Episode 5 Choice
"As a human being, it's normal to have all kinds of expectations. www.biquge.info We don't really need to hate the existence of our hopes like some ascetics, and the development of human society is nothing more than the pursuit of ways to satisfy our personal desires to the greatest extent without harming the interests of others. But in the same way, we should not tolerate the wanton indulgence of one's desires, especially when such behavior is intended or has already endangered the legitimate interests of others.
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We need a rational rule of law to check power, precisely to avoid gambling on the collective interests of the people in order to satisfy individual selfish desires. Such restraints are very necessary in the light of many examples in the past, present, and future. —On the Spirit of the Law, Rudolf Tellas.
In the middle of August, it was very hot in Shurasa, and this day was no exception, and the weather continued to be fine, so the temperature was also rising. Although the Chéelysée Palace is also located in this climate, the rooms facing north near the palace garden are very shady due to the sound architectural design. Usually at this time, the emperors would always move their offices to one of these rooms. This year, Archduke Leon, who is currently acting as the crown, is no exception.
"I think that's how the port breakwater repair works from Lecce are concerned."
"Yes, Your Highness is wise."
"Your Royal Highness, on the side of Milan, the city senate feels that the tax standard issued in the second half of the year is too high, and they want to ......"
"Ask them to send an accountant, and I'll let the people from the Ministry of Taxation confront them face to face, whether we set too high, or if they have enjoyed the royal family's preferential treatment for too long!"
"Yes, that's what you tell you to do."
"Your Royal Highness, ...... about this matter"
Although this summer office is a very shady place, the current situation is probably as hot as the outside. Perhaps it was Sigrani's reason for the rest that the ministers of the various departments felt a little insecure. Some of the things that have been handled according to the usual habits are now submitted to Leon for review. The Count of Albertini had instructed the other ministers to pay attention to this aspect and not to overwork His Highness the Grand Duke, but Leon politely declined the Count's kindness. In this respect, Leon brought his industriousness in the army to government as he had always done.
After more than a month of tempering, many matters are now in Leon's hands, and ministers and civilians have begun to trust the army-born ruler.
It was about 2 or 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and today's peak had just passed. Leon stretched his back and realized that he was thirsty and hungry, and he fumbled his teacup from the messy tabletop, only to find that there was not a drop of water in it.
"Someone......" he barely managed to squeeze some saliva out of his mouth and shouted at him.
"Here it is, my dear high-working Grand Duke." There was such a familiar voice from the door.
"Oh, it's Cizer." Leon laughed, "How do you have time to come to me." ”
"I've been kind enough to visit the class, and I've brought you a whole roasted goose, a bottle of 340-year-old Faltu ice wine, and two large breads of butter-cured meat from Theresa and Claire's bakery, which are only 20 today......" Cizer walked over to his desk without saying a word, and after clearing a small space, he began to pull out all kinds of food and drinks from the large basket he carried.
"I'm still in working hours."
"But you didn't take a break either, did you?" Cizer placed two tall glasses on the table.
"Forget it, anyway, today's affairs are basically over, so let's have a good drink with you."
"What an honor."
Cizer filled both glasses and dragged a chair over to sit down across from Leon. Leon was indeed hungry, and since he was in front of a familiar friend, he didn't have to worry too much about etiquette. After moistening his smoking throat with wine, Leon tore off a goose leg and munched on it.
Cizer ate as he normally would, of course, so it was only tea time for him, and he tore the bread slowly, and threw the slice of bread into his mouth one by one.
After dealing with the goose leg, Leon took another sip of wine to help swallow, and then smiled at Cezel: "Nothing to do, either treachery or theft, let's say, did you cause something wrong this time?" ”
"Hehe, it's not a big deal." Cezel put down his bread and leaned forward, "Only, I'm probably still wanted by the Pharisens." ”
"What did you do when you went to Farensi two years ago?" Leon asked, frowning.
"Kidnapped a man's fiancée at a banquet."
"Mademoiselle China Lanfonte, the fiancée of Saugrande Leus, to be exact."
"Clever Leone, I should say that this is what I like about you as well." Cizer chuckled eerily.
"However, two years have passed, and people should have married and had children a long time ago." Leon didn't care about Cezel's expression, he knew his friend. Cizer can sometimes seem so crazy that ordinary people can't understand it, and even feel a little frightened. However, Cizer's madness is not a sign of a loss of mind, but a deep obsession with certain things, which will make him do everything possible to achieve his goals.
"But I'm not married."
"Then you can quickly find a suitable partner to marry, it seems that Ling Zun also has a headache about your life's events, so you should honor his old man." Although Leon understands Cizer's madness, it doesn't mean that he is willing to get involved in Cezel's adventures every time, and it may be the inherent transformation of people who have already started a family.
"Cena is the only woman I love in my life, and I can't leave her to marry another woman."
"Yes, I've heard you say this countless times, and the current situation is just that you don't succeed and feel unwilling." Leon wants to dispel his friend's madness with a merciless exposé, "So I advise you to take this opportunity to learn to restrain your habit of messing with flowers and grass, and then find a gentle and virtuous lady to accompany you for the rest of your life as soon as possible." ”
"Leon, I'm absolutely serious this time."
"Yes, you said that to me last time. I said Cezel, although I have to admit that you can fool most people by pretending to be in love, I know the root of your inferiority, so give up trying to deceive me. ”
"I'm not trying to trick you, I'm proposing to you an opportunity, an opportunity you've always dreamed of in your life, and if you don't follow my advice, you won't have such a good opportunity in the future."
"What nonsense are you talking about, what chance do I need?" Leon was a little annoyed.
"A chance like me, a chance that makes you your lover the only chance in your heart." Cizer slowed down his speech and spat the words out of his mouth one by one.
"What do you mean......" Leon felt himself start to run out of confidence.
"Anyway, the contract signed between our esteemed majesty and the Farensi is about to come to an end, and there is nothing wrong with us doing so, we are not treacherous, are we?" Cizer leaned in front of Leon, still smiling eerily.
"No, no, Your Majesty, she won't agree......" Leon stepped back involuntarily.
"Yes, Leon, you know in your heart who our beautiful and amorous Emperor puts in the first place in his heart, you know, right? However, because you loved her before, you temporarily endured such grievances, but do you want to endure it for the rest of your life? Of course you don't want that, she should love you alone, worship you alone, and belong to you alone! Think about it, we don't rely on any conspiracy, we have to do things in a decent way. We beat him from the front, from the most prestigious aspects of that man. Cizer whispered softly in Leon's ear.
"I don't have the right to do this......" Leon still resisted.
"Think about it, on the one hand, you will always be able to silently guard your lover for the rest of your life, like some noble knights. On one side, after a grand triumphal ceremony on the central avenue of Shurasa, completely conquer her heart. Which one do you pick, Leone, which one do you pick? Which one do you pick...... Cizer straightened up, and the last sentence turned into a mumble to himself, and his eyes became confused, as if asking himself.
Leon didn't know when Cizer left, he only understood that he had made a choice.
Compared to the dry heat of northern Mastar, the climate in Rorbuna is much more pleasant. Due to the influence of the oceanic climate, the average annual temperature of Rorbna can be controlled within 8~10 degrees Celsius, and the humidity is always in a comfortable range. So, aside from the volcanic hot springs in the middle of Mastar, it is also a popular retreat destination for all kinds of people.
The Empress of Marstar was now lying on her back on a chaise longue, enjoying the mild cool sea breeze while listening to Atalanta sing her poetry. As Sigrani's closest friends, the two ladies should naturally be with them. On the other hand, the milder climate in the south is also good for young children who are almost as young as they turn one. You know, every summer and winter, there are always many newborns who die in Shurazar and Campeña.
The cradles of the children were placed next to the mothers, and all but Theodora could not walk. However, it was noon, and the children had already been coaxed to sleep.
"Atalanta, take a break." Sigrani sat up lazily, and Cosette hurried up to help her.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Atalanta closed the book gently.
"It's been a great afternoon." Through her balcony, Higrani looks out towards the bustling port of Rolbuna.
On the azure sea, ships with white sails hurried in and out of the harbor. Sometimes the seagull spreads its wings and soars, sometimes it lands on the mast that has been set sail. On the wharf, the porters sweat like rain, just to earn enough to eat; The accountants were also nervously counting and calculating, for fear that the slightest mistake would ruin their jobs. The natural situation can make the ruler feel happy, and as for the hardships of the people's livelihood, I am afraid that it will not be in the eyes of the Empress Mastar for the time being.
"Am I too laid-back?"
"How so, Your Majesty." Cosette said.
"Throw all the major affairs of the country to Leon, but hide here to enjoy the blessings."
"Your Majesty is nurturing the future successor of the Empire, and this is also an extremely important mission, isn't it?" Atalanta spoke.
"Really......"
"Your Majesty, is it not at ease to go down to His Royal Highness the Grand Duke?" Cosette asked.
"No, I don't know, I'm supposed to trust Leone's ......"
"But I can't help but think that if he is the one who presides over the state affairs for me in Shurasa now, then I am afraid that I will be absolutely relieved to have a baby here......
"Your Majesty!" Atalanta spoke.
"No, Atalanta, I'm just thinking, just thinking...... I am already someone else's wife, and he is already someone else's husband. ”
"Your Majesty......"
At this moment, the chief attendant knocked on the door.
"Please come in." Cosette replied.
The chief chamberlain pushed the door open and entered, and if our readers remember, the chief chamberlain who was now in charge of the royal palace in Rorbuna was the same dutiful captain of the garrison at that time.
"What's the matter?"
"The Municipal Senate sent someone to invite His Majesty to preside over the sea god sacrifice the night after tomorrow, this is an invitation."
Sigrani took the post, opened it and glanced at it, the wording of the post was unusually humble, even flattering. Although this kind of writing does not make people feel high-spirited, it is not annoying. Since she has come to the south, she naturally has to take the opportunity to win over people's hearts.
"Please reply to them, I will be there on time."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The chief attendant withdrew.
"Is Your Majesty going to go?" Cosette asked.
"It's definitely going to go."
"However, the venue for the subsequent dinner is in the Municipal Banquet Building, which is the annex of the original Rossi family." Atalanta reminded.
"Is there anything wrong?" Cosette asked.
"Have you forgotten how His Highness Maximilian disappeared in the first place?"
"Haven't you found the original secret passages until now?"
"If you can find it casually for those who don't know, can it still be considered a secret passage?"
"This is a small matter, even if someone dares to come, will I still be afraid of the remnants of the Rossi family?" Sigrani made her final conclusion.
It was the day of the sea god's sacrifice.
"We're ready to go, Atalanta?" Sigrani asked.
"I'm here Your Majesty." The voice of the guard officer was heard at the door.
When she walked into the room, Sigrani couldn't help but laugh, faintly feeling a hint of emotion.
"Atalanta, we're going to a banquet, why are you dressed like this?" Cosette fussed.
"Your Majesty's safety, wasn't it up to you and me to be responsible for it before? You can't abandon your original martial arts just because you got married and had children. Although Weichen is not talented, this can still be done. ”
Athalanta was still as heroic as ever, and it was Atalanta who really fascinated Bavar Hayes at the beginning.
The ceremony was held in the evening, and the organizers took into account that Her Majesty the Empress was already six months pregnant, so the time for presiding over the ceremony was reduced to a minimum. Even so, this year's Poseidon Sacrifice is probably the most successful in recent years. After all, His Majesty the Emperor personally sold the face of the Senate of Rorbuna to preside over such a religious ceremony that was not ranked in the territory of Mastar. On the other hand, Sigrani's personal charm attracted more people than usual, and it also added to the luster of the Senate.
In consideration of the possible danger, security measures were strengthened throughout the ceremony and the banquet that followed, at the behest of Atalanta. However, it seems that there is no reason to worry, and the night seems to be calm.
However, just when everyone else thought that this year's festival would end on a happy note, the expected storm struck.
After the dinner, Her Majesty the Empress and her entourage walked out of the building, which was now crowded with poor people attending the ceremony. According to tradition, in today's day, the nobles did not have the right to drive out the commoners, but instead gave them some gifts. As a result, the beggars and other poor people of the city would gather outside the banquet building in the hope of receiving some benefits.
When Sigrani came out, the crowd would naturally gather around. Originally, the guards were going to stop them. However, not wanting to ruin the tradition of the festival and to maintain her image among the people, Sigrani instructed Cosette to bring some coins and food to distribute. The guards' defenses were slackened.
At this moment, a beggar-like figure emerged from the guard's loose wall and staggered towards Sigrani.
"Alright, one-of-a-kind Supreme......" he muttered.
Atalanta felt that something was wrong, but Sigrani had stepped forward and gently supported the man, "You don't have to worry, today I will definitely let you all get a blessing from the god of the sea." ”
"Thank you, thank you......" The man had an ugly appearance, appeared to have suffered severe facial injuries, and his voice was surprisingly hoarse, barely like a human could utter.
"Your Majesty, beware of the assassins!" The moment Atalanta figured it out, she immediately pounced and grabbed it in front of Sigrani.
After a brief entanglement, the beggar pushed the two apart and scurried into the crowd before the guards could react.
"That man is an Assassin...... Chase! Atalanta uttered this, and fell feebly into Sigrani's arms.
"Atalanta! Atalanta! Sigrani had already felt a warm, damp spot on her abdomen, and from her years of experience in marching and fighting, she knew it was a bloodstain without looking.
"Your Majesty...... You'll be fine......" Atalanta's rapidly bloodied lips slowly spat out the words.
"Call the doctor! I command you in the name of Emperor Mastar! ”
"My friend, I won't let death take you away from me so easily."
"Your Majesty, don't cry, I can't die yet. The Rossi family can have such a courtier, and the luck of that marquis really can't be considered bad. ”
"Don't talk, I'll beg you, okay?" Sigrani clenched her best friend's soft twink, for fear that if she let go, she would lose each other forever.