I Am Louis XIV

Sebastian's audience was extremely short, not because the king was unwilling to talk more with the young man he valued, but because Vauban was suffering from heavy injuries at this time—when he left Condé, Alarming the Spaniards who had come to meet them, one of the counts of the Prince of Condé insisted on the execution of the traitor, while another thought he should be spared—a young man who was brave enough to rebuke, so to speak. Prince Condé, because at this time the Spaniards and the French were enemies.

In the end it was Prince Condé who made the decision. He released Sebatisian. He said that he was not willing to watch such a good boy die, and he also knew that there were many people in his army who were inclined to the king. But as long as they are still willing to be loyal to him, he is willing to treat each other with mercy, but before Sebastian leaves, the earl who insists on executing him proposes a duel with him, and Sebastian is killed in the duel. The sharp sword pierced through the shoulder and almost died.

"Then how did you travel fifty leagues to Versailles?" asked the king.

"I have to thank that respectable gentleman." Sebastian said, although he was injured, his voice was still very loud, and he was more energetic than a healthy person, "he became my assistant , after I fell, he faced two fierce enemies at the same time, and won, and then he asked the doctor to wrap up my wound, and gave me a horse," he said, bowing to the king, "I would also like to thank you for erecting the cross of the Queen Mother along the way. As long as I rest under it, no one will dare to steal or snatch my horse, and some people are even willing to reward me with some food."

"They're doing well, after all," said the King sharply.

"Yes," said Sebastian, "there are people in the towns and villages, and potatoes in many places, Sire, even in the hills and swamps."

"Oh, can you even tell a potato?"

"It's embarrassing to say," Sebastian said, "Your Majesty, I'm desperate to return. Although the earl gave me a bag full of crowns, I hardly touched the money in it."

"It's not your fault," said the king, "Your decision is right, sir, I am glad to see you, and I am more pleased with your return than a legion. Please tell me that you are willing to serve me of."

"Of course, Your Majesty, without a doubt."

"Then you are mine... Well, last time you told me that you came to Paris to take over the position of 'cavalry officer' from the Prince de Condé, so I should call you..."

"His Royal Highness gave me the position of flag officer." Sebastian said, although at that time he felt that this was not Prince Condé's original plan, maybe since then, he didn't like this job very much. The young man he had his eye on—because in Sebastian's heart, the weight of the king was obviously much heavier than him.

"Then we should call you a second lieutenant," the king called out the person's name affectionately: "Sebastian, but I don't think such a position is suitable for you. I think you should be able to take on a heavier duty." Responsibility," Louis paused, because he was busy with this matter: "I still have a position here as the acting captain of the guard company, if you want..."

"It's an honor!" shouted Sebastian, who jumped up from his chair and bowed deeply to the king, his eyes were shining, his cheeks were flushed, and he didn't look like he was dying when he first arrived in Versailles. .

Even the king couldn't help being amused by him, and he raised his hand to prevent his deputy captain from fainting from overexcitement, and told him gently that he should go to rest early and listen to the doctor's advice-because they will soon I'm leaving to return to Paris. Although Versailles is very close to Paris, it is not close enough for a seriously ill person to move at will.

Sebastien Vauban immediately obeyed the king's order, and it was completely unexpected to be able to obtain this position-in any case, he was in the army of Prince Condé after all, and he was his soldier, although he decided to return To the king's command, but it is not impossible to be suspected, questioned, or worse. He even considered that he might be disqualified as an officer, become a soldier or imprisoned, but he didn't expect, He not only won the favor and trust of the king, but also became the acting captain of the Guards. What is the concept? In addition to being promoted from a second lieutenant to a captain, even if the captain of the Guards Corps was of mediocre origin, he can be recognized as an earl in the court by default after obtaining this position. Calling himself Mr. Earl.

And as far as the king's attitude is concerned, as long as Sebastian doesn't make any stupid mistakes, a title is only a matter of time.

"By the way." Just as Sebastian was about to leave the room, the king asked, "Who is that person who insists on executing you?"

"It was the Count Coligny who insisted on my execution."

"Ah," said the king, "I know the name, he served three French kings (François I, Henry II and Charles IX), then he is that Count of Coligny, a Huguenot sectarians."

"Exactly," Sebastian said.

"Then who is it that insists on forgiving you?"

"He is the Earl of Butwell."

"I also know this man," said the king, "and is the brother of the Prince of Condé (he was adopted by the Prince of Condé's mother) and a friend of the Prince of Condé."

"He is a good man, Your Majesty, even if he never saved me, I will say so."

"I will remember." Louis said. After Sebastian Vauban left, he opened a small sheepskin book that was only one palm square, flipped to the blank space, and wrote down two names.

———————

As the king said, they moved after five days, and then there was a "suspender ceremony" for the king's brother in the Louvre, Philip was finally able to change into trousers, and then at the king's coming-of-age ceremony, he was allowed to serve The king held the back of the crown robe and served wine for the king during dinner. So everyone knew that the position of the first person beside the king belonged to His Royal Highness, no matter in terms of etiquette or the king's personal feelings.

Such a situation may continue until the king marries a wife. Of course, this is what Bishop Mazaran and Queen Mother Anne are most concerned about. The king is also prepared, but the first candidate really surprised him.

"Queen of Sweden?" Louie called.

"Well," said Bishop Mazarin, "is there any wonder in that? And you should say 'King,' because she is crowned King, not Queen."

"This is not something we should care about, Mr. Bishop. If I remember correctly, she was born in 26 years."

"Yes, Your Majesty, yes, you have a good memory."

"I am 38 years old, Mr. Bishop, she is twelve years older than me!"

"What a mature beauty!" Bishop Mazaran said skillfully, "It's like a bright red apple, full of juice and fragrance."

"But it is impossible for a king to marry me." Louis said amusedly and angrily.

"You don't have to worry about this. In fact, most of Sweden intends to let her cousin Karl inherit the throne, and she wants to give it up noble and calmly before God takes away her rights and obligations to the kingdom. Such a heavy responsibility."

"I remember she was a Protestant."

"She is intending to convert to Catholicism, and the Jesuits have established that she does."

"I still don't think it's possible," Louie said.

"It doesn't matter," Bishop Mazaran said, "We still have many candidates."

—————

Leaving aside the candidate for the queen, who made him laugh and cry, Louis arrived in Paris, completed his coming-of-age ceremony and the king's brother's suspending ceremony, and began to get busy again. He was temporarily unable to get in touch with important government affairs, but some Things that Queen Mother Anne or Bishop Mazarin could not do for him, such as the trial and punishment of the judges of the High Court, Prince Conti, Duke of Longueville, and Duke of Gaston.

The king's first thing to do is to combine the two high courts of Pontoise and Paris. He can have enough of these two divergent symbols of law and authority during the war. Convicted each other in the same way, and then he disposed of a group of judges - those who opposed the royal family, those who rebelled against the king, and those who offered rewards to the Bishop of Mazarin (yes, yes, during the war, the judges of the High Court took it seriously. A bounty worth a total of one hundred and fifty thousand livres was issued and posted all over Paris—ten thousand livres for cutting off the cardinal's nose, five thousand for cutting off the ear. Well, gouging out an eye is worth thirty thousand livres, and masculine features—fifty thousand livres), indeed, this kind of notice not only does not deter the enemy at all, but also makes They became the laughing stock of the common people. The king felt that he might be able to tolerate cruelty and tolerance to madness, but he could never accept stupidity alone.

As for the fourteen judges who moved to Pontoise at the king's will, they each received an annuity of ten thousand livres and a residence near the high court, which made them more familiar to the king. I can't thank you enough, especially compared to those former colleagues who have already been thrown into prison, and the results will not be too good.

The Duke of Longueville died unfortunately or fortunately before the Prince of Condé was completely defeated. A monk performed the last sacrament for him. It is said that he regretted his actions at the last moment and confessed to the king and queen The king pardoned him for his sin, and as for the Duchess of Longueville, she was expelled from Paris and could not return to the court without the king's permission. At this time, this can be said to be a rather severe punishment. .

Gaston, Duke of Orleans, was exiled to Blois by the king, and his daughter, the Duchess of Montpensier, also received the same treatment as the Duchess of Longueville, that is, she was expelled from the court, even if She begged to see her several times, but the Queen Mother, who had been so cold, never wavered, and the king didn't care. Later, he heard that the Duchess of Montpensier had gone to Blois, and wanted to ask for his father's forgiveness. But in the battle with Prince Condé, his daughter's betrayal made Duke Gaston, who didn't like the child very much, firmer in his mind. He ruthlessly rejected the Duchess of Montpensier.

In the end, Louis got the news that the Duchess went to St. Fargore in Burgundy, where there was a castle belonging to the Montpensier family. In order to repair the castle, the Duchess spent nearly 200,000 livres. , this number is really exciting, and even Bishop Mazarin said that if she hadn't been terribly stupid sometimes, he might have promoted the king's marriage to her.

Louis: ...

Sometimes he also wonders where the bottom line of this bishop is... hell?