Victoria glared at Sophia indignantly, and the heaving of her chest did not stop for a while. And she looked at her sister's calm eyes, and she had no desire to continue talking.

"You'll regret it sooner or later!" she said, then stood up and walked briskly out of the restaurant.

Artemis followed suit, owing a slight debt to Princess Celestia, and then catching up with Victoria.

"What an energetic child. Caterina sighed, not knowing whether she had said this out of admiration or mockery.

"I'm proud of her......" Sophia pursed her lips, the corners of her eyes twisted slightly, "I'm very proud." ”

Caterina glanced at Sophia in surprise. "But she was scolding your brother just now?"

"She's not the same as me. Sophia shook her head, "That's why I'm proud of her." Victoria is not like me, she can live freely without relying on others, and I ...... If I didn't have my brother, then I would have nothing, nothing would exist. ”

Caterina sighed.

"Okay, now we'll have breakfast first, how about we talk about these things later?"

Sophia nodded and silently picked up the bread.

————————————————

In another corner of the Tiamat Palace, Franz also had a conversation with his younger uncle, Joseph.

"Is there anything you can't talk about when you go back home?" Franz, who was working on papers behind his desk, looked a little agitated, and he didn't even look up at his uncle sitting in front of him, "What the hell is going on to tell me about it in Tiamat Palace?"

Joseph looked bitter, he didn't feel anything when he was reprimanded like this by his nephew, after all, he was actually younger than Franz.

"Franz, you know, since my dad died, the family's finances have been ...... Two days ago, the accountant told me that the budget for the renovation of the house was not enough, and we had to come up with another amount of money. ”

Franz stopped writing and looked at Joseph in amazement. "The budget is not enough, but when I rebuilt it before, I calculated it myself, and it should be just right!"

"Originally......," Joseph sighed, "but recently, construction has been going on everywhere, the prices of building materials have risen rapidly, and the stocks that our family invested in before have also lost a lot of money during the rebellion in the south. ”

Franz grinned, the expression on his face as if it had a toothache.

"Hmm, you mean, you want me to get the money?"

Joseph glanced at Franz. "That's what my brother meant. ”

Franz guessed that Joseph's brother should be his father, Kellogg Noe Metternich, who had succeeded Menken as foreign minister some time ago. Perhaps as a son, it is a very disrespectful thing to speculate about his father, but Franz still can't help but wonder if his father let him raise this money because he himself is unwilling to come up with it.

When the old Marquis of Metternich was still alive, he did not think very well of his eldest son, so on his deathbed he also designated Franz to assume the responsibility of the Metternich family. Kellogg is a person who likes to spend money and drink, and it's okay to let him spend money, but if he wants to make money, I'm afraid it will be difficult, otherwise, with a fat guy like the foreign secretary in hand, why should Franz, the sensitive head of Tiamat Palace, raise money?

Rubbing the bridge of his nose helplessly, Franz looked at Joseph, the same uncle as his brother. "How much is the difference? at least give me an exact number, and I'll have to figure it out. ”

Joseph held out five fingers with an embarrassed face.

"500,000?" Franz looked at Joseph suspiciously, and when he understood Joseph's expression, his face suddenly changed, "It can't be five million!"

Joseph pursed his lips tightly and did not speak.

Franz clutched his cheeks, and this time, he really had a toothache.

"Oh - five million! Oh my God, where do I need to raise so much money!" Franz grumbled loudly, regardless of the fact that this was his office, "Damn, I didn't need so much money to renovate the whole house before, where did all these expenses come from!"

He stared at Joseph so hard that he had to look away.

"Joseph, have you ever checked the accounts? I don't believe that it costs so much money to rebuild a house, and that accounting is unreliable?"

"I've done the math, if you want to completely restore the whole house, I'm afraid this is too little. Joseph sighed again and again, the bitterness on his face was no less than that of Franz, "There is no actual industry in the family, and the income is supported by stocks and financial bonds, but in this situation, that kind of thing does not say make money, it is good if it does not become a pile of waste paper, if you rely on savings alone, the bank is not so reliable now, and during this time, several banks have collapsed......"

Franz opened his mouth to speak, but he couldn't, and in the end, countless words could only turn into a sigh, which gently drifted between his teeth.

"Well, then there is no need to repair the whole house, first the main rooms will be repaired, and the rest of the corners will be left until the situation is stable and the prices will come down. ”

"We have also thought of this solution, but now it is not only building materials that have to increase the price. Joseph spread his hands, "Anyway, I have never seen such a situation, as if money has become not money, to buy something, at least five or six times the price of the past, especially coffee, those things that have to be shipped from the south or other places, are at least ten times more expensive, and this trend of price increase continues...... The elder brother and they have already discussed, if it really can't work, let the family go to the country manor first, at least it won't be dragged down too much by the price of the city. ”

"Has it come to this...... "Franz sighed, "alas—what kind of world is this, when has such a thing ever happened in the history of the Empire?" ”

At this time, Franz could not help but have doubts about the coup d'état in which he was involved.

"Franz," Joseph leaned his upper body over, "the house is secondary, but the problem is that if prices continue to rise like this, the family's savings will depreciate greatly." In the past, when my father was alive, the family only thought about how to climb up in the imperial capital, and no one would want to go back to the countryside at all, so they didn't buy much property outside the imperial capital. But now it's different, since the money is depreciating, then we should hurry up and turn the money into gold and silver, which can be safely turned into before the money in our hands is turned into waste paper. There are some ways on my brother's side to deal with this matter, so let's do it quickly before too many people notice it yet. ”

Franz listened to Joseph's words and felt that what he said made sense, but Franz just wanted to agree, and when the words came to his lips, he couldn't help but hesitate.

Seeing Franz's hesitation, Joseph immediately became anxious. "At this time, what is there to hesitate about! Brother, they have already made up their minds, you are in charge of this family, you can't watch the family's money evaporate in vain, right?"

"I'm not hesitating about this. Franz defended, "I was wondering, Her Highness the Princess, and Count Jericha, what they would think of this." ”

"Her Royal Highness?" Joseph looked at Franz strangely, "What does this matter have to do with Her Royal Highness?"

Franz glanced at his uncle angrily, and he didn't blame the old Marquis de Metternich for looking down on their brothers, these people had the surname Metternich in vain, but they didn't inherit the old marquis's mind.

"What has nothing to do with Her Royal Highness the Princess! This withered state of affairs began when His Majesty Alexander returned to the Princess, and now that Her Royal Highness the Princess has taken over the political situation, do you think they will not notice? If we patronize ourselves at this time, what do you think Your Highness will think of us? Foreign Minister Metternich, the head of the court, who do you think our family is giving us now?"

Joseph was stunned, he really hadn't thought of this.

"Then what should I do?" he became anxious, but there was nothing he could do but be anxious, "You can't do it and watch the family's money turn into waste paper!"

"That's not going to happen. Franz sighed and shook his head, "Her Royal Highness the Princess and Count Jericho should have a plan, let's see how they deal with it, and we Metternich will follow suit." ”

"What if ......," Joseph looked at Franz cautiously, "what if they can't do it?"

Franz immediately glared at Joseph as if he were his uncle and Joseph was his nephew. "Now, do we Metternich still have a chance to turn back? All the bets are on His Royal Highness Caterina, either follow His Highness all the way, or all go back to the countryside, do you think now is the time for Grandpa to live, this time if we Metternich falls, there will be no chance to get up again!"

Joseph muttered and muttered quietly, "Actually, it's not bad to go to the country......

Franz even wanted to pick up something and throw it at Joseph.

As soon as he raised his hand, Joseph immediately shouted, "Don't, just because I didn't say anything just now!"

Franz glared at his uncle fiercely. "If grandpa hears your words, he will definitely make you angry!"

This time Joseph learned wisely, and he honestly kept his mouth shut.

"In short, you go back and tell your father them first, don't be too anxious, as long as you can get by, just be patient first. You can swap a little bit of money for gold, but don't put all your money into it, it's too ugly!"

"Okay......" Joseph was silent for a moment, then sighed and stood up, "Then let's do what you say, but if there is any news, you must tell us as soon as possible!"

"Of course, I know what to do. Franz waved his hand impatiently.

"And the five million ......"

Hearing the word "five million", Franz felt like his head was going to be bigger.

"I see! Oh my God, can you please don't mention this to me!"

"Don't forget...... Joseph muttered quietly, and then hurriedly flashed out the door.

Franz in the room, on the other hand, was slumped in his chair, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Damn, five million, where did I get so much money! If my grandfather was alive, such a small amount of money would just be a matter of his words, but now ......"

When Franz was talking to himself, the corners of his mouth became more and more bitter.

"Alas—this family is really not good!"

Swain lowered his eyes and walked away from the wall outside Franz's office.

"It's an economic thing......"