Charles's kind and gentle behavior made Charlotte's face, which was already red from drinking, even redder, and she closed her eyes slightly, as if she was very useful.

"Thank you, Charles......"

"I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do." Charles walked over to her and kissed her lightly on the cheek, "That count can be considered a friend, but he's not someone I need to curry favor with, so let's treat him as normal as possible." Moreover, because of his special status, we can't deal with him in a big way now, and ...... Charlotte, who had come to France in secret, had a special mission, so it was important that we keep his whereabouts secret. ”

"There are always so many secret missions in your diplomatic community!" Charlotte, though she looked disgusted, happily agreed, "Okay, I see what you mean, I'll act as if nothing happened tonight." By the way, you've already arranged the route to Austria, right? ”

"Yes, we're going to take the train all the way from Paris to Strasbourg, then from Basel to Switzerland, and then from Switzerland to Austria." Charles looked at his wife worriedly, "It's going to be a long journey, I'm really worried about you." ”

Before 1848, the railway from Strasbourg to Basel, Switzerland, was in operation, and Charles, after becoming the de facto head of the Ministry of Railways, made the eastern border city of Strasbourg a focus of his operations. After he had raised enough funds, the construction of the main line from Paris to Strasbourg and the main line to Marseille began at the same time, because of the plains of northern France. So this section of the road was completed earlier than the main line to Marseille, and it has been in traffic for more than a year now.

From Paris to Austria. The nearest route was from the eastern border of France into Germany, and then via Baden, Württemberg, and Bavaria and the South German Confederation into Austria. But Charles felt that although he was unlikely to be hindered by his status, it was still too much trouble to travel through so many German states, so he chose another route, sitting from Paris to Strasbourg, and then from Strasbourg into Switzerland, and then across the whole of Switzerland, all the way to Switzerland through cities such as Zurich.

In this case, he would be crossing a neutral country, and there would be no diplomatic commotion elsewhere.

But. Before entering Switzerland, it was a train to say that the journey was all carried out by train, but after entering Switzerland, it was a bit of a trouble, it is a mountainous country, although they chose the most crowded cities and routes, but there is always some worry for Charlotte.

Luckily, it's summer and autumn, which is the coolest time of the year, and the weather isn't enough to be an obstacle.

"I'm fine, I've said it a few times. Don't worry about me! Charlotte showed no signs of backing down, and then she touched her bulging belly as if boasting and proudly, "Our child is so strong, I can feel his heartbeat." He will definitely be as strong as we are. ”

"Okay...... He will. Seeing that Charlotte's will was still unshakable, Charles stopped insisting and shrugged his shoulders. Then you go and sleep with our strong children early, I still have some things to take care of. ”

"Okay. Shire. Charlotte didn't object to his arrangement, but she squeezed his hand with concern. You can go to bed early later, no matter how important your business is, you can't exchange your health for your health? With so much time every day, there's no need to stay up late. ”

"I know, I'll control the time." Charles smiled embarrassedly, "It's just that I just had some coffee, and I'm in good spirits now, and I need to vent......"

Looking at his smile, Charlotte glared at him again, then turned around and walked out of the room step by step, ready to go back to the bedroom to sleep first.

When all was quiet again, Charles stopped talking and sat down at his desk again, taking Charlotte's brewed coffee, and reading his papers as he sipped it.

After an unknown amount of time, he finally heard the soft sound of the door behind him.

Charles calmly put the papers back together, then left his seat and walked to the door, which he opened gently.

The light in the doorway was dim, but it still allowed him to see the two people across from him.

These two people, one is the henchman he arranged to lead the way, and the other is the guest he introduced today.

And this guest was his new friend, Prince Richard von Metternich, son of the famous Austrian diplomat.

After meeting Charles, he returned to Austria and used his connections and influence to speak well of Charles everywhere, and not long ago he suddenly arrived in France and asked to visit Charles in secret.

So today, under the leadership of Charles' servants, taking advantage of the darkness of the night, he ran into Charles's mansion through the back door.

"Good evening, my friend." Charles reached out at the door and shook hands with Richard von Metternich, "Please trust the secrecy here, no one else will know about our meeting tonight, so you can speak freely." ”

"Thank you, my friend." The young Prince Metternich also smiled and shook Charles' hand.

Then, the two men walked in together, and Charles ordered his henchman to stand at the doorway and keep an eye on him, and no one was allowed to approach.

"I find it always nice to meet young people who are as ambitious as I am." As soon as he sat down on the couch, Charles looked at Richard with a smile on his face, "I always thought that the history of Europe was written by us people. ”

"I happen to think so too." Richard nodded without humility, "Looks like you're in a good mood?" ”

"Yes, we just had a nice guest." Charles nodded, "He's made my wife so happy, it's a shame I can't introduce him to you." ”

"I wish you hadn't kept too many secrets from me......" Richard smiled wryly.

Charles picked up his cup and drank the last remaining coffee. "Today I really hope you bring me good news."

"It's good news, but it can't be made public." Richard nodded. "It's about your trip to Austria."

Charles continued to look at the other man, waiting for his next step.

Let's be honest. The fact that his visit was made possible was also due to the fact that Richard kept saying good things about him in front of his father and Austrian diplomats. And this time he came to visit him in secret. Naturally, it should be with the intentions of some Austrians.

He was not afraid that others would have intentions against him, but he was afraid that he would not be cared for in Europe.

"My father, after hearing your request, was very interested, and he was instrumental in facilitating your visit, because he also wanted to meet you." Richard lowered his voice.

"Prince Metternich wants to see me? Okay, it's my pleasure. Charles wasn't surprised, because he wanted to. Where am I going to visit him? ”

The diplomat, who had been on the continent for forty years and had made a name for himself along with Talleyrand, Charles really wanted to visit while he was still alive.

"My father hasn't been in good health lately. Have been recuperating at the Johannesburg estate, if you are at your convenience, can you ...... Can I go there and meet him? Richard hesitated.

The von Metternich family's Johannesburg estate, a few dozen kilometers outside Frankfurt am Main, is a beautiful place where the elderly Prince Metternich chose to settle after losing his position and returning from exile abroad.

The reason why Richard was hesitant was because Frankfurt was the seat of the German Confederation at this time, and Charles would have visited Metternich there if he had gone there. It's always going to be some kind of public event, so he's afraid that Charles has some diplomatic concerns.

However, Charles did not have any concerns, and directly agreed.

"Okay. I am very honored. After meeting His Majesty and concluding my visit, I returned from Germany. Then you can stop by to visit the prince in Frankfurt, although this can be a little inconvenient. But I don't think it will affect my admiration for the Prince. ”

"That's great." Richard breathed a sigh of relief. "At that time, there would be another person visiting my father. He was also a very good man -- my father thought it would be better for you to talk to him and talk about the situation in Europe. ”

"Who's that guy?" Charles asked.

He ...... He was the Prussian delegate to the Reichstag Mr. von Bismarck. Richard replied somewhat unnaturally.

Just by catching a glimpse of his unnatural expression, Charles understood what the Prince of Metternich really meant.

The Austrians were using Prussia to intimidate France, and at the same time they were using France to frighten Prussia, in an attempt to take advantage of this. Seducing foreign countries into battle with each other and then reaping the benefits of it, an old but effective diplomatic trick that Metternich has mastered for many years.

Charles, though, aren't afraid.

"Oh! That's great! Mr. Bismarck had seen me before, and he was indeed a great man, and if he had been there at that time, I think we could have a good conversation...... Really, I'm looking forward to it now! ”

"You've already met? When? Richard was as surprised as Charles had expected, but quickly disguised it.

Prussia was now aggressive in Germany, and the Austrians were very jealous of the state, so it was natural for Charles to be nervous when he said that Bismarck had contacted him.

"Mr. Bismarck had been a representative of the Reichstag before, but he said that he would wait for his predecessor to leave office, so he traveled in Europe for a while, and then came to France, and then he asked to see me." Charles gave him a cursory explanation, but he was deliberately vague. "He was a very interesting man, and he had a good mind, not like any ordinary Prussian I had ever seen, and he talked to me for a long time about the situation in Europe, and although I did not agree with all his opinions, I must admit that he was quite insightful."

Richard moved his mouth, as if to ask Charles what he had said to him, but in the end he didn't ask.

"Yes, Mr. Treville, it would be great if you could say yes, and I will pass it on to my father. Actually, what my father meant was that you, Mr. Bismarck, and my father would communicate with each other, and then use their respective positions to coordinate the relations between the three countries, so that everyone could deal with the chaos in Europe together......"

Then, lowering his voice, "My father has always wanted to pull Prussia from an overly pro-Russian position, and he wants to make the two states choose neutrality in the perhaps imminent Franco-Russian struggle......"

"Then it's decided, we'll talk about it later." Charles nodded, not looking very excited, "Is there anything else going on?" ”

"This is the most important thing." Richard looked a little disappointed, "There's another less important matter, I'll let you know by the way." ”

"What's the matter?"

"Princess Elisabeth of Bavaria, who has recently been in our court," said Richard, his expression was rather serious, but not very respectful, "as the future queen, His Majesty has decided to accompany her in the reception of your noble couple." ”

"Her Majesty the future Empress of Austria will also come to receive us at that time?" Charles blinked, obviously surprised, but he quickly regained his composure, "Good, it's our pleasure. (To be continued.) )