Eagle’s Glory

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

The castle is of ordinary style because of its secluded location and its unpretentious appearance, like a monastery.

Right next to it, a small river flows through it, and some stones are scattered in the river, and the water waves beat these stones, scattered in fringe-like shapes, sparkling ripples in the sunlight. Water lilies and rushes are like exquisite tapestries from the river bank, decorating both sides, and then gradually spread, all the way to the surrounding of the castle, adding a bit of loneliness to it.

This scenic castle is an asset of the Austrian government and is assigned to the Ministry of War, which has turned it into a Les Invalides for soldiers wounded and homeless during the war.

In the silence, the carriage door was opened, and then Archduke Karl and several adjutants around him walked down.

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

As a former army commander, even though he is now retired, he still visits his old subordinates everywhere, and this Invalides has naturally visited many times to meet the disabled veterans and try his best to satisfy their needs. Daily needs.

Every time he came here, his mood was quite complicated, and just last year, at about the same time as today, he brought that young man here with him.

A year has passed, and the scenery here is still pleasant, but my mood has not returned to the past.

In retrospect, I took him to visit the Invalides and took him and the veterans to celebrate. His demeanor and performance at that time not only made the veterans here respect, but also secretly got his approval.

That young man is not only smart and handsome, but also rare in that even in situations he is not familiar with, he can be calm and deal with it appropriately, without losing his usual demeanor.

From then on, he was ready to carefully cultivate this future son-in-law, use his prestige to support him, and make him a pillar of the next generation of the empire.

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

It would be nice if you didn't mess with so much! Thinking of this, he couldn't help but cursed in his heart.

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 but be angry.

It doesn't make sense to just get sullen in secret. He came here on purpose today, not to see things and think about people.

Archduke Karl took a few deep breaths, calmed down, and then brought his entourage to the castle.

Just like every time he came to inspect before, the management staff in the castle had already dressed up to welcome him.

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

"Your Highness, you are welcome!"

Although the limbs are intact, there is a shocking scar on the captain's face, which spreads from the back of the head covered by brown hair to the corner of the mouth, looking really scary.

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

The serious injury didn't destroy Captain Henchy's natural sense of humor, and he was smiling almost every day - even if his smile was horrific because of the scar.

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

"Thanks to you, everything is fine together... If there is any problem, everyone is a little bit busy." The captain replied with a smile, "Now even playing poker makes me feel a little tired, just thinking about it. It's going to be hard for me to live like this for decades."

Archduke Karl was noncommittal, just looking around, as if observing the operation of the facility and the mental state of the veterans.

"It's been a year since I last came here..." After a while, the Grand Duke seemed to be quite satisfied with the situation here, so he took his eyes back and sighed. "I've had too many troubles these days, so I can only take the time to come here today. If you need help, just say it."

Captain Henchy had been observing the Grand Duke's expression all the time, and at this moment he answered quickly. "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 shadows as soon as possible."

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

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

The awkward silence didn't last long, Archduke Karl's brows stretched, and he said coldly. "Do you remember him?"

"That's natural! There are not many nobles who are willing to come to us. How can we not remember? Not to mention that he is the son of that person." Captain Henchy replied.

Then, he didn't dare to say any more.

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

Who would have thought, things turned out to be like this in the end...

Although they were in such a remote place and the information flow was poor, even then they had heard about the explosive event.

Naturally, they were all stunned and disappointed, and no one knew how poor Princess Teresa should handle herself.

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

He felt sympathy for the Grand Duke in his heart, but he didn't dare to say it, so he could only smile awkwardly.

Of course, Archduke Karl could see what the major was thinking. He was glad that the major knew what to do, but the more he was sympathized by the major, the more depressed and anxious he became.

"You seem to be well informed." Archduke Carl sneered, "Then do you know what he is doing now?"

"I know, he seems to have gone to Greece, he seems to say that he is going to raise the flag of rebellion and help the locals win independence or something... Hey! This is really a child's trick! His Royal Highness looked so mature that day, but I didn't expect that he was still a little young. Human blood and blindness." Captain Henchy shrugged and replied. "Don't get me wrong, we didn't deliberately inquire about these news, but it has already been spread outside. Even if we are isolated from the world, we will always hear some wind..."

"Yeah." Archduke Karl nodded slightly, stopping Captain Henchy's words.

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

Fortunately, this strange silence did not last long, and Archduke Karl suddenly led the topic to another direction.

"Congratulations, Ferdinand Henchy," he whispered.

Captain Henchy's eyes widened in confusion, looking at the other person in confusion, "What are you congratulating me...?"

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

Captain Henchy was stunned. He didn't expect to be the Dean of the Invalids in a ghostly place that was forgotten by the world, and he was just waiting to die of old age with a group of disabled veterans, but suddenly today, his career has already ended, and he suddenly won the honor. Rise.

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

But since this was said from the mouth of Archduke Karl, it must not be a joke.

Obviously, to be able to stay in such a ghost place and still get a promotion, someone must be talking behind his back——

As for who it is... then you don't have to guess.

"Uh...thank...thank you for your care!" Captain Henchy—now Major Henchy, of course, broke free from his astonishment, and then thanked the Archduke with a smile on his face.

"It's just a promotion of the first-level military rank, you don't need to thank me like this." The Grand Duke shook his head indifferently, "You complained to me just now that life is too boring, then 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, which instantly extinguished Major Henchy's ecstasy.

Yes, let alone become a major, what if you become a general? Not the same, just stay in this place.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a little dejected, but still reluctantly replied with a smile, "At least it's more face-saving to talk about it..."

"Then don't you want to go and find some new fun?" Archduke Karl asked suddenly.

This question stunned Major Henchy again.

He was keenly aware of the strange aura - Archduke Carl came to inspect here today, and his performance was completely different from before, and he even specially promoted himself to the military rank... No matter what, something is going to happen.

He is a straightforward person, even in the face of Archduke Karl, he would rather be straightforward.

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

"That's good." Archduke Karl also nodded, and didn't go around in circles with him anymore. "You, bring a few more brothers you can trust and go to the Duke of Reichstedt, and help him for the time being."

As soon as he finished speaking, Major Henchy suddenly widened his eyes and looked at Archduke Karl in disbelief.

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

It was difficult for him to digest this shocking order, but the doubts in his heart still drove him to ask, "Your Highness...why are you helping him? He didn't... didn't he left Princess Teresa and ran away. ?"

This question was like a sharp sword through his body, causing Archduke Karl's face to twitch.

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

Major Henchy was suddenly shocked again.

But he finally understood the situation.

"No wonder... No wonder..." He nodded, and looked at his former commander with sympathy, "I have always admired those men with families, but now it seems that each has its own troubles..."

This sentence seems to have touched the heartstrings of Archduke Karl. "You're lucky, you don't have a wife and daughter to trouble you all day."

After complaining, he returned to his usual seriousness. "You people, although you are still in the military, no one has paid attention to you, even if you leave here temporarily, no one will know, plus you and Duke Reichstedt still have a relationship, I think Now, if you want to send someone, you are the most suitable - Henchy, tell me, are you able to accept this task?"

Major Hench lowered his head and did not answer immediately.

"Will His Highness become 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 now just my daughter's favorite, my future son-in-law... I really want something to happen to him, my daughter What should I do? Are you a widow at such a young age?" Archduke Karl frowned, then gritted his teeth and said, "I have a lot of dissatisfaction with him in my heart, but at least he can't die now."

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

Major Henchy was still hesitating, and he was not at all prepared for this sudden request, so when it came to him, he was completely stunned.

Soon, he began to make a fierce trade-off in his heart, hesitating what he should choose.

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

Maybe have some fun too?

Archduke Karl's sight made him finally make up his mind.

"I should obey your orders," he replied in a low voice.

And this answer also 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 Invalids. Remember, all this has nothing to do with you and me."

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

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

"Fame? What about him!" Archduke Carl sneered, "As of now, people who should know will always know, they can do what they want, what does it have to do with me, I just want my daughter to live well !"