Descending On France 1780
Chapter 238 - 231 It’s the fiancée’s turn

Chapter 238: 231 It’s the fiancée’s turn

Anning, reeking of alcohol, returned from the Jacobin monastery to the Versailles Palace. Vanni whispered to him, "Miss Christina is waiting for you on the terrace."

Anning: "Which terrace?"

There are quite a few terraces at the Versailles Palace.

Vanni: "Follow me."

So Anning took off his coat, handed it to an attendant nearby, and followed Vanni’s steps.

The reason for wearing a coat was that, although it was already spring, it was still very cold in France at this time of the year—actually, in this era, France does not have many hot days every year.

That’s why, even by the 21st century, only a few households in France have air conditioning. After all, summer lasts only a few weeks for them, and they endure it until it passes.

Unexpectedly, the Little Ice Age passed, leading into a warmer era, and subsequently, Europe began to experience widespread heat deaths.

However, this was not something Anning had to worry about at this time.

Anning followed Vanni to the terrace and saw Christina wearing a very glamorous evening gown.

Anning couldn’t help asking, "Aren’t you cold dressed so lightly?"

Christina: "Yes, it’s cold, but I thought I would be going off to war tomorrow, I wanted you to see me at my prettiest..."

Anning took a step forward and wrapped his arms around Christina’s waist: "I appreciate your sentiment."

Vanni disappeared into the shadows like a ninja.

Christina softly said, "I start to miss the days when I was in the military, when I could go to war with you. Can’t we just ignore this rule?"

Women who want to get married must first retire from the military. This has been a longstanding rule in this timeline.

Christina had to abide by it as well.

Anning initially didn’t want to get engaged so soon, fearing it would affect the situation in France. Merely sending Christina home had unexpectedly led to a sudden change in circumstances, with his brother-in-law’s sentence being commuted from execution to exile.

So, since it had already impacted the situation, Anning didn’t hide anymore and went straight to Mr. Equality to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage.

Now Christina was Anning’s fiancée, and according to the rule, she retired from the military to focus on being a housewife.

Incidentally, Mr. Equality, due to Louis XVII, had a bit of an untouchable aura around him in Paris City; everyone was distancing themselves, fearing they might be implicated when the King was beheaded.

But overnight, Mr. Equality became "the most revolutionary, forward-thinking good man" in Paris City, and everyone began to curry favor with him.

Mr. Equality was in great spirits. He took Anning to his study in the Royal Palace right after the engagement, pulled out a big ledger, pointed, and said, "Pick whatever you want, my dear future son-in-law!"

Thus, Anning happily claimed the coal mines.

Mr. Equality was puzzled: "Coal mines? Besides heating in winter, it’s just used for burning in steam engines."

Although it had been over a decade since Watt improved the steam engine, most people still hadn’t realized the importance of coal.

Anning was happy to play the role of a Prophet at this time, so he said to Mr. Equality, "My dear future father-in-law, haven’t you seen the reports? The British Watt’s improved steam engine has massive potential. I’ve already commanded my craftsmen to go all out in making steam engines to power the spinning machines. Coal is the blood of the future economy!"

Although Anning spoke passionately, it did not impact Mr. Equality, who just shrugged: "Is that so? Alright then."

One can only say that foresight is a rare quality, possessed by very few people.

Anning briefly recalled the day he asked Mr. Equality for his daughter, then immediately turned his attention back to Christina.

Holding Christina’s waist, Anning just realized, his fiancée was still very robust—what I mean is, she had quite large muscles.

After all, having served in the army for so many years, it’s normal to have muscles.

Christina: "I always thought that not being able to charge into battle with you would be trivial, I thought the days to come wouldn’t be much different from the past. But I was wrong, it’s so difficult to send you off to battle.

"I’ve been having nightmares since yesterday, dreaming about you..."

Anning: "Don’t worry, my head is pretty hard, I’ve charged personally so many times before without a scratch."

Christina: "Isn’t it because you were unscathed before that you might have used up all your good luck?"

After a brief pause, she pleaded softly, "Can you promise me, not to charge personally?"

Anning: "You know I can’t promise that. A person’s past experiences become the guidelines for their future actions. My personal charges have always had very good results... especially in the battle against Lafayette, where my charge was almost the decisive factor in the victory!"

Christina: "Then let me put it another way, can you promise me that every time you charge, it will be the decisive move in the battle? I mean, don’t charge unless it’s necessary!"

Anning recalled the feeling of charging.

Actually, personally entering the fray and fighting is extremely exhilarating. Anning used to enjoy turning on realistic troop damage while reducing player damage in Mount and Blade 2, then charging into enemy lines to experience the thrill of fighting off hundreds alone—only to be taken down by a pirate’s javelin.

But that’s also a joy, isn’t it?

Holding his beauty and reflecting on himself, Anning suddenly realized that he actually quite liked this feeling of charging.

Perhaps those ancient warriors who often charged alone also fell in love with this feeling.

Thus, Anning confessed honestly: "Actually, I really enjoy charging personally. During that process, I can feel my life burning."

Christina: "Don’t you really like the story of Horatius? Horatius didn’t hold the bridge with three men just for the thrill of killing enemies!"

Anning sighed deeply, then gently pressed Christina’s head to his chest, stroking her long hair, and said gently: "Okay, I promise you then."

"I’ll have Vanni monitor you! If you recklessly charge, she’ll report to me!"

Anning smirked: "Then I’ll leave Vanni to take care of you, and take Julian as a duty soldier!"

Although taking Julian as a duty soldier might be risky, he might repeat the fate of some "Battlefield Magician."

Christina immediately panicked: "You!"

Anning pressed her head down hard, not letting her pull away to get angry at him.

After struggling for a while, Christina gave up: "Forget it. I’ll just look for a sister who can charge with you. That would set my mind at ease."

Anning: "The Twilight Knights will surely charge with me. They joined admiring my personal bravery and deeds, they will protect me."

Christina: "I don’t know the Twilight Knights. Better find a skilled and familiar sister to be your bodyguard. Promise me, if you must charge, you have to bring her along!"

Anning raised his eyebrow, wondering what kind of plot this was, marrying a wife and also getting a maid?

Anning chose to follow his heart: "Then I want a pretty one."

Christina laughed: "Which of my sisters isn’t pretty? Even Mrs. Oliver still has her charms."

After all, she once was the royal guard of the French King.

Anning: "Alright, if that makes you feel secure. Actually, you really don’t need to worry so much, after all, it’s just a defensive battle across the Marne River."

Christina was silent for a few seconds, then gently hummed in agreement.

Anning looked up, finding the moonlight particularly beautiful at that moment.