A few days later, as the Count had said, the banquet held by the court to celebrate the fifty-fifth birthday of the Archduke Karl went ahead as scheduled.

Perhaps in order to ease the tensions between the brothers, His Majesty the Emperor attached great importance to the banquet, not only using his Schönbrunn Palace as a place of celebration, but also inviting people from all walks of life to attend. Even the foreign envoys in Vienna came to cheer for the famous Grand Duke.

However, Archduke Karl is not a person who likes vanity, so the outside world has also speculated that the reason why he celebrated so high-profile this time was to allow his eldest daughter, Her Royal Highness Princess Teresa, to make a grand appearance and step into the social world under everyone's gaze.

For most people, the reason for the banquet is not important, the banquet itself is the focus, and the opportunity to enter the court and meet the emperor and the grand duke is already a rare honor for them.

In this way, Schönbrunn Palace, which is usually sparsely populated, suddenly comes alive with celebrities, cabinet ministers, and even bishops, where the medals worn by the men and the jewels of the ladies are illuminated by candlelight.

Seeing this situation, who would doubt that the national fortunes of the empire were dwindling?

Because of the large number of participants, it has always been a tradition for the court's attendants to keep important high-ranking guests in the hall, while others of insufficient rank can only stay in the long gallery. Even in the gallery, these inadequately graded guests stand up and down according to their ranks.

As a member of the royal family, Aiglon was rightfully placed in the hall; However, in the past, during similar activities, he would only stand in an inconspicuous corner with a playful taste, acting as a backdrop for a cold bystander, and rarely anyone would take political risks to talk to him.

Today was different, he was placed in the front row, a prominent position—the guests who knew him were a little stunned by the special arrangements in the court today, and only Aglon himself knew what it was for.

Today, he wears a traditional white military uniform, the slim uniform sets off his figure slender and well-proportioned, and his hair is also carefully groomed and waxed, even if he looks in the mirror, he feels like a beautiful boy.

He did not say a word, as usual, while the guests next to him talked and looked forward to the arrival of His Majesty and the Grand Duke.

As the clock came to about 9 p.m., there was a commotion in the distance, and the protagonists of tonight's banquet had finally arrived, and Agron could clearly see that a large crowd was approaching him.

Led by His Majesty Emperor Franz I and His Majesty the Empress of Austria, although he was already a little old, but wearing a military uniform, his steps were still quite calm, his expression was gentle and majestic, and he was striding towards the hall.

Behind him was his younger brother, Archduke Karl, the birthday boy at the banquet, and the woman holding hands at the Grand Duke's side was not his wife, but a young girl in a white palace dress and floral ornaments—apparently, Princess Teresa.

Behind them was a long line of attendants in various uniforms.

The guests lined up on both sides of the corridor to welcome them stood solemnly, watching several of the most noble nobles of the empire enter, and His Majesty the Emperor did not stop in his footsteps, but just looked around, bowed his head lightly as a greeting, and then strode into the hall.

At this moment, the band, which had been playing soft music all along, immediately changed and began to play the majestic Austrian national anthem "God Save My Emperor Franz" to congratulate His Majesty on his arrival.

The officials, courtiers, and diplomatic envoys, as well as their wives, who had been waiting in the hall for a long time, saluted His Majesty the Emperor to the sound of melodious music.

Like the crowd, Aglon saluted his grandfather, but he was thinking of something else.

Everyone in this hall is a big man on the outside, with different titles and powers, but when they come here, they can only be an inconspicuous member, bowing down to pay tribute to the faint old man opposite.

That's what power tastes like.

Such strict etiquette, such pomp and circumstance, is to show off power and the bloodline that accompanies power, and the centuries-old Habsburg tradition has remained here.

When seeing Qin Shi Huang's pomp, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu left sighs of "the eldest husband should be like this" and "he can replace him", and Ai Glong's mood was almost the same.

One day, the same scene will appear in another country, and it will be me who will enjoy all this honor.

Because, too, I have an empire...... He thought silently.

While he was pondering, the Emperor and Empress walked up to the throne and sat down separately.

His Majesty the Emperor, as usual, looked around at the important people in front of him.

His Majesty the Emperor smiled slightly when he saw his grandson, and then nodded to him gently, as if to encourage him to behave well next.

"Thank you for enjoying the light tonight." Then, His Majesty the Emperor spoke leisurely, "But, needless to say, as you know, the protagonist tonight is my brother, and I don't want to attract too much attention and dilute the brilliance he deserves. So, let me now address you with Archduke Karl. ”

As he spoke, His Majesty the Emperor looked at his younger brother.

The Grand Duke did not give in, he stood beside the throne, and then spoke loudly to the guests.

"Thank you, everyone, for coming to my birthday party. Personally, though, fifty-five is not a particularly celebratory age, as it means that God doesn't have much time left for me. "Like all people my age, sometimes I look back on this life and ask myself what God has given me and what I have left behind. I thought hard a few times, and finally found the answer - that is, the motherland, honor and family! That's all for my life, and I'm glad I can say without guilt that I lived up to those three words! ”

His words drew cheers from the crowd, who paid tribute to the famous player, and he paused slightly in the cheers.

When the cheers gradually subsided, he spoke again, "Until now, the motherland has a younger generation to defend, I don't have to worry; I have had enough honors, and I no longer desire them; The only thing that worries me is my family, and I hope that Your Majesty will always be healthy, and that the Austrian royal family will be blessed for a long time, and that I will ...... even more."

As he spoke, he made a gesture for Teresa, who was standing next to him, to come closer.

Princess Teresa obediently walked to her father's side, which meant that for a moment she was the center of attention, she shrunk her neck slightly, and seemed a little shy about the stares of the people, but she still faced them calmly.

The Grand Duke took his daughter's hand, and then spoke again, "I hope that my daughter, Teresa, can be happy." She is the most precious gift God has given me, she has honored me for many years, brought me countless joys, and I am willing to give everything for her! ”

After saying that, he took the glass from the squire's hand with his other hand, and raised it to his chest, "Tonight, I want you to toast not only to my age, but also to Teresa!" ”

The Grand Duke's words once again provoked an enthusiastic response, and people raised their glasses to celebrate the father and daughter.

It was at this moment that the banquet began

The Grand Duke was a man who did not like red tape, so he did not speak much after the opening speech, and the people in the hall began to gather in small circles as usual.

Aiglon didn't belong to any small circle, and no one spoke to him, but he didn't care, because Karl came up to him.

The Grand Duke stopped in front of him, and then looked the young man up and down again.

"Boy, did you deliberately dress up today? It's quite trendy. A moment later, he teased. It's just a little oily noodles, too French. ”

"I don't always dress like that." Agron laughed awkwardly, "Because it's said to be ...... It is said that there are some special arrangements for me, so I dare not slack off. ”

"Looks like I'm worried you're getting too enthusiastic! Don't think too much, it's still early. The Grand Duke pursed his lips, as if he was a little dissatisfied.

Then he reached out and patted Agron on the shoulder, but Agron didn't understand what he meant, so he didn't resist, just stood still.

"It looks thin, but it's not bad." The Grand Duke quickly withdrew his hand, "It seems that Foresty didn't mix water when he gave you a lesson. ”

"The Captain is a very responsible teacher, and he is very proud to have been under you." Aglon replied.

"I've said goodbye to conducting for so many years, so don't talk about these old friends." The Grand Duke shook his head coldly, looking like he didn't eat oil and salt.

However, after a pause, he glanced at Agron again, and his expression slowed down a lot, "Forget it, although he is oily, he is better than the younger generation of our family, at least he is a clever ghost." ”

Then he muttered in a voice that Aiglon couldn't hear, "it, that guy is dead, and he won us again!" ”

Before Aiglon could ask any more questions, he suddenly turned around and made a gesture.

Aglon followed his gesture and saw that the girl in the long skirt was slowly walking this way.

With her footsteps, the young man's side instantly became the focus of attention in the field, and all kinds of eyes containing surprise, jealousy, and even annoyance converged on him.

The young man seemed to be unaware of these wonderful glances, and he bowed slightly to the other party.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Your Highness Teresa."