Chapter 1311: Archbishops at Ease
Boissy, left with no choice, nodded. "Very well, Your Royal Highness, I will ensure the children prepare diligently."
From the other side, Archbishop Beaumont, hearing this, leaned in cautiously. "Your Royal Highness," he inquired, "what if they still don't place in the top three this time?"
Joseph immediately straightened his back, his expression grave. "How could a sacred and revered church school possibly be inferior to one haphazardly established by some minor, fading noble?" he declared.
"This concerns the centuries-old reputation of our church schools!"
Archbishop Beaumont regretted speaking up and was about to discreetly retreat when the Crown Prince gestured for an attendant to retrieve a newspaper from a nearby table. Unfolding it, he asked, "Archbishop Beaumont, have you heard of 'Countess Dampierre's Initiative'?"
Beaumont nodded. "Yes, Your Royal Highness, I'm somewhat familiar with it."
The news of Countess Dampierre funding several impoverished female painters and advocating for the creation of daycare facilities to care for their children had been on the front page of newspapers daily. How could he not know?
Joseph turned his head to him. "What is your opinion on this?"
Before Beaumont could answer, Joseph interjected, "I believe it's an excellent suggestion.
"While these very young children can't yet learn to spell, they can certainly be taught essential skills like dressing themselves, eating properly, and maintaining good hygiene."
Archbishop Beaumont paused, then quickly nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Your Royal Highness, this is truly necessary," he affirmed.
"I knew you would concur." Joseph smiled once more. "And the management and education of children have always been the church's responsibility, after all."
He then gestured to Boissy and the other archbishops. "Therefore, I expect the Church to begin establishing a series of childcare institutions in Paris. Hmm, let's call them kindergartens.
"They don't need to be overly elaborate; simply a place where the children can have two meals will suffice.
"Staffing will be even simpler to arrange; a single nun is quite capable of supervising thirty children.
"You can begin by trialing these in Paris, and later, they must be implemented nationwide."
Joseph grew more animated as he spoke. "This will not only enable workers to focus more intently on their tasks, thereby boosting factory output. As you are all aware, an increase in factory profits directly translates to an increase in national tax revenue.
"Furthermore, with dedicated care for children, the infant mortality rate can be significantly reduced. The children themselves will also be better mannered and educated. In the future, France's population quality is destined to far surpass that of other nations!"
Archbishop Beaumont and the others exchanged helpless glances. The Crown Prince had framed the matter in terms of government finances and France's demographic growth; how could they possibly refuse now?
One by one, they nodded. "Yes, Your Royal Highness, we will draw up plans for this as quickly as possible," they conceded.
Joseph gave them no chance to negotiate. He immediately rose, declaring, "Ah, yes, I've just recalled I need to preside over a meeting at the General Staff Headquarters."
The nobles attending the salon rose and bowed in unison, respectfully seeing off the Crown Prince as he departed.
Beaumont was pondering how to gather the archbishops to discuss the Crown Prince's directives when he suddenly realized that over a dozen archbishops from various regions had attended the salon.
Indeed, the Crown Princess had extended invitations to all the prominent high-ranking Church officials for the salon.
Beaumont decided to gather all the archbishops in an upstairs lounge. Closing the door, he sighed. "As you all heard earlier," he began, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has instructed us to establish a series of 'kindergartens.'"
Archbishop Asseline of Boulogne nodded. "According to His Royal Highness's demands," he said, "the number of kindergartens required for Paris is nearly equivalent to the number of primary schools. While the individual investment might not be as substantial as a primary school, the combined cost will undoubtedly be immense."
Archbishop Chartres immediately furrowed his brow. "His Royal Highness did not seem to mention the matter of funding," he observed.
Archbishop Beaumont's face soured. "It's quite clear," he stated, "His Royal Highness expects the Church to cover these expenses."
Everyone present lowered their heads, falling silent. Custom dictated that educational matters, particularly for children, were funded by the Church. After all, one of the justifications for collecting tithes was to maintain church schools, and another was to conduct charity.
While the Church's coffers certainly held enough to cover the sum, no one was eager to part with money that had already found its way into their pockets.
Archbishop Rufroy of Agde, however, spoke with indifference. "No one has ever established kindergartens like those His Royal Highness desires. We can certainly begin by constructing one or two in the Saint-Antoine district to test the waters.
"Many issues are bound to surface during this process, requiring constant adjustments and improvements, which can easily prolong the project for several years.
"By then, the Crown Prince will most likely have forgotten all about it. Even if he presses us again, we can simply expand a few more to placate him. This way, an annual investment of no more than 30,000 Francs should suffice."
The dozen or so archbishops nodded in unison upon hearing this. 'Yes, indeed,' they thought, 'matters that offer no direct benefit can simply be delayed indefinitely.'
'Could the Crown Prince truly punish the Church over such a thing?'
Even if punishment were to come, it would most likely fall on Archbishop Beaumont, as he was the Archbishop of the Paris region, and the kindergarten initiative was to commence there.
In that event, the others could simply cede some benefits to Beaumont as compensation.
The archbishops then quickly outlined a unified strategy before preparing to descend and rejoin the salon.
Archbishop Boissy then recalled the mathematics competition and inquired, "Does anyone here have connections with the judges of the math competition? I'm willing to pay some money, just for a third-place finish."
The other archbishops looked at him with pity, indicating their helplessness.
'Are you jesting?' they thought. 'This is a competition personally overseen by the Crown Princess. Who would dare accept money to help you cheat?'
Archbishop Rufroy offered comfort. "You needn't worry too much," he said. "Even if you don't place in the top three, His Royal Highness will, at most, merely reprimand you."
Boissy could only nod in resignation. While the Crown Prince wouldn't impose severe penalties like confinement for a mere poor performance in a math competition, losing favor with His Royal Highness was certainly inevitable.
The following evening.
Archbishop Asseline, having just concluded a ball, emerged from the Hall of Mirrors. A priest under his command swiftly caught up, bowing as he spoke. "Your Grace," he began, "I heard that Archbishop Boissy is seeking a top-three finish in that mathematics competition."
Asseline tilted his head. "Indeed," he confirmed. "Are you well acquainted with one of the judges? Still, I would advise you to abandon such a notion."
The priest quickly replied, "No, Your Grace, you misunderstand; I don't know any of the judges. However, I have another method to assist Archbishop Boissy."
"Oh? Do elaborate."
"I know of a child named Angelique, whose mathematical talent is exceptional. If he were to compete, he would most likely secure a top-three position."
Asseline halted. "Where is he?" he asked.
'Provided it doesn't displease the Crown Princess, why not gain a favor from the Oratorian Order?' he mused.
Comments