Eagle’s Glory

As the Count had said, a few days later the court banquet in honor of Archduke Karl's fifty-fifth birthday took place as scheduled.

Perhaps in order to ease the tension between the brothers, His Majesty the Emperor attached great importance to this banquet. He not only regarded his Schönbrunn Palace as a place of celebration, but also invited people from all walks of life to attend. Even the foreign envoys stationed in Vienna came to cheer for the prestigious Grand Duke.

However, Grand Duke Karl is not a person who likes vanity, so the outside world has also speculated that the reason why he celebrated so high-profile this time is to allow his eldest daughter, Princess Teresa, to make a grand debut and step into the palace under everyone's gaze. society.

For most people, the reason for holding the banquet is not important, the banquet itself is the key point, and it is already a rare honor for them to have the opportunity to enter the palace and meet the emperor and the grand duke.

In this way, Schönbrunn Palace, which is usually sparsely populated, suddenly became lively. Celebrities from all walks of life, cabinet ministers, and even bishops gathered together. The medals worn by the men and the jewelry worn by the ladies complement each other by candlelight, bringing the already beautiful scenery to life. The resplendent hall reflects more brilliance.

Seeing this situation, who would doubt that the fortunes of the empire are on the wane?

Because of the large number of participants, according to the long-standing tradition, the court attendants kept important high-level guests in the hall, while other guests with lesser levels could only stay in the long gallery. Even in the gallery, these guests with insufficient levels will stand up and down according to their respective levels.

As a member of the royal family, Egron was naturally placed in the hall; however, usually at similar events, he would only stand in an inconspicuous corner with interest, acting as a background board for watching indifferently, and very few people would take the risk. Talk to him with political risk.

But today is different, he was assigned to the front row, a conspicuous position - all the guests who knew him were a little surprised by the special arrangement in the palace today, only Egron himself knew what it was for.

Today, he is wearing a traditional white military uniform. The slim uniform sets off his slender and shapely figure. His hair has been carefully groomed and waxed. Even when he looks in the mirror, he thinks he is a handsome young man.

He remained silent as usual, while the guests next to him were chatting and looking forward to the arrival of His Majesty and the Grand Duke.

When the clock reached around 9 o'clock in the evening, there was commotion in the distance. The protagonists of tonight's banquet finally arrived. Aigron clearly saw a large group of people walking towards him.

The leaders are naturally His Majesty the Emperor Franz I of Austria and His Majesty the Empress. Although he is a little old, he is wearing a military uniform, and his steps are quite calm, with a gentle expression and a sense of majesty. He is striding towards the hall. .

Behind him, followed by his younger brother, Grand Duke Karl, the birthday star at the banquet, and the woman holding arms beside the Grand Duke is not his wife, but a girl in a white palace dress and floral decorations—obviously, it is Princess Teresa up.

Behind them, there is a long line of attendants in various uniforms.

The guests lined up on both sides of the promenade stood in silence, watching several of the most distinguished nobles of the empire enter the arena, but His Majesty the Emperor did not stop at all, but looked around, nodded slightly as a compliment, and then strode away Entered the hall.

At this moment, the band, which had been playing soft music, changed immediately and began to play the majestic Austrian national anthem "God Save the Emperor Franz" to congratulate His Majesty on his arrival.

The officials, courtiers, diplomatic envoys, and their wives who had already been waiting in the hall saluted His Majesty the Emperor amidst the melodious music.

Eggron, like the crowd, saluted his grandfather respectfully, but he was thinking of something else in his heart.

Everyone in this hall is a big shot on the outside, with different titles and powers, but here they can only be inconspicuous members, bowing down to pay tribute to the dull old man opposite.

This is the taste of power.

Such strict etiquette and such grand ostentation are showing off power and the blood that comes with power. The centuries-old traditions of the old Habsburg family have also been left here.

When seeing Qin Shihuang's ostentation, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu left sighs of "a man is born like this" and "he can replace him", and Egron's mood was almost the same.

One day, the same scene will appear in another country, and it will be me who enjoys all the honors.

Because, I also have an empire... he thought silently.

While he was meditating, the emperor and empress walked up to the throne and sat down.

As usual, His Majesty the Emperor looked around at the important people in front of him.

When seeing his grandson, His Majesty the Emperor smiled slightly, and then nodded slightly to him, as if to encourage him to behave well in the future.

"Thank you for your honor tonight." Then, His Majesty the Emperor said leisurely, "However, needless to say, you all know that the protagonist tonight is my younger brother. I don't want to attract too much attention and take away the glory he deserves." .So, next, Grand Duke Karl will address you.”

While speaking, His Majesty the Emperor looked at his younger brother.

The Grand Duke did not give in either, he stood beside the throne, and then spoke loudly to the guests.

"Everyone, thank you for coming to my birthday party. But from my personal point of view, fifty-five years old is not a particularly worthy age to celebrate. After all, it means that God will not leave me with too much time." He looked up at the crowd, and he was indifferent and heroic, "Just like everyone around my age, sometimes I look back on this life and ask myself what God has given me and what he has left behind. I thought hard for a few times, and finally found the answer - that is, the motherland, honor and family! This is what my life is all about, and I am glad that I can say without guilt that I have lived up to these three word!"

His words aroused cheers from the crowd, and they paid tribute to the famous general, but he paused slightly in the cheers.

After the cheers gradually subsided, he spoke again, "Now, the motherland has been defended by the younger generation, so I don't have to worry; I have had enough honor, I don't want it anymore; the only thing I can't let go of is It is my family members, I hope His Majesty will stay healthy forever, and the Austrian royal family will be blessed for a long time, and I hope..."

While talking, he made a gesture, signaling Teresa who was standing next to her to come closer.

Princess Teresa obediently walked to her father's side, which meant that she became the focus of everyone's attention for a moment. She shrank her neck slightly, as if she was a little shy to the people's gaze, but she still maintained a calm attitude Facing the crowd.

The Grand Duke took his daughter's hand, and then spoke again, "I hope that my daughter Teresa can be happy. She is the most precious gift God has given me. She has respected me for many years and brought me countless blessings. Joy, I am willing to give everything for her!"

After finishing speaking, he took the wine glass from the attendant's hand with the other hand, and then raised it to his chest, "Tonight, I hope you not only toast to my age, but also to Theresa!"

The Grand Duke's words once again aroused enthusiastic responses, and people toasted to celebrate the father and daughter.

It is at this moment that the banquet officially begins.

The Grand Duke is a person who doesn't like red tape, so he didn't talk much after the opening speech, and the people in the hall, as usual, began to gather in small circles in twos and threes.

Aigron didn't belong to any small circle, and no one spoke to him, but he didn't care, because at this time Grand Duke Karl came to him.

The Grand Duke stopped in front of him, and then looked the young man up and down again.

"Boy, did you deliberately dress up today? It's quite fashionable." After a while, he joked. "It's just a bit greasy, too French."

"I don't always dress like this." Aigron laughed awkwardly, "Because it's said...it's said that there are some special arrangements for me, so I dare not neglect."

"It seems that I have to worry about your enthusiasm! Don't think too much, it's still early." The Grand Duke curled his lips, seemingly dissatisfied.

Then, he stretched out his hand and patted Aigron's shoulder heavily. Aigron didn't understand what he meant, so he didn't resist, just stood motionless.

"It looks thin, but it's in good shape." The Grand Duke quickly withdrew his hand, "It seems that Foresty didn't mix it with water when he taught you."

"The captain is a very caring and responsible teacher, and he is very proud to have served under your command." Aigron replied.

"I've said goodbye to conducting for so many years, so don't talk about these old friendships." The Grand Duke shook his head coldly, with a look of reluctance.

However, after a short pause, he took another look at Aigron, his expression slowed down a lot, "Forget it, although he is greasy, but he is better than the younger generation of our family, at least he is a smart ghost."

Then he muttered in a low voice that Aggron couldn't hear, "Fuck that guy, he's dead, and he beat us again!"

Before Eggron could ask another question, he suddenly turned around and made a gesture.

Aigron followed his gestures, and found that the girl in a long skirt was slowly walking towards this side.

Following her footsteps, the young man's side became the focus of attention in the arena in an instant, and all kinds of eyes that contained surprise, jealousy and even anger converged on him.

The young man seemed unaware of these wonderful sights, and he bowed slightly to the other party.

"Nice to see you again, Your Highness Teresa."