"Madam, I came to you just to find a way to resolve all the grudges from back then... In other words, I'm also here to ask for your help."
Mercedes was extremely confused by Teresa's words. After all, she was just a powerless widow now. How could she have the ability to help Her Majesty the Queen?
But since this is Her Majesty the Queen's request, even if she speaks so politely, Mercedes knows that she has no right to refuse.
"It would be best if the grudges that have lasted for so many years can be brought to an end. I am willing to contribute to this, but...what do you want me to do?" Mercedes asked.
"You must be wondering why I still need your help, but you will understand it immediately after you listen. Now, I ask you to stay quiet for now and listen to me -"
Then, in front of the silent audience, Teresa told the Count of Monte Cristo's current situation, his grudges with Prosecutor Villefort, and Noirtier's desire to use Valentine's marriage in exchange for the Count sparing his son's life, etc.
The matter was explained to Mercedes in detail.
Mercedes now has a rough idea of what happened back then. She is well aware of the role played by Prosecutor Villefort in the original conspiracy. She had begged Villefort for mercy back then, and even asked for help after she got married and had children.
I went to the prosecutor several times to inquire about Edmund's whereabouts.
Because of this, she was naturally filled with hatred for Villefort. It was this selfish prosecutor who had distorted her life, and she was also happy to see Villefort pay the price he deserved.
And now, the prosecutor is finally going to pay the price, but it's not the kind she imagined.
"The Marquis wants to marry Miss Valentine to Edmund...?" Like Agron and Theresa, she was also in an incredible shock after hearing the news.
After all, this was something she had never thought about.
She had met Valentine before. Although she had not seen her for many years, she was only about ten years old now. It was almost like a joke for such a child to marry Edmund, who was already over thirty years old.
But soon, she recovered from the shock.
In the past ten years, she is no longer the ignorant girl from the fishing village. With Fernand's promotion, she has also become a countess and a noble lady of the French upper class. She has entered the palace and presided over
She has participated in social activities, and has been widely praised for her manners and demeanor - in short, she has seen too much "worldly things".
Because she has seen the world, she gradually understands the rules of life in the aristocratic world and adapts to it.
In such a world, marriage is just an "agreement" between two families. It is sacred in name but not respected in reality. All kinds of weird marriages exist openly.
Compared with the marriages between cousins and even uncles and nieces that were concluded to avoid the leakage of family property, it is not so bizarre for the Count to marry a girl who is more than twenty years younger than him. Although Valentine is still
Young, but as long as you wait a few years to reach marriageable age, what does it matter?
Once she accepted this setting, she quickly recovered from the shock and began to think about the pros and cons.
You don't have to think about it for too long, the pros and cons are clear at a glance. What the Agrons can see, Mercedes can of course also see. She also understands Valentine's "value".
"So...then...the old Marquis is quite sincere." After a long silence, Mercedes made a comment.
Although she said this, she felt a dull pain in her heart.
In the past ten years since her fiancé Edmund was imprisoned, even if she got married and had children, she never forgot her lover.
If she hadn't thought that Edmund was dead, how could she have betrayed her vow, succumbed to reality, and married Fernand?
But now, Edmund has escaped from hell and returned to the world, and he has transformed into a close confidant of the emperor and a promising political star.
Everything seems to be back to the past, but everything seems to be completely different.
If she had a choice, why wouldn't she want to renew her relationship with Edmund? How would she want to see her lover marry another woman?
However, her reason finally defeated her fanaticism. She knew that because of the stain of "Countess Morcerf" that could not be washed away, she was destined to be unable to renew her relationship with the Earl, who would become a rising figure in the imperial political arena.
As a new star, he doesn't need himself. Mercedes, who has been ruined and has become a laughing stock, will only bring him ridicule and contempt from the outside world.
This is the reality she has to face.
Because she knew all this, during this period, no matter how difficult her life was, she did not run to the Earl and ask him for help - she would rather hide aside stubbornly than bring trouble to the Earl.
New troubles, not to mention destroying the last good thing he had in his heart.
However, it was one thing to stubbornly hide away, but it was another thing to actively push the count to another woman... When she thought of this, Mercedes suddenly felt a heart-wrenching pain.
Now that Teresa said this, she naturally guessed what was going on.
"Your Majesty, I think I understand. Do you want me to help you persuade Edmund to accept the Marquis's reconciliation terms?" She asked Theresa in a low voice.
Facing Mrs. Mercedes' clear gaze that seemed to understand everything, Teresa couldn't help but feel a little pity, even though she was extremely confident in her heart.
"That's right. Madam, I know this may be a torture for you, but my husband and I still hope that you can stand up and persuade Edmund to accept this condition. You should be able to see that we
I have no intention of harming him. On the contrary, my husband not only regards him as a favorite, but also as a friend. He hopes to give the earl everything he can - such as the high position of prime minister in a few years.
Because of this, he hopes that the earl can establish an in-law that will bring him the greatest help, I think you should be able to see this clearly."
"Yes, I can see it completely, and understand the painstaking efforts of the two majesties." Mercedes nodded gently, and then smiled bitterly, "I know that a person can sit in the position of a most powerful minister.
What do you need? After all, I was once a countess..."
This smile is both self-deprecating and unspeakably bitter.
"Your Majesty, my thoughts are a little confused right now. Can you please let me think about it?" Then she asked.
Of course, Teresa also understood Madam's current difficult situation, so she didn't say anything more, but quietly waited for her decision.
Mercedes didn't think for long. Under Theresa's gaze, she gently raised her head, and then sighed in relief. "You are right, Your Majesty, the past should indeed be in the past.
Edmund needs a future, and he deserves a better future. As his closest...companion, I owe him a lot, so if there is anything that needs help, I should do so in all circumstances.
.but……"
Before Teresa could be happy, she immediately changed the subject, "Since I want to help him, I shouldn't use my influence on him to manipulate him just on impulse. I should understand all the situations more carefully.
Make your decision again.”
Teresa was not angry about Madam's "reserved" attitude of agreement, but calmly asked her, "I understand your concerns. So Madam, what do you want to know? If I can make the decision, I will
I will promise you."
"I want to take a look at Miss Valentine, find out her thoughts, and determine her determination and...whether she is suitable to take on this important task." Mercedes replied in a low voice, "Your Majesty, you don't have to worry.
, I will never hate a child or do anything detrimental to her; I just want to see if she is suitable to gain everything I lost."
"Okay." Faced with Madam's request, Teresa agreed without any hesitation.
As a woman who knew the inside story, she could certainly feel Mercedes' mixed emotions at this moment.
It is uncomfortable enough for a woman to see the person she once loved marrying another person. If she takes the initiative to persuade her, it will naturally be ten times more uncomfortable.
Destiny is so ruthless, times have changed, and grudges are still so entangled. How much helplessness and pain is involved?
"I can arrange a meeting with Miss Valentine for you. After all, as the granddaughter of the old Marquis, she is qualified to visit the palace. However, I ask for your understanding that there must be other people present when you meet her -
—After all, the situation is special, please forgive me."
"I don't mind this, thank you, Your Majesty." Mercedes bowed her knees gracefully and saluted Teresa, which also represented that the two people had reached a tacit understanding.
"Please rest assured, I will never make things difficult for her. In fact, I hope more than anyone else that she can really bring Edmund a happy second half of his life. He deserves this so much..."
At this point, Mercedes' nose suddenly became sore, and tears immediately filled the corners of her eyes.
These tears are not only for my former lover, but also for my ill-fated self.
At the moment when tears burst into her eyes, Mercedes finally no longer forced herself to maintain a calm and calm image. She had accumulated too much pressure and pain, and she kept sobbing in front of Teresa.
Naturally, Teresa couldn't bear to interrupt Madam at this time, so she had no choice but to say nothing and quietly let the other party vent.
After a while, Mercedes finally stopped crying, and then apologized to Teresa with an apologetic salute, "Your Majesty, I'm sorry! I lost my temper in front of you, I was really too weak..."
"No, you are strong enough and even make me respect you, madam." Teresa shook her head, and then looked at her with tenderness, "Since you choose to help me with this, it also means that I owe you
I have accepted your favor, so what can I do for you? Just tell me, I will be happy to help you a little, ma'am."
Mercedes knew that Her Majesty the Queen was sympathizing with her at this time, and she also knew that she could really use this sympathy to obtain many benefits.
But she disdains this. Mercedes is not "selling" Edmund in exchange for anything, but is using her meager abilities to try to put an end to the nightmare, even if she has to sacrifice herself for it again.
.
"Your Majesty, since you said so, I do have something to ask for..." She suppressed the sadness in her heart, and then regained her composure, "I ask you to issue a decree to remove the emblem of Count Morcerf.
.This surname was stolen by Fernand, and it is now notorious. My son does not need to continue to flaunt it. Let people forget this title and the dark history hidden under this title."
"This can't even be called help, it's just a little effort." Teresa agreed immediately, "As a lady, I appreciate your self-esteem and pride, but as a mother, I think you are a bit too pushy.
You are now alone with your son, and you don’t want Count Morcerf’s inheritance, but if you don’t want anything, how are you going to raise your son?”
"I will do my best." Mercedes replied solemnly, "A mother will fight tooth and nail for her son."
"Even if we work hard, there are different ways to spell it. We have to choose the better one." Teresa smiled slightly, "So, madam, I sincerely invite you to be the female official next to me. I have a lot of things to do recently.
I am in urgent need of help, and I think your mind and your demeanor can help me. What do you think?"
Faced with Teresa's sudden invitation, Mercedes was a little stunned.
"This is also self-reliant, isn't it? And it will be a decent and respected job." Teresa continued to persuade Madam, "You don't have to misunderstand, I made this request not out of pity and sympathy for you.
What I appreciate is the wisdom you have shown. From now on, you are no longer the Countess of Morcerf, nor anyone's appendage. You rely on your own skills to make a living and raise your son. This is not the case.
Is it good? If your work performance is good enough, then you may earn another title for yourself and your son. It is not a stolen title, but a title that is clean and proud of... Use this to compensate
Isn’t your life of regrets also very good?”
Mercedes listened quietly, and then fell into calculation again.
Now, because of Fernand's ruined reputation, she has also been ridiculed and looked down upon by the outside world. This is an unbearable pain for her who has great self-esteem. Considering her son, it makes her even more heartbroken.
Wouldn't it be great if all this could be changed?
Moreover, she had suffered enough from the pain of being "entrusted to a wrong person" and no longer wanted to remarry anyone else. She just wanted to raise her son and spend the rest of her life.
Under this premise, being a bureaucrat in the palace organization and serving the royal family may be the best way for her to realize the value of life and get rid of loneliness and pain.
What reason is there to refuse?
"Your Majesty the Queen, I am very grateful to you for giving me this opportunity. I will try my best. If I can do my best to help the royal family, then this will be my greatest honor..."