The little sphere’s art style gradually became more fantastical.
France and England officially declared war on the Habsburg family, each rallying a large number of their subordinates. However, with the conflict on the verge of eruption, both sides tacitly maintained sufficient restraint, neither showing any intention to make the first move.
The war began in a way no one had expected.
This all started with Louis XVI.
When Louis XVI first ascended the throne as King of France, the reins of power were not in his hands but rather in those of his wife, Marie Antoinette.
Marie Antoinette, daughter of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor and Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Maria Theresa, Archduchess of Austria, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, was known as the “deficit lady.” Her life was characterized by a fondness for balls, fashion, entertainment, disguises, and garden decoration.
Of course, this Francis I was Louis XVI’s father-in-law. He shared the same name as the current Austrian Emperor Francis I, whom Louis XVI was about to fight, but they were not the same person.
Strictly speaking, the Francis I whom Louis XVI intended to confront should have been called Francis II, the patriarch of the Habsburg family.
Regardless, the deficit lady was, after all, of Habsburg lineage—when this Archduchess of Austria was born, a minister had described her thus: “A petite and lovely, but completely healthy Archduchess.”
When Louis XVI and George III united to confront the patriarch of the Habsburg family, the deficit lady was naturally furious. She subsequently wrote to Francis II, revealing all the information she knew and additionally stating that she would do her utmost to persuade Louis XVI to “abandon his ridiculous and utterly foolish idea.”
Louis XVI was, of course, aware of this. Moreover, Marie Antoinette had never intended to conceal her actions, after all, she was so beautiful, while Louis XVI was fat and stupid, listening to her in everything…
However, the deficit lady never expected that after personally visiting the Great Ming and hearing the stories of past virtuous empresses from Pierre, Louis XVI had long been fed up with this sufficiently narcissistic Austrian Archduchess.
If not for her, France's treasury would not have accumulated a debt of two billion francs—twelve hundred million of which was due to the deficit lady.
Naturally, Louis XVI chose to depose her, intending to end this “utterly terrible” marriage on grounds of incompatibility, and sent people to politely escort the deficit lady out of France.
In Louis XVI’s eyes, he had already acted with utmost benevolence, at the very least preserving the deficit lady’s dignity and not hindering her remarriage, perhaps to that Swedish nobleman, Axel von Fersen.
But in the eyes of the Habsburg family, this was a profound insult. Having a lover was a big deal? Damn it, Louis XVI, you don’t have one, but how many did your grandfather Louis XV have? His chief mistress, Madame de Pompadour, was famously the illegitimate daughter of a socialite, and you don’t bring that up?
Besides, did you have any evidence of Marie being with Axel? Don't you know you must catch the thief with the stolen goods!
However, to everyone’s surprise, before Louis XVI could respond to this, the Swedish nobleman Axel von Fersen couldn’t hold back. While proclaiming that his relationship with the deficit lady was pure and spiritual, he giddily hurried to the French border, intending to personally greet his beloved, Marie Antoinette.
It is worth mentioning here that the person sent by Louis XVI was named Napoleon Bonaparte.
After studying in the Great Ming for several years, Napoleon Bonaparte’s way of thinking had become somewhat influenced by the Great Ming’s perspective—this little punk surnamed Fersen colluding with the deficit lady, wasn't that cuckolding His Majesty the King of France?
As the saying goes, when the king is worried, the minister is humiliated; when the king is humiliated, the minister dies. Napoleon Bonaparte immediately threw his white glove in Axel von Fersen’s face: “Pick up your sword and duel me like a gentleman, and only one of us shall survive.”
Axel von Fersen pondered, what kind of situation was this? He came to pick up his beloved and ended up with a duel to the death?
After careful consideration, Axel von Fersen decided to accept Napoleon’s challenge—this fellow named Napoleon was shorter than him and looked thin and small; even in a duel to the death, his chances of winning were higher.
Axel first glanced at the deficit lady in the carriage, then very gentlemanly nodded at Napoleon and said, “You are brave; I accept your challenge.”
Napoleon also nodded, slowly drew the sword at his waist, then took a deep breath, lowered the tip of his sword slightly, and pointed it at Axel’s waist.
Regarding Napoleon’s performance, Axel felt like laughing—since it was a duel to the death, the best approach was to immediately pierce the opponent’s throat or heart. Aiming at the waist, what was that about? How could one critically wound an opponent immediately?
Axel chuckled inwardly, slowly raising his sword: “A duel is not like this; today I will show you what a duel is—however, you won’t have the chance to duel anyone again.”
Napoleon ignored Axel, instead smiling with utter contempt.
It wasn't until Axel lost patience completely and lunged his sword towards Napoleon’s heart that Napoleon parried Axel’s sword with his own and, before Axel could react, directly slashed the tip of his sword across Axel’s throat!
Napoleon picked up the white glove, wiped the blood from his sword, and then threw the white glove back into Axel’s face, taunting, “Fool, learn how to use a sword properly in your next life!”
After mocking the indignant Axel, Napoleon turned his gaze towards the carriage where the deficit lady was: “Respected madam, you have now reached the French border; you may depart.”
Throughout the entire process, Napoleon acted as if he hadn't seen the Habsburg allied forces on the other side of the Franco-Luxembourg border at all.
Francis I, who had come to greet the deficit lady, couldn’t help but narrow his eyes and looked at Napoleon, asking, “What is your name?”
Napoleon performed a hand-over-heart salute and replied, “Napoleon Bonaparte. Respected Emperor Francis I, I look forward to the day I meet you on the battlefield.”
Francis I’s eyes flickered, and he asked, “If I grant you the honor of Archduke, would you be willing to serve me?”
Napoleon, however, unhesitatingly refused Francis I’s offer of recruitment: “I am sorry, I will earn the title of Archduke through military exploits, not through anyone’s favor.”
After refusing Francis I, Napoleon directly rushed back to the French army’s encampment, then gathered a large number of military commanders: “Get ready quickly, everyone. This time, while Francis I and his forces are unprepared, we will directly assault Luxembourg!”
“France’s relationship with the Habsburg family ends the moment the deficit lady sets foot in Luxembourg!”
“Destroy them, and His Majesty the King will certainly not be stingy with rewards for all of you present today!”
“Everything for France!”
ps: I have been suffering from a migraine for two days. Today’s morning court will be shorter.