Chapter 84: Witnessing Victory
After finishing breakfast, King Albert I took Charles for a leisurely walk along the pathways of his estate.
The estate was modest, and even the villa where they had breakfast was only slightly larger than an average house. It made King Albert I seem more like a farmer than a king.
Of course, this was merely his estate in Antwerp.
“I must apologize,” said King Albert I. “I wasn’t able to provide you with a more lavish breakfast!”
“No, it was fine,” Charles replied.
He was being truthful. The steak had been edible. What could a so-called lavish breakfast even include? Pizza? Turkey? Caviar?
King Albert I nodded, his tone growing solemn. “You should know, that was a special arrangement just for you.”
At first, Charles didn’t understand what he meant. Then, after turning a corner around a wall, he was met with a sight that made everything clear: King Albert I had opened his estate to house displaced citizens.
What lay before Charles was a sprawling meadow, likely the estate’s pasture. Now, it was haphazardly dotted with various tents. People bustled about, and some soldiers moved among them, distributing food.
“These are my people,” King Albert I said, gazing at the crowd thoughtfully. “They could have fled abroad, perhaps to a safer place like England, but they chose to stay and follow me. Taking care of them is my duty.”
Just then, someone called out, “Your Majesty, is that Charles?”
King Albert I nodded, straightened his posture, and replied loudly, “Yes, this is Charles, the one who invented the tank that defeated the Germans. France sent him to aid us. He has come to help us!”
This announcement stirred the crowd. People stood up one by one. Even those inside the tents emerged, gathering around excitedly.
King Albert I turned to Charles with a smile. “You are their hope, Lieutenant! They trust you!”
Charles was baffled. This was Belgium. He had never set foot in this country before or met any Belgians. Why would these complete strangers trust him and regard him as their hope?
King Albert I leaned closer to remind him, “Shouldn’t you say something to them?”
Startled, Charles looked at the expectant eyes of the crowd. He wasn’t sure what to say and worried he might disappoint them. Without thinking, he blurted out, “I’ll do my best, but my abilities are limited. If—if I don’t succeed, I apologize…”
“Of course your abilities are limited, Charles!” King Albert I interjected. “But you’re not alone in this effort. We will all support you! We will stand together!”
Turning to the crowd, King Albert I raised his voice powerfully. “Tell me, will you fight alongside Charles?”
The crowd responded in waves:
“Yes, we will!”
“Thank you for leading us!”
“We will fight with you, for Belgium!”
…
Gradually, the responses grew louder until they became a unified chorus.
Charles was stunned. He had intended to say, “If I fail, I’m sorry.” But King Albert I had skillfully steered the conversation in another direction.
Confused, Charles glanced at King Albert I, who raised an eyebrow and smiled knowingly at him, nodding slightly.
King Albert I understood what Charles had been about to say. He could have let him finish, but he knew that in front of an emotionally fragile public, such words of doubt could not be allowed. Instead, the message should inspire confidence and boost morale.
Despite this, Albert admired Charles’s character.
Charles didn’t boast or seek to inflate his ego. He expressed himself honestly and shared his true feelings. To King Albert I, who had heard countless grandiose declarations, this quality was particularly valuable.
Those who boasted often failed to deliver, their words insincere.
Charles, on the other hand, could achieve much, yet he remained humble and cautious. This was the essence of true and admirable chivalry!
At that moment, a guard approached King Albert I and whispered something in his ear.
King Albert I nodded and turned to ask, “Would you like to witness your victory?”
“What?” Charles didn’t understand what he meant.
King Albert I said no more. He waved to the crowd and led Charles to the other side of the pasture.
What appeared before them was a massive balloon, floating in midair and swaying gently with the breeze. Below it hung a large wicker basket, big enough to hold five or six people at once.
Charles’s eyes widened, and his steps slowed. Surely the king didn’t intend to ride this balloon into the sky?
Sensing Charles’s hesitation, King Albert I looked back at him, puzzled.
Charles gritted his teeth. If the king was using it, it had to be safe—hadn’t he flown across German lines in an airplane before? Riding a balloon should be nothing in comparison!
Yet the reality was that the balloon felt far more terrifying, especially during its ascent. It swayed drunkenly in the wind, leaving Charles breathless and pale. Couldn’t it at least have safety straps? Or perhaps parachutes?
King Albert I, however, appeared unfazed. One hand gripped a rope while the other held a telescope as he scanned the horizon. Thankfully, this meant he didn’t notice how frightened Charles was.
The balloon rose higher and higher, and as the air currents stabilized, Charles’s pounding heart finally began to settle.
Suddenly, King Albert I exclaimed excitedly, pointing ahead. “There, they’re coming!”
Charles retrieved a telescope from its leather case and followed the direction the king indicated. Finally, he understood what “witness your victory” meant.
In the distance, two enormous cannons were slowly being pulled forward by teams of horses. Even from over ten kilometers away, their towering barrels were unmistakable. They were Germany’s famed “Big Bertha” heavy artillery!
King Albert I retrieved a signal flag from a storage pouch and waved it back and forth toward the crowd below.
Cheers erupted from the ground. People clapped and celebrated, some even hugging one another in their excitement.