Chapter Fifteen Engagement and Coronation as Grand Duke
He didn't force Johanna until he didn't know what was going on. His Highness was waiting outside. Now was not the time to ask questions in detail, so Christian walked out with the children.
Catherine was about to follow, and Peter asked her to go back and rest. After all, the coronation would be held tomorrow when the two were engaged, which would be a long time. She had fasted for several days and really needed to recover.
"Your Highness, thank you for your hard work!"
Ekaterina smiled apologetically and gratefully.
Peter nodded slightly and led the prince and his children to meet the queen.
Along the way, he met someone with some status, and Peter introduced him to the prince.
Then the prince met the queen. After some salutes, the queen was not embarrassed at all not letting the prince observe the conversion ceremony. The prince never mentioned it, and Peter smiled and said nothing.
Queen Elizabeth asked again about the ages and interests of the two children, and after a few compliments and a look at Peter, Peter asked the maids to take the two children out.
The banquet had already been served. The prince thought that his wife had no intention of dining again, so he hesitated and asked:
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, I feel something is strange about my wife. Is she in any way rude to Your Majesty and Your Highness?"
Peter was a little surprised. Is it so straightforward to believe in Lutheranism?
Then he shook his head in denial. This probably had something to do with the prince's military career. From his temperament and appearance, it can be seen that he was a self-disciplined, upright and pious person to the extreme. He even suffered a lot in his daily life.
To such a person, Peter refused to tell him his arrangements for Johanna.
After taking a look at my aunt, I understood why my aunt was unwilling to bring the prince to observe the conversion ceremony, and why she didn't let him come when Catherine came all the way to run for the crown prince.
This man is so pious that he would admit death.
Even if he was asked to devote himself to Lutheranism, he would not hesitate.
In response to the prince's question, Queen Elizabeth smiled and said:
"It's just a small matter. If the prince is interested, just ask Peter."
Then the prince looked at Peter, with pleading in his eyes.
Peter was a little speechless, and the prince even asked him about a trivial matter. Doesn't it mean that the couple should go back to fight?
It seems that although my aunt agreed to the proposal of making Johanna the Queen of Sweden, she was still angry.
He couldn't go against his aunt's wishes, so he spoke slowly.
Christian couldn't help but widen his eyes, and then his face turned red. He was so ashamed that he almost found a crack in the ground and crawled into it.
Before setting off, he told Johanna not to get involved in politics. Unexpectedly, she not only participated, but also did such a thing, which made the whole family lose face!
More importantly, how much impact will this have on my daughter?
Christian couldn't help but feel angry.
He then apologized to Queen Elizabeth and Peter in shame.
Peter supported the prince, whose chest was rising and falling rapidly and his mood was fluctuating violently, and he said a few words of relief, but it had no effect.
The prince soon resigned.
Looking at the back of the prince walking away faster and faster, Elizabeth couldn't help but smile, just in time to meet Peter's eyes.
Elizabeth had no intention of restraining herself, she said calmly:
"You don't want to live in the palace now. Give it to the prince and his family and let them have their own troubles. You and Ekaterina move next door to me."
next door?
Peter was stunned for a moment and immediately wanted to refuse and move next door to his aunt to knit.
He was a newly married couple, so close to his aunt, and he felt uncomfortable even if her aunt didn't respond to her.
Just when Peter was about to refuse, Queen Elizabeth said:
"Ok, deal."
Peter had to get up and leave.
Before he returned to his palace, he heard the suppressed angry voice next door. Peter shook his head and walked into his palace, only to see Ekaterina lying on the wall and eavesdropping.
Today's walls are all made of wood. Due to technical reasons, some places are not perfectly jointed and are not very soundproof.
Peter walked over and pressed Ekaterina against the wall, lying on her back to listen.
How about using wood and human body as sound insulation? Try it out.
Ekaterina was taken aback, but soon felt a familiar breath. She turned around with some embarrassment, glanced at Peter, hugged his waist and lay in her arms, with a tired look on her face.
Peter walked away with Ekaterina in his arms and asked:
"Why don't you sleep?"
Ekaterina said: "Waiting for Your Highness."
Peter stroked her hair and said:
"I won't sleep here today. I will leave this place to your parents and we will go to another place."
Ekaterina said a little strangely:
"The palace is so big, and there are several side halls in one palace. The place where my mother lives now is enough to accommodate so many people, so why do we need to move?"
Peter said:
"It's my aunt's order for us to move next door to her."
Catherine was surprised and a little reluctant. After all, she felt uncomfortable living so close to the queen.
Peter smiled and said:
"My aunt gave me orders. I have no choice. Let's go."
Ekaterina nodded and asked the maid to bring some things.
In fact, there are not many. Each palace in the palace is cleaned by maids and can be stayed at any time.
The atmosphere there might not be very friendly, so the two did not inform the prince and his wife, but only ordered the maid to tell the truth if asked.
Then, the two came to a new place.
When he actually came here, Peter realized that he had thought too much.
This palace is more than twice the size of the previous one, and is large enough to host several small theaters.
The two of them chose the side hall farthest from the Queen's Palace as their sleeping quarters. The distance between them was enough for the maid to run back and forth.
Early the next morning, the coronation and engagement began.
Peter had long known that he would be crowned a Grand Duke on this day and would have certain powers.
Accompanied by a group of maids led by the Duchess of Polya, the two came to their aunt's palace dressed neatly.
Queen Elizabeth is wearing a crown and royal robe.
Then the two followed the queen out of the palace.
Elizabeth walked under a canopy made of pure silver. It took eight strong guards to lift the huge and heavy canopy.
Behind Peter and Catherine were the prince and his wife and the assembled courtiers, as well as prominent figures from the church and the Privy Council.
There was no trace of quarrel on the faces of the prince and his wife. Probably because today was a big day, everything was diluted.
The procession walked down the famous red staircase, passed through the church square guarded by the Guards, and then entered the Assumption Cathedral, where the coronations of all tsars were held.
As soon as they entered the church, Elizabeth took Peter and Catherine by the hands and led them to the velvet-covered altar.
The altar is in the center of the church, with tall beams standing on both sides of the altar.
Like Catherine's conversion, the engagement ceremony will be presided over by the Patriarch himself, and Queen Elizabeth personally helps Peter and Catherine exchange rings.
This pair of rings are very large, one is worth 14,000 rubles and the other is worth 12,000 rubles.
The one with 14,000 rubles was placed on Peter's hand, and the one with 12,000 rubles was placed on Catherine's hand.
The ceremony was long and cumbersome, lasting four hours. Peter had to drag Catherine to accept the salutes of all the ministers and ladies, and Johanna over there had to hug those ladies and keep bending down.
Bend over.
Peter and Ekaterina looked at each other, feeling much more relaxed in comparison.
Before the ceremony ended, Minister of General Affairs Vorontsov read out an imperial edict.
Peter was given the title of Grand Duke, Catherine was given the title of Grand Duchess, and Catherine was given the title "Your Highness".
With an expressionless expression, Peter gave Catherine the title of Her Highness, which meant that Catherine also had the right to inherit the throne.
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ps: The pictures at the end of the first four chapters have been added, and this chapter will be added soon.