Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Chapter 229 Meet Sylvia Again
The journey was very fast. When they arrived in Lyon, after staying at Madame Recamier's house for two days, Prince Dolgorukov and his family continued to head south to Saint-Tropez. The reason they came here was that it was more suitable for recuperation than Marseille and Toulon. Even the military function had been abandoned, and it was just a quiet town.

Although the prince himself was expelled from the country by Paul, he also retired as a senior civil servant. Therefore, his travel treatment was very high in terms of both title and official rank.

In order to recuperate, he also came to the south of France, where the environment is very good. Although the climate on the Mediterranean coast in winter is weird and it rains frequently, it is still much better than the climate in the north.

Once Russians leave their hometown, they are reluctant to go back unless there are special circumstances, after all, it is very cold there.

As for Louisa, she also wanted to go to a place with a warm climate, which would be good for her fragile body. St. Petersburg was really no better than her hometown in Karlsruhe.

Even the glorious ceremony did not belong to her. The ceremony of the couple's travel was very shabby compared with that of the empress dowager.

But St. Petersburg is better than London after all. Although the environment in London seems good, look at the air quality and the water quality of the Thames. The chemical elements and various organic matter found in it should be no inferior to the Ganges, and even worse than the Seine River, which is already bad enough.

Therefore, when Russians come to Western Europe, they still prefer France and Italy. If an Italian can have a wonderful experience in Russia, a Russian can do the same in Italy.

However, the prerequisite is to reach Italy.

After Solovyov came to Saint-Tropez, he also felt that the climate here was very good, and even in winter it was not that cold.

Near Montargis, there is a castle that is said to belong to Count Godefroy. The environment there is very nice, but I only know about it from Madame Le Brun's oral account.

Moreover, the price of that castle is not high. If there is a chance in the future, maybe I can buy it.

At least Prince Dolgorukov was very interested in the place and ignored his current debts due to poor management of the estate. Solovyov's father was still trying to help him get out of his current debts.

Solovyov also found his current spending a bit shocking.

"Vassily Vasilyevich, I think you should control your spending. My father in Petersburg and Moscow is helping you improve your financial situation. You should at least save some of your spending."

"Misha, you don't have to worry too much. I think in this peaceful environment, things will be turned around soon. Your father is a famous manager in Moscow, and so are your uncles. Besides, I don't want to mistreat my wife and daughter."

Yes, the princess's wife is only in her early thirties, and the division of the family property by princes like them who inherited the throne through military merit is still very particular about the pomp and circumstance.

Although Miss Catherine dressed simply, was sensible and frugal, she still had to return to St. Petersburg. Given the status of the Dolgorukov-Krimsky family, she couldn't live in a worse place. Even she herself had to adapt to this kind of life.

And this "little swan" is now sitting on the beach, watching the sea water surge up and cover her feet.

"The sea is very cold, Katya."

"Brother Mishka, but it's very comfortable."

"But you have to take care of your health. Although we have come to the south of France and the environment here is much better than Paris, you still have to be careful of catching a cold. If you get sick, it's no joke. There was an outbreak of typhus here two years ago."

Scare the girl and she stood up and put on her shoes. But I have to say that her long and slender legs are really beautiful. She walks on tiptoes and holds her neck straight. She looks beautiful, like an artistic gymnast in modern sports.

"Brother Mishka, I'll listen to you. I also want to take a hot bath and let Adela join me. I like her."

"Because of what?"

"She's so cute, just as cute as me, that's the reason."

"Ah, girls like pretty girls too. My sister Yulia is not here. If that naughty boy knew, she would be jealous."

"Yulia should also like Adela. Brother Mishka, you care for her just like you care for Yulia. Although she is a servant, you always take care of her. I can feel it. In a family like ours, you treat servants better than my father and mother do. This is really different."

"So, is this okay?"

"I think you're right. Our servants should also have corresponding rights, not just serve us. If we don't treat them well, who knows what will happen."

"Good girl, everyone says you are smart, and that's pretty close to what I thought."

However, most of the nobles did not think so. Although there were always enlightened nobles who were lenient with their servants and serfs and even gave them freedom, in most parts of Russia, there were still many voices of opposition.

There will always be a ripe time, but he can't think too much about it.

In the evening, Prince Dolgorukov and his family were invited to dine at the home of the sheriff in Saint-Tropez.

There aren't any high-ranking officials here, so the sheriff is going to be treated warmly, but I don't know if there's a deputy sheriff and a few stupid policemen or something like that.

After all, there is also the "French National Gendarmerie", which was established in 1791. It would not be surprising if there was a gendarme from Saint-Tropez, or he also has a daughter, both coming from the Alps.

If it really appeared, it would be an intrusion.

Fortunately, there wasn't any, but at the Sheriff's house, Solovyov unexpectedly met Miss Silvia Visconti, with whom he used to have a very close relationship.

The two spent several pleasant evenings together in Milan, and she held in her arms a girl whose eyes looked very much like Solovyov's.

"Michele, I didn't expect to meet you here."

"Sylvia, what a coincidence, we haven't seen each other for more than three years."

"Want to go out and talk?"

"Of course!"

Everyone understands that these two are probably old friends, or even old lovers.

And Sylvia kept bringing the little girl with her. With Solovyov's brain, it was not difficult for him to guess who she might be. The child looked less than three years old, with very bright eyes, and everyone who saw her would say they liked her.

"Sylvia, are you married?"

"I am not married, but I am in Prince Borghese's house, where I am housekeeper."

"It must be very hard, right?"

"Yes, my father knows that I have this child. But it doesn't matter. After all, I am his only child and heir. He is just angry that you and I had a child out of play. It will be difficult for me to get married."

"I can marry you, Sylvia." Solovyov was sincere to every girl he was close to.

"Don't be silly. I know you have a bright future and you are quite famous in Paris recently. Although my family background is better than yours, it is impossible. You have to consider your own future. Besides, you will definitely like the name I gave to this child."

Obviously, Sylvia still considered a lot about her lover, and she got pregnant before marriage, and she only wanted her own happiness at the time, and her reputation was gone.

Solovyov felt that he should be responsible, and both of them were very twisted.

"What did you name your child?"

"Octavia."

"So, you are Octavia, and I am the dad you never met."

But this child is not like Louisa's child. Even though he has some basic cognition, he still hides behind his mother.

"It's inevitable that children are a little shy."

"It doesn't matter. We can talk after we put the child to sleep at night."

However, when Solovyov got closer, the clumsy little father, because of his handsome appearance, would relax the child's guard and no longer be afraid of him.

"Ask daddy to hug you, Octavia, good girl."

This soft little guy is now in Solovyov's arms. He has been a nanny for so long in the palace and at home, and it has not been in vain. He is very familiar with taking care of children.

However, Octavia may not have the concept of father in her mind. She has been with her mother since she was born, and her understanding of the outside world is not that sufficient.

"You hold babies really well, Michele."

"I told you what I did at home. I always took care of my younger brothers and sisters who were very young. I also worked in the palace and often coaxed the older and younger children."

Sylvia heard it and did understand it.

"I think I was just thinking about my own happiness and closed the door."

"My problem too, but are you really working as a housekeeper for Prince Borghese?"

"Yes."

"Which Roman prince?"

"It used to be Prince Marcantonio, and now it's his son, Prince Camillo. We're also going to Paris in a few days."

"To Paris?"

"Yes. But in order to ensure his own safety, Prince Camillo only traveled with his brother Giuseppe. I am going back to Rome to make some preparations there."

Prince Borghese should be the future husband of Napoleon's favorite second sister Paulina. However, the news of General Leclerc's death had not yet reached mainland France, and his coffin was still on the way.

Solovyov did not believe in the "direction of history" so much. After all, he personally changed the direction of history in parts of Russia and France, no matter in which aspect.

Therefore, he was not sure whether the lustful, romantic and frivolous Prince Camillo and the lustful, dissolute and playful Paulina could get together, because his old lover was one of Prince Camillo's housekeepers.

But Sylvia obviously wanted his company. If the two of them were together, there would be a little light bulb, their daughter.

Especially with such a name, both of Octavian's sisters were named this name. We are more familiar with Octavia the Younger. The blood of Augustus's heirs were closely related to her. Moreover, in the chaotic place of Rome, although she married twice, her morals as a noble lady were impeccable, and she was always respected and loved by her younger brother.

As for Roman orthopedics, it probably had not yet developed to that level.

"I'm going to put the baby to sleep first, then I'll come out to find you."

"Let's put the baby to sleep together. Octavia is my daughter. I love her just by looking at her."

But it was really difficult for Solovyov to sing in Italian.

After the child fell asleep, the two of them walked aimlessly on the streets of the town.

"I never thought that we would meet here, and that you would go to Italy."

"Yes, to Italy. Prince Dolgorukov and his family are going to Naples. During their stay they will visit some places in Italy and Switzerland. But I think the only place worth visiting in Switzerland is Geneva."

"Come with me to Rome. I have my own apartment there. We can stay like we did in Milan, but this time we can stay longer. I can see that you are injured and need to rest."

"I was only stabbed with a dagger, it's nothing. Sylvia, I just can't help thinking that you should stay with me, as your husband, okay?"

In fact, Solovyov had a very strong desire to start a family, especially since his experience with Sylvia was very good.

"I know you love me. Although our correspondence is sometimes interrupted for various reasons, you always reply. I have kept all the letters from Sweden and Dresden. However, you should think that you have a better future and should not limit yourself to me."

“But this is my problem.”

"No, I found you first, and took advantage of your honesty. Maybe I could be your lover and make you happy, but as your wife."

At this point, Sylvia began to cry. Women's tears are very lethal, especially the tears of this black-haired young girl, which flowed down her beautiful face.

"And Count Litta, he has arrived in Petersburg. Don't forget that he is a member of our Visconti family."

By the way, that was the stepfather of the "little goblin", and it was also mentioned in their correspondence. The count was more or less an acquaintance of Silvia's father in Milan.

As for the deeper reasons, Sylvia was unwilling to say, and she would definitely reject Solovyov's proposal, even though he was now a wealthy heir, owned several villages as a small lord, and had a bright future.

"I love you, Michele, but it's better to be your lover. You still need a wife who can help you in your future, not a frivolous lady from Italy like me."

(End of this chapter)