Eagle's Glory

"Actually, this is not unexpected news to me. She has been ill for the past two years, and I already have a premonition in my heart." The earl sighed, "But there are some things, even if I have a premonition in my heart, once faced When it's right, it's still overwhelming ... It makes my heart ache to think that I'll never be able to be with my mother again."

Seeing the count's sad appearance, Aigron didn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry." He could only repeat.

"Your Highness, you don't need to be sad for me. At my mother's age, it is not a pity for her to leave this world. At least she passed away peacefully while surrounded by her children and grandchildren. This is already the happiness that many people can only dream of." The earl resumed After calming down, he looked at Aigron, "In comparison, you are more worthy of sympathy and pity. You were only ten years old when you lost your father. I really don't know how strong you survived. You lost My father also lost the empire, but you accepted all this with admirable calmness and indifference, you did not give up on yourself, but studied hard... From then on, I knew that you would definitely achieve something."

No, it's just that I didn't treat him as a father at all... Eggron replied in his heart.

But of course he wouldn't say that.

"I was just too young at that time, and I didn't know what I lost." He smiled helplessly, "When I grow up, I understand everything, but it's too late to say anything at that time, so I You just have to face reality.”

"Yeah, face the reality... each of us should face the reality." The earl nodded lightly, agreeing with the young man, "The reality is that my mother died of old age, and I myself have stepped into the In my twilight years, it is impossible for me to have a higher achievement in this life... But you are different, you are too young, younger than my children, and although you have lost the empire, you still have the power that most people can't match conditions, as long as you make good use of them, then you will be able to have a glorious future and achieve achievements that others dare not dream of."

"I hope I don't disappoint your expectations." Aigron nodded.

"So did you get along well with Her Highness Teresa today?" the count asked again. "The great musician didn't say anything outrageous?"

"It went well." Eggron replied, "Mr. Beethoven and Teresa hit it off, so they chatted very speculatively. Generally speaking, it was a very pleasant visit. Teresa also ordered an order from this musician. a piece of music..."

Then, he briefly told the count the whole story of how he and Teresa met today—of course, he skipped the part when the two said goodbye at the end.

"His Royal Highness Teresa is really sensible, and she didn't do anything to embarrass you... It seems that she also knows that she should recognize the reality." The count smiled gratifiedly, "It seems that she rejected you at first The little girl is just angry."

Then, his spirit visibly cheered up, "Your Highness, your success is in sight! As long as you put in a little more effort, you can become the son-in-law of Grand Duke Karl. I hereby congratulate you! Please don't hesitate any longer. Now, let's settle things down."

He acted quite excited, a change from his usual calm style—maybe he wanted to divert his attention to distract himself from the grief in his heart.

"I will work hard for this." Under the current circumstances, Aigron could only verbally agree.

However, the count didn't intend to stop the conversation so easily, he stood up abruptly, and then paced back and forth in the room.

"Your Highness, maybe my life is coming to an end. If I look back now, the only achievement I can be proud of is you—I am honored to be named your guardian by His Majesty the Emperor. I have taught you and nurtured you. Success is in a sense my success.

I'm glad you didn't let me down for the time and energy I spent. You've mastered a lot of knowledge that surprised me, and you've also cultivated the calmness of dealing with things. Then the rest is to hold your breath and fight for it... And the time left for me may not be too much, so I eagerly hope that I can help you avoid detours and make steady progress, so that my life can have a successful ending. "

"What do you mean?" Eggron asked, feeling a little strange.

"I know what you are hesitating about, as well as the things between you and Your Highness Sophie—" when the earl said this, he felt that something was wrong, so he stopped, "I don't want to comment on your private life, but please You want to understand that it is time to end the matter now, Grand Duke Karl will not want a lady's little lover as a son-in-law, before all this becomes an obstacle, everyone settles everything decently, and then you are free and easy Just chase your future."

"Okay, sir, you are a little emotional now, let's discuss it later." Aigron waved his hand, signaling the Earl to stop talking, "I think with your current state of mind, it's best to take a rest first."

"Your Highness, I'm sober now, and I'm speaking from your standpoint." The count refused to budge, "If you can't stand it, or can't bear it, then I can solve it on your behalf. I I think that His Highness will understand you, she knows what is best for you."

"I said, stop!" Aigron interrupted impatiently, looking at him with some annoyance, "How dare you threaten me? I will listen to your advice on my matters, because I respect you experience, but I can only make the decision! I don’t need you to act on my behalf... I understand your current mood, but now, please sit down for me!”

Under Aigron's scolding, the earl's originally excited mood suddenly cooled down as if a basin of cold water had been poured on it.

He fell down on the sofa and looked at the young man blankly.

"Your Highness... I'm sorry, I may be a little... a little out of my mind." After a while, he finally calmed down and apologized to Aigron.

"It's nothing, we all lose our minds sometimes." Aigron shook his head, expressing that he didn't care.

Then he asked, "Can I attend your mother's funeral?"

"Of course, it is the greatest honor for our family to have you here." The earl bowed to Aigron to express his gratitude, "In addition, for the sake of my taking care of you for many years, Grand Duke Karl will also be present—Your Highness, look, this Isn't everything going smoothly?"

As a prince, it is indeed a rare honor to set aside time to attend the funeral of the Earl, an unknown family. No wonder the Earl is so grateful to Dade.

Grand Duke Karl has given his side enough face.

"I will accompany you to bid farewell to your mother with great grief, sir. I hope you can get out of the grief as soon as possible."

Aegron thought for a moment, then spoke again. "Besides, how are you going to arrange the funeral?"

"Originally, I planned to keep everything simple and only need family members to attend. But since Grand Duke Karl and you will both be here, I will try to be as grand as possible. You and Grand Duke Karl will be the hosts of the funeral."

After a pause, he added, "Don't worry, this is just in name. It doesn't mean that you and the Grand Duke are in charge of handling all the affairs. It's just that you and him will deliver the speech instead of the pastor."

The Earl's arrangement was not only for his mother's grand burial, but also for the Grand Duke Karl and the young man to appear in public together in the image of his son-in-law, so as to constantly strengthen the impression of their marriage among the outside world.

As long as we keep sending similar messages to the outside world, the Austrians will eventually slowly accept the reality—His Royal Highness will also slowly admit the reality.

"Okay, I understand." Aigron nodded, indicating that he accepted the earl's arrangement, "Please allow me to say it again, I am very sorry, please forgive me."

"Thank you for your comfort, Your Highness." The count smiled wryly, then stood up and bid farewell, "Okay, I won't disturb you anymore, goodbye, Your Highness."

"Goodbye, sir." Aigron also rose to bid him farewell.

In order to take care of the Earl's mood, Aigron sent him out of the palace, and waved goodbye until he reached the fountain.

Your Highness... You still need someone to give you a push after all——watching the young man leave, the count thought to himself.

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After sending off his guardian, Aigron returned to his room again.

However, his previous joy has been diluted a lot by the bad news brought by the Earl.

After all, after getting along for so many years, it is impossible not to feel sorry for it.

However, there were other things that worried him even more.

After thinking for a while, he called Chanel over.

"Your Highness, do you have any orders?" Chanel asked curiously.

"The next time you go to the theater, find a way to tell my cousin that I will attend the funeral of my teacher Count Dietrichstein." It's written in the obituary, he just pays more attention to the newspaper."

"Okay, Your Highness." Chanel nodded slightly.

But at this time she seemed a little hesitant, "However, it is a funeral after all..."

"It's a good opportunity because it's a funeral." Aigron replied impatiently, "The count plans to hold a big funeral, so he will definitely accept condolences from all walks of life. At that time, my cousin will be among the mourners, and no one will be able to It is clear who he is, and of course no one will care who he is, and no one will be surprised when I greet the mourner and mourners."

"It makes sense for you to say that." Chanel thought for a while, then nodded, "Okay, I will tell that His Highness."

"You will definitely feel that this is a bit unreasonable." Aigron smiled wryly, "Yes, it is indeed a bit unreasonable, but we are not talking about human feelings now, and I have to do some things that are sorry for others."

After a pause, he added in a low voice, "What's entangled with me now is a knot. The people around me have poured too much emotion into me, and they've placed too much bet. My success may be based on my success... so they won't easily allow me to act out of their plans, they will try their best to tame me—"

"What do you mean?" Chanel asked quickly, "Will they be against you?"

"No, it's not against me. On the contrary, they think it's for my own good." Aigron smiled wryly, "This matter is going crazy, and while everything can be saved, I hope to be freed as soon as possible—I want to Get away before the marriage, so that everyone can go down the stairs, if the marriage does come true, and then I run away, then Teresa... God, she will be a laughingstock in the social world ... She shouldn't have to bear such a price!

If I don't care about Teresa, that's fine, but I don't think I can entrap her to such an extent, so..."

Aigron looked at Chanel.

"I understand, Your Highness!" Chanel nodded emphatically.

For some reason, she was also full of energy.　　

101, funeral

After the earl left, Aigron proposed to the court officials that he wanted to attend the funeral of Earl Dietrichstein's mother as he had promised.

His request was quickly approved. After all, the court had already rumored that the Duke of Reichstedt was about to make a fortune, and no one would embarrass His Highness over such a trivial matter.

After hearing the news, Princess Sophie also specially came to Aigron to express her condolences to the earl's mother.

"Aigron, it's a pity to hear this news. When you attend the funeral, please convey a few words for me." She told the young man.

"Okay, Your Highness." Aigron immediately agreed, "I think he will be very grateful to you."

"Everyone will have such a day..." Sophie sighed slightly with emotion, "At least the old lady passed away surrounded by her children and grandchildren, and the whole family mourned at the funeral. In a sense, this is also a happy way to die.”

Although these words sound a bit out of the blue, Aigron, who has been with her all the time, understands what she means.

Her father, His Majesty Maximilian I, King of Bavaria, died on October 1825, 10, just over a year ago.

As a princess married to a foreign country, neither Sophie nor her sister Caroline, who is the queen, attended his funeral. I think she regretted it in her heart.

"Your Highness, the so-called funeral is just a formality. Even if you were not present, at least your love for your father will not fade because of it." Eggron comforted Sophie.

"I was just hurt by the scene. In fact, thinking about it, we are already lucky. This regret is nothing... My father is a king. If the king is a poor man, how many people in the world can be counted as human beings?" Sophie laughed too, then she stretched out her hand and stroked the young man's cheek, "If you say you are pitiful, you are really pitiful, your father..."

When she said this, she couldn't help sighing again, "He is still sleeping on a deserted island in a foreign land, and he couldn't call his homeland and son before he died. How desperate must he be?"

Aegron didn't answer.

Although he didn't think that Napoleon was perfect and didn't regard him as his father, it is really embarrassing that a generation of heroes ended up like this.

So if I have another chance, I must learn his lesson and never repeat the same mistakes... It is more important to use power prudently than to have power.

Of course Sophie couldn't see what was going on in the young man's heart. She took Aigron's silence as a sign of grief, so she lowered her head and kissed the young man's forehead lightly to express her comfort.

"Aigron, don't be sad about this, this is a historical tragedy, let's just turn it over—"

Then, she suggested, "As time goes by, the hatred of European countries towards him will eventually disappear. At that time, we will find a way to bring his remains back to Europe and find a good place to bury him... He shouldn't been treated that way.”

What Sophie said was not an unrealistic fantasy—in the original history, in 1840, it was the July Dynasty, which ruled France at that time, that brought Napoleon’s remains back to France from St. Helena, and He was reburied at the Les Invalides in Paris, when Paris was empty to welcome the return of the emperor.

Of course, the July Dynasty did this mainly for political purposes—Napoleon’s damage to France has become history, and the people only have nostalgia left, and welcoming back his remains is a measure to cater to national sentiments. Politically it will bring great prestige.

"Your Highness, thank you for your kindness." Aigron shook his head lightly, "However, this matter must be handled by myself, and I cannot do it to others."

"That's right, you are the only one worthy of giving him a funeral today." Sophie nodded with a smile, "Well, no matter how many years it will be, if I have the opportunity, I will attend in person and serve you. Join us!"

"That's what we've agreed on!" The young man raised his head and looked at Sophie stubbornly, as if asking for some treasure, "Your Highness, you are not allowed to break the contract."

"What a silly boy, why should I lie to you about this kind of thing?" Seeing his seriousness, Sophie was puzzled and felt a little funny, so she couldn't help hugging him, "Besides, I My heart... When will I count it as a crime when I talk to you? I'm afraid that it won't count if you talk to me!"

"Of course I still remember." Aegron closed his eyes gently, then hugged Sophie, and kissed her gently.

==========================================

Time soon came to the day when Earl Dietrichstein's mother was buried. On this day, the church next to the Earl's mansion suddenly became very lively. A large number of carriages decorated with family emblems stayed outside. Mother's funeral.

The reason why it is so grand is that the earl has been cautious in his words and deeds over the years, and has left good connections in all walks of life; but the most important thing is that the most famous prince in the empire, Grand Duke Karl himself will visit , so more people came to join us.

Archduke Karl personally attended the funeral of an ordinary noble family. The reason for this has long been spread in the social circles, and everyone knows it. To show respect.

Some of those who knew the story had already attended the birthday party of Grand Duke Karl and met Princess Teresa and the Duke himself; while the rest were a little curious, hoping to see the true face of the legendary son.

Their wish was soon granted, and just before the funeral officially began, Aigron came outside the church in a royal carriage.

Under the gaze of everyone, Aigron walked into the church with his head held high, while the Earl himself greeted His Highness at the door.

Because he was attending a funeral, Aegron was dressed very simply, all in black, and his tie was tied meticulously. Against the background of his clothes, his face looked paler than usual.

"Your Highness, thank you very much for coming!" The count walked down the steps and saluted Aigron.Although his face was full of sorrow, his spirit seemed to be much more lifted than before.

"This is what I should do." Aigron took the earl's hand and shook it gently a few times as a sign of encouragement, "Sir, please get out of the grief as soon as possible."

"I will, Your Highness." The count nodded repeatedly.

At this moment, another carriage stopped at the door of the church.

Then, an old man with gray hair but strong body stepped out from the open car door.

There was silence among the crowd, and then they all took off their hats to the royal prince.

Grand Duke Karl scanned the audience with serious eyes, and finally landed on the count and the young man, and then he walked over.

"My condolences," he said briefly to the count, and taking off his gloves, he shook hands with him.

Then, he naturally walked to Aigron's side, and asked in a low voice, "How's your time going?"

"It's not too bad, Your Highness." Aigron bowed to the other party first, and then replied in a low voice.

"Teresa also heard about the funeral, so she told me that I must give this face... I have commanded so many legions, and now I really deserve to be old enough to be commanded by a little girl." The Grand Duke frowned. head, and complained in a low voice, "You guys are fooling around, insisting on visiting that musician, and insisting on ordering some music from him..."

"It was Teresa's whim." Aigron replied with a wry smile, "I thought about it at the time and thought there was nothing wrong with it, so I agreed—"

"Forget it this time, let's avoid some extravagant things in the future." Grand Duke Karl nodded, "You are all adults, you can't be willful anymore, especially since you are all members of the royal family, your words and deeds will be punished." The attention of the outside world, don't give others the opportunity to maliciously speculate on you, it is also very bad for you."

You can't control your own daughter, so why blame me?Aigron could only slander in his heart.

"Thank you for your advice, I will pay attention to it in the future." He could only superficially agree.

"Come here." Archduke Karl beckoned to him, gesturing him to stand side by side with him, "On this occasion, the closer we are, the stronger the signal we can send to the outside world. I don't want to be rumored all of a sudden. Said he was deliberately ignoring you."

Of course Aigron would not object, so he got close to him, and the two stood side by side in the howling cold wind.

Their expressions were very calm, full of the solemnity and solemnity that should be in a funeral.

If there is camera technology at this time, then the front page of social news in Vienna's newspapers tomorrow should be a framed photo of these two Highnesses.

However, for Archduke Karl, this is just the customary emotional management of members of the royal family, and there is no real grief - he doesn't even know the earl, so how can he have any real grief for the death of the earl's mother?It's nothing more than to give the earl a face, and by the way, to support the Duke of Reichstedt.

"Okay, let's go into the church." After standing for a while, Archduke Karl said to Aigron.

"Okay." Aegron obeyed of course.

Just when he was about to take a step, Grand Duke Karl suddenly asked.