Tuileries Palace, Paris
May 15th, 1836
The change did not come all at once.
It had been gradual at first. Subtle enough that it could be dismissed. A little less strength in his voice. A longer pause before he moved. A slight tightening in his expression that lingered even after the pain had passed.
But by mid May, it was no longer something that could be ignored.
Napoleon I was failing.
The reports reached Versailles before the morning had fully settled.
The physicians no longer spoke in cautious terms. They no longer described uncertainty.
They described decline.
Napoleon II did not delay.
The automobile was prepared immediately. No formal notice. No escort beyond what was necessary. The journey to the Tuileries was made in silence.
He did not look out the window.
There was nothing outside that mattered.
The palace felt different the moment he arrived.
Quiet.
