Chapter 4, Louis's Memory

Louis thought he had something to say

What?

Philip looked at him in the dark; the eyes of a child are always bright, even in the faintest light, they resemble a pair of twinkling stars

Thus, the king's death was naturally attributed to the jealousy of the Duke of Orléans. Louis XIII was also a skilled horseman, and his horses were of excellent quality, making it impossible for them to stumble on such a low mound.

I believe you," Philip whispered, "I believe you, brother

She is your cousin," Louis said, "You should be polite to her

Yes, my brother, the two are not in conflict; you will be the most adorable and also the bravest. Louis paused for a moment, and the room fell into a chilling silence. He leaned closer to his brother, not his sister; the eight-year-old boy should have already established a correct awareness of gender. He gripped Philip's hand tighter. Perhaps Bishop Mazarin and the Queen Mother only wanted to avoid sibling rivalry, which could lead to greater turmoil, but he could not bear to see Philip, even if he were not Philip, just an ordinary boy, intentionally guided down a rugged and painful path—he did not understand this history. His brother, not his sister, the eight-year-old boy should have already established a correct awareness of gender. He gripped Philip's hand tighter. Perhaps Bishop Mazarin and the Queen Mother only wanted to avoid sibling rivalry, which could lead to greater turmoil, but he could not bear to see Philip, even if he were not Philip, just an ordinary boy, intentionally guided down a rugged and painful path—he did not understand this history, or perhaps understanding it would be of no use, after all, the content he read did not include witches and werewolves. However, regarding Philip, the future Duke of Orleans' tragedy, he had heard something about it—if Philip were already an adult, with mature thoughts, and could make his own choices, he would not interfere. But Philip is only eight years old.

He remembered that at that time he raised his head with great effort, wanting to see the pale and emaciated man. Louis had never thought of his father as such a prominent figure—Louis XIII was not a man who favored luxury in private. Perhaps this was the reason he and his mother, Marie de' Medici from Florence, Italy, were not well-matched. In his leisure time, he always wore a simple black coat, white fitted trousers, and a large-collared shirt, looking not much different from the nobles who frequented the castle. Perhaps this was the reason he and his mother, Marie de' Medici from Florence, Italy, were not well-matched. In his leisure time, he always wore a simple black coat, white fitted trousers, and a large-collared shirt, looking not much different from the nobles who frequented the castle.

After a short while, Mazaran walked out of the room, stroking his head and saying: "Cry, child, the king is dead"

Unfortunately, Louis XIII spent an extremely brief time with little Louis. For twenty-three years, Louis XIII and his wife, Anne of Austria, had no children. Little Louis died at the age of five after falling into the water while riding a horse. Louis still remembers being taken into a dimly lit room filled with a strange fragrance, where his father lay in bed, his loose linen shirt covered by a slate-blue morning robe. He saw Mazarin and several ministers surrounding his father's bed, with Mazarin even weeping softly. The wet nurse held him close to the king, whose cold lips touched his forehead and cheek, and then he was taken away.

She is a pig

"Look at my hat," said Philip

"I will ask the bishop and mother to hold the 'suspension of trousers' ceremony for you," Louis said, "it may not be so soon, but you must believe me, you are my brother, and you will eventually have to undergo this ceremony."

After a restless night, he finally began to feel drowsy at dawn, having heard Bishop Mazaran gently push the door open to leave. However, it was not long before a small figure squeezed in—Louis, who had placed a dagger under his pillow, quietly asked: "Philip, what are you doing here? Where is your nurse?"

Louis opened his eyes in pain: "So beautiful, how?"

Is it the most adorable and also the bravest?

There are also those who firmly believe that the death of the king may be related to his brother, Gaston, Duke of Orléans. When Louis XIII had no son, he was the second heir to the throne, referred to as the Great King's Brother. However, once Louis XIII had Louis and subsequently Philippe, Gaston, who only had one daughter, lost his eligibility to compete for the throne. It is impossible for him not to harbor resentment, and Louis XIII had always been wary of him. Once Louis XIII had Louis and subsequently Philippe, Gaston, who only had one daughter, lost his eligibility to compete for the throne. It is impossible for him not to harbor resentment, and Louis XIII had always been wary of him.

You are certainly the most adorable, but the most adorable person can also be the bravest person

Before Louis had danced face to face with the werewolf, he believed that these were merely the figments of people's imagination or the intimidation of the Church. Even though he began to attend Mass and observe fasting alongside Queen Anne, and had encountered countless clergy and ascetics, he had never truly considered that these might actually be real

"Mother always says I am her most adorable little girl, Brother Wang." Philip said, "What about you? Do you think I am? Am I also a lovely little girl?"

Demons are real, werewolves are real, witches are real, and there is still one he has yet to encounter... various non-human entities

In the year 1642, under the instigation of the Marquis of Saint-Maurs, Henry, Cardinal Richelieu was assassinated. He was accused but ultimately acquitted. Furthermore, due to his previous two rebellions, which had received the forgiveness of both the King and Richelieu, rumors began to circulate that the Duke of Orléans had allied himself with the devil. It was said that the works of the Boucher school were his contract with the devil, through which he had deceived the King and the Cardinal with the devil's assistance

At that time, he was not yet six years old. Generally speaking, noble boys in France would hold this ceremony between the ages of six and eight. However, neither Mazarin nor the Queen Mother mentioned any intention to hold the "breeching" ceremony for Philippe. Boys of this era were not considered adults; only adult males were qualified to wear long trousers. Therefore, boys wore long skirts just like girls. Once this ceremony was held, it indicated that he had become a man. In other words, from the day he changed into long trousers, Philippe gained the qualification to compete for the throne.

Louis XIV was once an ordinary person, but like any ordinary person, he had an insatiable desire for power and wealth. He did not consider himself a villain, nor did he see himself as a saint. When he was born in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, he could not immediately discern his identity from the unfamiliar languages and vague figures around him; for a time, he even thought he was a girl, as his swaddling was laced and adorned with a lace cap.

Philip's greatest mistake may have been becoming his brother's king, but this burden of guilt should not fall upon him

Although he was not particularly enthusiastic about real history before, he at least knew that the red attire was a sign of a cardinal, and a cardinal would only bow so humbly to two individuals: one is His Holiness the Pope of Rome, ... the other ... can only be a king

"Henrietta is here," Philip said. "I hate her."

"Even if it is just to a lady, you should not be so rude," Louis said, yawning, and then he felt his pajamas being tugged.

Philip gazed at Louis in the darkness. He was only two years younger than Louis, being eight years old this year. He was certainly a boy, yet the Queen Mother and the maids always enjoyed dressing him in extravagant attire that drew attention. The wide-brimmed hat he wore, even in the dimly lit room, proclaimed his undeniable presence with its silver satin and dark golden embroidery. Beneath layers of lace, his hair was carefully curled with a curling iron, cascading over his shoulders. With his rosy cheeks and blue, round eyes, it was hard for anyone to think of him as Louis's younger brother rather than a sister.

Moreover, he is quite amiable towards others. As for women, Louis is said to be very gentle with his two wet nurses, Madame de Sévigné and Madame de Lançay. Although he is not close to his mother, he is still courteous towards her

Later, he heard from his maid that the death of Louis XIII might not have been straightforward. Some said it was the Queen Mother, Marie de' Medici, who cursed her son using the unique methods of Italian witches before his death, because in the political struggle against Richelieu, Louis XIII not only did not side with her but also expelled her from Paris, stripped her of her property and pension, leaving her to live a desolate life in Angers until her tragic death. Others claimed that the king was indeed cursed, but the curse did not come from his mother; rather, it came from his wife. Queen Anne, who was of Habsburg descent, was from a family that had long been an enemy of France. They spoke vividly, even detailing how Louis XIII was dragged down by a massive swamp monster, as if they were watching it unfold right beside them.

And when he finally understood that he was not a girl, but a boy, he was brought before the minister by his father. In French, the pronunciation of Louis was clear, and it was the first word he understood. Although the word for prince in French is the same as in English, people usually referred to him as Your Highness. The pronunciation of words starting with 'v' in French was something he could not comprehend at all. It was not until a certain Cardinal, known to many as Richelieu, came before them and paid his respects to the king that the familiar little round hat made Louis's eyes widen in surprise. Although the word for prince in French is the same as in English, people usually referred to him as Your Highness. The pronunciation of words starting with 'v' in French was something he could not comprehend at all. It was not until a certain Cardinal, known to many as Richelieu, came before them and paid his respects to the king that the familiar little round hat made Louis's eyes widen in surprise

Louis's drowsiness completely vanished as he held his brother's hand, a wave of indescribable emotions surged within him, making it incredibly difficult for him to utter the words that followed: "Philippe, you must remember my words"

In the year 1632, he defied the king's decree and entered into a secret marriage contract with Marie de Lorraine, the sister of the Duke of Lorraine. As a result, Louis XIII dispatched troops, and the duke fled to Flanders, where he suddenly developed a profound interest in the works of the Bosch school. Even during his exile, he collected numerous paintings by the elder Pieter Bruegel. Those who have seen these paintings all say that... the person capable of creating such things is neither a devil nor merely possessed by one—inside are hollow minds, flying eyeballs, burning castles, long-legged fish, and "things" that are half monster and half human... There, he suddenly developed a profound interest in the works of the Bosch school. Even during his exile, he collected numerous paintings by the elder Pieter Bruegel. Those who have seen these paintings all say that... the person capable of creating such things is neither a devil nor merely possessed by one—inside are hollow minds, flying eyeballs, burning castles, long-legged fish, and "things" that are half monster and half human...

In his childhood, Louis always wore floor-length dresses, adorned with a lace hat and satin shoes. However, when he was able to express his wishes, his mother and Richelieu held a simple "breeching" ceremony for him. In the presence of lords and ministers, he changed out of his dress and donned breeches, appearing before everyone in a completely new light