I Am Louis XIV

When Milady woke up, she habitually touched the bedpost next to her. Hidden under the curtain were her dagger and spare staff, and the other staff, which was only used as a cover, was leaning against a nearby On the wall, Milady had a lot of comments on wizards' staffs. Among them was that they were too conspicuous, especially those used to cast powerful magic. The length was so high that it couldn't even be disguised as a walking stick—— In the other world, it is not that no one has raised objections to the length and size of the staff, but the problem is that the production and research of the staff require a lot of money—whether it is materials, personnel or places—the research of magic is often accompanied by With powerful explosions or invisible poisons, a day's work cannot last without a wizard casting protective spells moment by moment.

The big families in the inner world do have this ability, but first of all, they seldom leave the inner world. Unlike ordinary wizards who work for mortals in the outer world to earn money and make a living, they have no need to conceal their identities, and out of "tradition" Well, what they admire is the tall and tall staff in the literal sense, and Milady sometimes can't help wondering maliciously, whether they will use these sticks for another obscene use, so they insist on not using them Make it thinner and shorter.

Of course, only the king has such handwriting and support for this idea. Although the state of the treasury is not impressive, Mr. Valo Vesalius did give him new enlightenment. Yes, in the inner world, almost every wizard has learned How to make potions, of course, there are very few like Vesalius, but compared to people in the watch world, even scholars, these wizards' hands-on ability and subtle ideas are far superior to the latter, after all, in another world , chemical fetuses are conceived from the offspring of alchemy. Although there are wizards, werewolves and vampires in this world, some basic laws still exist.

What was temporarily put aside by the king, the mastery and research of the inner world was put on the table again. Although not many people knew about this matter, Milady was absolutely clear about it.

It is also for this reason——Milady smiled to herself that on that night three years ago, she would boldly come to Madame La Vallière and stab her with venomous words, as if The knight stabbed his horse with spurs, forcing this poor creature who hardly looked like a werewolf to completely abandon her cowardice and rationality. As for whether she will be covered in cuts and blood in the future, this is not what Milady has to consider .

Milady leaned back on the soft goose-feather pillow and toyed with the dagger which had been drawn from the shadow of the drapery. It was black all over, without reflections of light, much less decorated with gold and diamonds, and was narrow and pointed, like a The awl, this dagger said to be forged from meteorite was given to her by the king, on the night she talked with Mrs. La Vallière.

At that time, Milady was not unafraid when she was stopped by Bontang and summoned to meet His Majesty in the king's study—as Vesalius said, her behavior did not have the king's permission, she just Relying on instinct and an indescribably strange premonition, she used this ability, which might be called a witch, to avoid her parents' abuse and fill her stomach when she was a little girl. Taking money out of men's pockets, she escaped the torture of the jailer and the envy of the mortals in the prison because of this ability, until she saw the cardinal for the second time , what she relies on is still this - until she became a witch, she didn't know that this might be some kind of blood, tracing back to the source, wizards, or those who become wizards, have more or less non-human creatures in their bodies Even if these bloodlines flow into the outer world, it is unknown whether they will burst out from a certain descendant at a certain time—some lucky children become wizards and are led into the inner world, some unlucky ones, After being exposed, she was killed by her parents or other people, and she was like this. It was not a coincidence. The king chose her. She might not guess that she was a wizard until many years later.

But in front of the king, she always felt that what she relied on might not be so reliable, maybe it was because the king was not as afraid of magic as other mortals, no, it should be said that he was not even as afraid of magic as wizards, magic was to him , just another form of gunpowder or fertilizer, and when he saw it, he thought about how to use it, not flee or worship.

Therefore, Milady felt that she liked this king, not because he was a king, or might become a powerful wizard, or because His Majesty was indeed a handsome man, but because he was in some places with Milady. Like Leddy—she meant, there was nothing worth kneeling at.

"A dreadful charge indeed," murmured Milady to herself.

That night, when she met the king, before she had time to decide whether she should apologize or confess her guilt first, the king took the first step and thanked her.

This surprised Milady, because she had served many nobles before, and even Mazarin, Mr. Bishop, would despise her for the dirty things she did, although these things were not arranged by them. What they implied, Milady's behavior that night can only be said to have guessed some of the king's thoughts, and then went straight to do it-she never thought that the king would admit that he had such thoughts, the werewolf Crelan Allowing his daughter to inherit his power may also have reasons to prevent the king from completely using the Serbian werewolves-in any case, persecuting a fragile lady should not be something a gentleman should do.

But this obviously violated the original intention of the king. The position of a royal wife is also an extremely important bargaining chip. Mrs. Lavalier and her master may have done something for the king, but their rewards are still lower than this bargaining chip. Far from enough.

So Milady did it, but the king thanked her and almost admitted that he was using Mrs. La Vallière-although many people were doing this, but once such things were exposed to the world, the king His reputation is bound to be wiped out.

Even if Milady, or Bontang who was by the king's side, would never tell this matter, why would the king admit it? He could pretend that he didn't know anything, even if this poisonous vine grew The fruit of tragedy was born, and only Madame Lavallière, the Duchess of Colonna, and Milady were the ones who swallowed it, and it would not affect the king in the slightest.

"But if I dare not even admit it," said the king, "then I shall despise myself." Mary, and Louise, indeed, disappointed him. What he needs are generals who will break through and clarify the inner world for him, but they are still entangled in personal and family affairs and interests, worrying about little things all day long, and can't see the outside world at all.

"If only they could be like Milady," said Louis.

This sentence makes Milady feel ridiculous when she thinks about it now, "Your Majesty," she said at that time, "this is not a good thing." She looked at the king, and it was hard to imagine that such a person who lived in the deep palace, His Majesty the King, who is surrounded by famous and honorable nobles, is so concerned and familiar with the outside world. By the way, maybe it is because this Majesty has also been in exile for many years—or It is because he is the king after all... "Whether it is the Duchess of Colonna or the Duchess of La Vallière, even in the most difficult time, they will not see the darkest and most terrifying things, almost all This is the case with noble girls," she explained.

"Just like now, you can't accuse them of not seeing the outside world, because that's how they were...educated," Milady said, "What I need to fight for with my life, Your Majesty, as long as you are willing." Pity one or two, they can get it immediately, or in other words, they have already got it - in this case, why should they make themselves suffer so much, this is a matter of course, Your Majesty, there is nothing to say. "

"And what if I let you come back to Paris?" asked the king jokingly.

"Oh, that's still not enough." Milady said hastily: "I am a poisonous snake, Your Majesty, and I will bite anyone I see."

"And what about Mary and Louise?"

"Whatever they are, sire," said Milady, "they're going to fight."

"I leave this matter to you. Since you have already done it," Louis said, "I only have two requirements. First, what I need is an inner world that can be held in my hands. It can be incomplete and changeable." Weak, but I don't want a second voice in there; and second, if you can't control the chaos before, during and after, I say, temporarily, then you at least keep little Lucy safe." And then He paused: "And you, and the safety of those I need."

"You will have your wish, my lord," said Milady.

Then she got the dagger bestowed by the king. This dagger has a very special feature, that is, it can break through the barrier or protection of magic. After returning to the inner world, Milady has used it many times ——Subordinates who intend to betray, untimely suitors, and partners who have become obstacles and burdens—many of the last ones have the surname Mancini.

—————

Mancini, the surname, has almost become synonymous with power and glory in recent years on Gayola Island, the large island hidden by wizards.

If Mancini was only one of the owners of this island a few years ago, he is now the uncrowned king. Wheat, poultry meat, sugar, salt and fat, etc., and even drinking water, all bear the surname of the Mancini family. Thousands of wizards are working for the new industry of the Mancini family-a few years ago The people in the council are still racking their brains to use wrestling, bread and light wine to ease the sharp conflicts between members of the big family and ordinary wizards, but now there is no need for it at all. The Chini family has done things, not only in the inner world, but also in the outside world. It is said that they get higher remuneration and better treatment in the outside world-they are also hesitant from the beginning (for most people who grew up in the inner world For wizards, the watch world is very difficult and terrifying), and it has become what it is now - every wizard who goes to the watch world needs to go through layers of selection and identification, from mastering magic and potion skills to , to obedience and personal morality, there are requirements.

In this way, there are still an endless stream of applicants, and some families are complaining that all the servants in their families have run away, and they can only let the soulless corpse do things that don't need to be considered.

And the person who holds this right is not Mancini, but a foreign wizard, but because of her special status, even the Duchess of Colonna has kept silent—or, the former's rights are not limited to this, She is also responsible for the initiation education of the little Duke of Colonna.

As soon as he saw Milady, the little Duke of Colonna couldn't help showing a smile. He is four years old this year. In the outside world, his status is embarrassing, but in the inside world, he is orthodox, noble, and cannot be questioned. By his side Of course, the teachers, maids and stewards installed by the Mancini family are indispensable, but who is Milady? She likes chaos and is good at creating chaos. Those people either died because of fighting each other, or they were wiped out by her. The king's support for her and the army she cultivated in the other world have also guaranteed her position. Easily shaken.

It stands to reason that Mary Mancini could be in charge or control of little Lucy's enlightenment education work, but in the past three years, Milady has ensured the balance between the Duchess of Colonna and Madame La Vallière, When they are competing with each other, it is difficult to allocate energy to people other than the king, so little Lucy stays in Milady's hands. It is not good for Milady to make this little guy feel good about herself. What is so difficult is that it is so rare that he has admiration and nostalgia for his father who he only sees once in a few months.

Now it seems that the effect is not bad.

"Ma'am," Lucy asked, "can't my father visit me this month?"

"There is an urgent matter that the king needs to deal with." Milady naturally took little Lucy's hand and led him for a walk in the courtyard. If there is anything in the inner world that is better than the outer world, it is probably magic. Along with the monsters, walking slowly beside them was a docile little unicorn. Even though she had seen it many times, Milady could not help but be attracted by that moonlight-like coat color and elegant posture.

"May I know what it is?" Lucy asked, "Or do you need any help from me?"

Milady couldn't help but smiled when he heard that, the little Duke of Colonna just started exercising some of his powers a few days ago, such as adjudicating cases and promulgating laws, so now he is very keen to ask others if they need his help. For his father , the rights owned by King Louis of France, and his existing rights, this four-year-old child is still a bit vague, but this kind of intention is enough.

"Your Majesty will be very happy to hear you say that." Milady said, "But this matter—it's hard to say whether it needs to be dealt with..." Although she really wanted to, the king might not allow it, and moreover As far as the matter of Mrs. Lavallière is concerned, this will touch the bottom line of the king.

"Philip IV of Spain is dead," said Milady, bowing her head. "His son succeeds him—that is, Carlos II."