I Am Louis XIV

Princess Henrietta has always been the most delicate existence in the Palace of Versailles.

When she was still in her infancy, her father, Charles I, became the first king to be guillotined by the people. Her childhood and girlhood were spent with the King of France and his younger brother in Germanic Anlay, France. Even for a princess, a queen mother, living under the fence is not so easy-it is hard for future generations to imagine that a princess almost died of high fever because she couldn't afford a doctor.

She had hoped to become the wife of Louis XIV, and her brother and mother were happy to see her, but the bishop of Mazarin and the queen mother at the time would not allow such a possibility—Charles II was still in exile at the time, and York The duke served Philip IV in the Spanish army, and Cromwell, Lord Protector, was only one step away from the throne-it is conceivable that if Cromwell really decided to take that step, in order to ensure his legitimacy , he will follow the example of Richard III (the creator of the prince in the tower) and try to fabricate evidence to claim that the children of Charles I are not legitimate.

If Louis XIV married Henrietta at that time, not only would he not be able to get any help from his wife, but he would also suffer shame because of it-so they even brought in an Italian witch (Marie Mancini) Come to confuse the king, lest the young king really have any feelings for the British princess.

Henrietta was always confused at that time. Unlike her mother, she lived with the Bourbon royal family in France since she was sensible. French is better than English, and her feeling for German-en-Laye and even Paris is better than London. She still felt that she was a Frenchman—until Marie Mancini was put in front of her so convincingly that, look, the French would not want an English princess even if they wanted an Italian woman of unknown origin.

But Britain wasn't hers either.

Later, Charles II managed to facilitate her marriage with the Duke of Orleans. During the short time she was waiting to be married in London, she still seemed like an unwelcome guest. The two brothers were quite distant, if not indifferent, to her. After all, They were adults when she was a baby, and they had never grown up together, so how could they have any affection. For her dowry, the court and the people in the court were also in endless disputes. Although Louis XIV agreed with them to use ships to offset it, some British people thought it was a stupid act-but there were no thirty Galais. Ship, is she going to marry into France with a box of empty dowry like Queen Teresa did?

Queen Teresa's empty dowry can be tolerated by the French because without a dowry, her heirs are eligible to compete for the succession to the Spanish throne. As for her, Britain is also the executor of the Salic law. Even if Charles II has no heirs, And the Duke of York. Even if both died without heirs, the British would rather go to the Netherlands to find a distant relative than invite the French king to be the British king-the Hundred Years War had already made these two countries sworn enemies.

"Honey……"

Henrietta turned her head, and a familiar figure appeared in her hazy vision. It has been more than twenty years. She and the Duke of Orleans... At the beginning, they were not very emotionally reconciled. In Henrietta's impression, the Duke of Orleans had always been a naughty and naughty child-at the beginning she was encouraged by her mother. The Duke of Orleans pulled her off the chair and let her fall directly to the ground—the pain and humiliation at that time would never be forgotten in her life.

After marriage... Henrietta would be content without the presence of Louis XIV and Queen Teresa—the Duke of Orleans respected her after repeated reminders from his brother, but when it comes to loyalty to marriage , which is absolutely not the case. Everyone knows that the most romantic in Paris and Versailles is definitely not the king, but his brother Philip.

The Duke of Orleans is handsome, rich, and powerful, and he is also loved by the king. No matter it is for beauty, money or power, no one will give up such a delicious prey. At the craziest time, the carriage of the Duke of Orleans was on the street. Walking up and down, someone would try to jump on the steps of the carriage, the shaft or climb on the luggage rack, so that the king had to laugh and send his musketeers to his younger brother.

It stands to reason that the Duke of Orleans, who was more favored and indulged than Louis XIV, was not as cautious as his elder brother. It cannot be said that all comers are welcome - he is still very picky, but it is not an exaggeration to say that half of the Palace of Versailles is the guest of the duke...Louis XIV cannot blame his younger brother for this... In this day and age, it is normal to be like Philip, and someone like Louis XIV who is serious and only has two or three fixed royal wives will make people laugh.

If it wasn't for the fact that both the queen and the wife of the royal family had given birth, some people might doubt whether the king could be humane...

But let the ladies choose, they will definitely choose a husband like Louis XIV instead of the Duke of Orleans.

Henrietta didn't have much affection for the Duke of Orleans at first, and after a few years it became more common as a guest and a host, but with Louis XIV around - he is the kind of person who values ​​family and likes to see harmony, On the surface, the Duke of Orleans and Henrietta still had some friendship. Later, in the Franco-Dutch War, Henrietta served as a secret envoy between the two countries and achieved undoubted success...the Henrietta at that time Full of pride and joy—especially when she encouraged Charles II to use wizards to obtain heirs, which directly allowed France to obtain half of the Dutch treasury... For this reason, Louis XIV specially customized a crown for her , to reward her.

After all, this kind of thing can't be made public, right?

But whether it was for her husband, for France, or for His Majesty the King, Henrietta herself was not sure.

"Philip..."

Henrietta suspected that the Duke of Orleans might have noticed it long ago, but the Duke of Orleans would not resent his elder brother anyway, not to mention the well-known character of Louis XIV, he would not hang out with his sister-in-law-maybe this made him Henrietta was even more desperate. But what brought their relationship to a freezing point in the end was the marriage between the princess and the king of Spain... For Henrietta, it is common for a princess, a princess, to sacrifice for her country and family, but She shouldn't have ignored Louis and Philip—or rather, she shouldn't have thought that their tender affection was just a fluff, a whim, or a faux pas.

They really love these kids.

She found out too late.

Louis XIV did not blame her, and even persuaded Philip. As the saying goes, he who does not know is not guilty. Henrietta's education limited her thinking, and her thinking was right.

But Philip and the princess did alienate her, and the queen mother even took her and the youngest son of the Duke of Orleans to her side to raise.

Maybe on a certain morning, or a certain late night, she suddenly realized that she had nothing to do... There was nothing to get... It might be a bit of a moaning to say this, but she did feel that after a cold , weakened rapidly.

"Others will say that I don't know what to do." She looked at the calm Duke of Orleans and said, "Being born without a father is equivalent to not having a mother, and being estranged from my two elder brothers. Deli princess, you are tolerant enough to me." She coughed softly twice: "By the way, I still have two children, a son and a daughter, I should be satisfied."

"You're just not reconciled." The Duke of Orleans said, "You want the princess to marry the king of Spain. Isn't it because the princess is only the queen of Sweden? Although the crown prince of Prussia, Frederick, is young and healthy, how do you like her?" Son of a grand duke? Sure, he's the son of a king now, but how could it be better for you to have Queen Teresa's son king of Spain than your grandson to be on the throne?"

He stared intently at Henrietta lying on the bed while his wife blushed at the three questions, not from shame but from exasperation.

"Did I do something wrong!?" She shouted in a low voice: "It is most accurate for France to let the princess become the queen of Spain!"

The Duke of Orleans showed a rare expression of astonishment: "I heard that right, Henrietta, that's your daughter!" He took two steps forward, letting his shadow cover the dying woman, "Don't you know Did something happen in Spain? The daughter of Leopold I was so desperate that she asked for help from her father's enemy! That's a devil! It's a..." He gritted his teeth: "I can't imagine what would happen if I daughter, my Mary..."

"The daughter of Leopold I is only eight years old, and she can still insist on fleeing to Rome," Henrietta insisted: "If it is Mary, maybe she has given birth to a son, then France can take Spain without bloodshed! "

"You're talking nonsense!" The Duke of Orleans crossed his arms: "I forgot," he forcefully suppressed his anger: "You're sick, very sick, and you don't know what you're talking about."

"I know what I'm talking about," said Henrietta. "It's the queen who's taking advantage of it. She doesn't want my daughter to be better than hers."

"It is simply absurd," said the Duke of Orléans. "I made this decision with Louis, Henrietta, you don't know..."

"I know!" cried Henrietta! Not at all someone who is going to meet God: "I have convinced her that as the princess of France, she should make sacrifices!"

"Just like you!?" The voice of the Duke of Orleans was louder than her, "Do you think that you should be standing beside my brother instead of Teresa of Spain?"

"But you are wrong," the voice of the Duke of Orleans suddenly dropped again, "neither I nor my elder brother, King Louis XIV of France, would entrust such a heavy responsibility on a poor child." He said Putting down your arms: "Henrietta, thank you, you have just spoken your truth."

"I was wrong," insisted Henrietta, "you were wrong."

"You haven't dared to mention Your Majesty until now." The Duke of Orleans sneered: "Henrietta, it seems that you also understand that if he knows your thoughts, he will hate you."

"He should know how to weigh the pros and cons." Henrietta seemed to have been drained of her last strength by the struggle just now. She collapsed and leaned against the huge goose down pillow. "Excessive warmth will hinder him and prevent him from being a A true ruler."

"I don't know who you are using to compare him with. Leopold I or Charles II, or Carlos II. I would think you are humiliating the prince."

"He could have been Caesar," murmured Henrietta.

"But I don't want to be Caesar." A voice suddenly continued. Henrietta trembled like an electric shock, and then subconsciously raised her arm. Seriously ill people are inevitably dirty and ugly. The Duke of Orleans looked at her. As soon as she moved, things from her childhood came to her mind, and she lowered the bed curtain for her.

"The princess is outside," Louis said.

The Duke of Orleans went out knowingly, and as soon as he saw the princess, he knew from the tearful face that she had heard a lot just now—for Henrietta had been anointed and might die at any time, That's why the princess came here in a hurry to see her for the last time... But it's better not to see her for such a last time.

"Henrietta." Louis stood in front of the bed curtain and said in a deep voice.

"Yes, Your Majesty." A faint voice came from the bed curtain: "It seems that you know what I have done."

"I've always known," Louis said, "I don't want to blame you, and I don't hate you. Please forgive Philip for saying that he was a little too impulsive."

"You are as considerate as ever," said Henrietta, "but if you blame me and hate me, I don't regret it."

Louis XIV was silent for a while: "You are for France."

"People say I'm an English princess, but I think I should be a Frenchman—Your Majesty, you saved me then, not an Englishman; I feel that I am returning to France, not going to France; you have treated me very well, even if I have no dowry-I watched how you defeated one enemy after another, and sent France to the hegemony again... ...You are the God of the French, Your Majesty, you...you..." The person behind the bed curtain gasped twice: "I want to help you, I should help you, I..."

"Yes, I know, Henrietta."

"...Did I do something wrong... Your Majesty..."

"From my standpoint, I cannot say that you are wrong."

"His Majesty……"

"Henrietta, do you remember when we were at Germain-en-Laye?"

"Your Majesty..."

"I thought you lovely then, Henrietta, and perhaps in some world I did marry you and make you my wife, Queen of France."

"...are you... comforting me?"

Louis gently opened the bed curtain and looked into Henrietta's eyes. She could no longer focus, and maybe she could still hear it, which was God's mercy to her.

For the great princess, Henrietta is totally unworthy of being a mother, but this is the measure of people in later generations. After Teresa and Louis XIV entered into a marriage contract, Louis XIV taught her for a long time——Duke of Orleans But they have no such interest at all. If they make mistakes, they should also bear part of it.

"No."