Eagle’s Glory

In the early morning, His Excellency Metternich, Prime Minister of the Austrian Empire, rushed to Schönbrunn Palace in his busy schedule.

Unlike usual, he did not leave as usual after his audience with His Majesty the Emperor today. Instead, he went to the prince and concubine's bedroom under the leadership of his attendants to meet His Royal Highness Princess Sophie.

At this time, Sophie, who had just woken up, was still dressing up under the service of the maid.

The attendant communicated to her the news of the Prime Minister's meeting, and almost in an instant, Sophie, who was originally indifferent, saw herself in the mirror flashing a stern expression that was almost ferocious.

But she knew that she did not have the right to refuse at this time.

So she just nodded indifferently. "Let him wait a while."

She looked at the mirror again, and the young woman in the mirror was as beautiful as ever, with the mature motherhood just after giving birth.

However, this beautiful face is always frowning slightly, as if it contains too much pain, and there is always a bit of sadness between the eyes.

Since returning to the palace, she has regained her former status and prestige, and nothing seems to have changed, but under the surface, everything has changed beyond recognition.

The splendid ceremony couldn't make her excited, and the flattery around her couldn't anesthetize her either. How could she be happy now that the two people she cared about had nothing to do with each other?

May God bless you...

She sighed in her heart, then finished her dressing and received the Prime Minister.

Under the leadership of the attendant, Metternich walked into the room, and immediately saw His Highness Sophie sitting on the sofa with an expressionless face.

With his usual etiquette, he walked in front of the other party, and then bowed and saluted respectfully.

"His Royal Highness, I am very happy and relieved to see that you have returned to your former style."

Metternich opened the dialogue between the two with a cold courtesy.

"Your Excellency, I am also very happy to see that you have aged a little since the last time we met." Sophie replied with a gentle smile.

Her obvious provocation made Metternich unhappy, but because he was mentally prepared before, he was not angry, and his expression did not change in any way, just treated it as a breeze.

"With all due respect, your attitude towards a loyal minister of the empire is not in line with your status." He just said calmly, "Especially, this loyal minister still respects you and works hard after you have committed such a mistake. Maintain your status and reputation."

"You not only safeguarded my position, but also protected my daughter... I am grateful to you from the bottom of my heart!" Sophie's smile remained unchanged, but there was a biting coldness in her eyes.

Since she gave birth to her daughter, she has never seen her daughter's face again. She can't give her anything other than the name "Corristel", even if her daughter is alive or dead now. Know nothing.

As a mother for the first time, every time she thought of her daughter, she couldn't help being heartbroken, and the pain turned into an inexplicable hatred.

However, her hateful gaze made Metternich happy instead. He knew that this newborn baby was the tool for this arrogant woman to bow her head.

"I didn't expect that you would be so embarrassed to mention this?" He looked at the other party with interest, and then replied with a smile, "You disregarded your own obligations, did not keep your chastity, violated God's will, and had a relationship with him. What a humiliation to the Habsburg royal family to give birth to an illegitimate daughter! You have tarnished your reputation, and I have worked so hard to get it down and clear it for you Despite the gossip, so that you can continue to stay in this palace, you don't need to thank me, but you still hold a grudge against me... How ungrateful is this?! Hey, loyalty and good intentions are so betrayed, my heart But you were all hurt."

Being derogated by him for a while with a gun and a stick, Sophie suddenly became embarrassed and angry, and her whole body trembled. She tightly held the ivory folding fan in her hand and almost broke the poor object.

Seeing that she was so angry that she was about to go into a frenzy, Metternich finally stopped with full enjoyment.

"Okay, the past is over, since His Majesty has chosen to let go of the past, we can only look forward." He softened his voice again, "His Royal Highness Sophie, I didn't come to quarrel with you. , but wanted to tell you good news—"

"Hmph, good news?" Sophie frowned tightly, then glared at the other party, "The best news is that you disappear from me immediately."

"Are you sure you don't want to hear it? This is news about that little bastard." Metternich smiled.

Sophie's eyes suddenly lit up, and even the anger on her face disappeared inadvertently.

But the pride in her bones made her reluctant to beg the other party, so she forced herself to calm down, then looked at the other party coldly, "Just say what you want."

Metternich didn't intend to betray her anymore, so she said it directly. "According to the urgent information we have received, His Royal Highness Duke Reichstedt has recently appeared in Methoni, Greece, claiming that he has come for the liberation of Greece and that he will use his wealth and life for the independence of this nation. to fight..."

Sophie listened carefully to every word in Metternich's mouth, until at last she closed her eyes.

"Agron..."

Thank God he is still safe.

However, it was unexpected that he would go to Greece for an adventure...

She immediately became a little worried about his next safety.

However, now that she is in the deep palace, she can't help at all. She can only pray that the Almighty Lord will continue to bless this poor child and make everything go well for him.

"Are you alright? Your Highness?" While she was still immersed in her own thoughts, Metternich on the opposite side asked abruptly.

Sophie forcibly interrupted her thoughts, and then looked back at Metternich.

"What's your purpose in telling me this? I don't believe you'll be merciful to me."

"Even I would have some sympathy for you, after all... the one who suffered all the tragic losses was you, and he was at ease outside." Metternich said with a smile. "Your pain is just something he can show off in the future."

"If you think this kind of boring provocation is useful, then you are naive." Sophie replied stubbornly, "I am reluctant to let him leave, but I also know that his heart is not here! So I am very happy that he can be there Spreading his wings and flying high outside is not only because he deserves it, but also because only in this way will he live comfortably and live for a long time! The decadent and rotten air here will only make Aegron senesce prematurely, making his heart and his Ambition withered together... So if someone in the middle of Africa has to suffer, then I would rather be me, because I can survive here, I can live until the day we meet again, and I can live until the day without you in the world! I'll be patient!"

Although her words were very ugly, in her expression and eyes, there was a soul-stirring charm and aura, so that Metternich couldn't help but admire.

So this time he didn't make any more sarcastic words.

"Well, since you are happy to sacrifice, what can I say?" He shrugged, and then spoke again, "According to our news, the little guy took out a large amount of jewelry and money in public, According to his own account, this is what Napoleon secretly let his supporters stay for him before the fall of the empire... This story is very touching, but to be honest I don't really believe it, so please tell me, did you secretly Sponsored him? If so, how much?"

"It's a pity, because of the rush, I only had time to give him the pendant that I carried with me, which my mother gave me before I got married. It was very precious to me, but it must be for his career. It's a trivial matter, so it has nothing to do with me." Sophie replied calmly, "Of course, if I have the opportunity, I'll be happy to give him my money, as long as he speaks."

Sophie's answer made Metternich suspicious. He didn't quite believe Sophie's words, but judging from the other party's expression, it didn't seem like he was lying.

"Instead of doubting me, you might as well doubt another person." At this time, Sophie spoke again.

"Who?" Metternich asked.

"Who else could it be? Of course you found a good fiancee for him..." Sophie replied with a mocking and unwilling smile, "When I just returned to the palace, she found me during the banquet, and then Tell me that she is going to find His Royal Highness. If others say that, I will only take it as a child talking nonsense, but I am afraid she is different. She can really do it, so by now, she must have run to the side of her sweetheart. Bar……"

When Teresa just said it, Sophie did not choose to tell the truth. Now that this time has come, Sophie feels that it is meaningless to keep the secret, so she simply said it.

No reason, just to see Metternich's expression at the moment.

Sure enough, just as she expected, Metternich's expression suddenly became extremely ugly.

Shocked and angry, his already aging body trembled.

"Huh!?" He grunted aggressively, then paced restlessly around the room.

Since Duke Reichstedt fled, Princess Teresa has rarely appeared in the public eye, but Metternich didn't feel anything unusual, just because she was too humiliated, so she didn't dare to appear in public, so Didn't pay any more attention.

Who could have imagined...

"How could there be such a stupid girl in the world!? Even though she has suffered such humiliation, she still... rushes to suffer again? Stupid! Confused!" Metternich couldn't help cursing while pacing, "What A spoiled child who only knows how to act willfully and has no royal consciousness at all!"

Cursing and cursing, he scolded Teresa's father again, "And that grand duke, who is also completely confused! As a royal brother, he has no sense of the overall situation, so he actually allows his daughter to be so foolish! They don't know that they give How much trouble has the empire added!"

Of course he wanted to know that Archduke Karl would never let his daughter run away alone, and would definitely prepare a large sum of money for her.

Even if this is not all of the wealth in the hands of Duke Reichstedt, it is enough to arouse suspicion.

So if other countries know about Teresa's news, they will have a reasonable guess as to whether it is the Austrian royal family and he is secretly playing some conspiracy, and how much trouble will it bring him?

After cursing for a while, he finally regained his composure.

He walked back to Princess Sophie again, and looked at her with gloomy eyes.

"Your Highness, your willful actions have brought incalculable trouble to our country, so I think you are obliged to make up for it."

"I don't think I've caused any trouble." Sophie replied with a sneer, "It's you who should be hurting, what does it have to do with me?"

"Would you like to see your daughter?" Metternich asked suddenly. "She is a very lovely child and is currently very healthy."

When it came to her daughter, Sophie couldn't maintain her calm.

"Don't you feel ashamed that you have been in a high position for decades, and now you threaten someone with a baby? I am ashamed of you!"

"Threats? No, I think it's a deal." Metternich replied coldly, "Tell me first, do you want to see her?"

"Is there any mother in the world who doesn't want to see her daughter!?" Sophie shouted back.

"Okay, then we have something to talk about." Metternich nodded lightly, "Although Miss Corristel is destined to be an illegitimate child who cannot see the light of day, it is important for a mother to be with her forever. It's really inhumane to have my daughter separated, so if you like, I can make it easy for you to see her on a regular basis."

The sudden excitement made Sophie breathe quickly.

But she knew it would never be a free lunch.

"How long is the regular period?" Sophie managed to calm down, and then asked back.

"Once a month, no more." Metternich thought for a while, then replied.

Then, he added, "In addition, this young lady will grow up in an environment where food and clothing are safe, there are people who serve her, and of course there are people who are responsible for educating her - although we can't give her the title of princess , but it is not difficult to give the princess the education she deserves."

The more Metternich spoke, the more excited Sophie became, and it was almost impossible to control herself.

She knew that this was the best condition she could obtain for Corristel under the current circumstances.

Her poor daughter, at least will not become an ignorant and ignorant wanderer.

Moreover, if I can see her regularly, no matter how short the time is, I can witness her growth...

Of course, she knew even more that Metternich's promise was definitely not out of sympathy or respect for her, but he definitely had his purpose.

"Okay, you just talked about the deal, then tell me... What's the price? What do you want me to do?" She gritted her teeth and asked the other party, "If you want me to cooperate with you to murder Aegron, I'm sorry, I would never agree."

"It's not that harsh. I don't like cruelty, my dear lady." Metternich spread out his hands, and then replied quite slyly, "I don't need you to do anything now, let's wait and see. Let's see what happens next."