"There seems to be one thing that you don't know. Swain shook his head and said in a tone that seemed to be regretful, "Although the purpose of your plan is obvious, it is well thought out, and it is only forgotten that there is one thing - the opinion of His Majesty the Emperor. ”

Mr. Metternich laughed, and he felt that Swain had been moved by him, and that he was only afraid of the Emperor. "You don't have to worry, Your Majesty has full trust in my grandfather. ”

"Then why did your grandfather never serve as Prime Minister, not even the Foreign Secretary, and only as the Lord of the Seals?"

Mr. Metternich's face suddenly turned unpleasant, and his stiff smile froze on his face, which could neither be stopped nor put away. "After all, he is an old man, and it is difficult for him to continue to take on great responsibilities at his age. ”

"That's what you're talking about. Swain didn't give Metternich a chance to breathe, "What you really worry about is the weakening of the Metternich family's influence, and your own future, in case your grandfather is summoned by the Lord, will the Metternich family still be as powerful as they are now?" I guess the proposal you are talking about did not even come from the Marquis himself, but was orchestrated by yourself. At least, the Marquis would not have made such an obvious mistake. ”

Metternich's face finally couldn't hold back, anyway, being ridiculed like this by someone who was more than ten years younger than himself, he had to show a little anger after all, otherwise it would be too easy to bully. However, the character of a diplomat has been seared into his bones, and even when he is angry, he has taken full shape, putting on a posture of waiting to be ready to bargain, leaving himself a way out. "You are clearly wrong, this is the kind of proposal we have made on the part of the Metternich family, and it would be sad if you understood our good intentions in this way. Is it true that in your eyes, everyone is judged with malice, even if it is a friend who comes with a smiling face, you have to slap it away?"

"If you want. With that, Swain raised his hand.

At this time, Metternich really panicked, he had never seen such a person who played cards according to common sense, could it be that he really wanted to do it because of a metaphor? At this time, Metternich didn't know whether he should continue to pretend to be backbone, or protect his face.

Just as Swain's hand actually came down, Metternich was finally sure that the guy wasn't joking. He bent down in embarrassment, and Swain's hand only hit Metternich's hair, but just like that, Metternich heard the momentary whistling sound of his own head, like a bullet grazing his own hair.

"You don't think you want to. ”

Although Swain's expression still didn't change, Metternich always felt that this guy was secretly snickering in his heart. Now Metternich's face is hot, and even when he was working as a secretary in a foreign embassy, he has never been so embarrassed in a conversation with others. He even tried to strangle the kid, but in the end, the diplomat's compromise, buried in his nature, calmed him down.

"Well, Your Excellency, at least you can do it pretty well. But do you really think about my proposal again? I think a rational person should understand how to make choices that are good for them. "He's still thinking about his plan, so to speak, and he's rational enough, but he's mistakenly thinking that his opponent will think in the same way.

"Don't you understand? Forget it, in that case, please ask the Marquis de Metternich when you go back why the Jericho family has been able to receive the special gifts of His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire, and what is the weight of the Jericho family. Once you've figured that out, let's see if your plan is viable. ”

Swain's words made Metternich have to think deeply, and although Swain's words were indeed very unkind, his words were quite reasonable. Metternich himself has always wondered why a small midnight count can be valued by so many big figures in the imperial capital, the emperor personally summoned the new count of the Jericho family to the imperial capital to be canonized, and the Lord of the Seals and the chief justice of the imperial court all intervened about the ceremony, all of which showed the extraordinary features of the Jericho family, and the reason for this could not be explained by the personality of the previous earl, not to mention that the earl has now passed away.

Sighing helplessly in his heart, Metternich had no choice, he already understood that Swain would never accept his offer. However, he still maintained his demeanor and did not lose his manners because of the unpleasantness just now.

"It's a pity, but it looks like I can't do it this time. He stood up and held out his hand to Swain, "Maybe grandfather will have to step in to move you." ”

"I look forward to meeting the Marquis. Swain also stood up and shook hands with Mr. Metternich in farewell.

"You'll be able to see him soon. Mr. Metternich suddenly smiled mysteriously and pulled an invitation from his jacket pocket, "My grandfather is going to have a party on the weekend, and I hope you will enjoy it." Of course, today's disagreement will not affect this gathering. ”

Sven raised his eyebrows slightly, and reached out to take the invitation.

"I'm honored. ”

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Victoria had been absent-minded since she came back yesterday, and although Mrs. Jane had been happily talking about meeting Swain at dinner, Victoria had not listened at all, but was more preoccupied. Although her father saw all this, Ernest said nothing.

The next day, Victoria was lying in bed as usual, and the sun was already shining into the room, and she had no intention of getting up. There was a sound downstairs, and the man was about to go out. The family is entirely supported by Ernest, although Victoria now has mixed feelings for her father.

"Miss, it's time for you to get up. When the sound of the carriage faded away, Ramrem went upstairs to wake her up, as Victoria least expected.

After putting her head under the quilt, rolling around again, and wrapping herself firmly in the quilt, Victoria told Ramrem her answer with her own actions.

Of course, Ramrem doesn't eat Miss's set like a normal maid, and she is the person Victoria can't deal with in this family, even though she is on Victoria's side most of the time.

However, to Victoria's surprise, Ramrem made no further moves and left directly. As the footsteps on the stairs became quieter and quieter, Victoria noticed that Ramrem seemed to be really gone, and she poked her head out of the quilt suspiciously, and sure enough, she did not see Ramrem's figure.

Why did she give up so quickly today?, Victoria wondered, but soon there was another sound on the stairs, and Victoria immediately buried her head in the covers, pretending to be asleep.

The footsteps grew closer and closer, almost to Victoria's ears. Victoria's heart began to tense, such silent fear had already scared her sleepiness, and she almost wanted to get up and surrender to Ramrem immediately. The maid didn't want to treat her like a lady like a normal maid, Ramrem and her were more like playmates - although Victoria was more of a toy to Ramrem - the two were at least equal, and since Ramrem was older, Ramrem might have the upper hand in the confrontation.

Victoria was already imagining in her mind what Ramrem would do against her. She felt as if something had been placed on her pillow through the quilt, and then a strong breath came over her......

"Wow—get that thing away, don't bring that thing near me!" Victoria jerked off the bed, away from the bed in horror - away from what Ramrem had placed on the bed to be exact.

"If you don't get out of bed yet, you're going to have it for lunch today. Ramrem said with a blank face, as if Victoria's fried-haired cat-like appearance couldn't make her laugh at all, and she was still so cold.

"Okay, I'm going to get it out of my bed, or I'll not be able to sleep tonight." Victoria looked at the coriander that was placed next to her pillow with a distressed expression, the smell of which she couldn't stand at all.

"Really, now that I'm on vacation, why can't I even sleep well. Victoria kept complaining as she changed her clothes. Imperial schools are generally divided into three semesters, with the first semester starting in early April and the winter break from mid-February to late March, and now there are about ten days before the start of Victoria's public school.

"But have you forgotten anything this holiday?"

"Is there one?" said Victoria, frowning, thinking carefully.

"For example, Professor Ranke's assignment. ”

"Whew-" Victoria suddenly shivered as if she had a cold, and her hands involuntarily hugged to her chest, "Don't mention such a terrible thing, okay, my God, when you mention it, I think of Professor Ranke's stiff face again, oh, it's terrible, can anyone really listen to his lessons when he teaches in a school with such a temper?"

"Whatever you think of Professor Ranke, at least he's a professor hired by Astrad I, and if you don't want to get in trouble with the school, you'd better be honest with your winter vacation homework. ”

"Okay, okay, I got it. Really, why did he give such a headache to give homework, do you know what his homework was? He asked us to write an observation report on the changes in the architectural style of the imperial capital, and oh my God, he didn't study architecture!"

"But that's your homework. Ramrem sent Victoria, who had just started complaining, back to his original form, "Of course, if you can't finish it before the end of the winter vacation, you should know what kind of punishment the gentleman will give you." ”

Victoria's expression couldn't help but stiffen, of course she knew what her father Viscount Jericho was like when he started the fire, Victoria may not be too afraid of her mother, but Viscount Jericho was definitely the one who could make her honest.

Victoria had no choice but to pretend that she hadn't said anything just now, honestly change her clothes, and then be escorted by Ramrem to freshen up. Since the male hosts had already gone out, breakfast was naturally over, and Victoria could only eat some leftovers to satisfy her hunger.

Although Victoria and Ramrem had been arguing since she got up, and the slapstick seemed to have completely forgotten yesterday's worries, when she saw her mother, the time of forgetting her worries was over immediately, and she remembered the words Ramrem said yesterday that made people care.

"Are you finally up up!" Mrs. Jane is more like a carefree girl than Victoria, and when she sees her daughter finally getting up, she makes an angry look, puffs out her cheeks, and stares at Victoria with wide eyes, but in the eyes of ordinary people, this appearance is more girly and cute.

"Alright, Mom, I didn't even eat breakfast. "Victoria knows her mother too well. So as soon as he came up, he hugged his wife and sprinkled on her. For her mother, she is still quite affectionate. If she is a little distant, awe-inspiring, and even faintly blamed for her father, then she doesn't feel that there is anything to blame for her mother at all. Her mother is such a deceitful person, as long as she is coquettish, she will be soft-hearted, of course, if only her aesthetic taste was better.

"Then let's go get something to eat, really, I've been hungry after sleeping for so long. The lady who was hugged by Victoria really relented. She urged Ramrem to get Victoria some of the bread left over from breakfast, but she didn't see the complicated gaze of her daughter snuggled in her arms.

Victoria was dragged to the dining room by Mrs. Jane, and while she painlessly counted her playfulness from yesterday, she also waited for Ramrem to bring the food.

Soon, Ramrem was back in the dining room, but she had an envelope with a ribbon in addition to bread and jam.

"What's that, Ramrem?" Lady Jane saw the white envelope at first glance.

"It's an invitation, ma'am. Ramrem put the bread and jam on the table, and handed the invitation to Madame, "an invitation from the Marquis de Metternich." ”

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In the Tiamat Palace, there was a tense atmosphere early this morning. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of War were called into the palace by the Emperor early in the morning, and then the servants heard a terrified roar outside their study. When Oliver No. Metternich, Marquis of Johannesberg, came to the palace of Tiamat, he heard the courtiers who served His Majesty the Emperor tremble and tell him about His Majesty's bad mood today.

However, the Marquis of Metternich was a man who had been a foreign minister for twenty years, and he did not panic because of this little situation, on the contrary, the Marquis of Metternich was well aware of the temper of His Majesty the Emperor, and a wise monarch would not punish his courtiers other than scolding them when he was angry, and if the Emperor remained silent, it was time for him to consider whether to change his minister, just as the Marquis had before he retired from the post of Foreign Secretary.

The marquis pushed open the door of His Majesty's study, and the two scolded ministers had already been kicked back by the emperor, and the emperor was the only one left in the study who was deflating.

"Salute to you, Your Majesty. The Marquis stepped forward respectfully and saluted, and though he was old, the etiquette was still perfect.

The Emperor glanced at the former Foreign Minister, and looking at his face, it seemed that the Supreme did not really want to see the Marquis now. However, since the minister in charge of the seal specially came to see him, the emperor always wanted to give the old minister of the empire a face. After softening his face slightly, the Emperor spoke in a dignified tone: "Just now Otto and Reinhard have brought me very bad news, the Hadrian Empire has sent a note to the Kingdom of Silesia, hoping that after the expiration of the Treaty of Stromboli, a new treaty of cooperation between the Hadrian Empire and the Silesians will be signed. They have even begun to mobilize their forces to move closer to the province of Catania, which the Silesians have informed us of, and hope that we will continue to fulfil our obligations under the Treaty of Sromboli and provide them with assistance in defence of the interests of cooperation between the two countries in the Stromboli region. ”

The elderly marquis smiled slightly, but did not respond to the astonishing news that His Majesty the Emperor had just said. "Your Majesty, I am no longer your Minister of Foreign Affairs, and if it is a matter of business, please inquire of His Excellency Otto Leopold Noe Mencken, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and His Excellency Reinhard No. Guderian, Minister of War, and His Excellency Wilhelm No. Dönitz-Rundstedt, Minister of the Admiralty, who am now only your Lord of the Seals, and may only advise His Majesty on some matters of the court. ”

The Emperor, of course, could hear the ridicule and ridicule in the Marquis's words, but he did not care, it was strange that this distinguished diplomat had been thrown into the position of Minister of the Seals by himself, and that he did not complain. His Majesty Nikolai Joy Ivan Alexander No. Godunov I, who has reigned in this empire for more than thirty years, can still tolerate this temper.

However, since the marquis had said so, the emperor also followed his wishes: "Then, my minister of the seal, what are you trying to do with me when you come to meet me today?"

"It is about the canonization ceremony of the Lord Swayn no Jericho, Earl of Midnight, and I have come to ask Your Majesty to decide. The Marquis bowed respectfully to the Emperor, but his eyes remained on the Emperor. In those eyes, the Emperor saw again the confident look of the former Foreign Minister Metternich, whom he did not like.