"Ah, Holy Mary! Why has such a terrible thing happened..."
The Sicilian princess covered her mouth in shock, wanting to look out the window but too afraid to even lift her head, huddling in the corner of her seat, incessantly crying, "His Highness the Crown Prince was attacked because he came to pick me up; it's all my fault... Wuu... It's all because of me..."
Next to her, Ambassador Timothy warily glanced outside, swiftly drew the curtains, and then handed a handkerchief to the princess, admonishing her in a somewhat agitated, low voice, "Your Highness, please stay calm, this has nothing to do with you."
Having a handkerchief to wipe away her tears made Maria cry even more fiercely, "What will I do if His Highness the Crown Prince has an accident?"
"No, that won't happen," Timothy said hurriedly, trying to reassure her, "Listening to those gunshots, they should've been fired from a long distance. Even if the Crown Prince was hit, it shouldn't be fatal."
"Really?" Maria recalled the physics she had studied, nodded slightly, her crying gradually turning into sobs, "May God protect the Crown Prince..."
But then another thought popped into her head—having just arrived in Paris, and the Crown Prince was attacked, could this leave a bad impression on him? Would Queen Mary blame her for this incident? Perhaps she would be sent back to Sicily immediately...
Thinking of this, she started sobbing again.
At that moment, centered around Joseph's carriage, a crowd of two to three hundred people had gathered. The shouts of people, the neighing of horses, coupled with the occasional gunfire, had turned the scene into utter chaos.
Since the imperial physicians hadn't come along—no one had anticipated the need for a doctor in receiving a "marriage prospect"—a military doctor from the French Royal Guard had been brought over by a cavalry officer.
That officer dismounted the doctor from his horse, pointed toward the Crown Prince's carriage, and urgently shouted, "That's the one, quickly!"
The military doctor hastened onto the carriage and asked Eman, "Where is the injury?"
"I don't know," the latter replied, looking completely panicked.
The military doctor prayed inwardly, hoping desperately not to have the Crown Prince die on his watch...
Outside the carriage, Besanval rode up as well, observing the chaotic scene around him. He wanted to turn the Crown Prince's carriage around to avoid danger but was also worried that it would delay his medical treatment, leaving him at a loss as to what to do.
Not far away, in a farmhouse, a French Royal Guard lieutenant was the first to rush to the attic, only to find two dead bodies lying on the floor.
He immediately ordered his men to search the area.
Soon, the soldiers reported back that no others were found.
The lieutenant confirmed it himself and then reported the situation to Adrien waiting outside. Afterward, Adrien sent the orderly officer to signal that the attackers had been killed.
With the rise of a uniquely rhythmic bugle sound, the troops of the French Royal Guard gradually ceased their aimless shooting and began to form ranks under the command of their officers.
Upon hearing that the assailant had been captured, Besanval hurriedly ordered the Crown Prince's and the princess's carriages to return to the Palace of Versailles immediately.
He personally led over two hundred cavalrymen, with a grave expression, escorting them all the way.
In the Palace of Versailles, Queen Mary, in full regalia, hummed a tune while admiring her new wig in the mirror, when Countess Debreninac burst in with a pallid face, rushing forward.
Queen Mary was about to ask why her lady-in-waiting was acting so rudely today when the latter urgently reported, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince's convoy was ambushed on the way! It's said... His Highness is injured!"
Queen Mary's eyes widened, she froze for a second, then suddenly swayed and fainted.
After a while, the Queen was eventually awakened by the offensive smell of smelling salts from the Imperial Physician's hand.
She pushed the physician's hand away forcefully and looked through her attendants for the Countess Debreninac, "Where's Joseph? How is he?"
The lady-in-waiting hastened to support her and spoke softly, "Your Majesty, the latest news that has come back is that the Prince is not in any life-threatening danger. The Royal Guard's military doctor has already treated his wounds. He should arrive at the Palace of Versailles in about two more hours."
"Are you sure? No life-threatening danger?" Queen Mary didn't care about the wig askew on her head, clutching the hand of her lady-in-waiting tightly, her eyes not blinking as she stared at her.
"Thank God! Amen!" The Queen made the sign of the cross over her chest, took a few deep breaths, and then struggled to her feet, supported by others, her steps unsteady as she walked toward the Versailles Palace Square. Meanwhile, she ordered loudly, "Quick, have Doctor Grusais go to Paris to treat the Crown Prince on the way..."
Next to her, Countess Debreninac said, "Your Majesty, the doctors left long ago."
Two hours later, a large troop of cavalrymen escorted the two carriages into the Palace of Versailles.
The nobility, who had been waiting there to welcome the Sicilian princess, were now all concerned about the condition of the Crown Prince. Many young ladies were so worried about the incident involving His Highness that they couldn't stop wiping their tears.
Queen Mary, her wig removed, shook off Countess Debreninac's helping hand and rushed towards the carriage. Louis XVI followed her closely, his expression somber.
The cavalry immediately cleared a path. Through the gaps among the soldiers, the Queen saw the bullet holes in the carriage door, causing her heart to tighten instantly.
As she opened the carriage door, she suddenly felt dizzy—inside, everything was in disarray, splinters were everywhere, along with traces of blood. Her son was leaning against the seat, covered in blood, especially his right arm. Although it had been crudely bandaged, the entire arm was almost soaked with blood.
Of course, she couldn't know that most of it was chicken blood.