October 5, 348 Continental Gregorian Calendar, Caiunescu. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

Today is the day of the triumphant return of the autumn army, and the main streets of Kaunescu have been swept clean for the triumphal ceremony. While it should be something to celebrate, people can't celebrate victories as elatedly as they used to.

The Falencians lost two more generals in this campaign, especially Genna Lanfonte. When the Prime Minister, who was beloved by the people, lost his beloved wife, everyone sighed when they heard the news, and they couldn't even get up to the task of organizing the celebrations.

War causes many people to lose their relatives and friends, and ordinary people know that they are likely to experience such a situation. For the people, the superior should be very far away from this pain. Some would even think that the superior had nothing to do with this sacrifice at all, but Thorgrande's experience taught them that it was a mistake. Queen Margaret knew how to run her propaganda machine, and before the army returned, she sent people to the Eastern Front to gather first-hand accounts of the war. She then took the materials and visited the Marquis de Rabelais, hoping that he would find scholars who were good at writing plays to turn them into plays on stage. Miss Rabelais took the initiative to accept the assignment, first by having a teacher who taught rhetoric write the script, and then by recruiting students from the Civil and Non-Commissioned Officers Academies to rehearse it. As China said to Kreit at the time, please keep in mind the heroic gestures of the warriors and tell them to the others.

There were probably more than a dozen plays at the time, but today only one one-act play and one mutilated three-act play have survived. The one-act play, titled "The City Gate," is written about the deeds of Captain David Adan of the 45th Regiment and his men. The three-act play is pieced together from multiple fragments, and the famous movie "The Death of the Valkyrie", which has been remade 34 times, was born from this book.

There is no special written record of how effective the propaganda was. However, according to a folk history, when the play "City Gate" was first performed for the Praetorian Guards, when the scene of the most intense battle was staged, many members of the Praetorian Guards drew their sabers and rushed to the stage. It is said that this is the reason why the French Janissaries later added Catch-22 - "It is forbidden to bring weapons into the theater when going to the theater".

Back to the topic, today is still a day of celebration after all, and everyone should enjoy the joy of victory, and should not dwell too much on the mourning of the dead.

Queen Margaret of course needs to dress up in order to welcome the returning soldiers. The lady who served her had never seen the young queen so troubled and hesitant, and even when faced with the most cumbersome political matters, she usually dealt with them with a crisp style. Although women always spend a lot of time on dressing, Queen Margaret is rarely so cautious and timid about it.

"Your Majesty, haven't you made a decision yet?" Even the Queen Mother came to care about her daughter's situation.

"Ah, Queen Mother," said the Queen, turning to meet her, and asking her mother's opinion like all daughters, "which one do you say I should wear?" ”

"Of course, festive days should be brightly dressed." The Queen Mother picked up a goose-yellow dress.

"But, however, if I dress too brightly, I will be in a ...... mood with Thorgrande," Margaret tilted her head.

"Your Majesty, it is precisely because Lu Siqing's mood may be low that you should cheer him up even more."

"But ......"

"Lu Siqing is a person who takes care of the overall situation, he will not tear down the stage of the ceremony because he doesn't like your dress."

But ...... "I'm just afraid he won't like it."

"Okay, don't do it anymore, if you go on like this, you will be late, so that Lu Siqing and the commander-in-chief, and the other officers and soldiers will be even more unhappy."

"Alas, it's already this time!" The queen began to get anxious.

Outside the city gates, the officers and soldiers waiting for the triumphal ceremony were already fully prepared, waiting for the order from above. The commander-in-chief, Marshal Henry, was probably the most enthusiastic in the whole team, and it was rare for him to achieve such feats at his age. However, the old man also knew to take into account the feelings of others, so he was just there to steal pleasure alone.

Sogrend was patrolling the procession from start to finish, and he didn't want to make any stubble at such a major event. Everyone who saw the prime minister was respectful to him, for fear of provoking him to hurt him. Everyone knows that Sogrand is not the kind of person who is emotionally exposed, which makes them extra careful.

Of course, Thorgrande found this kindness from everyone, and he could only understand that if he opened his mouth to explain, it would increase the trouble of others.

When he reached the end of the line, he spotted a familiar figure crouching in a corner. Sogrend walked over to the man, only to realize that it was Mazarel.

"Admiral Wing Mnast." Sogrend shouted.

"Ah, ah, it turned out to be Lord Luce." Masalel immediately stood up and replied.

"Are you crying?"

"No," Mazarel wiped his eyes, "yes, I think of my father. ”

"Lord Gorsey is a valiant warrior." Thorgrande patted the shoulder of the dragoon general, who was much taller than him.

"I'm sorry, I've heard about Lord Lanfangte, and it's really unreasonable for me to be sad in front of Lord Luce."

"You shouldn't think so, we've all lost loved ones, and Cena isn't necessarily more important to me than Lord Gursi is to you. It is human nature to feel the feelings of one's deceased loved ones, and it is normal for us to have a big premise as a person before the military. A qualified soldier should also have qualified feelings. Sogrend said.

"But, you know, I still couldn't reconcile with my father before he left. What a bastard son I am, Lord Leus, I didn't even make him feel relieved or comforted for me before he died. I'm really ...... I ......," Mathera choked up as he slammed his fist into the ground in hatred, leaving a puddle of crimson on the hard pavement.

"O Mazarel, I believe that Ling Zun has forgiven you, and he will know that you love him deeply, just as he has always loved you. Limited self-blame can make you more sober, but don't fall into the abyss of self-denial, which is not what the deceased loved one wants to see. ”

"I'm sorry, Lord Luce, but you're going to be the same, and now you're asking you to comfort me. It's ......."

Thorgrande turned his head, looked at the horizon in the distance, and said, "I am a useless man, and I can't even protect my beloved. In hindsight, I also thought that if I had let go of my hand, maybe China would be happily living in the arms of some man now. But even people like me are favored by the most beautiful and noble women in the world, and why? I think that's because China agrees with my approach and with my ideals. If I fail her hope and recognition, then it will be the greatest betrayal of her and the greatest humiliation to her. So I have to live like this, and continue to fight for our common ideals, even if we encounter great difficulties in the future. ”

"Lord Luce......"

"We will always love one another until death separates us, no, even death does not want to separate us, and your soul will always be with me!" Thorgrande muttered to himself, and with that, Mazarel saw him reverently pull out a small pendant around his neck and kiss it. Later, everyone learned that the pendant inside contained a bundle of Ginna's hair.

An hour later, Saugrend and Marshal Henry were received by the Queen after the triumphal procession. Margaret looked at the crowd with a smile and praised them one by one. When she finally came to her chancellor, she looked at Sogrend with some trepidation.

"Your Majesty, you are beautiful today." Sogrend still complimented in a gentle and humble tone.

"Lu Siqing, I've been really hard for you all along." Margaret was of course overjoyed when she heard the other party's praise, but she was still able to control her emotions and speak slowly.

"That's what Wechen and she should do."

The queen naturally understood who the Prime Minister was referring to in the female third person, so she unconsciously replied, "There will always be someone else who will be able to take over her responsibilities in the future, so please don't be too sad." ”

"Yes, yes, maybe......" replied the always capable prime minister in a trance.

"Thorgrande ......," the young queen muttered silently, and the deafening cheers of the crowd around her resounded with the hearts of the people involved.

Let's turn our attention to Mastar, and as we enter November, the turmoil caused by the defeat in early autumn has faded into obscurity. Sigrani's generosity in providing subsidies to the war dead led the populace to focus their discontent on the Bertrand family.

If a few years ago Viscount Bertrand was immensely proud to have such a firstborn son as Cizer, now he probably regrets that he had brought him into this world. As a result of this incident, the Bertrand family received a unanimous cold reception, from the nobles to the commoners. Even the butchers and bakers, who always settled accounts for aristocratic families at the end of the month, demanded that the family must trade in cash like ordinary customers. As for the social circles of the nobility of Shurasa, it was as if the family had been completely forgotten, and since the middle of September, no one has been willing to visit them, and no one has been willing to invite them.

Madame Bertrand complained about this, and spent her days in her husband's ear. I can't blame her for being verbose, because according to the original plan, the two Miss Bertrand should have been married at the beginning of spring, but now there is not even a regular contact from the man's side. The two daughters complained and lost their temper there, and Madame Bertrand could not have given a good face. Cizer's two younger sisters were not of outstanding character, and if it weren't for the close friendship between him and the Archduke of Field, it would have been difficult for the marriage of the two young ladies to be determined so early.

Viscount Bertrand was very calm about the present situation, and he thought that the crime of "rebellion" of the eldest son was already a mercy of Her Majesty the Empress before it was connected to the family. What's more, the two families of Fields and Bertrand have worked hard for the royal family, and Cizer has not yet been guillotined, so everything is still turning around.

On this day, the Bertrand family finally welcomed its first visitor in months, Mrs. Hayes Atalanta.

The viscount knew of course that Atalanta would never visit a house in a private capacity, and Madame Hayes was very cautious about this, of course, so as not to cause unnecessary gossip to the Empress. It is clear, then, that she has come today on the orders of Her Majesty the Empress.

Based on this understanding, Viscount Bertrand personally welcomed the emperor's attendant into the living room, with a humble and polite attitude.

When Atalanta sat down, he spoke directly: "Your Excellency, my visit today is at the behest of His Majesty, of course you should have guessed it. ”

"I wonder what Your Majesty is planning to do now?" The Viscount asked.

"I beg you to come to the palace to-morrow morning to meet your Majesty, and then perhaps in the afternoon you will be accompanied by Your Majesty to see your son, His Excellency Cizer Bertrand. The Praetorian Guard will come to pick you up then, so you don't have to prepare anything for this. ”

"Wechen obeys."

"In addition, please hurry up and arrange the marriage of the two young ladies, Your Majesty is also looking forward to attending their wedding, it must be a very happy celebration." Atalanta said as she stood up, "Well, my mission has been accomplished, and it's time to take my leave." ”

"I've bothered you more." The viscounts said in unison.

"Don't send it far, I'm leaving." Atalanta took her farewell and walked out of the living room.

After Atalanta's departure, the Viscounts looked at each other, wondering what Her Majesty was going to do with Cezel. Is it so that the father can see his son for the last time? So why do you want jade to come to your own daughter's marriage, which has basically collapsed? If the Empress was ready to forgive Cizer because of Archduke Field's connections, then why not just let him go home? It is difficult to guess the thoughts of a woman and an emperor, let alone a combination of the two.

The next day, Sigrani received the Viscount of Bertrand after the usual morning court. She did not mention anything about Cizer, but focused more on the marriage of the two Mademoiselles Bertrand. This deepened the viscount's unease. She then invited the viscount to lunch with herself, as well as important ministers such as the Count of Albertini and the Marquis of Marchini, the Minister of Taxation.

Although the expression of Viscount Lippi, the court chief who was waiting beside him, was still the same as ever, Viscount Bertrand clearly sensed that several other ministers were showing great concern about his presence at this dinner table. This embarrassed Viscount Bertrand. Sigrani seemed to notice this, and the Empress again mentioned the marriage of the Bertrand family at the dinner table, and in a joking tone ordered the ministers present to attend the wedding at that time. At this point, the viscount understood that the Empress did not at least want the Bertrand family to decline because of this incident.

When the meal was over, the viscount was arranged to follow the empress immediately, and the party was divided into two carriages. This time, Sigrani only brought the "Three Nemesis" as her bodyguard, and the one who was in the same car with the viscount happened to be Alecto.

"Miss Alecto, what is Your Majesty's plan for the dog?" The Viscount asked tentatively.

"Your Majesty's intentions are not for us to guess, although I also hope that Lord Cizer will be safe and sound." Alector replied with a frown, she was also full of sorrow about the matter.

After that, the two men fell into a long silence until the carriage stopped at a manor somewhere.

"Alecto."

"Here I am, Your Majesty."

"Take Your Excellency the Viscount to his son."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Sigrani and Viscount Bertrand were separated, and Her Majesty was followed by Tisiphne and Megaella, and another nanny carrying a basket for the baby.

The officers who waited there respectfully led the way for the Supreme of the Empire. It is a typical Mastar royal estate, with three floors of villas for accommodation and reception; There are small shrines for simple religious ceremonies; Of course, there are other production buildings, such as mills, blacksmiths and barns. The main building of the manor was designed in an "L" shape, with Sigrani and others entering from the front, that is, due south, and Viscount Bertrand being led to the other side to the west.

The group made their way to the door of a room on the third floor, where the guards who waited there saluted Sigrani meticulously and unlocked the door.

"Stay at the door, give me the basket, officer, and get them some refreshments and tea." Sigrani commanded, then carefully took the basket from the nanny's hand. She lowered her head to take a closer look at the basket, where the baby was sleeping soundly, showing no signs of being disturbed by the adults.

Sigrani pushed the door in, and although the late autumn afternoon sun warmed the room, the atmosphere inside was cold. In the chaise longue by the window, a man was huddled, and even such a gentle sunlight could not lift him up much. When the man looked back and saw Sigrani, he struggled nervously from the recliner, his movements stiff.

"Leon......" Sigrani shouted.

Yes, the man in front of him was none other than Archduke Leon. However, those who knew him well would probably not associate this haggard face with the handsome Grand Duke. The face in front of Sigrani had sunken cheeks, eyes that had lost their luster, messy stubble, and lips that looked shriveled and dry.

"What are you doing here?" Leon looked at Higrani with a wary look, much to the Empress's disappointment.

"I'm coming to see you." Sigrani said, placing the basket on the coffee table beside her.

"Look at me, Your Majesty actually deigned to come to visit me, a defeated general and a lost dog?" The Grand Duke's voice was raised.

"Leon......" Sigrani stepped forward and stretched out her soft, but was refused.

"Against your will, I tried to challenge Saulgrande Leus, but I was defeated in front of others. I'm afraid the world has found another model that is beyond their own strength. However, did they know how determined I was to break free from the shackles that had entangled in my heart? Even to do things that I didn't even bother to do. However, it only makes me more ridiculous, pathetic, and hateful. Your Majesty, I confess that all the accusations against me are that I have been deluded and have committed such a sin. Deal with me in the manner in which you have always been impartial. ”

"Leon, we are husband and wife, and your sin is my fault. We're supposed to be one-minded, aren't we? ”

"One mind?" When Leon heard this, he snorted coldly, "I'm afraid I've never been able to get your sincerity. ”

"Do you think I'm being a liar to you?" Sigrani said, clutching her heart.

"Only you know that." Leon continued to reply coldly.

"Well, no matter what you think, I should still let you enjoy the pleasure that ordinary people should have." Sigrani said, walking over to the coffee table and picking up the baby from the basket.

Leon frowned suspiciously, and then at Sigrani, then at the baby in her arms.

"What is this?"

"Your son, your flesh and blood, look at him, this is your right as a father."

Leon stood beside Sigrani and moved his gaze to her arms. The nature of blood made him confirm this fact at once, and Leon was both excited and timid, like every father.

"Everything else resembles you except his eyes." Sigrani explains.

"Can I hug him?" This time Leon stretched out his hand.

Sigrani took a step back.

"Isn't it possible?" Leon muttered to himself dryly.

"Leon, you know? How hard it was for me to give birth to him, and I think back to the fact that if I had died on the delivery bed, I am afraid it would have been best for you. Sigrani said bitterly.

"No, of course not." Leone could not accept such accusations.

"I'm sorry that what you have done, and what you have just said, has forced me to make such a conjecture. Leon, there's no denying that you made a very great sacrifice for me. I also try to make up for what I owe you, but this compensation cannot be compromised with my principles as Emperor Mastar, let alone squandered the interests of the Empire. I can forgive your sins, but I can't risk the fate of the empire and myself anymore. ”

"So, Leon, goodbye!" Sigrani said resolutely.

"No, you can't let me lose my son!" Leon shouted, and he threw himself at Sigrani excitedly.

At this moment, the door was slammed open with a "bang", and Tisiphne's trident directly stretched out, completely sealing Leon's operation. Megaela quickly snatched up in front of Sigrani and drew her small sword.

"Your Royal Highness, please respect yourself." Tisiphne said.

"Your Majesty, you and the prince are all right."

"Thank you, Megaella." Sigrani said weakly, then she turned to Leon again, "You can name your child, that's the little right left." ”

Leon opened his mouth, but didn't say anything. He stepped back and sat down in the chaise longue. After about a minute of silence, he spoke, "Call him Lehman, it's a strong name." ”

"Okay, as you are." "Let's get out of here, Tisiphne and Megaella. ”

Leon watched the Empress and her party leave her room, and hope and happiness left the unfortunate man.