I Am Louis XIV

The king didn't know that there were two vampire princes watching them leave Paris-their carriage only drove along the Seine at first, but when it was time to leave the Louvre, it turned to the southwest-they were going to Versailles, so they must pass the town hall, Notre-Dame and the Place de la Bastille. By the aqueduct near the Place de la Bastille, a carriage hidden in the shadows opened its curtains. They ran over, wanting to get some benefits from it, but the sharp swords and spears in the hands of Eralio's monks can not only deal with dark creatures, but also deal with fallen humans. Now, these stone-silent holy knights wouldn't even utter a curse—of course, no one would say anything to a group of dead people.

Eralio has been paying attention to the king's face. As far as he knows, the young king seems to be a very merciful person. When he was still in Paris, he couldn't bear to see the poor in Paris suffer from hunger because of the continuously rising prices. He was starving and had a dispute with Bishop Mazarin, and took the opportunity of repairing the chapel to help as many people as possible; on the way to escape, although even he himself was in danger, he still could not watch his people die in the war. They died in groups during the famine caused by it. Those "Queen Dowager Crosses" did not know how many people were saved. Eralio was not surprised at all. Maybe they will become a super holy place in the future; there are also those who followed the king all the way The refugees who arrived in Versailles, if it was Louis XIII or Henry IV, they were considered lucky not to be driven or executed, and this king not only gave them food and water, but also gave them land. Let them farm well and live like a person again.

So would he sympathize with these people?

"Why do you think so?" Louis said, and Eralius was taken aback, and then he heard the king say, "I issued a decree more than a hundred days ago, and I hope that my people can go to Versailles, and all who stay Here, I can only say that they at least did not recognize me as their king - I certainly love my people, but the premise is that they should be my people, not the Duke of Gaston or Condé Prince’s soldiers, or premeditated criminals.” At this point, the king turned his head and smiled slightly, “You see, it’s not that I didn’t give them a chance.”

Louis admitted that his good deeds were not pure. He repaired the chapel just to calm down the looming signs of riots in Paris. The decree issued, let the poor in Paris go to Versailles, promising them land, farm tools, seeds, and also to build a city of their own - he will not give up Paris, but he will never believe in Paris.

There may be many reasons for those who are unwilling to leave, but the king knows that they are more because of the high salaries offered by the Prince of Condé and the Duke of Gaston, who can wear beautiful coats and have weapons in their hands. Here, either, as he said, they have been planning for a long time, preparing to take advantage of the turmoil to loot and make a fortune, or they are simply unwilling to trust their king. In this case, Louis will not force them Doing his will is like looking at this city covered in flames with a red cloak, and not feeling the slightest pity that it does not belong to it.

Eral smiled, his slender fingers moved nimbly on the car window, like a white spider crawling in the darkness, the carriage started again, but after a while, it stopped again, and a monk came to the side of the carriage , and said a few words to Eralius, "It seems," Eralius said, "we have to change our way to move on."

The troops of the Prince de Condé and the Duke of Gaston suddenly met in the Place de la Bastille, the Prince of Condé himself leading his soldiers, the Duke of Gaston here led by the Duke of Guise.

Although Prince Condé's military strength and military talent have surpassed Gaston's, it can be said that Condé was caught off guard this time. Perhaps for him, King Louis XIV is the common cause of his and Gaston's battle. Although the relationship between him and the Duke of Gaston was very stiff in order to fight for power under the series of operations of Mazarin and Louis, the Duke of Gaston kept his attitude towards him until the sound of fighting sounded. Due respect—so much so that when he jumped out of bed and tried to call his officers together, he found that several of his dependable men were missing.

He was originally surrounded by the Duke of Longueville and the Duke of La Rochefoucauld, but the Duke of Longueville was assassinated during the battle. His eyes were injured when he was trapped by Duke Dong, and he couldn't see anything. He could only fight alone.

Compared with Prince Condé, the Duke of Guise's side is much calmer. Their total number may not be as large as Prince Condé's army, but in this area, they have an advantage, and the previous provocation of Duke Gaston has made Kong The acting prince lost two capable subordinates, the Duke of Longueville was seriously injured, and the Duke of La Rochefoucauld also withdrew from the battlefield—even if the Duke of Guise was defeated, the Duke of Gaston still had a chance, but if the Prince of Condé Dead or captured, who else can command his army?

————

At first the king didn't understand what Elaio meant by another way, but he soon understood, because he and Elaio were shouldered by the knights of the court, and when the carriage was impassable, Even with a person on their backs, they can still walk on the water or on the roof. It is a very strange experience, because when you look at it with your eyes, these tall knights or monks are like rocks or steel, But if you close your eyes and just feel the wind on your cheek, you will feel that you are being carried by a huge eagle, gliding in the deep and cold night.

Their speed was so fast that almost in a blink of an eye, the carriage was almost left behind by them. The king suddenly turned his head and glanced, "Is that the Duchess of Montpensier?"

Eralius raised his hand, and they stopped. Yes, that is the Duchess of Montpensier. They are condescending, and they can clearly see that she is also in the legion. Perhaps it is because the Duke of Gaston intends to use the title of the so-called Daughter of Orleans to the end. , she was specially put on a shining armor, and the helmet was dotted with white feathers, hanging down to her shoulders. Under the firelight, her lips turned crimson like congealed blood, and her expression was anxious.

"Alas." Eralius said, "Is the rumor true?"

"Erario," said Louie, "may I ask you to lend me one?"

"Please tell me, Your Majesty." Eralio said very humbly, "I hope to serve you very much."

Louis paused: "Can you see the man in the dark green velvet coat?"

"I see, he is beside the Prince of Condé."

"Because I sent him to the Prince," said Louis; "will you send your men to him, and bring him to the Duchess of Montpensier?"

"What do you want him to do?"

"Go and say what the Duchess wants to hear."

—————

The Prince of Condé is at a disadvantage. This is something anyone can see. The most terrifying thing is that the Duke of Guise has commanded his soldiers to separate the Prince of Condé from his army, and he and a small number of soldiers Besieged in front of the Fortress of Bastille, this fortress was built by Charles V in the style of the famous military castle in the 14th century. It can be said that it is a stronghold standing beside the Louvre.

This fortress was occupied by the Duke of Gaston before the outbreak of the war. Perhaps considering that the entire square has become a battlefield, the Duke of Guise let the Duchess of Montpensier enter the Fortress of Bastille. Only the Duke of Mortemart, he could not get close to the Duchess no matter what, but there were monks from the Tribunal, he could be said to have appeared behind the Duchess of Montpensier without anyone noticing.

The Duchess was startled at first, because the soldiers around her fell down without a sound, but someone who came immediately unfolded a necklace—it was the one that Prince Condé bought for her at the Red Boy Market Because of the arrival of Prince Condé's sister and his wife, they had some disputes, and she returned the necklace to the prince. Who knew that it would come back to her as a reliable token?

"How is Your Highness?"

"Very bad," said the Duke of Mortemal. His description was haggard and scarred. These were more convincing than his words. He was also a handsome man. Seeing him was like seeing the Duchess of Montpensier. Prince Condé: "How bad is it? Can't you escape?"

"Look down," said the Duke of Mortemart. "Look, you can see him."

So the Duchess went to the crenel and looked down. Prince Condé and his soldiers were being driven to a small area in front of the fortress. They built simple fortifications with human and horse corpses, but they were broken through in just a blink of an eye. thing. But maybe because the Duke of Guise didn't want to kill a prince either, he asked the Prince of Condé to surrender, so the situation is stalemate.

"You are the only one who can save him now," said Duke Mortmar.

"You can come to me like this," said the Duchess, "why can't you take him away?"

"Because His Royal Highness is unwilling to abandon his soldiers." Duke Motmar said: "Just as he would not surrender in such a humiliating way."

"He should surrender," murmured the Duchess.

"Then he's going to die," said the Duke of Mortmar. "If he's up against a king, he can, but he's up against another usurper, your father, and he can't—don't argue I say, you know, your father would have done that."

"I can't disobey my father."

"I advise you to do so," said the Duke of Mortemart, "because Duke Gaston won't do you any good if he wins."

"What a foolish thing to say," said the Duchess. "He is my father, and I am his daughter."

"He already has three daughters." Duke Motmar said cruelly, these three were born to Duke Gaston and his stepwife: "If you count the illegitimate daughters, that is four, and you also have an illegitimate brother , he has no shortage of children, especially you, respectable princess, please take a look at your father and recall everything he has done to you, you may love him, but he only thinks you are his With Montpensier's stumbling block, he doesn't need your intelligence, nor your sharpness, nor your reputation-although he may still need the Daughter of Orleans now, but when the war is over and the dust settles, you It will become the person he hates the most. But when it comes to that, princess, there will not even be anyone around you who will lend a helping hand to you."

He stepped forward: "At that time, what can you do?"

The Duke of Mortmar looked at the necklace in his hand: "But if he fails, of course, I don't mean that he died or was imprisoned. His Royal Highness still can't do this, then they will have to go back to a At that time, even if he would be angry, he still had to ask for your help, whether as the Daughter of Orleans or as the Duchess of Montpensier, and your help to His Royal Highness is enough to make him Remember it forever."

"In this way, you can get a lot more things than you have now."

————

People in Paris have always talked about this night.

In their mouths, they were forced to retreat under the walls of the Bastille Fortress. The Prince Condé in front of the trench saw the Duchess of Montpensier standing on the wall in despair. Out of trust and love for his lover, Without hesitation, he shouted to the Duchess: "The princess! Help me!"

So the Duchess of Montpensier ordered the defenders of the Bastille Fortress to point the cannons on the city wall at the army of the Duke of Guise (that is, her father) and fired.

The artillery fire suddenly tore a hole in the dense encirclement, and Prince Condé immediately ran out with his soldiers, and then joined his army.

Much of this story is indeed true, and the soldiers of the Fortress of Bastille did receive a wrong order, since there was no one in the fortress with more power and authority than the Duchess of Montpensier at the time, and they did submit to His allies fired and let the Prince de Condé go—but it is almost impossible to say that the Prince of Condé saw the Duchess and cried out to her to save him. Because the wall height of the Bastille Fortress at that time was about 80 feet, and the tower was 100 feet, which is equivalent to the height of the ten-story building today. It is impossible for Prince Condé to see anyone standing on the city wall, and if no one reminds him, the Duchess may not be able to find Prince Condé on the chaotic battlefield.

But for people, these little things are nothing to worry about. Imagine a delicate and noble beauty, in order to save her lover, she would not hesitate to fight against her father, and her lover was indeed saved because of this. What an unforgettable romance...

Although Duke Gaston would not think so.

The Duke of Mortemal didn't think so either. After he left the Duchess of Montpensier, he didn't return to the Prince of Condé. Repeatedly encouraged Prince Condé to compete with Duke Gaston, or leaked Prince Condé's whereabouts to Duke Gaston as if unintentionally, or covered Prince Condé's eyes and ears before the war, and the king was watching The wonderful idea that suddenly came up after the Prince of Condé and the Duchess of Montpensier-he has completed it.

Louis was deeply comforted by his ability and courage. After all, the Duke of Mortmar was not a good man morally, and Louis could also be said to be helping the evildoers—he could force the Duke of Mortmar to surrender. The wife and daughter of the potion master, but what did the pain of the potion master have to do with him, to put it harshly? If the potion master had begged to work for the king when he first saw him, the king might have thought it over, but obviously, the potion master was just like Mary's father and uncle, as a wizard in the inner world, facing the world. Ordinary people, even if they are kings, still maintain an arrogant attitude—even if they either covet secular power or rely on the protection of mortals.

Therefore, the king will not give him any extra help. Whatever he wants, he must first exchange his own achievements.

In comparison, the attitude of the Duke of Mortmar can be described as quite respectful, not only respectful enough, but also sincere enough. The gifts he presented to the king were already expensive enough, and when the king needed him to work for him, he did not hesitate at all—maybe He did love his witch wife deeply, but it was hard to say that he was not using this to show his attitude.

The Duke of Mortemart still had some hesitation before coming to Paris, but after arriving in Paris, he immediately made a decision. The Prince of Condé and the Duke of Gaston may have surpassed the young king in many ways, but they The only thing missing is the grasp of people's hearts. They seldom treat someone sincerely. A man like a king. But, like a king... there is a real king here!

As soon as the king saw Mortemar, he stretched out his hand to him, and invited him to sit in the same carriage with him--this carriage was a bit crude, and the king saw Mortemar move his body unnaturally--the seat was really good. A little uncomfortable, he ordered the carriage: "My carriage was left in the Bastille Square." He said.

"Did you see me then?"

"I also saw the Duchess of Montpensier, and the Prince of Condé."

So you immediately thought of that idea? The Duke of Mortmar thought, although he tried his best to hide it, Eralio still saw in his eyes, "So you are such a person..." Such a look of relief and teasing, so the Inquisition officer The presiding judge laughed happily.

Louis sighed silently. Indeed, in this carriage, there really isn't a single good person.

Two more in one.