I Will Be The Crowned King

The next second, the unease of being watched suddenly disappeared, as if it never existed.

Is it an illusion?

On the ceremony platform, Sophia forbeared the chill in her heart, and looked around at the nobles, wealthy businessmen, priests of the church, and ladies and gentlemen who were worth a lot of money. She smiled lightly and said:

"First of all, I would like to thank you all for your presence tonight. Tonight's charity party can be held smoothly, all thanks to your noble character and cultivation; kindness and compassion are the cornerstones of order and stability in the world."

"Over the past fifty years, the upper classes of Clovis have set up countless charitable foundations, one after another of welfare homes, orphanages, and homes for the elderly; and every year this number keeps increasing, with more and more A man of insight joins in this noble act."

"Support the incapacitated and have nowhere to depend on, provide enough food for the poor from poor backgrounds, and shelter from the wind and rain; so that children who have lost their parents will not lose their hands to create wealth due to hunger, disease and poverty. opportunity.”

"This noble behavior has become extremely common in the upper class of Clovis City, and has become the consensus of the rich and the noble class on the moral level; in addition to blood and wealth, the standard for evaluating a gentleman has a whole new standard-- Social responsibility."

"It's not just the sympathy that suddenly sprouts when he sees a beggar, and it's not just the self-satisfaction of moral pursuits; it's a nobleman who enjoys the favorable conditions brought by wealth and status, and actively contributes to the stability, prosperity and healthy development of society. , to contribute to the best of our ability.”

"This unprecedented moral concept is enough to set a new paradigm for the entire ordered world..."

Before Sophia finished speaking, the whole hall burst into warm applause; the guests present showed excited expressions, and some even got wet in their eyes, moved by their selflessness and nobility.

Angelica, the little maid in the audience, clapped her hands vigorously, and at the same time heaved a sigh of relief—it seemed that the fifty gold coins paid to the priest Karin Jacques was really worth it.

"However, as a brand-new moral concept, 'social responsibility' should not be limited to what is seen, otherwise it will be no different from the old 'chivalry', but it's just a commonplace topic."

Sophia, who raised her hand gently, suppressed the applause of the audience and continued to smile and said:

"I think the sense of social responsibility expands to a larger scale and should not be limited to one behavior, one city or one region."

"Prosperous trade, convenient transportation, clean drinking water, heating fuel, fresh air, bright sunshine... These things we are accustomed to and even take for granted, we should take up our sense of social responsibility and protect them. !"

"And in all this, the most important and sacred is security and peace; it is tens of thousands of soldiers and their commanders who are extremely loyal to the royal family that can keep us away from war."

"It's not that there is no war, but a group of people erected walls for us!"

Speaking of which, Sophia paused for a while, and took out "The Battle of Eagle Corner City" according to the previous plan, and spoke to the audience in a eloquent manner:

"This notebook has been published in every newspaper in Clovis City, but it was not the victory of Eagle Point that moved me, but the soldiers who won the victory themselves."

"...they had to endure unimaginable cold, and marched for nine hours in a snowstorm; after a day's exhaustion, all they could eat was simple dry bread and cured meat; bread hard enough to be used as a weapon, cured meat Often there is not enough soup; and they even lack fuel to drink ice water on the snowy mountains…”

"There is always a shortage of supplies on the way to march. Soldiers with torn boots can only march barefoot; warrant officers with leaky clothes have blankets over their backs... Even the deputy commander himself, before capturing Eagle Point City, always wore His only decent uniform..."

When there was a faint sob in the silent hall, Sophia slowly closed the note and looked at everyone with flickering eyes:

"I tell you all this, not to blame the Army and the Privy Council for their dereliction of duty, who have done the best they can and cannot ask for more; The soldiers who fought **** battles are indeed enduring a very harsh environment."

"Yes, we can't do much, but at least some of the things we can and should do; fund your favorite levies, and turn their **** trophies into money they really desperately need, Clothing and food."

"Even if you can't fight like them, you should at least let them get rid of the bad conditions and worries..."

Along with round after round of warm applause, the orphans in the orphanage who were specially put on beautiful formal clothes in advance and dressed up by Mrs. Coney opened the curtain behind Sophia, and put the precious "trophies" one by one. "presented in front of the guests.

Sabres, muskets, pocket watches, ink pens, diaries, brooches, hat badges, armor... All the bazaar items are placed separately, and have not undergone any aftercare treatment, keeping them "authentic" when they were on the battlefield status.

Or it should be in a state of a little dust when it was transported by the freight car - but for the Clovis nobles who are open-minded, it is just dust, the smell of wrapping paper and some bumps. , it is enough to make them imagine the picture of the battlefield.

"This is the family sabre of an Isel elf officer. It not only has exquisite silver-plated decorations and rubies as weight balls, but also has the unique lines of Isel elf on the blade. It is a very valuable collection. "

"Ah, this pistol in your hand is from the night of the Battle of Eagle Point. After being hit, a brave line infantry endured his wound and took it from the enemy with a bayonet; please pay attention to the position of the handle , there are very tiny knife marks and bloodstains on it..."

"Oh, this Your Excellency is really insightful; yes, this oil painting is the collection that hangs in the commander's room in Eagle Point City, and it is said to be called "Natural Risk"; It is really rare to have two artistic styles of Empire and Iser;"

"What, this lady is planning to subsidize the Storm Division, and also the commander himself? Uh... not to say no, but... I mean, there are still many poor soldiers who need your help more, why don't you look at this one? How about the cap badge? It was acquired by a brave captain your age who used to…”

The smiling Sophia changed her previous arrogance, and calmly introduced their favorite trophies to each guest who came forward to consult; the touching smile and gentle words made the consultants feel like a spring breeze, and unknowingly wrote on the fundraising list Down a personal touching number.

For Sophia, who often "runs errands" for her father in place of her beloved brother, this scene is not only familiar to her, it is even one of her strengths.

Nobles and wealthy businessmen may fear the power of the Franz family, but they will not accept orders and capital injections from the Franz family just because of fear.

In addition to the charity sale items, there are also some beautifully shaped red fundraising boxes on the ceremony table, and small nameplates with exquisite fonts are placed next to them - "Outer City Community Road Fund", "Low-rent Housing Fund", "Orphans in Autumn and Winter" Donations for Clothing", "Donations for Respect for the Elderly and Love"...

Various types of fund-raising activities with different amounts fully satisfy the preferences and tastes of the guests with different experiences, backgrounds, and classes on the charity activities, as well as their pursuit of their "sense of social responsibility".

For noble gentlemen, this is an excellent opportunity for them to show themselves in front of their favorite ladies, and for ladies and gentlemen who are full of love and compassion, they can take this opportunity to express the tears hoarding in their eyes.

There are also some simpler guys who regard the noble and pure charity sale as a godsend opportunity to buy art and luxury goods at a low price...

Of course, no matter what the purpose was, everyone was fully satisfied in this charity gala, including the hospitable Mrs. Coni - except for the share of the bazaar that Sophia had promised in advance, she and the Renai Orphanage she was in charge of running Received a donation of 8,000 gold coins and made a lot of money.

"Good evening, Viscount Bogner."

Seeing the steadfast old gentleman walking towards her with a smile on her face, Sophia lifted the corners of her skirt and curtly bowed like a junior to an elder: "Do you see your favorite collection?"

"I'm past the age where my blood will boil over because of the war. No matter how much I collect, I can only add one or two more occasional furnishings to the corridors at home."

Viscount Bogner smiled and put out his pipe before approaching Sophia: "But I am very interested in Anson Bach, a young man, and I owe him a promise and favor - so please choose enough for me. An expensive gift."

"When it comes to being expensive, it has to be paintings."

Sophia's eyes swept across the face of the girl behind Viscount Bogner, and smiled gracefully: "Tonight there are many paintings harvested from Eagle Point City, I don't know which one is fortunate to hang in Bogner's mansion. Woolen cloth?"

For some reason, she always felt that the girl's appearance was inexplicably familiar, and it also brought back some not-so-good memories of her...

"That one."

At this moment, the girl who was dragging the hem of Viscount Bogner's clothes suddenly spoke, and raised her hand to point behind Sophia:

"How much does that painting cost?"

That one?

Sophia was stunned suddenly, and looked at Viscount Bogner, who had an embarrassed expression, and the two of them looked in the direction the girl pointed.

On the portrait is a thin-looking, pale-faced young man, wearing a Clovis-style red and black military uniform and a three-cornered hat with white feathers, wearing a large cloak, and holding his head high with a reverent expression, revealing the scarlet around his neck. Ring of Order necklace.

With his right hand waving a saber and pointing forward, his left hand in a calling gesture behind him, he rode on a chestnut steed with raised front hooves, galloping on the snow-covered icy peak, followed by countless flags holding high figures of the soldiers.

Well, it's the pair of "Storm Master Climbing the Dawn Ice Peak".

This painting was originally planned to be used on the front page of the newspaper when the next news of the storm division's victory came, but Sophia felt that having such a symbolic oil painting would make it more convenient for the guests to take the initiative to participate in the charity sale. Pay for it and move in ahead of time.

Because it was taken out in advance, the whole painting was not completed and lacked a lot of details; especially the face of the protagonist in the center of the picture, how to look like some annoying bastard...

"This one doesn't work!"

Sophia blurted out without thinking.

Talia blinked her emerald green eyes: "Why not?"

"Why? Because of this, this..." Sophia, who woke up instantly, was suddenly speechless, not knowing what to do.

Yeah, why not?

It's just an oil painting. As long as the other party is willing to pay, why can't it be sold?

Why... why do you resist so much?

"Because it's not finished yet."

Just as Sophia froze in place, Viscount Bogner immediately took the words and smiled at the girl: "Dear Leah, you can see that there are still many blank spaces in this painting; An unfinished piece - do you want to see something else first?"

"Ah... Yes, besides this painting, there are many other good works."

The next second, Sophia, who reacted, cast a grateful look at the old gentleman who helped her, and smiled softly at the girl: "If you really like this painting, I will give it to you after it is finished, okay, cute. Miss Leah?"

While speaking, Sophia involuntarily clenched the cuffs of her clothes.

The girl hiding behind Viscount Bogner's trousers hesitated for a while, and after a few seconds, she nodded her delicate little head and turned her attention to the donation box.

Seeing this scene, Viscount Bogner and Sophia secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and were very careful not to be discovered by the other party.

In the middle of the night, this temporary charity party finally ended successfully and successfully; the guests who returned happily, surrounded by orphans in the orphanage, left the outer city by horse-drawn carriage.

After saying goodbye to Mrs. Coney, Sophia, who was in a happy mood, saw Angelica running towards her with a pale face before she even approached the carriage, holding the donation list tightly in her arms.

"Something happened?" Sophia asked immediately alertly~www.wuxiaspot.com~ The little maid who pursed her lips turned her head and glanced at Mrs. Coney, who was a few steps away, and nodded quickly; Sophia silently tightened her heartstrings , took the list from her:

"bad thing?"

The little maid nodded first, then shook her head quickly, and finally looked at Sophia with a complicated and meaningful expression.

"What is it?" Helpless Sophia glanced at her and flipped through the list:

"Storm division investment list... 3,000 gold coins for the Rafto family, 1,000 for the Horn family, 5,000 for the Bogner family... Isn't this still not bad, the total adds up to only... eh?!"

Sophia's pupils shrank suddenly, and her surprised expression was evident even in the dark.

"Three or thirty thousand gold coins from the Rune family?!"

The girl's voice trembled slightly:

"Rune?!"