Chapter 1019: 927: The Crown Prince's World Cup

Chapter 1019: Chapter 927: The Crown Prince’s World Cup

The conductor of the palace band raised his hand vigorously, and Bach’s “First Orchestral Suite” came to an end with its lingering echoes.

Joseph walked towards the sidelines, with Sophie still murmuring beside him:

“There are rumors that Lady Adelaide once fell in love with her guard, but that man was dispatched to the remote mountains by His Majesty Louis XV with 4,000 levas.

“Later, this poor woman desperately saved up a dowry for herself to have a marriage. Now she has some money, but her beauty has faded…”

Joseph escorted her to the circle of noble ladies, then returned to Archbishop Brienne.

“Your Highness, your dancing skills are truly becoming more and more exceptional.”

“Yes, that spin just now, even Viscount Lege was full of praise.”

“Your Highness’s dance steps perfectly embody the soul of the music…”

First, the others, including Brienne, routinely began with compliments.

However, the Crown Prince really found it difficult to shine in dancing, so the topic quickly shifted back to serious matters.

Mirabeau first spoke: “Your Highness, regarding improving safety in Rhineland, I have thought of the ‘Star of France’.

“Coincidentally, the tournament date is approaching. I think we can hold the finals in Cologne and increase the prize amount to divert the people’s attention.”

Joseph nodded slightly.

“Happiness therapy” has always been an effective way to deal with riots.

The people are too busy focusing on song and dance competitions to notice looting and robbery. Especially when they can have full bellies, wouldn’t earning legal bonuses be tempting?

However, Joseph immediately thought that the cornerstone of the Star of France is holding the finals at the Palace of Versailles, with the Queen awarding the prize in person.

A song and dance competition without the glamour of Versailles would inevitably lose much of its luster.

He immediately pondered, what kind of events would be suitable for a “marginal area” like Rhineland?

Fashion Week is definitely the first to be ruled out.

The World Expo has already been held in Paris.

The Supreme Louis Award needs a place with more cultural atmosphere, like Italy.

The “Olympics”, or rather the future Peace Movement Games, would suit the German-speaking area, but this year isn’t a hosting year…

Thinking of this, Joseph couldn’t help but chuckle, isn’t a sporting event something that you can just start with a fancy title?

Why not organize a soccer “World Cup”?

In his past life, he never had a chance to attend a World Cup game in person, so now he’ll create a World Cup himself and watch live matches as he wishes.

He then said to Mirabeau: “‘Star of France’ isn’t quite suitable for the Rhineland region.

“I’m planning to hold a ‘World Soccer Herculean Cup Tournament’ in Cologne.

“Soccer matches can involve more participants and don’t require a band or venue, just an open space is enough, which fits the conditions of the Rhineland region better.”

Indeed, the Rhineland nowadays is not like the industrially developed area of post-Germany, but rather quite impoverished. There aren’t many theaters suitable for holding song and dance competitions.

Mirabeau hesitated: “Your Highness, soccer has decent influence in our country, but in the Germanic Region… ah, I mean the German-speaking area there, familiarity with this sport isn’t much.”

Joseph previously had the Church promote soccer in France, and it has become very popular in the past two years, but it hasn’t yet spread abroad.

Joseph, however, seemed very confident:

“As long as we do a good job in promotion, the German-speaking area will soon be all the rage for this sport.”

He knows too well the football craze of those Germans in the future. That place is a high-production area for beer, and beer paired with soccer could get them more excited than drugs.

Especially in this era with scarce entertainment options, if there’s a fun sport that can make money, people will naturally flock to it.

Joseph further instructed: “Please be responsible for distributing 5,000 free soccer balls in the Rhineland area as soon as possible for locals to practice.”

Soccer balls of this era are made with leather sewn on the outside and filled with inflated pig bladders, making them very expensive.

Later, Joseph required hollow balls made of elastic thin wooden strips wrapped in leather, which slightly reduced the price, but still, each cost 10 francs, which ordinary families certainly wouldn’t want to buy.

Even in France, over seventy percent of the soccer balls are provided for free by the Church.

Joseph then briefly explained the tournament system, awards setting, prize amounts, and other details of the World Cup, leaving Mirabeau nodding repeatedly as he listened.

Hmm, they’re all mature commercial operation techniques from the future. From engraving the champion’s name on the Herculean Cup, to “sudden death law”, to the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards, naturally they are full of gimmicks.

Finally, Mirabeau complimented again: “Your Highness, the name you gave the championship trophy is extremely meaningful. Hercules—ah, just mentioning this name makes me feel the incredible intensity of competition!”

Joseph didn’t orchestrate an answer.

Hmm, he just wants to fulfill a dream by personally awarding the Herculean Cup. Hercules? Who’s this guy?

The ball came to an end at ten in the evening.

Joseph exited the Hall of Mirrors, quietly giving Eman a few instructions. After the latter nodded and left, he deliberately slowed his pace.

After a moment, Lady Adelaide hurriedly caught up from behind, accompanied by her maid.

Joseph greeted her with a nod: “You seem to be not so happy tonight?”

“Thank you for your concern.” Auntie squeezed out a smile, “I…I just remembered some past events, but I’m much better now.”

Joseph smiled and said: “I wonder if you’re interested in leaving the Palace of Versailles for a while?

“For example, to seek out a romance.”

Lady Adelaide hesitated, then laughed behind her fan: “You are humorous, Your Highness. I’ve grown old and am quite satisfied with weaving tapestries in my room every day.”

Joseph said: “I’m serious, dear Auntie. I know a suitable match—well, he’s wealthy, handsome, and appreciates art; I believe you two will hit it off. [Note 1]”

Lady Adelaide laughed even harder: “Alright then, let me hear who this gentleman is you’re speaking of?”

“Ercole III,” Joseph replied, “The Duke of Modena.”

Auntie recalled the name and nodded: “Yes, he was quite handsome when he was young.”

“So, do you agree?”

“Haha, Your Highness, I can’t guarantee my old bones will survive the journey to Italy.”

Lady Adelaide evidently didn’t take this matter too seriously, fooling around and chatting with Joseph.

Joseph hadn’t expected matchmaking to be so troublesome, so he stopped and said seriously: “Auntie, Modena will soon expand and be more than twice its current size.”

“Is that so? That’s good news.”

“So, do you wish to become Queen there?”

[Note 1] “Auntie” is Lady Adelaide’s honorific title within the Palace of Versailles, regardless of age.