Under the expectant eyes of Aigron and King Ludwig I, Theresa reluctantly agreed to the king's request for a portrait of herself.
Of course, although she was a little embarrassed on the surface, she was also quite happy in her heart - after all, His Majesty the King's behavior was tantamount to admitting that his appearance was indeed outstanding enough that he ignored etiquette. I took the liberty to make such a request when we had just met and were not yet familiar with each other.
Seeing that his wish was fulfilled, the king was naturally very happy. He apologized and thanked Theresa repeatedly, and stated that the painter would take it seriously and never let the appearance of Princess Theresa be diminished on the canvas.
He was certainly not just talking nonsense - as a king, he was naturally surrounded by outstanding palace painters. They might not be geniuses, but there would be absolutely no problems with their techniques and brushstrokes. It would be difficult to make Princess Teresa look ugly.
However, considering that Aigron and Theresa had only arrived at Nymphenburg Palace today, and the fatigue of the journey had not subsided, the king did not call the painter over immediately, but continued to take the young couple to visit the palace, and then asked The attendants took them to rest.
After the couple entered the suite assigned to them, Teresa finally breathed a sigh of relief, and then lay down on the sofa tiredly.
"I have long heard that this king is not a serious person, and it turned out to be true when we met him!" Then Teresa complained in a low voice, "I can't imagine other kings doing this!"
"He is a king, so he is naturally entitled to have some more willful hobbies." Aigron defended King Ludwig with a smile, "Compared to other kings' hobbies of extortionate conquests and militarism, this king has more hobbies. It’s a bit interesting, and even makes people feel a bit sincere and human.”
"Why, does it make you awe-struck to draw beauties and admire them all the time?" Teresa glanced at him, then sarcastically said.
"The reason why human beings can have civilization is because they have the pursuit of beauty... What is there to be ashamed of if you like to see beautiful things? Those ascetic monks may be shocked when they see beauties, shouting that this is the temptation of the devil ; But as a normal person, I can openly admit that I like and appreciate beauty just like him..."
After saying that, he moved next to Teresa.
"Teresa, I'm so happy. This king is quite knowledgeable. He knew you were such a rare beauty when he saw you. I wish everyone would admit this! Humph, he thought he was in this palace. Is it enough to have your face painted as a souvenir? Let’s see, one day, I will let your portrait be placed in every beautiful palace we have, Versailles, the Louvre, and the Tuileries , Fontainebleau, everywhere, you will shine with these immortal buildings... I want people all over the world to see that I have such a beautiful queen, and make them hate me!"
These words were said with sincerity and a sense of kingly pride, which made Teresa's bones seem to soften when she heard them.
She reluctantly calmed herself down, and then scolded her little husband with feigned anger, "Okay, Aigron, it's still daytime, don't be so wildly imaginative! Think about some realistic things..."
Under the scowl, she secretly glanced at her husband. At the moment, he was elated and proud that his young wife would leave a beautiful shadow in this beautiful Nymphenburg palace forever.
My dear, you are a lucky little fool...but I am also a lucky little fool, because I also have such a lovely husband.
She hugged her husband contentedly, kissed his cheek, and then leaned against him to fall asleep.
Although the power of the two of them is not enough to command the world, and the crown they long for seems far away, to her, this is the happy time she wants.
--------------------------------
The next morning, Agron and Theresa got up, had breakfast, and then met King Ludwig again under the leadership of their attendants.
The king seemed to have been looking forward to today's meeting. He had already called the palace painter to his side. After the young couple came, he immediately asked the painter to meet Princess Theresa and prepare to paint the portrait.
For the court painter, the king's order is a political task. For his own job, he must try his best to satisfy His Majesty the King. He must not take it lightly. Even the most ugly girl must be painted as beautiful as a fairy - OK Princess Teresa herself had outstanding appearance, and she was in her youth and beauty at this time, so she was spared the trouble of excessive modification.
Of course, even so, the painter still had to find the best composition and inspiration, so he asked Theresa to put on various postures and expressions, either holding flowers or a folding fan, in order to find the posture that he found most charming.
Although she felt it was very troublesome, since she had promised His Majesty the King, Teresa naturally had no choice but to cooperate. Moreover, she had also learned painting herself and had a pretty good foundation, so she was able to communicate with the painter and study the next painting together. ——After all, the person in the painting is herself, and Teresa is not willing to lose her portrait to other collections of His Majesty the King.
King Ludwig and Eggron were naturally not interested in watching all the time. For them, it was enough to appreciate the finished product.
So the two of them walked to a side room and began their meeting.
After a day of preparation, King Ludwig and Aigron had enjoyed themselves as guests and hosts. They had left a good impression on each other, and His Majesty the King felt that it was time to get down to business.
"Duke, I heard that it was you who strongly advocated selecting a member of our family to succeed the King of Greece -" King Ludwig thanked Aigron in a reserved manner, "You show such love to my family, It makes me a little flattered.”
"This is completely deserved." Aigron complimented him. "As we all know, the Wittelsbach family has a long history and is full of talented people. It is the most prestigious family in Germany. Moreover, it has a rich lineage and is closely related to the royal family of the Eastern Roman Empire. Because of their relatives, they are the most qualified to become the ruler of an independent country; and as a new kingdom, Greece should look for such a famous family to lead them, so that this country can wash away the dust of the past and enter a new world. A glorious new era.”
The "relative relationship" mentioned by Egglund refers to the king's ancestor, Duke John II of the Bavaria-Munich branch (1341-1397), and his mother, Princess Maria Arpad of Hungary, and this princess His maternal grandmother was Maria Lascaris, a princess of the Eastern Roman Empire and a descendant of the Comnenos dynasty.
Although this relative is a bit far away, separated by four to five hundred years, genealogists can always find suitable reasons when they want to demonstrate "legitimacy".
Although he knew that Aigron was deliberately complimenting him, King Ludwig was still elated when he heard it, "You are really flattering... However, although our family has no intention of seeking a crown outside of Germany, there have been many disasters in the past." The grieving people of Greece have expectations of our family and want us to heal the wounds in its history. We must not be ruthless and ignore the people's voice. We must shoulder the obligations imposed on us by fate without any shirk - —Only in this way can we be worthy of our ancestors and our family crest."
Amidst the high-sounding and beautiful words, the two people reached an initial consensus, and then came the next stage of the problem.
"So, in your mind, which member of your family is the most suitable to take on this arduous task?" He asked half seriously and half sarcastically.
Ludwig I frowned slightly, pretending to be thinking, and then gave out the answer he had already thought of, "My second son Otto, although he is only thirteen years old now, is smart and has a good understanding of Greece." He is full of admiration for the ancient civilization, and he is very willing to sacrifice his life for the well-being of the Greek people... What do you think?"
King Ludwig I proposed that his second son, Otto von Wittelsbach, take over the crown, which was not surprising to Eggron.
Because in the original historical line, after Greece became independent and established its country, after the coordination of the great powers, it was indeed Prince Otto who officially became the king of Greece in 1832.
However, the ending is not so happy.
This king was mediocre in his administration, and only favored ministers from Bavaria, excluding the original Greek establishment. In addition, in order to maintain the life of the royal family, he levied excessive taxes on the people, which resulted in collective dissatisfaction with the king among all classes in Greece.
Due to his mediocre rule, coupled with his unwillingness to convert to Orthodox Christianity, and he had no heirs, his brothers were unwilling to convert to Orthodox Christianity in order to inherit the throne, which became the focus of domestic anger. Finally, in 1862, that is, After he ruled Greece for thirty years, the revolution that broke out in Athens drove him out of Greece and ended the reign of the Wittelsbach family in the Kingdom of Greece.
Otto then became an exile, never giving up his claim to the Greek throne, but the Greeks found another king - from Oldenburg-Schleswig-Holstein. Because George I of the Duke's family no longer needed him, he was never able to set foot on Greek soil again throughout his life.
Aigron knows everything that has happened in history, but now the historical line has been changed because of him. He is confident that he can take precautions and try his best to make the pattern he created continue smoothly.
Besides, even if the historical line has not changed at all, he does not need to worry about what will happen 30 years later. By then, everything may have changed beyond recognition.
Aigron also pretended to think seriously.
"Isn't thirteen years old a bit too young...?" He deliberately questioned.
"But you are only seventeen years old now, and you are already famous all over the world -" the king retorted with a smile, "If you want to achieve a great career, age is the least important issue, isn't it?"
This counter-general made Aigron feel a little embarrassed. After all, he is the person in the world who cannot deny that "heroes emerge from youth".
However, Aigron did not show any embarrassment on the surface, "I understand your thoughts, and I also believe in your vision. Since you think Prince Otto is very suitable, then I am also willing to believe in your judgment. However, Greece has just To get rid of the brutal rule of Turkey, its people have experienced too much trauma and pain. It needs stability and peace so much, so the burden on the king will be very heavy. I think it is difficult for the young shoulders of a mere prince to Can bear this burden.”
The king's smile froze a little. He was not sure whether Aigron was deliberately asking for a price or had other plans.
"Then what do you suggest?"
"I suggest that a regency committee be formed, including Bavarians and Greeks. The specific number can be agreed upon in detail. They will take charge of the government until the prince comes of age and be responsible for the education and training of His Highness. I think this is the safest way."
Eggron believed that King Otto's biggest failure in history was to isolate the Greek local elite from himself. In order to change this, he decided to let the Greek local elite have a place from the beginning - so that they would have the enthusiasm to defend the king. .
"That's no problem." King Ludwig saw that Aigron was not opposed to his second son becoming the king of Greece, and he was relieved. He didn't mean anything to this condition.
"In addition, I suggest that the prince should convert to Orthodox Christianity - this will best appease the feelings of the Greeks. After all, they are all Orthodox Christians." Aiglon continued.
"Well..." The king looked slightly embarrassed.
The Wittelsbach family has always prided itself on being loyal Catholic believers, so they asked the prince to publicly convert to Orthodoxy because he was afraid of shocking public opinion.
"Henry IV of France, before he inherited the throne, faced the French Catholic Church's request to convert to Catholicism. He agreed without hesitation. He said that it was worth attending a mass for Paris -" Aigron reminded the king. , "Your Majesty, I am here to commemorate the ancestors and remind you - it is worthwhile to say a mass for a crown. After all, it is just a form. Power is the essence. Who cares what he believes in private? "
Aiglon's words immediately made the king lose his hesitation.
Yes, compared to a kingdom, what is a mere conversion? Moreover, he was only a younger son who converted to Christianity, and the Wittelsbach family remained loyal Catholics.
"If you think this is best, then I agree with you. After all, you know the situation over there better." So, he nodded simply.
Seeing that the king was so easy to talk to, Aigron breathed a sigh of relief.
There's only so much he can do. If Prince Otto still can't support the wall like in history, then let him ask for his own blessings. It's not his son anyway, so he doesn't bother to care so much.
In this way, in a short period of time, the two of them decided the fate of a country. Aigron and King Ludwig had a good conversation, and both were quite satisfied with the current result.
"My brother, you have really helped us a lot -" With emotion, King Ludwig took the initiative to extend his hand to Aigron, "Don't worry, our Wittelsbach family will never Those who forget this kindness——"
"I have a good impression of your family. For this reason, it is appropriate to provide some convenience where I can accommodate you." Aigron replied with a smile, "Anyway, I can't wear the Greek crown now, so give it to me. The one that is most pleasing to the eye is also very good.”
"Hahahaha..." The king laughed, "You are so generous!"
After a pause, he changed the topic and said, "It seems that my sister must have left a good impression on you."
Although the king's tone was calm, Aigron's heart suddenly tightened.
"Yes, Your Majesty." He tried to sound calm. "When I was in the most difficult time, Her Royal Highness Sophie gave me comfort and care, allowing me to continue to have the motivation to work hard... I will always be grateful for this kindness. Giving your family a crown is just my small reward for this kindness."
"It's really touching and sincere, which is rare in people like us. I think the two of you must get along very well, so that you will be so grateful." His Majesty the King nodded, seeming to praise Aigron. , "What a pity, it's probably hard for you to see her again now..."
"I think so, but fate has always been unpredictable, who can say for sure?" Aiglon replied.
"That's true." His Majesty the King smiled, "And when fate closes a door, it may not be willing to open another window for you. What you have now is enough to be proud of."
After finishing speaking, he turned his gaze and looked at the pendulum clock next to him.
Of course Aiglon understood the king's hint - as a king, he must be a busy man, and he could not spend all his time on his own. There were still many important things that had to be dealt with.
Now that the two people have reached an initial tacit understanding, there is no need to agonize over small issues anymore - their secretary will naturally handle the minutiae.
"I think I should take a rest. I don't know what's going on with Teresa." He casually prepared to leave.
"Her Royal Highness Princess Teresa will be busy for a while. Why don't you and your entourage take a stroll in our beautiful garden first? I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Now is the time when it is at its most beautiful. "The king suggested casually.
Aiglon thought about it, so he said goodbye to the king.
Then, he and his secretary, captain of the guard and others took a walk in the gardens of Nymphenburg Palace. Because they had received the king's notice, the attendants did not disturb them anymore. Aigron was also happy to relax and enjoy the spring scenery. Beautiful view.
While admiring the scenery, he was thinking about the problem he was dealing with now, and casually dictated it to his secretary Leon Esposito.
Looking around, all kinds of flowers in the garden are either blooming slowly or in bud, and the roses of various colors are shyly showing off their beauty. For a while, there is a sense of gorgeousness that is gradually enchanting the eyes.
While Aiglon was dictating, he felt a little tired mentally.
Suddenly, he stopped.
He clearly saw a beautiful woman looking at him quietly among the flowers. After noticing his gaze, she picked up a folding fan and covered the lower half of her face as if to hide her shame. Look at yourself with your eyes.
Such a familiar face, such a familiar movement...
"Your Majesty...?" Leon Esposito saw that Aigron was suddenly stuck, so he asked cautiously, "What's wrong with you?"
"Is there a woman there——?" He got an answer that shocked him.
Although he was very confused, Leon could only follow Aigron's line of sight and look over. Then, he found that there was indeed a woman wearing a skirt and holding a folding fan. Although he couldn't see her face clearly, judging from her figure, She must be a young girl.
"Yes, Your Majesty, there is a woman." So he answered the young man honestly.
"Okay, that means I got it right."
And at this moment, as if she felt Leon's gaze, the woman suddenly put away her folding fan, turned around, and disappeared among the rose bushes.
"Damn it..." Aigron cursed in a low voice, "Is she a flower fairy? She will disappear when others see her? Go to hell...!"
"Your Majesty...?" Leon Esposito became more and more puzzled. He had been working with this young man for several months, but he had never seen His Majesty be so out of sorts.
Maybe the woman opposite is indeed a beauty, but... as for that?
He knew that his master was not the kind of ascetic monk who was not close to women, but his majesty should not be unable to move when he saw a beauty - not to mention anything else, his wife and the maids around him were all very beautiful. Well, logically speaking, Your Majesty shouldn't be so rude.
But what a surprise today, His Majesty actually lost his composure.
Aigron didn't know what Leon was thinking, so he subconsciously took steps and walked towards the place where the woman had just disappeared.
"Your Majesty!" Leon was horrified and hurriedly grabbed him, "Don't forget that we are in the Bavarian Palace now. You should not do anything rude -"
Aigron looked back at him, a look so piercing that Leon was so frightened that he let go.
But he still did not forget to admonish his master, "As a distinguished guest, it doesn't matter if you are a little out of line here. You don't have to care even if you are a noble lady. But what if that woman is a royal princess? What if the brewing If there is any kind of dispute, you will be in trouble, and it goes against your original intention of coming here."
"I wish she was a princess!" Aiglon muttered softly.
Before Leon could react, he said to Leon again, "No need to say any more, I have my own plan."
Then, he looked past Leon and looked at his guard captain Andre Davout.
"Andre, are you as brave as ever?"
Andre was a little confused by this question, but he still answered with his chest raised, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will go through fire and water for you at any time."
"Okay, you guys stay here for half an hour... no, within an hour, don't let anyone come and disturb me, no one, do you understand?" Aigron gave the order firmly.
Then he took steps and ran in the direction just now. On the way, he thought of something, turned around and warned them both, "By the way, don't say a word to Teresa!"
Soon, the figure of the young man also disappeared, leaving only a few young men looking at each other in the garden.
