"What do you think?"
Sophie's question made Archduke Karl and his wife look at each other again.
To be honest, some of them were hit hard by the information today, so they were a little caught off guard and didn't know how to deal with it.
"What gift are you planning to give?" Archduke Karl forced himself to calm down and asked.
"Please rest assured that some personal items will not harm Teresa's safety." Sophie still smiled, and then answered softly, "I think if they in a foreign country can know that the items from me are With blessings from my side, I should feel happier..."
When Sophie answered, Archduke Karl kept watching her expression, and he did not see much malice in it.
It would be better to say that she was truly moved, and her eyes seemed to be on the verge of tears.
This look doesn't have the arrogance of the past, it's just a little pitiful...
Is her relationship with Teresa really that good? Obviously there was nothing to do with him... He couldn't help but feel doubtful in his heart.
However, this kind of thing doesn't matter anymore. Since she has no ill intentions towards Theresa, it doesn't matter even if she fulfills her wish.
Logically speaking, facing this sudden request, the couple should discuss it carefully, but precisely because he saw the look in Her Royal Highness's eyes that was mixed with expectation and prayer, he hesitated for a moment and nodded.
"Okay, if I really contact Theresa, I will give her your blessings and gifts."
"Thank you so much..." Sophie's face immediately turned from gloomy to bright, and she burst into a sweet smile, "Then let's hope that all the assumptions can come true."
Her heart was indeed in ecstasy.
After experiencing the previous turmoil, although she has regained her past honor on the surface, in fact, her every move is under surveillance by the palace. She wants to rely on her own people to get in touch with Aiglon, who is far away from home. Of course it is completely impossible.
With no other choice, she could only turn to Archduke Carl. Although she had a bad relationship with Theresa and still hated her to this day, she could only go to Theresa's father for help at the moment. Because in this country, only Archduke Karl can not be afraid of the authority of His Majesty and Metternich.
She had made a lot of plans in advance for this visit, but she didn't expect the Grand Duke to be so easy to talk to and he immediately agreed to her request, which made her feel a lot more relaxed.
"Wait a moment...!" However, just as she was secretly rejoicing, Princess Henrietta, who had been silent next to her, suddenly spoke.
The Grand Duke and Princess Sophie looked at the Madam at the same time, wondering why she acted so rudely.
"Your eyes are very sad, and it makes people feel sad to see them." The lady murmured to herself while looking at her. "God, I finally figured it out!"
"What have you figured out?" Archduke Karl asked impatiently. "Well, stop it, Henrietta."
"No, this is very important." The lady interrupted her husband, and then continued, "Your Highness, who is your gift for?"
This question immediately left Sophie speechless.
Of course the "gifts" she prepared were all for that hateful young man, and what she gave Theresa was nothing more than a letter.
She had always regretted that she had not had time to give him many gifts when Aiglon escaped, so this time, she gave him some of the jewelry and other belongings she had carefully collected as gifts, which was considered as fulfilling her wish. .
More importantly, there is a pocket watch inside the gift box. There are a few strands of silver hair inside the cover of the pocket watch - that is the fetal hair of Crystal, and it is also the testimony of her arrival and stay in the human world.
Sophie didn't know whether the young man who was far away still remembered her and their two daughters who stayed here, but she felt that after the child was born, even if it was just seeing Clestel, Aeglon At least he should get some traces that belong to the child. This is his natural right as a father.
In the corner of her heart, there was still a vague hope - that one day Aigron would really achieve great things, and then take away Crystal, so that this illegitimate daughter could escape the fate of being unable to see the light of day. destiny.
She herself knew that this idea was a bit futile, but it was already the last hope in her heart.
It's just...how can you say these words, these pains and sorrows to the couple in front of you?
She could only muster up the energy to lie, "Of course it will be for Teresa..."
"I don't think so." Henrietta shook her head slightly, and then looked at Sophie seriously, "If it is for Theresa, why should you be sad? She may face danger, but it is all her own. If she chooses, you will bless her instead. Teresa and you probably don’t have such a deep relationship... On the other hand, if it is another person who has been with you for a long time, then everything makes sense."
After a pause, she continued, "And Theresa wanted to meet with you before she left. I have never been able to think of a reason, but now I can guess a bit..."
Henrietta's words left Sophie speechless for a while.
She didn't know what to say for a moment, and the scrutinizing gazes of the Grand Duke and his wife made her even more embarrassed.
Only then did she realize that the couple in front of her were definitely not people who could be easily fooled.
So, what should we do?
No matter how much you lie, you probably won't be able to fool him.
"You are right..." Sophie nodded sadly, "Many of the gifts I prepared are for Duke Leichstadt."
The Grand Duke and his wife did not speak, but continued to look at her, as if waiting for her explanation.
Sophie was stunned for a moment, then seemed to clear her mind and continued.
"Since I married into this country, he has been my best friend in the court. I don't know where this good feeling originally originated. Maybe we both have an incompatible foreign atmosphere, so we get along... …and his experience made me feel even more sympathetic, so I wanted to help him as much as possible so that he could get out of the shadows and grow up healthily.
To be honest, we had a great time getting along during that time. We recited poems and rehearsed plays together. I don’t know what this meant to him, but for me it was not only a way to relieve boredom, but also a spiritual boost. entertainment that I couldn’t find anywhere else… Sadly, those days are gone now. "
When Sophie said this, she suddenly choked up and finally calmed down.
"I regarded him as my best friend and my younger brother. I tried every means to solve his problems, but in the end nothing went as I wanted... Fate mocked me and made me fall into the abyss. However, even if he His escape made His Majesty the Emperor so furious that I was severely reprimanded... I still can't forget those beautiful days and the happiness I once had, and my blessings to him have not diminished by half. Now, we are thousands of miles apart, and I am afraid we will never see each other again. I can only wish him all the best and give him some help within my ability. Therefore, Your Highness, I beg you to forgive me for the lie I told you at the beginning. , I'm just worried that you have other concerns."
When she said this, Sophie couldn't help but become emotional again. She picked up a handkerchief and wiped her tears. Then, she looked at Archduke Karl with tears in her eyes, "Please do this for me. It will be very helpful to you." I believe it is just a matter of effort..."
This tone and this look in her eyes can melt people. Even a hard-hearted person will probably be moved when they look at her at this moment.
Archduke Karl kept looking at Sophie, his eyes were stern at first, but slowly softened.
"So what happened between you and His Highness..." Henrietta wanted to ask again.
"Okay, stop talking." At this moment, Archduke Karl interrupted his wife.
Henrietta turned her gaze away and found that her husband's expression was quite serious. She knew that this was an unquestionable will.
Although the wife usually took care of the housework, when the Grand Duke really showed his spirit as the head of the family, she had to stop.
In this dead silence, Archduke Karl spoke in a low voice.
"I heard some very unexpected words today, so I don't know if my words are appropriate now, but I can guarantee that these are my words from the bottom of my heart - Your Highness, your words have changed my view of you. I used to think that you You are arrogant. It seems that you are not like that now. It is a pity that your kindness has been wrongly paid. This is indeed a huge regret... But even so, your true feelings are worthy of being cherished. At least I respect you."
Then, he nodded, "Since you just said those gifts were for Theresa, then I would like to thank you on Theresa's behalf. Don't worry, assuming I really will send a messenger to find Theresa, Then I will also help you deliver your gifts."
In other words, even if he knew that Sophie's words were lies, he continued to treat them as truth.
And this promise immediately cheered Sophie up from the bottom.
"You...you really..."
"Now that I've said it, it's true." Archduke Karl nodded, and then smiled at Sophie, "Well, I think you have just recovered from a serious illness recently, and it is really not suitable for severe mental fluctuations. , so I think we should change the topic to something that makes people happy——"
His smile not only lost his majesty as a royal younger brother, but also showed a kind of care that is unique to an elder when seeing a younger one, so that Sophie was suddenly speechless again.
It wasn't until a moment later that she finally regained control of herself, and then she solemnly bowed her head to Archduke Karl.
"Your Highness, I may have offended you before, but I'm glad you didn't resent it. I can't thank you enough for what happened today, and I will definitely treat you with the greatest respect in the future."
"You don't have to be so serious. As you said, all this is just a piece of cake." Archduke Karl nodded again. "In addition, I am also happy to see that you can recover, which is a blessing to the empire."
Then he called the servant over and asked him to make a few cups of coffee, and then the three of them drank coffee and chatted about interesting things in the palace and other places to consume the remaining time.
Although the three of them were absent-minded and had their own thoughts, the royal education they had received over the years made them seem to be engaged in the conversation, chatting and laughing, as if the lies, questions and tears just now had actually never happened. Existed the same.
Until late in the evening, Sophie felt that according to etiquette, the visit could be ended, so she said goodbye.
The Grand Duke and his wife politely proposed an invitation to stay overnight, but Sophie refused again. Finally, under the farewell of the Grand Duke and his wife, she left the house and prepared to take a carriage back to the palace.
After Sophie left, the Grand Duchess, who had remained silent, finally spoke again.
"Shouldn't we ask? What's going on between her and His Highness? You shouldn't be so concerned under normal circumstances... Oh my God, she actually sheds tears. This is really unimaginable."
"Decent people should not take pleasure in other people's sorrows. We should not force her to continue to torture herself. I think she has suffered enough..." Justice Karl replied calmly, "Besides, now, What’s the point of asking these questions? If it’s something we want to hear, it will embarrass her, and if it’s something we don’t want to hear, then the three of us will be embarrassed, so let’s stop here.”
Henrietta thought for a moment. Although she still had some grudges that she couldn't let go of, she had to admit that her husband was indeed right, and there was no point in asking further.
It’s already this time, can they still bring Therese back? Let the past go, it won't affect anything anymore anyway.
"Okay, then I'll do as you say." Finally, she nodded, "Hey, I thought she was really pitiful just now... I'll help if I can."
After finishing speaking, the Grand Duke and his wife returned to their usual rhythm——
Of course, if they knew how serious the so-called "past things" were, they might not have the same reaction now.
While the Grand Duke and his wife were having a conversation, Sophie, who was sitting on the carriage, was taking one last look at the manor through the carriage window.
Although it is not luxurious, it is so quiet. The setting sun lies quietly on the tall chimney, like a brilliant oil lamp, shining the last sunset on the world.
Now, I've done all I can do - she thought to herself.
Wish you all the best……
Then she closed her eyes slightly, sighed softly, and lowered the curtains.
The carriage blended into the golden afterglow of the setting sun and moved leisurely along the country road until it finally disappeared.
