Descending On France 1780-Chapter 14 - 011 Gaining a Foothold in Paris

As soon as Anning finished speaking, Mirabeau, who had been listening on the sidelines, agreed, "That's not a bad idea; this way the young lady will have someone to look after her in school. But Mr. Frost, how old are you this year? Are you over the age limit for Briena Military Academy?"

For the first time, Anning learned that Briena Military Academy had an age limit for admission, and he cautiously replied, "I am eighteen this year, and the entrance age for Briena Military Academy is..."

Mirabeau waved his hand, "Eighteen is no problem; the academy accepts youths from the ages of 10 to twenty."

But Lavoisier shook his head, "If you are eighteen, wouldn't it be better to directly go to the military officer school in Paris?"

Anning thought to himself, oh no, I'm going to Briena to curry favor with the future Emperor of France. If I'm pushed into the Parisian military officer school now, I will have graduated by the time Napoleon enters the school.

Responding to Lavoisier's question, Christina replied, "He was originally just a military bandsman, sending him directly to the Paris military officer school might be too overwhelming for him."

Anning nodded, "Yes, I'd rather start by laying a good foundation in Briena Military Academy."

Christina turned and pleaded to the Duke of Orleans, "Dad, aren't you worried that I will learn bad habits from the daughters of impoverished nobility at the military school? Isn't it good to have Andy watch over me? He can write and update you about my situation at school."

The Duke glanced at Anning and sighed, "Alright. But school at Briena doesn't start for a few months, we can talk about this later. Right now, what you should do is get yourself cleaned up! I can smell the sweat on you, it's not a scent befitting a noble lady."

Christina protested coyly, "Dad! Don't talk nonsense! I don't smell sour!"

"Alright, alright! Have Mrs. Elan take you and get you cleaned up. Butler!"

The butler, who had just welcomed Anning's group at the entrance, quietly appeared, "Miss, this way please."

Christina glanced at Anning, then followed the butler.

The Duke of Orleans' gaze shifted to Anning, "It seems my daughter trusts you very much."

Anning nodded, "After all, I was the one who pulled her out of that deadly hell."

"Deadly hell... and you actually want to go back to that hell? I have leatherworking workshops in my properties in Paris, you could use your family expertise there. Or you could bring your family from the countryside to Paris; I can offer a house for free for your family to set up shop."

Anning thought to himself, forget it, with the revolution just nine years away, opening a shop in Paris clearly isn't a good choice.

Although I myself don't want to venture onto the battlefield, compared to being an average citizen in Paris, it would be somewhat safer to stay in the army in the future.

Anning, "Well, at that time I indeed did not want to go back to such a hell, but thinking about it now, I might have a certain talent in that area. Besides, making a living as a leatherworker has been getting harder recently due to the increasing cost of materials and higher taxes..."

The Duke of Orleans sighed, "High taxes are inevitable; you may not realize, but the Royal Family's financial situation has gotten unimaginably bad, and now we're faced with war.

"To gather military funds, the Royal Family has borrowed large sums from every bank in Paris, and nobody really knows how much debt the Royal Family has accrued."

Anning cautiously asked, "So does that mean a new Third Estate Parliament will soon be convened for taxation?"

Mirabeau and Lavoisier looked at Anning in surprise, and Mirabeau commended, "A leatherworker's son who knows about the Third Estate Parliament?"

Anning deflected, "I overheard it mentioned while people were discussing it at the tavern."

"Talk of this has reached even the taverns," the Duke marveled, "Indeed, there are such rumors within the palace, but many are urging the King not to do so. The Marquis Lafayette seems to believe that convening the Third Estate Parliament at this time would lead France to become a constitutional monarchy."

The Marquis Lafayette was the French General who participated in the North American Revolutionary War. After witnessing the establishment of the Republic in the North American colonies, His Excellency the Marquis seems to have become a so-called liberal noble, beginning to support the constitutional monarchy.

In the initial months of the French Revolution, Marquis Lafayette controlled the political power in Paris.

Lavoisier was astounded, "A constitutional monarchy isn't necessarily a bad thing; my laboratory is surrounded by a vast slum, and the improving living standards of the people are as clear as day. This country has reached a point where changes must be made."

Anning thought to himself, you're pretty accurate, indeed a massive change is coming to this country in a few years.

The Duke of Orleans, "Change, but the question is how to change? Like the Glorious Revolution in the UK? Or like the New Continent?"

Anning looked at the Duke.

He remembered that in the original timeline, the Duke of Orleans, Louis de Philippe, had a claim to the French throne, and initially funded Mirabeau to write pamphlets scathing the Royal Family to boost his chances of ascending to power.

Unexpectedly, as things progressed, the Duke himself became a member of the Jacobin Club, even changing his surname to "Equality."

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

Of course, these events might not necessarily occur with the Duke of Orleans in this timeline, as in this timeline the Duke's surname is Tolleson and not Philippe, complicating whether they are the same person.

The Duke then criticized recent changes within the Versailles Palace court before abruptly shifting the topic: "Mr. Frost, you haven't secured your residence in Paris yet, have you?"

Anning nodded, "Yes, I haven't settled yet."

"Let me have the butler arrange a place for you to stay, and when you're free you can tell us how you got my daughter out of danger. If you need to go out, just notify the butler. You saved my daughter, you are a benefactor to our family."

"I am very grateful for your hospitality," Anning thanked sincerely.

The Duke added, "By the way, if you need to change out of your military uniform, just let my butler know; he will provide you with fresh clothes, and if you want to eat, just tell the butler, all these are free."

After the Duke finished speaking, Mirabeau bid farewell to the Duke, "I have to deliver the latest pamphlets to the print shop, I'll take my leave first."

Lavoisier also picked up the conversation, "I need to return to the laboratory."

The Duke, "I look forward to your new experimental results!"

Seeing that Mirabeau and Lavoisier had left, Anning also took his leave, "Then I will also go find Mr. Butler to take me to my place."

The Duke nodded.

Just as the butler had returned to the room, he directly said to Anning, "Mr. Frost, this way please."