While the two were discussing the dresses, Charles burst in excitedly, saluted them, and then said with so pride to Alexandra: "Madam, Baron Peres has arrived, you..."
He then noticed the Crown Princess’s dress and hurriedly urged, "You should change quickly, otherwise you might be late."
Joseph looked at Alexandra, "Are you going to attend swordsmanship class with Charles?"
The latter shook her head with a smile, "Today I’m having my final sword duel with Prince Charles. Baron Peres is the referee."
Charles looked sowhat disappointed, "The lady said after the formal wedding she would focus on being a good wife and would have no ti to practice fencing with ."
"Please wait for in the swordsmanship classroom," Alexandra gestured to Charles, and curtsied to Joseph, "I’ll go change clothes first."
After she left, Charles took hold of Joseph, "Brother, co watch our competition!"
He lowered his voice and excitedly said, "I’ve learned the ’Rotating Striker,’ supposed to be the master stroke of Joachim yer. This ti I am sure to win!"
Joseph, rare to rest for a mont, gladly walked with him towards the swordsmanship classroom.
Twenty minutes later, Alexandra, dressed in a white jacket, tight-fitting breeches, and wearing a maroon Swift Sword, also entered.
Seeing Joseph, she imdiately approached with a smile, "It’s rare to see you practicing fencing."
"I’m here to see Charles show off," Joseph smiled, nodding at his brother, "Will you really stop fencing with him after the wedding? I an, you will still have plenty of free ti."
Alexandra winked at him and whispered in his ear, "Charles’s swordsmanship is improving rapidly; soon I won’t be able to beat him. If I want to maintain my undefeated record against him, I can only use this as an excuse."
Joseph couldn’t help but shake his head with a smile, thinking to himself, ’You’ve got quite a heavy "sister burden".’
Soon, Baron Peres signaled both participants to take their positions.
Charles and Alexandra put on their helts and protective gear and ca to the center of the classroom one after the other.
"Begin!"
With a wave from Peres, Charles initiated the attack with a frontal slash.
He was now considerably taller than Alexandra, and evidently stronger. The latter dared not block, dodging to the side.
Joseph smiled, no wonder Alexandra decided to "retire"; it turns out the days of relying on her height to "bully" her brother are over.
The Crown Princess had very agile footwork, circling Charles like a butterfly, occasionally seizing gaps to make thrusts.
Charles used the "Elephant Tactic," rely clashing with her sword.
Using his heavier sword, whenever their weapons t, he could knock Alexandra’s Swift Sword aside, then seize the opportunity to counterattack.
After just over a minute of exchanging blows, Alexandra deftly crouched and lunged forward, stabbing her sword from an angle at Charles’s waist. This had been one of Charles’s defensive weaknesses, which she often exploited to win.
This ti, however, Charles positioned his sword vertically at his side, rotated half a circle to the left, then leveraged his sword, allowing its blade to instantly glide up along the Swift Sword’s shaft.
With a crisp "clang," his sword hit the guard of the Swift Sword. Under the intense impact, Alexandra’s wrist went numb, nearly unable to lift her sword, forcing her to retreat hastily.
"I’ve won!" Charles imdiately raised his sword to chase.
Seeing the Crown Princess unable to block, she suddenly reached behind her, and, shouting, "Stop!"
Charles froze, seeing a gun pointed at his chest.
"You..." he exclaid, "That’s too ungentlemanly!"
"I’m not a gentleman either."
"You can’t necessarily hit !"
"I have 6 chances," Alexandra smiled smugly, "This is the power of a princess."
Charles angrily looked at the referee, who in turn looked beseechingly at the Crown Prince.
Joseph sighed, stepping forward to pat his brother’s shoulder, "In terms of swordsmanship, you are undoubtedly better. But next ti, rember to carry a pistol. Also, prepare for ladies not always playing fair."
As the three were debating the outco in the classroom, Bertier appeared at the door, saluted Joseph, "Your Highness, did you call for ?"
Joseph approached him, "I thought you wouldn’t be here for another half hour."
Bertier took out a Sharp Signal Tower docunt, "Coincidentally, there’s a report from Portugal I wanted to deliver in person. I was already on my way."
Joseph took the docunt, "What’s happened?"
"Last week, our Allied Forces in Portugal cleared all the outer positions northeast of Gibraltar." The Chief of Staff said, "General Talavera hopes General Juno will join him in launching a full attack, aiming to capture the fortress."
Joseph furrowed his brows, looking at Bertier, "How likely is success?"
Bertier imdiately replied, "If the British morale is low, coupled with inadequate supplies in the fortress, there’s a fair chance for a breakthrough."
Joseph pondered for a mont and shook his head, "Right now is not the best ti to occupy Gibraltar.
"With Gibraltar Fortress besieged, the British have lost control over the strait. Before we fully defeat the British Navy, rchant ships cannot leave the diterranean for the Atlantic.
"So for now, leaving the fortress in British hands would an they continue sending supplies and reinforcents there."
Bertier hesitantly asked, "What do you an?"
"While minimizing casualties, try to intensify our attacks on the fortress. Consider sending more heavy artillery." Joseph ordered, "anwhile, instruct the Toulon Fleet not to watch too closely, but let so British transports through. Sink them on their return after unloading supplies."
For Britain, as long as there’s a glimr of hope at Gibraltar, they won’t give up. This place can beco a "ulcer" for Britain, bleeding them out for several years."
After discussing Gibraltar, Joseph asked Bertier, "By the way, have the Russian captives been sent to Warsaw?"
"Almost, Your Highness. A total of 4,300 people, just passed Rewa yesterday noon."
"They wouldn’t have been noticed, right?"
"Yes, Your Highness. They all co from different corps and basically don’t know each other."
Joseph nodded.
Of the more than 4,000 people, only nearly 300 are the true targets.
Among them, more than half were personally selected by Alexandra, soldiers very loyal to Paul I, ready to avenge him.
A small portion were officers influenced by the Declaration of Human Rights, having witnessed various "advancents and civilities" in France, deciding to rescue Russia’s Liberals.
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