Chapter 75

Chapter 75

Succession Right

The succession right of bloodline and the method to regain it.

The head was still confused, and no words came out of the mouth.

"The talk seems to get long. Before that let's moisten the throat a bit."

His Majesty Edward VII suddenly raised his large body and headed to the table behind. Somehow he seemed to have noticed my confused heart.

An ice bucket full of ice.

He lifted a wine bottle with cold water droplets formed from there.

In the meantime I barely chewed and swallowed the meat ssam full in the mouth.

"Sir Durand, do you like alcohol? In excellent meat dishes alcohol shouldn't be missing."

"...I barely drink only about beer, Your Majesty."

"Hmm, you don't enjoy alcohol? That's not a good matter. Take this opportunity and learn even the drinking method from me."

His Majesty smiled and lightly shook the wine bottle.

That wine bottle was one I've seen a few times at the restaurant too.

Sauvignon Blanc.

A refreshing white wine made with grapes from the Bordeaux region of France.

Pop.

When he pulled the cork stopper even though outdoors a subtle tropical fruit aroma and fresh grass smell fully rose.

And that aroma considerably calmed my confused spirit.

I don't know wine well, but through the sommelier uncle newly employed at the restaurant I learned to the point I can pretend to know.

Why doesn't a chef know wine well? I was Korean food specialist not Western food specialist! I only looked into a few methods of making traditional liquor for YouTube content!

Moreover I originally didn't like alcohol much either, and after being reborn there was also the reason of deliberately avoiding lest I get drunk and make a slip of the tongue.

Anyway wine usually takes the name of the grape variety or production region that made that wine. So that Sauvignon Blanc was also not a special brand name but the grape variety name.

Red wine refers to making with red grapes, white wine with red grapes with skin removed or white grapes.

The red color of red wine is the color that comes out in the process of fermenting together without peeling the grape skin, at first the astringent taste of the skin is strong, but as fermentation progresses it softens and becomes not simply astringent, but complex aroma and taste I heard.

Conversely, white wine is made completely removing the skin. So it gives a much refreshing and light taste than red wine they say.

The main taste of red wine is astringent taste, the main taste of white wine is sour taste.

Strengthening or weakening these tastes in the brewing process or adjusting residual sugar etc. and combining the unique taste of wine is the know-how of brewing.

So red wine matches heavy meats like beef, lamb, white wine matches light meats like pork or chicken, seafood was the common theory.

"You, do you know the Bible content well?"

"The Bible...?"

Honestly I almost don't know the doctrine of the Bible. Because it was bothersome I didn't even go to church on Sundays.

However His Majesty in front of my eyes here is officially the head of the Church of England (Anglican Church).

If saying ignorant of the doctrine one might get beaten.

But His Majesty didn't ask to scold. He lifted the glass and drank one sip of wine and continued the story.

"In the Bible there is the story of Ishmael and Isaac. The wife Sarah of the old man Abraham was in a situation of not being able to bear a child. So she proposed to bear a son through the handmaid Hagar. The son born receiving heaven's blessing like that is Ishmael. But later Sarah also obtained a son through earnest prayer, that child is exactly Isaac. Then, what matter do you think occurred?"

It was content I didn't know at all. But in this context I could answer by sensing.

"Both would have obtained legitimate succession rights...? Because God always gives important roles to humans."

"Right. The official successor was Isaac, but because Ishmael also received God's choice in the end he establishes a country. In God's plan there is nothing unimportant."

His Majesty who said up to there started flipping the meat again.

Already about half a pound of samgyeopsal seemed to have disappeared into his stomach, but there was no sign of fullness at all on His Majesty.

"Delicious Bordeaux wine and Berkshire meat! In fact this Durand Grilling you devised is exactly a blessing God gave! The barbaric northern black bear guys who have to shiver even lighting fire because it's too cold won't be able to enjoy such luxury! Hahaha!"

It was just saying a simple anecdote of the Bible, but the words His Majesty was trying to say were clear.

In the Bible not even one word, one particle is carelessly discarded.

All verses become the object of theological analysis, and become the foundation that sets the norms of the human world. And those norms are often higher than laws humans made.

Even entering modern times this was the same.

Right away the majority of people believed even royal authority was given as God's blessing.

Even now when parliamentary democracy started, so the authority of the royal family was still firm.

"In the Old Testament there is also such content. The old King David committed adultery with a woman called Bathsheba and lost the first son due to that sin. But the second son born between her received God's special blessing and became the king of Israel. Do you know who that is?"

The one who is David's son and became king I also know. Up to such talk was common sense in this era. Because they chatter so much in newspaper editorials.

"It's Solomon. The king of wisdom everyone should emulate."

"Right. And the core is exactly that part."

Core?

"Everything is God's plan. Proving the heavenly father's approval. Claiming the mission given to you due to that. With that even an illegitimate child can regain legitimate succession rights. Because there's already an anecdote in the Bible, the rest is just matching the logic. Ones who became kings or heads of ducal families like that I can name over ten right here. Even in the British Empire there have been unknowingly! Only because they kept quiet one doesn't know."

His Majesty's words, if summarizing in the end were like this.

Receive the recognition of religion.

In 1901 now the heads of religions leading the world order were largely two.

The head of the Church of England of the British Empire that has half the world as colonies.

And the Pope of the Roman Vatican the orthodox Catholic origin.

The Eastern Orthodox or Lutheran denominations of Northern Europe also occupied important positions in their own way, but if comparing influence as doctrine interpretation and faith the fact that the two religions are the strongest was clear.

Since the person who brought out these words is the head of the Church of England, within Britain there would be no problem.

But the remaining half of Europe the Catholic, especially in my case because I'm French line the recognition of the Vatican is essential that talk. Because France was a traditional Catholic country.

But isn't this an absurd mission?!

The Vatican?! And if succession of the royal family the Pope's seal would be needed?!

"Tsk, you're thinking my thought is unrealizable now?"

"But Your Majesty, with all due respect I'm just an ordinary chef."

"Even after hearing the secret of bloodline such words come out? Since I learned, you're no longer an ordinary chef! Moreover didn't I even bestow a quasi-noble title to cheer you on?"

"I sufficiently understood Your Majesty's words, but I have no power. To regain succession rights as illegitimate child origin wouldn't power or force to support be needed? If I claim alone no one will recognize I think."

"Family... Of course it's important. In France no direct line remains and only collateral lines but."

"And there's one more problem, Your Majesty."

"Problem? Tell."

I took a deep breath.

The logic of regaining succession rights based on theology His Majesty's, was very persuasive in the point that the person saying those words is the monarch of the British Empire.

The world always moves with power.

If Britain the world's 1st country says right, half of Europe has no choice but to follow.

But when using power there is always reaction too.

If finding the direct line of the French royal family without heir and regaining succession rights, it would be breaking news that could cause a wave throughout Europe.

However there was nowhere a reason the British Empire had to shoulder such political, diplomatic burden.

"My biological mother is Bavarian kingdom origin, biological father the last descendant of the Bourbon dynasty, uncle was an Austrian count and the mother of the Habsburg emperor sponsored like a child. Up to here all is understandable. With such background perhaps even the Vatican might recognize my succession rights. But, even so isn't there nothing I can obtain?"

France was no longer a kingdom.

Already over 30 years since the Third Republic was established going through the republican revolution.

France officially abolished the nobility system, and the succession rights and titles I have if not recognized within France were the same as having no value.

Property?

After the biological father died, the enormous property the French royal family owned someone would already have divided, would they readily give that out now?

Moreover the person who took that would also be a power person of some country in the end... Before going through a boring international lawsuit of over ten years if not assassinated it would be fortunate.

And would the French republicans stay still either?

I told these thoughts one by one to His Majesty Edward VII.

"You, were a friend with more accurate situation judgment than thought. As expected the Bourbon blood doesn't go anywhere. But why do you think you can't obtain anything?"

"Then, what can I obtain?"

"Everything!"

"Everything...?"

"Everything in international society is justification. But in this case, the Duke of Bordeaux doesn't apply. Because he was already in a state of not having much. Even if he returns alive he won't obtain the French throne."

"...Then?"

"You have one more half left. You're Isabella's son. And if others who loved her during her lifetime dream of revenge... This one thing I guarantee. Britain, Germany, Austria, Spain uniting and having sufficient justification to divide France! At least one third of French land to give you one could snatch!"

I don't know who my mother is that he says up to this point, but right now His Majesty's words were not a joke at all.

So I seriously shook my head.

"Your Majesty, I dislike war. And I have no thought of becoming king at all. I like London, and living in London alone is sufficient. Sorry but I'll give up the succession rights. It doesn't suit me and is only excessive."

Even if assuming war really breaks out, I just yesterday saw numerous disabled soldiers suffering from the pain of war at St. Thomas' Hospital.

I had neither the right nor the qualification to take gains while pushing them into war.

Moreover now is an unstable era where with just one small needle a balloon can pop! and burst.

The world war that might break out sometime in the future is already burdensome, I couldn't insert one more war that wasn't even in history there.

Looking at the size if slightly wrong the French throne succession war would ascend to world war.

Become a villain cursed throughout history? That's absolutely declining.

That was all.

Clap clap clap.

His Majesty Edward VII slowly started clapping.

"Thank you for showing sincerity. War is a terrible tragedy that should never occur. My ancestors grew this empire this much through war but... In fact I'm against any more war. It seems the parliament doesn't think so but... Anyway you also don't become king. It's not a matter a person should do."

As words a king of a country would say it was somewhat unexpected.

If it wasn't a remote suburban area with no one around, could I have heard His Majesty's sincerity this much?

He who blurred the end of the words, drank the wine glass in one go with a painful expression.

"But wouldn't it be good to regain at least the bloodline? That would also be a matter of honoring your biological father and Isabella. Anyway think carefully. If you want I'll write an introduction letter to the Pope. Wilhelm of Germany is my nephew, and Joseph I of Habsburg also got along like an older brother with your mother so I'll obtain their support too. There's also the birth report your biological father directly wrote so receiving recognition according to French law won't be difficult either."

"...I'll think slowly."

"Not slowly decide quickly. If wanting to take our Alice before it's late. Of course if explaining your birth it would pass safely but... Anyway decide quickly."

"Yes?! Your Majesty!"

The last words would really have been a joke!

After that talk about bloodline didn't come and go anymore.

I also knew everything I could know, so I didn't try to dig more. Because the head was already complicated.

We finished nearly 2 kilos of pork there.

Delicious wine, cool night wind, the full moon hanging on the quiet night sky strangely made the meat go down smoothly.

In the meantime His Majesty continued throwing mischievous jokes and teasing me, and I as revenge spat the spirit of winning all 10 games of poker I played with His Majesty alone.

Thanks to that I took all 20 sovereign gold coins that were on the bet.

"Sir Durand, that poker face is really crazy! Are you even reading thoughts? This doesn't make sense! Even though I'm one who won all at the Carlton Club poker tournament!"

"Your Majesty, that seems everyone deliberately let you win because you're His Majesty. I absolutely don't let you win at least in card games!"

Have you seen a Korean letting you win in a game? No way!

"This is too much! Is it okay for a knight to do this to the king?"

"Your Majesty, as the 1st succession right holder of the French throne such words are very disappointing?"

"Didn't you say you didn't want to receive earlier!"

"Just now the words were a joke."

Like that finishing the meeting with His Majesty Edward VII I rode the carriage and returned to the restaurant.

And then two days later, the aftermath of the incident of digging the secret of my bloodline started rushing in earnest.