Under the expectant eyes of Aigron and King Ludwig I, Theresa reluctantly agreed to the king's request for a portrait of herself.
Of course, although she was a little embarrassed on the surface, she was also quite happy in her heart. After all, His Majesty the King's behavior was tantamount to admitting that his appearance was indeed outstanding enough, so that he ignored etiquette and just showed up.
When we met and we were not even acquainted with each other, I took the liberty to make such a request.
Seeing that his wish was fulfilled, the king was naturally very happy. He apologized and thanked Theresa repeatedly, and declared that the painter would take it seriously and never let the appearance of Princess Theresa be diminished on the canvas.
Of course, he is not just talking about it. As a king, he is naturally surrounded by outstanding palace painters. He may not be a genius, but there will definitely be no problems with his technique and brushwork. It is difficult to make Princess Teresa look ugly.
However, considering that Aigron and Theresa had just arrived at Nymphenburg Palace today, and the fatigue of the journey had not subsided, the king did not immediately call the painter over, but continued to take the young couple to visit the palace, and then asked
The attendants took them to rest.
After the couple entered the suite assigned to them, Teresa finally breathed a sigh of relief, and then lay down tiredly on the sofa.
"I have long heard that this king is not a serious person, and it turned out to be true when we met him!" Then Teresa complained in a low voice, "I can't imagine other kings doing this!"
"He is a king, so he is naturally qualified to have some more willful hobbies." Aigron defended King Ludwig with a smile, "Compared to other kings' hobbies of extortionate conquests and military warfare, this King has more hobbies.
It’s a bit interesting, and even makes people feel a bit sincere and human.”
"Why, does painting beautiful women and admiring them all the time make you awe-inspiring?" Teresa glanced at him, and then sarcastically said.
"The reason why human beings can have civilization is because they have the pursuit of beauty... What is there to be ashamed of if you like to see beautiful things? Those ascetic monks may be shocked when they see beauties and shout that this is the temptation of the devil.
"But as a normal person, I can openly admit that I like beauty and appreciate beauty just like him..."
After finishing speaking, he moved next to Teresa.
"Teresa, I'm so happy. This king knows his stuff. He knows you are such a rare beauty as soon as he sees you. I wish everyone would admit this! Huh, he thought he was in this palace.
Is it enough to have your face painted as a souvenir? Let’s see, one day, I will let your portrait be placed in every beautiful palace we have, Versailles, the Louvre, and the Tuileries Palace
, Fontainebleau, everywhere, you will shine with these immortal buildings... I want people all over the world to see that I have such a beautiful queen, and make them hate me!"
These words were said with sincerity and a king-like arrogance, which made Theresa's muscles and bones seem to soften when she heard them.
She reluctantly calmed herself down, and then scolded her little husband with feigned anger, "Okay, Aigron, it's still daytime, don't be so wildly imaginative! Think of something realistic..."
Under the scowl, she secretly glanced at her husband. At the moment, he was elated and proud that his young wife would leave a beautiful shadow in this beautiful Nymphenburg palace forever.
My dear, you are a lucky little fool...but I am also a lucky little fool, because I also have such a lovely husband.
She hugged her husband contentedly, kissed his cheek, and then leaned against him to fall asleep.
Although the power of the two of them is not enough to command the world, and the crown they long for seems far away, for her, this is the happy time she wants——
The next morning, Aigron and Theresa got up, had breakfast, and then met King Ludwig again under the leadership of their attendants.
The king seemed to have been looking forward to today's meeting. He had already called the palace painter to his side. After the young couple came, he immediately asked the painter to meet Princess Theresa and prepare to paint the portrait next.
For the court painter, the king's order is a political task. For his own job, he must try his best to satisfy His Majesty the King. He must not take it lightly. Even the most ugly girl must be painted as beautiful as a fairy.
Princess Lessa herself has outstanding appearance, and she is in her youthful and beautiful period, so she is exempted from the trouble of excessive modification.
Of course, even so, the painter still had to look for the best composition and inspiration, so he asked Theresa to pose in various poses and expressions, either holding flowers or a folding fan, in order to find the pose that he found most charming.
Although she felt it was very troublesome, since she had promised His Majesty the King, Teresa naturally had no choice but to cooperate. Moreover, she had also learned painting herself and had a pretty good foundation, so she was able to communicate with the painter and study the next paintings together.
After all, the person in the painting is herself, and Theresa was not willing to lose her portrait to other collections of His Majesty the King.
King Ludwig and Aigron were naturally not interested in watching all the time. For them, it was enough to appreciate the finished product.
So the two of them walked to the next room and started their meeting.
After a day of preparation, King Ludwig and Aigron had enjoyed themselves as guests and hosts. They had left a good impression on each other, and His Majesty the King felt that it was time to get down to business.
"Duke, I heard that it was you who strongly advocated selecting a member from our family to succeed the King of Greece." King Ludwig thanked Aigron in a reserved manner, "It's surprising that you show so much love to my family.
I'm a little flattered."
"This is completely deserved." Aigron complimented him. "As we all know, the Wittelsbach family has a long history and is full of talented people. It is the most prestigious family in Germany. Moreover, it has a prosperous lineage and is closely related to the royal family of the Eastern Roman Empire.
They are also related by relatives and are most qualified to become the ruler of an independent country; and as a new kingdom, Greece should look for such a famous family to lead them, so that this country can wash away the dust of the past and enter a new world.
A glorious new era.”
The "relative relationship" mentioned by Egglund refers to the king's ancestor, Duke John II (1341-1397) of the Bavaria-Munich branch, and his mother, Princess Maria Arpad of Hungary, and this princess
His maternal grandmother was Maria Lascaris, a princess of the Eastern Roman Empire and a descendant of the Comnenos dynasty.
Although these relatives are quite far away, separated by four to five hundred years, genealogists can always find suitable reasons when they want to prove their "legitimacy".
Although he knew that Aigron was deliberately complimenting him, King Ludwig was still elated when he heard it, "You are really flattering... However, although our family has no intention of seeking a crown outside of Germany, there have been many disasters in the past.
The grieving Greek people have expectations of our family and want us to heal the wounds in its history. We must not be ruthless and ignore the people's voice. We must shoulder the obligations imposed on us by fate without hesitation.
Only in this way can we be worthy of our ancestors and our family crest."
Amidst the high-sounding and beautiful words, the two people reached an initial consensus, and then came the next stage of the problem.
"So, in your mind, which member of your family is the most suitable to take on this arduous task?" He asked half seriously and half sarcastically.
Ludwig I frowned slightly, pretending to be thinking, and then gave out the answer he had already thought of, "My second son Otto, although he is only thirteen years old now, is smart and has a good understanding of Greece."
He is full of admiration for the ancient civilization, and he is very willing to sacrifice his life for the well-being of the Greek people... What do you think?"
King Ludwig I proposed that his second son, Otto von Wittelsbach, take over the crown, which was not surprising to Eggron.
Because in the original historical line, after Greece became independent and established its country, through the coordination of the great powers, it was indeed Prince Otto who officially became the king of Greece in 1832.
However, the ending is not so wonderful.
This king ruled mediocrely and only favored ministers from Bavaria, excluding the original Greek establishment. In addition, in order to maintain the life of the royal family, he levied excessive taxes on the people, which resulted in the collective dissatisfaction of all classes in Greece with the king.
Due to his mediocre rule and his unwillingness to convert to Orthodox Christianity, he had no heirs, and his brothers were unwilling to convert to Orthodox Christianity in order to inherit the throne, which became the focus of domestic anger. Finally, in 1862, that is,
After he ruled Greece for thirty years, the revolution that broke out in Athens drove him out of Greece, which also ended the reign of the Wittelsbach family in the Kingdom of Greece.
Otto then became an exile, never giving up his claim to the Greek throne, but the Greeks found another king, the Duke of Oldenburg-Schleswig-Holstein.
George I of the family no longer needed him, and he was never able to set foot on Greek soil again throughout his life.
Aigron knows everything that has happened in history, but now the historical line has been changed because of him. He is confident that he can take precautions and try his best to make the pattern he created continue smoothly.
Besides, even if the historical line has not changed at all, there is no need for him to worry about what will happen 30 years later. By then, everything may have changed beyond recognition.
Aigron also pretended to think seriously.
"Isn't thirteen years old a bit too young...?" He deliberately questioned.
"But you are only seventeen years old now, and you are already famous all over the world." The king retorted with a smile. "If you want to achieve a great career, age is the least important issue, isn't it?"
This counter-general made Aigron a little embarrassed. After all, he is the person in the world who cannot deny that "heroes emerge from youth".
However, Aigron did not show any embarrassment on the surface, "I understand your thoughts, and I also believe in your vision. Since you think Prince Otto is very suitable, then I am also willing to believe in your judgment. However, Greece has just
To get rid of the brutal rule of Turkey, its people have experienced too much trauma and pain, and they need stability and peace so much, so the burden on the king will be very heavy. I think it is difficult for the young shoulders of a mere prince to
I can bear this burden."
The king's smile froze a little. He was not sure whether Aigron was deliberately asking for a price or had other plans.
"Then what suggestions do you have?"
"I suggest that a regent committee be formed, including Bavarians and Greeks. The specific number can be agreed upon in detail. They will take charge of the government until the prince comes of age and be responsible for the education and training of His Highness. I think this is the safest way."
Eggron believed that King Otto's biggest failure in history was to isolate the Greek local elite from himself. In order to change this, he decided to leave a place for the Greek local elite from the beginning so that they would have the enthusiasm to defend the king.
"That's no problem." King Ludwig saw that Aigron had no objection to his second son becoming the king of Greece, and he felt relieved. He didn't mean anything to this condition.
"In addition, I suggest that the prince should convert to Orthodox Christianity to best appease the feelings of the Greeks. After all, they are all Orthodox Christians." Aigron continued.
"Well..." The king looked slightly embarrassed.
The Wittelsbach family has always prided itself on being loyal Catholic believers, so they asked the prince to publicly convert to Orthodoxy because he was afraid of shocking public opinion.
"Henry IV of France, before he inherited the throne, faced the French Catholic Church's request to convert to Catholicism, he agreed without hesitation. He said that it was worth attending a mass for Paris," Aigron reminded the king, "
Your Majesty, I am here to remember the ancestors and remind you that it is worthwhile to say a mass for a crown. After all, it is just a formality. Power is the essence. Who cares what he believes in private?"
Aigron's words immediately made the king lose his hesitation.
Yes, compared to a kingdom, what is a mere conversion? Besides, he is only a youngest son who converted, and the Wittelsbach family is still a loyal Catholic.
"If you think this is best, then I agree with you. After all, you know the situation over there better." So, he nodded simply.
Seeing that the king was so easy to talk to, Aigron breathed a sigh of relief.
There's only so much he can do. If Prince Otto still can't support the wall like in history, then let him ask for his own blessings. It's not his son anyway, so he doesn't bother to care so much.
In this way, in a short period of time, the two of them decided the fate of a country. Aiglon and King Ludwig had a very happy conversation, and both of them were quite satisfied with the current result.
"My brother, you have really helped us a lot." With emotion, King Ludwig took the initiative to extend his hand to Aigron, "Don't worry, our Wittelsbach family will never forget this."
"a kindness"
"I have a good impression of your family. For this reason, it is appropriate to provide some convenience where I can be accommodating." Aigron replied with a smile, "Anyway, I can't wear the Greek crown now, so give it to me.
The one I like the most is also very good.”
"Hahahaha..." The king laughed, "You are so generous!"
After a pause, he changed the topic and said, "It seems that my sister must have left a good impression on you."
Although the king's tone was calm, Aigron's heart suddenly tightened.
"Yes, Your Majesty." He tried his best to appear calm, "When I was in the most difficult situation, Your Highness Sophie gave me comfort and care, allowing me to continue to have the motivation to work hard... I will always be grateful for this kindness.
Giving your family a crown is just a small reward from me for this kindness."
"It's really touching and sincere, which is rare in people like us. I think the two of you must get along very well, so that you will be so grateful." His Majesty the King nodded, seeming to be praising Aigron.
, "What a pity, it is probably difficult for you to see her again now..."
"I think so, but fate has always been unpredictable, who can say for sure?" Aigron replied.
"That's true." His Majesty the King smiled, "And when fate closes a door, it may not be willing to open another window for you. What you have now is enough to make you proud."
After finishing speaking, he turned his gaze and looked at the pendulum clock next to him.
Of course Aiglon understood the king's hint. As a king, he must be a busy man. He cannot spend all his time on his own. There are still many important things that must be dealt with.
Now that the two people have reached an initial tacit understanding, there is no need to worry about the minutiae on small issues. Their secretary will naturally handle it.
"I think I should take a rest. I don't know what's going on with Teresa." He casually prepared to leave.
"Her Royal Highness Princess Teresa will be busy for a while, why don't you and your entourage take a stroll in our beautiful garden first? I promise you won't be disappointed. Now is the time when it is at its most beautiful.
"The king suggested casually.
Aiglon thought about it, so he said goodbye to the king.
Then, he, his secretary, the captain of the guard and others took a walk in the gardens of Nymphenburg Palace. Because they had received the king's notice, the attendants did not disturb them anymore. Aigron was also happy to take his time and enjoy the spring scenery.
Beautiful view.
While admiring the scenery, he was thinking about the problem he had to deal with now, and casually dictated it to his secretary Leon Esposito.
Looking around, all kinds of flowers in the garden are either blooming slowly or in bud, and the roses of various colors are shyly showing off their beauty. For a while, there is a sense of gorgeousness that is gradually enchanting the eyes.
While Aigron was dictating, he felt a little tired mentally.
Suddenly, he stopped.
He clearly saw a beautiful woman looking at him quietly among the flowers. After noticing his gaze, she picked up a folding fan and covered the lower half of her face as if to hide her shame.
Look at yourself with your eyes.
Such a familiar face, such familiar movements...
"Your Majesty...?" Leon Esposito saw that Aigron was suddenly stuck, so he asked cautiously, "What's wrong with you?"
"Is there a woman there?" He got an answer that shocked him.
Although he was very confused, Leon could only follow Aigron's line of sight and looked over. Then, he found that there was indeed a woman wearing a skirt and holding a folding fan. Although he couldn't see her face clearly, judging from her figure,
She must be a young girl.
"Yes, Your Majesty, there is a woman." So he answered the young man honestly.
"Okay, that means I saw it right."
And at this moment, as if she felt Leon's gaze, the woman suddenly put away her folding fan, turned around, and disappeared among the rose bushes.
"Damn it..." Aigron cursed in a low voice, "Is she a flower fairy? She will disappear when others see her? Go to hell...!"
"Your Majesty...?" Leon Esposito became more and more puzzled. He had been working with this young man for several months, but he had never seen His Majesty be so out of sorts.
Maybe the woman opposite is indeed a beauty, but... as for that?
He knew that his master was not the kind of ascetic monk who was not close to women, but his majesty should not be able to move his legs when he saw a beauty. Apart from anything else, his wife and the maids around him were all very beautiful.
Logically speaking, Your Majesty should not be so rude.
But what a surprise today, Your Majesty actually lost his composure.
Aiglon didn't know what Leon was thinking, so he subconsciously took steps and walked towards the place where the woman had just disappeared.
"Your Majesty!" Leon was shocked and hurriedly stopped him, "Don't forget that we are in the Bavarian Palace now. You should not do anything rude."
Aigron looked back at him, a look so piercing that Leon was so frightened that he let go.
But he still did not forget to admonish his master, "As a distinguished guest, it doesn't matter if you are a little out of line here. You don't have to care even if you are a noble lady, but what if that woman is a royal princess? What if the brewing
If there is any kind of dispute, you will be in trouble, and it goes against your original intention of coming here."
"I wish she was a princess!" Aigron muttered softly.
Before Leon could react, he said to Leon again, "No need to say any more, I have my own plan."
Then, he looked past Leon and looked at his captain of the guard, Andre Davout.
"Andre, are you as brave as ever?"
Andre was a little confused by this question, but he still answered with his chest raised, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will go through fire and water for you at any time."
"Okay, you guys stay here for half an hour... no, within an hour, don't let anyone come and disturb me, no one, do you understand?" Aigron gave the order firmly.
Then he took steps and ran in the direction just now. On the way, he thought of something, turned around and warned them both, "By the way, don't say a word to Teresa!"
Soon, the figure of the young man also disappeared, leaving only a few young men looking at each other in the garden.