monarch

Prince Don Carlos was descending the grand staircase that led to the King's study, just in time to meet the Count de Epernian, who was circling restlessly in the arcades of the garden.

The Count de Epénion had hit a soft nail with Robert, and the haze of his brother's death had been lingering in his heart, all of which made him furious.He didn't want to go home and see the black veil hanging in the living room and his mother's eyes swollen like walnuts from crying, and he didn't know where to spend the time, so he could only wander in the corridors of the palace like a wandering ghost, With the point of his cane he beat the dead stems of a few geranium bushes in the garden beds to vent his anger.These poor geraniums are long out of season, and these dead stems are the last vestiges of the dying summer.

Prince Don Carlos held his head proudly, wrapped in a mass of arrogance that can only be found on a nobleman, and walked straight towards Count de Epernian.

Seeing the prince appearing in front of him, Count de Epenian was taken aback. He never expected to meet his master here.

For the master of Prince Don Carlos, Count de Epernian has always kept instinctive fear in his heart since he saw him for the first time.There is always that kind of tyrannical temperament lingering around this pale freak, just look at his unhealthy complexion, thin lips and protruding chin, especially the pair of small eyes shining with cruel light, any cranial No physiognomist would find this man fit to be a ruler.The older people in the court saw in him the shadow of his great-grandmother, the crazy girl Juana, this trace of poisonous blood, after two generations of dormancy, is now like a warm spring after a cold winter A revived poisonous snake usually makes a comeback.This time, this crazy blood was mixed with the cruel temperament common in ancient tyrants like Tarquinius and Caligula, creating such a terrifying existence as Prince Don Carlos.

As a close friend of Prince Don Carlos, Count de Epignan witnessed the brutal deeds of the 11-year-old crown prince.It is unbelievable to say that the heir to the throne of Spain, His Royal Highness Prince of Asturias' favorite entertainment is to throw rabbits, squirrels and other small animals caught from the royal garden into the burning fire Roasted alive, the smell of scorched fur made Count de Epenian feel his stomach twitching every time he thought about it, and the enthusiastic eyes of Prince Don Carlos made him feel like his blood was running dry. It's about to freeze in the veins.He was also present when the Prince forced the shoemaker to eat his dissatisfied shoes, and he himself was beaten by the Prince because he refused to obey the Prince's order and stuffed a hunting boot into the mouth of the shoemaker who was about to suffocate. hand.A few years was enough for his fear of Prince Don Carlos to become a biological instinct, just like Canary's instinctive reaction when he saw a cat.

"Your Highness." Seeing the prince walking straight towards him, the Count de Epernian, who couldn't avoid it, could only walk forward to greet the prince with a smile on his face.His waist was bent very low, because the prince was not tall, and he never dared to point the top of his head at Prince Don Carlos.

"Why do you look like a drowning dog?" Prince Don Carlos pursed his lips and looked at his subordinates with mean eyes, his tone sounded dissatisfied.

"I just attended my brother's funeral yesterday, Your Highness."

"Ah, so he died in the end?" the prince chuckled.

"Dudley's sword pierced his lungs. Your Highness, the doctors can't do anything." Earl de Epernian suppressed his emotions and replied dully.

"It's really useless." Prince Don Carlos has always been lacking in emotion. He naturally doesn't care about the life of an ordinary nobleman under his command. One person died and two were injured, you and your friends are really useless."

Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, he raised his face and looked at Count de Epernian.

"Then you didn't go to seek revenge on Dudley? What's the matter, aren't you going to retreat?"

The eyes of the Comte d'Epénian widened, his face flushed with the humiliation that followed.

"I went to challenge him this morning," said the Count de Epernian hoarsely, "but just as I was about to throw the glove in his face, your father sent for him."

"These damned Englishmen have robbed our ship, and my cowardly father has allowed this odious ambassador to show off in our court!" Prince Don Carlos became more and more annoyed as he spoke, twitching a tree at his feet. The stone kicked away.

The stone drew a parabola in the air, landed in a bush in the distance, and disappeared.

"You just wait in the palace. Once he comes out, I want you to challenge him." Prince Don Carlos ordered, "This time you have to bring a few more strong servants. They are more powerful than your brother. Such a brat is much more useful... I must get rid of this sycophant today! When his body is sent to his beau, the King of England, he will regret intercepting our transport ship! Maybe then And the fellow will go mad, like Achilles lost his mind when he saw the dead body of Patroclus."

After that, Achilles killed Hector, who killed his lover, and dragged his body around the city of Troy in a chariot. He would never dare to say such words.

"What's the matter?" Prince Don Carlos seemed irritated by the silence of his subordinates, "Do you disagree with what I said?"

"It is not befitting the honor of a nobleman," muttered the Count de Epernian. "I would give anything for the chance of piercing his chest with the point of my sword, but I would not let The sword of the conspiracy wounded him, and let a commoner lay hands on a nobleman... I would be ashamed if that happened."

"What the hell." Prince Don Carlos lost his patience. "I don't care whether you are ashamed or happy. This is my order. I am the prince, so you have to listen to me, understand?"

"But……"

"It's nothing!" The prince stomped his feet violently. "I don't want to see any British people again."

The Comte d'Epignan nodded despondently.

The prince patted the earl on the shoulder, "Cheer up! For your brother, and for the honor of Spain."

With that he turned and left, leaving the count where he was.

The Comte d'Epignan walked absently to the foot of a palm tree, and sat down on a bench which had been placed there, his swollen eyes fixed on the staircase leading to the King's office.

After about 10 minutes, Robert Dudley walked down the stairs slowly.

The Comte d'Epénion sprang up from his bench, rushed towards Robert trembling, and blocked him at the entrance to the garden.

"Where are you going, M. Marquis?"

"Ah, it's you, Count." Robert bowed to Count de Epernian as if seeing him for the first time today, "Are you still here?"

"I've been waiting for you." Count de Epernan also bowed to Robert, "I hope to be the first to talk to you after the king's summons."

"I'm really flattered." Robert laughed, and looked meaningfully at Count de Epenian, who was gasping for breath from excitement, "Then what do you want to tell me?"

"As I asked you just now, what are your next plans?"

"Of course, go to the hall. The former king of your country is about to leave. Everyone will watch him board the car and leave there. left."

Robert whistled softly, and the cynical expression on his face made Count de Epernian's breathing even heavier, like a bellows in a blacksmith's shop blowing out air.

"After that?" Count de Epernian took a step forward, the flame in his eyes had spread into a raging fire that could not be easily extinguished.

"Of course I'm going back to the embassy. I still have business to deal with. I can't compare to someone like you who can enjoy leisure." Robert continued to tease Count de Epernan, "What about you? What are you going to do next? "

"I plan to go hunting, Monsieur the Marquis." The Count de Epernian forced out a grin. His teeth were so small that his lips parted slightly to reveal a row of white teeth.

"Going hunting?" Robert raised his head and looked at the sun that was falling rapidly on the horizon. "Isn't it a bit late to go now?"

"It's not too late at all. It's summer and it's getting dark late. It doesn't matter even if it's dark. I still have a torch with me."

"Are you going now?"

"Going right now?"

"What did you hunt?" asked Robert, in an innocent tone. "Larks? Pigeons? Bucks?"

"Neither, Monsieur the Marquis." Count de Epernian laughed again. "It's a boar, a ferocious boar."

"Oh?" Robert put his right hand on the hilt inadvertently, "Do you know where that wild boar is?"

"I know everything clearly."

"Then how do you recognize it?"

"It's very simple." The Count de Epernian looked into Robert's eyes. "The brute has a lapel made of English velvet around its neck, and a garter of the Order of the Garter around its calf."

He glanced maliciously at Robert's neck, then moved his gaze to Robert's left calf.

"From your description, this is a dangerous beast." Robert said lightly, "I hope you don't get pierced by its fangs!"

"I'm going anyway. His Royal Highness Prince Don Carlos hopes to have a wild boar head for his breakfast tomorrow morning."

"Wild pork is not suitable for a child of this age. He will have indigestion."

"What your Highness wants is his business. As a servant, I just need to consider how to help him realize his wish." Count de Epenian replied, "I don't know if I will be honored to invite you to go hunting together. , Monsieur Marquis?"

Robert continued to play charades with the other party, "Unfortunately, my dear Earl, I really don't have time. I have more than a dozen diplomatic letters to write when I go back tonight, and I have to attend the reception held by the Polish embassy tomorrow... …diplomatic work is such a dull thing, and God bless you, you don't have to do anything, at least nothing serious."

"It looks like you're going straight back to work?"

"Exactly, M. de Comte d'Epignan, but there is one thing I would like to ask you to advise me on."

"Please ask, Monsieur Marquis. Although I dare not boast of my cleverness, I don't think the idea I gave you will be the worst."

"I've been in Madrid for so long, but I haven't really understood the layout of the city." Robert said, "Although it's a small city, the roads are as complicated as a spider's web. For a foreigner like me, it's like a maze. .Can you give me some advice on which way to take me back to the embassy the fastest? There are more than one way to get back to the embassy from here, I really don't know which way to choose is more appropriate .”

Count de Epernian showed a clear expression: "You are asking me the right person, Mr. Marquis. If I were you, I would pass through the Moorish Square after I left the palace gate, and then I would walk along the Going down Baller Street in the direction of San Francisco Cathedral, I turned left as soon as I saw San Antilles Church and walked all the way to Toledo Street, passing San Isidro Church and Sant'Angelo Church along the way. Gyneth Abbey, if you have reached the Palace of the Holy Cross without any danger, you will find your embassy by turning slightly to the right."

"Excellent, sir." Robert clapped his hands. "Please let me repeat: Go from Burr Street to St. Antilles Church, then turn left onto Toledo Street, and walk all the way to Santa Croce Palace."

"Exactly, you have a genius memory, Monsieur Marquis."

"You are really amazing. I will definitely follow the route you gave me, exactly." Robert bowed towards the other party.

"That would be my great honor." Count de Epernian also bowed back, and the two parted enthusiastically like old friends who had known each other for 20 years.

Robert said goodbye to Count de Epenian, and returned to the hall along the way he came.

A quarter of an hour later, Emperor Charles V and his son returned to the hall again. The emperor held his son's arm and walked slowly towards the gate.

Since two hours ago, the crowd escorting the holy driver has already started to line up at the gate of the royal castle. A large group of attendants, guards and countless servants will escort the former emperor to his retreat monastery. More than 1000 years ago, the scene of Luculus' resignation as the Roman consul was as grand as when he was in office, and more than 1000 years later, the team escorting monk Charles to the monastery was as grand as the Pope's tour.

In the center of the courtyard in front of the castle stood a huge cart drawn by eight mules. The carriage was rectangular in shape and fitted with four heavy wooden wheels. The carriage was covered with velvet and silk cushions and carpets. Curtains made of multicolored brocade.Compared with horses, the speed of mules is obviously much slower, but they are indomitable and strong animals, and they pull up smoothly and steadily. For the old emperor, this way of travel is obviously better than riding on a bumpy car. A carriage is much more comfortable.

The whole court watched as Philip II helped his father enter the mobile palace, and only the personal servants of the former emperor and a court physician got into the car behind them.

In the innermost part of the carriage is a resplendent shrine, inside which is a marble statue of the Madonna holding Christ. The Madonna looked down at the baby in her arms, with a blank expression on her face, as if she was holding something other than her own. A child, but a cold object.

The emperor Charles V sat directly under the shrine, with the back of his head facing the face of the Virgin, and the attendants and doctors took their seats at the king's left and right hands respectively.

"I wish you a safe journey, my dear father." Philip II held his father's right hand covered with blue veins, put it on his lips and kissed it. He felt that the hand was cold and frightening.

"Thank you, my son." Charles V nodded and made a cross on his chest, "I will pray to God, ask him to guide you to bear this terrible burden, this burden has crushed me, I Hope you have better luck."

"Is there anything else you want to tell me?" Philip II finally asked.

"Be patient, Philip." Emperor Charles V looked at his son with cloudy eyes, "You are a diligent king, but running a country is not a one-day feat, too impatient will not only exhaust yourself, but also shake the country The foundation of the world... I didn't understand this truth when I was young, and it was too late when I fully realized it."

Philip II looked at his father inquiringly, but Emperor Charles V had already closed his eyes and was leaning on the velvet cushion behind him, obviously no longer interested in talking.

His Majesty the King of Spain could only nod resentfully, "I will bring Carlos to visit you often."

Charles V sneered, and opened his eyes, "Please don't let that child torture me, my life will be shortened by one year when I see him, and I don't have many years to live." crossed himself, "What a curse!"

Philip II sighed, "Then goodbye, father."

He opened the door and jumped out of the carriage.

The bell rang on the tower of the castle, startling a flock of birds resting on the roof, spread their wings, and flew away towards the setting sun without looking back.

The heavy wheels rolled, and the shouts of the coachman and the rumble of the wheels rubbing against the ground resounded for a long time among the colonnades of the castle.

Emperor Charles V left the court.