Reincarnated as Napoleon II-Chapter 135: Former Emperor Visits the Emperor

October 2nd, 1834. At the Palace of Versailles.

Beaumont entered his office and informed.

"Your Imperial Majesty, your father is here."

"Father?" Napoleon II lifted his gaze from the documents he was reading.

He did not stand immediately.

Beaumont kept his posture straight. "Yes, Your Imperial Majesty. Emperor Napoleon."

There was no need to clarify which one.

Napoleon II closed the folder in front of him. The paper edges met with a soft tap against the desk.

"Send him in."

Beaumont bowed and stepped out.

For a brief moment, the office was quiet. Napoleon II rose from his chair, not in haste, but not slowly either. He adjusted his cuffs once. He did not pace.

The door opened.

Napoleon Bonaparte entered.

Napoleon II stepped around his desk.

"Father."

"Napoleon. I see that you are working hard for the Empire," he said, looking at his desk.

"I didn’t expect that you would come here, father. At least inform me so that I can prepare a proper reception."

Napoleon I removed his gloves slowly, placing them on the edge of the desk without asking permission.

"If I required ceremony to see my son, then something is wrong with this palace."

Napoleon II allowed the faintest shift in expression. Not quite a smile.

"I meant no offense."

"I know."

"So, I heard from my brother, Louis, that the Dutch wanted him to rule again," Napoleon I continued. "Is that true?"

Napoleon II did not answer at once. He walked back behind his desk but remained standing.

"There are discussions," he said. "But nothing is confirmed yet. After all, they are just rumors. But there’s some substance to it and I believe that if given an opportunity, we should take it. After all, once the Netherlands is under our control, we have better control of the English Channel."

Napoleon I stepped toward the map again. His finger hovered over the Low Countries.

"When I placed Louis there, it was to secure the coast and deny Britain influence. And they were quite displeased about learning that the French had controlled the low countries."

"Do you think it will anger them if the Netherlands wants to join the French Empire?"

"They will obviously, but there’s nothing they can do if the Dutch themselves wanted to be part of France. But of course, don’t expect it to be smooth. Also, if given an opportunity like you said, Louis, said that he is willing to return so long that you’ll grant autonomy to his rule."

"I have no problem with that, I already have a huge empire Father, and I still have a lot of ambition."

"Speaking of ambition of yours, you are expanding our territory abroad. I know that France got Cuba, Philippines, Northern and Western Africa, and many more if that continues. However, is it a direct colonization?"

"Yes, that way we can govern it efficiently," Napoleon II said. "Direct administration avoids divided authority."

Napoleon I did not look convinced.

"Efficient for whom?" he asked.

"For Paris," Napoleon II answered. "For uniform law. For taxation. For infrastructure planning."

Napoleon I turned from the map.

"When I reorganized Italy," he said, "I did not annex everything into France. I made myself King of Italy. Separate crown. Separate institutions. Loyal to me."

"A personal union," Napoleon II said.

"Yes."

Napoleon I stepped closer to the desk.

"You are repeating the word ’control’ too often. Control is visible. Visible control invites coalitions."

Napoleon II folded his hands behind his back.

"Your approach created coalitions as well."

"It created them because I marched across Europe," Napoleon I replied. "But where I ruled as King rather than annexer, resistance was slower."

Napoleon II did not interrupt.

"If you place Cuba, the Philippines, and parts of Africa under direct Parisian ministries," Napoleon I continued, "you make them provinces. Provinces demand representation. Representation breeds friction."

"And your solution?"

"Crown them."

Napoleon II raised a brow.

"You want me to become King of Cuba?" he asked dryly.

"Why not?" Napoleon I replied. "King of Italy. King of Holland. Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine. Titles are tools."

Napoleon II walked toward the window, then stopped.

"A patchwork of crowns," he said.

"A structure of loyalty," Napoleon I corrected. "Separate administrations under your person. Not under France as a state. If unrest rises, it rises against a local crown—not the imperial core."

"Wait, how does that work? Explain it to me, father, I’m still confused."

"Tell me first," he said, "what do you want from these territories?"

"Prosperity," Napoleon II replied. "Resources. Strategic depth."

Napoleon I shook his head slightly.

"No. That is what you gain. I am asking what you want them to become."

Napoleon II frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you want short-term extraction?" Napoleon I asked. "Take sugar from Cuba, silver from colonies, labor from Africa. Strip, tax, move on. That is one model."

Napoleon II said nothing.

"Or," Napoleon I continued, "do you want a long-term French world? A structure that survives you?"

Napoleon II answered without hesitation.

"The latter."

"Then direct extraction will not suffice."

Napoleon II crossed his arms.

"Explain."

Napoleon I tapped Italy on the map.

"When I crowned myself King of Italy, Italy was not France. It had its own ministers. Its own court. Its own bureaucracy. But the crown sat on my head."

"So ultimate authority remained yours."

"Yes. But daily governance was local."

Napoleon II listened closely now.

"In a crown union," Napoleon I continued, "you wear multiple crowns. Emperor of the French. King of Cuba. King of the Philippines. Perhaps Protector of West Africa. Each title carries its own charter."

"And who governs in my absence?" Napoleon II asked.

"Viceroys," Napoleon I said. "Or royal governors. Appointed by you. Sworn to you personally."

Napoleon II paced once.

"So Cuba would not be administered by the Ministry of Colonial Affairs?"

"No. It would have a Royal Council of Cuba. Local elites incorporated. French advisers embedded. Laws tailored to local conditions, but foreign policy and military command answer to you."

"And revenue?"

"A defined tribute," Napoleon I replied. "Customs alignment with France. Shared naval defense. Preferential trade."

"I see, I’ll think about it father."