"Okay, I won't disturb you young people's entertainment. Let's continue. I hope you are happy enough tonight."
Under the instruction of His Majesty the Emperor, the two people bowed to His Majesty again and took leave, then walked side by side back to the center of the hall.
Perhaps because of His Majesty's words just now, Teresa's face always looked a little shy, her eyes just lowered to the ground, and she did not dare to look at the expressions of others.
It wasn't until they reached the dance floor that the two people's eyes met again.
"Your Highness, shall we start?" Aigron asked, reaching out his hand to her.
Teresa silently raised her hand, joined hands with the boy, and the two started dancing again.
However, because they were dancing a waltz this time, their steps were much slower and their movements were more relaxed than before. As a result, Aigron had more room to observe the surrounding situation.
"Your Highness..." After dancing for a while, Teresa, who had been silent all the time, suddenly spoke. "Can I ask you a question?"
"What's wrong?" Aigron asked in a low voice while matching her footsteps.
"Excuse me...what are your feelings towards Austria and our family?" Teresa hesitated again, then asked cautiously, "After I saw you last time, I tried to imagine it.
, but...but I find it difficult to draw conclusions. It must be because of my lack of life experience..."
Why are you asking me this for no reason? Do you still expect me to tell you the truth? Aigron sneered in his heart.
Although there was no change in his expression, Teresa seemed to feel something. She lowered her head slightly and apologized to him, "I'm sorry, I may have asked a very disappointing question and made you unhappy. But please don't misunderstand me.
, I just ask this question purely out of my own curiosity, and I definitely don’t mean to pry into your privacy for anyone... I’m not that kind of person.”
Speaking of this, she felt even more disappointed.
If you can't even open your heart to each other or even reveal a little bit of your feelings, then why bother talking about marriage? You are just being used as a tool.
Seeing her panic, disappointment, and a little frustrated expression, Aigron couldn't help but smile, "Do you really want to know? Can you keep it a secret for me?"
"Yes, of course I can!" Teresa suddenly gained hope again, and then nodded repeatedly, "I swear I won't tell anyone, not even my father."
She took her oath seriously, because she knew that if the boy said something very dangerous to her, it would be out of trust in herself, and of course she could not betray the trust of others.
"Then, let me tell you -" Aigron looked at the other party with a smile, "I am very dissatisfied with the situation I have been in since I was a child, and I am also angry with the contempt given to me by European countries, so I am holding a breath in my heart.
, so I dream about following in my father’s footsteps, establishing an empire again, and then leading an army into Austria..."
"Oh God...!" Teresa turned pale and lamented, "Sure enough... it really is like this..."
"——Then steal a princess and take her back as your wife."
"Huh?" After hearing the next words, Princess Teresa couldn't help being stunned. She raised her head again, looked at the smile on the other person's face, and suddenly understood. "You are kidding me!"
When she was complaining a little, she didn't pay attention to her steps and stumbled backwards, almost falling.
Fortunately, Aigron had quick eyesight and quick hands. He immediately bent down without leaving a trace, then grabbed her waist and helped her up again. The small disturbance only attracted attention for a while, but it soon returned to calm. People just thought that it was special.
Princess Lesa made a mistake, so they all kindly pretended not to see anything.
Teresa finally regained her composure, and then she was so angry and embarrassed that she couldn't help but glare at him, "You are really... going too far."
"I didn't expect you to react so strongly." Aigron nodded apologetically, "You were really frightened just now."
"What you said is really scary..." Teresa sighed softly, "Aren't you worried? If I say such words, if I turn around and report you, you will definitely be severely reprimanded even if it's just a joke.
of."
"I have been severely reprimanded many times since I was a child, and I am not afraid of being reprimanded once or twice more." Aigron replied calmly, "What else can I do? It is nothing more than ordering me to be more respectful in the future, at such a low cost.
It’s not a bad idea to find out if you are worth keeping in touch with.”
"Okay, then you won the bet, Your Highness." Teresa smiled, finally easing the tense atmosphere just now. "I have no interest in being a despicable informer. But... what exactly do you think?
You've already said such cruel words, so you shouldn't be afraid of telling the truth, right?"
Aigron looked at the opponent again.
She seems to be indifferent and unsmiling, but her curiosity is surprisingly strong.
Judging from the previous impression, maybe she is not indifferent, but just too shy, so she usually doesn't know how to deal with others, so she seems to keep a distance, right?
"Well, since you insist on knowing, let me tell you." He sighed helplessly, "Actually, there are some things that I haven't fully understood myself."
Then, under Theresa's gaze, he thought for a moment.
"I'm afraid you won't believe me if I say there is no resentment, but people like me cannot be swayed by emotions. I can eliminate the interference of emotions and look at reality objectively."
Then, he looked beyond Teresa to the crowd outside the dance floor, and finally found his mother, Grand Duchess Louisa, among the crowd. At this time, she was sitting upright, laughing and chatting with others.
"My mother said that she brought me here. Although she felt sorry for me, at least she saved me from the misfortune of Louis XVII's violent death. I think she was right. After all, the Bourbon family and Bonaparte
The hatred is too deep. If it falls into their hands, they will have countless ways to send me to see God in advance before I reach adulthood.
So from this point of view, Austria and His Majesty my grandfather are kind to me, but to be honest, I am not grateful... After all, I have paid the price you see. My life as a hostage for more than ten years so far should be considered enough.
Are you out of debt? It will be longer in the future."
Theresa kept looking at the boy's face, and when he spoke, she seemed thoughtful.
"So you don't hate it that much now, right?"
"Yes, I don't have love or hate now, and I can look at reality objectively." Aigron nodded, "However, what I think about it in the future depends on my future destiny. I am still young and can look forward to it.
In the future, what if I am oppressed like this for another ten or twenty years? Even if I am guilty at birth, do I still have to pay the debt for thirty or forty years?"
"It makes sense, I think so too." Teresa nodded with deep understanding, "No wonder... no wonder your mother is so eager to arrange a marriage for you. If you have a family, your scope of action and freedom of movement will definitely be
There will be a lot more...at least you can still find the joy of life."
Then, she sighed again, "I'm really sorry for you... The entanglements between your parents forced you to lose your childhood. You have to think about so many things at a young age. I'm really sorry."
"You are not responsible for this and there is no need to apologize." Aigron replied.
Then, he laughed again, "Okay, let's end this somewhat unpleasant topic. This is supposed to be a happy night for you."
"Well, if you say so." Teresa nodded and agreed to Aigron's request. "In fact, I think that our conversation is much better than those false and polite words... At least
I can feel that you are a real person."
Then, the two people stopped talking and concentrated on dancing first, and the dance music soon came to an end.
When the melodious music gradually stopped, the dance between the two finally came to an end.
"Your Highness, my mission should have been completed." Aigron bent towards her, "I sincerely wish you more happiness tonight."
"I also wish you to be happier." Teresa also bowed to him, "Your Highness, although I cannot predict what the future will bring, but if...if I can do something for you to resolve the dispute between the two families.
I will also resolve the resentment and resentment in your heart, so that you can enter the adult world as you should, and I will feel extremely happy."
Although his heart was quite closed, Agron was still a little touched by Princess Teresa's words at this moment.
Unfortunately, even so, the plan still has to go ahead, and this is a price that can be paid.
While he was meditating, Archduke Karl strode up to the two people, and then took his daughter's hand.
He looked at the young man carefully and then nodded slightly.
"You're a pretty good dancer, kid."
Then, he took Theresa back and walked all the way to the thrones of His Majesty the Emperor and the Queen.
At this time, the banquet also reached its climax.
Under the gaze of everyone, the palace attendant walked up to the two majesties with a tray, and Her Majesty the Queen stood up from the throne, then picked up a small crown from the tray and put it on Princess Theresa's head.
On the head.
The crown is small and exquisite, with a sterling silver frame entwined in the shape of a rose, and the top is inlaid with diamonds and rubies. The gems shine under the light, making Her Royal Highness the princess more attractive.
"This is a gift from His Majesty. Congratulations on your growing up, Teresa." Her Majesty the Queen looked at her with a smile, "I think this is the best birthday gift we can give to your father."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Teresa saluted the Queen extremely politely, "I will remember this night forever."
Teresa, wearing the crown, turned to face the guests, guided by the pride of the Grand Duke.
Amid everyone's exclamations and cheers, Teresa's eyes moved quietly.
However, it was not found.
She looked away with some disappointment.
At this time, Aigron quietly walked out of the hall, and then walked along the corridor to the door. He had stayed with so many people for so long, and drank some wine, so he wanted to breathe in the fresh air outside.
His part tonight has been sung, and it doesn't matter what happens next.
Although he is not a veteran, he can detect that after tonight's contact, Princess Teresa has a pretty good impression of him, which means that his goal has been achieved.
But... what would Her Highness Sophie think? She should have seen all the scenes tonight, right? This thought flashed across his mind.
Just as he was thinking this, he clearly saw someone in the shadows slowly walking towards him.
In her eyes, although she was barely suppressed, there was still an unhappy look.