Eagle's Glory

"Then reject him forcefully. I think you should still have this bit of freedom." Princess Sophie curled her lips in displeasure. "No matter how powerful he is, he can't dictate all the actions of the royal family members, right?"

"But he can persuade His Majesty to do so..." Aigron shook his head, "If Your Majesty is persuaded by him, maybe it will be difficult for me to refuse."

Princess Sophie was dumbfounded.

Indeed, His Majesty the Emperor is not only the supreme emperor, but also the undisputed patriarch of the Habsburgs. His orders to the members of the royal family are absolutely inviolable. What's more, Aigron still has such a special and embarrassing identity. Difficult to do it.

"If this is the case, then I will also go to Karl and let him intercede for you. His Majesty the Emperor is not a mean and ruthless person. As long as our husband and wife intercede together, there will always be a turning point." Princess Sophie The voice became softer, apparently comforting Eggron.

Aegron fell silent.

Standing by the fountain, His Royal Highness the Prince and Concubine, although the distance between the two of them is very close, but because of the water vapor permeating everywhere, her side seems to be covered with a halo, which looks hazy and real.

"Thank you." After a while, he stammered, "I don't mean to thank you for your help, but... I am very grateful for your kindness. This is really something I should cherish."

"Haha...cute child." Seeing his reaction, Princess Sophie couldn't help laughing, "Don't be so reserved, after all, we are a family now, aren't we? Of course I should do my best to help you. "

"You're not a few years older than me—" Eggron retorted in a low voice.

"But I'm already married, and I'm destined to take on this responsibility. I've already lost the right to continue to be young, but you haven't lost it." Princess Sophie's expression became serious, and then she raised her hand and pointed at the two sides. The grand palace opposite the individual. "Aigron, do you know why I'm so kind to you?"

"To be honest, I am really confused sometimes..." Eggron replied.

Her Royal Highness raised her head, looked at the sculpture on the top of the fountain, and sighed sadly.

"Before I got married, my brother-in-law and your elder brother were dying. When he was seriously ill, he told me that his life was happy enough. He never betrayed anyone. Even if he went to heaven, he would not be ashamed. In his heart, he can face that person uprightly. But he still has a regret that has never been resolved, and that is his younger brother. He is doomed to be unable to save the poor child trapped in the cage, and he can't bear it when he thinks about it. I can't stop suffering, so he begged me to do my best to take care of you after I got here, so that you don't wither early because of despair..."

After saying this, Princess Sophie withdrew her gaze, and then looked seriously at the young man in front of her.

"I don't want him to die with regrets, so I will keep this promise. Aigron, here you can regard me as your own sister, and I will help you grow up safely and happily."

Aegron listened to her words quietly, and suddenly felt a dull pain in his heart.

Obviously this was not his own business, but he somehow felt a sense of sadness.

Both for the late stepbrother Eugene de Beauharnay, and for Princess Sophie in front of her.

The two world lines that had already diverged seemed to have a point of intersection in her body.

Historically, the relationship between the two men has been very close.

After she married into the Austrian court, the King of Rome, who lacked friendship all his life, regarded her as one of the very few close friends in Schönbrunn Palace, and Princess Sophie seemed to have an extraordinary affection for the King of Rome. emotion.

The two often danced together at the ball, and they interacted a lot in normal times. It was because of their mutual affection that they caused a lot of rumors in the court. Some even suspected that Maximilian, the youngest son of Her Majesty the Princess, was married to the King of Rome. illegitimate child.

Of course, there is no basis for such rumors, but it is also a fact that the princess was distraught when the King of Rome died early in 1832.

Perhaps in the eyes of Princess Sophie at that time, the King of Rome was her real relative in the strange Austrian court.

"I will do my best to protect you, Your Highness." Amidst his emotions, he whispered his promise to the other party.

Suddenly, there was a little more sentimentality between the two of them.

"Aigron, don't be discouraged, these bad days will eventually pass." After a while, Princess Sophie adjusted her emotions and comforted the boy, "I said... one day I will have the final say here , and at that time is the day when you are completely free, no one can bully you anymore, you can do whatever you want...you just have to wait until then, trust me!"

Aigron knew that Her Royal Highness was right.

Although she married the emperor's youngest son, Archduke Karl, it is well known that the emperor's eldest son, Ferdinand, suffered from a serious congenital disease and lost his fertility. To Her Majesty's side.

In history, Ferdinand succeeded to the throne in 1835, and abdicated in 1848 because of a serious illness and was unable to handle state affairs. Princess Sophie's son Franz Joseph succeeded to the throne at the age of 18. Since then, Empress Dowager Sophie has His own willpower dominated the Austrian court, and he truly became a man of one word.

However, that was already 1848, and now it is 1826.

Even if Her Royal Highness Princess Sophie does not change her mind in the future and is really willing to fulfill her promise, it will be at least 20 years before she has the final say in the court.

How many 20 years of life can be wasted here?

He didn't want to wait that long.

He also doesn't have that much time to be patient.

"I believe in you, Your Highness." Aegron closed his eyes very moved, "I will wait for that day."　　

6，盟友

"I believe in you." Aigron closed his eyes very moved, "I will wait for that day."

Seeing Eggron's sincerity and joy, Sophie blinked and felt very relieved.

For a while, she didn't know what to say, she just looked at Aigron quietly.

"Aigron, as long as people have hope, no matter how many difficulties they encounter, they can overcome them. Besides, your current situation is not particularly bad, so there is no reason to be discouraged." After a pause, she stretched out her hand and patted Patted Aegron's cheek, "Okay, you go back to rest first, you are already tired today."

Her intimate gestures made people feel very intimate, and even Aigron couldn't help being moved.

It's a pity that being moved is moved, he is destined to be unable to obey the other party's words, because he has no way to wait.

This gorgeous cage must not be his home.

After bidding farewell to Princess Sophie, Aigron returned to his residence in the palace along the same road.

Even though he was a prisoner, he didn't owe much in terms of living conditions, and was not much different from other members of the royal family.

The room is covered with thick carpets, gilded wall lamps are hung on the walls, and wall coverings with purple and gold patterns are pasted at the same time.On the inside there is a fireplace with large decorative paintings hanging on the walls on both sides of the fireplace, and a velvet upholstered bench next to it, and a large porcelain vase from Saxony next to the bench, with flowers in it. decorate.

Generally speaking, the entire room is decorated with the elegance and luxury of the palace, but it lacks real warmth.

This is the place where he grew up in his new life, but no matter how comfortable it is, this place is nothing more than a high-level cage for him.

It was already early summer, and the room temperature was relatively high, so he opened the window, sat on the bench, picked up a book and started to read.

However, not long after, there was a sudden knock on the door.

"Your Highness, may I come in?" The voice of his guardian Count von Dietrichstein came from outside the room.

"Please come in." Aigron casually placed the book on the cushion next to him.

The door opened quickly, and the count walked in with light steps, and sat down opposite Aigron.

"Your Highness, His Excellency the Prince found me just now." As soon as he sat down, he went straight to the point, "He is somewhat dissatisfied with your tough attitude towards him."

"This is not my intention." Aigron was a little displeased. "I just rejected his arrangement. I think I have this right. Do I have it?"

"His Royal Highness's arrangement has been carefully considered. It may not be that attractive, but it must be quite suitable for your current situation—" the earl avoided Aigron's rhetorical question, as if trying to persuade Aigron, "So I think You'd better reconsider."

"That is to say, no matter how I answer, in the end I have to obey all his arrangements for me, right?" Aigron sneered, "If that's the case, why bother to ask my opinion? You just send me Escort to wherever His Royal Highness wants me to go."

His sarcasm made the count's expression quite complicated, both helpless and dejected.

After a moment of silence, the count spoke again.

"Your Highness, I have been by your side for seven years." The count looked at the boy under his guardianship and said solemnly, "A person's life is no more than 70 years, and I have already put one-tenth of my life by your side." , I have been taking care of you with all my heart for the past seven years, please believe that I did not do it to make it all a joke-even though it was an obligation in the first place, I want you more than anyone To be able to enjoy a generally happy life. Therefore, Your Royal Highness, I implore you to put aside your emotions and think carefully about my next words."

After speaking sincerely, he turned to the topic again, "Yes, people of your age hate being dominated and ordered by others, but starting from reality, it is objectively important for you to enter the army. Good for you too, isn't it? Your father is dead, but his name is still alive, especially among soldiers, even British soldiers, so if you follow his path, Wouldn't it be the best way to meet people's expectations? If you show your talents and build your reputation in the army, then you may be in a very different situation."

After speaking, the earl looked at Aigron again, his eyes full of sincerity.

He was hinting that his students might be able to get rid of the chains by relying on their prestige in the army in the future. From his own standpoint, he could only hint so far.

In all fairness, his words are also very reasonable and very convincing, but the young man who knows the fate of the King of Rome has no expectations at all.

In the original history, he entered the army according to the will of the Austrian royal family and received rigorous military training, but what he got in the end was nothing more than an honorary title, and he did not have the power to command any troops at all; Tene also resolutely refused to give him any chance to show his military capabilities——

Just in 1830, with the outbreak of the July Revolution in France, the wave of revolution swept across Europe again. Poland and Italy became the center of the storm, and the smug King of Rome resolutely asked to lead his troops to protect Parma where his mother was. However, Metternich He flatly rejected his proposal, much to the great indignation of the King of Rome, who died two years later of depression from tuberculosis contracted in the barracks.

It is conceivable that if he joins the Austrian army with the idea of ​​"walking on his father's glorious old road", then all that awaits him is despair.

So he decided not to go this way.

However, given his current situation, even if he wanted to resist, he couldn't completely rely on the hard top, he had to pay attention to his strategy.

It's a pity that he has very few chips in his hand now, and even if he wants to use strategies, it is not so easy.

"Sir, since you talk about your feelings for me, I admit that I do believe that you have feelings for me, so let's just be frank. You answer me, you really believe that the Prime Minister will be happy to see me in any place. Is it?" Eggron sighed, "Frankly, I don't believe it at all."

The count was at a loss for words. He wanted to say some comforting empty words, but under the gaze of the young man, he couldn't say anything.

"His Royal Highness is already in his fifties, and you are only in his teens." In the end, he could only continue to hint in a low voice. "Time is on your side. As long as you continue to follow the steps, one day, the confinement on you will be relaxed."

"You make it sound like he is the only one in Austria who wants to deal with me!" Egger shook his head solemnly, expressing his complete disbelief, "Although I have a title, will anyone really regard me as an Austrian? That's right, I'm the Duke of Reichstedt, but that damn place is in Bohemia! I may not be able to go there once in my life... Obviously, I'm just a beggar with an empty title living in this court Well, there is no crown in Europe that has anything to do with me—this is not the idea of ​​His Royal Highness alone, other people will think the same way, right? If this is the case, no matter how hard I try to behave, what is the point? "

Under Aigron's questioning, the count's face became even more embarrassed, and he knew in his heart that what the other party said was true.

"But if you keep resisting His Royal Highness's arrangement, I'm afraid he will be very angry." In the end, he could only say the terrible consequences of continuing to resist.

"Then what will he do after he gets angry? Will he send me to some desert island? On what charge? The crime of disrespecting Metternich?" Aegron was not frightened, but sneered and said A series of rhetorical questions, "I don't remember anyone saying I'm a criminal, right?"

"Of course he won't do that!" The count quickly waved his hand, "But he will definitely punish you in various ways, and even we will definitely be punished."

"That is to say, because I have value, so even if he offends him, he won't do anything to me, but he will let you bear his anger, right?" Aigron continued to sneer, "He uses you to threaten me?"

"Maybe I overestimated the status of us people in your heart, but you can believe, Your Highness, that Metternich has many ways to make your situation much more difficult than it is now." The count replied, "As far as I am concerned, , following you will not bring me many glorious resumes, even if you drive me away, I can still enjoy the rest of my life, but what about you? What will you do then? If I am here, At least I can take some of the pressure off of you."

Aegron was speechless for a moment.

It's not that he was speechless, but that the other party's words came from the heart, and he really couldn't bear to say any more harsh words to hurt the other party's heart.

Although he was sent by the Austrian Emperor, after all, he has taken care of him for so many years. If he said he had no feelings, it would definitely not be true.

"Well, since you have said so, I will seriously consider it, and if it is not possible, I will agree to him." After thinking for a while, Aigron finally nodded and agreed, "However, I will never let Mei Tene succeeded, no matter what, I will persist, even if it is just to make him unhappy, I will persist, you have to help me again, I will nod and give in until the last moment, let him know that I am definitely not his obedient slave."

"Do you have to be willful once?" The count looked at him in embarrassment.

Agron nodded again.

The count blinked. The prince's threat and his relationship with Aigron over the years made him extremely entangled, unable to make a decision.

"Can you guarantee that you will obey the arrangement in the end?" Finally, he asked cautiously.

"I can't afford to lose your care, so I will, sir." Eggron replied with a sincere look.

Of course he didn't want to, but he didn't mind verbally appeasing the other party.

In the environment he was in now, "how to lie with the most sincerity" has always been a must for the court dignitaries. Although he is young, he is at least somewhat ready.

"Okay...in that case, I will try my best to intercede for you..." the earl sighed and made his final decision. "Perhaps if you persist a little longer, His Royal Highness may change his mind in the end."

Aigron knew that this was the greatest kindness the Earl could do. He was in the middle of the cracks, and the situation was not much more comfortable than himself.

"Thank you, sir. I won't make it difficult for you again," he reassured.

Just as the conversation between the two was over, an attendant knocked on the door and walked in.

With a perfect smile, he respectfully saluted the little duke.

"Your Highness, His Majesty the Emperor invites you to dinner."　　

7，晚餐

"Your Highness, His Majesty the Emperor invites you to dinner."

After finishing speaking, the attendant exited the room respectfully, leaving the two people looking at each other.

Although he is the grandson of His Majesty the Emperor, Aegron does not have the opportunity to have dinner with His Majesty the Emperor every day. The sudden order came at this time, which does not seem to be a good omen.

"It seems that His Royal Highness has persuaded His Majesty, and his determination is greater than expected." A moment later, Earl Dietrichstein whispered.

"Yes, so it's still too late for you to repent, I can understand." Aigron nodded.

"Since I promised you, I won't go back on my word. However, Your Highness, there is only so much I can do to help you. I hope you can understand me." The earl sighed.

Then, he stood up again, "Okay, I won't disturb you anymore, you should take a good rest first, and see His Majesty later."

After the count left, Aigron picked up the book again and looked out the window.

The room was silent again, except for the ticking of the chime clock and the increasingly slanting sunlight outside the window, reminding people of the passage of time.

When the night began to fall on the earth, Aigron finally walked out of his room and followed the attendant to the dining room.

Although it was night now, the restaurant was illuminated by the brilliant light brought by the chandelier on the ceiling, and a group of attendants in uniforms shuttled through it, showing the extraordinary style of the royal family.

When Aigron walked into the restaurant, His Majesty the Emperor had already arrived and sat on the main seat.So he walked up to His Majesty the Emperor and saluted him respectfully.

Although he ruled over a vast empire, the passage of time inevitably left traces on Emperor Franz I. His majesty's hair was already gray, and no amount of majesty could conceal his aging and decadent aura.

But even so, he still has enough energy to effectively rule the empire.

Because today was not a formal occasion, he didn't wear fancy clothes, but a military uniform as casual clothes, and he didn't wear any medals. The simple and plain attire made him look more energetic than when he was dressed up.

His Majesty the Emperor seemed to be in a good mood today, looked Aigron up and down, and then nodded happily.

"Frantz, every time I see you, I wonder if you can be more handsome, and I am not disappointed every time."

The sudden compliment made Egron a little at a loss. He didn't quite understand what His Majesty meant, but he had to express his gratitude first.

"Thank you for your compliment, and I will try my best not to disappoint you in the future."

"Sit down, please. It's really pleasant to have a young man by your side during dinner." His Majesty the Emperor smiled.