xymnovel Chapter 125 The Crown Prince's Desire for Germany?
Chapter 125 The Crown Prince's Desire for Germany?
The noise in the banquet hall gradually subsided, and the guests bid farewell and left with mixed feelings.
Sir Harding, the British ambassador, looked somewhat flustered in the night.
Meanwhile, the members of the German diplomatic corps stood tall and looked intently at their grandson of the Crown Prince and the Greek Crown Prince, as if they could already see the birth of a new alliance.
Alexius Mavrokodatos had vanished without a trace, like a rat that had seen the light, retreating back into his dark corner.
The meticulously planned dinner ended in a resounding victory for Constantine.
Sofia's stunning comeback brought the victory to a perfect close.
A few days later, the grand wedding was held as scheduled at the Athens Cathedral.
Royal families from all over Europe sent representatives, and the entire city of Athens was immersed in festive revelry. Constantine and Sophia, witnessed by God and the masses, exchanged rings, made vows, and officially became husband and wife.
That evening, a more private family dinner was held inside the palace.
Shedding the daytime formalities, the atmosphere was relaxed and lively.
Prince William had drunk quite a bit; his cheeks were flushed, but his eyes were unusually bright. He pulled Constantine aside and recounted his amusing experiences reviewing troops in Potsdam, his words filled with praise for steel, discipline, and strength.
After the banquet, the guests returned to their rooms to rest.
Just as Constantine was about to return to the new house with Sophia, Prince William grabbed his arm.
"Constantine, come with me."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable air of command.
Sophia looked at her brother with some worry, but Constantine gave her a reassuring look and gently patted the back of her hand.
"Go ahead, I'll wait for you." Sophia nodded understandingly.
Inside the VIP study.
The flames in the fireplace blazed fiercely, reflecting the gleaming swords hanging on the wall.
After offering the two princes cigars and brandy, Alexandros quietly withdrew and closed the heavy oak door.
Only Constantine and William remained in the room.
Prince William did not sit down. He walked to the huge French windows, looked at the lights of Athens outside, and remained silent for a long time.
Constantine remained silent, quietly cutting his cigar and waiting.
He knew that the truly important conversations were only just beginning.
Constantine.
Prince William suddenly turned around, his sharp blue eyes, illuminated by the firelight, staring intently at Constantine like those of a hawk.
He abandoned all formalities and small talk, his voice deep and powerful.
Tell me, what is it that you truly want?
This question, like a scalpel, dissects all the pretense of political rhetoric, pointing straight to the heart of the matter.
Constantine lit a cigar, took a deep drag, and let the pungent smoke swirl in his lungs.
He did not avoid William's gaze and went to meet him calmly.
"I want a powerful industry."
His answer was equally direct, without any hesitation.
"I want a modern army armed with steel produced by ourselves and cannons made by ourselves."
He exhaled a smoke ring, and amidst the swirling smoke, his eyes became incredibly resolute.
"I need these to protect my country and my people. To allow them to live with dignity in this chaotic land, no longer at the mercy of foreign powers, no longer pawns to be sacrificed at will on a chessboard."
The study was quiet, save for the crackling of the burning wood in the fireplace.
Prince William remained silent, only scrutinizing Constantine with his penetrating eyes.
He was trying to determine whether the words spoken by the man before him were the boastful pronouncements of an ambitious man or the genuine convictions of a future monarch.
Constantine, without flinching, downed the brandy in his glass in one gulp.
He put down his glass, looked at William, and added the most crucial sentence.
"And it all started with William."
"It is a steel mill capable of producing the highest quality steel."
Without steel, everything is just empty talk.
This was Constantine's clearest understanding, and also the most direct "wish" he offered to William.
Prince William's serious expression gradually relaxed upon hearing the word "steel mill".
He was silent for a moment.
suddenly!
"Hahahaha!"
A loud and hearty laugh broke the silence in the study.
Prince William strode over, extended his large, fan-like hand, and patted Constantine heavily on the shoulder.
"Very good! Well said!"
His eyes were filled with admiration and excitement—the joy of meeting a worthy opponent and the thrill of finding a kindred spirit.
"That's the kind of spirit my German brother-in-law should have!"
He picked up the wine bottle on the table, filled both of their glasses with wine, and then raised them high.
"My sister's dowry can't just consist of jewelry and silk that women like!"
He winked at Constantine, a mischievous smugness on his face.
Then he made a promise that made Constantine's heart skip a beat.
"I will personally persuade my grandfather to send another top-notch team of German engineers to Athens!"
"They will bring the complete set of blueprints for Krupp's latest blast furnaces and rolling mills!"
"To 'help' you build this steel mill that belongs to Greece!"
The complete set of blueprints!
It's Krupp's latest product!
Constantine's breathing paused for half a second.
He anticipated that William would offer assistance, perhaps in the form of a loan or a technical advisor.
But he never expected that his brother-in-law's "gift" would be so generous and so...unreasonable!
This is no longer "help".
This is like using the industrial heritage of the German Empire to forcefully inject a life-saving stimulant into Greece's industrialization!
"William, this gift is too precious," Constantine said sincerely.
"Precious?" Prince William laughed, clinking glasses with him. "Constantine, remember, German friendship is always priceless!"
"Cheers to our shared future!"
"Cheers!"
The two crystal glasses collided in mid-air, producing a clear, ringing sound.
That night, in the study of the Athenian royal palace, a crucible of alliances concerning the future of the Balkans and even the entire European landscape was forged.
……
Inside the bridal chamber, red candles flickered, and a faint scent of roses filled the air.
Sofia, dressed in a pristine white silk nightgown, sat before her dressing table, letting down her long, golden hair.
In the candlelight, her skin was as white as jade, and her graceful figure was faintly visible under the thin fabric, making her breathtakingly beautiful.
This is the scene that Constantine saw when he pushed open the door.
He gently closed the door, walked behind Sophia, and looked at her stunning face in the mirror.
Sofia saw him in the mirror, and a beautiful blush rose on her face.
"You're back."
Constantine didn't speak, but simply reached out, picked up the comb from the table, and gently combed her long, flowing, honey-gold hair.
He moved with gentleness, as if handling a rare treasure.
"I only realized it today," Constantine whispered in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe, "that my wife is not only the most beautiful jewel of Prussia."
"Still one of the most outstanding diplomats."
Upon hearing this, Sophia's body trembled slightly.
The joy of being recognized and praised touched her heart more than any sweet words.
She turned around, no longer displaying the shyness of a young girl, and instead took the initiative to stretch out her arms and wrap them around Constantine's neck.
She tilted her head back, her eyes, as blue as the Aegean Sea, filled with an unprecedented sweetness and sense of belonging.
"My King."
She tiptoed and pressed her warm lips to Constantine's.
"For you, for the glory of Greece, I am willing to learn everything."
Outside the window, the night in Athens is tranquil and beautiful.
A brand new era has quietly begun, intertwined with love and intrigue.