Speaking of governing, Napoleon II remembered that he had to fill up his cabinet or the ministries. Even though his father’s ministers were effective and capable at delivering their duties, the reality was simple, they had been chosen for a different reign, under different pressures, and for a different style of rule.
Continuity mattered. So did alignment.
But first, he needed a personnel that would act as his royal secretary, much like Armand to Napoleon I.
Napoleon II rose to his feet. "Elisabeth, I’ll be in my office for a while. You may entertain our guests that are still here in Versailles."
"What are you going to do?" Elisabeth asked.
"I’m going to create my own government," Napoleon II simply said.
She acknowledged the reason. Napoleon II faced Armand who was speaking with Napoleon I. He approached him and interrupted their talks.
"Son, do you need something?" Napoleon I asked.
"Yes father, well now that I’m the Emperor, I believe it is crucial that I have my own ministers."
Napoleon I tilted his head to the side, his brows furrowing.
"You are not going to continue mine?" Napoleon I asked.
Napoleon II shook his head.
Napoleon I studied him for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Fair."
Napoleon II turned his attention to Armand. The secretary had already straightened, instinctively aware that the conversation had shifted.
"Armand," Napoleon II said, "I want to borrow you."
Armand blinked once. "Borrow me, Your Majesty?"
"For now," Napoleon II replied. "You’ve served my father for more than a decade. You know how the machinery actually runs."
Napoleon I let out a short breath, almost a chuckle. "Careful. He’s more useful than he looks."
"That’s exactly why I want him," Napoleon II said.
Armand glanced briefly at Napoleon I, then back to Napoleon II. "In what capacity?"
"Advisor," Napoleon II said. "Transitional secretary. You won’t be mine permanently, but I need your memory. Your network. I need candidates for my ministries and a person similar to your position. The qualifications are that they are very good at their job and that they are extremely loyal to the Imperial Family and France."
"There’s a lot of candidates that fit that criteria. Overhauling the entire ministries...and a royal secretary. When do you need it?"
"Preferably tomorrow, can you do that or am I being unreasonable?" Napoleon II asked.
"No, not at all. I have all the records of every capable individual. But what do I tell the officials that they are going to replace?" Armand asked.
Napoleon II looked at his father. "Father, I believe you can handle that for me right?"
"I’m going to speak with my ministers, sure they’ll be saddened but if it’s me saying that they are getting replaced, they’ll accept it."
"Thank you Father. I could say the same thing to you, are you not sad about getting replaced by me as Emperor?"
Napoleon I chuckled. "I am not saddened, I am destined to pass my throne to my heir after all. And also, it is my time. I am old and would love to retire peacefully in the countryside, preferably an island."
"I can grant that Father, but please, the ministers."
"Don’t worry, I’ll take care of them. And oh, before I forgot, Murat is here."
"Murat? You mean your flamboyant cavalry commander? The King of Naples? I didn’t notice him during my coronation or this," Napoleon II said.
"He wants to speak with you concerning Italy, and since I’m not the Emperor of France anymore, you are to meet him."
"Father, you are still an emeritus Emperor," Napoleon II said. "You can still be present. Besides, he is part of the family right? He is married to Caroline," Napoleon II finished. "My aunt. Family doesn’t vanish with abdication."
Napoleon I sighed. "Fine, I’ll come. It’s been so long since I have seen Murat. I wonder how he’s doing."
"Then let’s go and find out," Napoleon II said and added. "Where is he anyways?"
"He is in the Mercury Room, gambling with other officials."
"Ever the gambler," Napoleon I ran a hand over his face and shook his head.
"Okay, let’s prepare this Apollo Room for the occasion. We are meeting the King of Naples after all, this is the most suitable room to receive that kind of guest."
"Of course, Your Imperial Majesty."
It took about thirty minutes to prepare the Apollo Room for the meeting. The ornamental chairs were now gone and was replaced with a mahogany table set at the center of the room, long and polished, with straight-backed chairs arranged on both sides. Decanters of red wine and water were placed evenly along the table, crystal glasses aligned with care.
Napoleon II took the seat at the head of the table. Napoleon I sat to his right. Armand remained standing near the wall, already observing, already cataloging.
The doors opened without announcement.
Joachim Murat entered the Apollo Room exactly as he always had—confident, loud in posture even when silent. He wore a tailored military coat with excessive trim, boots polished to a mirror shine, and gloves tucked carelessly into his belt. His hair was tied back, curls still defiant despite age. He looked more like a cavalry commander than a king, and he had made no effort to change that.
"Majesties," Murat said, bowing just enough to be correct. His eyes moved first to Napoleon I, then to Napoleon II. "It has been too long."
"Murat," Napoleon I said, standing briefly. "You look unchanged."
Murat grinned. "War does that. Or it kills you."
Napoleon II remained seated. He studied Murat openly, without hostility, without warmth.
"Sit," Napoleon II said. "Wine?"
"I would be offended if there wasn’t," Murat replied, taking a chair opposite them.
An attendant poured the wine and withdrew.
Napoleon II folded his hands on the table. "You asked for an audience concerning Italy."
"I do," Murat said before sipping his wine. "This is good wine."
"So what about it?" Napoleon II asked.
"Well I must say, thanks to the loan from France, Naples is steadily becoming a modernized state like yours. I invested it by setting up factories and railways."
"The repayment had been good," Napoleon I praised.
"Oh, so you loaned Naples? How much?" Napoleon II asked.
"About 70,000,000 francs."
"That’s a lot of money," Napoleon II said.
"It is, and it’s a fifteen year loan and we are almost done paying it, in two years. But it could grow more."
"Let me guess...more loans?" Napoleon I said, chuckling.
Murat shook his head. "No, it’s more than that. I want to unify the Italian states under my leadership."