Chapter 363 Heading off to Southern France  

Immediately following his father's directive, Francis exited the room, leaving Napoleon and Lucien immersed in their grave discussion. Upon stepping into the corridor, he was slightly taken aback to find Tristan leisurely leaning against the wall, an apple in hand.

"Francis," Tristan began, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and concern as he took another bite of his apple. "What grave matter has father entrusted upon you?"

"It's a dire situation unfolding in the southern regions of France," Francis divulged, his tone laced with the weight of responsibility. "An outbreak of what is believed to be an influenza virus. Father wishes for me to personally oversee the crisis management there."

Tristan's eyebrows shot up in surprise, his previous casual demeanor now replaced by a more serious one as he processed the information. "That sounds perilous, brother. Are you sure about this?"

"I have my orders, Tristan. And besides, it's our duty to stand with our people in times of crisis," Francis affirmed.

"Hmm…southern France you say? Did Father tell us when did it start?" Tristan asked.

Francis shook his head. "I was only told that there was an outbreak and I needed to go there. I guess I'll find it out once I'm on site."

"I see…" Tristan hummed thoughtfully. "Well, if there is an outbreak, it immediately turns into an international issue," Tristan stated matter-of-factly, taking another bite of his apple. Tristan continued, now completely immersed in the discussion and visibly concerned.

"Especially if it's as contagious as the flu. Borders might get closed, and trade could be affected. Not to mention the fact that most of our trades go from Toulon to Barcelona. Since Toulon is part of Southern France, it's likely to be directly impacted by this outbreak. This could really hamper our economic activities. Should I inform my government about this?"

Tristan shot a glance at Francis as if challenging him.

Francis remained unfazed. "Father is going public with this by acknowledging that there is an outbreak in Southern France. Once that happens, Spain can react accordingly."

"Is that so? Well, I'm going to call Madrid and inform them about this. I think you should inform our sister, Aveline, as I believe Italy would be affected too, given its proximity," Tristan stated.

"I'm going to pay her a visit after this. Goodbye Tristan," Francis said as he started walking away.

"Brother," Tristan called, causing Francis to stop in his tracks and turn back to face him.

"Just because I'm already crowned as the King of Spain doesn't mean I can't be crowned as Emperor of France. Let me remind you that the race for the throne is not yet over. You became a crown prince simply because you were born first."

"Why are you bringing that all of a sudden? And why do you have to repeat that all over again?" Francis said, sounding nonchalant, trying not to let Tristan's words affect him. He had heard these sentiments from Tristan before, and he knew that it stemmed from a deep-seated rivalry between them. "We have a crisis at hand, Tristan. This is hardly the time for us to be discussing matters of the throne."

Tristan's expression shifted the previous challenge in his gaze giving way to something more contemplative. "I know, I know. I just…" He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Want to remind you of it again."

Francis scoffed softly before resuming his nonchalant demeanor. "Well, consider your point made," he said, his tone light yet edged with a firmness that showed he was done with the conversation. "Right now, I've got more pressing matters to attend to."

Without waiting for a response, Francis turned and continued on his way. He could feel Tristan's eyes on his back as he walked away, but he pushed the interaction to the back of his mind. He had a job to do, and he wasn't going to let family drama get in the way. As he made his way through the palace, he mentally ran through the steps he needed to take before leaving for Southern France. He needed to gather more information on the situation, liaise with local authorities, and ensure that everything was in place for his arrival. Time was of the essence, and he had no intention of wasting it.

Once he reached his personal quarters, he immediately set to work, pulling out maps and documents and spreading them across his desk. He made a few quick calls, gathering information and making arrangements for his journey.

The next few hours passed in a blur of activity as Francis worked tirelessly to prepare for his departure.

Finally, with everything in order, Francis took a moment to collect himself before heading out. He knew he was walking into an uncertain situation, but he was ready. He had a duty to fulfill, and he wasn't going to let anything stand in his way.

With one last look around his quarters, he grabbed his bags and left, his steps brisk and purposeful as he made his way to the palace gates—wait, he had forgotten something.

"Oh right…I meant to inform Aveline about the situation," Francis sighed deeply. He turned around promptly, heading back to reach out to his sister. It was essential that she be made aware of the situation, given Italy's geographic proximity to Southern France.

Aveline was staying in her old bedroom during her time in the Palace of Versailles, he was able to arrive there in just a few minutes. He knocked softly before entering, finding Aveline sitting by her window, a book in hand.

"Aveline, I need to speak with you," Francis said, his tone urgent.

Aveline looked up, her brow furrowed in concern as she noticed Francis's hurried demeanor. "Brother, what's wrong? And you looked like you are going out."

"It's an influenza outbreak in Southern France. I'm heading there to oversee the crisis management," he quickly explained. "But I realized I hadn't informed you about it. Italy could potentially be affected given the proximity, and I thought it wise to let you know as you are the Queen of Italy."

Aveline set her book aside, her full attention now on Francis.

"An influenza outbreak?" Aveline repeated, her eyes widening with realization. "That sounds grave. Thank you for letting me know. I'll need to make arrangements and alert our health officials immediately."

Francis nodded, pleased that she understood the gravity of the situation. "I thought you should know, given the potential for this to cross borders. Make sure your people are prepared."

Aveline stood up, her determined expression showing her readiness to take action. "I will. And brother, please be careful."

"I will…I'm off to Southern France now. I'll be back in a week."