The Metternich family was already a prominent nobleman in the imperial court before the revolution, in the era of Teudmund I, the first head of the Metternich family became the emperor's foreign minister, and was given the title of marquis, and later the Metternich family has always regarded the diplomatic field as an ancestral business, and people have entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in successive generations, and even became foreign ministers, such as the Marquis of Oliver. Although they did not receive an actual fiefdom, the Metternich escaped the revolution that followed, retaining their prominence.

After hundreds of years of development and growth, the Metternich family is now a large family, in addition to the marquis, there are many branches of the Metternich family. When the old marquis was still the foreign secretary, these collateral lines were also a lot of light with the Metternich family. Although the Marquis is now free, the Metternich family is still one of the top gates in the imperial capital, which can be seen from the Metternich family's mansion alone, which is much more luxurious than the Jericho family's mansion. Moreover, the mansion in the Browning district was the main residence of the Metternich family, and in addition to this one, the Metternich family had several estates in the suburbs of Devide, and even a Johannesberg palace given by the emperor.

With such dazzling wealth, the Marquis's family had food, clothing, housing and transportation and everything was based on the most luxurious standards, except for one place, the Marquis's study. Due to the influence of the previous Earl of Midnight, the Marquis's study has remained modest, and many of the books here are even from more than forty years ago. It is also because of these old books that the study is one of the few places where the Marquis does not allow children to come in and play.

The same is true of Franz, who was never allowed to enter his grandfather's study as a child, and when he became an adult, every time he entered it, it meant something big about him, just like yesterday.

When he walked into the study, he saw his grandfather lying in a rattan rocking chair, holding an old yellowed book in his left hand and a magnifying glass in his right hand, looking at it carefully.

"Grandpa, I'm sorry, I screwed up what you told me, and Count Jericho rejected my offer. Mr. Franz immediately apologized to his grandfather. He hung his head, rather frustrated, and it seemed that this setback hit him hard.

"It's such a big person, why do you have to put on such a look. The Marquis's tone was so calm that he didn't even look at his grandson. And this calm made Franz's heart sink even more, and he understood that since his grandfather spoke to him in such a tone, it meant that he was not trying to comfort and encourage him.

"Yes, I'll pull myself together. Franz tried his best to straighten his back and make himself look less unconfident.

"You say Jericho rejected you?"

"Yes, very simply. Franz remembered Swain's unchanged face and couldn't help but smile bitterly, "He also saw that this was actually my proposal, and laughed at me very much." ”

"Oh, yes. The Marquis was not surprised, still did not look at Franz, and replied in a flat tone.

This calm reminded Franz of his grandfather's response to his plan yesterday. When he hurriedly told his grandfather about the idea he had come up with with so hard, he did the same, and said lukewarmly, "Yes, then you can do it", and then did not say a word of evaluation.

"It's my lack of thought that even a little child sees my purpose and disgraces you, grandfather. ”

The Marquis finally turned his head and looked at Franz. And feeling his grandfather's gaze, Franz's expression was even more depressed.

After looking at it for a while, the marquis suddenly sighed, and said to his grandson in a serious tone: "Yes, your plan is full of loopholes, and even a young man who is more than ten years younger than you can see it. When you told me yesterday that you wanted to make this proposal in my name, I could see that you were not confident in yourself. ”

"I've disappointed you, Grandpa. Franz couldn't stand the pressure of the Marquis's gaze, or lowered his head.

"So what, is a few words of apology enough?" the Marquis suddenly raised his voice, startling Franz, "since you have already made a plan and taken action, then don't give up so easily." It's just that Jericho refuses, haven't you tried it yet, the emperor and the other Jericho? If you do something, even if it is wrong, you must do your best to make up for it, otherwise you still want to do something big, wouldn't it be good to give up before you do it!"

Franz's face turned pale with fright at first, but as he listened slowly, his blood gradually recovered. His grandfather encouraged him, and although his words and tone were very intense, it was indeed the old man's concern for his children and grandchildren.

"Yes, grandpa, I will definitely do my best. I'll go to Viscount Jericho in the afternoon, and I'll try again at Count Jericho's. Franz said loudly, in a very agitated tone, like a hairy boy in his early twenties.

The marquis nodded, and then asked in a flat tone, "What about the emperor?"

Franz couldn't help but stiffen. He gritted his teeth and made up his mind. "I'm going to try my best. ”

"Hmph, try. The marquis snorted coldly, and his face became stiff again, "You are a small secretary of the protocol department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, why do you go to meet the emperor and convince him, just because you are my grandson?"

Franz's face turned pale again, he had been enveloped by his grandfather's coercion for too long, and his expression almost changed with the change of his grandfather's tone.

Seeing that his grandson was speechless for a long time, the Marquis couldn't help but sigh. These children have been shrouded in their own light for too long, and they all take themselves as a benchmark and never think of surpassing themselves. "Listen, Franz, you are the best of your brothers at the moment. Your brothers and cousins are still third-class secretaries, and even when you were a gentleman, you were already the secretary of the protocol, and you may have to lead the family in your generation. But in your time, Metternich can't be as glamorous as it is now, you can't be me, understand?"

"Yes, I have always been your role model. I know that it will be difficult for future generations to catch up with your achievements, and I just want to follow in your footsteps, and I never have the luxury of catching up with you. ”

"Can't you be yourself, why do you have to follow in my footsteps?

The Marquis's words made Franz stunned, with such an example as his grandfather, he had always only wanted to imitate, but he never felt that he would be better off groping than taking his grandfather's shortcuts.

"Your Majesty the Emperor has already gone to tell you, although Your Majesty did not accept this proposal immediately, but he will consider it. Remember, this time your plan was completely up to you, and I gave you this task to develop your independence, and I was actually very relieved to see the excitement you had when you came to me last night. So, although this plan has many shortcomings, I will still do my best to help you. ”

"Thank you, Grandpa. Franz felt a little sour in his nose, and he was touched by the love of his grandfather's majesty, "but the plan is too bad after all......"

"No, it's a good plan. The Marquis interrupted his presumptuousness, "It's a good idea for you to think of having Ernest teach the sword, and to be honest, I might not be able to come up with a better way." However, your wrist is so bad that you don't hide your purpose well, so Jericho can see your flaws, which are the fatal wounds of your plan. ”

"I see, grandpa. Franz raised his head and looked determined, "I will always remember your teachings today." ”

"Hmm. Seeing his grandson's perked up, the Marquis smiled and nodded vigorously, "Prove it to me, Franz." ”

"I will, Grandpa. ”

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Count Hecate opened his pocket watch and glanced at the time, it was not much time before the Marquis de Metternich's party began. After receiving the invitation of the marquis, Count Hecate also made careful preparations, in any case, that marquis was a former figure in the imperial capital and his elders, and the Earl Hecate, who paid attention to etiquette, could not allow himself to lose face in any way.

For this party, the Count dressed up for the day. He looked like a gentleman of roses walking through the night in a new crimson evening gown with a louvered shirt underneath a black bow tie and a white satin glove and a cane decorated with large rubies.

But now the gentleman seemed a little impatient, and although the grace and calm manner with which he had always disguised it well, Manfred and Young around him were all too familiar to him, and it was easy to see the anxious look in his eyes that flashed from time to time.

"How could it take so long to change clothes, it wouldn't be a chance to run away, right?" When Yang, who was standing behind Count Hecate's side, said this, the Earl's side face that he observed with his peripheral vision wanted to see some special expressions on his face.

"It's impossible. Manfred shook his head, still smiling kindly.

Hearing Manfred say this, Young swallowed back what he was about to say. He saw that although the count still had an anxious look on his face, he did not doubt his words.

Within a few minutes, the Count opened the pocket watch he had just closed again, and as the minutes ticked by, the Count finally gave up waiting. "Go get Artemis out. He said to Manfred.

Manfred nodded, and was about to take a step when he saw Artemis push open the door and walk in. Atmis, who came in, surprised everyone, because he was going to the party, so the count asked his daughter to change into an evening dress, but now Atmis, although he was wearing a gown, was a men's little evening dress.

The Count frowned, he was now rather unhappy. "If you're changing your clothes, it shouldn't take as much time. ”

"But there's no other time to change clothes now, is there?" Artemis didn't care at all about the accusations implied in his father's words, anyway, the earl was angry again, and he wouldn't beat and scold his daughter, which was what he called aristocratic demeanor.

Standing behind the Earl, Yang pursed his lips, he had just wanted to say that Artemis might be dragging his feet, but he didn't say it because of Manfred's voice.

"Really, forget it. Sure enough, the Count finally chose to compromise, "Manfred, open the door." ”

"Follow your orders. Manfred bowed slightly to the Count, and then walked to the door where Artemis had entered. He closed the door first, then twisted the doorknob again to open it. When the door was opened again, it was no longer the hallway that Artemis had just walked through, but two rows of seats facing each other, and a carriage window with a view of the bustling streets at night.

Artemis was the first to enter, and Count Hecate walked to the door. Before entering the door, he deliberately turned back to Manfred and Yang and said, "I'll trouble you to watch the house." Besides, I'll be in trouble when I get back tonight, Manfred. ”

"As you wish. ”

Having received Manfred's reply, the Count nodded in satisfaction and entered the carriage, then closed the door.

After getting into the carriage, the Count took out his pocket watch and checked the time. In fact, it hadn't been long since he last took out his pocket watch to look at the time, but he did it habitually. Seeing the pointer already pointed at eight o'clock, the Count sighed helplessly, and at the same time said to Artemis with a little dissatisfaction: "I could have left a little time. ”

Ignoring his father's complaints, Artemis opened the door of the carriage on the other side and walked down. The Count was tempted to reprimand his daughter for such rude behavior, but in view of the occasion, he had to swallow back his words and get out of the carriage.

As soon as the Count and Mademoiselle had disembarked, the coachman ran to the gate of the Metternich mansion and handed the invitation to the servant who was guarding the door. Seeing Count Hecate and Artemis walking slowly, the servant quickly bowed respectfully and welcomed the two in.

The Metternich House has a large garden, and when you enter the gate, there is a small square in the middle of the garden where many of the evening's guests meet, and they all gather together to chat with each other. After seeing the arrival of Count Hecate, most of the people nodded to them, but few people came forward to talk, these nobles only knew that the Hecate family was the head of a department of the Ministry of the Interior, but they did not know the specific scope of responsibilities of the Thirteenth Section, so they were a little strange and alienated from the Hecate family.

"Mr. Earl, welcome to today's gathering. Although the guests remained reserved, Franz, who was the host's house, immediately took the initiative to greet the Count when he saw the arrival of the earl.

"There are so many people tonight, and it's going to be a very impactful night. The Earl smiled and complimented.

Although Franz had heard many of these words tonight, he still reciprocated the count's compliment with a friendly smile from the bottom of his heart. After the pleasantries, he turned his gaze to Artmis, who was beside the Count. "Who is this?" he looked at Artemis suspiciously, and although he could tell that it was a young lady, he still couldn't believe that the Earl of Hecate, who valued manners, would bring a female companion dressed in men's clothes to the Metternich family's party.

"Let me introduce to you that this is my daughter, Artemis Diana Noe Hecate," he said, though he was dissatisfied that his daughter had dressed like this for such a grand gathering, but he could not allow the face of the Hecate family to be disgraced in front of others, so he introduced Franz as if nothing had happened.

"Uh...... Ah, hello, Miss Hecate. After a moment of surprise, Franz finally came to his senses, and he quickly stretched out his hand, trying to make up for the momentary gaffe. But when he stretched out his hand, he was stunned, should he shake hands with this young lady, or kiss his hand?

Fortunately, Artemis immediately stretched out his hand and shook hands with Franz, eliminating the embarrassment of that moment.

"Hello, Monsieur Metternich, I am Artmis, the next head of the Hecate family. "Attmis's demeanor is perfect, like a veteran who is used to the social scene. She immediately resolved the embarrassment and introduced herself with grace, which made Franz, who had lost his temper twice, feel a little ashamed.

The Count Hecate on the side sighed secretly in his heart, he knew very well that in fact, as long as Artemis did well, she could do a good job, whether it was to socialize or be the successor of the Hecate family. Just like now, her temperament and demeanor look like a handsome noble boy and a beautiful boy, not a tomboy dressed as a man. However, although she can do these things well, this girl does not know what medicine she has taken wrong, and she always goes against her father, which almost makes the earl sad to death, and she does not know when her daughter will be sensible and bear the burden of the family.