Theresa was shocked by Archduke Karl's sudden words.
After a long time, she spoke again. "Dad, why? Don't you want to see me?"
"If I think so, why should I be angry for you every day?" Archduke Karl's mouth twitched, looking painful and helpless. Finally, he sighed, "Life is a matter of choices. Some choices are insignificant, while others are.
Fate may even take a lifetime to make up for - and this is your decision now. You have been taken care of so well by us since you were a child, and you don't know that the world is dangerous. You always thought that no matter what mistakes you make, someone will bear them for you... Originally
You could have been so naive all your life, but you chose to avoid our care, so it's time for this naivety to end."
"I'm not that naive..." Teresa couldn't help but protest.
"Then don't question my request anymore." Archduke Karl made a gesture to stop his daughter's words, "He is not a fugitive, but he is worse than a fugitive. Since you have chosen to side with him, my daughter
, you should bear a fair price. This country owes you nothing. Since you are on the opposite side of it, you can no longer have unrealistic expectations of its goodwill. We have to do business business, do you understand?
?”
Teresa finally understood.
Although she had long understood the meaning of her decision, she was still a little lucky in her heart, thinking that she would not have to end up in this situation. However, when the cold reality hit her face, she realized that she had no choice.
Yes, even if she is a princess, how can Austria endure her "betrayal"?
She will be abandoned by her hometown and become a wanderer without a destination.
Although she had complained a lot about Austria since she was a child, this was the place where she was born and raised, so how could she not have feelings for her? So when she first heard this request, she was almost at a loss.
It was also difficult for her to let go of her parents - her father's request was actually tantamount to saying that she would not be allowed to come back to see her relatives again without permission.
So when will we see you next time? Is it one year from now, two years from now, or the distant future?
All this is the price she must pay.
does it worth?
Even a determined person like her can't find the answer at this moment.
Once faced with the cold reality, it can be daunting.
However, there is no room for concession.
If she couldn't even make this determination and couldn't pay this price, wouldn't everything she had said before become a joke? She would never let herself become such a laughing stock.
Under her father's gaze, Teresa gradually calmed down.
She raised her head, looked at her father, and nodded slightly.
"Okay, I accept."
Archduke Karl closed his eyes slightly.
Although he spoke indifferently, how could he be willing to say such cruel words in his heart?
However, on the one hand, Teresa does need to bear the price for her decision; on the other hand, she should also put aside her innocence and face reality.
Now he can still protect his daughter, but if Teresa openly runs to that kid's side and then becomes known to all countries, then this will become a political incident, and maybe even he will be suspected, and there will be no spare power to do it again.
Protect your daughter?
If she had foolishly returned to China at that time, God knows what would have happened.
In this case, it is better for her to be mentally prepared first.
It's a pity that as a daughter, how can she understand her father's painstaking efforts?
Her heart has flown away, and only the body remains here.
"From now on, you will be responsible for any decisions you make. I will not interfere with you anymore, but I will not bear the price for you." After a moment of silence, Archduke Karl spoke again, "Child...I
I can only wish you good luck."
"dad……"
Although this meant that she had won the final victory in this wrestling match, Teresa could not feel the joy of victory at all at the moment. On the contrary, her nose was sore and she almost cried.
She tried hard to control her emotions, and then hugged her father, "Dad, I'm sorry."
"A simple apology cannot compensate for what you have done to me." Archduke Karl replied.
Although he was ruthless, he still hugged his daughter.
How much hope and reluctance does this hug hold?
After a while, the two separated again, and by this time the atmosphere in the room was no longer as tense as before, but instead became sad.
"When do you plan to leave?" Archduke Karl asked.
"It will take some time," Teresa replied, "I still have some things to do, at least say goodbye to my friends."
"Then where are we going?" Dad asked again.
Teresa hesitated for a moment, and then decided to hide it for now. "You will know sooner or later, you don't need me to tell you."
"Are you still keeping secrets from me at this point?" Archduke Karl frowned.
"You told me not to be naive, Dad, and I will keep your teachings in mind." Teresa shook her head, and then smiled slyly, "There is no doubt that I believe you 100%, but I will not take unnecessary risks.
.”
This hateful little thing!
Looking at the girl's smile, Archduke Karl couldn't help but curse in his heart.
"Okay... okay." He sighed, "The further away you go, the better. Don't bring him back, otherwise I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself and give him a shot."
Teresa pretended not to hear her father's angry words. After all, when she met His Highness next time, His Highness was already his son-in-law, and her life's happiness depended on him. How could her father actually take a shot?
.
But now her father is still angry, and she doesn't dare to add fuel to the fire.
"I have another question to ask you." Teresa looked at her father carefully.
"What's up?"
"You...does the dowry you originally promised to deliver to me still count?" Teresa asked softly.
"Of course." Archduke Karl replied decisively, "How can I have any reason to go back on what I promised you?"
Teresa felt relieved. She was still afraid that her father would be so angry that he canceled the dowry that he had originally planned to give her. It seemed that she was worried too much.
In this era, aristocratic women had to bring a dowry when they got married. The amount of the dowry even determined her future voice and personal freedom in her husband's family. Although Archduke Karl was angry with his daughter's decision, he did not want to involve his daughter in being punished because of his anger.
People look down upon.
"Then, you also know that if I go abroad, I will not be able to use the property I have left in the country, and you ask me not to return home easily..." Teresa said word by word, "So, can you put these
Will the dowry be discounted? That way I can take it abroad."
Archduke Karl frowned again.
Although the daughter didn't say it explicitly, it was obvious that this stupid girl would definitely use her own money to fund the young man's career, regardless of what her future life would be like.
So, it turns out that I am secretly funding the hostile foreign forces of the Austrian Empire?
The more Archduke Karl thought about it, the angrier he became, and he suddenly wanted to slam the table and get up.
But now he was too exhausted to even bother to get angry.
Alas, we have already reached this point. She can spend her money however she wants. What can I do about it... He could only sigh in his heart.
"Okay, that's it." He replied in a solemn voice, "I will cash in the real estate and jewelry included in the dowry. You are responsible for it. After all, this is your money, and it is best for you to control it yourself."
"Thank you, Dad..." Teresa was extremely moved.
She knew that she had broken her father's heart.
What had happened was something she didn't want to see, but what could she do?
Fortunately, we have reached the bottom now, and it cannot get worse no matter what. As long as we find a way, things will slowly get better again.
All this can be made up for in the end - unintentionally, she said exactly the same words as the boy in her heart.
"There is a part of it that you don't have to liquidate," she whispered, "which is the land you originally planned to allocate to us in this manor."
Yes, she clearly remembered that her parents once wanted them to live next to her, so they were given a piece of land in this manor for their family to live here in the future.
She didn't know how many times she had dreamed of a happy life between the two of them here in the future, but unfortunately... that had turned into nothing.
"Huh?" Her father was a little surprised by her request.
"It won't sell for much anyway, so just keep it." Teresa smiled slightly, "Maybe we will need it one day?"
Under the attention of everyone, Aiglon completed his knighthood ceremony.
Although everyone was surprised when he proposed it, under his deliberate instigation, his will was accomplished extremely well.
Although it would not be enough for everyone to be brainwashed and risk their lives for him with just a few words, but at least they have all admitted that this young man is indeed their natural object of allegiance.
These people are the elite members under his command now. As long as he controls these elites, he can command more people through them, and eventually become the leader of a huge organization like a snowball, until he becomes the emperor.
There is still so much to do to achieve that goal, and it is just getting started, but he believes he is on the right path.
After the ceremony, he took Chanel and Edmond Dantès to Father Faria's room.
During this period, he communicated with the priest many times, told the old man his intentions and asked for his opinions. The old priest had become his think tank.
His trip to Rome had proven the old priest's vision and connections, so he was willing to place his trust in the old man.
Although he did not grant Father Faria the honor of a knight because of his special status and being paralyzed, he recognized the old man's wisdom and was willing to listen to his advice.
When this group of people came to the old priest's room, the old man lying on the couch could see the excitement on the faces of his adopted son and Chanel at a glance.
"Your Majesty, did you just reward them?" he asked.
"Yes." Aigron nodded, "I created an honorary knights order and conferred the title of honorary knights on the people who came to the island today, as well as some of my subordinates who have been following me for a long time. Of course, the two of them are also qualified.
Share this glory."
Even Chanel? The old man blinked, a little surprised.
But he immediately felt happy for Chanel. After all, Chanel had always set aside time to take care of him during this period, and he had always been grateful.
"Miss Chanel, Knight of Honor, I salute you!" He couldn't help but joke to Chanel with a smile.
Chanel didn't speak, just lowered her head with a blush. She still looked grateful until now. Obviously, this honorary title brought her too many surprises.
"This is what Chanel deserves." Aiglon replied decisively. "Now it is time for us to consider the next thing."
After hearing his words, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became serious. Everyone looked at the young man, waiting for his next order.
"I have a lot of things to do. First of all, I have to do it. Fortunately, I have a lot of people to help me now." The young man said happily.
If he wants to build his own army, he must first start with the most basic equipment-that is, military uniforms and weapons.
Military uniforms are easy to say. The textile industry in Europe is developed these days, and the size of his army is not large. Some of them are customized for him.
In the era of the Bourbon Dynasty, in order to match the white fleur-de-lis national flag, its military uniforms were mainly white. In the era of the Great Revolution, in order to reflect the vigor of the revolutionary army, the Republican government changed its military uniforms to mainly blue.
The same is true in the Age of Empires.
After the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty in 1815, the white military uniforms of the old dynasty were not restored, but the design of the previous military uniforms was used.
In order to make a distinction, he needs to design different military uniforms - he personally likes the black color scheme, after all, it is solemn and has the chilling aura of a soldier, and it will not be so dazzling when stained with blood.
As for the issue of weapons, this is much more difficult. He can purchase rifles through smugglers, but cannons are not easy to obtain.
This is the most difficult problem at present.
When Napoleon was exiled to the Island of Elba, he only had a guard of 800 people with him. He took these people to land in France, and then easily marched into Paris and seized state power.
Of course, Aigron didn't dare to expect that he had such prestige and personal charm. He only needed to use his words to make people worship him, so he preferred to speak with cannons.
As for this task, he can only entrust it to his most trusted people.
"Edmond, I need to get some cannons." He told Edmond Dantès directly. "I don't dare to hope for heavy cannons now, but at least I should equip my army with some light cannons. This way
Only then can I prevent my army from being massacred."
"I understand what you mean." Edmond Dantès nodded quickly. "Then what do you want me to do?"
"You go to Greece first, take the lead for me, find out the local situation, and then buy it from the Turks." Aiglon replied, "Only from the quartermasters in Turkey can you buy it without others paying attention.
Get some cannons if the situation arises - don't be afraid to spend money, your budget is unlimited, anyway we can get it back from them when the time comes..."