Reincarnated as Napoleon II-Chapter 60: The Gifts from Each Countries

Back at the Palace of Versailles, in the Apollo Room, Napoleon II and Empress Elisabeth sat in the ceremonial chairs set on the raised platform at the center of the hall, facing the assembled officials of France and the foreign envoys who had remained after the coronation.

The Apollo Room was formal and rigid in its layout. The walls were covered in red fabric bordered with gold trim. Large chandeliers hung from the ceiling, lit evenly, casting clear light across the room. Gilded statues stood along the walls holding candle fixtures, placed at equal intervals. Between them were paintings of the past king such as the Sun King Louis the fourteenth and Emperor Napoleon I, replacing the place of King Louis the sixteenth.

Above, the ceiling painting of Apollo in his chariot filled the center of the room.

Foreign dignitaries, high-ranking officials of the Empire, and his family faced the platform, all of whom were standing in respect.

"Your Imperial Majesty," said Armand. "Standing before you are your loyal subjects and the foreign dignitaries who have come here to give you a gift for your coronation."

Napoleon II looked at the foreign dignitaries, Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Italy, United States, and new countries in South America such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, and New Granada.

"Hmm, this is quite new. I heard that none of the foreign dignitaries came to celebrate my father’s coronation. Now you are all here asking favors," Napoleon II said, it was obvious why they came here. Since he is the head of state, he now controls the foreign policy of the Empire of France.

"Let’s start with Great Britain," Napoleon II said.

The British delegation stepped forward first.

At its head was Lord Henry Palmerston, Foreign Secretary of Great Britain, flanked by two senior aides. He stopped at the marked distance from the platform and bowed with practiced precision. An attendant behind him carried a long, reinforced case of dark mahogany, its brass fittings polished but restrained.

"Your Imperial Majesty," Palmerston said, "On behalf of His Britannic Majesty’s Government, I offer congratulations on your coronation and a gift meant to reflect respect between our nations."

The case was opened.

Inside lay a Royal Navy marine chronometer, mounted in a gimbaled brass housing, its mechanism visible through a glass panel. Beside it were two naval telescopes, finely balanced, and a sealed folio containing calibration standards and manufacturing specifications.

"Our gift," Palmerston continued, "represents mastery of navigation. Time, distance, and precision. These instruments are identical to those currently issued aboard the most modern vessels of the Royal Navy."

A quiet ripple passed through the room. Several French naval officers leaned forward, eyes fixed on the chronometer.

Palmerston inclined his head slightly. "Great Britain hopes this coronation marks a period of continued stability and prosperity between our empires. In that spirit, we are prepared, when Your Majesty sees fit, to discuss a customs union and long-term trade cooperation."

Napoleon II raised his hand.

"Today," he said evenly, "is not a day for negotiations."

The room froze for a brief moment.

"Today," Napoleon II continued, "I receive your gifts as symbols of respect. Matters of trade and treaties will be discussed later."

Palmerston paused, then bowed again. "As you wish, Your Imperial Majesty."

The gift was accepted and carried aside. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Napoleon II turned his gaze forward. "Next."

The Russian delegation advanced, led by Count Karl Nesselrode, Foreign Minister of the Russian Empire. Two aides followed, carrying a folded garment and a weapon case.

"Your Imperial Majesty," Nesselrode said, bowing, "Russia presents a coat lined with Siberian bear fur, tailored for extreme climates, and a ceremonial saber forged in the Urals."

The coat unfolded briefly, it was a nice-looking coat. He imagined himself wearing it during winter. Overall, a nice gift.

"A ruler must endure more than comfort," Nesselrode added. "May these serve you when distance and cold test authority."

Napoleon II inclined his head once. "Acknowledged."

Prussia followed, represented by Baron Heinrich von Bülow, offering precision artillery optics and a bound manual on officer training doctrine. Spain’s envoy, Don Miguel de Alvarado, presented a chest of silver coinage drawn from transatlantic trade. Portugal’s Viscount Duarte de Almeida offered updated Atlantic navigation charts refined through decades of maritime commerce.

The Italian states, led by Count Alessandro di Savona, presented mechanical timepieces and industrial tooling samples. The American delegation, headed by Secretary William Crawford, brought a compact river steam engine prototype, accompanied by a letter emphasizing commercial cooperation without entanglement.

Then came the South American delegations.

José Bonifácio of Brazil presented finely worked gold ingots stamped with regional marks, along with handcrafted wooden chests containing coffee beans, cacao, and sugar prepared from Brazilian plantations. Bernardino Rivadavia of Argentina offered a set of leather-bound civic ledgers and silver-mounted riding gear made by Buenos Aires craftsmen. Diego Portales of Chile presented copper plates and ingots, accompanied by tools forged in Valparaíso workshops. Hipólito Unanue of Peru brought refined silver bars and ceremonial tableware, polished to a mirror finish and engraved with Andean motifs. Simón Bolívar’s envoy, Antonio José de Sucre, presented detailed regional maps and hand-painted banners, representing the newly formed republics of northern South America.

Each delegation bowed. Each gift was accepted without further comment.

When the final envoy stepped back, Napoleon II rose from his chair.

"I accept these gifts," he said. "I am honored by it and it’s a pleasure. Thank you. Don’t worry, I will entertain each country next week. Someone will reach out to you at your respective embassies."

The foreign envoys bowed again, this time deeper, satisfied that their presence had been acknowledged without commitments being forced. One by one, they stepped back in the order they had advanced, aides moving in to retrieve hats and gloves, faces already shifting from ceremony to calculation.

Armand raised his hand slightly, and the signal passed along the line of attendants. The guards at the doors adjusted their stance. The Apollo Room began to clear in layers, senior officials first, then the foreign delegations, each escorted with precision.

Napoleon II remained seated until the last envoy had turned away. Only then did he lean back, allowing the stiffness in his shoulders to ease.

"I can already imagine myself working as a proper statesman."

"And I’ll be by your side if you need me," Elisabeth said, placing a hand over his right hand.

"Thank you," Napoleon II smiled.