novelAbuy Chapter 326 The Queen's Complaint
Chapter 326 The Queen's Complaint
Chapter 326 The Queen's Complaint
After the welcoming ceremony, the royal motorcade, escorted by the cavalry guard, slowly returned to the Royal Palace in Athens.
Along the way, the streets were still crowded with cheering crowds, and flowers and ribbons rained down on the roof of the black carriage.
Constantine and Sophia sat side by side in the carriage. Their two young sons, George and Alexander, were held in the opposite seat by their nanny. The two little ones were pressed against the carriage window, their bright blue eyes, just like their father's, curiously observing the bustling world outside.
The carriage passed through the palace gates, shutting out all the noise behind it.
Upon returning to their side chamber, Constantine dismissed all the servants and nurses.
When the heavy door to the study closed behind them, the whole world was finally reduced to just the two of them.
Sofia could no longer maintain the dignified and proper demeanor befitting a crown princess.
She strode forward, without saying a word, but stretched out her arms and hugged Constantine tightly, very tightly.
Constantine could clearly feel the slight trembling in her body, and the worry and longing she had suppressed for so long with her strong willpower. He reached out and gently stroked her soft, long golden hair, inhaling the familiar, faint scent of roses.
After a long while, the two finally separated.
Sofia did not ask any questions about the details of the Treaty of London, nor did she mention the grand national interests.
She simply stretched out her slender fingers and gently smoothed out a slight wrinkle in Constantine's white suit caused by the embrace. Then, she straightened his collar, which had been slightly ruffled by the sea breeze.
Her eyes were slightly red. She looked up at her husband's face, which was noticeably thinner, and complained softly in German with a slight Prussian accent, "Look at you, you've lost weight."
"Is the food in London really that bad? Or does the Marquess of Salisbury serve you nothing but cold tea and hard bread every day?"
Constantine's heart softened instantly.
He took the small, slightly cool hands that were adjusting his collar against his chest, wrapped them in his palms, and then gently kissed them.
A wicked smile played on his lips as he whispered in equally fluent German, "Because my Athena isn't by my side, even the finest delicacies taste like sawdust, utterly tasteless."
Sofia's cheeks flushed instantly.
She gently punched his chest with her free hand, scolding him playfully, "You're a father now, and you're still so glib."
But the smile in her eyes betrayed her good mood. She pulled Constantine to the sofa in front of the fireplace and personally poured him a steaming cup of black tea.
A warm teacup was handed to Constantine.
He took a sip of tea before recounting to Sophia the most thrilling and dramatic moments of the London negotiations.
In particular, the complete plan to forge the "Russian-Greek Secret Treaty" to blackmail the Marquess of Salisbury.
Sofia listened quietly, her expression shifting constantly as Constantine recounted his story. From initial tension, to bewilderment, and finally disbelief. Her turquoise eyes widened, and she held her breath.
Sophia finally let out a long sigh of relief after Constantine finished recounting how he had forced the Prime Minister of the British Empire to sign a humiliating treaty in that small study.
She reached out and placed her hand on Constantine's hand, which was holding a teacup; her palm was covered in a fine layer of cold sweat.
"Connie," her voice trembled with lingering fear, "you were simply—you were simply dancing on the edge of a knife."
"What if—what if the British discover that lie? What would happen—"
Constantine reached back and grasped her hand tightly. Her hand was cold, and he warmed it with his own body heat.
"There's no 'what if'."
His voice was calm, but carried an undeniable decisiveness.
"For Greece, and for you and your children, to live in a country where you are no longer bullied."
He looked into his wife's eyes and said, word by word.
I have to gamble.