"So tell me - young man, do you want to win?"
Archduke Karl's question seemed to hit the young man's soul.
In a daze, he recalled that the last time Archduke Karl took him to visit the disabled veterans, he asked the same question.
Like last time, he had only one answer to this question.
His expression became serious, and then he looked at Archduke Karl, "Yes, I want to win, Your Highness."
"That's just right." Seeing the young man's eyes full of desire to win, Archduke Karl finally smiled with satisfaction, "Then, let's come again. I don't want to fight against a hesitant opponent anymore. Take out your Come on if you’re really capable.”
"Since this is your request, I will obey it out of respect for you." Aigron replied calmly, "However, I think you have no chance of winning in this case. I hope you won't be angry then."
"The odds of winning are not just words!" Archduke Karl replied disdainfully, then shook the sword in his hand twice, "Come on."
"Wait a moment." Aigron shook his head slightly, "Can you put forward additional conditions? I want my victory to be more worthy of celebration."
"What do you mean?" Archduke Karl was stunned for a moment, but he immediately agreed nonchalantly, "Okay, no problem. After all, I proposed the competition. As the party accepting the challenge, you have the right to make your own demands."
"I think that since you are so much older than me, it would be too unfair for us to fight unconditionally. I would take too much of an advantage." Aigron said, taking out his pocket watch from his arms, and then Looking at Theresa, "Teresa, catch it."
"What?" Theresa looked confused [5200] understood.
Aigron threw the pocket watch directly towards her, and Teresa subconsciously reached out to take the pocket watch and continued to look at the boy.
"Please help me time the game, one minute is enough." Aigron smiled slightly, "As the referee, you announce the start, and then start the timer. If I can't win within one minute, then it will be considered my failure."
"One minute?" Both father and daughter were a little shocked.
"Yes, I think this is more than enough." Aiglon glanced at Archduke Karl with a slightly arrogant look, "If I disarm you within one minute and make you unable to fight anymore, then I win. If I can't do it , I will admit defeat, I think this is fair——"
Archduke Karl frowned.
Although he had clearly felt that the young man's skills were very good, he really felt like being underestimated at this time.
He had never seen such a arrogant look on this young man before.
It seems that the boy has indeed been aroused to be ferocious, and his speech and behavior are full of aggression.
Okay, very good, only in this way can you be successful.
"Then I want to see if you have this ability." He nodded, then looked back at Theresa. "Teresa, just do as he says—"
"Why are you all acting like children!" Teresa could only sigh helplessly.
Now that the trouble had reached this point, she had no choice but to let them finish it first.
But at this time, she was also curious whether His Highness could really win in one minute.
She picked up His Highness's pocket watch and looked at the time.
"Start!" She started the duel between the two people again.
This time, Archduke Karl did not take the lead, but assumed a defensive posture, and Aigron did not attack immediately, but took two small steps forward.
He knew he had a minute, plenty of time.
Perhaps because he was too oppressive at this time, Archduke Karl unconsciously took a step back, trying to keep the distance between the two people.
But just as he retreated, Aigron directly raised his sword, then bent his knees and took a step forward at lightning speed, and then stabbed Archduke Karl with his sword.
Archduke Karl, who was already at a disadvantage, was forced to block with his sword, but the young man continued to slash down with his sword, forcing his opponent to barely hold on and keep retreating.
In a short period of time, Archduke Karl had been enduring a storm of attacks, but he had no intention of admitting defeat and continued to persevere.
Because of the constant collision of the two swords in a short period of time, he felt that his hands were numb, almost losing control, and his eyes became a little blurry.
He knew in his heart that he would definitely lose if he continued to fight, and his only hope now was to survive this minute.
However, although time always passes by inadvertently, when people expect time to pass quickly, its flow speed will suddenly slow down. He never thought that one minute would be such a torment.
Just when he was anxious, the young man swung his sword again. Archduke Karl could only barely raise his sword to block. At this time, the young man turned around and used his waist strength to slam the sword down. The pain of the collision between the two swords once again made Archduke Karl's hand tremble, and he could hardly hold the sword anymore. At the same time, the boy's footsteps moved along with the trend, and he leaned sideways in front of Archduke Karl.
Archduke Karl wanted to retreat further, but his movement ended only halfway because a fist hit him hard in the abdomen.
"Ah..." The sudden severe pain made Archduke Karl groan uncontrollably and almost fainted.
Then his hand loosened and the sword immediately fell to the grass.
Then, he knelt half-kneeling on the ground, breathing heavily, using this method to relieve the pain in his body.
The young man had no intention of continuing to pursue him. He just stood in front of him and looked down at him calmly.
"Forty-seven seconds..." Teresa, who was watching the battle from the sidelines, subconsciously called out the time.
However, she reacted immediately.
"Stop it!"
She screamed, threw her pocket watch to the ground, and then rushed between the two people regardless, separating them, for fear that they would get out of their mood and start messing around again.
"Dad, are you okay?" She squatted down and supported her father while crying.
Archduke Karl's face turned pale, and he was obviously suffering from pain, but he still shook his head, "I...I'm fine."
"Your Highness, you are trying too hard..." Teresa looked back at Aiglon, and then complained.
"I'm sorry." Aigron put away his sword, "But, I think if I don't do this, the Archbishop will be even more uncomfortable. He hopes that I will do my best to deal with it. Moreover, Teresa, with your father's physique , he can bear it, don’t worry.”
"That's right... Theresa, I asked him to fight for his life, so it's a good thing that he did it. Don't let others see the joke. You should congratulate His Highness..." Archduke Karl finally regained his breath. When he came, he hissed to his daughter, "His teacher really didn't brag. I've seen it. He's powerful enough. Okay, Franz, now come over and give me a hand."
Aigron bent down obediently, took Archduke Karl's arm, and led him to stand up.
Because the battle was over, the evil spirit on his face had dissipated, and he returned to his usual gentle expression.
"Your Highness, go back and take a rest."
"I really didn't expect you to be so vigorous." Because his abdomen was still aching, Archduke Karl grinned, "Yes, you look so gentle, but you are quite fierce."
Then, he smiled bitterly, "I was just saying, 'If you want them to kneel down, use your fists!', but I didn't expect that it would happen to me so quickly, hahahaha..."
"I didn't mean to do it." Aigron smiled sheepishly, "I just think this can relieve your resistance as quickly as possible."
To be honest, although Aigron has always been very confident in himself because of the teacher's constant praise, he has never really fought with anyone before, and he does not have a clear estimate of his own level.
He didn't expect that his teacher taught him so well.
In other words, his efforts were not in vain.
"Have you finally had enough trouble now?" There were tears in the corners of Teresa's eyes, "Dad, stop making trouble!"
"Okay, Teresa, that's it. I can't do anything to spoil your fun today." Father smiled and nodded to Teresa, "You can come and help me too."
So, Archduke Karl put his arms on the shoulders of the boy and girl respectively, and with their support, he walked back to the mansion.
Teresa looked at her father from time to time. When he was so weak, his old age was finally fully revealed.
"Don't worry, little girl, I'm fine." Instead, Archduke Karl comforted his daughter, "Don't look so grim!"
"If a person can still laugh when he sees his father like this, is he still a human being?" Teresa asked. "If you don't want to see my grimace, then stop messing around."
"This is a necessary lesson." Archduke Karl replied with a wry smile, "If a person wants to take on heavy responsibilities, then it is impossible without possessing some qualities. Franz already has the intelligence and conditions that are enough for him to take on heavy responsibilities. But he needs to cultivate a hunger for himself, that kind of... that kind of anger that if I can't win today, I'd rather die.
I was once entrusted by Your Majesty to the army, with the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in my hands. Any wrong decision I make may lead to hundreds of thousands of people dying in vain, so I have tasted this kind of anger and been tempered by this kind of anxiety. Only people can have the courage to move forward. Thank God we don't have to fight now, but this kind of courage is still very important - Franz, if you become my son-in-law, you must do your best, because I hate waste. So you must muster up the courage to overcome obstacles, overcome all difficulties and trample your opponent under your feet. You must remember the anger you just ignited, remember your contempt for your opponent's arrogance, and you must permanently show us what you have just shown. Keep it up! do you understand? "
Aigron did not answer, but nodded silently.
Everything the Grand Duke said was correct, except for one thing - his heart had long been filled with that angry and anxious feeling. Although he had to restrain himself due to the situation, he would never forget what he wanted.
"You'd better say less." Teresa interrupted her father distressedly.
"Teresa, please stop talking about it." The Grand Duke took a deep breath, and then exhaled a long breath, "If I can find you a lover who is versatile in both civil and military affairs at this price, then you should be happy... "
"Stop talking nonsense!" Teresa interrupted her father angrily.
While they were talking, they walked back to the mansion together.
"Oh God!" Seeing her husband's current miserable condition, Princess Henrietta covered her mouth, "You guys have gone too far!"
"It's okay, Henrietta. Your Highness is very measured." Archduke Karl smiled and shook his head, then sat on the sofa, "Now bring me some wine, I will drink it and I will be fine."
"I really don't know why you men like to ask for trouble so much. You are so brave and fierce even at your age." Henrietta poured a glass of milk and handed it to her husband. "No drinking for three days."
After finishing speaking, she looked at the young man again.
"Madam, I'm sorry..." Aigron apologized to her, "I really should have paid more attention just now."
"Don't be nervous, Franz, I'm not such an unreasonable person. This is not your responsibility, he is asking for trouble." Henrietta sighed, "I think you are also very distressed. I hope this crisis Don’t affect your mood.”
Then, she waved her hand gently, "Okay, now I have to take care of this old man. You and Theresa go out for a walk. When we meet in the evening, I hope all of us have forgotten what happened just now."
"As you command, madam." Aigron quickly resigned as if he had been granted amnesty.
Teresa also obeyed her mother's orders and quietly ran out with the boy.
She frowned, and it was obvious that the incident just now had dealt a heavy blow to her.
After a long time, she finally relaxed her eyebrows and said, "Your Highness, although I am not happy, I still congratulate you. You have indeed fulfilled your bold words."
"This kind of victory does not make me feel glorious." Aigron replied calmly, "Your father is old, and I just rely on the explosive power of young people to win. This makes me feel like I am taking advantage."
"But... you still won, and you made him unable to fight back." Teresa sighed softly, looking a little melancholy, "I have regarded my father as a hero since I was a child, and thought he was omnipotent, but in the end Today I finally discovered...it turns out that my father is old."
"Time will make each of us grow old, sooner or later there will be such a day." Aigron replied, "At least he has made enough achievements for himself when he was young to be remembered by the world, which is enough for him to be proud of. .”
"Your Highness, there is not only one kind of merit in the world. Don't let yourself be kidnapped by my father's ideas. It is impossible for him to live this life for you." Teresa blinked worriedly, "I It’s not that you can’t pursue fame and wealth, I just hope you can live according to your own ideas. If you don’t have that intention, why bother to carry so many burdens on yourself..."
"Then what if I have it?" Aigron stopped and asked.
Theresa was stunned for a moment, and after a moment, she smiled.
"I've said it before. In that case, I will give you advice and help you reach the top. Do you believe it?"
Only in Austria?
Looking at her pretty and girlish smile, Aigron suddenly wanted to ask.
But when the words came to his lips, he swallowed them again.
"Thank you." He replied with a smile.
