Reincarnated as Napoleon II-Chapter 196: Uncle Murat Visits France

Two weeks had passed since the war ended.

Versailles had returned to its normal rhythm.

Not the quiet kind. The palace was never quiet. But the pressure that had shaped every movement during the war was gone. Officers still moved through the halls. Ministers still carried reports. Clerks still worked through stacks of documents. The difference was in the pace.

There was no urgency behind every step anymore.

Work continued, but it was controlled.

By midday, preparations were already in place for a new arrival.

The courtyard had been cleared. Guards stood in position, not in heavy formation, but enough to mark the occasion. Staff lined the entrance, waiting.

A carriage entered through the gates.

It moved across the courtyard and came to a stop at the main steps.

The door opened.

King Joachim Murat of Naples stepped out.

He paused for a moment, looking up at the palace, then moved forward without delay. His posture remained firm. There was still that cavalry presence in the way he carried himself, even now as a king.

Napoleon II was already waiting at the top of the steps.

He did not move down.

He stood where he was, composed.

When Murat reached the top, they faced each other.

For a second, neither spoke.

Then Murat smiled.

"So it’s done."

Napoleon II gave a small nod.

"It is."

Murat stepped forward and extended his hand. Napoleon took it, but Murat pulled him into a brief embrace, one hand firm against his shoulder.

"You ended it quickly," Murat said.

"That was the objective," Napoleon II replied.

Murat stepped back.

"And you delivered it."

Napoleon II did not respond to that.

"Come," he said. "We’ll speak inside."

The reception that followed was simple by Versailles standards.

Officials were present. A few generals. Some ministers. A number of businessmen who had taken interest in what Italy would become after Austria’s removal.

There was food. There was music. There was conversation.

But it did not stretch into excess.

Murat moved through the room with ease. He spoke with the ministers. Exchanged a few words with the generals. Listened when needed. Answered when required.

He was in good spirits, but controlled.

Everyone understood what this visit meant.

Italy was no longer blocked.

Now it had to be built.

Napoleon II remained present, but he did not stay in one place. He moved when needed, spoke when necessary, then stepped away when the conversation no longer required him.

By evening, the reception began to thin.

Guests left in order. Servants cleared the room. The music stopped.

Murat was then escorted to Napoleon II’s office.

That was where the real discussion would take place.

The office was quiet when Murat entered.

A large map of Italy had been laid across the table. Several folders were placed beside it, closed, untouched.

Napoleon II stood near the table.

"Sit," he said.

Murat walked forward and took a seat, his eyes already moving across the map.

Italy.

Different now.

Austria was gone from the north.

Napoleon II remained standing.

For a moment, he let Murat look.

Then he spoke.

"Now that Austria is out of the picture, how does Italy unify?"

Murat did not answer immediately.

He leaned slightly forward, studying the map again.

"Not all at once," he said. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Napoleon II waited.

"The north has to be secured first," Murat continued. "Lombardy and Venetia cannot be left in transition. Administration has to move in immediately. Civil authority. Law. Tax. Military presence to maintain order."

Napoleon II nodded once.

"And politically?"

"It must not look like conquest," Murat said. "It has to be seen as the end of Austrian control, not the replacement of one ruler with another."

Napoleon II watched him.

"And who carries that message?"

"I do," Murat said.

Napoleon II tilted his head slightly.

"For now."

Murat nodded.

"Yes. For now."

He rested his hand lightly against the edge of the table.

"If Italy is to unify properly, it cannot remain only under Naples. It has to become something broader. Otherwise, it will not hold."

Napoleon II remained still.

"So you understand the risk."

"Yes," Murat replied. "If it looks like expansion instead of unification, resistance will form."

Napoleon II moved slightly, his gaze still on the map.

"Then where does that resistance come from?"

Murat exhaled once.

"Several places."

"Start."

"The old Austrian administrators," Murat said. "Some will leave. Some will stay. Those who stay may follow orders, but they will slow everything they can."

Napoleon II nodded.

"Next."

"Local elites," Murat continued. "Landowners. City officials. Merchants. Some benefited from Austrian rule. They will not all accept change quickly."

"And beyond them?"

"Piedmont."

"Why Piedmont?" Napoleon II tilted his head to the side. "I thought you two were in agreement that you’ll lead the unified Italy."

"Well things could change quickly, but I’m aware of the possibility," Murat said.

He did not look away from the map as he spoke.

"They agreed because Austria had to be removed," he continued. "That part was clear to everyone. But now that it’s done, the situation is different."

Napoleon II remained still.

"Explain."

Murat tapped lightly near the northern part of the peninsula.

"Piedmont has its own position," he said. "They have an army. They have administration. They have influence in the north. If Italy is to unify, they will not ignore that."

"And you expect them to contest you."

"I expect them to consider it," Murat replied. "Not immediately. Not openly. But they will measure what I do. If I move too quickly, they will push back. If I move too slowly, they will step in."

Napoleon II gave a small nod.

"So you balance."

"Yes."

There was a brief pause.

Napoleon II looked again at the map, then shifted his attention slightly.

"And the rest of the peninsula?"

Murat leaned back slightly in his chair.

"The smaller states will follow the direction of stability," he said. "Tuscany, Parma, Modena. They are not strong enough to stand alone if pressure is applied correctly. But they must not be forced in a way that creates resistance."

"Then you give them a reason to align."

"Yes," Murat said. "Security. Trade. Predictability."

Napoleon II moved around the table, stopping across from him.

"And the Papal States."

Murat did not answer at once.

"They cannot be handled the same way," he said. "Any movement there becomes larger than Italy itself. It will draw attention from every Catholic court."

"So you leave it."

"For now," Murat said. "Until the rest of the peninsula is stable."

Napoleon II nodded once.

"That is acceptable."

The room fell quiet for a moment.

Murat looked at him.

"And you?" he asked. "How far do you intend to involve yourself?"

Napoleon II answered directly.

"As far as necessary to ensure it holds."

Murat studied him for a second.

"And after that?"

"We step back," Napoleon II said. "Once again, congratulations, uncle."