I Am Louis XIV

The disappearance of the Duchess of Colonna did not cause even the slightest disturbance in the court. To be honest, in this court, not many people liked her, but quite a few hated her, except that she was a foreigner and Mazaranhong. In addition to the relatives of the bishop, it is also because of Mary Mancini's arrogant attitude-although under the king's instigation and favor, there are not a few royal wives who dare to provoke the queen and the noble ladies, but Mary still has One big problem is that she has been trying to get all the love of the king, but everyone knows that if a king is like this, then the kingdom's destruction is just around the corner - the more those ministers and generals love their king, the more they hate her. A ignorant and aggressive possessiveness.

What did she think of the king?

This is really a very ironic situation. Marie's emotions may be much more sincere than those of the Queen or Madame Lavallière, but the court cannot tolerate true feelings-or rather, the feelings of ordinary people. For these people, it is simply a poison to France. They would rather see a woman who is greedy for vanity and power by the side of the king, because the king can reward her with what the latter wants, but Mary What they want is something that a king can never give.

So it can be said that many people were relieved by Mary's departure. Of course, they were also targeting Mrs. La Vallière, because this lady is also a foreigner, and she is also the British princess Henrietta, Duke of Orleans. Lady's former maid, she stayed with the king for too long. In addition, the king is said to have promised to give her child a legal status-that is, to recognize the child legally, although he still has no right of inheritance, but he There would be at least a duke, and a fief, for the lady had followed the king through the wars against Holland and Flanders, and they were concerned whether the king had committed his heart to the lady.

The undercurrents in Paris and Versailles are surging, and Louis has also heard about this-but this is also a long-standing tradition. Since King Edward III of England had the first love affairs officially recorded in history, King Francois I of France specially made it for him. His lover created the position of "Madam of the Royal Family", making this disreputable title one of the important positions of the court (the Madam of the Royal Family is paid a salary like military officers), and Diane, the wife of Henry II's Royal Family, even served as a member of the Parliament Members drafted papers on taxes and bills, and signed off on official documents with the king - the so-called "Henry Diane" came from here, and she is said to have even been jokingly called "The Prime Minister of the Bed".

Some people may wonder why people in this era are keen on such immoral behaviors, but from Louis' observation and inquiries, we can know that the existence of the royal wife can be said to be the needs of the court's internal affairs and politics.

First: Generally speaking, there is only one royal wife around the king, which avoids the chaos during the Henry VIII period-as we all know, Henry VIII is certainly a hero, but his inner palace has been taken turns by Boleyn and Howard The girls of the family dominated... Especially after Henry VIII's Queen Catherine went to the monastery, Henry VIII's court became a filthy quagmire. Every maid hoped to be the king's lover, or even become the queen. Dang, acting recklessly, not only flattering the king, but also showing off to any male they fancy. This trend even spread to the queens after Catherine. Anne Boleyn was remembered as the first queen to be beheaded for adultery , and Henry VIII has also become a laughing stock among the kings, not to mention, his fifth queen, the daughter of the Howard family, was also hanged because of Luan Lun.

Therefore, people agree that the lady of the royal family represents order and stability, just like if the queen is present, all the noble ladies must bow their heads to her, and the lady of the royal family has the obligation and power to suppress those rebellious people—although not Every lady of the royal family can do well, but the existence of the lady of the royal family does give the girls a goal instead of biting each other aimlessly.

Second: As I said, although the countries in this era are all marrying and forming alliances with each other, the promises of the kings have never been credible. Not to mention the generational enemies such as Britain and France, and even the interests of Austria. Leopold I, even though he and Carlos II of Spain belonged to the Habsburg family, but when he conspired with Louis to carve up Flanders, Leopold I did not consider Carlos II—the king It is embarrassing that the person next to your pillow can become the enemy of the country at any time. This is true of Louis' grandmother, mother, and the current queen. To this day, Queen Anne is still secretly called "the Foreign woman."

Therefore, it is natural that the ministers and the subjects do not want their king to be confused by a foreign woman, even if she is his legitimate wife, they are happy to see the relationship between the king and the queen is indifferent, alienated from each other, and even encourage the royal wife to override the queen above.

The third is from people's selfishness. As we all know, if a lady can become a "royal lady", not only can she enjoy a salary, but the king's generous gifts, the right to buy and sell official positions or priesthood, can also make her Her brother, father and sister ascended to heaven together, and her referees will also be rewarded incomparably generously - position, money and land, or the king's attention and favor.

Louis once complained to the Queen Mother that the ministers were too enthusiastic about this kind of thing, but it was just a complaint. In other words, when he chose Mrs. La Vallière, he had already made a big joke that horrified them. So it's less pissed off—"but I don't really need a royal lady for a while," Louie said.

"I think you'd better not worry your ministers." Philip said, while gesturing to his attendants to fetch meat for him, "They will only suspect that you are sick."

"I have a strange idea," Louis said, "Is it because I gave them too little or too little work, otherwise, how could they think they have to face them at the same time?" Louis waved his hand, and the attendants on one side Thinking that the king needs to be served, he hurried over - in public, the king acts, even the meal has procedures and etiquette, but in private, the king and his younger brother dine together, the atmosphere is much looser, so the king just Shaking his head, he didn't need anything. After the attendants retreated, Louis continued: "I am facing more than a hundred courtiers, do I still have time to deal with a strange woman?"

The Duke of Orleans widened his eyes in surprise: "Respond!? Your Majesty, why do you think that the royal lady exists to appease your body and mind, why do you need to deal with it? You can do whatever you like."

"I probably can't do that."

"So you are not so perfect," said the Duke of Orléans, and now he alone dared to say it to the king: "You are always too indecisive in your feelings, and you have seen that those worthy ladies It's a group of monsters that push their feet."

Louis made a gesture to signal Philip not to continue: "You and I both have wives and daughters. Do you think my Elizabeth and your daughter are the same?"

"As much as I love my daughter, I must say that you don't see how much she haunts me," said Philip, "and I have to tiptoe out of my room, or you'll have to spend a lot of time." You can’t even see me—” He held up his fork and said nostalgicly, “When that sweet little devil leans on your knees, puts two cloud-like hands on your chest, What can you do but give in when you say 'Daddy' and mutter?"

Even the king couldn't help smiling when he said that. "It couldn't be more true, Philip, it couldn't be more true."

The Duke of Orleans paused for a while. His brother hadn't shown a happy face for several days, because of that hateful witch, and because of the rebellion on Gayola Island—and the heartbroken Duke of Colonna, "Okay "Come on," the Duke said cleverly again: "Since we are all mortals and cannot get rid of our inner weakness, I will convince them that you need time..."

"After Madame Lavallière gave birth."

"After Madame Lavallière gave birth," said the Duke of Orléans, "have you decided that if she bears a healthy boy, you will recognize him and give him a fief?"

"That's what I promised her," Louie said. "God bless us."

"God bless you, sire," said the Duke of Orléans, "then would you mind if I spread the news? There are always fears that you are too fond of Madame de La Vallière--but if this is the last consolation, they will not Will mind."

"Totally, and that's something I've talked to her about."

"Fortunately, her temper is not like Mary's." The Duke of Orleans said bluntly. He had fought with Mary when he was a child. Since then, he felt that Mary Mancini lacked awe of the royal power, so He has never been optimistic about the relationship between Mary and her brother. In contrast, although Madame La Vallière is sometimes too naive and cowardly, she at least knows that she should bow to the king's will.

"Let's not mention her anymore." Louis said gently: "By the way, Philip, there is one more thing you need to do for me."

"Please, Your Majesty."

"I probably don't have time to look after the Duke of Colonna recently. I hope you can go to the hunting lodge to accompany him until I can get out a little bit."

"Of course," the Duke of Orleans showed some pity, "he is a good boy."

—————

No one would have imagined that the king would be busy until midsummer. On the last day of June, Madame La Vallière gave birth in a suite at the Château de Vincennes—different from the attention of the queen when she gave birth, this place was remote and dangerous. There are only the king, the Duke of Orleans, Vesalius and Eralio outside the suite. The room where Mrs. La Vallière lives has no windows and only a door leading to the small hall outside. That is to say, she has no chance of escape. Well, it was her female clansmen who helped her give birth—whether they could get out of here fortunately, instead of being put in prison directly, also depends on whether the Bohemian witches have lied to La Vallière.

Female werewolves are far better than human women in giving birth. They only waited for two or three hours, and Mrs. La Vallière successfully gave birth to a boy. She waited nervously while feeling the baby leaving her body. As the final sentence was pronounced, the first thing she heard was a loud baby cry!

"She succeeded!" Ela slightly whispered, because if it was a werewolf, the first cry would only be a sad whimper, because the long kiss of a werewolf cannot cry as loudly as a human being.

Louis knew this too. He fell backwards into the chair, and the Duke of Orleans held his hand tightly. At this time, the Duke felt that the king's hands were gradually warming up. They were cold before. .

Then they watched a happy maid come out with a swaddle in her arms. Louis reached out to take it, and the Duke of Orleans eagerly lifted the swaddle. A healthy and normal human male baby appeared in front of everyone. I was completely relieved - although Vesalius and Eralio would still test how much blood in his body already belonged to the werewolf, and whether he still had the invisible characteristics of the werewolf - these tests were deliberately avoided The eye of the king, because some tests are a little bit scary.

But these did not do much harm to the child. When he returned to the king, he just cried angrily and blushed. Little fists and feet ran out of the scattered swaddling clothes. Louis held them and looked at Vesa Li and Eralio, "May I announce it, everyone?"

"Okay." Eralius said: "There is werewolf blood in his body, but it is very thin. He can't turn into a giant wolf, and he can't show his fangs or claws." The chief judge said with a strange expression Said: "Even if he wants to return to the werewolf colony, he will be expelled. There are too many human elements in him."

The king looked at Vesalius, who also nodded.

The king looked at the newborn baby softly, "Then," he announced, "let us welcome the Duke of Harlepur!"

The room was finally full of joy, headed by the Duke of Orleans, they were all shouting, the Duke of Harlepur is here!

Madame La Vallière in the room also fell on the pillow with her head up. No one knew how much she had suffered in the previous few minutes. No one knew whether the king would change his mind until the end. But now, the king has given the newborn child a title—Duke of Harlebour. This title may be confusing, but Mrs. La Vallière knows that it is a forest in the south of Brussels. At that time, the king And she used to go there with her to admire the bluebells—every spring, that huge forest is full of bluish-purple flowers like elves, like a dream—Duke Harlepur, means this child Has been canonized to Flanders by his father, just like his two elder brothers, he will grow up under his father's protection, and then guard the territory for his father.

The king kept his promise, and she was finally rewarded, although that reward also represented the impending separation.

Madame La Vallière's tears drenched her beautiful long chestnut hair. Perhaps in this world, there will be no tears that contain such profound sadness and joy at the same time.