Eagle’s Glory

"What do you think?"

Sophie's question made the Archduke Karl and his wife look at each other again.

To be honest, some of them were shocked by the information today, so they were a little caught off guard and didn't know how to deal with it.

"What gift are you going to give?" Grand Duke Karl forced himself to calm down, and then asked.

"Please rest assured that some personal belongings will definitely not harm Teresa's safety." Sophie still smiled, and then replied softly, "I think, if they are in a foreign country, if they can know that it is from me The blessings from the side, then the mood should be happier..."

When Sophie answered, Grand Duke Karl kept watching her expression, from which he didn't see much malice.

It would be better to say that she was genuinely moved, and her eyes seemed to be about to cry.

This look doesn't have the arrogance of the past, it's a little pitiful...

Is her relationship with Teresa really so good? He obviously didn't have much contact with each other... He couldn't help but wonder again.

However, this kind of thing doesn't matter anymore, since she has no ill will towards Teresa, it doesn't matter if her wish is fulfilled.

Logically speaking, in the face of this sudden request, the couple should have a good discussion, but seeing Her Royal Highness' eyes mixed with expectation and pleading, he hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Well, assuming I really got in touch with Teresa, I will send her your blessings and presents."

"Thank you so much..." Sophie's face immediately turned from cloudy to sunny, and a sweet smile bloomed, "Then let's wish all the hypotheses come true."

Her heart was indeed in ecstasy.

After experiencing the previous turmoil, although she has regained her past honor on the surface, in fact, her every move is under the surveillance of the court, and she wants to rely on her own people to get in touch with Aigron who is far away. Naturally, it is completely impossible.

In desperation, she had no choice but to turn her mind to Grand Duke Karl—although she had a bad relationship with Teresa and still hated her until now, but right now, she could only ask Teresa's father for help. Because in this country, only Grand Duke Karl can not fear the authority of His Majesty and Metternich.

For this visit,

She had prepared a lot of drafts in her mind, she did not expect the Grand Duke to be so talkative, and immediately agreed to her request, which made her feel a lot easier.

"Wait a minute...!" However, just as she was secretly rejoicing, Grand Princess Henrietta, who had been silent beside her, suddenly spoke.

The Grand Duke and Princess Sophie looked at Madam at the same time, not understanding why she made such a rude move.

"Your eyes are so sad that it hurts to look at them." Madam murmured to herself while looking at her. "God, I think I figured it out!"

"What do you want to understand?" Archduke Karl asked impatiently. "Now, stop it, Henrietta."

"No, this is very important." Madam interrupted her husband, and then continued, "Your Highness, who is your gift for?"

This interrogation immediately left Sophie speechless.

The "gifts" she prepared were of course for that nasty young man, and what she gave to Teresa was nothing more than a letter.

She has always regretted that she didn't have time to give him many gifts when Aigron escaped, so this time, she gave him some of the jewelry and other properties she had carefully collected as gifts, which was considered her wish fulfilled .

More importantly, there is also a pocket watch in the gift box, and there are a few strands of silver hair in the cover of the pocket watch—that is the lanugo of Christel, and it is also the testimony of her coming to the world and staying in the world.

Sophie didn't know whether the young man who was far away still remembered herself and their two daughters who stayed here, but she felt that after the child was born, even if it was nothing more than seeing Crystal, Eggron At least some traces of the child should be obtained, which is his natural right as a father.

In the corner of her heart, there is still a faint expectation-that is, one day Aigron can really achieve great things, and then take Krystal away, so that this illegitimate daughter can get rid of the darkness of being unable to see the light of day. destiny.

She herself knew that this thought was a bit vague, but it was already the last hope in her heart.

It's just... How can I say these words, these pains and sorrows, to the couple in front of me?

She could only pull herself together and lie, "Of course it's for Teresa..."

"I can't see it all." Henrietta shook her head slightly, then looked at Sophie seriously, "If it's for Teresa, why should you be sad? She may face danger, but it's all her own If you choose, you will bless her instead, Teresa and you probably don't have such a deep relationship... Conversely, if it is another person who has been with you for a long time, then everything makes sense."

After a pause, she continued, "Before Teresa left, I couldn't think of a reason to meet you, but now I can guess how much..."

Henrietta's words made Sophie speechless for a while.

She didn't know what to say for a moment, and the eyes of the Grand Duke and his wife made her even more embarrassed.

Only then did she realize that the couple in front of her was definitely not someone who could be easily fooled.

So, what should we do?

No matter how much you tell a lie, it's probably impossible to fool you.

"You're right..." Sophie nodded sadly, "Many of the presents I prepared are for Duke Reichstedt."

The Grand Duke and his wife did not speak, but continued to look at her, as if waiting for her to explain.

Sophie was startled, then she seemed to have cleared her mind, and then continued.

"Since I married into this country, he has been my best friend in the court. I don't know where this good feeling originated from. Maybe it's because both of us have a strange atmosphere, so let's hit it off... …And what happened to him makes me feel more sympathetic, so I want to help him as much as possible, so that he can get rid of the shadow and grow up healthily.

To be honest, we had a good time getting along during that time. We recited poems and rehearsed dramas together. I don’t know what this means to him, but to me it is not only a way to relieve boredom, but also a spiritual entertainment on the internet that I couldn't find anywhere else...sadly, those days are gone now. "

When Sophie said this, she suddenly choked up a little, and managed to calm herself down.

"I regard him as my best friend and as my younger brother. I try my best to solve his problems, but in the end, everything fails to go as I wish... Fate has mocked me and made me fall into the abyss. However, even if he His escape made His Majesty furious, and even I was severely reprimanded... I still can't forget those beautiful days, the happiness I had, and my blessings to him have not diminished by half. Now, we are thousands of miles apart, and I am afraid it will be difficult to see each other again. I can only wish him all the best and give him some help within my ability. So, Your Highness, I beg you to forgive me for lying at the beginning , I’m just worried that you have other doubts.”

When talking about this, Sophie couldn't help being emotional again. She wiped her tears with a handkerchief, and then looked at Grand Duke Karl with tears in her eyes, "Please do me this favor, it's very important to you." It’s just a matter of raising your hands to believe it…”

This tone, this look, can melt people, even a hard-hearted person, looking at her at this time, I'm afraid they will be moved.

Archduke Karl has been looking at Sophie, his eyes were stern at first, but slowly softened.

"So what happened before you and Your Highness..." Henrietta wanted to ask again.

"Okay, stop talking." At this moment, Grand Duke Karl interrupted his wife.

Henrietta turned her gaze away and found her husband's serious expression, she knew it was an unquestionable will

Although the wife usually takes care of the housework, she had no choice but to stop when the Grand Duke really showed the spirit of being the head of the family.

In this dead silence, Grand Duke Karl spoke in a low voice.

"I heard some unexpected words today, so I don't know if my wording is appropriate now, but I can assure you that these are all from my heart—Your Highness, your words have changed my opinion of you. In the past, I thought you It seems that you are not like this now, but it is a pity that your kindness has been wrongly paid, which is indeed a great regret... But even so, your true feelings are worth cherishing, at least I respect you."

Then, he nodded, "Since you just said that those gifts were for Theresa, then I will thank you for Theresa, don't worry, if I really send a messenger to find Theresa, Then I will also help you deliver your gift."

In other words, even though he knew that Sophie's words were lies, he continued to take them as the truth.

And this promise also lifted Sophie up from the bottom of the valley.

"You...you really..."

"Since I've already said it, it must be true." Archduke Karl nodded, and then smiled at Sophie, "Okay, I think you've recovered from a serious illness recently, and it's really not suitable for violent mental fluctuations." , so I think we should switch to something more pleasant—"

His smile, without losing his majesty as a younger brother, also carried a kind of care that is unique to the elders when they see the younger ones, so that Sophie was speechless all of a sudden.

It was not until a moment later that she finally regained control of herself, and then she solemnly bowed her head to Grand Duke Karl.

"Your Highness, I may have offended you before, but I'm glad you didn't take it seriously. I am grateful to you for what happened today, and I will definitely treat you with the greatest respect in the future."

"You don't have to be so serious, as you said, all of this is just a matter of effort." Grand Duke Karl nodded again. "In addition, I am also very happy to see that you can recover your health. This is the blessing of the empire."

Then he called the servant over and made him make a few cups of coffee, and over the coffee the three of them chatted about court and other anecdotes to while away the rest of the time.

Although the three of them are absent-minded and have their own concerns, the royal education they have received over the years has made them seem to be engaged in the conversation, talking and chatting with laughter, as if the lies, questioning and tears just now have never happened. Existed the same.

Until the evening, Sophie felt that according to etiquette, the visit could be over, so she bid farewell.

The Grand Duke and his wife politely offered to stay overnight, but Sophie refused again. In the end, she left the house after being sent off by the Grand Duke and his wife, preparing to return to the palace in a carriage.

After Sophie left, the Grand Duchess who had been silent all this time finally spoke again.

"Shouldn't I ask? What's going on between her and His Highness? Normally, you shouldn't be so worried... Oh my God, she actually shed tears, it's really unimaginable."

"A decent person shouldn't take pleasure in other people's sorrows. We shouldn't force her to continue torturing herself. I think she has suffered enough." Karl Dagong replied flatly, "Besides, now, What's the point of asking? If it's something we want to hear, she'll be embarrassed, if it's something we don't want to hear, it'll be embarrassing for all three of us, so let's call it a day."

Henrietta pondered for a moment. Although she still had some grievances in her heart that she couldn't let go of, she had to admit that what her husband said was indeed right, and it was pointless to ask further questions.

It's already this time now, can they still bring Teresa back? Let the past things go, anyway, it won't affect anything anymore.

"Okay, then do as you said." In the end, she also nodded, "Hey, just now I thought she was really pitiful... If you can help, please help."

After finishing speaking, the Grand Duke and his wife returned to the old rhythm——

Of course, if they knew how serious the so-called "past events" were, they might not be reacting now.

And while the Grand Duke and his wife were talking, Sophie, who was sitting in the carriage, was looking at the manor for the last time through the window.

Although it is not luxurious, it is so quiet. The setting sun quietly crouched on the towering chimney, like a brilliant oil lamp, shedding the last sunset in the world.

Now, I've done all I can, she told herself.

Wish you all the best……

Then she closed her eyes a little, let out a soft sigh, and lowered the curtains.

The carriage blended into the golden afterglow of the setting sun, and traveled leisurely on the country road until it finally disappeared.