Eagle’s Glory

Chapter 257 Chapter 144

While Pushkin was looking forward to sharing the joy with his friends, in distant Austria, several unremarkable carriages galloped along the country lanes, and finally stopped at the periphery of a small castle.

This castle is of ordinary style, because of its secluded location and its simple appearance, it looks like a monastery.

Beside it, a small river flows through it, and some stones are scattered in the river. The water waves beat on these stones, scattered into fringes, and sparkling ripples under the sunlight. Water lilies and rushes started from the river bank like exquisite tapestry, adorning both banks, and then gradually spread all the way around the castle, adding a bit of loneliness to it.

This scenic castle belongs to the property of the Austrian government and was assigned to the Ministry of War for use, while the Army opened it up as a Les Invalides for soldiers wounded and homeless during the war.

In the silence, the door of the carriage was opened, and then, Grand Duke Karl and several aides around him walked down.

After getting off the carriage, the Grand Duke did not approach the castle immediately, but looked at the building and the surrounding scenery from a distance, and then couldn't help frowning.

As the commander-in-chief of the army in the past, even though he has retired now, he still visits the old subordinates everywhere. Naturally, he has visited this Les Invalides many times, gathering with disabled veterans, and trying his best to satisfy their needs. Daily needs.

Every time he came here, his mood was quite complicated, and just last year, at about this time today, he brought that young man here.

A year has passed, and the scenery here is still pleasant, but my mood has never returned to the past.

In retrospect, I took him to visit the Invalides, and took him to toast with the veterans. His demeanor and performance at that time not only earned the respect of the veterans here, but also secretly recognized him.

That young man was not only smart and handsome, but what was rare was that even in unfamiliar situations, he was able to deal with it gracefully without losing his usual demeanor.

From then on, he prepared to carefully train this future son-in-law, using his prestige to support him, and make him a pillar of the next generation of the empire.

Who would have thought that within a few months, he would repay his expectations in that way!

It would be nice if you didn't bother with so many things! Thinking of this, he couldn't help cursing inwardly.

Recently, everything about that young man has become a bleeding wound in his heart, and every time he thinks about it, he can't help being angry.

It doesn't make any sense to just sulk secretly, he came here on purpose today, not for the sake of seeing things and thinking about others.

Grand Duke Karl took a few deep breaths,

After calming down, he brought his entourage together to the castle.

Just like every time he came to inspect before, the administrators in the castle had already prepared to welcome him long ago.

Captain Ferdinand Hench, who served as the dean of the Invalids, took the lead and came to the Grand Duke, saluting a military salute smartly.

"Your Highness, welcome to come!"

Although the limbs are intact, the captain has a shocking scar on his face. This scar spreads from the back of the head covered by brown hair to the corner of the mouth. It looks really scary.

However, all those present had been in the army for many years and were used to seeing all kinds of horrific scenes in the world, so no one felt uncomfortable.

The serious injury did not destroy Captain Henchy's natural sense of humor, and he smiled almost every day - even if his smile was a little hideous because of the scar.

"Long time no see, Hench." Archduke Karl nodded coldly to the other party. "Is everything okay here?"

"Thanks to you, we are all fine together... If there is any problem, everyone is a little flustered." The captain replied with a smile, "I can't even play poker now. I still have to live like this for decades, and I find it difficult.”

Grand Duke Karl was noncommittal, just looking around, as if he was observing the operation of the facilities here and the mental state of the veterans.

"It's been a year since I came here last time..." After a while, the Grand Duke seemed to be quite satisfied with the situation here, so he looked back again, and then heaved a long sigh. "I've had too many worries these days, so I'm only able to take the time to come here today. If you need help, just tell me."

Captain Hench had also been observing the Grand Duke's expression, and he answered quickly at this time. "For us, it is our greatest honor to have you here. Who can ask you to do more? We only hope that you can recover from the shadow as soon as possible."

After a while, he whispered again, "Are you so upset because coming here reminds you of Duke Reichstedt? You brought him here last time..."

Archduke Karl did not answer, but glanced at the other party, and this sharp glance made the captain suddenly silent, and he dared not speak again.

The awkward silence didn't last long, Archduke Karl frowned, and then said coldly. "You remember him?"

"That's natural! There are not many noble people who are willing to come to us, how could we not remember? What's more, he is the son of that man." Captain Hench replied.

Then, he dared not speak any more.

The last time Archduke Karl brought the Duke of Reichstedt with him, he was surprised and saw that the Grand Duke wanted to get closer to the young man and them, and then he heard from the people around the Grand Duke that Reichstedt Duke Tate is about to become the grand duke's son-in-law... Surprised, he couldn't help thinking that this was a good thing, so he secretly blessed the boy.

Whoever imagined it, things turned out like this in the end...

Even though they were in such a remote place and the flow of information was poor, they had heard about the explosive incident even so.

Naturally, they were all very shocked and disappointed. No one knew how poor Princess Teresa should deal with herself?

But now that it has happened, what can they do?

He sympathized with the grand duke in his heart, but he didn't dare to say it out loud, so he could only smile awkwardly.

Of course, Grand Duke Karl could see what the major was thinking. He was glad that the major knew how to measure, but the more he was sympathized with by the major, the more depressed and anxious he felt.

"You seem to be very well informed." Grand Duke Karl smiled coldly, "Then do you know what he is doing now?"

"I know, he seems to have gone to Greece, as if he wanted to raise the flag of rebellion and help the locals win independence or something... Hey! This is really a child's trick! Your Highness looked so old that day, I didn't expect that he was still a little young Human blood and blindness," replied Captain Henchy, shrugging his shoulders. "Don't get me wrong, we didn't deliberately inquire about these news, it's just that the outside world has already spread it, even if our side is isolated from the world, there will always be some rumors..."

"Hmm." Archduke Karl nodded slightly, stopping Captain Hench's words.

His expression suddenly became a little unpredictable, and Captain Hench began to feel a little nervous, for fear that what he said just now would accidentally offend the royal family.

Fortunately, this strange silence didn't last long, and Grand Duke Karl suddenly led the topic to another direction.

"Congratulations, Ferdinand Henchy," he whispered.

Captain Hench opened his eyes in puzzlement, and looked at him suspiciously, "What are you congratulating me for...?"

"From now on, you are no longer a captain, you are a major." Archduke Karl looked at the other party seriously, and then said flatly, "Congratulations on your promotion, major."

Captain Hench was stunned. He didn't expect to be the chief of the Invalids in a ghostly place that was forgotten by the world, and he was waiting for his own death with a group of disabled veterans, but suddenly he was honored today when his career had long since ended. Lift.

It's a good thing, but too good to be a joke.

But since it was said by Grand Duke Karl, it must not be a joke.

Obviously, to be able to stay in such a ghostly place and get a promotion, someone must have talked behind the scenes——

As for who it is... there is no need to guess.

"Uh...thank you...thank you for your attention!" Captain Hench—of course, now Major Hench, broke free from the astonishment, and then expressed his gratitude to the Grand Duke with a smile on his face.

"It's just a one-level military rank promotion, so there's no need to thank me like that." The Grand Duke shook his head indifferently, "You complained to me just now that life is too boring, so I have to say that after you become a major, your life will continue to be like this. "

The Grand Duke's words were like a basin of cold water, and instantly extinguished Major Henchy's ecstasy a lot.

Yes, let alone become a major, what if he becomes a general? It's not the same as just staying in this place.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a little downcast, but he still smiled reluctantly and replied, "At least it's more honorable to say it..."

"Then you haven't thought about finding some new fun in the past?" Grand Duke Karl asked again suddenly.

This question once again stunned Major Henchy.

He was keenly aware of the strange aura—the Archduke Karl came here for inspection today, and his performance was completely different from before, and he even specially promoted himself to a military rank... No matter how you look at it, something is about to happen.

He is a straightforward person, even in the face of Grand Duke Karl, he would rather go straight.

"I understand...then just tell me, what do you want to do?" Major Hench lowered his voice, and then moved closer to the Grand Duke, "Your Highness, you have taken good care of us for many years, and I have always I am grateful for your kindness, I will do whatever you ask me to do."

"That's good." Archduke Karl also nodded, not going around in circles with him anymore. "You, take a few more trusted brothers and go to the Duke of Reichstedt, and help him for the time being."

As soon as he finished speaking, Major Hench opened his eyes wide and looked at Grand Duke Karl in disbelief.

"This... this..." He was almost incoherent.

It was hard for him to digest this shocking order, but the doubts in his heart still drove him to ask, "Your Highness...why do you still help him? Didn't he...hasn't he left Princess Teresa and ran away? ?"

This question was like a sharp sword piercing his body, causing Grand Duke Karl's face to twitch.

"I would like to sever any relationship with him, but who asked me to raise a stupid girl? She doesn't care about the ridicule of others, and insists on her marriage contract. Now she has run to that little guy!" He almost said through gritted teeth . "Teresa wrote to ask us for help, my wife is soft-hearted, so she has been urging me..."

Major Henchy was stunned again.

But he finally understood the situation.

"No wonder... no wonder..." He nodded, and looked at his former commander-in-chief with sympathetic eyes, "I have always envied those men with families, but now it seems that each has its own troubles..."

These words seemed to touch the heartstrings of Grand Duke Karl. "You are lucky, you don't have a wife and daughter to trouble you all day long."

After complaining, he returned to his usual seriousness. "Although you people are still in the military, no one has paid attention to you. Even if you leave here temporarily, no one will know. In addition, you still have a relationship with the Duke of Reichstedt. I think Now, if you want to send someone, you are the most suitable—Henky, tell me, can you accept this task?"

Major Hench lowered his head and did not answer immediately.

"Will your Highness be an enemy of our country?" Then he asked in a low voice.

"Who knows in the future? But at least for now, he is not an enemy of our country, and he will not endanger anyone. He is just my daughter's favorite now, and my future son-in-law... really want something to happen to him, my daughter What should I do? Be a widow at a young age?" Grand Duke Karl frowned, then gritted his teeth and said, "I have a lot of dissatisfaction with him, but at least he can't die now."

After finishing speaking, he looked at Major Hench again, as if waiting for the other party's response.

Major Henchy was still hesitating, he was not prepared for this sudden request at all, so he was completely at a loss when the matter came to an end.

Soon, he began to make intense trade-offs in his heart, hesitating about how he should choose.

As far as his heart is concerned, he was seriously injured in the previous war, and his years of military service had already made him tired of war; but, on the other hand, Archduke Karl had a great favor for him, and he wanted to repay him. He was already tired of living in seclusion in this remote castle.

Maybe it would be nice to have some fun too?

The sight of Grand Duke Karl made him finally make up his mind.

"I should obey your order." He replied in a low voice.

And this answer exhausted all his current strength, and he seemed to have collapsed.

"Very good." Archduke Karl nodded, "When everything is over, you will come back and continue to be your dean of the Invalids. Remember, all of this has nothing to do with you and me."

"Yes!" Major Henchy replied with his chest out.

Then he couldn't help but ask again. "If things about Her Royal Highness are revealed, aren't you afraid of damaging your reputation?"

"Fame? Don't care!" Grand Duke Karl sneered, "Those who should know will always know, let them think what they like, it has nothing to do with me, I just want my daughter to live well !"