Eagle’s Glory

As the count said, a few days later, the banquet held by the court to celebrate the fifty-fifth birthday of Archduke Karl was held as scheduled.

Perhaps to ease the tension between the brothers, His Majesty the Emperor attached great importance to this banquet, not only using his Schönbrunn Palace as a celebration place, but also inviting people from all walks of life to attend. Even the foreign envoys stationed in Vienna came to cheer on the famous grand duke.

However, Archduke Karl is not a person who likes vanity, so the outside world has also speculated that the reason why he celebrated so high-profile this time is to let his eldest daughter, Her Royal Highness Princess Teresa, make a grand debut and step into the door under everyone's attention. society.

For most people, the reason for the banquet is not important, the banquet itself is the key point. It is a rare honor for them to have the opportunity to enter the palace and see the emperor and the grand duke.

In this way, the normally sparsely populated Schönbrunn Palace suddenly became lively. Celebrities from all walks of life, cabinet ministers, and even bishops gathered together. The medals worn by the men and the jewelry of the ladies complemented each other under the candlelight. The resplendent hall is illuminated even more brilliantly.

Seeing this situation, who would suspect that the national fortune of the empire is declining?

Because of the large number of participants, according to the long-standing tradition, the court's attendants kept important high-level guests in the hall, while other guests with insufficient grades had to stay in the long gallery. Even in the gallery, the guests with insufficient grades will stand up and down according to their respective grades.

As a member of the royal family, Aigron was naturally placed in the hall; however, usually during similar activities, he would only stand in an inconspicuous corner with interest, serving as a background board to watch from the sidelines, and very few people would take risks. Talk to him about the political risk.

Today was different. He was placed in the front row, a prominent position. The guests who knew him were a little surprised by the special arrangement in the palace today. Only Aigron himself knew what it was for.

Today, he is wearing a traditional white military uniform. The slim-fitting uniform sets off his slender and well-proportioned figure. His hair has also been carefully groomed and waxed. Even if he looks in the mirror, he feels like a handsome young man.

He did not say a word as usual, while the guests beside him chatted, looking forward to the arrival of His Majesty and the Archduke.

When the clock came to around 9 o'clock in the evening, there was a commotion in the distance. The protagonists of tonight's banquet finally arrived. Aigron clearly saw that a large group of people were walking towards him.

The leaders were naturally His Majesty the Austrian Emperor Franz I and His Majesty the Empress. Although he was a bit old, he was wearing a military uniform, his steps were still quite steady, his expression was gentle and majestic, and he was striding towards the hall. .

Behind him, he followed his younger brother, Archduke Karl, the birthday star at the banquet, and the woman holding hands beside the archduke was not his wife, but a young girl in a white palace dress and floral decorations—obviously, Princess Teresa .

Behind them is a long line of attendants in various uniforms.

The guests who lined up to welcome the guests on both sides of the promenade stood in silence, watching the entrance of several of the most distinguished nobles of the empire, while His Majesty the Emperor did not stop at all, just looked around, nodded lightly as a compliment, and then strode away into the hall.

At this moment, the band, which had been playing soft music, immediately changed and began to play the majestic Austrian national anthem "God Save the Emperor Franz", congratulating His Majesty for his coming.

The officials, courtiers, diplomatic envoys, and their wives, who had already been waiting in the hall, paid tribute to His Majesty the Emperor amidst the melodious music.

Aigron, like the crowd, saluted his grandfather respectfully, but he was thinking of something else in his heart.

Everyone in this hall is a big person outside, with different titles and powers, but when they get here, they can only be an inconspicuous member, bowing to pay tribute to the dull old man opposite.

That's what power is like.

Such strict etiquette, and such splendid pomp, is to show off power and the blood that accompanies power, and the tradition accumulated over the centuries by the old Habsburg family has also been left here.

When they saw Qin Shihuang's pomp, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu sighed that "a man should be born like this" and "he can be replaced", and Aigron's mood was almost the same.

One day, the same scene will appear in another country, and it will be me who enjoys all this honor.

Because, I also have an empire... he thought silently.

As he pondered, the emperor and empress walked to the throne and sat down each.

His Majesty the Emperor, as usual, looked around the important people in front of him.

When he saw his grandson, His Majesty the Emperor smiled slightly, and then nodded lightly to him, as if to encourage him to behave well in the future.

"Thank you for your honor tonight." Then, His Majesty the Emperor spoke leisurely, "However, needless to say, you all know that the protagonist tonight is my younger brother. I don't want to attract too much attention and detract from his deserved brilliance. . Therefore, it is up to Archduke Karl to address you."

As he said that, His Majesty the Emperor looked at his younger brother.

And the Grand Duke did not give in, he stood beside the throne and spoke loudly to the guests.

"Everyone, thank you for coming to my birthday party. But as far as I'm concerned, fifty-five is not a particularly worthy age to celebrate. After all, it means that God's time for me is not destined to be too much." He looked up at the crowd with his head held high, and there was a sense of indifference between him, "Like all people my age, sometimes I look back on my life and ask myself what God has given me and what has left me behind. I pondered a few times and finally found the answer - that is, homeland, honor and family! That's what my life is all about, and I'm glad I can say without guilt that I've lived up to these three word!"

His words aroused cheers from the crowd, and people paid tribute to the famous general, but he paused a little while cheering.

After the cheers gradually subsided, he spoke again, "Now, the motherland has a younger generation to defend, I don't have to worry; I have enough honors, I no longer desire it; the only thing I can't worry about. It is my family, I hope that His Majesty will stay healthy forever, and the Austrian royal family will have a long life, and I hope even more..."

As he spoke, he made a gesture to motion for Theresa, who was standing beside him, to come closer.

Princess Teresa obediently walked to her father's side, which meant that she became the center of attention in an instant. She shrank her neck slightly, as if she was a little shy about the gazes of the crowd, but she remained calm. facing the crowd.

The Grand Duke took his daughter's hand and said again, "I hope that my daughter, Teresa, can be happy. She is the most precious gift God has given me. She has respected me over the years and has brought me countless blessings. Joy, I am willing to give everything for her!"

After he finished speaking, he took the wine glass from the servant's hand with the other hand, and then raised it to his chest, "Tonight, I hope that you will not only toast to my age, but also to Teresa!"

The Grand Duke's words again aroused enthusiastic responses, and people raised their glasses to celebrate the father and daughter.

This is the moment when the banquet officially begins.

The Grand Duke was a person who didn't like red tape, so he didn't talk much after the opening speech, and the people in the hall, as usual, began to gather in small circles in twos and threes.

Aegron did not belong to any small circle, and no one talked to him, but he didn't care, because at this time, the Great Justice Karl came to him.

The Grand Duke stopped in front of him, and then looked up and down the young man again.

"Boy, did you deliberately dress up today? It's quite fashionable." After a while, he teased. "It's just a little oily, too French."

"I don't always dress like this." Aegron laughed awkwardly, "Because it is said... It is said that there are some special arrangements for me, so I dare not neglect."

"It seems that I have to worry that you are too enthusiastic! Don't think too much, it's still very early." The Grand Duke pouted and seemed a little dissatisfied.

Then, he stretched out his hand and patted Aegron's shoulder heavily. Aegron didn't understand what he meant, so he didn't resist, just stood motionless.

"Looks thin, but in good shape." The Grand Duke quickly withdrew his hand, "It seems that Foresty didn't add water when he taught you."

"The captain is a very attentive and responsible teacher, and he is very proud of being under your command." Aegron replied.

"I've said goodbye to commanding for so many years, so don't talk about these old friendships." The Grand Duke shook his head indifferently, as if he was not involved.

However, after a pause, he glanced at Aegron again, his expression softened a lot, "Forget it, although he is oily and powdery, he is stronger than our family's younger generation, at least he is a clever ghost."

Then he muttered in a low voice that Aigron couldn't hear, "Fuck him, that guy is dead and won us again!"

Before Aegron could ask another question, he suddenly turned around and made a gesture.

Aigron followed his gesture and looked over, and then found that the girl in a long skirt was slowly walking towards him.

Following her footsteps, the young man's side instantly became the focus of attention in the arena, and all kinds of surprises, jealousy and even anger converged on him.

The young man seemed to be unaware of these wonderful sights, and he bowed slightly to the other side.

"Nice to see you again, Your Highness Theresa."