Europa Universalis 1867: Start by inheriting an armory

"Madam, room service."

Footsteps came from inside the hatch, and Louise, behind the pillar, suddenly shouted in Spanish:

"Don't open the door! There's an assassin outside!"

The assassin whirled around, a Dellinger pistol sliding from his sleeve into his right hand, the muzzle pointing towards the pillar: "Who! Who's there!"

The door was not opened.

The assassin's plan was disrupted. He had thought he could easily trick his way in and shoot the maid and the duchess, but now...

"Come out!" he said in a Spanish accent as he walked toward the pillar.

Richard quickly glanced at the layout of the corridor. Next to the pillar where they were hiding was a door. By going through the corridor behind that door, he could bypass the door and ambush the assassin.

All he needs is time.

Richard whispered in Louise's ear, "Go on, but don't show your face."

Louise's eyes widened, but she nodded and continued in Spanish, "Do you know you can't kill her? The captain of this ship already knows, and reinforcements are on their way."

The assassin sneered, offering no reply, but instead shouted into the doorway, "Open the door, or I'll kill this girl..."

"No!" Louise interrupted him immediately. "I'm safe. Just stall until the soldiers arrive!"

"You... I'll go and kill you right now!" Seeing that his plan had failed, the assassin raised his pistol and walked towards the pillar.

"Hey, sir!"

A sound suddenly came from behind the assassin. He turned around in surprise and saw Richard's thick leather briefcase flying towards him. He instinctively grabbed it with his hand.

"Good catch!" Richard swung the brass candlestick at Richard's gun-wielding right hand.

boom!

"Ugh!"

With a cracking sound, the pistol fell to the ground. Richard locked his arms tightly around Richard's waist and abdomen, using all his strength to tackle him to the ground.

Louise seized the opportunity, strode forward, and kicked away the pistol in front of the assassin.

"Where did you come from... Get out of here!" The assassin struggled frantically, but Richard used the candlestick to tightly strangle him.

Unable to break free, the assassin struck Richard hard in the abdomen with his elbow, once, twice, but Richard gritted his teeth and dared not relax his arm for a moment.

Louise stared intently at the two locked in combat, her trembling hand clutching the pistol that had been kicked away.

She dared not fire, but she knew she couldn't let the assassin get her hands on it again.

Finally, the sailors who had come earlier led a squad of soldiers carrying long spears, swarming in through the narrow corridor.

"Here!" At the command, seven or eight rifles were pointed at the two men locked in combat on the ground.

"Let him go!" the leading soldier shouted in English, his gun barrel shifting back and forth between Richard and the assassin.

Richard loosened the candlesticks, and just as he was about to raise his hands above his head, the assassin seized the opportunity.

He pushed Richard aside, flipped himself up, and rushed towards the other end of the corridor.

"Halt!" the soldier shouted.

The assassin didn't stop; instead, he ran even faster.

boom!boom!

Two gunshots rang out beside Louise's ears. The bullets pierced the assassin's calf and shoulder, causing him to stagger and fall heavily to the ground, his blood soaking the carpet.

The corridor was filled with the smell of gunpowder. Louise suddenly covered her mouth, her face turning deathly pale.

She stood frozen in place, her eyes fixed on the convulsing body on the ground, the Deringer in her hand falling to the ground with a thud.

Richard, clutching his stomach, got up from the ground and grabbed her shoulder: "Stop looking."

Louise did not answer, but her hands were trembling.

"Don't look," Richard stepped forward to block her view and grasped her trembling hand. "He's not dead yet, he just injured his leg and shoulder."

The leading soldier stepped forward, nudged the assassin with his boot, and after confirming it was safe, turned to Richard and Louise: "Who are you?"

Louise took a deep breath, removed her hand from her mouth, and said in a still-shaken voice, "Sir... we sent the sailors to find the captain."

She turned and pointed to the sailor behind her, who nodded repeatedly and said in broken English, "Yes, yes."

The leading soldier frowned, looking suspiciously at Deringer on the ground, then at the Duchess's cabin door.

"She's telling the truth."

A dignified female voice rang out, and everyone turned to look at the hatch.

A noblewoman dressed in a deep red gown stepped out of the cabin, a maid respectfully supporting her hand, which was adorned with a dazzling ruby ​​ring.

Without a doubt, she was the Duchess, Louise Fernanda, and walking arm in arm with her was Antoine de Orléans—the Archduke of Montpensier.

"Duke, Madam." The soldiers stood at attention and saluted the two.

"This man," the lady pointed to the assassin on the ground, "just tried to break into my cabin. If it weren't for these two..."

The soldier in charge immediately lowered his gun and bowed deeply to her: "Understood, madam, we understand. We are very sorry, we came as soon as we received the report."

"Then take this man away," the Duke commanded, his voice as clear as Lake Gard in December. "I need to know who sent him."

The soldiers dared not delay; they dragged the dying assassin to his feet and carried him outside.

Soon, the corridor returned to calm.

Madame Louise approached the two with her hands folded over her lower abdomen, maintaining an air of aristocratic composure, but her voice was surprisingly gentle: "Louise, my child... are you alright?"

Does she know Louise?

Richard looked at Louise in surprise, but she had already lifted her skirt and curtsied to the lady, her movements as fluid as if she had rehearsed a thousand times.

Seeing this, Richard also bowed to the lady. He had never been so close to a true member of the royal family before; their innate authority and elegance filled him with a sense of awe.

After finishing her greeting, Louise forced a smile and replied, "I'm fine, Aunt Louisa. I was just... a little frightened."

"You're very brave." The lady took her hand, patted it, and then turned to Richard. "And this gentleman is...?"

"Richard Brian," Richard said, rubbing his still-aching ribs.

"Oh, Richard," the lady said, turning to the Duke beside her, "my dear, how shall we reward this valiant knight?"

"Hmm..." The Duke stroked his beard appreciatively, looking Richard up and down. "Perhaps he deserves... a better job?"

"No, no, no, that's not necessary," Richard quickly declined. "Louise... Miss Louise is the real hero. Without her, I'm afraid I'd have two holes in my chest."

The lady smiled and turned to Louise: "Brave and humble, you've made an interesting friend."

"We've only known each other for less than an hour." Louise's face flushed slightly.

"This one hour is more exciting than many people's entire lives." The lady gave the two of them a meaningful look, as if she was considering something.

Then she took off her gemstone ring and handed it to Richard: "Mr. Richard, we have nothing to give you. As you can see, we are... refugees."

A hint of sadness flashed across her eyes, but it disappeared in an instant: "But my sister, Isabella II, is a guest of the French Emperor. With this ring, you can move freely in the palace."

Richard was taken aback. Could this be the legendary opportunity presented by heaven? He respectfully accepted the ring: "I don't know how to thank you, Your Highness."

"We should be thanking you," the lady smiled, turning and walking back to her cabin.

Before the door closed, she said one last thing:

"Louise, your mother will be proud of you."

The door closed.

Only Richard and Louise remained. After a few seconds of silence, Louise suddenly squatted down and hugged her knees with her arms.

"Are you alright?" Richard asked.

"I'm fine," she said in a muffled voice, "my legs are just a little weak."

"You weren't soft when you kicked the gun just now."

Louise punched him lightly: "That was just a moment of passion, it's gone now."

Richard bent down and held out his hand to her: "Come on, you can't park here."

Louise stood up and brushed the dust off her skirt. "Aren't you feeling particularly thirsty?"

"Tea?" Richard scratched his head.

"Haha, can you stop being so British? Besides, where can you find good tea on a ship?" Louise said, watching Richard pick up his suitcase. "What you need is wine."

"You mean you need it?" Richard countered.

"Stop talking nonsense and hurry up!"

Richard watched her retreating figure, the ring in his hand feeling heavier. Outside the window, the French coastline was clearly visible on the horizon.