Four days after Napoleon's meeting with the Directory, he had never received any letter from them. Maybe he was speaking the truth at that time, leaving them literally and figuratively speechless, and decided to leave him alone, he doesn't know.
He was in his office, writing a letter to General Kleber who held a command of the Army of the Orient.
He was writing to him to inform them that the Directory couldn't send a reinforcement to them due to the current situation France is facing on the mainland. He instead ordered General Kleber to hold out and maintain their conquered states for as long as he could while he settled his business in Paris.
Moments later, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Napoleon said and the door creaked open, revealing his wife, Ciela.
"Darling, you have mail from your brother Joseph," she said as she walked towards his desk.
"Have you opened it?" Napoleon asked.
"Why would I do that?" Ciela asked a hint of amusement in her voice. She handed the sealed envelope to Napoleon, who took it with a grateful smile.
Napoleon carefully broke the seal and unfolded the letter. As he read through Joseph's words, he hummed aloud.
"What is it?" Ciela asked curiously.
"It seems like my brother just informed me that he'll be arriving here along with the other conspirators to the plot of overthrowing the Directory," Napoleon shared, glancing up at Ciela who tilted her head to the side.
"I see…did he mention who will be coming?" Ciela inquired, placing a finger on her chin.
"Well, Joseph and Lucien are certain, I don't know who the others are. Though I have a great feeling that Talleyrand would be one of them. We'll find out the rest later."
"This is getting me nervous," Ciela said.Napoleon stood up from his desk and walked around Ciela, embracing her from behind. His arms wrapped around her waist, providing a comforting presence.
"I understand your concerns, my love," Napoleon said softly, resting his chin on Ciela's shoulder. "But isn't this the one you are looking forward to me to do? Power is within my reach, darling… and you'll be my first lady. Everything is going according to the events that unfolded in our world."
Ciela leaned back into Napoleon's embrace. "Yeah…so we better make this work, darling."
"I promise you, I will," Napoleon said as he planted a kiss on her neck.
***
Eight o'clock in the evening, October 23rd, 1799.
A carriage stopped in front of the chateau's iron gates. Napoleon peered out the window and saw Lucien, Joseph, Caroline, Talleyrand, and the other three he wasn't familiar with.
Napoleon exited his office, where he saw Ciela walking towards his office, probably to inform him about their arrival.
"They are coming my love, make sure Francis and Aveline are in their room," Napoleon said.
"Don't worry about them, I'll stay with them. Good luck, darling," Ciela assured him.
Napoleon straightened his uniform and he made his way to the door. There, he saw Beaumont who nodded his head upon his arrival, acknowledging his presence.
"Open the door," Napoleon simply ordered.
ƥandasnovel.com Beaumont swiftly obeyed Napoleon's command, pushing open the large doors of the chateau.
As Napoleon stepped out into the night, the cool breeze ruffled his uniform and brushed against his face. The conspirators, led by his brother Joseph, stood in a semi-circle, some of them were gazing at his chateau, probably mesmerized by the radiant glow of the facade lit by the electric lights.
"Welcome," Napoleon said. "We have much to discuss. Follow me."
Napoleon led the group inside his chateau and towards his office.
Upon arriving at his office, Napoleon gestured for the conspirators to take a seat in front of his desk.
As the conspirators settled into their chairs, their eyes locked onto Napoleon. He took his place at the head of the desk, his gaze sweeping across the faces of those gathered.
"General Bonaparte, it's a pleasure to see you. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès, you might have noticed me four days ago at the Tuileries Palace where you have been summoned."
"Oh yeah…I didn't notice you. You were so silent I must say," Napoleon said, chuckling.
"That was because I was awed by your words back there, General Bonaparte. Or so I was inspired by it," Sieyes said.
Napoleon scanned Sieyes, he was a member of the Directory elected on 17 June 1799 preceded by Jean-François Rewbell. He is what you would call the main conspirator of the plot.
Napoleon glanced at the other two, who were unfamiliar to him.
"Ah let me introduce the members of this plot, General Bonaparte," Sieyes promptly said upon noticing his curiosity. "This one is Jean-Jacques de Cambacérès. He is the one who will fund our plot and a former president of the National Convention back in 1794."
Cambacérès bowed his head to Napoleon.
Sieyes continued. "This one I believe you have seen four days ago, Roger Ducos, a member of the Directory who is also unsatisfied with how the government runs and wishes to reform it."
Ducos bowed his head to Napoleon.
"Also, I'm sure you have met Monsieur Talleyrand," Sieyes said, extending his hand towards Talleyrand.
"Yeah, we have met. I figured I would see him here," Napoleon said.
Talleyrand chuckled, amused. "So my appearance here is not a surprise to you huh, General Bonaparte?"
"Now these one to the right are your siblings, General Bonaparte. Lucien Bonaparte is the president of the lower house, Joseph is a member of the council of the ancients, and Caroline. You might wonder why your little sister is here, well there is one. She promised that she will bring Murat to support the coup."
"Wait what?" Napoleon glanced at his little sister, Caroline.
"Oh, you don't know, brother?" Caroline giggled. "Murat and I are lovers, though you might find it quick you can call that I have fallen on his charms."
"Caroline…you just met him two weeks ago," Napoleon exclaimed softly. He knew that Murat and Caroline were lovers in real history but didn't expect that they would fall in love so easily with one another.
"It doesn't matter brother," Lucien chimed in. "Caroline did a perfect job of bringing Murat into this. We would need any hands we can get."
"Well, if you say so," Napoleon sighed. "Okay then…what is the plan?"