Napoleon clutched his head in agony and muttered softly, "God! If I hadn't disobeyed military orders back then, I should have been the one going to Egypt.
"Just imagine it—amid that endless desert, with the Pyramids at your back, hammering those barbarians with cannon fire. What a stirring war! God, even if I could only go fight as an ordinary soldier..."
He was a soldier by nature. Only battle after battle could fill his life with purpose. Yet ever since coming to this little island, every minute and every second had tormented him, nearly driving him mad.
Desiree suddenly seized his hand. "Pony, do you only care about cannon? You haven't even kissed me."
"You see, I was too excited." Napoleon smiled, walked around the table, and wrapped an arm around her waist. "I miss you every day."
But Desiree turned her face away. After more than ten seconds of silence, she let out a heavy sigh. "Pony, actually, Father wants me to..."
Her voice caught. "To marry Baron Cruset."
Napoleon abruptly released her as though he had been scalded. "Why? Who is that man? Is Mr. Clary so eager to sweep me into the rubbish heap?"
Desiree grasped his hand as tears streamed endlessly down her face. "Father says this place is your grave... I—I've delayed for half a year, making every excuse I could. I really can't hold on any longer, Pony..."
"No... no..." Napoleon staggered backward.
He had once been infatuated with her beauty and her family background. He had believed she could never possibly leave him, but at that moment, it felt as though he had suffered a crushing blow.
"Humiliation... what humiliation! No, this is all my fault!" Napoleon slammed his fist onto the table. "If not for my stupidity back then, we should have