In this episode of The Countdown of Monte Cristo, King Louis XVIII clings to classical verse while the world shifts beneath him. As his minister rushes off in search of new intelligence—and Blacas grows restless—the king muses over Virgil’s imagery and jokes about armorial bearings.

It’s witty, sharp, and deeply disconnected. While Napoleon marches toward Paris, the royal court continues its poetic detour into denial.

Key Events:

•The minister of police is sent to fetch a new report—or invent one, if needed

•The king mocks Blacas with a proposed motto: Tenax, “the one who clings”

•Louis XVIII quotes Virgil’s “molli fugiens anhelitu”, pondering stag-like fear while real danger closes in

•Blacas’s urgency is met with literary distraction

•The monarchy continues to prioritize style over substance

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