Chapter 62: Moulins Infantry Regiment
The next day.
Many nobles at the Palace of Versailles received invitations to a small ball that evening. The hostess was Madame de Villars.
No one refused simply because they had danced all night yesterday — attending balls for a month straight was common for them. However, a ball hosted by Madame de Villars was indeed a rare occurrence.
It was an open secret that the Duke of Villars was facing some financial difficulties.
At nine in the evening, guests gradually arrived at the modest ballroom. After the host's welcoming remarks, music filled the air. The current Duchess of Villars, Marie Emilie, and a young stranger were the first to step onto the dance floor, presenting the opening dance for everyone.
As everyone whispered, wondering who the young man was, Madame de Villars, beaming, invited them to look her way. Then she loudly announced that her daughter, the Duchess of Villars, would be holding an engagement ceremony with Louis André de Davout three days later.
A murmur went through the crowd, as no one had ever heard of this Davout fellow.
Before long, a noble finally learned Davout's background from his valet:
"They say he's an unknown young baron, a lieutenant in the Soissons Corps."
"All I've heard is that this Davout is quite favored by the Crown Prince. Besides that, he doesn't seem to have any remarkable qualities."
"That young man certainly lucked out..."
Madame de Villars offered no further explanation, simply encouraging everyone to continue enjoying the dancing.
In a room at the Palace of Versailles, a young noble burst through the door, breathless and heedless of manners, shouting to Roger: "The Duchess—the Duchess of Villars is getting engaged!"
Roger rose in surprise, asking, "Engaged? Did she accept my father's proposal?"
"No, not that! It's with a mere Lieutenant Davout!"
Roger's vision swam. He grabbed the man, confirmed the source of the news, and then stormed out the door.
Duchess Emilie de Villars gazed at André Davout before her, smiling as they danced. Their steps were perfectly in sync, like two colorful butterflies frolicking amidst the grass.
It all felt incredibly surreal, like a dream. She had resigned herself to fate, prepared to marry a man for whom she felt nothing. But last night, her mother had suddenly announced her engagement to Davout.
She couldn't help but recall her mother's words from that conversation.
"Lieutenant Davout is highly regarded by His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince. He has now been transferred to the Crown Prince's Guard as an officer, making him a trusted aide to the Prince.
"Furthermore, His Highness has promised that if Monsieur Davout distinguishes himself on the battlefield, he will petition His Majesty the King to bestow upon him the title of viscount, or even count!"
"'But he has no money, and our family's financial situation...'"
"No, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said he guarantees Davout will have a large sum, at least 50,000 livres."
Her mother lowered her voice: "Most importantly, His Highness said that Monsieur Davout is exceptionally capable. If you marry him, the Prince will fully support him and help you reclaim everything that belongs to you from Noeta!"
Noeta was Emilie's paternal uncle. While much of the Villars family's ancestral wealth had been lost in her father's generation, they still possessed dozens of hectares of land – not just the nominal land owned by nobles in Versailles, but actual fiefdoms with tenants and feudal privileges!
And a significant influence and rallying power within the Moulins Infantry Regiment. Although the direct line of the Duchess of Villars now only consisted of her, a female heir, with little direct contact with the military, a summons in the Duke's name would undoubtedly gather a vast response from the regiment.
Her paternal uncle had only become a Major General by leveraging the Duke of Villars' name.
No wonder her mother had ultimately chosen for her to marry André. Rather than living a humiliating existence dependent on her uncle's charity, her mother desired the resurgence of the Villars ducal glory!
Across from Emilie, André was also lost in thought. Last night, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had summoned him, informing him that an agreement had been reached with the Villars ducal family for him to marry Emilie.
The Crown Prince had generously lent him 50,000 livres for the wedding and future living expenses, charging no interest, with a flexible repayment schedule.
However, His Highness had also given him a task: to help his future wife reclaim all the resources rightfully belonging to the Duchess of Villars, and then, using the foundation of the Moulins Infantry Regiment, train an elite army.
As he held Emilie's soft hand, he was enveloped in happiness, unsure how to properly thank the Crown Prince. Perhaps transforming the Moulins Regiment into an invincible, mighty force would be the best repayment to His Highness!
Roger suddenly burst in, ranting hysterically like a clown, but Madame de Villars calmly and gently persuaded him to leave. 'Today was a joyous occasion,' she implied, 'and all matters should be handled with serenity, even those involving an obnoxious boor.'
André saw Roger turn back, glaring fiercely at him. He didn't acknowledge the glare, simply pointing silently at his own boot.
In the Crown Prince's study, Fouché respectfully presented Joseph with a roster.
"Your Highness, this is a list of the recent recruits for the Police Intelligence Bureau, a total of one hundred and seventy-six individuals."
Fouché's eyes were bloodshot. He had been sleeping only about four hours a day recently, tirelessly setting up the Police Intelligence Bureau, yet the taste of wielding power invigorated him:
"Most of them are former Royal Police, and some are retired soldiers. Your subordinate followed your instructions to screen them rigorously, ensuring they have no serious criminal records and no undesirable habits."
Joseph opened the roster, which contained names, general backgrounds, and special skills.
It was impossible for him to memorize every individual, but this was a necessary process to assert his true control over the intelligence agency.
Joseph wasn't sure how Fouché had managed to recruit so many people and form a preliminary organization in about a week, but it was clear that putting him in charge of the Police Intelligence Bureau had been the right decision.
He looked at Fouché and commended, "Your work has been remarkably effective; you are an outstanding administrator.
"So, can you tell me when the Police Intelligence Bureau will be ready to operate?"
Fouché responded without hesitation, "Immediately, Your Highness. We can begin missions at once."
Joseph nodded contentedly. "Your efficiency truly surprises me. Now, there are two matters that require your investigation."
Fouché immediately took out paper and a pen, declaring solemnly, "Please give your orders, Your Highness."
Joseph said, "Are you aware of the former Commissioner of Police, Guizot, colluding with gang members to create chaos in the Saint-Antoine district and attempting to attack the police station?"
Fouché nodded. "Yes, I have heard about it."
"I suspect others are involved in this matter, but Guizot has consistently taken all the blame himself. The first thing you need to investigate is whether there are other individuals behind Guizot, and what their objectives are."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
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