Make France Great Again-Chapter 613 - 604 "Vice Emperor" Rue

Chapter 613: Chapter 604 "Vice Emperor" Rue
"Rue, please sit! I have something to discuss with you!"
Faced with Jerome Bonaparte’s gentle demeanor, Eugène Roué felt both pleased and anxious.
Pleased because the Emperor, whom he hadn’t met alone for a long time, had personally summoned him, which meant he hadn’t lost the Emperor’s trust and still had room for advancement.
The anxiety stemmed from the possibility that the Emperor suddenly summoning him might mean there was something confidential he needed to entrust to him.
Having worked under the Emperor for nearly six years, Eugène Roué knew the Emperor’s way of doing things too well. Such sudden summons likely meant he wanted him to do something he couldn’t manage himself.
However, even though Rue had already decided he might be tasked with a challenging job by the Emperor, he needed to seize every opportunity, because as the Empire’s system stabilized, more and more newcomers emerged like bamboo shoots after the rain.
With the slightest mistake, the veterans who once assisted His Majesty might be replaced.
Once they lost their positions, it would be very difficult for them to climb up again. Maybe out of consideration for their past services, His Majesty might send them to the Council of State.
This world lacks for nothing more than people eager to climb up.
"Your Majesty, what are your orders?" Eugène Roué immediately assumed a posture of alleviating worries for his sovereign.
"You don’t need to do that!" Jerome Bonaparte patted Eugène Roué’s shoulder and said kindly, "I called you over just to have a chat! Relax a bit!"
Chat? Impossible!
Eugène Roué couldn’t help but give a bitter smile inside, but outwardly, he obeyed Jerome Bonaparte’s words, and his tense face relaxed a little.
Seeing Eugène Roué’s change, Jerome Bonaparte nodded in satisfaction and said, "Isn’t this much better? Why make the atmosphere of chatting so tense?" He paused and then asked, "By the way, how have you been feeling lately?"
"Your Majesty, I feel great! The work of the Minister of Justice gives me an unprecedented sense of fulfillment!" Eugène Roué responded to Jerome Bonaparte.
"As long as you’re satisfied!" Jerome Bonaparte replied with a smile to Eugène Roué.
"However, although the work of the Minister of Justice brings fulfillment, it also gives me a kind of vexation!" Eugène Roué changed the topic to "complain" to Jerome Bonaparte.
"What’s troubling you? Tell me, and I’ll see if I can solve it for you!" Jerome Bonaparte inquired in a friendly tone.
"The work of the Minister of Justice doesn’t allow me to stay by your side to serve you!" Eugène Roué replied to Jerome Bonaparte with feigned dismay, "Sometimes, I think perhaps I should resign to focus on staying by your side!"
"You’re one of the pillars of the Empire! How can you only stay by my side? That would be a waste of talent!" Jerome Bonaparte naturally understood that Eugène Roué was expressing his loyalty and was pleased to see it.
"I don’t have any talent! It’s only your discerning choice that has given me the opportunity to serve the Empire!" Eugène Roué continued to flatter Jerome Bonaparte, "There are so many talented people in this world and so few who can recognize talent! Without you, no matter how great my talents, they would be useless! Not to mention, I don’t have any extraordinary talent myself."
"Rue, you’re too modest!" Jerome Bonaparte responded with a stern face to Eugène Roué.
From Jerome Bonaparte’s expression, it seemed he was somewhat displeased with Eugène Roué’s excessive modesty.
"Your Majesty, I’m not being modest! I’m speaking the truth!" Rue also corrected Jerome Bonaparte’s mistake with a serious face, "Without you, I might still be an unknown small lawyer! How many people would know me! It’s really because of you that I can stand here now."
"Alright, alright!" Jerome Bonaparte decided to get to the main point, "I do have something to entrust to you!"
"Your Majesty, please give me your orders!" Eugène Roué said, sitting upright and attentively.
"No need to be so serious!" Jerome Bonaparte said, gesturing lightly, in a casual tone, "I told you it’s just a chat! If you don’t want to, then forget it!"
"Your Majesty, speak! I will do my utmost to accomplish it!" Eugène Roué said solemnly to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Here’s the thing! I want..." Jerome Bonaparte delicately conveyed to Eugène Roué his intention to leave Paris, "During the time I’m away from Paris, I’d like you to preside over the daily meetings in my absence!"
After all, Empress Augusta is still pregnant, and she cannot hold meetings frequently! If so, it would be too taxing on her body!"
Upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s "plea," Eugène Roué was momentarily blank-minded, hardly able to believe what he heard.
God! Is this a dream? If it’s a dream, then please don’t let me wake up!
In his heart, Eugène Roué was wildly shouting, and the "task" Jerome Bonaparte entrusted to him excited him more than he imagined.
Being given the authority to convene daily meetings! It is tantamount to being granted a portion of the administration of the Empire.
Even if it’s only a part of the administrative power, it surpasses the authority of any Minister of the Seal or Minister of State.
In the time when the Emperor is away from France, Eugène Roué is practically the "Vice Emperor" of the whole Empire.
"Rue, Rue!"
Just as Eugène Roué was lost in thought, Jerome Bonaparte’s voice reached his ears, and he quickly apologized to Jerome Bonaparte: "Your Majesty, I was discourteous!"
"It’s nothing!" Jerome Bonaparte waved his hand magnanimously, then smiled and asked, "Do you have something you’d like to ask me?"
Eugène Roué pondered for a moment before cautiously inquiring of Jerome Bonaparte: "Your Majesty, where are you headed?"
"Constantinople! I’m going to award medals to those soldiers!" Jerome Bonaparte immediately responded,
"Constantinople!" Eugène Roué exclaimed, then tried to dissuade Jerome Bonaparte: "Your Majesty, the entire Empire exists because of you! You cannot go to Constantinople under any circumstances!"
"Rue, are you teaching me how to do things?" Jerome Bonaparte said in a cold tone.
"Your Majesty, that’s not what I meant!" Eugène Roué hurriedly explained: "I was just..."
"Just what?" Jerome Bonaparte continued.
"Just worried about your safety in Constantinople!" Eugène Roué said, gritting his teeth.
"There’s no need to worry about that; a troop will accompany me!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Eugène Roué: "Do you accept this task or not?"
At this point, Eugène Roué knew he couldn’t stop Jerome Bonaparte from going to Constantinople, so he nodded, indicating that he would do his utmost to assist Her Majesty the Empress.
"With you in Paris, I can rest assured!" Jerome Bonaparte reached out and patted Eugène Roué’s shoulder once again.
Then, he subtly issued a dismissal order: "While there’s still time, you can go prepare!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
...
After Eugène Roué left, Jerome Bonaparte sent someone to the National Intelligence Bureau to find Marcel Yale.
"Your Majesty!" Marcel Yale responded respectfully to Jerome Bonaparte.
"While I’m away from Paris, you must closely monitor Eugène Roué! If there’s any sign of rebellion, eliminate him on the spot!" Jerome Bonaparte’s voice was devoid of any warmth as he spoke.
The reason he chose Eugène Roué was because, as the Minister of Justice, Rue had long been on the periphery of Jerome Bonaparte’s core group, and his influence on other core members would not be like that of Fuld, so even if Jerome split some administrative power, Roué couldn’t threaten the stability of Jerome Bonaparte’s regime.
Neither Fuld, Mornay, nor Percy would fully submit to Eugène Roué, and even if Eugène Roué wanted to sell out the country, he couldn’t agree with the Cabinet members.
Not to mention, once Jerome Bonaparte left, the troops near Paris would be in the hands of Nie’er.
Nie’er himself was already considered a core member of Jerome Bonaparte’s military group, and the future Chief of Staff was already certain.
Jerome Bonaparte really couldn’t think of how the opposition could sway Nie’er.
Unless they promised Nie’er the Prime Minister’s position, but someone like Nie’er wouldn’t risk it for an empty promise.
Dispatching Marcel Yale to monitor Eugène Roué was just an extra precaution, to prevent Rue from acting recklessly and causing an explosion in Paris.
"Yes!" Marcel Yale responded immediately.
...
In the following days, Jerome Bonaparte showed no sign of departing, as if his previous mention of going to Constantinople was just a casual statement.
Until three days before departure, Jerome Bonaparte summoned Richard Metternich to his office and asked if he would be willing to accompany him to Constantinople.
"Your Majesty, you’re going to Constantinople?" Richard Metternich asked in astonishment.
"Didn’t I tell you long ago?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Richard Metternich, "So, what have you decided?"
Richard Metternich hesitated for a moment before asking Jerome Bonaparte: "Your Majesty, when do you plan to depart? So I can prepare!"
"Three days from now, we will depart!" Jerome Bonaparte answered.
"So soon!" Richard Metternich exclaimed, then continued, "Alright! I’ll go prepare right away!"