparte, son of Napoleon-Josef Charles Paul Bonaparte, nephew of His Majesty Emperor Napoleon III, and cousin of His Majesty Emperor Napoleon IV."

The long string of names made Lionel's head spin, but he still politely extended his hand to shake his: "Good morning, Mr. Bonaparte."

He noticed that the young man's hands were unusually soft, almost unlike a man's—"Looks like a mere showman!" Lionel thought to himself.

Victor Bonaparte frowned almost imperceptibly, seemingly dissatisfied with the overly republican title "Mr. Bonaparte" and Lionel's neither humble nor arrogant tone.

Dean Henry Patan added, “Victor’s father, Mr. Charles Bonaparte, is now a senator. He’s here today for your article, ‘The Old Guard.’”

He then gestured for Lionel to sit down, and sat down in the armchair opposite the head of the table.

Victor Bonaparte did not sit down; instead, he scrutinized Lionel with a critical eye, as if appraising a less-than-satisfactory piece of merchandise that had just been presented to him by a servant.

“Mr. Sorel,” his voice carried a deliberate, condescending flatness, “your work, well, The Old Guard, is a… remarkable novel.”

He picked up the open copy of the Sorbonne Academy Bulletin on the table, his fingertip lightly tapping the title of "The Old Guard": "To be honest, its literary value... well, Mr. Hugo's assessment may be a bit of a poet's exaggeration."

But undeniably, it provoked some... reactions.

Lionel remained silent, waiting for him to continue. Dean Patan tried to ease the tension: "Victor, it is indeed a masterpiece, as your father also said..."

Victor Bonaparte raised his hand to interrupt Dean Henry Patan, his gaze sharply fixed on Lionel: "The reaction, Mr. Sorel, is the key. Your 'Old Guard,' though fictional, unexpectedly struck a nerve with a group deliberately forgotten by the Republic—"

Those imperial veterans who shed their blood for the French eagle standard, now withering away in poverty and oblivion, especially the most elite Imperial Guard.

Lionel remained noncommittal, leaning back slightly without revealing any surprise.

Victor Bonaparte suddenly stepped forward, closing in on Lionel, and said in an irrefutable yet condescending tone, "In the name of the great Napoleon, you have won the friendship of the Bonaparte family!"

He then stared intently into Lionel's eyes, waiting for him to express his acceptance of this "friendship" in an excited tone.

(Please vote for me next month, thank you everyone!)
(End of this chapter)