Flowers, Swords and France

"What?" When she heard Crown Prince Alexander say that his father was planning to meet her, Fran was inevitably surprised. "Your...father?"

She looked at the Crown Prince in disbelief, which naturally greatly satisfied his vanity.

"Yes, don't you remember? We once hoped that you could show us your attainments and talents in painting - that is, to paint our portraits. Now that the opportunity has come, why don't we seize it?" His Royal Highness the Crown Prince still smiled, "Or, don't you want to honor us once?"

"No... no, that's not what I mean." Fran shook her head quickly. She didn't dare to say that she looked down on the Russian Tsar and the royal family. "I just feel very... very surprised and honored. According to general opinion, your father should be very busy and suppressed by domestic and foreign affairs and unable to extricate himself..."

"Unfortunately, your opinion is right. Our Majesty is indeed so busy - who says he is the most indispensable person in this empire?" Crown Prince Alexander nodded with a smile, "But even so, my father is willing to take a little time for me, and even more for you. After all, he also hopes to see I want to meet you who has become famous recently... Are you as good and lovely as I said. "

"Is that so?" This intentional or unintentional compliment made Fran blush slightly, "I... I am really afraid that I can't meet your and His Majesty's expectations..."

"As long as you are as humble as you are now, I think no one will be disappointed in you." Crown Prince Alexander said firmly, and then pointed to a road in the corridor, "Okay, let's go now, don't delay my poor father's time."

After that, he continued to lead the way with his head held high. People passing by along the way, whether they were attendants and guards in uniforms, or court officials and officers in dresses, all saluted them. Crown Prince Alexander was obviously accustomed to this display of power and didn't think it was worth showing off, but Fran felt it was very strange - or rather, it was the first time she encountered so many people respectful to her, although it was not because of her.

Soon, they passed through the corridors and several halls, and finally came to the door of a hall. At this time, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince stopped and waited outside with Fran. Obviously, although His Majesty agreed to take time to meet Miss de Treville, he still had to deal with state affairs first.

However, they did not wait too long. Soon, the door of the room opened, and several officers in military uniforms and ribbons came out. They immediately saluted the Crown Prince outside and left.

At the signal of a court attendant, Crown Prince Alexander tidied his clothes quite easily, and then made a gesture to Fran. Fran also tidied her clothes quickly, and then followed His Royal Highness the Crown Prince out quietly.

As soon as she walked in, she was wrapped in the golden light all over the sky. There was a golden light inside, which was bright and dazed, as if she had entered a treasure house in a myth, and even the air seemed to have a little more heat from the flames.

Fran knew that this was just her psychological effect, but there was one thing that was true: this place was indeed built with wealth. This was a hall made of amber and gold. Although she had known this for a long time, when she was really in it and was shocked by the refracted golden light, she couldn't help but be amazed and shocked.

It took her a while to recover from the shock, and then she stopped and looked around slightly, and then scanned the surroundings with an eye that was not greedy but admiring.

What she saw were panels inlaid with jewels and diamonds, with various patterns made of amber on them, shining in the bright candlelight and reflections, enough to make people wonder if they had come to another world.

This was indeed another world carefully constructed, but it was not created by the Russians, but from Prussia. It was a precious relic left in the world by Frederick I, the founding monarch of Prussia, who was famous for his luxury.

As a small German country at that time, Prussia was small in area, with poorer land and low agricultural production. It was a poor country and could not be compared with other European powers in terms of national wealth. However, as a country on the Baltic Sea, Prussia had a precious specialty - amber. Although Frederick I was a pioneering monarch, he was also a monarch who loved to squander and live a luxurious life. He regarded King Louis XIV of France as his idol.

Because it was difficult to surpass Louis XIV in the court, he thought about showing off his kingly style in other places. Finally, he decided to use amber, a specialty, to make an entire hall to keep pace with the King of France in a certain aspect. With his efforts, the Amber Hall was finally built a few years later and became a rare treasure.

However, after the death of Frederick I, his son Frederick William I succeeded him. This king had an eccentric and cruel personality. What he liked most was the army, and what he hated most was luxury. Therefore, he could not see anything. I'm not used to this room that my father left behind. At this time, he sought the alliance of Peter the Great because he was against Sweden, so he gave the Amber Room to Peter the Great as a gift. This extremely luxurious hall became the most luxurious hall owned by the Romanov dynasty. A valuable treasure.

There is no doubt that from a general point of view, unabashed decoration with wealth is a kind of boring accumulation and showing off, and is very tacky. However, when this tackiness reaches a certain level, it is no longer tacky, but a kind of tackiness. Art, at least a kind of kitschy art, and this is the apex of that art.

As a semi-professional painter, the beauty really touched her deeply.

Only then did she notice a person sitting in the center of the hall.

This is a rather tall middle-aged man. He is wearing a dark green Russian military uniform and has a large medal on his chest. He has an oval face, a thick mustache, and a military uniform and medals. He looks like a general about to lead troops on an expedition. He is serious and has an unquestionable sense of authority.

However, even though she knew that this person was the supreme leader of the largest empire in the world, Fran did not feel the same shock as when she first entered this hall, because in her heart, she did not feel that these emperors were There are so many surprising things that she needs to pay homage to.

She curtsied to His Majesty the Tsar with apparent respect. "Hello, Your Majesty."

"Are you Mademoiselle de Treville?" His Majesty the Tsar glanced at Fran rather indifferently, and then asked calmly. "It's nice to meet you, you are as beautiful as he said you were."

Like his son, he used very standard French, but also lacked enthusiasm.

"Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty." Fran saluted the other party again, and then shrank back as if she was very uneasy, "But I also ask you and His Highness the Crown Prince not to continue to praise me like this, otherwise I will really feel very uncomfortable. disturbed."

Because he was a little surprised, His Majesty the Emperor looked at Fran again, and this time he seemed more interested. "Why do you say that? You must also know that not everyone can get my praise."

"Because I know very well that I cannot deserve your praise, and I am still inferior to others in many ways," Fran replied respectfully, "and I don't want to be praised because of my appearance..."

"Oh, what a sensible girl!" His Majesty the Emperor couldn't help laughing, and then shrugged slightly, "I'm glad that you are so sensible at this age, but I must say that this adds to your beauty -"

Then, he glanced at Crown Prince Alexander next to him, "And I heard him say that you are very good at painting?"

"I don't dare to say that it's superb, but it did take a lot of time to learn." Fran replied in a low voice.

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

"So - can I take the liberty of asking you to leave a few portraits for me?" the emperor asked with a smile.

Although his smile seemed a bit stiff due to his military uniform and serious expression, this easy-going attitude was rarely shown to others.

Although Fran didn't know how much favor she had received, she also knew that the emperor of the Russian Empire was deliberately trying to win her favor. As the emperor of the Russian Empire, he must have countless people around him to help him paint his portrait - and as a tsar, his portrait will be hung in official offices and public places across the country - he has no shortage of people to paint his portrait.

Therefore, in the final analysis, what the other party valued was not her painting skills, but her special identity.

"As the emperor, you have countless important things to do, so I dare not disturb your time too much..." Fran declined in a low voice.

"It doesn't matter, I'm free now. You can today, and I can also enjoy a rare leisure. You can use this as the background to draw a portrait for me." His Majesty the Tsar smiled and spread his hands, "Of course, I still ask Just finish the work, after all, I still need to meet people outside during the dinner party."

"If you don't mind, we can start now..." Seeing this point, Fran was not ready to push back. She looked around with a little hesitation, "But... I don't have any tools around me. "

"Fortunately, we have a lot here, and they are all the best." His Majesty the Tsar nodded with a smile, then stretched out his hand to pull the bell cord next to the desk, and soon a uniformed palace attendant walked away without looking away. Come in.

"Bring the painting supplies for this young lady." After the attendant left, His Majesty the Tsar turned his attention to Fran again, "Now you can start your work soon - I am looking forward to it."

"I hope I won't live up to your expectations." Fran replied nervously.

In addition to being nervous, she was also a little excited because it was the first time she had painted a portrait of such a big shot - no matter what the reason, this was a rare opportunity for her.

"If possible, can you paint a few more? I want to present two portraits to your brother and his Majesty the Emperor." At this time, His Majesty the Tsar suddenly spoke again, "My portrait will be taken back to France by you as a proof of Russian friendship..." (~^~)