It was already in the afternoon when the news that "Duke Lechstadt accidentally fell off his horse while hunting" reached the Prime Minister's residence in Vienna.
Prince Metternich, who had just finished lunch, was shocked to hear the news. He interrupted his nap and asked those around him to call the police chief and his assistant.
After giving the order, he sat back behind the desk again and looked out the window at the bright clear sky.
"God always surprises us."
After a while, he let out a sigh of regret or joy, and he didn't know whether it was regret or happiness.
Soon, the police chief and his assistant Mr. Friedrich von Genz rushed to his office.
Friedrich von Genz was a middle-aged man with deep eyes and a melancholy expression on his face.
He was Metternich's confidant and a diplomat and writer who is now famous in Europe.
He was born in Prussia, and his ancestors were Huguenots who were expelled from France. In his early years, he was a liberal and firmly opposed the autocratic royal power of the Bourbon family in France and Spain. However, when the Great Revolution was launched, he and
Like the British philosopher Burke, he firmly opposed France and the Revolution.
In his opinion, the best order in the world is not the new, but the old - the ancient feudal system in which each class has its own place, and each class operates the society according to its own rights.
Therefore, he believes that the rebellion of the third estate destroyed all order in France and must ultimately be responsible for the bloodshed in Europe.
"In less than six weeks, they had violated these three basic conditions. The representatives of the third estate, without the slightest authorization, shamefully trampled on the rights of the other estates and declared themselves to constitute the National Assembly alone." This is what he said in his own words.
mentioned in the writings.
After being baptized by the entire era of the Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, the liberal ideals he once had in his youth had long since died. He and Metternich shared the same view, believing that this was an era in which the essence of tradition was declining, and that politicians'
Its only function is to try its best to maintain the existence of beautiful traditions and old systems before they completely die, and leave the rest to future generations to solve.
Precisely because he knew that his career would inevitably become an empty talk, he was often dominated by despair. All that was left in his life was the cynicism of chasing fame, wealth and beautiful women.
Even so, he was still an excellent diplomat. Starting from 1812, Genz had maintained close contact with all major events on the European continent. He was Metternich's closest assistant, close friend and advisor, and the two of them worked together.
Very happy until he died.
After both people came to the office, the Prime Minister got straight to the point.
"I just received news that Duke Lechstadt fell from his horse and was injured while hunting outside Schönbrunn Palace. His life or death is unknown at the moment."
Both of them were a little shocked, but they quickly regained their composure.
"You have to block the news. Although this matter will soon spread throughout the country and even Europe, at least the initiative should be on us. I will decide how to release the news to the outside world." The prince ordered the police chief, "In addition, Lai
If something unexpected happens to Duke Chistetter, it will cause a commotion, and you must be prepared. You must be especially careful not to allow anyone to spread rumors and focus hatred on Austria."
"Yes." The police chief accepted the order.
After giving the order, Prince Metternich returned to his usual calmness.
"If he really died like this, it might be a relief for everyone, including himself." After a moment of silence, Prince Metternich said dullly, "For someone like him, it would be difficult to continue
You may not live happily in your current situation."
"Then what do you mean...?" The police chief seemed to understand what he meant. "We just don't care and let him see God soon?"
"Stupid!" Metternich glared at his subordinates, "We can't afford the notoriety of murdering him, we must do our best. Send him the best doctor! Let God decide the rest, if God decides to do it sooner
To relieve the suffering of all, then we will follow His will.”
"Yes, I understand." The police chief bowed his head and obeyed the order.
"If this is really the worst case scenario, then the King of France will be so happy that he will jump out of bed, and the name that bothers him will soon disappear completely." The prince sighed to his assistant Genz, "He is so lucky! Two
My brother died first, and even my nephew Louis XVII and Napoleon and his son couldn't survive him!"
"There are other heirs to the Bonaparte family," Mr. Genz replied in a low voice.
"But there is only one heir to Napoleon. If he dies, it means that Napoleon will be extinct. No one in the Bonaparte family can have his appeal." Prince Metternich shook his head.
Although they all knew that Napoleon had illegitimate children, in the spectrum of orthodoxy, they did not exist.
"The Duke of Enghien was also the only son of Prince Condé, but Napoleon shot him without hesitation... Maybe this was retribution." Genz shrugged and made a mockery.
There was another silence in the room, and they recalled the past events that were buried in history.
In 1804, in order to retaliate for the assassination attempt by the Royalists, Napoleon sent the military police to capture the Duke of Enghien who was exiled in Baden and brought him back to France and directly shot him. Although the current Prince Condé is still alive, he has no other heirs or brothers.
, so the Kongdai family, which once had a glorious history, is destined to die out.
"The Bourbon family is not qualified to be happy too early. Even if the Bonaparte family temporarily withdraws, they still have a vicious enemy lying in the heart of France... Your Highness, the envoy of the Duke of Orleans came to Vienna yesterday. I was just trying to talk to you.
Report." Mr. Genz shrugged, "Don't forget, the Orleans family is not short of heirs."
"Oh, French!" His Royal Highness the Prince sneered full of sarcasm.
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"The incident of Duke Lechstadt falling from his horse" was like a pebble thrown into a lake, causing an uproar in Schönbrunn Palace and Vienna. There were whispers about this incident everywhere. Some people were sad and grieved, while others secretly rejoiced.
.
Only in the center of the storm, everything returned to calm.
Aiglon was lying in his room at this time, intoxicated in the deep darkness.
He was hurriedly carried back, and before losing consciousness, he only remembered Sophie hugging him tightly, and tears patting on his cheeks and arms like raindrops.
Seeing her heartbroken look, Aigron only felt that the pain in his body was a little lighter, and then he felt that his body was as light as floating on the water, and then he fainted.
Even in the 21st century, there are still many celebrities who died accidentally or were seriously injured after falling from horses, but he did not expect that when he came to this world, he would suffer such a bad luck.
Maybe this child was doomed from birth.
But...this is definitely not the result he wants to accept.
No...I definitely can't fall here...I'm not free yet...I still have too many things to do...
I cannot live shorter than the original owner of this body, and I must not become the laughing stock of myself and others!
I don't know how long it took, but with anger and unwillingness, the young man finally regained his consciousness tenaciously.
There was silence all around, as if nothing could be heard.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."
"Your Majesty...please wake up..."
The soft calls slowly gathered in his ears.
What, Your Majesty... is Emperor Franz here now?
No, no, it seems to be telling me.
Who am I, Your Majesty?! My empire is long gone!
The current of consciousness stimulated his brain, and he slowly opened his eyes.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
The voice became louder and louder, and the tone became more urgent, full of excitement and joy.
Am I dreaming?
His blurred vision slowly came into focus, and he realized that he was not dreaming.
A girl wearing a black maid costume and a white apron lay beside her.
She looked slightly older than him, with a petite figure and quite delicate facial features. Her golden hair fell from a white scarf, and her blue eyes were filled with tears as she kept looking at herself.
It's pretty, but...what's going on?
Aigron paid attention to his surroundings and found that he was lying on the bed in his room, with no one around him.
Judging from the darkness outside the window, it must be early morning now.
"Who are you...?" He asked quietly regardless of the pain in his body.
"Your Majesty... God bless you, you have finally woken up..." Seeing Aigron regaining consciousness, the maid cried more and more loudly, thankful that he had woken up.
"Who are you? Answer me." Aigron was a little impatient.
At this time, he suddenly discovered another anomaly.
The maid spoke French instead of German, which was usually spoken in the Habsburg court.
"are you French……?"
"Your Majesty...please let me take a moment..." The maid panted violently for a few times, and then finally regained her composure, "I am the maid accompanying Princess Sophie, and I came from Bavaria with her...
She sent me here to take care of you because she was worried today."
"So you are a Bavarian?" Aigron finally understood the situation a little bit.
"No, Your Majesty, I am French." The maid shook her head slightly, "My father was an officer and served in the imperial army. He died in 1815... I fled to Bavaria with my relatives. Your
My adopted brother took us in and took care of us when we grew up. It’s a pity that such a good person like him passed away so early..."
In other words, she was the orphan of an imperial officer, who was taken in by Eugène de Beauharnais, and then followed Princess Sophie who married to the Austrian court to Schönbrunn Palace as a maid.
Because his thoughts were too complicated, he had a headache.
"Why do you call me Your Majesty?" In order to divert attention, he asked a seemingly meaningless question.
"Because you are His Majesty...you are the one destined to inherit the empire!" the maid replied in a matter-of-fact tone, "There is no one I need to be loyal to except you."
This answer made Aigron feel surprised and confused.
"Empire, where do I still have an empire..." He smiled bitterly.
"No, as long as you are alive, there will be an empire, and we will have it!" The maid comforted him anxiously, "Your Majesty, I ask you not to be discouraged, God will eventually take care of you!"
Aigron could tell that her excitement came from the bottom of her heart.
This sentiment is quite touching.
"Then what's your name?" Aigron asked again.
"My name is Chanel, Your Majesty." The maid stood up, bowed to him, and replied respectfully. "Chanel Noel. I have been waiting for a long time since I came here, and today I finally got the opportunity.
…Your Majesty, please allow me to do my best for you!”