Eagle's Glory

Edmond Dantès bowed to the void expressionlessly, then stepped back, hiding himself in the darkness.　　

54, will meet again

While the Count of Monte Cristo was impassionedly conveying His Majesty's greetings to his party, a small storm was also rising in a certain manor in far away Vienna.

The storm only filled the living room, and outsiders had no way of knowing it, but it had a far-reaching impact, enough to shake the direction of future history.

In the afternoon of this day, Teresa tiptoed to the door of the study, and then knocked lightly on the door.

She knew that her father was at home today, and because of his recent official duties, his mood has improved a lot.

So, it's time to discuss something important.

"Who is it?" A greeting came from inside.

"It's me, Dad... I have something to tell you." Teresa replied softly.

"Oh, come in then." Father quickly agreed.

Teresa didn't open the door immediately, but took a deep breath to adjust her spirit to the best state before pushing the door open.

She knew that she might face a spiritual battle next, but she was already fearless.

In the spacious study room, she walked through rows of bookshelves, and then came to the center of the study room. At this time, Archduke Karl was also sitting on a chair, with a book just put down beside him.

"My daughter, what's the matter?" He asked gently, then pointed to the seat next to him and motioned for his daughter to sit down.

He is really in a good mood now.

Since returning home from a trip to Rome, Teresa's complexion has obviously improved a lot, and a smile occasionally appeared on her face, which also made the old father feel at ease.

Perhaps time can indeed heal all wounds, and Teresa finally came out of the shadows slowly.

However, he didn't expect that instead of dissipating, the hidden shadow would expand unscrupulously, devouring his daughter's heart—and today was the day Teresa was looking for a good time to confront him.

What a cruel day!And he doesn't know yet.

Teresa sat down as her father ordered, and then looked at her father.

Then she spoke with dignity.

"Father... I have something important to tell you, and... a request."

Then, under the astonished gaze of Grand Duke Karl, Teresa calmly stated the truth, "I met Your Highness during the journey to Rome."

"What?!" Her first sentence caused her father to exclaim and interrupted her. "He came to you secretly?!"

"Actually, I was the one who took the initiative to find him, and I was lucky enough to find him..." Teresa sternly corrected her father's wording mistakes, and then continued, "We met, and then reiterated In other words, we both believe that the marriage contract will continue to be valid..."

"What the hell! You came here just to tell me this?!" Her father interrupted her again, and then asked sharply, "What else did you do?"

"Do you really want to know?" Teresa looked up at her father, "Well, let me tell you, we hugged, we wept, we danced, we agreed for life, we kissed, and we kissed. have……"

"Shut up! You...you dare to say these shameless words to me. When did I teach you to speak like this?" Grand Duke Karl was so angry that he was about to lose his breath. He stood up aggressively, and then looked around Den, "Where's my gun? I'm going to kill him!"

After a while, he came back to his senses, and he was already dizzy with anger.

He forced himself to sit down, but his lips were trembling, "He... After he did such a thing, how dare... How dare he come to tease your heart and destroy your only remaining happiness? Shameless, dog Bastard!"

"Don't scold him like that. If you have to scold him, then I have a share, because I did it out of happiness." Teresa said without retreating, "We each have half of the responsibility, I am also very happy to take on this responsibility. So I beg you, be tolerant to us one more time, and give His Highness one more chance..."

"What chance?" Archduke Karl asked sharply.

"Become your son-in-law and give me a chance to be happy in the future." Teresa replied in a low voice, "We have already agreed that I will go abroad to find him again in the name of traveling after a while, and then we will stay together like this. Like any unmarried couple. This time I return to China, I just want to ask for your permission."

"Hey! Okay, okay!" Archduke Karl laughed back angrily, and shouted ironically, "So you have already decided everything, and then asked me to acquiesce, and give me a chance to bless you... Am I still Want to thank you?"

Teresa didn't answer anymore, she knew that her father was angry now, so she didn't want to provoke him anymore, but she kept looking at her father, begging him to forgive him once.

"No, no!" Grand Duke Karl replied firmly. "You know what he did, he lied, he broke his promise! He seriously damaged the interests of our country, and he made you a laughingstock. How can such a person deserve to be given another chance? It's ridiculous! What's more, he And did even worse and shameful things!"

"What is it?" Teresa asked in surprise.

Archduke Karl frowned sullenly.After a while, he sighed, "Forget it, there are only two of us here, so let me tell you—"

Then, his expression became serious, "Her Royal Highness Sophie has been disappearing from public view recently, and the official announcement is that she is sick and recuperating, but according to the private news from my friend, she... she is pregnant. "

"What?" Teresa was so surprised that she fell into a state of trance for a moment. "Is this... is this true?"

"It should be true. That friend of mine won't have the guts to joke about this kind of thing." Grand Duke Karl's voice became lower and lower, obviously he also knew that this topic was absolutely unsafe. "I didn't want to say it after I found out about it, but today, in order to wake you up, I will tell you that I hope this pot of cold water can wake you up—think about it carefully, Her Royal Highness Sophie's pregnancy should have been The good news from the royal family means that there is hope for continuation, but why are the officials so secretive...?"

He didn't go into details, because he knew Teresa's intelligence was obviously capable of guessing the answer by herself.

After learning about this matter, he didn't even tell his wife. After all, this kind of matter involves the secrets of the main branch of the royal family. With his sensitive identity, he should not touch it. He was jealous, how could he allow his younger brother to spread his scandal?

He continued to look at his daughter, and found that Teresa was stunned, her face was as pale as paper, and fine cold sweat suddenly broke out on her originally firm and meaningless forehead.

I'm sorry, but now that he has reached this point, he can only continue talking.

"The question now is who does the child belong to? Although I dare not ask carefully, according to court rumors, His Royal Highness Sophie has a very good relationship with that kid. This Bavarian and Frenchman share the same illness, and they are almost intimate with each other. It's a pity that it was too late when I found out about this! Well, my daughter, you already know now... what an evil man he is, and how far he has harmed you!"

Teresa closed her eyes slightly, and her body was also trembling slightly, as if an asthmatic was having an attack, taking a big breath, her body was shaking.

Is this blow a bit too big?He thought to himself.

However, this might not be a good medicine, which can relieve both father and daughter from pain.

The father watched her daughter's every move. After an unknown amount of time, Teresa finally raised her head and looked at her father again. This time, her gaze was no longer as sharp and agile as before, but tears were shining. .

"Teresa, stop worrying about that guy, he's not worth it." Grand Duke Karl sighed, "Just let this end."

"I hate them," Teresa said suddenly.

"Yeah, so let them take matters into their own hands." Archduke Karl shrugged, "Leave them alone."

"No...it won't end!" Teresa snapped back.

"Huh?" Grand Duke Karl opened his eyes wide, unable to believe the next development.

"I know about them...Father, Your Highness didn't hide it from me, and as I said before, I understand his desire, and I also understand His Highness Sophie's care and love for him, so I respect their mutual attachment. It's a trick of fate, who told them to attract each other before I appeared? But I didn't expect that she would choose such a decisive way in the end..." Teresa's tears fell, "I...I Really resentful! They can end all this after they get married!"

"What are you talking about?" Grand Duke Karl was completely shocked, "So you know...?"

"I resent him, but I also resent her... Obviously, she can calmly start her romance with her beloved young man like those wives, and then bid farewell to each other with courtesy, obviously there are so many ways not to stay Leave traces, let everything be sealed in the memory... But she just disturbed my life for her own willfulness, and she must let this continue... How greedy and selfish she is!" Teresa bit He gritted his teeth and answered, and a resentful light flashed in his eyes. "I will never forgive her on this point."

But after a while, she closed her eyes slightly again, "But, I also admire her...she was true to her own paranoia, risked losing everything, did extraordinary things, and endured terrible sacrifices, which is also true." It proves that she is really not acting on the occasion, but really and desperately throwing herself into it, and with an astonishing fearless smile, she greets the flower of love that may only bloom once in her life... How respectable and noble she is! "

Teresa took a deep breath, then looked at her father again, her eyes became clear again.

"I used to think that our country was like a desert, and there was no real emotion at all. It's ridiculous that this fire is burning around me... Good! I pay tribute to her, and I really regret that I didn't say more when I met her Something to say. But if she can do it, then I... I won't lose."

Seeing his daughter's chants as if on a theater stage, Grand Duke Karl's heart couldn't help but tighten, and he had an absurd premonition.

"Hey...you won't be able to wake up, will you?" Archduke Karl asked tremblingly.

"Wake up? What do you mean?" Teresa looked at her father suspiciously, "I have had pale dreams for more than ten years, but now I have plunged into the reality that makes me uneasy and excited. Of course I have already woke up."

"Can you speak something normal!" Archduke Karl couldn't help scolding his daughter, "Can't you think about what is best for you? Why do you abandon your glorious future and trample yourself into the mud? among?!"

"Only I have the right to define what is called a glorious future for myself, Father." Teresa replied solemnly. "At this point, I'm absolutely ego. And, I think I've found that for myself."

It's over, she has been fascinated, and she won't listen to what she says.Grand Duke Karl sighed inwardly.

Why was I so stupid back then, to take her to Schönbrunn Palace excitedly?

He couldn't help hating Metternich, Louisa, and the stupid self he had been last year.

It's a pity that there is no regret medicine in the world, and everything I say now is so pale.

"You...you can't be willful anymore." A moment later, Grand Duke Karl hissed to his daughter, "As a father, I have the right to decide your life and your marriage."

"Haven't you already decided once?" Teresa asked back. "I think it's a good decision, and I accept it—don't you like him too?"

"That's a thing of the past!" Grand Duke Karl interrupted his daughter in anger, "What he has done has made me change my decision. It's not my fault but his own. Now I take back my decision. I want Find a husband for you again, there will always be a better candidate in the world."

"I beg you not to do this..." Teresa could not help crying, "I... I have made my decision, I love him!"

"Love? A vague and ridiculous word. Without it, human beings can live very well." Archduke Karl shook his head, "Life will change a person. Maybe after ten or twenty years, your thoughts will be different. gone."

"You are free to do this, because it is your right, and I will have no complaints against you, because you are my father, my beloved father - but correspondingly, I have my right, to be my want to do."

Teresa's eyes were full of tears, but she still raised her head and looked at her father, "Since you don't promise me, then I will change my habit and attend every banquet that I have troubled so much. , in the name of Madame Bonaparte; I will also write letters to everyone I know or not, telling my choice, with the same signature! This is not my presumptuous claim, but my due title, I Use it with pride, I don't believe anyone will marry such a woman... and then the world will know that Austria not only imprisoned the Roman king for more than ten years, but also deliberately planned to continue to imprison his wife, ruthlessly Let a family be broken because of some resentment that should have disappeared with time!"

"Shut up!!!" The incomparable anger made Grand Duke Karl shout out.

The prince could no longer see his usual composure, and even his blood vessels were protruding. He raised his hand tremblingly, wanting to slap his daughter, but Teresa was still fearless and held her head high. looked into his father's eyes.

After all, Grand Duke Karl's slap did not come down, and he covered his chest with his hands. The commander who had commanded thousands of troops felt as if he had been shot at this moment, and his heart ached so much that he couldn't move.

"You... are crazy! You are already crazy!" Father did not know how many times he scolded like this.

"Maybe I am indeed crazy, but this is also my choice. A person should face up to the weight of his choice. Even being a lunatic is better than being a capricious clown. In other words, if I don't have this awareness, I will not be like this Standing in front of you." Teresa replied in a low voice but solemnly, "Father, I am your daughter, so I understand you, but you should understand me as well. Others are moved, because I value myself, and I don't want to easily damage the beauty of my soul, and you can't force me to do this, because you are the person who should respect me the most in the world!"

Teresa's words buzzed in Grand Duke Karl's ears, giving him a splitting headache.

He felt as if he had come to a strange world.

Why did his daughter, who had always been quiet and docile and always proud, become someone he no longer recognized?

When did she develop such a sharp tongue, and when did she forge such a heart of steel?

He didn't know the answer, but he had already seen that he really couldn't convince her with words.

Is it really something to be proud of letting your daughter read so many books?For the first time in his life, he had doubts about the way he raised his children.

what to do?If you leave it alone, Teresa can really do what she said, shame her family and the royal family, and make Habsburg a laughing stock in the eyes of the world-this is what he and His Majesty the Emperor can't do anyway. tolerated.

So, should she be held indefinitely until she changes her mind, or...

If it were His Majesty the Emperor, he would probably choose the former, but Archduke Karl asked himself, he was reluctant to do this anyway, how could he have the heart to see his daughter wither and wither at the most beautiful age in his life?

So, this cunning daughter, taking advantage of her father's kindness and intolerance, threatens me without fear...

He had a lot of thoughts, but he didn't seem to think about anything.

In the end, he could only let out a long sigh, "Teresa, are you really not thinking about it anymore? Even if father begs you?"

Teresa was about to cry, but she held back her tears and shook her head slowly.

"I'm all angry today, let's calm down first." Grand Duke Karl sighed, then turned and prepared to leave. "We'll talk about that later."

Then, he disappeared through the door.

"I'm sorry, Dad..." After her father's back finally disappeared, Teresa couldn't bear her own sadness and pain anymore.

She never liked to speak to her father in such a tone, but she knew that right now she had to show the strongest stance, and only in this way could she hope to resolve the situation in the way she most hoped.

If she cowers out of timidity, it will end up in pain for everyone, and she will never be able to get relief.

Temporary heartache and permanent heartache, she had no choice.

I only hope that I will have the opportunity to repay my father in the future and redeem my sin of unfilial piety...

She wiped away her tears with her sleeve.

It seemed that my father was at his wit's end and began to waver. Now it only takes a little time for him to finally nod... Anyway, it will take some time for His Highness to start his journey, so I don't have to be so anxious.

She gently placed it on her chest and closed her eyes.

I hate you, Your Highness, you have only revealed part of your soul to me, and the trick of fate has made your heart stolen.

But...it doesn't bother me, we will meet again eventually.　　

55, king

Of course, the storm from Vienna would not spread to the island of Monte Cristo, thousands of miles away. The young man whom Teresa entrusted her favor with would certainly not know at this moment what the girl had done for him. What a struggle and what sacrifices.

He has now put his heart and soul into his career and is delighted to see it all revolve around him.

On a foggy morning, a smuggling boat passed through the thick fog and docked secretly at the trestle on Monte Cristo Island.Then, Edmond Dantès, Earl of Monte Cristo, led a group of young people who followed him out of the cabin and once again stood on the ground.

The others looked at the island in amazement, but Edmond Dantès had already concentrated all his attention on what was to be done next.

Yes, he is coming back to command—that is to say, next he will meet with the monarch he is loyal to, and then report on what he has done on this trip, and wait for his evaluation.

Although Edmond Dantès thought he did a good job in his self-evaluation, he was still a little nervous.

He, who has been trampled in the mud for too long, who was on the verge of despair and escaped by chance, needs the approval of others, especially the benefactor who gave him everything he has now.

With an uneasy mood, Edmond Dantès led the group of people along the path to the ruins of the monastery in the center of the island.

Then, Miss Chanel, the personal maid who served His Majesty, walked in front of him with a smile, and then bowed respectfully.

"My lord, you have worked hard."

Although he was indeed very tired, Edmond Dantès couldn't help but relax when he saw the other party's smile.

"Miss, is Your Majesty free now? I'm here to report to him."