Eagle’s Glory

Of course Aigron couldn't hear the muttering of the people in front. He just walked side by side with Archduke Karl in the castle, heading towards the center.

"Let me warn you first." While walking in the corridor, Archduke Karl suddenly turned his head, "Wait, you must control yourself, and don't show contempt or contempt for anyone - even an unknown soldier - If you do this, you will be in vain today, and it may even be counterproductive."

"Of course I wouldn't do that." Aegron replied quickly, "In fact, I admire them very much."

"It's best if you really think so." Archduke Carl nodded, "Though these people are disabled, their intelligence has not been damaged in any way. Even if it is an unintentional insult, and they are particularly united because their fate is similar now, if you insult one, you will offend everyone, because they have nothing left."

Archduke Karl's words made Aegron a little mixed.

Although it was true, he was not only a little regretful when he thought that the bravest people either died in battle or got this fate.

"This is fate, so what can I do?" Perhaps seeing what Aegron was thinking, Archduke Karl sighed, "All I can do is to donate to these institutions as much as possible, so that they can enjoy the rest of their lives as peacefully as possible. ."

"If I have some spare time in the future, I will also donate to such a person." Aegron replied.

"Don't be polite." Archduke Karl glanced at him again, "I will remember your words."

"Young old man is innocent." Aegron straightened his back and replied.

"Then I believe you will have a bright future." Archduke Karl nodded, "A commander should care for his soldiers like he cares for his own eyes, even if these soldiers are no longer able to go to the battlefield, he should not leave them alone. This will set an example for those who continue to follow him, and let people know that noble sacrifices are worthwhile."

Aegron listened quietly to the Archduke's words.

"I was born into a royal family, and it is natural for the royal family to lead troops, so I can lead a large army at a young age, and command those generals who are much older and more senior than me... However, the world does not operate according to such rules. I can serve as the commander, but the people below can also choose whether to serve me or perfunctory." Archduke Karl whispered to Aigron as he walked, "After all, people are people, not ants who have no feelings and only obey. Qun, no matter how noble the bloodline is, if he doesn’t show the qualities of a commander and is unwilling to share weal and woe with his subordinates, then it is impossible to get their love, and his orders will be discounted or even impossible to execute at all. You have to know that officers and soldiers do not voluntarily die for a man just because he is the commander, their following is something that needs to be fought for.”

"Yes, you are absolutely right." Aegron nodded convincingly.

"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 loyalty for no reason 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 mediocrity, our empire will eventually be your generation one day in the future. Come to take care of it, if no one comes forward at that time, it will be 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 own younger brother. He was inevitably anxious about the declining power of the empire.

But Aigron couldn't share his patriotism, although he was also a member of the royal family and the emperor's grandson.

The experience of this life has catalyzed his inner sense of alienation, and has built a high wall within him, stubbornly resisting this identification.

Of course, he would never show it on the surface.

"There are so many outstanding young people in the empire, and someone will naturally stand up to support this country in the future." He replied indifferently, "Besides, I am afraid there are not many people who are willing to see what role I play here."

"I admit that there are people who warn you and even hate you, but is that the reason why you give up and be cynical? Doesn't that prove that they are right to underestimate you? Does running away solve any problems!" Archduke Karl frowned, then said sharply. He said, "It's wrong, you should rise to the challenge, the more you fail, the stronger you are, you have to let them know that they are hopelessly wrong, you have to prove that you are better than all of them, and then kick all their curses. Put it back in their mouths, only then can you win. If you are not such a person, how can I trust Teresa to you?"

Aigron's eyes widened, and he was speechless for a while.

Not because what he said was wrong, but because what he said was too right, and completely stepped on his heart, that's what he thought.

However, there was a serious deviation between the way he conceived of victory and the way the Archduke thought.

But he couldn't show it.

"Don't be weak, grit your teeth and move forward!" His hesitation and silence were regarded as hesitation by the Grand Duke, he leaned closer, and then shouted to the young man, "Even if you can't be my son-in-law in the future, Napoleon His son shouldn't be a coward who is arrogant and complaining, you should do something worthy of people's lament, 'Well, it's his son after all!' Don't you think so in your heart?"

"If I have such a chance..." Aigron replied.

"Sir, have you been with Metternich since you were a child, so you don't know how to respond positively?" Archduke Karl interrupted him.

The Grand Duke's questioning made Aegron speechless.

As expected of a soldier, he speaks straight and does not give any room to dodge.

"I thought about it, of course I thought about it, Your Highness." He nodded heavily, showing a rare genuine feeling, "I thought about winning, no... I have to win, if I don't win then I'm nothing. , I don't even exist... Your Highness, are you satisfied with this answer?"

Archduke Karl looked at the young man, as if he was weighing his determination to stand up, and then he finally smiled.

"Very good, that's how it should be." He patted Aegron's shoulder heavily, "This is worthy of it."

worthy of what?

Before Aegron could think about it, he sighed again.

"If Teresa hadn't been obsessed, I wouldn't bother to tell you so much. Tell me, what method did you use to get her to care about you so much?" Archduke Karl sighed suddenly again, "I've never seen She has been so serious in advising a person."

"I don't know either. My contacts with her are actually very limited." Aegron replied with a wry smile, "Perhaps, she thinks that I am more interesting than other peers she has met. She at least considers me a friend."

"Interesting? What's the point? I didn't see it." The Grand Duke pouted.

Aegron could only smile bitterly.

While the two were talking, they came to the central hall in the castle.

And here is ready for lunch.

On the huge dining table, you can see large and small breads, milk cakes, snacks, and fresh pork chops and beef.

There are also 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 such inferior food, but at least today you must eat it with relish." Archduke Karl reminded the young man in a very small voice, "This is already the best hospitality here. Now, they usually have a rare meal."

At this time, the veterans in the sanatorium also entered or helped into the hall one after another.

Aegron had never seen so many people without arms and legs gathered together in his life. He tried his best not to show any physical discomfort, and to keep a humble and gentle smile; Looking at him with his eyes - Captain Hench took less than 20 minutes to let the news spread throughout the nursing home, and let everyone know the complex identity of the teenager.

The gaze projected on the young man is curious, envious, and indifferent, but there is very little hatred. After all, the culprit has already passed away with the wind, and it is meaningless to blame a little duke who grew up in Austria.

Aigron sat down with the Grand Duke. Although he had never experienced a similar scene, he stabilized his mentality, neither humble nor arrogant, nor was he nervous at all.

When the Grand Duke was present, everyone saluted the Grand Duke and then took their seats.

"I'm very happy to see you again." The Grand Duke nodded towards everyone, "I'm proud of having led you all, and I hope that next time I come over, all of you will still be here."

Then, he fingered Aigron again.

"Although you may already know it, I still want to solemnly introduce to you the young man who followed me. He is Duke Reichstedt. Of course, you also know his more well-known identity. Yes, he is Napoleon's. son-"

Aigron bowed his head and questioned everyone present.

"After he heard that I wanted to come to condolence to you, he specifically asked me to come and have a look. He sympathized with your situation as much as I did, and promised to donate money to this place like me in the future." The Grand Duke continued, " I want you to salute him."

People paid tribute to the young people one after another, although some people were obviously reluctant, but they did so under the words of Archduke Karl.

"Okay, let's start our meal." The Grand Duke nodded again.

After such a short speech, everyone began to eat.

As the Grand Duke said before, whether it was wine, meat, or other food, the taste was indeed inferior, but Aigron, who had already prepared himself mentally, did not feel any discomfort and swallowed it.

"Yes, at least you can still suffer." The Grand Duke nodded slightly, and then whispered to him, "Actually, you are already lucky. When I was on the march, the dry food I ate was similar to pig food."

"His Royal Highness..." Suddenly, Captain Henchy, the person in charge sitting on the other side, spoke to Carl in a low voice.

"What's wrong?" asked Archduke Karl.

"In previous years, every time you came, we had to toast for victory..." The captain glanced at the young man with some embarrassment.

For a moment, everyone's eyes seemed to be focused on Aegron again, as if they were all waiting for his answer.

"Otherwise, let's change to another name..." Archduke Karl felt a little embarrassed.

"May I have a few words here?" Aegron suddenly stood up.

"Please speak." Archduke Karl was a little surprised, but nodded anyway.

"Gentlemen, I'm sorry, I will never bow down here to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon, please understand me, my dignity does not allow me to curse my father to please others." Agron raised his head and looked at The veterans present, "However, I still want to raise a glass to you and pay tribute to everyone present, no matter what your position is, at least you fought bravely and dedicated the rest of your life, which is a quality in any nation. It is admirable.”

Aigron picked up the glass and said, "Yes, I admire you, as well as 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 They will be honored with the same respect, because your strife is over, and now you are one and the same, a man forgotten by the world, but still worthy of respect."

Then, he shook it at the people and was killed.

"—Let's toast, for peace."

"For peace!" His words caused a burst of cheers.

The veterans raised their wine glasses one after another, and even the Grand Duke nodded with a smile, and then raised the wine glasses as well.

Aigron drank it.

The liquor made him feel a little uncomfortable, but he swallowed it all.

Just then, a one-legged man dressed as an officer walked up to him on crutches, and then gave him a military salute.

"Hello, Your Highness. I took part in the Battle of Leipzig, that's why I came here." His slender face had a very serious expression, but there was excitement in his eyes, "I don't hate your father, although I It's up to him to be like this, he's an unquestionable hero who just happens to be our enemy. I'm a little happy today because you have such a demeanor that you deserve to be 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 toasted him gently.

"Cheers!" The atmosphere in the hall instantly became lively, and clinking glasses resounded everywhere.

"For peace!"

"For reconciliation!"

"For the Empire!"

"For Your Majesty!"

…the hall resounded with one after another slogans.

"For the marriage!" Just as people were excited, a veteran soldier who deliberately joked called out.

The joke immediately exploded the audience, and laughter and whistles instantly spread throughout the entire hall.