Under the leadership of the maid, Edmond Dantès walked through the corridor, then entered the alley through the corner, and finally came to the door of a room.
Chanel signaled him to wait, and then knocked on the door carefully.
"Your Majesty, Edmond Dantès has come to see you!" Her expression became solemn, and she said respectfully outside the door.
Wait, Your Majesty?
Edmond Dantès was momentarily confused.
Before he could continue thinking, a response came from the door.
"Bring him in."
"Yes." Chanel nodded in agreement, and then opened the door.
Then, she looked back at Edmond Dantès, and after hesitating for a moment, he could only take steps to walk in. Chanel followed her in, and then carefully closed the door.
He could tell that the voice of the person inside was very young, so he felt even more doubtful...
After entering, he found that this was an old house that had aged. It could be seen that it had been abandoned. There were many mottled marks on the ceiling. However, the floor was covered with simple patterned carpets and tapestries were hung on the walls to hide it.
Lived other evidence of dilapidation.
There are also muskets, sabers, and two hunting bags hung on the walls of the room as simple decorations. There is also a small plaster statue and a brass wall clock placed on the fireplace. Curtains are hung on the windows to block the outside.
The light and tassels on the curtains are of ordinary silk style.
The entire room is decorated simply and neatly, yet without losing its due sense of solemnity.
There is an oak table next to the fireplace. There are many documents on the table, as well as bookmarks, paper and pens. In addition, there are some tableware and disks on it at the moment, which are polished to a shine. It is obvious that the owner of the room has just had a meal.
Edmond Dantes' attention was quickly drawn to the person sitting on the chair.
Although he had guessed from the voice that the other party was very young, he was still shocked at this moment. The person in front of him was clearly just a young man!
He has short blond hair, fair skin, and a gentle and delicate face, with a bit of a poet's temperament, but his eyes are quite sharp, and he is looking at himself up and down at this moment.
Overall, this young man appears neat and well-educated, yet full of action and courage.
"Edmond Dantès?" After a moment of silence between the two, the young man asked.
He behaved quite gently, then pointed to the seat opposite and motioned for Edmond Dantès to sit down. "Please sit down."
Edmond Dantès sat down obediently.
"You must be full of questions now." Aigron smiled gently, "It doesn't matter, we have a lot of time now, and I can answer your questions. But before that, please answer me a question."
"Excuse me, sir," answered Edmond Dantès.
"I spent money to buy your freedom. This is an undeniable fact for you. So I would like to ask, as payment, to what extent are you willing to serve me?" Aigron asked directly.
"To what extent..." Edmond Dantès was stunned for a moment, and then couldn't help but ask, "Then what do you need me to do?"
"Command my sailors, help me smuggle, establish a smuggling and intelligence network that can run smoothly, buy and sell stolen goods, go through fire and water, and maybe even kill people." Aigron answered.
"Kill...!" Edmond Dantès frowned, then shook his head, "I don't want to kill innocent people."
"As a felon who has been imprisoned in a dungeon for twelve years, I originally thought that you should not be afraid of killing people." Aigron looked at the other party calmly, "The information I received is that you were bold and participated in
He robbed Emperor Napoleon of his plot, helped him land in France from Elba, and almost helped him restore the empire... I think such a person should not be afraid of blood."
"No, sir! You misunderstood!" Edmond Dantès quickly denied, "I have never participated in Emperor Napoleon's conspiracy. I was just a sailor who conveniently sent him a letter."
Aigron's face suddenly became very strange, as if he didn't believe what he said at all. Of course, in fact, he knew in his heart that he just needed to play along.
"Just, it's convenient?" he asked with a sneer.
"Yes, whether you believe it or not, that's how I was at the beginning. Please give me some time and I will explain my matter to you in detail." Then, Edmond Dantès decided not to hide it anymore and put himself in that situation.
Everything that happened in Nian was told to the young man in detail, including how he was forcibly dragged away after getting engaged.
Because he thought of those sad things, he spoke very emotionally and almost burst into tears. However, neither Aigron nor Chanel spoke, quietly listening to his narration.
After a long time, Edmond Dantès finally finished speaking, then he sighed and looked at the young man.
"So, sir, you see... I'm really just a poor guy who got involved."
Because he had spoken out the heaviest worry in his heart, he felt a lot more relaxed at the moment. "If you hope to find a staunch supporter of Emperor Napoleon, then you may have found the wrong person... However, I am still willing to use my sailor skills
I have come to serve you, I owe you a debt, I acknowledge it, and I will serve you with great gratitude."
The young man didn't answer, he just looked at the other person quietly.
"You...don't you believe me?" Edmond Dantès asked anxiously, "Sir, everything I said came from the bottom of my heart. This is my most miserable experience, and I didn't lie."
"My poor friend, I believe you." Aigron nodded gently.
However, before he could finish speaking, the young man interrupted him again, and then looked at the other person with pity, "Although I believe you, I pity you even more, and I even think it's a bit ridiculous."
"Ridiculous?" Edmond Dantès was stunned, and then a sudden anger arose in his heart.
"I have served twelve years of hard labor, and you actually call it ridiculous?"
"Your hard labor is not ridiculous, but after twelve years you are still as naive as before. That is really ridiculous!" Aigron replied.
"What?" Edmond Dantès asked in confusion.
"You were only eighteen years old when you sent the letter. I understand your innocence and childishness. After all, not everyone has to be like me and forced to understand things at a young age." Aigron sneered, "
However, no matter how innocent you think you are, your actions have brought you to a world you have never been exposed to, a world that is magnificent and full of all the ugliness in the world. This world will not be judged based on your inner thoughts.
Instead, you will speculate on your actions with the greatest malice. So, Mr. Dantès, who is thirty years old, please open your eyes now and see what you did twelve years ago?
!”
Amidst the loud roar, Aigron stood up from his seat, then walked up to Edmond Dantès, looking at the poor man calmly, "You went to the island, met Napoleon, and returned the favor
He sent an important letter to his confidant to help him complete the great cause of restoration. But when he turned around, you said that you were just a passer-by, and you just completed this task as if you were an ordinary friend sending letters! You can say that, and you can say this for the rest of your life.
Okay, but I guarantee you, no one in the Paris government will believe you, and your so-called grievances will never be vindicated, because in their eyes, even if you only do these, your body, your
Your soul has been branded with the Bonaparte family forever. You are a stubborn and heinous traitor in their hearts. Even if you die and turn into ashes, you will not be able to get rid of this mark!"
Edmond Dantes' face suddenly froze. He looked at the young man with wide eyes, and even lost the ability to speak for a moment.
"I...I..." he murmured to himself, but didn't know what to say, "I'm not innocent?"
"You are not guilty, but you are also guilty." Aigron sneered and continued.
"What you have done is to put yourself on an extraordinary road. Some people can't even find a way! On this road, you will either be rich and prosperous after success, or suffer punishment after failure. You are very unfortunate.
, the empire finally failed, so you were imprisoned in the Castle of If, and others were even worse than you. Marshal Ney was even shot by the French army! Everyone suffered the price because they participated in this game. Are they innocent?
?Are they guilty? These questions are no longer important. The only important thing is the result, whether it is a success or a failure. If it succeeds, then everything is right. If it fails, then you will go to jail or even lose your life, and you can only swallow the bitter pill silently!
During these years, you must have complained about your innocence to every official who came to visit Fort If, and begged them to be merciful and let you go free. If you were so naive, you would have done it! But what was the result? No one would care about your heart.
What on earth were you thinking? You have already acted and sentenced yourself! But today, you are still so naive, twelve years have passed! But you still told me in front of me that you were just sending me a gift.
It’s just a letter... Hahahaha, don’t you think it’s ridiculous?!”
In the face of Aiglon's endless questions, Edmond Dantès's face became more and more ugly, and finally his whole body couldn't help but tremble.
If Edmond Dantès was still the 18-year-old stupid boy, still the ignorant sailor, he would definitely be furious, thinking that the young man in front of him was talking nonsense.
But he is already thirty years old, and he has also been trained by Father Faria during his twelve years in prison. He has more or less touched the world that he could not touch before.
He knew that in that world that combined wealth and splendor with darkness and rancidity, the logic of "fairness" would not work.
The true logic pursued in this world is to rather kill the wrong person than to let it go, and to never leave any room for the opponent. There is only no tolerance and consideration.
Only the winner has the right to write history, so if you fail, then all the blame will be taken for granted.
Since he participated in the conspiracy, no matter what his true intentions were, he was a part of it. In this case, if Napoleon succeeded, he would be a hero; but on the night when Napoleon failed completely, he could only become a traitor.
Yes, such a clear and clear fact, why have I never thought of it?
Did you not think of it, or did you not want to think of it?
Edmond Dantès suddenly understood why Father Faria always looked at him with pity every time he talked about his grievances over the years.
He was wronged, but he was not wronged either.
His biggest mistake was that with the recklessness of a young man, he rushed into a life-and-death world without realizing it, making proper preparations, and even having no way out.
He didn't even think that he might bear the price of losing everything because of his actions. He thought that after sending the letter, he could pretend that nothing had happened, go back to his hometown to get married in a relaxed and happy way, and look forward to the best future!
How naive! How miserable.
Therefore, he was pitied by the young man in front of him, and even felt ridiculous by him.
"Ah!" The blood was rushing to his head, and Edmond Dantès couldn't help but cover his head.
When he had to face his "responsibility", when he found out that he suffered such a terrible punishment "for a reason", when he found out that he had paved a dead end for himself, that kind of regret and sadness made him
He lost the ability to think for a moment.
"Mercedes!" All kinds of thoughts rushed through his mind, giving him a splitting headache. His consciousness was almost blurred, and he only had time to shout out this name. Even he himself didn't know why.
"Mercedes? Is this the name of your fiancée? You must be very guilty now. Because of your own mistakes, she suffered so many disasters and had to be separated in the end." Aigron's calm words were like a
The heavy hammer hit Edmond Dantès in the heart. "I understand your feelings, but whether it is guilt or apology, it is of no use. If you want to make up for everything you have lost, you can only
Rely on hard work! Grit your teeth and finish the journey, just like me."
"What way?" asked Edmond Dantès, who was confused.
"For me, it is the way back to the throne; for you, serve me and follow me back to France." Aiglon raised his head and looked at the other party arrogantly, "Do you think I am like this?"
Is it an invitation? Wrong, I am stating the fact that you have no choice. Although you think you have a choice, you actually have no choice.
Since you have participated in this game, now you have no way out. Even if you shed tears and blood, you must complete the game and see what the result is."
"Return to the throne..." Edmond Dantès opened his eyes wide and suddenly understood something, "Miss Chanel just called your Majesty."
"Good observation and analysis skills." Aigron smiled and nodded, "Yes, I am the son of Napoleon, and I was elected as Emperor Napoleon II by my followers. Even though I am only this young, about
My history can already write a book, but I can also write several books myself. Everything I do now is for this purpose, and you are the person I think can help me. In return, I
It can also help you, make you prosperous, and allow you to take revenge on those enemies who bullied you, imprisoned you, and plunged you into despair!"
Edmond Dantès's mind almost went blank for a moment and he was speechless.
This is not surprising. Anyone who encounters him in so many unexpected situations within a few days will be confused, let alone one who has just come out of the cell.
But the world has never been gentle to him, and he doesn't have much time to digest this shocking information.
Under his gaze, the young man stretched out his hand to him.
"You did commit a crime because of your confusion. This crime is called the crime of failure. Failure is a crime! No one believes that you were wronged, but so what? Since your road has been blocked by them, since your soul
If you have been branded by them, just go to the end! Let them also taste the pain you have tasted. Sir, reach out your hand!"
With his mind blank, the young man's words seemed to have some kind of magic power. Edmond Dantès subconsciously reached out and took the young man's hand.
Aiglon held his hand tightly and then looked into his eyes.
"Yes, that's it, follow me. If France rejects you just like it rejected me, then there are only two ways to go, either to endure the humiliation and hide incognito and go away from home from now on; or to step on her
Fall to the ground, let her admit her mistakes with tears, open her arms and accept you again, there is no other way."
Then, he increased his volume and asked again in the other person's ear.
"Twelve years, think about how many twelve years you have in your life! The most precious years of your life have been taken away by them. No one will apologize to you, and no one will feel guilty unless you go to him in person.
In front of you, give them equal or even more pain, and all the disasters you have endured will be redressed... Tell me, do you want revenge? You want to be a naive sailor all your life, chattering about your innocence;
Or do you want to be a real hero and let the fire of revenge burn them clean and let them know that they have offended someone they cannot afford to offend? Answer me!"
"Yes...yes..." These questions were like a wake-up call, and Edmond Dantès finally woke up.
Like lightning piercing the night sky, everything suddenly became clear.
Too clear.
I served His Majesty the Emperor Napoleon I, so what do I have to fear about serving Napoleon II again? It is completely logical.
He has been isolated from the world after being in prison for more than ten years. He doesn't know how this young man got rid of his shackles and came here to start his dream, but this is completely unimportant.
Now that I have been abandoned by the world and have been wounded with a mark that can never be washed away, why should I surrender and beg for mercy? I want to resist all this, smash this world that insults me and persecutes me, and stand on the head of the enemy.
, return the pain.
He raised his head and looked at the young man eagerly, no longer confused.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to serve you..." He made a promise in a deep voice, "I am willing to follow you back to France as your loyal servant. There is only one condition... I cannot kill innocent people indiscriminately."
"Don't worry about this, I don't have such boring hobbies." Aigron showed a pleased smile and nodded.
Then, he made a gesture, "Okay, let's come here today. I think you need a good rest. Chanel, take him to the room to rest."
Edmond Dantès bowed to the young man gracefully and respectfully according to the understanding taught by Father Faria.
Then, Chanel left with Edmond Dantès.
Aigron looked at the door that was closed again and fell into deep thought.
Edmond Dantès is a man with clear grudges. Since he has made a promise, he will definitely work for him next.
But this does not mean that everything is fine. There is still a small account between them that needs to be settled.
He will definitely go to the treasure cache tonight to take a look.
It was already a place that haunted him, and he would never feel at ease unless he saw it with his own eyes.