Chapter 62: Mulan Infantry Regiment

The following day.

Many nobles of the Palace of Versailles received invitations to attend a small ball that evening. The ball was hosted by Madam Vilar.

No one declined because they had danced the night before—attending a ball every night for a month was common for them, but a ball hosted by Madam Vilar was not.

The fact that the Duke Vilar was having financial difficulties was an open secret.

At 9 P.M., guests gradually arrived at the modest ballroom. After the host delivered some warm-up remarks, music filled the air. The current Duke Vilar, which is to say, Marie Emilie, with a stranger—a young man—took the lead in the center of the hall, presenting the opening dance to everyone.

As everyone whispered to each other asking who the young man was, Madam Vilar, beaming with a smile, asked everyone to look her way and then loudly announced that her daughter, the Duchess Vilar, would be engaged to Louis Andre Davout in three days.

The crowd was astounded, for nobody knew who this Dawu fellow was.

Soon after, a nobleman finally heard about Dawu’s origins from his servant:

“It is said that he’s an obscure little baron serving as a lieutenant in the Soissons Regiment.”

“Why would the Duchess Vilar marry him?”

“I’ve only heard that this Dawu is quite favored by the Crown Prince, but seems to have nothing else remarkable about him.”

“The lad has certainly hit the jackpot…”

Madam Vilar did not offer any further explanation and instead warmly invited everyone to continue dancing to their heart’s content.

In a room of the Palace of Versailles, a young nobleman, breathless, pushed the door open and, disregarding any sense of decorum, shouted at Rocher, “The, the Duchess Vilar is getting engaged!”

Rocher stood up in surprise and asked, “Engaged? Has she accepted my father’s suggestion?”

“No, not at all! It’s with a lieutenant named Davout!”

Rocher felt a darkness before his eyes and quickly clarified the source of the news before storming out of the room.

Duchess Emilie, with a radiant smile, looked at André Davout before her and danced gracefully. Their steps were so in sync that they resembled two butterflies playfully entwining in the grass.

She felt as if all this was simply too surreal, like a dream. She had prepared herself to settle with fate and marry a man for whom she felt nothing, but then, just last night, her mother had unexpectedly said she should get engaged to Davout.

She couldn’t help but recall the conversation she had with her mother at the time.

“Lieutenant Dawu is highly esteemed by His Highness the Crown Prince, and he has now been transferred to the Crown Prince’s Guard as an officer, essentially becoming His Highness’s personal confidant and bodyguard.

“Moreover, His Highness has also said that should Mr. Dawu distinguish himself on the battlefield, he will request from the King himself to bestow the title of Viscount or even Earl upon him!”

“But he doesn’t have much money, and our financial situation…”

“No, His Highness the Crown Prince said he guarantees Dawu has a substantial sum of money, at least 50,000 livres.”

Her mother lowered her voice: “Most importantly, His Highness said that Mr. Dawu is exceptionally capable. If you marry him, His Highness will give his full support to help you reclaim everything from Noetta that belongs to you!”

The Noetta mentioned by her mother was Emilie’s cousin. Although the fortune left by the ancestors of the Vilar Dukes had diminished in her father’s generation, they still possessed several dozen hectares of land—not the titular lands of the Versailles nobility but real fiefs, complete with tenant farmers and seigneurial rights!

And the immense influence and appeal of the Mulan Infantry Regiment. Although the Vilaral Duchess line has only one female heir left, with little to no contact with the military, a summon in the name of the Duchess would surely gather a crowd within the regiment.

It was by using the name of the Vilaral Duchess that her uncle reached the rank of Major General.

No wonder her mother ultimately chose to have her marry André; compared to a life of humiliation under her uncle’s charity, her mother preferred to restore the glory of the Vilaral Duchy!

Sitting opposite Emily, André also had a multitude of thoughts. Last night, his Highness the Crown Prince had summoned him, informing him of the consensus reached with the Vilaral family for his marriage to Emily.

The Crown Prince had also generously lent him 50,000 livres for the wedding and future living expenses, interest-free, with repayment at his discretion.

However, the Prince also left him with a task, which was to help his future wife reclaim all the resources rightfully belonging to the Vilaral Duchy and, using the foundation of the Mulan Infantry Regiment, train an elite army.

He was now holding Emily’s tender little hand, completely enveloped in joy, wondering how he could ever thank the Crown Prince—perhaps turning the Mulan Regiment into an invincible force would be the best repayment!

Suddenly, Rocher burst in, causing a hysterical commotion like a clown, but was gently coaxed out by Lady Vilaral—today was a joyous occasion, and everyone should handle matters calmly and peacefully, even disgusting and rude intruders.

André saw Rocher glowering at him with venom in his eyes but paid him no mind, quietly pointing to his own boots instead.

…

Inside the Crown Prince’s study, Fouche respectfully presented Joseph with a list.

“Your Highness, these are the members recently recruited by the Police Affairs Department, a total of one hundred and seventy-six people.”

Fouche’s eyes were bloodshot; in preparation for the Police Affairs Department, he had slept only about four hours a day, yet the taste of power kept his spirits exhilaratingly high:

“Most of them were former Royal Police officers, and some are retired soldiers and the like. As per your orders, I have strictly screened them to ensure they have no serious criminal records and no bad habits.”

Joseph flipped through the roster, which listed each name along with basic background information and specialties.

He couldn’t possibly remember all these people, but it was a necessary process to show that he was the real controller of this intelligence agency.

Joseph didn’t know how Fouche had managed to recruit so many people in just over a week and form a preliminary organization, but it was clear that appointing him to head the Police Affairs Department was the right decision.

He looked at Fouche and praised, “Your work is indeed very effective; you are an exceptional manager.”

“So can you tell me when the Police Affairs Department will be ready to start operations?”

Without hesitation, Fouche replied, “Now, immediately, Your Highness.”

Joseph nodded in satisfaction, “Your efficiency truly amazes me. Now, there are two things that need your immediate attention for investigation.”

Fouche immediately took out paper and pen, standing to attention, “Please give your orders, Your Highness.”

Joseph said, “I wonder if you are aware of the former Director of Paris Police, Gizo, collaborating with gang members to create chaos in the Saint Antoine District, and the plot to attack the police station?”

Fouche nodded, “Yes, I have heard of this matter.”

“I have a feeling there are others involved in this affair, but Gizo has always taken all the blame upon himself. The first matter for you to investigate is whether someone else is behind Gizo and what their motives might be.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”