On the second floor of the Palace of Versailles, Joseph was planning the tasks for the next few days—this time, numerous royal families and political figures from various countries came to celebrate Louis XVI’s birthday, which was essentially a major European political and diplomatic gathering.
Thus, he must seize the opportunity to finagle and maneuver, seeking favorable international political situations for France.
He had just welcomed the Spanish Crown Prince Carlos Antonio earlier that morning, who would later become Charles IV. According to the schedule, the Russian Crown Prince, the Crown Prince of Sardinia, and the Prince of Poland would also arrive consecutively tomorrow.
Nearly every European country had sent members of their Royal Family or special envoys. Naturally, those with good relations with France were there to offer congratulations, while those with poorer relations were keen to see whether they could exploit any opportunities arising from the aftermath of the great disaster that had befallen France.
As Joseph was deep in thought, he kept hearing cheers for “Madame Garlan” coming from the Marble Courtyard.
He looked towards Eman with a hint of confusion:
“May I ask why this Madame Garlan is so popular?”
The close attendant was just as puzzled, but a maid nearby came over and whispered a few words in his ear.
Eman, suddenly enlightened, explained to Joseph:
“Your Highness, there’s a song and dance competition going on outside, and Madame Garlan is widely recognized as the most likely to win the championship. Ariel says she used to study with Mr. Haydn.”
“Haydn?”
“Yes, Franz Joseph Haydn, sir.”
After asking more about him, Joseph learned that this man was indeed a very famous music master, especially known for two remarkably talented students—Mozart and Beethoven.
If Madame Garlan was Mozart’s junior, then winning the championship was almost a sure thing.
With that in mind, Joseph quickly asked Eman to inquire with the manager of the internal court about the status of the external betting for the song and dance competition—the King’s Birthday Preparatory Committee had set up “prize quizzes” for both contests, where anyone could bet on the winners, with a correct guess yielding a double return.
Soon enough, Eman returned and reported:
“Your Highness, it seems that more than half of the people have bet on Madame Garlan to win the championship.”
This was trouble! They shouldn’t have offered fixed odds! No wonder those nobles were so excited. Joseph couldn’t help but rub his forehead—he had been too careless. It seemed likely that he would lose money on the song and dance competition. He could only hope to make some gain from the fencing competition, otherwise, he might not even cover the costs of the birthday celebration.
Just then, a dainty figure in a puff-skirted dress of lavender, her hair combed into a birdlike style, knocked and entered the room, greeting Joseph with a curtsy and a cheerful smile:
“Cousin, the swordsmanship competition has started. Would you take me to see the fencing?”
Joseph replied with a smile, “Aren’t you going to watch the song and dance? I hear that Madame Garlan is very talented.”
Clementine pouted and said in a whiny voice:
“I’m tired of seeing song and dance every day in the court. Fencing is so much more interesting, I want to watch fencing.”
The little girl usually followed Queen Mary around, but today, since the Queen was a judge for the contest, she had come to pester her cousin instead.
Joseph, overwhelmed by her insistence, finally gave in to her wishes.
No sooner had the two stepped out the main entrance of the Palace of Versailles than they saw Spanish Crown Prince Antonio, who bore a resemblance to Louis XVI, approaching.
Although Antonio was nearly forty, his expression carried the innocence and forthrightness of someone much younger.
He too noticed Joseph and, stopping in his tracks, performed a standard chest-grip salute, somewhat sheepishly:
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
The slightly round-faced, yellow-toothed noblewoman beside him also gathered her skirt and curtsied.
Joseph hurriedly returned their greetings. His gaze swept over the woman’s face, and he immediately recalled some accounts concerning the wife of the Spanish Crown Prince.
Maria Luisa, promiscuous by nature, had provided her husband with countless green hats of environmental friendliness.
This included servants, guards, Spanish officials, and even the French ambassador to Spain who had at one time been her lovers.
The most notorious among them was Manuel de Godoy, who rose from a guard to the Chief Minister of Spain, ultimately secured in his position by her favor.
Once Antonio assumed the throne, his preference for hunting and machinery meant that Spain’s government was firmly in the grip of Maria Luisa and her paramour Godoy. Their inept rule filled with disastrous decrees pushed Spain to the brink.
Ultimately, they efficiently depleted Spain’s national and military strength, leading directly to Napoleon’s dethronement of the Spanish Bourbon monarchy.
Looking past Luisa, Joseph indeed spotted a ruddy-faced guard obediently following with his head bowed—almost certainly Godoy.
In reality, during these days, commoners were only allowed on Versailles Palace Square to partake in the celebrations, and the area near the Palace of Versailles had no need for guards. Therefore, it was highly likely that this man was indeed Godoy.
Clementine, always the social butterfly, stepped forward to greet the Spanish Crown Prince and his wife formally before warmly inviting:
“Your Highness, my cousin and I are going to watch the fencing. Why don’t you both join us? It will surely be interesting!”
Antonio hesitated, looking towards his wife, who nodded slightly, after which he said to Joseph:
“Thank you for the invitation, we will join you to watch the swordsmanship competition.”
Luisa by his side offered an apologetic smile:
“Your Highness, I would rather watch the song and dance. Please, you go with the Crown Prince.”
Joseph nodded without betraying any emotion, “As you wish.”
Joseph parted ways with Luisa along with the others, which actually aligned with his hopes.