"Showing off for a while will never benefit you, let alone the country. I ask you to understand this."
Uncharacteristically, Aiglon spoke his mind to Edmund in a very gentle and polite tone.
Although he did not expressly express his support for this marriage proposal, his meaning was clearly revealed in his words, and with the earl's intelligence, he could naturally hear it.
For Aiglon, his foundation has just been established and there is nothing left to be done. The most important thing is to maintain the stability and unity of the core leadership of the entire empire.
Although Prosecutor Villefort is extremely capable, he is not a necessity to Aiglon. Even if he dies, he will die. Anyway, there are experts in the legal profession who are willing to serve as his tools for the sake of his future.
But the Marquis of Noirtier is different from the Count of Monte Cristo. A senator and a new generation are all his subordinates who he trusts and relies heavily on. Moreover, their achievements are very outstanding and there are almost no substitutes. Reasonable and reasonable, Egger
Long naturally didn't want them to go to war with each other.
Edmund knew that what His Majesty said was right. From a rational point of view, Miss Valentine de Noirtier, who had undisputed aristocratic blood and a large inheritance as a dowry, was definitely him.
The most favorable marriage partner, she can bring him too many resources, even enough to help him rise to the top of the empire and become a big shot like Prince Talleyrand.
Moreover, His Majesty's starting point is always to consider his own interests. Considering His Majesty's character and usual behavior, it is definitely an extremely rare honor for him to be able to put himself in his own shoes like this.
However, knowing it intellectually is one thing, but whether you can accept it emotionally is another matter.
Since taking revenge on Tangglars and Fernand, most of the hatred accumulated in his heart has been vented, and he is no longer as crazy about paying for blood debts as in the past, but even so, he is still a little difficult
Accepting that he and Villefort met, they smiled and let go of their grudges, and even let the other person become his father-in-law.
As a result, reason and emotion clashed violently in his heart, making him uneasy.
Not only has his troubles not been resolved, but now with His Majesty's hints and statements, it has become more and more troublesome for him.
"Your Majesty, I...I don't know what to do."
Finally, he gave Aiglon an honest answer, "I don't know whether I should let this end, and I don't know whether I should involve Miss Valentine, and I don't even know if I have any
Ability to be a husband and father..."
"Last point, haven't you tried it with Emily? I don't think you two are very close?" Aigron asked.
"Your Majesty, I'm not referring to that ability!" Being interrupted by Aiglon, the earl almost lost his strength and quickly defended himself, "I mean... my life has been changed because of that disaster.
I was shattered. I lost my closest relatives, my lover, everything about me...and I was forced to endure a long period of imprisonment. I suffered several mental breakdowns. After all this, I was no longer a complete person.
Well, whoever marries me like this will only suffer."
In fact, of course Aigron understood what Edmund was referring to. He just wanted to make a joke and relax the atmosphere in this tense atmosphere.
"You don't have to worry or feel inferior about this, Edmund." Aigron shook his head gently, and then replied leisurely, "I have a more broken family than you. You only lost your father when you were 20 years old, but I just just lost my father."
I am 10 years old, and I have lost my mother's love and almost everything else. Am I therefore not suitable to be the head of the family?
No, these are all excuses. You are afraid of your past, and you are obsessed with your past. You deny yourself because you still feel inferior in your heart. You still can’t believe that you are no longer worth mentioning.
The little sailor!
But in fact, everything has changed. You are already my favorite and a hero of the empire. Even if you put these aside, just in terms of personal characteristics, you are also enthusiastic and loyal. You will be better than 99% of others.
A man is more like a husband and father. I don't allow you to argue with me on this point, because I have never looked at people wrongly!"
Faced with Aigron's overbearing praise, Edmund was speechless.
Not only because Aigron did not allow him to argue, but also because of Aigron's behavior all along, His Majesty was indeed "always right" in his heart.
Since His Majesty said so, is it really true?
After the two were silent for a moment, Aigron spoke again.
"As I just said, Edmund, you are no longer what you used to be. You are the official earl of the empire. After a famous noble family, you are no humbler than anyone else. Your morality is even better than that of most people! Valentine
So what if Na is a Marquis? It is her honor to have the opportunity to marry you, and she should be grateful for this for the rest of her life!
The title Count of Monte Cristo is given to you by me, and no one can shake it, let alone question it. I hope this title can be passed down among your descendants, and you will be with the Empire. You deserve this honor!"
Facing His Majesty's praise, Edmund was moved and a little dumbfounded. He found that unknowingly, the topic seemed to have changed from "Do you want to accept the conditions and marry Valentine" to "You
Whoever marries Valentine has to give in to whom?" It was as if this marriage had become a tacit fact.
His Majesty does have amazing eloquence, but he was under his control without even realizing it... The count thought to himself.
He realized that he could no longer continue the discussion with His Majesty, otherwise he would have to discuss when to set the wedding date in ten minutes... and he was not mentally ready to accept it all.
"Your Majesty, I understand what you mean...I am very grateful that you value me so much." Edmund bowed and saluted Aiglon solemnly, "I will remember every word you say, and solemnly
Think about it, but I ask you to give me a little more room to calmly think about what choice I should make, do you think that's okay?"
Faced with Edmund's pleading, Aigron stopped continuing his persuasion work.
He knew very well that if he now issued an order that the count must agree to the proposal of the Marquis of Noirtier and marry Valentine, Edmund would definitely accept the order without hesitation, and he would accept it no matter how dissatisfied he was.
And will do his best to make this marriage a happy one——
But he didn't want to give orders unless he had to, because he didn't want to use his own will to forcefully distort the other person's life.
Although from an objective point of view, he has changed Edmund's life, at least he has not allowed Edmund to distort his bottom line. The two of them are moving forward towards the same goal together.
Now, the two of them are already kings and ministers, but Aigron still hopes to make the earl his friend, rather than his slave who can give orders at will.
This is not only for Edmund's good, but also for his own good. Being an emperor is destined to be lonely. If he can have one or two "friends", at least his life will not be so boring.
"Of course you can still consider it. It's not time for a showdown now, and Valentine is still young." So, he nodded slightly, "make a good decision. It is true that the past cannot be changed, but we can
Work hard to create a future full of beauty and hope... The prime minister of the empire cannot live forever on that small merchant ship in the Port of Marseille. He must devote himself to the future of the country, and he must overcome the obstacles that must be overcome."
After speaking, Aigron took the initiative to extend his hand to Edmund, and then the monarch and his minister shook hands as usual, cordially like friends, and then the earl said goodbye and left.
After the Earl, who was full of anxiety and entanglement, left, Aigron left his official work for the whole day and returned to his and Theresa's palace to rest temporarily.
Seeing Aiglon's expression, Teresa immediately guessed that her husband seemed to have something on his mind. Considering that he was just meeting the Count of Monte Cristo, she suddenly had some bad guesses in her heart.
"Your Highness, did the Count report bad news to you?"
"That's not true." Aigron immediately shook his head, denying the other party's question.
Of course he would not be stupid enough to repeat the folk joke that had just made him 'outraged' in front of Teresa.
"In fact, everything is fine. The count's report conveys to me a very optimistic mood. At least at this moment, the citizens of Paris are still very ****. The real trouble lies with the count.
"
"Ah? What's going on?" Teresa felt a little puzzled. "Then the loyal and capable Edmund can have any problems?"
So, under his wife's questioning, Aigron told Teresa all the things he had just discussed with the count.
Teresa listened quietly and gradually understood everything.
In fact, she already knew most of the inside story - she knew Edmund's true life experience and his tragic past, and she was even present when Edmund killed Fernand.
As for the proposal of the Marquis of Noirtier, she also quite agreed with Aiglon.
If this grievance, which had lasted for fifteen years, was resolved by the two families getting married, and the count became the political heir of the Marquis of Noirtier and then the Prime Minister of the Empire, in her opinion, it would be quite unfair.
The ideal solution.
"So, what does the count think now? Judging from your expression, I'm afraid he didn't agree immediately?" Teresa asked again.
"That's true, but he didn't refuse forcefully. I guess he himself doesn't know what choice he should make. For him, he has tasted enough of the sweet joy brought by revenge, but he seems a little unhappy to stop here.
"Aigron concluded truthfully.
Teresa frowned slightly again, thought for a moment, and then she chuckled again.
"I'm afraid it's not just a matter of hatred. Your Highness, you may have missed someone, a very important person."
"Who?" Aigron asked immediately.
"It's his former fiancée, the Lady Mercedes," Teresa answered.
correct!
Aigron suddenly understood.
Indeed, Aigron was too concerned about weighing the pros and cons, but he forgot that for the earl, profit was not the most important thing to him.
He felt guilty and extremely sorry for Mrs. Mercedes, whom he had missed but could never reunite with. Even though Mercedes had already married his enemy and even gave birth to a child, in his subconscious, he still felt guilty.
There is still a lingering attachment, which is why I am so painfully entangled with marriage.
This is indeed like the count's style.
"Teresa, it has to be you..." Aigron couldn't help but praise. "Then what do you think we should do?"
"Since the crux of the problem is here, it is actually easy to solve. Just let Mrs. Mercedes stand in front of the Earl and personally tell the two of them to let go of everything in the past, and then let him find his own future. That way
Wouldn't that be great?" Teresa replied casually, "Mrs. Mercedes happens to be here too. If we explain the matter clearly, I believe she will persuade him to let it go for the sake of the count."
Speaking of this, Aigron remembered that after Edmund killed Fernand, Mercedes and her son were immediately missing. In order to show his care for the "hero", Aigron sent them
Mother and son were kept in the palace.
At that time, although Mrs. Mercedes lost her husband, she still retained the title of "Countess of Morcerf" in name, and she was still more or less the number one person in the palace.
With the pension, at least the mother and son can live on.
However, the situation is completely different now... Just before Aigron came to the throne, the Earl and Villefort presided over the trial of Marshal Marmont, and then dumped a lot of blame on Fernand, who was the adjutant of the Marshal at the time, so
Fernand immediately became a disgusting traitor.
At this time, his misdeeds of pretending to be a member of the Morcerf family were also exposed, and he became a big black spot.
In short, Fernand, who is now dead, is almost completely disgraced. Although Aiglon has not yet officially ordered his title of earl to be stripped, everyone believes that all his social relationships have been ruined.
This naturally means that the situation of mother and son is even more difficult.
However, Aiglon had so many things to be busy with before, so naturally he didn't care about the unknown Lady Mercedes in the palace, and didn't think about her at all.
Come to think of it, her life during this period was actually quite difficult and depressing.
"So, we have to ask her to come forward to resolve the knot... Then will she come forward?" Aigron asked.
"Then leave it to me. I believe Madam will be willing to let the Count come out of the shadows. After all, they still cherish each other." Teresa nodded lightly.
"Okay, I'll leave it to you, Theresa." Seeing Theresa volunteering, Aigron was naturally so happy. "Thank you."
"We are already married, so why should we thank you?" Teresa replied with a smile, "If you want to thank me, please work harder tonight..."
Teresa's voice suddenly became extremely gentle and charming, so much so that Aigron's heart beat wildly.
"Or is it that Chanel has made you unable to move?" Before Aigron could reply, Teresa asked again with a smile.
"How could it be!" Aigron suddenly felt his face getting hot, "I still...have more!"
A touch of jealousy, just right wrapped in gentle flirting, Theresa did not hate Chanel, but she was not willing to accept less from her husband.