Just as the Count of Monte Cristo was conveying the greetings of His Majesty the Emperor impassionedly to his comrades, a small storm was also rising in a certain manor in distant Vienna.
The storm only spread in the living room, and outsiders had no way of knowing it. However, its impact was far-reaching, enough to shake the direction of future history.
On this afternoon, Teresa tiptoed to the door of the study, and then knocked gently.
She knew that her father was at home today, and because of his recent official duties, his mood had improved a lot.
So, it's time to discuss the important stuff.
"Who is it?" A greeting came to mind.
"It's me, dad... I have something to tell you." Teresa replied softly.
"Oh, come in then." Father agreed quickly.
Theresa did not open the door immediately, but took a deep breath to adjust her spirit to the best state, and then opened the door and went in.
She knew that she might face a spiritual war next, but she was fearless.
In the spacious study, she passed through the rows of bookshelves and then came to the center of the study. At this time, Archduke Karl was sitting on a chair with a book that had just been put down next to him.
"My daughter, what's the matter?" He asked gently, then pointed to the seat next to him and motioned for his daughter to sit down.
He is indeed in a good mood now.
Since returning from her trip to Rome, Teresa's complexion has obviously improved a lot, and a smile has occasionally appeared on her face, which also reassured her father a little.
Maybe time can indeed heal all wounds, and Teresa finally came out of the shadows.
However, he did not expect that the hidden shadow not only did not dissipate, but expanded unbridled, swallowing up his daughter's heart. Today was the day Theresa was looking for a good opportunity to clarify it with him.
What a cruel day! And he still doesn't know it.
Teresa sat down as her father ordered, and then looked at her father.
Then she spoke in a solemn manner.
"Father... I have something important to tell you, and... a request."
Then, under the astonished gaze of Archduke Karl, Teresa calmly told the truth, "During the journey to Rome, I met His Highness."
"What?!" Her first sentence made her father exclaim and interrupt her. "He came to find you secretly?!"
"In fact, I took the initiative to find him, and I was lucky enough to find him..." Teresa sternly corrected her father's word choice, and then continued, "We met and reiterated
We have made an agreement with each other, that is to say, we both believe that the engagement will continue to be valid..."
"What the hell! You came here just to tell me this?!" Her father interrupted her again, and then asked sternly, "What else did you do?"
"Do you really want to know?" Teresa looked up at her father, "Okay, let me tell you, we hugged, we cried, we danced, we made a lifelong promise, we kissed, and we also
have……"
"Shut up! You actually...you actually dare to say these shameless words to me. When did I teach you to speak like this?" Archduke Karl was so angry that he almost lost his breath. He stood up menacingly and looked around.
Study, "Where's my gun? I'm going to kill him!"
After a while, he came back to his senses and was already dizzy with anger.
He forced himself to sit down, but his lips were trembling, "He... after he did such a thing, how dare... how dare he try to tease your heart again and destroy your remaining happiness? Shameless person, dog
Bastard!"
"Don't scold him like that. If you have to scold him, then I also have a share, because I am full of happiness." Teresa said without giving in, "We each have half of all responsibilities.
I am also very happy to take on this responsibility. So I beg you to be tolerant to us again and give His Highness another chance..."
"What chance?" Archduke Karl asked sharply.
"Become your son-in-law and give me the opportunity to be happy in the future." Teresa replied in a low voice, "We have already agreed that I will go abroad again to find him in the name of traveling in a while, and then we will stay together like this.
Like any unmarried couple, I just want to seek your consent when I return to China this time."
"Hey! Okay, okay!" Archduke Karl laughed angrily and shouted sarcastically, "It turns out that you have already decided everything, and then you want me to acquiesce and give me a chance to bless you...Should I still
Want to thank you?"
Teresa didn't answer anymore. She knew her father was angry now, so she didn't want to provoke him anymore, but she kept looking at her father and begging him to show mercy.
"No, no!" Archduke Karl replied categorically. "You know what he did, he lied, he broke his promise! He seriously damaged the interests of our country, and he also made you a laughing stock. How can such a person deserve me?"
Give him another chance? That’s ridiculous! What’s more, he also did even worse and shameful things!”
"What happened?" Teresa asked in surprise.
Archduke Karl had a sullen face and frowned. After a moment, he sighed, "Well, there are only two of us here, so I will tell you something."
Then, his expression became serious, "Her Royal Highness Sophie has been disappearing from the public eye recently. The official claim is that she is ill and recuperating, but according to the news from my friends privately, she...she is pregnant.
"
"What?" Teresa was so surprised that she fell into a daze for a moment. "Is this... is this true?"
"It should be true. My friend wouldn't have the guts to joke about such a thing." Archduke Karl's voice became lower and lower, obviously he also knew that this topic was absolutely unsafe. "After I learned about this, I didn't
I don’t want to say it, but today, in order to wake you up, I will tell you. I hope this basin of cold water can wake you up. If you think about it carefully, Her Royal Highness Sophie’s pregnancy should have been good news for the royal family, implying hope for continuation, but
Why are the officials so secretive...?"
He didn't elaborate further because he knew that Teresa's intelligence was obviously enough to guess the answer on her own.
After learning about this matter, he didn't even tell his wife. After all, this kind of matter involved the secrets of the main branch of the royal family. With his sensitive status, he was the last person to touch it. His royal brother was already very interested in it.
He was jealous, so how could he allow his younger brother to spread his scandal?
He continued to look at his daughter and found that Teresa was stunned, her face was as pale as paper, and a thin layer of cold sweat suddenly broke out on her previously firm and meaningless forehead.
Sorry, since he has reached this point, he can only continue talking.
"The question now is who does the child belong to? Although I dare not inquire carefully, but according to palace rumors, Her Royal Highness Sophie has a very good relationship with that boy. This Bavarian and Frenchman share the same illness, and they are almost intimate with each other. Unfortunately, I
It was too late when I learned about this! Well, my daughter, you already know...what an evil person he is, and how far he has harmed you!"
Teresa closed her eyes slightly, and her body was trembling slightly, like an asthma patient having an asthma attack. She was breathing heavily and her body was shaking.
Is this blow a bit too big? He thought to himself.
However, this is a good medicine that can relieve both father and daughter from pain.
The father watched every move of his daughter. After an unknown amount of time, Teresa finally raised her head and looked at her father again. But this time, her eyes were no longer as sharp and agile as before, but tears were shining in her eyes.
.
"Teresa, stop worrying about that guy, he's not worth it." Archduke Karl sighed, "Let this end."
"I hate them." Teresa suddenly said.
"Yeah, so let them handle their own affairs." Archduke Karl shrugged, "Don't worry about them anymore."
"No...it won't be over!" Teresa yelled back.
"Huh?" Archduke Karl opened his eyes wide and couldn't believe what was going to happen next.
"I know about their affairs...Father, His Highness did not hide it from me, and as I said before, I understand his desire, and I also understand His Highness Sophie's care and love for him, so I respect their mutual attachment. This
It was a trick of fate. Who told them to attract each other before I appeared? But I didn't expect that in the end she would choose such a decisive way..." Teresa's tears fell, "I...I
Really resentful! They could end all this after getting married!"
"What on earth are you talking about?" Archduke Karl was completely shocked, "So you know...?"
"I resent him, but I also resent her... Obviously she can calmly start her romance with her beloved young man like those ladies, and then bid farewell to each other with courtesy. Obviously there are so many ways not to leave behind
She left traces and let everything be sealed in the memory... But she chose to disturb my life for her own willfulness. She must let this continue... How greedy and selfish she is!" Teresa bit.
He replied with his teeth, and a flash of resentment flashed in his eyes. "I will never forgive her on this point."
But after a moment, she closed her eyes slightly, "But, I also admire her... She was loyal to her paranoid thoughts, risked losing everything, did extraordinary things, and endured terrible sacrifices. This is also
It proves that she is indeed not just acting on the occasion, but truly and desperately throws herself into it, with an astonishing fearless smile, facing the flower of love that may only bloom once in her life... How respectable and noble she is!
"
Theresa took a deep breath, and then looked at her father again, her eyes becoming clear again.
"I used to think that our country is like a desert with no real emotions. It's ridiculous that this fire is burning beside me... Good! I pay tribute to her. I really regret not saying more when I met her.
Let's talk. But if she can do it, then I...I won't lose."
Seeing his daughter singing as if on a theater stage, Archduke Karl couldn't help but tighten his heart, and he had a ridiculous premonition.
"Hey...you still can't wake up, right?" Archduke Karl asked tremblingly.
"Wake up? What do you mean?" Teresa glanced at her father doubtfully, "I have had a pale dream for more than ten years, but now I have plunged into a reality that makes me excited, uneasy, and excited. Of course I have
woke up."
"Can you say something normal?" Archduke Karl couldn't help scolding his daughter, "Can't you think about what's best for you? Why should you abandon your glorious future and trample yourself into the mud willfully?
among?!"
"Only I have the right to define for myself what a glorious future is, father." Teresa replied solemnly. "At this point, I am absolutely self-sufficient. And, I think I have found it for myself."
It was over, she was already fascinated and refused to listen no matter what she said. Archduke Karl sighed deeply in his heart.
Why was I so stupid at that time that I took her to Schonbrunn Palace happily?
He couldn't help but hate Metternich, Louisa, and his stupid self last year.
It's a pity that there is no regret medicine in the world, and everything you say now is so feeble.
"You...you can't be willful anymore." After a moment, Archduke Karl hissed to his daughter, "As a father, I have the right to decide your life and your marriage."
"Didn't you already decide once?" Teresa asked, "I think this decision is a good one. Don't you like him very much if I accept it?"
"That's a thing of the past!" Archduke Karl interrupted his daughter. "What he did has made me change my decision. It's not my fault but his own fault. Now I take back my decision. I want to
Find a husband for you again, there will always be a better candidate in the world."
"I beg you not to do this..." Teresa couldn't help crying, "I...I have made a decision, I love him!"
"Love? A vague and ridiculous word. Human beings can live well without it." Archduke Karl shook his head, "Life will change a person. Maybe after ten or twenty years, your thoughts will no longer be the same."
It’s the same.”
"You can do this, because it is your right. I will never have any complaints against you, because you are my father, my beloved father. But accordingly, I also have my right to do what I want.
Things to do."
Teresa's eyes were filled with tears, but she still looked up at her father, "Since you don't promise me, then I will change my habits and attend every banquet that I was so bothered by."
, in the name of Madame Bonaparte; I will also write to all the people I know or do not know, telling me my choice, with the same signature! This is not my claim, but the title I deserve.
Used with pride, I don’t believe anyone would marry such a woman... And then the world will know that Austria not only detained the King of Rome for more than ten years, but also planned to continue to detain his wife ruthlessly.
Let a family be broken up just because of some resentment that should have disappeared with time!"
"Shut up!!!" Archduke Karl shouted out with great anger.
The prince could no longer see his usual calmness. Even his blood vessels were protruding. He raised his hand tremblingly, wanting to slap his daughter, but Teresa remained fearless and held her head high.
He looked into his father's eyes.
After all, Archduke Karl didn't slap him in the face. He covered his chest with his hand. This commander who had commanded thousands of troops felt like he had been shot, and was so heartbroken that he could not move.
"You... are crazy! You are already crazy!" My father scolded me like this for an unknown number of times.
"Maybe I am indeed crazy, but it is also my choice. A person should face up to the weight of his choice. Even being a madman is better than being a capricious clown. In other words, if I didn't have this awareness, I wouldn't be like this.
Standing in front of you." Teresa replied quietly but solemnly, "Father, I am your daughter, so I understand you, but you should also understand me. Once I make a decision, I will never make a decision again.
I cannot be moved by others because I value myself and am not willing to damage the quality of my soul easily, and you cannot force me to do this because you are the person in the world who should respect me the most!"
Theresa's words buzzed in Archduke Karl's ears and gave him a splitting headache.
He felt as if he had entered a strange world.
Why did his daughter, who had always been quiet and docile and whom he had always been proud of, turn into someone he no longer recognized?
When did she develop such a sharp tongue, and when did she forge such a heart of steel?
He didn't know the answer, but he could already see that he really couldn't convince her with words.
Is it really something to be proud of letting his daughter read so many books? For the first time in his life, he felt doubtful about the way he raised his children.
What should we do? If we let it go, Teresa can really do what she said, bring shame to her family and the royal family, and make Habsburg a laughing stock in the eyes of the world. This is what he and His Majesty the Emperor can do no matter what.
Intolerable.
So, should she be detained indefinitely until she changes her mind, or...
If it were His Majesty the Emperor, he would probably choose the former, but Archduke Karl asked himself, he would not be willing to do this no matter what. How could he bear to see his daughter wither and wither at the most beautiful age in her life?
Therefore, this cunning daughter took advantage of her father's love and intolerance to boldly threaten me...
He had a lot of thoughts, but he didn't seem to think about anything.
In the end, he could only let out a long sigh, "Teresa, do you really not think about it anymore? Even if your father begs you?"
Teresa was about to cry, but she held back her tears and slowly shook her head.
"We are all angry today, let's calm down first." Archduke Karl sighed, then turned around and prepared to leave. "We will discuss this issue later."
Then, he disappeared through the door.
"I'm sorry, Dad..." After her father's back finally disappeared, Teresa couldn't help herself anymore.
She never liked speaking to her father in this tone, but she knew that now she had to show the strongest stance. Only in this way could she hope to resolve the situation in the way she most wanted.
If she cowers because of timidity, it will only make everyone suffer in the end, and she will never be able to get relief.
Temporary heartache and permanent heartache, she had no choice.
I only hope that I will have the opportunity to repay my father in the future and redeem my sins of unfilial piety...
She raised her hand and wiped her tears with her sleeves.
It seems that my father is at his wits' end and has begun to waver. It only takes a little time for him to finally nod... It will take some time for His Highness to start his journey anyway, so there is no need to be so anxious.
She gently placed it on her chest and closed her eyes.
I hate you, Your Highness, because you only showed part of your soul to me. Your heart was stolen by fate.
But... this doesn't bother me, we will meet again eventually.