She changed Europe

Page 75

"Do you really think all of this is worth it?" Gisela looked at the saintess with great interest.

"Shut up! You vixen! You killed my friend, and I'll make you pay with your life!" Jeanne struggled to her feet, leaning against the tree trunk.

“I didn’t kill him. I just disabled his magic armor. I was just bluffing your men.” Gisela looked at Jeanne with an expression that said, as if she were an idiot.

Gisela's performance of the execution-like killing of Gilles and her threats to Jeanne was naturally meant for the French soldiers present, but now that there were no outsiders here, she no longer needed to say such things.

"Do you think I'd believe your nonsense? I'm going to roast you!" Jeanne lunged and tackled Gisela, then straddled her and plunged the hilt of her sword into Gisela's head.

"Sigh! You really aren't very bright." Gisela raised an eyebrow. Although Black Jeanne was riding on top of her, which was quite amusing, given the Black Saintess's extraordinary wisdom, she shouldn't be able to understand her good intentions.

"What did you say!" Jeanne bit her lip, the flames in her hand already leaping, as if she could make the Crimson Lotus devour the person in front of her and herself in the next second if she wanted to.

Although she was very angry, Jeanne did not act immediately because she still had a major question in her mind: how did the Eastern magic user who had easily defeated her transfer his soul into the body of the princess in front of her? If she could not figure out this question, then she would not be able to kill this girl at all, because she would haunt the European continent like a ghost, becoming a nightmare for France and herself forever.

“Actually, I think you look really good with short hair…” Gisela’s unconventional thinking made Jeanne pause in thought.

"Huh?" A flash of surprise crossed Jeanne's golden eyes, followed by a black line appearing on her forehead.

“Thanks to you,” Jeanne said, enunciating each word clearly, her anger reaching its peak at that moment.

“Giselle Louise Marie, although I don’t know what your relationship with that woman is, I will absolutely not let you go today.” Jeanne raised her hand.

"Your short hair looks really good!" Gisela was sweating profusely. She didn't understand why the woman was becoming even more agitated when she was complimenting her.

To hell with those damn worries, this fox must die now!

A massive flame erupted, engulfing both of them. With a deafening roar, the surrounding trees were consumed by the flames, and all living things were instantly incinerated. Gisela instinctively activated her magical shield, simultaneously casting her blue flames around it to form a thin wall of fire, protecting it from Crimson Lotus's erosion.

Although the cost is more magical energy, it is worth it, because nothing can easily neutralize an opponent's powerful attack and put greater psychological pressure on them.

"Tsk!" Gisela gasped in pain as a wisp of crimson lotus unexpectedly drifted into her shield and adhered to her right gauntlet. The intense burning sensation instantly traveled through her nerve endings to her brain, clearly demonstrating the formidable power of Jeanne's flames.

A moment later, Jeanne's attack ended. Exhausted, she half-squatted on the ground, panting heavily. Jeanne understood that the flames she released with her magical energy were far less powerful than when her ancestors burned themselves. However, these flames were born from burning their own life and magical energy; this was the power of the Darc family, and also the curse and destiny that their clan bore.

"That's it?" Gisela didn't reveal her injury, but instead skillfully pressed her left index finger to her forehead, pointed her right hand at Jeanne, and then looked at Jeanne in front of her with Dio's classic stance. Despite her overly dramatic behavior, combined with her silver hair, purple eyes, and emotionless, aloof demeanor, she somehow gave off a villainous vibe for a moment.

"My attack isn't over yet! Su!" Jeanne took a deep breath, concentrating the flames of magical energy on her sword, preparing to launch a new attack. For some reason, seeing Gisela's arrogant demeanor and thinking of Su Beiming again, Jeanne felt she had even more potential to unleash. She would absolutely not let any opportunity to defeat that woman slip by!

After all, that overwhelming difference in strength almost shattered all of Jeana's confidence that she had built up since she was a child!

"My turn!" Gisela raised the Sword of Saint Stephen with both hands, her face serious as she watched Jeanne's every move. Su Beiming had once told her that in battle, one must be completely focused, paying attention to every breath and even every change in the opponent's eyes. A person's expression and words can deceive, but their eyes cannot.

"Preparing to attack from the left, is that it?" Gisela made a relatively rational analysis of Jeanne's attack method in her mind. However, in order to prevent her opponent from making a sudden decision, she decided to lure Jeanne a little.

“You want to attack me from my left? Not a bad idea. As you can see, my right hand was indeed injured before. If you want to defeat me, I would actually recommend attacking from the right.” Gisela raised her right hand, displaying a piece of armor that was already somewhat carbonized on her gauntlet to Jeanne.

On the snow-white armor of the "Snow Fox," a charred patch of armor stood out prominently, allowing Na to instantly see Gisela's wound.

"Shut up! I can attack you however I want! You just need to stand there and wait for me to kill you!" Jeanne coldly replied to Gisela, but her somewhat unfocused golden eyes were not as calm as her words suggested.

You're so quick to tell me your weaknesses? Are you underestimating me, Su Beiming! Unforgivable! You want me to attack your right hand? I'll attack your left! I don't know what you're thinking, but don't think this fight will end so easily. I want to see you beg for mercy! To see you kneel before me like a real fox, and then I'll...

PS1: I'm so tired QAQ

Chapter 279 Irises Withering in the Alps: Capter 140 A New Offensive (Seeking Votes)

All the resentment, dissatisfaction, and other emotions had been deeply imprinted on Jeanne's heart after decades of sedimentation. The existence of that woman had long since become an indelible shadow in her heart, and the weight of this memory was perhaps incomparable to the beautiful memories she shared with Richelieu.

"Pfft." This woman is too easy to understand. Just like the character in the game I used to play, Black Jeanne has the potential to be arrogant. Gisela revealed a knowing smile.

Without another word, Jeanne pushed off the ground with her right foot and used her flight device to accelerate toward Gisela's left. Her precise and fierce thrust was upon Gisela in an instant.

Gisela, who had been waiting for a long time, slightly raised her hand and swung her broadsword downwards, using the momentum to deflect Jeanne's thrusting sword. The two swords were stuck in the ground the next moment. Gisela's defense was not over yet. She gripped the hilt of her sword with her other hand for support and raised her right foot to kick Jeanne in the face.

In response to Gisela's counterattack, Jeanne raised her left hand to shield her cheek. The immense force sent Gisela flying, and the powerful impact made Gisela dizzy. Had she not kept her mouth tightly shut, she had reason to believe she would have bitten her tongue.

Jeanne, who was knocked away, was not surprised. Instead, she sneered and glanced back at Gisela before raising her right hand and making a pinching gesture in Gisela's direction.

More intense flames erupted from where Jeanne's sword had been stuck. This time, the flames were not the shallow flames of the last time, but rather a somber purple tinged with red.

"Although I know you Easterners are neither devout nor righteous, I want to tell you that what gives me power is not just my damned bloodline and those hypocritical gods. I can do better than them myself!" With Jeanne's hysterical roar, the flames shot straight into the sky, reaching a height of nearly a hundred meters, which was still clearly visible to both sides in the battle.

Benedek gazed towards the forest, his heart truly in his throat this time. Unlike the French, whose defeat only meant the end of the war, his defeat meant that everything his ancestors had fought for would be in vain. He had climbed to this damned marshal's position today after three generations of his family's efforts. More importantly, his beloved woman and the monarch he would one day serve were there.

"Tsk." This time, unlike the previous flames, Gisela could feel his magic shield melting away at a speed he could sense. If he didn't find a way to escape, the consequences would be unimaginable.

“I practiced this method specifically to deal with you. Although your magical power is so great that it is invisible, I believe it is not inexhaustible. And these flames will burn until they have burned everything in their path.” Jeanne leaned weakly against a tree stump, and directly above the tree was the humanoid silhouette of someone heavily armored.

Jeanne's magic power was completely exhausted. Now, the magic armor on her body was like a weight pressing down on her. Without magic power, she was just like an ordinary person. As for moving the magic armor on her body, that was a pipe dream.

A bizarre scene unfolded: one fox was being roasted by fire, while the other lay motionless to the side, making sarcastic remarks. An ordinary person could easily finish them off at that moment.

I remember Su Beiming once used foxfire to create an explosion. Gisela didn't want to use an attack like a human nuclear bomb, but if she wanted to break the cage of flames as soon as possible, this was the only way. But how could she do it?

"Damn it! If only my other self could come up with some ideas." Gisela looked helplessly at the pointer pointing to 98% of her magic shield, the high temperature already beginning to penetrate the shield and spread into her armor.

"She's hairy and weak against fire." Just as Gisela was lost in thought, a lotus flower made of blue flames floated in front of her. Gisela looked at this familiar thing with some confusion for a moment, then gently picked it up with both hands and instinctively hugged it to her chest.

"You are Lin Wei, you are Gisela, and you are also me, Su Beiming." The ethereal voice echoed in Gisela's mind, with a hint of disappointment mixed with doting affection, as well as a unique sense of aloofness and detachment, which made Gisela connect her identity almost immediately.

“Su…” Gisela wanted to call out the name of the person who spoke, but she changed her mind after saying only one word.

“The other me…” Gisela said with a hint of longing. Although she didn’t shed tears, she still seemed more sad.

“Crush it,” Su Beiming said in an unquestionable tone.

"Hmm." Gisela gently crushed the blue lotus. A huge blue flame rapidly gathered and then ignited and exploded. At that moment, everything was quietly swallowed up by the explosion, and Jeanne's final attack was thus neutralized.

"The rest is up to you. Our agreement still stands." Su Beiming's voice trembled slightly, tinged with a hint of tears. Unlike her previous resolute tone, this time it was more of an emotional outpouring. At this moment, this woman, who had traversed hundreds of years, seemed to have found a new purpose in life…

"Thank you," Gisela said, tears welling up in her eyes. This belated expression of gratitude finally had a chance to be given.

"Hmm." Su Beiming's voice gradually weakened, and finally disappeared into the sky along with the blue lotus.

A moment later, Gisela slowly raised her hand, and a new blue lotus flower appeared at her fingertips, but this time there was no sound.

"Hey! Jeanne Alter, do you think we should continue?" Gisela looked at the terrified Jeanne with a look of pleasure, then licked her lips with a wicked smile.

"Y-you! How could you be alright..." Jeanne panicked and rolled to the side of the tree trunk, struggling to crawl forward. Now that her magic energy was exhausted, she had long lost the will to fight. Unfortunately, the heavy magic armor she wore made it difficult for her to move an inch.

"Don't run away, my most adorable Jeanne Alter! You used to ignore me, no matter how much money I spent, you never came. And you didn't say that when you were roasting me just now, did you?" Gisela's eyes gleamed with a fierce light, and the corners of her mouth were slightly raised. She muttered to herself in words that Jeanne couldn't understand at all, and she deliberately dragged her steps out of control, as if she was deliberately giving Jeanne a chance to escape.

PS1: The fox has stood up!

Chapter 280 Irises Withering in the Alps: Capter 141 Jeanne: This vixen has gone mad! (Seeking votes)

"That vixen has gone mad!" Jeanne struggled desperately, trying to break free from the magic armor. Her expression held a hint of fear for Gisela. "If I don't leave here soon, I won't be able to return to the camp to command the battle. If we don't take Milan, that guy will definitely force Richelieu into battle."

The thought of these terrible consequences made Jeanne desperately try to move her body.

"Right, signal flares!" To facilitate rescue efforts, European countries tacitly prepare signal flares for their magic users, so that their people can rescue downed magic armor and their precious magic user ladies as quickly as possible.

Jeanne tapped her leg armor lightly, and a signal flare popped out from her waist armor. She skillfully took it out and pointed it at the sky.

"Su Beiming! Do you know what it means if I fire the signal flare?!" Jeanne stared wide-eyed at Gisela, who was approaching her with an air of righteous indignation. Su Beiming, that old-fashioned Eastern woman, would certainly not know the function of such a signal flare. (The Great Meng army lacks this rescue mechanism.)

"Oh?" Gisela stood with her hands on her hips, looking at Jeanne with the same expression she would give Aqua, unable to understand where Jeanne's confidence came from...

"Boom!" With a crisp sound, a fireball glowing red rose into the sky.

A few minutes later, the fireball burned out and fell back to the ground, but the reinforcements Jeanne had hoped for never arrived.

"So?" Gisela yawned, rubbed his hands together, and then used his flight device to accelerate toward Jeanne, smoothly pinning her to the ground. At this moment, the roles of offense and defense were reversed.

“Don’t be surprised, Black Jeanne, the end of you French people has only just begun.” Gisela straddled Jeanne, placed her hands on Jeanne’s shoulders, and brought her head close to Jeanne’s.

"Let me go! My name is Jeanne de Darc, not the Black Jeanne you're talking about!" Jeanne struggled desperately but Gisela held her down firmly, unable to move at all.

"No! From today onwards, you will be called Black Jeanne. Your glory, everything you have borne, will become worthless from this moment on." Influenced by the disappearance of Su Beiming's original personality, Gisela showed an unprecedented possessiveness and a morbid desire for control.

"Ugh... ugh... ugh..." Gisela didn't give Jeanne any chance to retort before roughly silencing her roar with her soft, pink lips! Jeanne tried to struggle, but found she couldn't break free from the other's grip. This was supposed to be her first kiss, supposed to be an intimate moment with her beloved Shirley on a quiet, moonlit night. And what was the result? She was forcibly kissed by this enemy, this woman who looked almost exactly like that woman.

Unforgivable, unforgivable… The voice in her mind desperately emphasized her anger, but as the time spent on the lips with the girl lengthened, the voice gradually became more and more ethereal. The proud banner that had wavered in her heart collapsed in that instant, because everything was rendered worthless by the touch of those lips, in that humiliating exchange. At this moment, this proud saintess was utterly reduced to…

After an unknown amount of time, when Jeanne could see Gisela's lovely face again, everything was already over. Nothing remained except for a trace of sweetness on the corner of her mouth.

"You French people's war in Italy is over." At this moment, Gisela's hair had turned blonde again, and her eyes had turned into clear water blue. Without her previous madness, she appeared much more approachable.

"What do you mean!" Jeanne was questioning Gisela, but she was still somewhat afraid to look Gisela in the eye because of what had just happened.

"My Portia Legion has reached the southwest of Milan. We have 30,000 men. You know that this force has been with me at the forefront of the Imperial front since the start of the war. Their strength and loyalty to the Empire are beyond question." Gisela sat cross-legged in front of Jeanne, like an elegant older sister, though in reality, they were of different ages.

Just then, the distant booming of cannons and deafening shouts of battle could be heard, clearly indicating that the Austrian army had launched an attack on the French army.

"Listen, my men are ready to attack." Gisela stretched her arms and then skillfully disassembled her magic armor. Unlike Jeanneco, who was exhausted of magic energy, she could control her magic armor, so taking off her "Snow Fox" was not a difficult task for her.

“Hmph! My soldiers are not those weak and incompetent Italians.” Jeanne bit her lip, clearly unwilling to admit her and France’s defeat.

“Black Jeanne, then I might as well tell you, do you know how many factions are in my camp?” Gisela took out black socks from the pocket of her uniform and put them on in front of Jeanne, since going bare-legged in this weather wouldn’t be comfortable.

“I would never wear such poor-quality socks,” Jeanne said with a dismissive look.

“No! You must wear them from now on. If you want to stay by my side, these socks will be an essential accessory for you.” Gisela’s words, though less forceful than before, still carried an air of unquestionable authority.

“Ridiculous? Why should I stay by your side?” Jeanne raised her head, her signature disdain once again creeping onto her face. According to the Treaty of Westphalia, all belligerent nations in Europe must abide by the basic rules it sets out. After the war ends, in addition to returning prisoners of war, they must unconditionally release the captured magic users of the other side. Therefore, Jeanne has no reason to stay by Gisela's side, and her return home is only a matter of time.

“Logically, according to the regulations, you would be transferred from the Empire to the French Republic after the war, but this does not include the result of your own free will.” Gisela deliberately referred to the French Empire, as Napoleon III called it, as the French Republic.

"Your Highness, you seem to have misunderstood something. France is now an empire, not a republic." Such a basic error coming from the mouth of a national leader clearly had ulterior motives.

"Is that so? It's only a matter of time." Gisela put on an indifferent expression.

“Please explain yourself clearly.” Jeanne frowned; she couldn’t fathom the meaning behind Gisela’s words.

PS1: I feel like my life isn't as good as it used to be QAQ

Chapter 281 Irises Withering in the Alps: Capter 142 Jeanne's Compromise (Seeking Votes)

"More than that question, do you know how many powerful forces surround me?" Gisela abruptly changed the subject, which only aroused Jeanne's stronger interest.

"That's not important. Please answer my previous question."

“No! I just want to tell you that my camp includes a Prussian princess, a young lady from the Rothschild family, and henchmen of the Roman Catholic Church. Miss Sarah Nelson has also extended an olive branch to me. Some of you French people want my life, but it has nothing to do with the orders of your Emperor. Do you know why?” Gisela looked at Jeanne with an obedient expression, but at this moment Jeanne was sweating profusely.

"There are three contradictions: First, the contradiction between England and France, the reasons of which you know better than I do; second, the contradiction within the Church, whether you know this or not is not important; and third, the contradiction within your own France."

“I believe that in your France, the forces opposing Napoleon III are not weak.” As Gisela spoke, Jeanne also recalled the events of several months ago when Richelieu was attacked.

"You mean the Republicans?"

“No! Your country has moderate republicans as well as a more radical faction. As for their representatives…” Gisela softened her tone, deliberately giving Jeanne time to think. Seeing that Jeanne seemed to have thought of something, Gisela continued:

“Thiere, you should be more familiar with that name than I am.” Gisela did not directly name the Order Party, but instead chose to point out the woman’s name. As for the rest, let Jeanne Alter figure it out herself. Not saying too much is also a skill in conversation.

"They will join forces, and the defeat in this war will be enough to disgrace Napoleon III, and it will be time for his rule to end. So what fate awaits Richelieu, a staunch supporter of the Bonaparte family?"

"No one can remain unscathed in the vortex of revolution. France has plunged you into the mire; would you choose to repay it with song?" Jeanne's gaze was somewhat vacant. If her memory served her correctly, Richelieu had said the same thing.

"I don't care whether Napoleon III lives or dies, nor do I care whether the French Empire lasts forever."

“If you stay by my side, I will help you protect Richelieu.” Gisela didn’t rush to refute anything, but instead spoke in her soft voice a proposal that Jeanne found hard to refuse.

"Are you kidding me? Why would I stay by your side for that woman?" Even now, he still wouldn't admit his feelings for Richelieu, but Gisela could tell.

"That's a real pity. It seems that the nurse misunderstood what you were doing on the hospital bed the other day." Gisela looked at Jeanne with a smile, and her confidence was perhaps the best way to describe her at that moment. After all, nothing is more comfortable than knowing the opponent's situation before the negotiations even begin.

"You!" Jeanne was speechless for a moment, clearly there were Austrian informants among them.

As for Giles's matter, if Gisela, or rather Su Beiming, shows mercy, then the other party will definitely show mercy. After all, when Su Beiming made an agreement with her to withdraw his troops, she really kept her promise and let her return to the fleet. As for her commander's insistence on breaking the agreement later, that was not something Jeanne could decide.

“Giselle Louise Marie, promise me you will protect Shirley in the coming storm…” Jeanne can be recruited as long as the reason is right, not to mention that this woman has some ulterior motives towards Richelieu, which Giselle can take advantage of.

As for the deeper reason why Jeanne agreed to Gisela, it was because she was aware of the differences in medical philosophy and political views between Thiers and Charlie. These differences would become reasons for Thiers to persecute Charlie in the future. Given Charlie's submissive nature, she would probably not hesitate to die for her country, but this was a situation that Jeanne absolutely could not accept!

“Of course. Read/Yi-First-Release” Gisele extended her right hand, and Jeanne shook hands with her somewhat reluctantly.

"Then you'll be my personal maid from now on. Call me Master." Gisela's playful nature was on full display, revealing her mischievous side.

"Why should I!" Jeanne looked at Gisela with disdain.

"The agreement..."

Jeanne lowered her head in frustration, then patted her cheeks, took a deep breath, and tried to smile at the fox-eared girl in front of her, her lips trembling slightly.

“Master…” Jeanne looked like a wronged wife at this moment, while Gisela’s expression was very satisfied as she looked at the black Jeanne in front of her.

The two major defeats at the Battle of Milan and the Battle of Magenta on October 13, 1870, resulted in the defeat of nearly 50,000 French troops and 30,000 Sardinian allied troops. Napoleon III, who had been confident before the war and attempted to replicate his aunt's feats in Italy, was utterly humiliated and his war in northern Italy was plunged into an irreversible and dangerous situation.

The deaths and disappearances of several loyal magical warriors, the rising war-weariness within the army, and the growing opposition within the country have fundamentally shaken the foundations of the Bonaparte family's rule over France.

Continuing the war in Italy against the Austrians, or making peace and returning home to stabilize the domestic order, had become an unavoidable dilemma for Napoleon III. Choosing the former meant he had to lead his army in a final, desperate attempt to break through Austerlitz; failure would mean another Waterloo and endless exile. Choosing the latter meant abandoning his ally, the Kingdom of Sardinia, and more importantly, losing the honor he cherished most, as well as the glory that carried the Bonaparte name. Of course, the advantage was that he would have a much higher chance of retaining his throne.

While he was caught in a dilemma, Thiers, far away in Paris, wouldn't give him much time.

At this moment, in a villa located on the outskirts of Paris—

"My lord, all the guests have arrived." A beautiful black-haired girl gently knocked on the already open door, then politely stepped aside in front of the door.