บท 163: Chapter 241 The French Doomsday (11)
"During this time, you can go to the drama school for further training. Honestly, your acting skills are not that great. If it weren't for your beauty, you'd definitely be box office poison."
"Your Highness, you're being quite harsh." Hedy showed a look of grievance that would likely captivate most men, making them eager to shower her with affection!
"If it were someone else, I wouldn't even bother saying it." Wilhelm snorted lightly. "How long can a woman's beauty last? What will you do when you age or when the audience tires of you?"
At the age of 44, she officially bid farewell to the film industry, and her life became cold, quiet, and lonely after retiring from the screen. In her later years, she even ended up in prison for theft. According to psychologists, she likely committed the act because she yearned for attention.
"Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness.", Hedy nodded slightly in gratitude and couldn't wait to ask, "Could Your Highness reveal what role I'll be playing?"
Wilhelm placed the empty glass back on the waiter's tray. "Cleopatra VII."
Hedy, being a straight-A student in school, was familiar with Cleopatra VII, the famous Queen of Egypt.
"Cleopatra VII, the renowned Egyptian queen."
Cleopatra was one of the monarchs crowned by the Ptolemaic dynasty after Alexander the Great conquered Egypt. Her father, Ptolemy XII Auletes, designated his eldest son, Ptolemy XIII, and her as co-rulers (in ancient Egyptian dynasties, marriages between close relatives were common for maintaining pure bloodlines; according to the law, Cleopatra had to marry her half-brother, Ptolemy XIII). They ruled over Egypt.
However, Cleopatra's husband and brother, Ptolemy XIII, couldn't tolerate her and sought to expel his queen and sister. Cleopatra was preparing for a military counterattack.
At this time, Julius Caesar pursued Pompey and invaded Egypt. Ptolemy XIII had Pompey killed and presented his head to Julius Caesar, hoping to win his favor and use him against Cleopatra.
However, this action did not gain Caesar's favor.
Cleopatra, in turn, wanted to use Caesar to help her secure the throne. She ordered her subordinates to disguise themselves as merchants, with her wrapped in a large blanket. When the merchant sought an audience with Julius Caesar, she emerged from the blanket, coming face to face with Caesar.
After seeing Julius Caesar for the first time, Cleopatra asked him to help her seize the throne (asking for military assistance immediately after the first meeting indicates how confident Cleopatra was in her own beauty!).
At that time, Cleopatra was in her prime, exceptionally beautiful, and Julius Caesar was completely captivated. He ordered Ptolemy XIII to execute his father's will, allowing the siblings/couple to rule jointly.
Later, Pothinus led a rebellion, which failed, and Ptolemy XIII was killed while trying to escape.
Caesar conquered Egypt but did not annex it to the Roman territory.
Because Caesar fell in love with Cleopatra. They stayed in Egypt, leading an unashamed life, even having a son, nicknamed Caesarion.
Cleopatra VII and her other brother, Ptolemy XIV, were invited to Rome and honored, living in a private residence across the Tiber from Caesar. Just as she was about to become the First Lady of the Roman world, Julius Caesar was assassinated.
Cleopatra had no choice but to sneak back to Egypt.
Shortly afterward, she captivated Mark Antony, a prominent figure who rose to power in Rome after Caesar's death.
How did she enchant such a prominent figure as Mark Antony?
Cleopatra dressed up as the goddess Venus, lying on a bed surrounded by gossamer veils. Beautiful boys stood by her side like cupids, each fanning gently with scented fans. Servants dressed as sea nymphs held silver oars and rhythmically paddled in the sound of drums.
Mark Antony was invited aboard the ship for a banquet, and when he saw Cleopatra's enchanting figure and graceful demeanor, he was mesmerized and at a loss.
Mark Antony followed Cleopatra to Egypt and enjoyed a blissful decade together.
Soon after, Octavian made a brilliant entrance.
In the Battle of Actium against Octavian, Mark Antony was defeated and committed suicide. Cleopatra, too, was captured by Octavian. Despite being a prisoner, Cleopatra continued to use her charm to seduce Octavian, but he remained unmoved.
The reasons for Octavian's resistance to Cleopatra's allure are varied.
Firstly, Octavian already had a deep love for someone else.
This is quite an interesting story.
Octavian's true love was not an esteemed young girl. She was a woman who had been married and bore children, currently pregnant with another man's child. This woman's name was Livia, formerly the wife of the nobleman Claudius Nero, and she had two sons.
For the sake of Livia, Octavian had risked great adversity, divorcing his first wife to quickly marry the pregnant Livia.
Their wedding was financed by Livia's ex-husband, Claudius Nero. For Nero, it was a tremendous stroke of luck – his wife, carrying his child, married the ruler of Rome!
To make it even more idealistic, their future offspring would inherit the entire Roman Empire.
Nero's beautiful dreams eventually came true. The empire Octavian labored to establish eventually fell into the hands of Nero's sons.
Later on, Octavian's descendants also fell into miserable circumstances due to the actions of Nero's sons. In a way, what Livia's sons did in Rome later had a bit of an usurpation flavor.
Secondly, Cleopatra was no longer young.
When Cleopatra emerged from the blanket to meet Caesar, she was in the prime of her youth, possessing both ultimate beauty and the charm of a young girl. It was these factors combined that captivated Caesar.
However, when Octavian captured Cleopatra, she had spent twelve years with Mark Antony and was over forty years old, no longer possessing the beauty of her youth. At best, she could be considered an aging beauty with lingering charm. Clearly, this was not what Octavian preferred.
Thirdly, Cleopatra was Caesar's wife, and Octavian was Caesar's adopted son. Though this relationship seemed provocative, Cleopatra had a son with Caesar, named Caesarion. He was Caesar's biological son and, logically, had a stronger claim to inheritance than Octavian, the adopted son. Therefore, Caesarion was a potential threat to Octavian, and Cleopatra, being Caesarion's mother, would likely support him. Octavian couldn't afford to be seduced by her. It was simply impossible.
Seeing that Octavian wasn't swayed by her beauty, Cleopatra knew that her death was imminent.
According to legend, even though she was closely watched, Cleopatra managed to obtain a basket of figs from a farmer. Hidden within was a small poisonous snake named "Asp". She let the snake bite her arm, leading to unconsciousness and death. Octavian fulfilled her last request by burying her with Mark Antony. Octavian ordered the execution of Caesarion, Cleopatra and Antony's son, as well as the firstborn son of Cleopatra and Antony, Alexander.
With the death of Cleopatra VII, the Ptolemaic Dynasty of Egypt, which had lasted for 300 years, came to an end, and Egypt became part of the Roman Empire.
"This role is not bad, right? You two have quite a few similarities." Both are stunningly beautiful, captivating figures; they have had many prominent figures bowing to them, though not as exaggerated as Caesar and Antony. Still, they have had their fair share of famous personalities, such as Charlie Chaplin, Orson Welles, and Billy Wilder, appearing on Hedy's rumored relationships list. In her later years, Hedy immersed herself in plastic surgeries, but due to the immature technology of the time, she not only failed to regain her youth but also damaged her originally beautiful appearance. After that, Hedy's life took a downward turn, and she even became addicted to drugs, ultimately dying alone at home.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Although Hedy didn't quite understand the last part of Wilhelm's words, she was still very happy.
Wilhelm nodded, indicating that the conversation had concluded. However, he saw a hesitant expression on Hedy's face. "If you have something to say, go ahead."
Hedy hesitated before speaking, "I have a friend who would like me to introduce you to her."
Wilhelm raised an eyebrow slightly, although somewhat disdainful, he was curious to know who this person might be. "Alright, is she also here?"
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