I Am Louis XIV

   Chapter 257 Man in Iron Mask

   Madame Milady knelt down in front of the king, daring not to speak, nor to raise her head.

Louis was not as angry as Madame Milady thought—he knew very well that when governing a country as large as France, and even trying to expand its original territory, the rulers had to make choices, and the island of Gayola was Abandoned party - During the expedition against Flanders and Holland, the king did not think about the affairs of Gayola except for the wizards of Gayola, and even the Duke of Colonna, although he was brought by Louis, was also Because he is the Duke of Colonna, not a wizard in the inner world - Louis taught him as if he was teaching the crown prince, and also hoped that he would not be limited to Gayola Island, but could see farther.

And Marie Mancini's enemies are probably no less than Louis. She is not the kind of woman who is keen on power - but she is stubborn and violent, so that in the process of conquering Gayola, she did many things that were almost impossible. The thing to save, when Mrs. Milady was still in Gayola, the wizards under Milady and the wizards of the Mancini family had the advantage in numbers and strength, but at this celebration banquet, Colonna The Duke and Duchess of Colonna, as well as Milady, had to be present to secure their place in the hearts of the people, so that they could still be the mouthpiece and hands of the king after they left Paris and Versailles.

   The problem is that after just a few days of blankness, Mancini's opponents saw the opportunity.

The wizards of the great families were not stupid enough to confront the king directly, they just took the cornerstone wall, which was first controlled by the Parliament and then by the Mancini family - Louis remembers those built with the souls of wizards. High Wall, they used "keys" - that is, magic to change the selection of the cornerstone wall, narrowing it down to the wizards of the Mancini family, and their supporters, even those who were still outside, those who served the king To the point where even all the wizards couldn't pass, and the wizards inside couldn't leave, just like what Delong and others said with disgust, there are not many wizards on Gayola Island, and they can rely on the materials they have hoarded before. Stick to five or even ten years.

The problem is, the Duke of Colonna is already twelve years old, and in two or three years, the king will find a candidate for him to marry. Although the king can confer Flanders or a certain area of ​​Holland to him, but for Louis's Naples Strategy is useless - in Louis's plan, the island of Gayola, although small, is suitable as a stronghold and a springboard for Sicily and Naples - given that the kingdom of Sicily and Naples is still owned by Carlos II of Spain...

Just as when France attacked Rome, in effect bribing the Genoese to use Corsica as a transit point, France will take Naples and Sicily at the tip of Italy's boots, or go through Switzerland, the Holy Roman Empire, Milan , Tuscany... Either Sardinia or Sicily as a foothold, so in the middle of Sardinia and Sicily, the little-known island of Gayola is very important, and Louis is ready- For the past few years, he has been constantly taking time off from Gayola Island for this reason. When there is only an empty body left in the inner world of Gayola, he will start to drive out all those powerful families and use his eldest son. replaced with the army.

  At that time, whether to attack Sicily and Naples directly, or backhand to threaten Sardinia (belonging to the Austrian Grand Duke Leopold I), depends on his wishes.

  Louis is even considering buying cardinals and even the Pope now in exchange for the Bourbon family's proof of ownership of Naples-Sicily. This is all a few years later. He does not have high requirements for Gayola Island, because Louis is also very clear that his dedication to Gayola Island is even less than that of Flanders. Above Flanders is the Netherlands. , Above the Netherlands is France. He has too many things to consider, but—those remnants of the ashes did cause him a little trouble, and the wizard's inner world is not only a place in Gayola Island. Some wizards think it is a good time for witchcraft to revive, just like Merlin assisting King Arthur, they can also assist Louis XIV, or their king; while other wizards think this is deviant, like Agnelli, etc. Like the family, they thought it was absurd for wizards to bow down to mortals who had nothing to do with magic.

   Judging from the information collected by Mrs. Milady, Gayola Island has indeed become a place where wizards, monks and other inhabitants of the real world gather, and they are all quietly waiting for the result.

Therefore, if the island of Gayola is blocked by the wizards again, not only will the Naples-Sicilian strategy be shelved or even abandoned, but even the inner world, which Louis has almost controlled, will once again escape from the hands of the king. The walls between the mortals will be rebuilt, the contempt of the wizards for the mortals must reach another peak, and France, or any king, will begin to endure these gifted extraordinary men—even at court , as if the "thing" in another world is not a subject, not a subject, or even of the same kind.

   All of Louis' previous ideas and plans were all in vain.

"I can't blame you, Mrs. Milady," the king said, and there was not much in his voice against his intentions, and Milady stood up at his signal, "In order to get Holland, I can almost be said to be mortgaged. Half of France, including you, you have no time to take care of the affairs of Gayola, have I ever paid attention to it, I can only say that the chance of these wizards choosing is too good, in fact, I have prepared, Propose to the daughter of the Archduke of Tuscany—for my eldest son Luciano, and a clean-up of Gayola," he said lightly, while Madame Milady shivered slightly, and she said The king's methods are very well understood, and it can even be said that he knows too well.

"It will only take a few days," said Louis, almost childishly. "As soon as I have wiped off my Versailles and Paris eyeliners, I will prepare the Duchess to do this with you, but," the king's fingers were on the arm of the chair. He tapped a few times: "Now I can't let Marie Mancini out of my sight anymore."

   "Your Majesty," Mrs. Milady couldn't help saying, "this may be a conspiracy."

"Whatever it is," said the king, still peacefully, "I can't let the person who hurt my child get away, for whatever reason, especially since little Luciano may be hurt again because she is his mother. Damn, Mrs. Milady, it's not something to say 'a fluke', my child almost died, by his mother's wand—he could die in battle, or die of old age, even if It was because of a duel, but I will never allow such a thing to happen again. I don’t want others to mention him and say that it was a son killed by his own mother, which is a great shame and a great sadness.”

   "Therefore," the king continued, "then I will give you the island of Gayola and the Duke of Colonna."

   "I can know the Duchess of Colonna..."

"Can I still let Luciano watch his father kill his mother? No, ma'am, we will have a funeral for the Duchess of Colonna in a few days, but Marie Mancini will be forever imprisoned."

  ———

Marie Mancini has cried, yelled, and cursed, but since the king came in person and talked to her alone for a while, she finally calmed down. "I am willing to accept any punishment," Madame Milady said. When I went to see her, she said, "I hurt the two people I love and also love me, and," she showed a bitter smile: "This is not the first time, and it will not be the last time."

   "Do you believe her? Your Majesty." asked Elalius, who was standing in another room, but could hear the sound of the next room clearly because of the copper pipes.

   "I don't believe it," said Louie, "and she doesn't either."

"You're always so ruthless." Era said with a sigh. He used to have a face that was not easy to be alerted. With the passage of time, there were fine lines at the corners of his eyes, but it made him more amiable. The monks and priests around him knew how crazy and insidious this Grand Inquisitor was - he was the king's sharp blade hidden under the cloak, and he did bad things for His Majesty, no more than Count D'Artagnan or Milady Mrs. less.

Louis gave him a reproachful look, "Are you ready?" he asked, and the Marquis of Lois bent down deeply, because the Duke of Colonna was concerned, and there were very few people present, and he himself gave the king a copy The document, this document stated that there was a criminal with a distinguished status who was going to be transferred from the prison of Saint Margaret to the Bastille. The king glanced at the date of his imprisonment, and it turned out to be ten years ago. The Marquis of Lois noticed. Arrived, "These can be confused..." He didn't know what to call the prisoner inside, so he said vaguely: "The identity."

   "You did a good job." The king said, not only the date of imprisonment had changed, but also the gender.

   "Then let's begin," said Elarius.

Mary Mancini is a witch, and she is a powerful witch with combat experience. She has experienced more things than ordinary women, so she was imprisoned as a man, which is more suitable for her. Anyway, People always have a contemptuous and sympathetic attitude towards women—Elarius took a box from the monk behind him and opened it in front of the king, "What is this?" Louis asked.

"The Fool's Mask." Elarius said, "I thought I wouldn't be able to use it in your court." He explained in detail that this silver-plated helmet-like mask was used by the Inquisition for those who committed huge crimes. It was the fault of a witch or wizard who could not be put to death because of its surname and title, and it was prepared by a witch or wizard. It was inscribed with a spell that could be used to limit that evil power—once it was killed. Imprisoned wizards who try to escape through magic, or hurt others, get a splitting headache.

"Do you know who used this last time? Your Majesty, it was the Countess Nadasdi of Budapest, Hungary. At least 650 young girls were victimized by her witchcraft, but she was only sentenced to immortality. In her castle," said Elarius, "is there nothing else?" asked the king.

   "This is the best." Elalius said: "I don't know the face, there is no distinction between men and women."

  Louis held it up thoughtfully, only to realize that it was as light as a velvet mask, and it felt the same way, he glanced at Eliro. "Noble." Elalius said: "It can even allow food, sunlight and water to pass through, without obstructing vision, and the person wearing it is not hindered except a little ugly."

  ——

At the request of the Duchess of Colonna, the king accompanies her in this painful ceremony - she must have been terrified when she was transformed from a wizard to a mortal - by which time she had changed into a man's attire, and Elarius was in two With the help of a monk, he gently put the Fool's Mask on Mary's head. As Elarius said, except for the ugliness, Mary can speak, listen to music, take water and food, and breathe smoothly - this It was the king who put his hand on the mask and felt it.

The Bastille was originally a military fortress, and it used to be a palace. Like the Tower of London, it can also have the comfort of a suite. The king watched Mary walk around in the small parlor, bedroom and study. Go, look at this place where you may spend the rest of your life, "In addition to leaving here, there is little Luciano, any request you have will be met." He said: "I will also send you a pair of his every year. portrait."

Mary paused, and when Louis was about to turn to leave, she rushed up and hugged him tightly from behind, but before Louis could react, she let go and stepped back until Under the window, as soon as she opened her mouth, the king noticed that her voice had changed, and now she sounded like a calm man.

   "If you pass under this window," said the unfamiliar voice, "please remember to look up, and don't let her think you have forgotten her."

   "I will never forget you." Louis said, not lying, he will always remember Marie Mancini.

The door to the cell was closed tightly as they left - the cell was no less furnished than Marie's room at Versailles, she smiled and then wept - she never thought it would end like this, but it came At that time, her heart was more peaceful than pain and sadness.

  Louis has made a decision, and she can finally say goodbye to those things that have tormented her for twelve years - whether it is love or that unwillingness.

  ——

When the Duke of Colonna woke up without seeing his mother, he had a somewhat ominous premonition. When Louis came to him and held his hand without saying a word, the young Duke finally couldn't help it. cried.

   (end of this chapter)