Chapter 424 Compensation (please vote)
Obviously, Walter used some means to involve the Delvaux family's property in the lawsuit, and Camelia would be immediately penniless. And she doesn’t have many relatives or friends—even if she did, probably no one would dare to take her in under Walter’s threat.
Then she would have no choice but to compromise with that bastard.
There was a sneer on Joseph's lips. He didn't bother to pay attention to that Walter before, but he didn't expect that this guy would take the initiative to jump in his face.
Then just teach him a lesson.
He walked to Camelia and comforted softly: "Don't worry, I will never let Mrs. Delvaux's reputation be damaged. And the villains who framed her will also get the punishment they deserve. ”
As for how to operate it, he didn't need to do this kind of mess himself, just let Kaunitz handle it.
Early the next morning, the palace officials of Schönbrunn Palace came to Joseph's room and respectfully invited him to attend the farewell banquet held for him by His Majesty the Emperor at noon.
Joseph smiled coldly and said calmly: "Thank you for your Majesty's kindness, but I'm afraid I will have to stay in Vienna for a while."
The palace official left in surprise, and only a short while later, Austrian Minister of State Kaunitz, Baron Ferrari, Baron Turgut and other ministers hurried over.
After several people saluted, Kaunitz asked anxiously:
"Your Highness, you were originally scheduled to return to Paris tonight, but I don't know why you changed your itinerary?"
He couldn't be impatient. Austria has just decided to fight in Silesia, and the front line is eagerly waiting for French reinforcements. If the French crown prince does not bring the "Vienna Special Agreement" back home, the French army will not be able to set off.
Joseph said calmly:
"You know, just after Mrs. Delvaux passed away, someone slandered her for being involved in the fraud. I have to wait until the truth of this matter is found out before I can go back with peace of mind."
"Mrs. Delvaux?" Kaunitz looked at Foreign Minister Turgut in surprise, and the latter whispered a few words in his ear.
Queen Mary's wet nurse? Kaunitz immediately frowned. Although wet nurses are usually not of high birth, sometimes they have a deep relationship with the children they have taken care of, which can be a bit troublesome.
He hurriedly signaled to Joseph:
"Your Highness, please return to Paris first, and I promise to give you a satisfactory answer."
"No, I'll just wait here for the results." Joseph said calmly.
Seeing his resolute attitude, Kaunitz had no choice but to leave, and immediately summoned the guard officer in charge of the matter - he had just learned the general situation from the Crown Prince's servant.
He was cursing in his heart, what kind of fool was he and what fraud case was he delaying the war in Silesia.
After asking about the case, Kaunitz went to the head of the secret police, Margrave Hartmann, and asked him to help investigate the matter.
As the secret police intervened, the officer quickly revealed the captain of the palace guard, Marquis Verhoner. The secret police then tracked down Judge Meyer, who was trying the fraud case.
The so-called fraud case was constructed rather hastily, and the evidence was contradictory. The secret police only interrogated it for one day, and everyone from the "fraud victim" to the judge told the truth.
Of course, this is because the Minister of State intervened, otherwise Camelia's entire property could have been seized with such a low-level false accusation.
The false accuser was thrown into jail, and the judge quickly dismissed the case. Kaunitz excitedly went to tell Joseph the good news, but the latter still had no intention of returning to Paris.
Kaunitz was so anxious that he reported the matter to Leopold II. The latter also had a headache and ordered Margrave Hartmann to reopen the trial.
The secret police took heavy action against everyone involved.
When the captain of the palace guard and the judge learned that Leopold II had personally intervened in the matter, they were a little confused - the girl was just a low-level nobleman, how could the crown prince be alarmed? ! [Note 1] They no longer dared to hide it - it was not worthwhile to put their own future on the line for those few thousand florins - and immediately confessed Baron Walter.
Walter was seducing a woman at a ball hosted by a certain noble, and was rushed in by His Majesty the Emperor's personal guards. Due to the suddenness of the incident and the level of communication in this era, he had not received news of the overturn of the case at this time. .
After Leopold II learned the whole story, he scolded his brother-in-law, and then asked Kaunitz to invite the French crown prince.
When Joseph entered Leopold II's drawing room, he saw a wretched-looking aristocratic man in his twenties standing aside with his head bowed fearfully.
When he and Leopold II greeted each other, the latter immediately hit Walter on the back with his cane and shouted: "Apologise to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince immediately, you bastard!"
Joseph raised his hand to stop him:
"Your Majesty, I was not involved in this case, and there is no need to apologize. I think Austria should have corresponding laws to judge false accusations, forged evidence and bribery. Oh, by the way, the target of his false accusation was a decent nobleman Madam, and now that she has passed away to heaven.”
Leopold II looked at his judicial advisor, and the old man hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, if the crime charged by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is found guilty, then Baron Walter will be sentenced to 20 years in prison and falsely accused. Double the amount of compensation.”
Joseph nodded with satisfaction:
"Praise Austria's judicial justice. I think this is a good way to handle it."
Walter's face turned pale with fright. He turned around and knelt in front of Leopold II, pleading:
"Your Majesty, I was wrong. I am willing to pay compensation. Please don't put me in a cell. Please..."
The more arrogant and domineering a guy is on weekdays, the more cowardly he becomes when faced with a headwind situation.
Leopold II glanced at Joseph, who was studying the murals on the ceiling, and gritted his teeth helplessly. For the sake of the situation in Silesia, he could only sacrifice this good-for-nothing brother-in-law.
"Guards, take Baron Walter..."
Just as he was mid-sentence, his wife Ludovica walked in quickly from the side door, saluted him and Joseph hastily, and then wiped her tears in public:
"Fred made a stupid mistake. Please give him a chance. I am willing to compensate the Delvaux family for 80,000 florins."
Mrs. Delvaux left an inheritance of approximately more than 60,000 livres, or 25,000 florins. She tripled the compensation, which seemed "full of" sincerity.
Seeing that Joseph was unmoved, she gritted her teeth again and said:
"100,000 florins should be enough to make up for Mrs. Delvaux's reputation... Your Highness, please do it..."
Joseph breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that even if Walter was thrown into prison, given his status, as long as he left Vienna, he would probably be secretly released. It was better to get some benefits for Camelia.
"150,000 florins, plus an apology to Madame Delvaux in the newspapers."
Before Ludovica could say anything, Leopold II immediately nodded and said:
"Thank you for your tolerance, Your Highness the Crown Prince. I will do as you asked."
Joseph was immediately startled. Why did he feel like there was less?
[Note 1] Here is a reminder for readers who have forgotten the previous content. Leopold II was the younger brother of Joseph II. Since the latter had no heirs, according to the line of succession, Leopold II was the current Crown Prince of Austria and the predetermined candidate for the next Holy Roman Emperor.
At the same time, Leopold II was also the Grand Duke of Tuscany, so others would address him as "Your Majesty."
(End of chapter)