Eagle’s Glory

Until many years later, Clistelle still could not recall how she came to the magnificent Palace of Fontainebleau - of course, she was only eight years old at the time, and she had no idea where it was.

She only remembered that she took a carriage to get there and was escorted by cavalry on the way, but she had no impression on this journey, and her memory seemed to have left a blank in her young mind.

However, she was deeply impressed by what happened next, and she will never forget it.

Just one fine morning, the carriage she was riding was escorted by the guards into the garden of the palace, and then, when the door of the carriage was just opened, a woman in a palace dress immediately saluted her gracefully. .

She spoke French, which Corristel had learned, so she understood it easily.

"Miss Corrister, welcome to France." She sent Corristel her first greeting to her new residence with a gentle smile, "As assigned by Her Majesty the Queen, I will be responsible for taking care of the following. Please take care of your life in the future."

After saying this set of polite words, she respectfully extended her hand to Kristel.

When she suddenly saw a stranger, Kristel was instinctively uncomfortable, but she still remembered her mother's previous admonition to her.

"Keli... You must remember that after you come there, you must be friendly and polite to everyone, and never tarnish your due reputation."

So, she overcame the discomfort in her heart and nodded friendly to the lady.

Then, with the help of the female officer, she got out of the carriage.

Looking around, there are people everywhere, there are guards in uniform, there are servants and maids, and others in casual clothes...

There are so many people...

Kristel only felt a dizziness in her head, and she almost vomited.

She grew up in an isolated manor, with only a few people coming and going, and no playmates of the same age existed.

Therefore, when she really sees a lively place, she will not be surprised or curious, but will have an instinctive fear.

A sense of disgust made her pale face, which was originally very pale, now lose a trace of blood.

"Are you all right, miss?" The female officer saw her abnormality and asked quickly.

"Mom..." Kristel didn't answer her, just let out a small whimper.

The female officer understood something in an instant, so she didn't speak any more, just looked at the little girl with sympathetic eyes, her expression was very complicated.

As Her Majesty's confidant, of course she knew the true identity of this Miss Corristel—but, like Her Majesty, she did not hate this child.

Instead, she placed too much sympathy for the child.

"I'll take you to rest first. Your Majesty will meet you tomorrow." After waiting for a while, she whispered.

At this moment, His Majesty the Emperor, whom the female official spoke of, was standing in a corner of the garden, looking at Miss Charleau-de-Trevville in front of her.

The eight-year-old lady, wearing a luxurious dress, looked back at him at this time, as if she was not convinced by his power.

Because of her family background, as well as her personal intelligence, she has always been highly regarded in the court, and she herself is quite pretentious, and there is always a pride in her hope.

Beautiful and smart, with a natural sharpness, there is always a scrutiny in her eyes, as if she can judge the world at a young age.

Sometimes she can be quite arrogant, and she can be very mean, but this subtle sharpness, combined with her soft and grand appearance, makes people feel a different kind of cuteness.

"Xia Lu."

"Your Majesty?" The child, who had just arrived at His Majesty's waist, put on his skirt and bowed respectfully to His Majesty, "What is your order?"

His Majesty the Emperor looked at the child slightly, even when she saluted herself, she didn't seem to hide her arrogance.

As expected of Alice's daughter... His Majesty the Emperor thought.

People like him like children with character and brains, even if they have a big temper - how can people live without a little arrogance?

"There is a child named Kristel, who has come here today." After a moment of silence, he said softly, "This child means a lot to me."

Xia Lu didn't answer, but looked at the young emperor with curious and inquiring eyes, as if speculating on his mind.

"It's a coincidence that she is the same age as you, but she was only born a month or two earlier." His Majesty the Emperor smiled bitterly, "Although I haven't seen her face yet, but thinking about it, she will definitely look like that. very cute."

"What do you want to do when you tell me this?" Xia Lu asked softly.

Her eyes showed that she seemed to have guessed something, but it was just inconvenient to ask.

"It's nothing, I just want you, as a friend, to take care of Kristel in the future." His Majesty the Emperor simply gave Xia Lu his order. "After all, I am already an adult, and I can't get involved in the world of children many times, so I need a peer to take care of her... She has been isolated from the world since she was a child, and her ability to deal with people is really lacking, which is fatal in the court. It should be a lot better with your protection."

"You were just saying that although we are the same age, she is a little older than me, right?" Xia Lu did not obey the order immediately, but put forward her own opinion, "I'm afraid I don't have the ability to protect Keli. Miss Stel."

"At this time, I suddenly remembered that I was only a child? Don't you usually have a lot of flair?" His Majesty the Emperor couldn't help laughing, "I remember you boasting in front of us many times that you are more powerful than adults. What, when When I put my trust in you just now, did you shrink back?"

After being said this, Xia Lu's face suddenly couldn't hold back. "That was not what I meant……"

She bit her lip, then raised her head to look at His Majesty the Emperor, "I have been very interested in playing chess recently, and wanted to find a master to learn to play chess, but my mother insisted that I learn piano... Your Majesty, if you can If Mommy changes her mind..."

"No problem, just wrap it on me." Before she could finish speaking, His Majesty the Emperor agreed.

"Well then..." Xia Lu had nothing to say, so she could only agree.

"Xia Lu, you are a good boy. I hope you can become good friends and help each other." The smile on His Majesty's face was gradually replaced by solemnity.

Then, he stretched out his hand and gently stroked Xia Lu's blond hair, "I owe Corristel a lot of things, and I want to make up for it, but I know that once a lot of things are lost, it's hard to make up for it, Yes, I've made a mess of Kristel's childhood, she doesn't know the world, she hasn't even met a few strangers, the only consolation is that she's talented and well received. Education. I can't make up for the past, but I can try to make her life easier in the future, and I'm willing to work hard for it."

While speaking, he subconsciously messed up the hair on Xia Lu's head that was carefully combed by his mother. "You are the same age as her, and you have prestige among these children in the palace. With your help, she should have a lot more fun until she reaches adulthood, and at least it can make up for some of the trauma of the past..."

After speaking, His Majesty the Emperor let out a rare long sigh, but the hands that ruffled her hair did not stop, as if it were some kind of entertainment.

Xia Lu didn't like being treated like this by the elders, but the person who did this was His Majesty the Emperor, so she had no choice but to bow her head and bear it silently.

"Okay, okay, I understand, Your Majesty," she said softly, but her expression was quite serious. "I promise you, I will be her friend from now on, as long as she likes it."

"Then go." His Majesty the Emperor nodded to her, indicating that she could leave.

Under the guidance of the female officer, Kristel walked along the corridor toward her assigned residence.

And just as they passed the garden, they suddenly found that a little girl was running towards them.

At first she couldn't believe it, but after a while she dared to be sure that the other party's goal was really her.

But... why?

The child in front of him has a floating skirt, as if he is wearing flowers and butterflies.

She is beautiful, but I don't know her at all... No, I should say, I don't know anyone in this huge palace, and I don't have a place for myself.

She couldn't help looking at the female officer beside her, wanting to ask what was going on.

"Who is she?"

"She is Miss Xia Lu, the daughter of the Treville family." The female official replied in a low voice.

Of course, Kirstel didn't understand.

"She's very powerful, even His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is afraid of her." The female official said carefully in her ear.

"Even the crown prince is afraid?" Kristel blinked in surprise, not understanding the reason at all, "Why? Isn't the crown prince the future emperor? You should only be afraid of the emperor and the queen, right... ?"

The female officer looked at the little girl with a smile.

The silver-haired little girl was so pretty even with a suspicious expression on her face.

"It's true, but there are many things in the world that don't follow common sense. Miss Xia Lu is one of them." Then, the female official lowered her head and explained to her softly, "She is the lady of the Treville family, this family She is one of His Majesty's closest favorites, and her mother is highly respected and trusted by His Majesty the Emperor and Empress. Moreover, Miss Xia Lu is very talented, good-looking, and witty, and His Majesty likes her very much, said Although she is a woman, she will definitely have great achievements in the future."

Then, she lowered her voice again, "It is said that His Majesty intends to marry her and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince when they reach adulthood... But it's just a rumor now. Who knows what will happen after so many years?"

"So that's how it is..." Kristel finally understood a little bit.

Just as they were talking, the little girl dashed over and came to Kristel.

Then, her azure blue eyes were always focused on Corristel's face, which made her feel a little uncomfortable.

Although the two were about the same age and were both beautiful, their temperaments seemed to be completely different. One had brilliant blonde hair and the other had cool silver hair.

"Ms. Xia Lu..." At this time, the female official said in embarrassment, "This is Miss Kristel, she just came here as a guest, I want to take her to rest..."

What she meant was that Xia Lu should not be entangled.

But Xia Lu didn't seem to understand, and still looked at Corristel.

"It's really pretty..." she muttered softly.

Then, she laughed again, and then greeted Kristel leisurely, "Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon." Kristel was a little stunned, but still whispered hello.

"Why don't you talk to me, anyway, you have a lot of time today, and you will only use it to see His Majesty tomorrow." Xia Lu suddenly suggested.

"How do you know?" The female officer next to her was a little strange.

"I was chatting with His Majesty just now, and he asked me to come and see." Xia Lu replied impatiently.

As soon as she heard what His Majesty meant, the female official did not dare to speak any more.

Then, Xia Lu looked at Corristel again.

"My name is Charle de Treville, and I am the daughter of a courtier. I ask you, Mademoiselle Corrister, why are you here as a guest? This is a courtesy that ordinary people can't enjoy." asked with a smile.

"I don't know..." Kristel whispered. "It's just that my mother told me that I should be here."

"Then I take the liberty to ask, who are your parents?" Xia Lu asked, "Don't look at my young age, I have read almost all famous surnames in various countries~"

"I only know a word called father, but I don't know what a father is. I have lived with my mother since I was a child, but I didn't see my mother very often." Kristel replied. "As for my mother, she is very beautiful and loves me very much... Her name is..."

As if being electrocuted, Kristel suddenly stopped when she said this.

What's your mother's name?

what is it call?

She desperately checked every trace in her memory, and she could clearly remember every warm moment her mother had with her, but she couldn't find any mother's proper name-she only remembered that everyone called her a "lady"

"My lady..." Finally, she said with difficulty.

Xia Lu's expression suddenly became very strange.

She probably understood something - this must be the result of His Majesty's romance, and the mother of this child is probably not small, maybe it's...

Then, a sudden surge of sympathy surged in her heart.

This poor child seemed to have been isolated for too long and didn't even know how to lie, so once someone asked, she answered all truthfully.

No wonder His Majesty the Emperor is so worried! If this kind of character is isolated and helpless, I am afraid that I will not be able to stay in the palace for a quarter of an hour - of course, Xia Lu believes that there will not be too many people who will be hostile to such a pitiful child.

"Okay, I'm sorry, I may have asked too much." Xia Lu calmed down and apologized to Kristel.

"Nothing..." Kristel shook her head, expressing that she didn't mind.

Indeed, after so many years, how could she be angry when talking to her peers for the first time.

Just when she was in a daze, Xia Lu took a few steps forward, so the two girls got closer.

"What are you here for?" Xia Lu's tone has become much gentler and kinder.

"My mother sent me here. She said that she could see her father here and live with him." Kristel answered honestly.

After she finished speaking, she still looked around in the garden, as if the so-called father would suddenly appear from the path.

"Then have you hated the father you never met before?" Xia Lu asked again.

"No..." Kristel shook her head, "Until now, I don't even know how to face the reality that I have a father, maybe... Maybe I'll know what I think after meeting. "

Xia Lu narrowed her eyes.

Her eyes were mixed with sympathy and helplessness, and a hint of heroism.

"Okay, I see, thank you for being so honest with me... Then in return, I'll give you the first piece of advice here - don't tell the second person everything you've said to me, Otherwise, God knows what will happen to others, you have come to a place where you can enjoy the glory, but correspondingly, you will have to bear some obligations from now on."

"..." Kristel just stared blankly at Xia Lu, not quite understanding why a child could say such a long list of words that she didn't quite understand.

"Well, in short, it's right to talk less to others!" Xia Lu could only say helplessly, "Remember, if you're not a trustworthy person, just nod more and talk less, and that's fine."

She seems to have acquiesced herself as a "trustworthy person"... Kristel thought.

However, that seems to be the case.

"Why did you come to see me?"

"Because we want to be friends." Xia Lu replied as a matter of course.

"Friend...?" Kristel retorted.

"It seems that we are a bit similar - we have both lost the most precious things since childhood." Xia Lu's usually cheerful face seemed suddenly melancholy.

"What have you lost?" Christel asked.

"Of course I mean father's love~" Xia Lu laughed again.

Corristel was speechless for a while, she always felt that this Xia Lu was very brainy, clever and cunning.

But unexpectedly, it makes people want to trust.

Just as she was thinking, Xia Lu suddenly stretched out a hand to her.

Looking at this fair and delicate little hand, Kristel looked confused, not knowing what she meant.

"Shake hands with me. After shaking hands, you will be my friend—in other words..." Xia Lu deliberately paused for a while, and then shouted loudly, "I will cover you in the future. Not to mention that in this court, even in all of France and all of Europe, if anyone bullies you, I will let anyone suffer!"

If these words were spoken by a dignified man, they would definitely be generous and powerful, but when an eight-year-old girl said it with her cheeks puffed up, it seemed a little ridiculous.

However, in the eyes of Kristel, the fluttering blond hair of the other party was extremely dazzling at this moment.

She wanted to believe it was true.

friend? Did she say she wants to be my friend?

Friend...it's just a word she'd learned in books before.

Since childhood, she has no peers around her.

Kristel suddenly felt her heart pounding, and her mind became groggy.

Is this what "friends" feel like?

Although she couldn't tell what exactly was going on with this feeling, she was very happy.

So, she reached out and held Xia Lu's outstretched hand.

So the two eight-year-old girls held hands like this, and their lace skirts came together.

Then, Xia Lu continued to hold her hand, and then pulled Corristel forward.

"follow me."

"Where to?" Kristel hurriedly asked, but her footsteps were following her involuntarily.

Xia Lu didn't answer, but took her quickly and walked along the corridor. The weak Corristel soon became out of breath, but even so, she did not let go of Xia Lu. hand, because she can feel the warmth of her friend from the palm of her hand.

Fortunately, her torment did not last long, and Xia Lu took her to the small green square in the garden.

There is a group of children gathering together to play games in twos and threes. Some of them are teenagers and children, with different appearances - but, if they can play in the Palace of Fontainebleau, they are naturally the children of the high-level and elite of the empire.

They soon noticed the presence of the two little girls.

Seeing them galloping over, these people were stunned, their eyes widened and they looked at each other in dismay, no one knew what to say.

Soon, Xia Lu finally stopped and stood in front of everyone with the panting Kristel.

Then, she let go of her hand, raised her head, and looked arrogantly at the children in front of her.

"Listen to me, all of you!" Then, Xia Lu's blue eyes narrowed slightly, then she pointed at Kiristel next to her, and shouted loudly, "From now on, Kiristher is the My friend, if any of you dare to bully her, it will be hard for me, and I will never spare him! Do you hear?!"

Who is Kristel? Almost none of the people present had heard of this name, but the children in front of them seemed to have lingering fears towards Xia Lu, so when they looked at her, they were all silent, and they could only nod their heads, expressing that they would never dare to bully this newcomer. child.

No one dared to speak, partly because they were afraid of Xia Lu, partly because they were inexplicable, so the scene was once silent to the point of embarrassment.

Kristel also felt this delicate atmosphere, her face flushed, and she felt embarrassed and ashamed for the first time in her life.

However, she also really felt that the friend she had just made was trying to protect herself.

Standing in front of so many people, she seemed uncomfortable, she shrank subconsciously, took a step back, and stood behind Xia Lu.

And from this angle, she could see Xia Lu's profile, the golden hair was shining blazingly in the sun.

Maybe this place is not as scary as she imagined - she suddenly began to look forward to her future life.

Before she knew it, tears suddenly filled her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to shed them. She looked at the child of the same age in front of her with eyes like a clear water and a secluded lake.

"Thank you." She whispered to Xia Lu.