Chapter 1373: Ten More Minutes

"Duke of Lorraine, tonight is truly pleasant."

Just at this moment, a playful voice rang out beside the Duke of Lorraine's ear.

The Duke of Lorraine's expression changed; he turned his head to look, and upon seeing the person who had arrived, a faint smile appeared on his face: "Weikeduo, I didn't expect you to be interested in this duel as well."

Weikeduo glanced at the man who had long been waiting on the dueling ground and sneered.

As long as one was an Austrian, seeing that person on the dueling ground, they would know he was absolutely not that scoundrel, trash, and good-for-nothing, Franz!

But Weikeduo also chose not to expose this secret.

He looked at the Duke of Lorraine, smiled with tacit understanding, and said nothing.

The Duke of Lorraine's expression was indifferent; he did not care in the slightest whether others saw through who was on the dueling ground instead of Franz; he did not care.

He was already one of the helmsmen of the largest family in Austria.

Franz was too pathetic.

He could not let Franz go to his death.

Moreover, this time, in order to finish off Liu Sheng, he had specifically invited the man with the best marksmanship in Vienna.

To guarantee the killing of Liu Sheng without any mishaps.

He looked at Weikeduo and smiled, then continued: "Weikeduo, now that you have come, isn't Theresa coming to see how her little lover dies?"

Weikeduo, who had still been wearing a smile, saw his expression sink instantly upon hearing this, and he was suddenly filled with rage!

"Duke of Lorraine, if you insult Theresa again, do you believe I will kill Franz right now?"

Weikeduo absolutely would not allow Theresa's reputation to suffer even the slightest insult.

Not even from the Duke of Lorraine!

The Duke of Lorraine's gaze tightened; at this moment, he truly felt the killing intent emanating from Weikeduo, and he could be certain of one thing.

Just now, when he mentioned 'Theresa's little lover,' Weikeduo had truly entertained the thought of killing Franz.

The Duke of Lorraine was stunned for a moment, then immediately laughed again: "Hehe, I just wanted to ask if Theresa is coming, after all, this matter was caused by her."

"Hmph!" Weikeduo let out a cold snort, turned his old face away, and stopped paying attention to the Duke of Lorraine.

However, Weikeduo was also somewhat anxious; Theresa had originally intended to come with him, but she had left with Count Austin halfway there.

She said she had some business to attend to.

At this moment, Theresa and Count Austin were together.

She looked at the time on her pocket watch, which was approaching twelve o'clock by the second.

Twelve o'clock, the time for the duel between Liu Sheng and Franz.

"Count, we must go faster; there is almost no time left."

Count Austin, pulling a carriage full of Yinzhou Drunkenness, sped along like lightning and asked loudly: "How many minutes are left?"

"Ten minutes left!"

Count Austin looked at the pitch-black path ahead, frowned slightly, and said: "It shouldn't be a problem."

The speed of the horse carriage Count Austin was riding in increased by a few notches.

Theresa could not help but worry; in ten minutes, Liu Sheng would be dueling Franz.

Today, Liu Sheng had suddenly told Austin that he needed a large amount of Yinzhou Drunkenness tonight.

Although Austin was puzzled, he could not refuse the price Liu Sheng offered, and these bottles of Yinzhou Drunkenness were originally brought over from Longyan by Liu Sheng at great risk.

Although Count Austin had bought these bottles of Yinzhou Drunkenness through barter, in Count Austin's heart, he felt he had picked up a great bargain.

How could wine be as precious as this Yinzhou Drunkenness?

Therefore, when Liu Sheng said he needed Yinzhou Drunkenness tonight and offered a price, Count Austin agreed without a second thought.

Theresa leaving with Count Austin halfway was actually just an excuse.

Theresa's purpose was to contact the Vienna guard, and while she still held the status of Grand Duke, help Liu Sheng one last time.

She did not want any accidents to happen

when Liu Sheng left!

"Grand Duke Theresa, go quickly to handle your affairs; we will meet at the Duke of Lorraine's castle."

Theresa nodded and took the horse carriage toward the city walls.

……

At this time, at the Duke of Lorraine's castle.

The Duke of Lorraine looked at the time on his pocket watch; it was almost twelve o'clock, and he glanced at the entrance.

No one had come.

The Duke of Lorraine sneered; he had not expected that Longyan person to be a coward and not dare to come.

"Hmph, a Longyan person who only knows how to talk big," the Duke of Lorraine mocked.

At this time, many nobles were looking at the entrance, but no matter how they looked, they saw no sign of anyone arriving, and their eyes were suddenly filled with mockery and pity.

"I originally thought this Longyan person was so tough, and I thought he really dared to challenge the Lorraine Family; now it seems he only knows how to talk big."

"This isn't Longyan; this is Vienna. It's normal for that Longyan person to be a coward, but I heard today... that the Longyan person was assassinated by the Duke of Lorraine."

"Assassinated? He deserved to die for challenging the Duke of Lorraine!"

"It's just a pity for Grand Duke Theresa. As the most beautiful and intelligent woman in Europe, she still couldn't escape her fate of bearing children for that bastard Franz!"

Seeing that the time was about to pass, the Duke of Lorraine ignored the murmurs.

In his view, these scandals were of no consequence; as long as he won, when he suppressed those spreading rumors, who would dare say a bad word about him?

Want to smear me?

Bring me down?

Heh, child's play. Let's see if you, a Longyan person, will live to see tomorrow's sun!

Weikeduo stared anxiously at the doorway, watching the time on his pocket watch tick closer.

A feeling of unease rose in his heart.

Teresa, Count Austin, and Liu Sheng had not arrived yet!

Could they have really been too cowardly to fight and fled? Weikeduo's face gradually darkened at the thought.

At this moment, the Duke of Lorraine noticed the change in Weikeduo's expression, let out a laugh, and walked over.

Seeing Weikeduo's grim face, he laughed and said, "Weikeduo, Teresa should be here by now; after all, today's Bitter Remonstrance was all started because of her."

Weikeduo glared at the Duke of Lorraine and said in a deep voice, "Those who should come will naturally come. As for this Bitter Remonstrance, it's all the fault of that useless grandson of yours. After all this time, is that thing of his even still working?"

"I hear he has so many mistresses, yet none have borne him any heirs," Weikeduo mocked.

The Duke of Lorraine's face turned angry; this was the one thing he could not stand to hear.

He knew Franz had many mistresses, but ever since Teresa became Grand Duke, the Duke of Lorraine had little hope of holding a child of Franz and Teresa.

Therefore, he hoped one of Franz's mistresses would bear him a child, which could then be adopted under Teresa's name to satisfy his wish.

Yet, so many years had passed, and although Franz had countless women, not a single one had become pregnant.

"Don't get too smug. If that Longyan doesn't show up, it means he admits defeat, and Teresa will still have to bear children for my Franz!"

Weikeduo let out a cold snort and looked toward the door; it was almost twelve o'clock, but he still did not see the figure of Liu Sheng.

Weikeduo sighed; it seemed this duel was going to be lost.

But just then, a commotion came from the doorway.