Eagle's Glory

It's really embarrassing to publicly praise someone in the newspaper, but he's leaving anyway, so he doesn't care about such a small face.

"Her Royal Highness Teresa is the most attractive woman I have ever seen in my life. Even the precious and heavy crown did not overwhelm her own personality. She is humble and compassionate, respecting the personality and freedom of others, and at the same time not lacking. Wit and courage, and what's more, she has an admirable talent...I can't find any faults. Every time I stand next to her, I feel that I am overshadowed by her, but I don't feel sorry for her. I feel lost, but instead I praise the Almighty God for sending such a lovely person to me... If I have the opportunity, I would like to listen to her music all the time, it will be one of the most precious enjoyments in my life."

His cousin watched the young man as he listened.

"It's hard to imagine that you didn't blush when you said such a long series of words." Until the end, he couldn't help but sigh.

"For a person who aspires to be an emperor since childhood, this degree of embarrassment is not enough to shake my heart." Aigron replied, "I can do more difficult things than this."

After a while, he came back to his senses, "Why, did we really become an interview?"

"Don't you think so?" Louis put away the pen and paper, and then smiled happily at the young man, "Your Highness, this is just an interview—it's just that we talked about a little thing by the way."

"Heh!" Eggron could only shrug his shoulders.

Although this seemed a bit strange, but for some reason, his heart relaxed.

Maybe Louie used this subtle way to ease the tension between the two of them.

The time was almost up, and if it dragged on, some people might become suspicious, so the two ended their conversation.

"Your Highness, I am leaving with your request. Don't worry, I will do my best. You can wait for my good news." Louis bowed to the young man, "By the way, you are waiting for your words The day it hits the papers—I mean tomorrow."

"Goodbye, my cousin." Aigron waved his hand lightly, "I wish you all the best."

"Yes, Your Majesty, we will be successful, and we must also win." Louis changed his frivolous expression, and replied in a low voice with a sense of solemnity suitable for this funeral.　　

103. Planning and Enthusiasm

"...I praise the Almighty God for sending such a lovely person before me... If I have the opportunity, I would like to listen to her music all the time. It will be one of the most precious enjoyments in my life."

Teresa sat on a chair in the study and quietly finished reading the interview published in the newspaper.

The quietly burning flame in the fireplace insulated the room from the cold wind outside, making it as warm as spring.

And the smell of incense, along with the warm air flow, spreads throughout the room, making people feel refreshed.

Maybe it was because of the strong incense, her face seemed to be burning hot, and her head was a little dizzy.

"Teresa, should you put down the newspaper?" While she was still intoxicated, her mother, Princess Henrietta, walked into the study and sat in front of her, "I have a few words I want to tell you something-"

Teresa woke up, looked at her mother, and handed her the newspaper, wanting to share her joy with her, "Mom, read it quickly! Your Highness has praised me..."

"I know, I've read this paper a long time ago." Henrietta sighed helplessly. "Besides, my poor daughter, this is the third time you've read it."

"Because, it's really pretty..." Teresa replied as a matter of course, and then looked at her mother with a smile on her face, "Your Highness is publicly praising me, I guess he must have blushed when he said this!"

There was so much joy in this smile that my mother couldn't help but find it funny.

"You are too easy to be satisfied, this is not okay, girls should be more reserved, so that they will be cherished."

"It's not that I don't know the tricks you mentioned, but Mom, if you don't even want to reveal your true feelings, then what's the fun of staying together?" Teresa didn't take her mother's warning seriously. "Instead of being unwilling to show your sincerity because you're afraid of being belittled, I think it's better to be honest from the beginning, lest you regret it later."

"It's not unreasonable to say that." The mother frowned slightly, "However, I always feel that Franz's current attitude is still a little ambiguous, as if he is hesitating...I'm not saying that he has no such right, but since everything is now It’s not clear yet, so you’d better not put too much expectation, lest you regret it if something happens.”

"He can't run away, Mom." Teresa replied with full confidence, and then shook the newspaper in her hand, "Now he is publicly showing his love in the newspaper, and the whole of Europe will see it! It's too late to regret it."

"Silly boy, even a man's oath can be broken, not to mention it's just a paragraph in a newspaper!" Henrietta couldn't help but smile bitterly, "I'm not trying to pour cold water on you, I just want to tell you everything It's not all right yet, you still have to be careful."

"That's natural! I will continue to work hard to impress His Highness and let him know that I am the most suitable person in the world to be with him... because we are worthy of each other."

Then, finally, she put down the newspaper, stood up from her seat, and waved her hands like a stage performer, and the lace sleeves of her skirt fluttered with it. "As long as I do my best, even if His Highness has a heart of stone, I can still be moved, because...it is destined, I can help His Highness, and His Highness can use his talents to fulfill my wishes...We can create for each other. Happy people, aren't they?"

"Ah..." Henrietta could only sigh, seeing her daughter like this, she gave up continuing to persuasion in vain.

The daughter has grown up, and her heart has drifted outside, so what can parents do?

I can only try to make more plans for her, so that she can live a more comfortable and prosperous life in the future.

At the beginning, when she heard about His Majesty's marriage plan, she was surprised and a little skeptical. After all, the identity of that young man was really special. She did not expect that her daughter, who was originally proud and arrogant, would fall in love with him so much from the moment they met. Instead, under the impetus of his daughter, the marriage plan was quickly confirmed.

She doesn't know whether it's good or bad that things have come to this point, but since she has come to this point, she can only go on.

After all, His Royal Highness Franz is indeed both good-looking and talented. If he can really become his son-in-law, what can he be picky about?

Moreover, if a daughter marries this Highness, she can stay in Austria instead of marrying to a foreign country, and she can stay with her parents for a long time, which is very ideal when you think about it.

So... I hope that God will lead everything to the best result and let her vague worries come to naught.Don't have any accidents, just blossom and bear fruit like this!

After all, everyone is waiting to bless them.

Thinking of this, Henrietta cheered up again, and then began to return to the previous topic. "Okay, let's not get too far, Teresa, I have something I want to ask for your opinion—"

"What?" Teresa asked suspiciously.

"About the date." Henrietta didn't intend to continue teasing her daughter, and said directly, "His Royal Highness was born on March 1811, 3, which means that he will be sixteen years old on March 20 next year. , it can also be counted as an adult at that time. Metternich and His Majesty the Emperor thought this day was quite good and commemorative. So the court asked us what we thought——Teresa, what do you think? If you have no opinion , on this day the marriage contract was formally concluded—”

It is said that it will be March next year, but now it is the end of the year and Christmas is approaching. In fact, it is only three months away.Henrietta felt a little anxious, but wanted to see her daughter's opinion.

"It's a good day..." Teresa blinked.

As far as her heart is concerned, she certainly hopes that the sooner the engagement can be confirmed, the better, but she has already promised in front of Aigron, waiting for him to settle everything, and if she urges him so quickly now, she is afraid that it will arouse His Highness's rebellion psychology.

After thinking for a moment, he replied, "Three months seems a bit too fast... Then, Mom, I was born on June [-]th of the same year, can it be on my birthday?"

Of course, Henrietta has no reason to object to Teresa's words.

"Okay... Since you think so, then I will reply your opinion to the court. If His Highness has no objection, then I think it must be so decided."

"I will let Your Highness have no objection..." Teresa narrowed her eyes slightly, and then replied in a low voice.

Half a year is enough, she believes that as long as she relies on her sincerity and ardent love, she can finally melt His Highness's heart and abandon the evil fate that has become an obstacle.

The absurdity that young people once went astray will eventually become a thing of the past, and then they will usher in a new stage of life-she is so convinced.

"Okay, I don't have anything else to do, you can continue to work in your pile of books." The mother stood up from her seat, "You'd better clean up recently, we are moving to the Albertina Palace for Christmas It's festival."

The Albertina Palace, originally the winter palace of the Habsburg family, is located in the southwest corner of the old Hofburg Palace. It was obtained by the previous generation of Cieszyn from the late emperor.

The Duke of Cieszyn was also an avid collector. He carefully purchased a large number of paintings and artworks from all over Europe, including masterpieces handed down by Michelangelo and Raphael.He put these paintings inside the palace.

Because he had no heirs, he adopted the Grand Duke Karl as his adopted son, and after his death, the Grand Duke Karl and his wife naturally inherited the Albertina Palace and all its art collections from the Duke of Cieszyn.

They wanted to turn it into a resort of art, so they invited well-known architects to redecorate the entire palace in a royal style. After spending a lot of money and time, their efforts paid off, and the Albertina Palace became A jewel of imperial architecture and artwork.

By the way, after the rule of the Habsburg family collapsed, the Albertina Palace was taken back by the new Austrian government and turned into the Albertina Museum, which became a witness to Austria's long art history.

Although they enjoy a peaceful life in the countryside on weekdays, as important festivals like Christmas and New Year are approaching, the Grand Duke Karl's family will move into this luxurious palace to celebrate the festival with people from all walks of life, hold grand banquets, and maintain the family's respect. Great influence from the outside world.

And this year, there will be one more family member going to this palace to spend their days.

When Eggron visited the manor last time, Henrietta had already extended an invitation to the young man. If nothing unexpected happened, the Duke of Lechstadt would also be the protagonist of the banquet.

The Grand Duke and his wife are also very happy to let him and Teresa play the role of receptionist together, so that people from all walks of life in Austria can accept the existence of His Highness earlier.

Both she and her husband are convinced that as long as the couple continue to work hard and spend a period of time cultivating, the future son-in-law can finally enter the family, get rid of the current embarrassing situation, and become the authentic Habsburg royal family in the eyes of the Austrians. member's.

As long as the Austrians accept this, the rest will be easy.

For the happiness of their eldest daughter, the couple can try their best to do everything they can, and the next step is to rely on the efforts of the new couple.

Henrietta believed that, with the intelligence of the two children, whatever they set their minds to, they would succeed.

And his and Teresa's future child will also become a symbol of the combination of two great surnames, enjoying the attention of the world from the moment of birth.

Maybe this is Teresa's ideal future life?Looking at her daughter, the Grand Princess thought to herself.

Don't worry, all difficulties can be solved.

After seeing her mother off, Teresa returned to the desk and sat down. She calmed down her excitement, and began to take out a pen and paper to write a letter to the young man.

"Aigron, my dear friend:

Since the last farewell, I miss you a lot, how are you doing?I heard from my father that you were dignified and decent when you attended the funeral, and you took the initiative to carry the coffin for the teacher. I am sincerely proud of your magnanimity, and I hope you can get rid of your grief.

I saw your interview in the newspaper and honestly I didn't expect you to say so many compliments to me... I must admit I was very happy after seeing it, but I was a little afraid that I didn't deserve such exaggerated compliments from you ——Of course, I will continue to work hard to become the Teresa in your mind.

Christmas is approaching, and with anticipation, I would like to remind you again that our family is very much looking forward to your visit—my father and mother also hope to take this opportunity to make you famous in the high society.Our Austria is a conservative and hierarchical country. Since you want to flourish in this country, it is very important for your future. Please do not treat it lightly.

Of course, I will try my best to help you. I believe that as long as you show your usual demeanor, it will be enough to impress the outside world. After all, even those harsh soldiers have a good impression of you.But, in the final analysis... who dares to say how much awe there is in this era?We can only walk on thin ice and play our due roles well, and the rest is just playing around. Fortunately, we still have family members who can treat each other sincerely.

To be honest, my parents are very enthusiastic about you, and they are doing their best to create better conditions for you to enter the world. I dare not say that this is entirely due to my influence. They also believe that you do have this talent—— You promise, as long as you truly believe in them and rely on them, your journey in this country will be much easier in the future.

By the way, news came from the palace that they seem to be planning to officially announce their engagement in June. This is His Majesty's decision. I have tried my best to delay the time... I am sorry that I can only express my personal The influence has come to an end here, I hope you can understand me.

But I also believe that half a year is enough time for you to think clearly and make the decision you deserve... Aigron, I beg you, don't be confused by temporary emotions!Plan well for the future, can my parents and I not match the weight of that Highness?Isn't our enthusiasm and kindness enough to touch your heart?

Looking forward to your coming to us at Christmas, looking forward to getting rid of the entanglement as soon as possible, looking forward to your brilliant future, and looking forward to the day when you say you love me...

Maybe I'm talking too much, but please believe that every word I say comes from the heart.

Much love to you Teresa. "

In the silence, Teresa finished writing the letter, and then carefully put it into the envelope.

This letter will soon be delivered to His Highness, how should he feel?Teresa was looking forward to it but also a little apprehensive.

Then, she went back to the seat where she was just now, picked up the newspaper on it and read it again, silently re-reading the short interview speech of the young man, the words and sentences above seemed to give her great encouragement and courage .

It would be great if His Highness could say it to himself face to face...

She believes she can do it.

Then, she picked up the scissors, skillfully cut out the fragments of the newspaper containing these words, and put them in her collection.　　

104, compensation

It was already night when Eggron received the letter written by Teresa. After reading it, he was surprised and moved for a while, and was speechless for a long time.

He is not blind, and he is not really hard-hearted. Of course, he can feel the enthusiasm and kindness shown by Teresa between the lines. Of course, it is impossible to say that he is not moved.

"Why don't you just stay with Teresa like this and live as an Austrian?" The thought flashed through his mind again.

After getting acquainted with Teresa, he thought about this idea more than once, and as the so-called "wedding date" approached, it became more frequent recently.

He had a very good impression of Teresa. Although part of what he said in the newspaper was to please Archduke Karl, it was more of what he really thought - and he had no doubt that if he could really get along with Teresa If Sha gets married, he can have a very happy life, and with the help of Grand Duke Karl, he will surely be able to flourish in Austria.

But... this beautiful fantasy was shattered by himself again and again.

There are still too many difficulties lying in front of him.

The biggest difficulty is that he is destined to be unable to be reused in the short term, and can only be regarded as a political mascot, let alone have the opportunity to contact the highest power.

Now Metternich is 53 years old. According to the standards of this era, he is already an old man in his twilight years. He may return to the embrace of God at any time (for example, Napoleon himself only lived to be 52 years old), so whether it is Su Fei is still Archduke Karl, and even others feel that Metternich will not be in power for too long, and sooner or later the empire will undergo a new power reshuffle-and at that time, Duke Reichstedt will have the opportunity to participate in the power reshuffle. Stand out and enter the power field of the empire.

But Aigron knew that this old guy was able to live until 1859, which is 33 years later, and he lost the prime ministership in 1848, which is 22 years later; Can live another ten years.

As long as these old guys are alive, the existing power structure will basically not change, because the old people are doomed not to see changes in everything they are familiar with.

What's more, he is still too young, no matter how strong the background is, if he wants to climb up in the imperial system that emphasizes seniority, he still needs to go through a lot of tempering.

In other words, if he wants to take power, even if everything goes well, he will have to stay dormant in Austria for more than 20 or [-] years. During this period, he must do his best to show his loyalty to the Habsburg royal family and work hard to have the opportunity to enter the core decision-making level of the empire.

And even if this road goes to the top, it is nothing more than being a noble royal prince, and may not even have the prestige of Grand Duke Karl today, because after all, he was born with a brand of doubt.

20 years... How could there be so much time in his life to waste! ?

He also doesn't want to live on the European stage as a loyal Austrian minister—if that happens, his remaining political appeal will be wiped out, and those followers who have high hopes for him will eventually disappear.

He didn't want to bear such a price, and would rather gamble on his luck.

So, as soon as he thought of this, he abandoned the occasional hesitation and stuck to the original plan wholeheartedly.

Only by running out can he have the opportunity to freely dominate himself, instead of being at the mercy of others.

Eggron, who made up his mind again, put the letter away again.

He overcomes the weakness in the soul, and also eliminates the momentary hesitation.

From a positive point of view, now the problem he was most worried about has been resolved-since the palace plans to officially announce the engagement to the outside world in June next year, that means, as long as he runs away as soon as possible, the engagement will not be established. Teresa didn't have to bear the notoriety of being abandoned after marriage and became the laughing stock of the outside world.

He knew that even this would not make up for the harm he had done to Teresa and her family, but it was the only thing he could do.

The young man suddenly had an idea -- how about leaving a farewell letter before fleeing, apologizing to Teresa, and voluntarily declaring to the outside world that he takes all responsibility to prove Teresa's innocence?If so, she should be able to escape from this nightmare.

Well, it could be done, and he immediately agreed with the idea.

But it is still too early to write this letter, and it will not be written until the last moment.

In this way, in calm deliberation, the young man put aside his short-term worries about gain and loss, and made the final decision.

Maybe this is just hypocritical self-comfort, but he does feel a lot better in his heart.

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The next day, Sophie came to look for the young man.

"Aigron, I heard that you are going to spend Christmas with their family?"