Reincarnated as Napoleon II-Chapter 138: Interest in Another Territory

November 10th, 1834.

At the Palace of Versailles.

"Your Imperial Majesty," Charles-Louis entered. "The Egyptian Ambassador is here."

"Let him in," Napoleon II said.

Charles-Louis bowed and stepped aside.

Moments later, the doors opened again.

A delegation entered in measured formation. At their head was a middle-aged man dressed in a dark, tailored coat trimmed with gold thread. A sash crossed his chest. Behind him, four attendants carried lacquered wooden boxes reinforced with brass corners.

The ambassador stopped at the proper distance and bowed.

"Your Imperial Majesty. I am Hassan Pasha, representative of His Highness, the Wali of Egypt."

Napoleon II inclined his head.

"Welcome to Versailles, Pasha. France receives you as a friend."

"It is an honor, Majesty."

He gestured lightly with his hand. The attendants stepped forward and lowered the boxes onto a table prepared near the window.

"His Highness sends gifts as a token of goodwill."

Napoleon II approached the nearest box. One of the attendants opened it carefully. Inside, layers of velvet revealed gold jewelry inlaid with lapis lazuli and turquoise. Bracelets shaped like coiled serpents. A broad collar worked in hammered gold. A pair of earrings set with polished stones that caught the light from the chandelier above.

Napoleon II examined the craftsmanship without touching it at first.

"Exquisite," he said. "Your artisans possess steady hands."

"It represents the heritage of our land," Hassan Pasha replied. "Ancient designs preserved through generations."

Napoleon II nodded once and allowed the lid to close.

"Please convey my gratitude to the Wali."

"It shall be done."

Napoleon II returned to his desk but did not sit.

"How was your journey to France?" he asked.

The ambassador allowed himself a small, restrained smile.

"Remarkable, Majesty. From Marseille to Paris, we traveled by steam locomotive. The speed was... beyond expectation."

He paused briefly.

"And upon arrival, we were escorted by one of your automobiles. A carriage without horses."

Napoleon II observed him carefully.

"You found them satisfactory?"

"Satisfactory would be an understatement," Hassan Pasha said. "His Highness has been informed of these machines.

"Well, the French Empire has been trading with the Wali since fifteen years ago. Despite us being former enemies we still fostered a good economic relationship."

"Thanks to the French Empire, Egypt has been modernizing," Pasha said.

"Now the reason why I invited you over to France was to strengthen both of our nation’s relationships. Through multiple investments as we desire to build a canal in your territory."

"A canal, Your Imperial Majesty?" he repeated.

"Yes, a canal," Napoleon II grabbed a rolled map from under his table and placed it flat across the desk.

He unrolled it with both hands.

The parchment revealed the eastern Mediterranean, the Nile Delta, and the narrow strip of land that separated the Mediterranean Sea from the Red Sea. Precise ink lines marked elevations and coastlines. A bold stroke cut straight across the Isthmus.

Hassan Pasha stepped closer. His attendants remained behind him.

Napoleon II placed his finger along the marked route.

"Here," he said. "From the Mediterranean coast near Port Said to the Gulf of Suez."

The ambassador studied the line.

"You intend to connect the two seas."

"Yes. With this, Europe would have easy access to the East and trade would be booming as ever. Imagine hundreds of merchant ships passing through that canal everyday. It is going to be a profitable artery," Napoleon II finished. "Not only for France. For Egypt."

Hassan Pasha kept his eyes on the line that cut across the isthmus.

"An artery," he repeated quietly. "And whoever controls it controls the flow."

"Yes," Napoleon II said. "Transit duties. Port services. Ship repair. Fuel depots. Warehouses. Entire cities will rise at both ends."

The ambassador folded his hands behind his back.

"I see...how are we going to build it?"

"France will invest in the initial capital," Napoleon II said without hesitation. "Engineering corps, machinery, and financial backing. We will deploy surveyors within the year. Steam dredgers will handle the bulk excavation. Rail lines will be laid alongside the route to move sand and stone efficiently."

Hassan Pasha listened without interrupting.

"And labor?" he asked.

"A combination," Napoleon II replied. "Egyptian workers paid under contract. French engineers supervising. Medical corps assigned to prevent disease outbreaks. Freshwater channels drawn from the Nile to supply camps."

"Well if we want to profit from this canal we would have to invest too," Pasha said.

"That’s correct. So are we in agreement that you will let us build a canal in your territory?"

"We can’t let this opportunity slide, Your Imperial Majesty. What we need is French investment in our country. Also if I may be bold, I was told that your military has new weapons that are more advanced than the rest of Europe. We would like to buy some. You know, the Ottomans still don’t recognize our independence and we are in an armed conflict with their forces in the Levant," Hassan Pasha finished carefully. "His Highness seeks security."

"Hmm...I’ll consider it. In exchange, France will require a territorial concession."

The ambassador’s expression did not change, but his shoulders stiffened slightly.

"What territory?"

Napoleon II walked back to the map and unrolled a second sheet. This one extended farther south, past the Red Sea.

His finger traced down the coast of the Arabian Peninsula.

"Here."

Hassan Pasha leaned closer.

"The southern Red Sea coast?" he asked.

"A coastal strip," Napoleon II clarified. "With a deep-water harbor. Permanently leased to France. Administered by France."

The ambassador’s eyes narrowed.

"That territory is nominally under Ottoman sovereignty."

"Well the fact that you are there means that they are not holding it properly."

"I don’t know why you want that land, Your Imperial Majesty, but if you want it, we will give it to you in exchange for the arms deal you considered."

"Consider it done," Napoleon II rose and offered his hand for a handshake.

The ambassador hesitated only a fraction of a second before stepping forward.

He took Napoleon II’s hand firmly.

"Then I shall inform His Highness that France and Egypt enter a new Chapter."