Eagle’s Glory

"What do you think?"

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

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

"What gift are you going to give?" Archduke Karl managed to calm himself down, and then asked back.

"Some personal items, please rest assured that they will never be harmful to Teresa's safety." Sophie still smiled and replied softly, "I think, if they are in a foreign country, if they can know that they come from me Blessings from the side, the mood should be a little happier..."

When Sophie answered, Archduke Karl kept watching her expression, and he didn't see much malice from it.

It would be better to say that she was moving the truth, and her eyes seemed to be weeping.

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

Is she really that good with Teresa? He didn't usually communicate much...he couldn't help but wonder again.

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

It stands to reason that in the face of this sudden request, the couple should have a good discussion, but it was precisely because of seeing Her Royal Highness's eyes that were mixed with hope and prayer, he hesitated for a while before he nodded.

"Well, assuming I do get in touch with Teresa, I'll send her your blessing and gift together."

"Thank you so much..." Sophie's face immediately turned cloudy to sunny, and a sweet smile broke out, "Then let's hope that all assumptions will come true."

Her heart was indeed ecstatic.

Since the previous turmoil, although she has regained her former honor on the surface, in fact, every move is under the surveillance of the palace, and she wants to rely on her own people to get in touch with Aegron who is far away. Of course it is completely impossible.

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

For this visit, she had written a lot of drafts in advance, but she didn't expect the Grand Duke to be so good at talking, and he immediately agreed to her request, which made her feel a lot more relaxed.

"Wait a moment...!" However, just as she was secretly rejoicing, Grand Princess Henrietta, who had been silent next to her, suddenly spoke up.

The Grand Duke and Princess Sophie looked at the lady at the same time, not understanding why she acted so rudely.

"Your eyes are very sad, and it makes people feel distressed." The lady muttered to herself while looking at her. "God, I probably figured it out!"

"What do you want to understand?" Archduke Karl asked impatiently. "Okay, don't make trouble, Henrietta."

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

This questioning immediately left Sophie speechless.

Of course, the "gifts" she prepared were all for the abominable young man, and it was nothing more than a letter to Teresa.

She always regretted that she didn't have time to give Aegron a lot of gifts when he escaped, so this time, she gave him a part of the jewelry and other property that she had carefully collected as gifts, which was considered to have fulfilled her wish .

More importantly, there was a pocket watch in the gift box, and there were a few strands of silver hair on the lid of the pocket watch—that was Corristel's lanugo, and it was also the testimony of her coming to the world and staying in the world.

Sophie didn't know whether the young man in the distance still remembered herself and their two daughters who stayed here, but she felt that after the child was born, even if she saw Corristel, Agron At least one should also get some traces that belong to the child, which is his natural right as a father.

In the corner of her heart, there is still a vague hope - that one day Agron can really achieve a great cause, and then take Kristel away, so that this illegitimate daughter can get rid of the fate of not seeing the sun .

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

It's just... how can these words, these pains and sorrows be said to the couple in front of them?

She could only force herself to lie, "That's for Teresa of course..."

"I don't think so." 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 should not have such a deep relationship... On the other hand, if it is another person who has been with you for a long time, then everything makes sense. "

After a pause, she continued, "And Teresa wants to meet you before she leaves, I can't think of a reason, but now I can guess how much..."

Henrietta's words left Sophie speechless for a while.

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

Only then did she realize that the couple in front of her were definitely not someone who could easily fool them.

So, what should be done?

Besides, it is impossible to fool the lie.

"You're right..." Sophie nodded sadly, "Many of the gifts I prepared were 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 stunned for a while, then seemed to clear her thoughts, and continued to speak.

"He's been my best friend at court since I married into this country. I don't know where this good feeling first originated, maybe we both have an air of aliens that don't fit in, so let's get along... What happened to him made me feel even more sympathetic, so I wanted to help him as much as possible so that he could get out of the shadows and grow up healthy.

To be honest, we got along quite happily during that time. We recited poems and rehearsed plays together. I don’t know what it meant to him, but for me, it was not only a way to relieve boredom, but also spiritual entertainment that I couldn't find anywhere else... Sadly, those days are gone now. "

When Sophie said this, she suddenly choked up a little, and finally calmed herself down.

"I regarded him as my best friend and my younger brother. I tried my best to solve his problems, but everything didn't work out as I wanted... Fate mocked me and made me fall into the abyss. However, even if his Running away made His Majesty the Emperor furious, and even caused me to be severely reprimanded... I still can't forget those good days, the happiness I once got, and my blessings to him have not diminished by half. Now, We are already thousands of miles apart, and I am afraid that we will never see each other again. I can only wish him the best of luck and give him some help within my ability. Therefore, Your Highness, I implore you to forgive my lies at the beginning. I'm just worried that you have other concerns."

When she said this, Sophie couldn't help but be moved again. She picked up the handkerchief and wiped her tears, then she looked at Archduke Karl with tears in her eyes, "Please help me with this, this is very good for you. It's just a matter of hand to believe..."

This tone, this look, can melt people, even a hard-hearted person, I am afraid she will be moved when she looks at this time.

Archduke Karl looked at Sophie the whole time, his eyes were severe at first, but slowly softened.

"So what are you and His Highness before..." Henrietta wanted to ask again.

"Okay, don't say any more." At this moment, Archduke Karl interrupted his wife.

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

Although Madam usually manages the housework all the time, when the Grand Duke really shows the spirit of being the head of the family, she has to stop.

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

"I heard something very unexpected today, so I don't know if I'm phrasing it properly, but I can guarantee that it's all from the bottom of my heart - Your Highness, your words have changed my mind about you, I used to think you were arrogant , Now it seems that you are not like this, but it is a pity that your kindness has been wrongly paid, which is indeed a huge regret... But even so, your true feelings are worthy of being cherished, at least I respect you. "

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

That is to say, even if he knew that Sophie's words were lies, he continued to take them as true.

And this promise also made Sophie suddenly cheer up from the bottom.

"You...you really..."

"Since I've already said it, it's naturally 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 severe mental fluctuations. , so I think we should change the subject to something more enjoyable—"

This smile of his not only lost his majesty as a royal younger brother, but also carried a kind of love unique to the elders when they saw the younger ones, so that Sophie was aphasia all of a sudden.

It wasn't until a moment later that she finally regained control of herself, and then she solemnly bowed her head to Archduke Karl.

"His Royal Highness, I may have offended you before. I'm glad you didn't take it seriously. I'm very 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, just as you said, all this is just a little effort." Archduke Karl nodded again. "In addition, I am also very happy to see that you are able to recover, which is the blessing of the Empire."

Then he called the servant over and asked him to make a few cups of coffee, and then the three of them drank coffee and chatted about interesting things about the court and other places in order to spend 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 makes them all seem to be engaged in conversation, chatting and laughing, as if the lies, questions and tears just now were never in fact. Existed the same.

It wasn't until late in the evening that Sophie felt that the visit could be over by etiquette, so she bid her farewell.

The Grand Duke and his wife politely offered an invitation to stay overnight, but Sophie refused again. In the end, with the farewell of the Grand Duke and his wife, she left the house and prepared to take a carriage back to the palace.

After Sophie left, the Grand Duchess, who had been silent, finally spoke up again.

"Shouldn't I ask? What happened to her and His Royal Highness? Under normal circumstances, you shouldn't be so worried... God, it's unimaginable that she actually sheds tears."

"A decent person shouldn't take pleasure in the grief of others. We shouldn't force her to continue torturing herself. I think she's suffered enough already." Carl replied fairly and indifferently, "Besides, now, What's there to ask about? If it's something we want to hear, she'll be embarrassed, and if it's something we don't want to hear, it'll be embarrassing for all three of us, so let's stop there."

Henrietta pondered for a moment. Although she still had some grudges in her heart, she had to admit that her husband was indeed right, and there was no point in asking any further.

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

"Okay, then do as you said." Finally, she nodded, "Hey, I thought she was really pitiful just now... If you can help a little, just help."

After speaking, the Grand Duke and his wife returned to the rhythm of the past—

Of course, if they knew how serious the so-called "things in the past" really were, I'm afraid it might not be the current reaction.

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 sunset quietly crouches on the towering chimney, like a brilliant oil lamp, spilling the last sunset in the world.

Now, I've done all I can - she said to herself in her heart.

Wish you all the best…

Then she closed her eyes slightly, left a soft sigh, and lowered the curtains.

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