Eagle’s Glory

After the Count left, Aigron made a promise to the court officials that he wanted to attend the funeral of Count Dietrichstein's mother.

His request was quickly approved. After all, it was already rumored that Duke Reichstedt was about to rise to prominence in the palace, and no one would embarrass His Highness over such a trivial matter.

After hearing the news, Princess Sophie also came to Aegron on purpose to express her condolences to the count's mother.

"Aigron, it's a pity to hear this news. When you attend the funeral, please convey a few words for me." She instructed the young man.

"Okay, Your Highness." Aigron agreed immediately, "I think he will be very grateful to you."

"Everyone will have such a day..." Sophie sighed with emotion, "At least the old lady passed away surrounded by her children and grandchildren, and the whole family also expressed their condolences at the funeral, which means something. This is also a happy way to die."

Although this may sound a bit mindless, but Agron, who has been by her side all the time, understands what she means.

Her father, His Majesty Maximilian I, King of Bavaria, died on October 23, 1825, just over a year later.

As a princess married to a foreign country, neither Sophie nor her sister Caroline, who is the queen, attended his funeral, and she felt regretful about it in her heart.

"His Royal Highness, the so-called funeral is just a formality. Even if you are not present, at least your love for your father will not fade because of this." Aegron comforted Sophie.

"I'm just grief-stricken. Actually, think about it, we've already been lucky. This regret is nothing... My father is a king. If all kings are pitiful people, how many people in the world can be considered human?" Su Fei herself laughed, and then she reached out her hand and stroked the young man's cheek, "If you say poor, you are really pitiful, your father..."

When she said this, she couldn't help sighing again, "He is still sleeping on a deserted island in a foreign land. Before he dies, he can't call his homeland and his son. How desperate should he be?"

Agron did not answer.

Although he does not think that Napoleon was perfect and did not regard him as a father, it is really sad for a generation of heroes to end up like this.

So if you have another chance, you must learn his lesson and never repeat the same mistakes... The prudent use of power is more important than the possession of power.

Of course, Sophie couldn't see what the young man was thinking. She regarded Agron's silence as a sign of grief in her heart, so she lowered her head and kissed the young man's forehead lightly as a sign of comfort.

"Aigron, don't be sad about this, this is a tragedy of history, we'll just turn it over—"

Then, she suggested, "With the passage of time, the hatred of European countries against him will eventually disappear, and then we will find a way to bring his remains back to Europe and find a good place to bury him... He shouldn't stay forever. being treated that way."

What Sophie said is not unrealistic fantasy - in the original history, in 1840, it was the July Dynasty that dominated France at that time, and the bones of Napoleon were welcomed back to France from St. The Les Invalides in Paris was reburied, when the crowds in Paris welcomed the emperor's return.

The July Dynasty did this, of course, mainly for political purposes - the damage Napoleon caused to France has become history, and the people are left with nostalgia, and welcoming back his remains is a move that caters to national feelings. will bring great prestige.

"His Royal Highness, thank you for your kindness." Aegron shook his head gently, "However, I have to handle this matter myself, and I can't pretend to be someone else."

"That's right, if you are the only one worthy of his funeral today." Sophie nodded with a smile, "Well, no matter how many years it will take, I will attend in person if I have a chance, for you. Come on!"

"That's the deal!" The young man raised his head and looked at Sophie stubbornly, as if asking for some treasure, "Your Highness, you are not allowed to break the contract."

"What a fool, why would I have to lie to you about this kind of thing?" Seeing him being so serious, Sophie felt a little amused while she was puzzled, so she couldn't help hugging him, "Besides, I My sweetheart... When have I ever talked to you? I'm afraid you won't talk to me!"

"Of course I still remember." Aigron closed his eyes gently, then hugged Sophie and kissed gently.

=============================================

Time soon came to the burial of Count Dietrichstein's mother. On this day, the church next to the earl's mansion suddenly became very lively. A large number of carriages decorated with family emblems stopped outside, and people from all walks of life came to pay tribute to the earl. Mother's funeral.

The reason why it is so grand is that on the one hand, the earl has been cautious in his words and deeds for many years, and has left a good network of contacts in all walks of life; but the most important thing is that the most famous prince in the empire, the Archduke Karl himself, will visit in person. , so more people came to cheer.

Archduke Karl personally attended the funeral of an ordinary noble family, and the reason for this has long been spread in the social world, and everyone knows it - the earl, as the guardian of the Duke of Reichstedt, has taught for many years, and this is also for the sake of Show respect.

Some of those who knew the inside story had already attended Grand Duke Karl's birthday party and met Princess Teresa and the Duke himself; while the rest were curious and hoped to see the true face of the legendary son with their own eyes.

Their wishes were soon fulfilled, and just before the official funeral began, Aigron took the royal carriage to the outside of the church.

Under the gazes of everyone, Aigron strode into the front of the church, while the Count himself greeted His Highness at the door.

Because he was attending the funeral, Aigron's clothes were very simple, all black, and his tie was meticulously tied. Against the background of the clothes, his face appeared paler than usual.

"His Royal Highness, thank you very much for your visit!" The Count walked down the steps and saluted Aegron. Although his face was full of sadness, his spirit seemed to be much more uplifted than before.

"This is what I should do." Agron took the earl's hand and shook it a few times to show encouragement, "Sir, please come out of your grief as soon as possible."

"I will, Your Highness." The count nodded again and again.

Just then, another carriage stopped at the door of the church.

Then, a grizzled but sturdy old man stepped out of the open car door.

There was silence in the crowd, and then they took off their hats to the royal prince.

Archduke Carl swept the audience with serious eyes, and finally fell on the earl and the young man, and then he walked over.

"My condolences," he said briefly to the count, then took off his gloves and shook his hand.

Then, he naturally walked to Aegron's side, and asked in a low voice, "How has this time been?"

"It's not bad, Your Highness." Aegron bowed to the other party first, and then replied in a low voice.

"Teresa also heard about the funeral, so she told me that I must give this face... I have so many legions, and now I really deserve to be called by a little girl when I'm old." The Grand Duke frowned. , complaining in a low voice, "You guys are really nonsense, you insist on visiting that musician, and you have to order some music from him..."

"This is Teresa's whim." Aegron replied with a wry smile, "I thought about it at the time and thought it was fine, so I agreed-"

"Forget it this time, let's avoid some extraneous things in the future." Archduke Karl nodded, "You are all adults, you can't be willful anymore, especially since you are all members of the royal family, your words and deeds will be judged by you. The outside world is watching, don't give others the opportunity to maliciously speculate about you, it's also very bad for you."

You can't control your daughter, why do you blame me? Aigron could only murmur in his heart.

"Thank you for your advice, I will pay attention to it in the future." He could only agree on the surface.

"Come here." Archduke Karl beckoned to him, motioning him to be side by side with him, "On this occasion, the closer the two of us are, the stronger the signal to the outside world. I don't want to be suddenly rumored. Said he was deliberately ignoring you."

Of course Aigron would not object, so he got close to him, and the two of them stood side by side in the howling cold wind.

Their expressions were very calm, full of the solemnity and solemnity that should be expected at a funeral.

If there is camera technology at this time, then the front page of social news in Vienna's newspapers tomorrow should be the same framed photo of these two His Royal Highnesses.

However, for Archduke Karl, this is just the usual emotional management of the royal family, and there is no real grief - he doesn't know the earl, how can he have any real sorrow for the death of the earl's mother? It's nothing more than giving the count a face, and by the way, the Duke of Reichstedt.

"Okay, let's go into the church." After standing for a while, Archduke Karl said to Aegron.

"Okay." Of course Aegron obeyed.

Just when he was about to take a step, Archduke Karl suddenly asked coldly.

"Have you kissed Teresa?"

This question was a bit unexpected, so that Aegron hesitated for a moment, and his hesitation also allowed the Grand Duke to confirm the truth.

"She took the initiative..." Seeing the sudden fierce expression of the Grand Duke, the young man quickly defended.

"You brat!" Archduke Karl's eyes flashed with anger, "You seduce Teresa, and you dare to make excuses?"

"Both Your Highnesses are too young, and they can't help themselves when they get along with each other. This is also an unavoidable thing..." Fortunately, the Earl, who was at the side, was clever, and quickly spoke out to smooth things out, "Let's go first, Your Highness."

"I really don't understand why she is so kind to you." Archduke Karl glared at the young man indignantly, "Anyway, if you dare to apologize to her, I can't spare you."

And Aigron could only face it with a calm smile.

After a few words of greetings, the earl led the way, and then brought both the archduke and Aegron into the church.

The seats on both sides of the church were already full of people. Archduke Karl and Aigron walked from the middle aisle all the way to the innermost altar, and were watched silently by everyone along the way.

Archduke Karl has long been accustomed to the feeling of being noticed by everyone, so his face is expressionless, while Aigron has maintained a decent solemnity by relying on his natural calmness.

Several people walked to the altar.

As time came to the scheduled moment, the funeral officially began.

The funeral Mass is first read by the priest of the parish.

"May God open the gates of heaven for her so that she can return to her hometown: there is no death there, only eternal happiness!" The priest in the sacrificial robe spoke in a solemn tone.

"Amen!"

Archduke Karl and Aigron, and the people in the seats, responded at the same time.

Then, the priest continued to read.

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the love of the Father, the grace of Christ, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you...

…O Lord, on the day of the burial of your servant Augusta, we offer this sacrifice of atonement to you; if she is tainted with sin, or stained with humanity, please forgive her graciously and cleanse her . The above request is in Christ our Lord. "

A long list of prayers was slowly recited among the many "Amen" responses from the crowd.

Then, together with Archduke Karl, Aigron completed the necessary ceremonial links such as speech, consecration, and receiving the Holy Communion during the mass, and also brought the funeral mass to the end.

Although not all have feelings of mourning, but everyone has a solemn expression and does not say a word, in this way to express condolences for the family of the bereaved.

While reciting the eulogy, Aigron looked blankly at the coffin on the altar.

The people lying inside, no matter what reputation they had during their lifetime and how many joys and sorrows they had, are now ignorant and have no choice but to wait for the burial and eventually turn into loess.

Funerals have nothing to do with the dead, they are always for the living.

The living should use rituals time and time again to free themselves from the fear of death, or to give death a meaning to comfort themselves.

But is death really meaningful?

As far as his personal worldview is concerned, of course it doesn't exist anymore.

All the glory, after death, has nothing to do with the individual, and can only be strived for in life.

Time is short, although he is only a teenager now, but the time left for him is only so many decades.

So seize every moment and work hard for your dream goals—and only in this way can you live up to this new life.

Standing on the altar, he glanced down the stage with calm but indifferent eyes, trying to find a face that he had only seen once, but he had remembered in his heart.

He patiently looked at them one by one, devoting all his attention, while his body seemed to be dominated by another program, and he silently responded to the priest's prayers.

He has already learned to separate his thoughts from the real world.

So... my dear cousin, are you not getting in, or are you already in it?

Aigron finally found the answer.

He found a young man in the crowd, and the other party also looked up at him at this moment.

So the two young people looked at each other in the eulogy of the funeral.

The young man was standing in the doorway of the church now, dressed in casual clothes, with a pen and paper in his hand, and a pair of glasses, looking like he was trying to write something down on the paper - he looked like a newspaper reporter.

Very well, Aegron nodded gently towards him.