Reincarnated as Napoleon II-Chapter 179: Prelude to War

About an hour later, Napoleon II joined the ballroom where everyone was present.

The doors opened as he entered, and the movement inside adjusted without stopping. Conversations continued, music carried on, and the flow of the evening remained intact, but space opened along his path as guests made way. No announcement was needed. The shift was immediate and understood.

The ballroom was already in full motion.

Chandeliers cast steady light across the polished floor. Couples moved in formation, following the rhythm of the orchestra positioned along the far end. Strings led the tempo, measured and consistent, with no deviation in pace. Servants lined the edges of the hall, moving between groups with trays, keeping the arrangement intact without interrupting the dancers.

Napoleon II stepped forward, his gaze scanning the room once.

He did not stop.

Elisabeth was already on the floor.

She stood among the other dancers, composed, waiting. Her posture was steady, her presence clear without needing attention drawn to it. Those nearest to her maintained distance without breaking the formation.

Napoleon II approached.

He extended his hand.

Elisabeth placed hers in his without hesitation.

They stepped into position.

The music did not pause.

The waltz continued, and they moved with it.

Their steps aligned immediately. No adjustment was needed. The rotation began, their movement fitting into the wider pattern of the floor without disrupting it.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Elisabeth studied him as they turned.

"What is it?" she asked quietly.

Napoleon II did not answer at once.

They completed another turn.

"Do not react," he said.

Her expression did not change.

That was enough.

She adjusted her grip slightly, maintaining the rhythm of the dance.

"What happened?" she asked.

Napoleon II looked at her directly for a brief moment.

"The Austrian Empire has declared war," he said.

Elisabeth did not break step.

They continued moving across the floor, turning with the rest of the dancers.

"When?" she asked.

"Just now," Napoleon II replied.

She nodded once, almost imperceptible.

"And you confirmed it?"

"I spoke with him directly."

Another turn.

The distance between them shifted slightly as they rotated, then closed again.

"And?"

"He’s committed."

Elisabeth’s gaze remained steady.

"No room for negotiation?"

"None that he intends to act on."

They passed another pair, adjusting their position without interrupting the flow.

The music carried on.

Around them, nothing had changed.

"Then it’s decided," Elisabeth said.

"Yes."

A brief pause followed.

Elisabeth spoke again, quieter.

"And you?"

Napoleon II did not hesitate.

"I will issue the declaration tomorrow."

She nodded.

"Then we prepare tonight."

"Yes."

They continued moving, their steps aligned with the tempo, their pace unchanged.

From the outside, there was no difference between them and the others on the floor.

No sign of disruption.

No indication that anything had shifted.

Elisabeth looked at him again.

"You came back," she said.

Napoleon II gave a faint breath.

"I said I would."

They completed another turn.

Her hand remained steady in his.

"And after tonight?" she asked.

Napoleon II looked past her briefly, then back.

"Everything changes. It won’t be the joyous Christmas tomorrow, it would be a war footing."

He finished the sentence without lowering his voice, but it blended into the music. No one nearby reacted. The rhythm carried them forward, step by step, turn by turn, as if nothing had shifted beyond the walls of the hall.

Elisabeth held his gaze for a moment longer.

"Then we use what we have tonight," she said.

Napoleon II nodded once.

They continued the waltz, crossing the center of the floor as the formation rotated around them. Officers in dress uniform passed at measured distance. Ministers followed the pattern without breaking line. The orchestra maintained the same tempo, unchanged.

"Who moves first?" Elisabeth asked.

"They already have," Napoleon II replied. "Troop concentrations near Lombardy. Rail staging will follow."

"And us?"

"Orders will go out before morning. Mobilization across the eastern commands. Full readiness."

Elisabeth adjusted her step slightly as they turned again.

"And Murat?"

"He’s waiting," Napoleon II said. "He commits the moment we do."

A brief pause.

"That will pull the south in," she said.

"Yes."

They passed near the edge of the floor, then turned back toward the center.

"What of the northern frontier?" Elisabeth asked.

Napoleon II answered without delay.

"Reinforcement. Defensive posture first. We hold, then advance where it breaks."

She nodded once.

"And the navy?"

"Positioned," he said. "No engagement unless required. But ready. We will win this war decisively. I may appear bold and confident but the statistics states the fact. We have to back it up."

"I know, and I will support you in any way I can," she said.

"Thank you darling," Napoleon II smiled and then finished their waltz.

Napoleon II released her hand as the final movement ended.

For a brief moment, they stood facing each other, the rest of the dancers settling back into place as the music faded. Then he turned.

He stepped forward, moving toward the center of the ballroom.

The shift followed him again. Conversations lowered. Movement slowed. Within seconds, the room aligned toward a single point without any direct order.

Napoleon II reached the center and stopped.

He did not raise his voice.

"Gentlemen. Ladies."

He looked across the room once, taking in the faces—ministers, generals, industrialists, officers. Every level of the Empire’s structure stood before him.

"Thank you for coming to this lovely evening. I truly enjoyed your presence here tonight."

He shifted his stance slightly, one hand resting behind his back.

"This year has demanded much from all of you. In return, it has given results. Production has increased. Our infrastructure has expanded. Our position beyond our borders has strengthened."

No one moved. No one spoke.

"These are not abstract gains. They are measurable. They are visible. And they are sustained by the work done across every level of the Empire."

A brief pause.

"And tonight, we acknowledge that work."

His gaze moved across the room again, slower this time.

"You have fulfilled your roles. The Empire stands as it does because of it."

He gave a small nod.

"Take the evening."