Of course Aigron couldn't hear the murmurs of the people in front. He just walked side by side with Archduke Karl in the castle, heading towards the center.
"Let me remind you first." While walking in the corridor, Archduke Karl suddenly turned his head, "You must control yourself later and don't show contempt for anyone - even an unknown soldier. Or it’s a sign of contempt. If you do this, your visit today will be in vain, and it may even have the opposite effect.”
"Of course I wouldn't do that." Aigron quickly replied, "In fact, I admire them very much."
"If you really think so, that's best." Archduke Karl nodded. "Although these people are disabled, their intelligence has not been damaged in any way. On the contrary, because of their physical defects, they will become more sensitive and unable to endure anything." Even if it is an unintentional insult, and they are particularly united because they have similar fates now, if you insult one, you have offended everyone, because they all have nothing."
Archduke Karl's words gave Aiglon some mixed feelings.
Although it was indeed true, he felt a little regretful when he thought that the bravest men either died in battle or ended up like this.
"This is fate, what can I do?" Perhaps seeing what Aigron was thinking, Archduke Karl sighed, "All I can do is donate as much as possible to these institutions so that they can enjoy the rest of their lives as peacefully as possible. .”
"If I have spare time someday in the future, I will also donate to people like this." Aigron replied.
"Don't be polite." Archduke Karl glanced at him again, "I will remember your words."
"Children are innocent." Aigron straightened his back and replied.
"Then I believe you will be successful." Archduke Karl nodded, "A commander should care for his soldiers as much as he cares for his own eyes. Even if these soldiers can no longer go to the battlefield, he should not abandon them. This will set an example for those who continue to follow him, and let people know that noble sacrifices are valuable."
Aigron listened quietly to the Archduke's words.
"I was born into a royal family, and it is natural for a royal family to lead troops, so I can command an army at a young age and command generals who are much older and more senior than me... However, the world does not entirely operate according to such rules. , I can serve as the commander, but the people below can also choose whether to serve me or be perfunctory." As Archduke Karl walked away, he whispered to Aigron, "Humans are human after all, and they are not completely devoid of emotions and can only obey. No matter how noble the ant colony is, if he cannot show the qualities of a commander and is unwilling to share the joys and sorrows with his subordinates, then he will not be loved by them, and his orders will be implemented at a discount or even not at all. Go down. You have to know that officers and soldiers will not voluntarily die for a person just because he becomes the commander. Their following is something that needs to be fought for. "
"Yes, you are absolutely right." Aigron nodded with sincerity.
"You said before that you don't want to be a soldier, but I think that if you really want to do something big in the future, you still have to act according to this rule. Remember that there is no unreasonable loyalty in the world, only those who deserve to be loyal. People." Archduke Karl continued, "You should become such a person, because you have similar potential and should not be consumed by inaction. Our empire will eventually be your generation one day in the future. Come take care of it. If no one comes forward when the time comes, it will be such a pitiful tragedy..."
The Grand Duke's words implied anxiety and annoyance. After all, he was a member of the royal family and the emperor's younger brother. He was inevitably anxious about the declining power of the empire.
But Aigron could not share his patriotism, even though he was also a member of the royal family and the grandson of the emperor.
The experience of this life catalyzed his inner sense of alienation, causing him to build a high wall in his heart and stubbornly resist this identification.
Of course, he would never show it on the surface.
"There are so many outstanding young people in the empire. In the future, some people will naturally stand up to support this country." He replied calmly, "Besides, I'm afraid there are not many people who are happy to see me play a role here."
"I admit that some people are wary of you and even hate you, but is this the reason for you to abandon yourself and be cynical? Doesn't that prove that they are right to underestimate you? What problem can be solved by escaping!" Archduke Karl frowned, and then said sternly He said, "Wrong, you should face the difficulties and become more courageous with each setback. You should let them know that they are hopelessly wrong. You should prove that you are better than all of them, and then kick out all their curses." Talk back to them, only then will you be considered a winner. If you are not this kind of person, how can I trust Teresa to you?"
Aigron's eyes widened and he was speechless for a moment.
It wasn't because what he said was wrong, but because what he said was so right, it completely stepped on his heart, that's what he thought.
However, there was a serious deviation between the way of victory he had conceived in his mind and the way the Grand Duke thought.
But he couldn't show it.
"Don't be weak, grit your teeth and move forward!" His hesitation and silence were seen as hesitation by the Grand Duke. He got closer and then shouted loudly to the young man, "Even if you can't become my son-in-law in the future, Napoleon His son shouldn't be a coward who only makes promises and complains about others. You should do something worthy of making people say, 'Well, he is his son after all!' Don't you think so in your heart?"
"If I had such a chance..." Aiglon replied.
"Sir, have you been following Metternich since you were a child, so you don't know how to respond directly?" Archduke Karl interrupted him.
The Grand Duke's questioning made Aigron speechless.
As expected of a soldier, he speaks straightforwardly and leaves no room for dodge.
"I have thought about it, of course I have thought about it, Your Highness." He nodded heavily, rarely showing his true feelings, "I have thought about winning, no... I have to win. If I don't win, then I will lose everything. No, my existence has no meaning... Your Highness, are you satisfied with this answer?"
Archduke Karl looked at the young man, as if weighing his determination to stand up, and then he finally smiled.
"Very good, that's how it should be." He patted Aiglon's shoulder heavily, "This is how it's worthy."
Worthy of what?
Before Aigron could think about it, he sighed again.
"If Teresa hadn't been so obsessed with her, I wouldn't have bothered to tell you so much. Tell me, what method did you use to get her to be so obsessed with you?" Archduke Karl suddenly sighed again, "I've never seen this happen before. She has never given advice to someone so seriously."
"I don't know, my interactions with her are actually very limited." Aigron replied with a wry smile, "Maybe she thinks I'm more interesting than other people of the same age she has met. She at least treats me as a friend."
"Interesting? What's the point? I didn't see it." The Grand Duke curled his lips.
Aigron could only smile bitterly.
While they were talking, the two people came to the central hall of the castle.
And lunch is ready here.
On the huge dining table, you can see large and small breads, pies, snacks, as well as fresh pork chops and beef.
There are many glasses and wine bottles on the table.
"I know that you have been in the palace for a long time and you must not be used to eating such low-quality food, but at least you must eat with relish today." Archduke Karl reminded the young man in a very low voice, "This is already the best hospitality here. It’s rare for them to eat it.”
At this time, the veterans in the nursing home also walked into or helped into the hall.
Aigron had never seen so many people with missing arms and legs gathered together in his life. He tried hard not to show any physical discomfort and kept a humble and gentle smile; and these veterans also responded with strange Looking at him with eyes - it only took Captain Hench less than twenty minutes for the news to spread throughout the sanatorium, and for everyone to know the young man's complicated identity.
The eyes cast on the young man include curiosity, envy, and indifference, but there is absolutely no hatred. After all, the culprit has already disappeared with the wind, and there is no point in blaming a young duke who grew up in Austria.
Aiglon sat down with the Grand Duke. Although he had never experienced a similar scene, he stabilized his mentality, neither arrogant nor arrogant, and was not nervous at all.
When the Grand Duke was present, everyone saluted the Grand Duke with military salutes and then sat down.
"I am very happy to see you again." The Grand Duke nodded to everyone, "I am proud of having led you. I hope that next time I come here, all of you will still be here."
Then, he pointed at Aigron again.
"Although you may already know it, I still want to introduce to you the young man who came with me. He is Duke Lechstadt. Of course, you also know his more widely known identity. Yes, he is Napoleon's son--"
Aigron lowered his head and questioned everyone present.
"After he heard that I wanted to come to condolences to you, he specifically asked to come with me to have a look. He sympathized with your situation as much as I did, and promised to donate to this place like me in the future." The Grand Duke continued, " I want you to honor him.”
People paid tribute to the young man one after another. Although some people were obviously reluctant, they did so after Archduke Karl's statement.
"Okay, let's start eating." The Grand Duke nodded again.
After such a brief speech, everyone began to eat.
As the Grand Duke said before, whether it was wine, meat, or other food, it did taste inferior. However, Aigron, who had already been mentally prepared, did not feel any discomfort and swallowed it in large gulps.
"Yes, at least you can still suffer." The Grand Duke nodded slightly, and then whispered to him, "Actually, you are lucky. When I was marching, the dry food I ate was similar to pig food."
"Your Highness..." Suddenly, Captain Hench, the person in charge sitting on the other side, spoke to Karl in a low voice.
"What's wrong?" Archduke Karl asked.
"Every time you came here in the past, we would toast to victory..." The captain glanced at the young man with some embarrassment.
For a moment, it seemed that everyone's eyes were focused on Aigron again, as if they were waiting for his answer.
"How about we change the name..." Archduke Karl felt a little embarrassed now.
"Can I please say a few words here?" Aigron suddenly stood up.
"Please tell me." Archduke Karl was a little surprised, but he still nodded.
"Gentlemen, I'm sorry. I will never grovel here to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon. Please understand me. My dignity does not allow me to cursing my father to please others." Eggron raised his head and looked at Veterans present, "However, I still want to raise a glass to you and salute everyone present. Regardless of your position, at least you fought bravely and dedicated the rest of your life. This quality is unparalleled among any nation." It’s worthy of admiration.”
Aiglon picked up the wine glass, "Yes, I admire you and your former opponents. You are all heroes. I salute you today. If one day I have the opportunity to see a group of French veterans like you, I will Salute them with the same respect, for your strife is over and you are now the same man, a man who, though forgotten, is still worthy of respect.”
Then, he shook himself at the people.
"—Let's drink to peace."
"For peace!" His words caused a burst of cheers.
The veterans raised their wine glasses one after another, and even the Grand Duke smiled and nodded, then also raised his wine glass.
Aegron drank it all in one gulp.
The wine made him feel a little uncomfortable, but he swallowed it all.
At this moment, a one-legged man dressed as an officer and holding a cane walked up to him and saluted him with a military salute.
"Hello, Your Highness. I participated in the Battle of Leipzig, that's why I came here." His slender face had a very serious expression, but his eyes shone with excitement, "I don't hate your father, although I It depends on him to become like this. He is an undoubted hero, but he just happened to be our enemy. Today I am actually a little happy, because you have such a grace, you deserve to be standing here."
Then, he picked up another glass of wine and looked at the young man.
"Cheers, for the future." Aigron poured another glass of wine and clinked the glasses with him gently.
"Cheers!" The atmosphere in the hall instantly became lively, and the sound of clinking glasses could be heard everywhere.
"For peace!"
"For reconciliation!"
"For the Empire!"
"For Your Majesty!"
...the hall rang with slogans one after another.
"For the marriage!" Just as people were getting excited, a veteran who was deliberately joking shouted out.
This joke immediately set off the whole audience, and the roar of laughter instantly spread throughout the hall.
