While Princess Sophie was watching the boys and girls dancing on the dance floor, Metternich, the Prime Minister of the Austrian Empire, was also watching the scene in front of her with interest.
Completely opposite to Princess Sophie, the Prime Minister is in a better mood now. He feels particularly satisfied when he sees that the plan he pushed for is being implemented steadily.
At his current status and age, it is difficult to impress this already withered heart with gold, silver, jewelry or wine and beauties. Only the desire for power can make his body feel alive again.
The government he is in charge of, envoys from various European countries, and even members of the royal family are all like chess pieces on a chessboard, moving in the trajectory they have set. This feeling is wonderful enough to surpass any entertainment in the world, and it is enough to drive him for dozens of times.
I work day in and day out and never feel tired.
Napoleon's son and Archduke Karl's daughter, they dance together, what exquisite chess pieces they are!
While Prime Minister Metternich was enjoying the dance leisurely, he found a middle-aged man in a black tuxedo walking towards him quickly. He quickly recognized him as Count Litvinsky, Ambassador of the Russian Empire.
.
This man is tall, has a brown beard, and has a tough personality. At this time, he is even more aggressive because of his unhappiness.
"Mr. Ambassador, do you have any advice?" the Prime Minister asked knowingly.
"Your Excellency, although I don't know what you are doing, I feel that you are planning some very dangerous things." Count Litvinsky got straight to the point, "If I am not mistaken, you are planning to bring together Napoleon's son and Prince Edward."
Your Highness Princess Lesa?"
"I would like to point out something special to you. He is not only the son of Napoleon, but also the grandson of His Majesty the Emperor of our country. He is a recognized member of the royal family - the Duke of Lechstadt." Prime Minister Metternich replied unhurriedly.
, "It is out of concern for his grandson that he hopes to find a marriage for His Highness as soon as possible that will not insult the bloodline. Isn't this very reasonable and reasonable?"
The ambassador grinned and laughed slightly sarcastically.
"I really didn't know that His Majesty the Emperor loves this His Highness so much! Your Excellency, on behalf of the Empire, I would like to ask you for an explanation - what do you plan to do with him?"
This guy is really anxious... The old man sneered in his heart.
"I understand that please pay attention to your attitude. The dignity of His Majesty the Emperor does not allow anyone to offend, Mr. Ambassador." Prime Minister Metternich straightened his face and looked at the other party coldly. "In addition, the lives of members of the royal family of our country do not need to be violated.
Any foreign government reports.”
Count Litvinsky was slightly embarrassed by the Prime Minister's reply.
"I'm sorry, Your Excellency, I made a mistake." He apologized first, but still refused to give up his purpose, "However, I think this is not just an internal matter of your royal family, but a serious diplomatic incident. What do you plan to do?"
How to deal with Napoleon's son should be a matter discussed by all countries that suffered from Napoleon! Don't forget how much the Russian Empire paid to defeat that devil. Our country and our nation will not allow you to use this matter.
joke."
The ambassador's attitude is very tough and he obviously has no intention of making any concessions on this key issue.
"You don't have to worry about this. Our country suffered deeply at that time and will never ignore this issue." Prime Minister Metternich smiled slyly. "Our country was once the main force in the fight against Napoleon and sacrificed too much to destroy him.
We have many manpower and material resources, and of course we would not like this nightmare to happen again."
Austria was the country with the largest number of troops annihilated by Napoleon, so it was your turn as the "main force resisting France"? The ambassador secretly mocked in his heart - of course, out of diplomatic dignity, he could not say this out loud.
However, after hearing the Prime Minister's words, his originally tense mentality suddenly relaxed a lot. "Then can you tell me what today's arrangements mean?"
"I have already said that as His Highness approaches adulthood, his marriage really needs to be put on the agenda for discussion. Due to his special status, there are actually very few suitable partners. Finally, after discussions between His Majesty the Emperor and his mother, it was finally decided
It was decided to use Her Majesty Theresa as the main candidate, and after some consideration, the Grand Duke was not particularly opposed to this." Metternich took away all his responsibilities, "The next step is for you to see.
It’s a great scene. To be honest, I was a little surprised at first.”
"In other words, this is just preparation for the marriage, and it does not mean that your country has any other plans for action?" The ambassador was doubtful.
"You can think so." Metternich nodded.
"Then what is your attitude towards this?" the ambassador still asked unwillingly.
"Ask me?" Metternich smiled slightly, "As a servant, how can I have any opinions on what the royal family does? And, as far as I'm concerned, even if this marriage is really allowed to happen,
Really, there seems to be nothing wrong with it. Since Duke Lechstadt is approaching adulthood, wouldn’t it be natural for him to get married and have children in Austria in the future?”
"In other words, do you plan to create a Bonaparte-Habsburg branch?" the ambassador asked again, while keeping an eye on the Prime Minister, not missing any of his subtle facial movements, "Let the Bonaparte family be the leader of this dynasty.
An accent stone on the scepter?”
"This is not something I can decide, only His Majesty can decide." Prime Minister Metternich still maintained a friendly smile, "But if God really sends down his will, I can only silently respect the choice of fate."
The ambassador stopped talking. He was silent for a moment, as if he was chewing on Prime Minister Metternich's true thoughts hidden under the diplomatic rhetoric.
"I'm very sorry for wasting your time." Then, the ambassador bowed to Metternich and said goodbye, "Finally, please forgive me for being rude just now."
After saying that, he turned around and left.
"These Russians are so impatient that they don't want to wait and ask again!" After the ambassador left, Mr. Gentz, a close assistant who had been standing next to him, finally spoke.
"It is true that things have been going wrong for them recently, so it is normal for them to be a little nervous." Prime Minister Metternich replied with a smile. "The events of last winter have left their Tsar Majesty still in shock. He must never want to hear the name Napoleon again.
."
Last winter, that is, December 26, 1825 (December 14 in the Russian calendar), taking advantage of the death of Tsar Alexander I and the pending decision of the new tsar, a group of Russian officers conspired to launch a military coup in Petersburg and announced the overthrow of
The tsarist government was preparing to convene a Constituent Assembly to establish a provisional government.
After the initial shock and anger, the new emperor Nicholas I regained his composure, then sent a large number of troops to surround the rebels in the Privy Council Square, and used artillery to forcibly and bloody suppress them.
After suppressing the mutiny, the Tsar ordered the establishment of a "secret interrogation committee" to try those who participated in the uprising, and a large number of conspirators were exiled.
Up to this time, only nine months had passed since this bloody incident, so the Russian Empire was still in the aftermath, and it was normal for its nerves to be tense.
The more troubled the neighboring countries were, the happier Metternich naturally felt.
"The French Ambassador just left." Mr. Genz reported in a low voice. "I think he was busy returning to Vienna to write a report."
"I think so, they will definitely be scared." Prime Minister Metternich smiled slyly, "Sometimes I really worry about poor King Charles X. He has to deal with the Orleans family and the Bonaparte family at the same time.
, if we hadn’t left Napoleon’s son here, how miserable he would be!”
"Bourbon-Bonaparte-Bourbon." Mr. Genz repeated a few words like a mantra, "It's time to give Orleans a taste."
"Then another Orléans-Bonaparte-Bourbon revolving door?" Metternich couldn't help laughing, "Poor French people! Others have moved the throne into the stage, but they can always move the stage
Become a throne!"
"Hahahaha..." Gentz couldn't help but laugh at this bad joke.
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Just as the Prime Minister was joking with his assistant, the dance music that had stopped resounded through the hall again as the band played.
The second dance is about to begin.
Aigron walked slowly to the center of the hall, and then Princess Teresa also walked over.
The two people looked at each other.
"Your Highness, do you feel better?" Aigron asked in a low voice.
"Yes, a little better." Princess Teresa nodded slightly, but there seemed to be some residual blush on her face.
"Just... was someone kidding you?" Aigron couldn't help but ask again.
"Indeed." Princess Teresa smiled bitterly, "Just think about it, with today's situation, there will always be some elders who will make fun of me, but I can't retaliate."
Then, she came closer to the young man, then raised her head slightly to look at his face.
"Did you drink just now?" she asked in a low voice.
"I drank a little." Aigron nodded, "But please don't worry, this will not affect my next actions."
"It seems that you are not as calm as you appear." Teresa lowered her gaze slightly, "You are still a little nervous, right?"
Now, there is nothing to be nervous about...Aigron thought to himself.
Then, he keenly discovered that, except for himself and Theresa, all the dancing partners around him seemed to have changed.
But who cares about this?
The second dance was a waltz with a very brisk rhythm. The two people first greeted each other and then held hands again.
"Your Highnesses!"
Just when they were about to dance, a palace attendant walked up to them and saluted them respectfully. "Your Majesty hopes that you will go to him before dancing this dance."
Aiglon was a little confused, but naturally he obeyed the order.
So, he followed Princess Theresa side by side and walked under the throne in the center of the hall to pay tribute to His Majesty, the Supreme Majesty of the Empire.
"Very beautiful." His Majesty the Emperor looked at the boy and girl at the foot of the steps, then looked at the queen next to him, and made a brief and simple comment, "They are all beautiful, right?"
Her Majesty the Queen nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Theresa." His Majesty turned his head again and looked at the girl under the throne.
"Your Majesty? What are your orders?" Teresa's face was full of confusion.
"Franz didn't embarrass you tonight, did he?" His Majesty the Emperor asked.
This seemingly simple and meaningful statement made Her Royal Highness blush immediately. "...Your Highness is very powerful. I'm just worried that my own affairs will delay his time tonight."
"It doesn't matter, I think he wants it." His Majesty smiled and waved his hand, motioning for them to go back. "Okay, I won't disturb the entertainment of you young people. Let's continue. I hope you are happy enough tonight."