Since Carlos II ascended the throne in 1800, he has promoted very few hereditary nobles to titles.
There were quite a few nobles who were deprived of their titles by him, especially after his throne became stable after 1810.
The news from the palace made Sean once again become a well-known figure. Count Koval even took the initiative to teach Sean the necessary etiquette for meeting the emperor.
On the morning of February 4th, Sean got up early.
The early spring in the north is still cold, and it snowed last night. On the way to the palace, Sean saw municipal employees busy cleaning up homeless people who froze to death in the snow. More people froze to death last night than ever before.
Want more.
He looked at the heater on his carriage, the hot tea in his hand, and the brand new material dress he was wearing. For both beauty and warmth, his shirt had soft cashmere inside.
Sean couldn't help but lament that he had fallen, and he had taken enjoyment for granted.
But the road is so cold that it has nothing to do with Sean, and it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the emperor or the prime minister.
The White House stands on the central platform of the Holy City, and it is exceptionally majestic under the silver coating. Its golden roof shines in the sun.
It is like a god, entrenched in the sky and overlooking the whole city. It represents the highest authority and holiness, making every subject who passes by it bow their heads.
After the necessary inspections and registrations, the servants in the palace led Sean to a room with a fireplace to wait for the emperor's summons.
Sean sat down and waited patiently, passing the time by admiring the precious ancient paintings hanging on the walls. All of these artworks were outstanding masterpieces by ancient artists.
He arrived at 8 o'clock in the morning, but he had not waited for the emperor's summons until 10:30, and he did not even have tea or snacks.
He gave a string of southern sea beads to a servant passing by the door. The servant looked at Sean with a condescending look and told him, Duke Vier Hermann, Duke Otto Frank, Duke Gaida Darnell
, and Marquis Friedrich Torres arrived one after another, and they were discussing state affairs with the emperor.
These distinguished guests made everyone in the palace surround them.
Therefore, no one has yet thought of Sean, a little nobleman from the provinces.
Sean had no choice but to return to his seat and close his eyes. Just when his patience was about to run out, there was a sound of footsteps in the corridor outside the door, and His Royal Highness Philip walked in with a large group of people. He was full of apologies:
"I'm sorry, Sean, my friend, and I want to apologize on behalf of the White House for keeping you waiting."
After not seeing each other for several years, His Highness seemed to have matured a lot and had grown a short beard. His apology was very sincere. Of course, in an environment like the palace, only His Highness himself knew whether it was true or not.
However, His Royal Highness Philip came in person and apologized, which made the palace servants on the side feel a little guilty. These so-called servants are just servants in the palace, but once they leave the palace, they are the objects of others' fawning.
"Your Highness is serious." His Highness Philip called himself a friend, and Sean would not climb up the ladder.
Sean has also paid attention to the politics of the Holy City in recent years. His Highness's influence on the emperor has become more and more important. There are rumors that the emperor is very likely to be easy to save.
However, what Sean didn't know was that while he was wasting time in the palace, the emperor tested his four important vassals for the first time.
This is of course an extremely important matter, so important that no one dares to take it lightly. Therefore, it is not an important matter for Sean to be forgotten by the emperor.
Sean was personally taken by His Royal Highness Philip to the famous Golden Hall, which is the place where the royal family holds major events. The Queen likes to hold concerts in this hall and invites the ladies of the Holy City to enjoy elegant music with her.
As the name suggests, this hall is splendid and magnificent. The walls are inlaid with solid pieces of gold and there are countless pearls and jade. It is extremely luxurious.
Carlos II himself was also an emperor who liked luxury. This hall was regarded as the face of the royal family and would be renovated every two years, costing hundreds of thousands each time. Not to mention his queen.
Stepping on the soft cashmere blanket on the ground, Sean saw a throne on a high platform directly north of the hall.
Carlos II held onto the armrest decorated with golden dragon heads and watched Sean kneel down on one knee at his feet.
"The supreme authority, the only common lord of all peoples, your vassal, Sean Connery, Viscount of Rocky Mountain from Genoa, salutes you!"
"Get up!" Carlos II raised his right arm slightly.
If Count Kovar were here, he would definitely realize that the emperor seemed to be much older, and his hair was completely white.
Only then did Sean notice that there were several elderly nobles standing on both sides of the throne. As for who they were, Sean didn't know any of them, so he could only guess.
Count Torres stepped forward. He was the court count, his duty was to be the sealmaster, and he was actually one of the many courtiers of the emperor.
Some were in charge of horses, some were in charge of gardening, some were the emperor's cooks, and some were secretaries and advisors. These positions not only depended on their background, but also had a clear price tag.
Count Torres took out a book with a golden cover that had been prepared for a long time, detailing the history and main anecdotes of the Connery family (of course, this part is all fabricated. In addition to the first generation ancestors of the Connery family, the subsequent descendants
There is really no outstanding history), focusing on Sean's own achievements, so His Majesty the Emperor made him a hereditary earl.
For this book, Sean has already paid 10,000 gold louis. This is just the polishing fee for the palace clerks. There are still several payments of the same amount waiting for him to pay. As a vassal, he will have to pay every year in the future.
Pay an annual tribute to the emperor, twice his usual amount.
After the lengthy recitation, Carlos II nodded and said: "Yes!"
Then the emperor stepped down from the throne, holding a long sword and placing it on Sean's shoulder. Sean then expressed his allegiance.
There were polite applause all around, and His Royal Highness Philip's applause was the warmest, which attracted the attention of his grandfather, Duke Hermann:
"Your Highness, have you known Viscount Connery, oh no, Earl Connery before?"
The old duke is undoubtedly one of the most powerful dukes in the empire, and he is also the most important supporter of His Royal Highness Philip.
"Dear Duke, Sean is my friend. When I met him, he was just a civilian. I dare say that his experience can write a novel and it will definitely become a bestseller." His Highness Philip said.
"I'm not interested in novels," the old Duke said lightly.
"Earl of Rocky Mountain, can I call you Sean?" Duke Frank came over with a smile on his face.
"I'm flattered," Sean said quickly.
Duke Frank said: "Sean, you are a very good young man. There are not many young people as capable as you. Among other things, the invention of the ironclad ship has finally enabled the Imperial Navy to make a difference."
The Duke of Frank turned to face the throne: "Your Majesty, I strongly suggest that the empire places an additional order for ironclad ships. The existing 10 ships do not give us enough strength to fight back. As long as our navy has a scale of 100 ships, it can completely defeat even
Completely destroy the fish monster."
"Money, in the final analysis, is still a question of money. Otto, if there is no problem with the empire's finances, 1,000 ships are also possible, but is this possible? The empire's finances are already bankrupt." Count Darnell said, this is a thin old man
man.
If Duke Vier-Hermann represents the traditional nobility and enjoys great prestige among administrative officials, Duke Otto Frank represents the military magnate. Many members of this family hold important positions in the military, including the head of the secret police.
The leader, Joseph Frank, was his third son.
Duke Gueda-Darnell represented the oligarchs and was the major shareholder of several important banks. He spoke for financiers and even refused to provide preferential loans to the empire more than once. The relationship with the emperor was once very tense.
As for Marquis Friedrich Torres, he has a very close relationship with the emerging bourgeoisie. The northern business of Kang Shipbuilding has received strong support from the Torres family, and the benefits are huge, so Marquis Torres is very pleased with Sean:
"As long as we use our brains, there will always be a way. This is exactly the purpose of your Majesty's meeting of dignitaries. As long as we unite and share the country's worries, we will definitely find a way to solve the financial difficulties."
This was a continuation of the conversation between the emperor and several important vassals before the canonization of Sean, but obviously this occasion was not a good place to discuss financial issues.
His Royal Highness Philip duly asked his father if a banquet could be held, joking that everyone was hungry.
A royal luncheon, grand and exquisite.
Although there are only a few old men, a prince, and a newly promoted young earl.
Sean had no idea what the food tasted like, and the brisk questions and answers between several old nobles and the emperor completely made him an outsider.
Sean noticed that Carlos II was a little absent-minded, or that the emperor's energy was a little low, and he even left for a while during the dinner.
But after this luncheon, which can be called the highest level in the empire, Sean officially became a hereditary earl. He was only promoted one level, but the status of an earl was not comparable to that of a viscount.
Of course, the nobility today is not the same as the nobility a hundred years ago. The nobility is increasingly challenged by the third estate, including power.
Power is the only thing they are least willing to share with others.
After having lunch in the palace, the palace servants led Sean out of the banquet hall.
After passing through the gorgeous verandah with hundreds of twists and turns, a young girl came forward. The servants stepped aside and bowed to salute, and Sean also saluted.
The girl glanced at Sean, and after walking a long distance, she still looked back and accidentally bumped into a pillar.
She touched her head and asked in a very unpleasant and uncertain tone:
"Are you...Sean...Connery?"
"It's me, Your Highness Princess!" Sean had to bend down and salute again.
This beautiful girl of heaven is naturally Princess Elizabeth, who has met Sean several times.
She has grown into a big girl and inherited her mother's good looks. As she grows older, her marriage has become a big problem for the royal family.
Marriage among nobles is not an easy task, let alone the royal family.
The princess was spoiled. Her noble status and beautiful appearance allowed her suitors to line up from the palace to the pier outside the city. However, Princess Elizabeth dismissed these young people who were considered to be outstanding aristocratic children and thought they were artificial.
and hypocrisy.
Obviously, she was too deeply poisoned by "La Traviata" and fantasized about the so-called pure and sincere love.
"Sean, you don't write novels anymore?" Elizabeth asked.
"My beautiful princess, if the novel can bring wealth and title, then I will definitely write it." Sean said.