Flowers, Swords and France

After hearing the servant's announcement, Charles received two visiting ladies in the hall of the mansion - they came to visit Fran after hearing that she was sick and recuperating at home.

Although the two girls came together, their clothes and looks were different.

A woman with brown hair, black eyes, and very regular facial features was wearing a long white dress decorated with flowers, silk gloves on her hands, and a pair of crystal glasses with a thin gold frame on her head. When she met Charles, , she looked back at Ciel seriously. The look is gentle but also implies some strength, but it does not appear to be harsh.

The other one gave people a completely different impression. She was wearing a black skirt without any decoration. It looked a bit like mourning clothes. Her light yellow hair was spread over her shoulders, her eyes were wandering and unfocused, and her thin lips were tightly closed without saying a word. Her slender eyebrows were slightly drooped, looking very melancholy. There seemed to be unexplainable pain hidden between her eyebrows, and her eyes were very complicated. .

Charles knew this person - she was Miss Marie-de-Leolan, who had just been pulled out of the convent by Charles.

Therefore, Ciel was not surprised by the other party's current dejected appearance.

In order not to irritate the other party too much, Ciel just bowed slightly and saluted the two girls. "Welcome both ladies to my humble home."

"You are Fran's brother, right? Nice to meet you." The girl whom Charles did not recognize also bowed and bowed to Charles, "Matilda de Dillion?"

Miss Leolan did not speak, but bowed deeply to Charles.

"Diliion?" After hearing this surname, Ciel felt a little moved, and then glanced at the girl in surprise.

Miss Matilda de Dillion seemed to be used to people's eyes like this, and she took Charles' curious gaze in stride without being moved at all. "As I said before, we are here to visit Fran today. How is she doing now? Is she feeling better?"

Charles nodded secretly. With such a magnanimous attitude, she was truly worthy of being the precious granddaughter of the current Lord Chancellor of the Seal.

"Thank you both for your concern. I want to thank you on Fran's behalf." Charles replied with a smile, "Franc is much better now. She just drank some medicine and is probably still resting now."

"That's great." Matilda was very happy, with a rare smile on her face. "Then can we go see Fran?"

"Of course." Charles agreed immediately, and then took them to the second floor and walked from the corridor to Fran's bedroom door. Then there was a gentle knock on the door.

"Who? What's wrong?" Fran seemed to be resting, and her voice was weak when she replied.

"Flan, it's me." Ciel responded. "Two of your classmates are here to see you."

Then Ciel indicated with his eyes.

"Miss Treville, are you feeling better now?" Matilda greeted.

"Flan, I'm here to see you, are you okay?" Miss Marie-de-Leolan said her first words after coming here today.

"Mary? Are you coming to see me?" The voice in the room immediately became a little more passionate. After a while, the door opened, and Fran opened it happily. "Thank you so much!"

"Why are you saying so politely?" Matilda nodded gently to Fran. "What, you're just going to greet us outside?"

"Ah..." Fran blinked in embarrassment, "You guys come in quickly."

At the same time, she did not forget to give her brother a stern look that said, "You are not included in 'you'".

Charles smiled bitterly, then bowed to the three graceful girls at the door, and then left on his own. He walked to the small reception room on the side of the hall, took out his chessboard and chess records, and continued to study chess.

Chess is one of Ciel's new hobbies that he learned after time travel. Since becoming addicted to it, he will take it up and study it when he has more free time.

Just as he was following the chess game to the exciting point, and secretly applauding the wisdom of the two players, there was a sudden knock on the door of the reception room.

"Who is it? Is there anything you want to report?" Charles thought it was a servant who wanted to ask him for instructions on something.

"It's me."

A timid answer came from outside the door. "May I come inside?"

Um?

Ciel recognized who it was, and because of this he was slightly confused. However, he still replied: "Of course, Mademoiselle Leolan."

Mary walked in slowly, her steps hesitant and hesitant.

"Please sit down," Charles pointed to the seat opposite the chessboard and looked at her with a smile, "Miss Leolan, don't be so nervous. There are not many things in the world that make you nervous now."

After hearing what Charles said, Mary finally felt less nervous. She walked to the seat opposite Charles and sat down gently, but she still looked down at the chessboard. "I'm here to say thank you."

"Thank you? No need." Ciel was still smiling. "I just did what I could. If you really want to thank me, just thank me for three hundred thousand francs. It deserves much more than me."

Mary suddenly bowed her head, her face almost touching the flags on the chessboard, and her hair spread on the chessboard.

"No, without your Dingli help, I wouldn't be able to get out at all. I really... really... thank you very much."

"Hey, you really don't have to be so polite." Charles was a little embarrassed. "If you really have this gratitude, please be friends with Fran from now on."

"Yes, I will." Mary slowly raised her head, and there seemed to be tears in the corners of her eyes. "Being friends with Fran is the greatest luck in my life...I will definitely not let down this friendship."

Ciel sighed softly.

"You don't have to be so sad. You still have many years to live in this life, and there will be many happy things in the future."

Mary bowed her head and said nothing.

"Actually, you can really be more open-minded," Ciel continued to comfort him. "You are free and you have the property you deserve."

The girl opposite suddenly burst into tears, and her tears fell on the chessboard.

"But sir, I lost my family!"

Charles was silent.

"After I came back, I made a special trip to my house once." Mary said in a hollow tone. "I was thinking that if they really regretted it, I could forgive them. After all... we are all family after all..."

"Your family scolded you?" Charles asked cautiously.

"No, no. If there is blame, or simply ignore it, it means they are still a little guilty in their hearts and dare not face me. But...but...it's even more sad than this!" Mary raised her head and said with a tearful expression Looking at Charles, "They kept apologizing to me, saying that they were just confused for a moment, but now they have repented and asked me to forgive them... Even my brother kept telling me that he would treat me well in the future... "

"Yeah……"

"Sir, but I can see that underneath their smiling masks, there is regret hidden..." Mary's tears were still rolling down. "What they regret is that they actually gave me a chance to run out! I can see the unwillingness and resentment in that smile! They really, really never feel any guilt! Even if I spend my whole life in there It doesn’t matter to them!”

Ciel stopped talking and allowed the other party to vent his inner pain.

After crying for several minutes, soaking the entire chessboard, Mary spoke again.

"Because of this, I chose to move out of home and study on my own. But what is life? I don't know. Yes, I have money now. Although I have less than 300,000 yuan, I still have so much more. . But what should I do in the future? Sir, since you have such a solution, you should be able to answer my question, right?"

Ciel pondered for a moment.

"Miss, do you really want to ask?"

Mary was a little startled by Charles' solemn tone, and stayed for a moment before nodding heavily.

"Yes."

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

"Then let me give you some advice." Charles took out the handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Mary.

Mary took it and dabbed it at her eyes.

Charles used another handkerchief to slowly pick up the chess pieces that were wet with tears and wipe them.

Wipe the troops first.

"Miss, let's talk about your current situation in detail - you are very young now, have no debt burden, and enjoy a lot of money. We must admit that objectively, you are in a much better situation than most people. ”

"Maybe so." Mary raised the corners of her mouth slightly and smiled self-deprecatingly, "Although the price is terrifyingly high."

After the soldiers were wiped out, it was the rook's turn.

"However, you must also admit that although 1.4 million francs may seem like a lot, it is not money that can be spent in one go. It needs to be taken good care of. If you get into the bad habit of squandering, it will be very difficult for you. Soon you will find yourself penniless. I believe you also know how many people end up squandering money after getting rich."

"Yes."

It's time to wipe the horse.

"So, I think you should keep the price in mind and cherish this wealth. Especially considering your current situation and skills, you probably won't have many ways to make money for a while. So, I think you can spend it first Spend hundreds of thousands to buy some real estate and properties for your future Then use the remaining money - about one million - to buy national debt. Calculated this way, you will have an annuity income of about 40,000 francs per year. Of course, this money will not allow you to live a luxurious life. Life, but there is no problem living like a decent person..."

[At that time, the yields on French government bonds and other bonds fluctuated slightly with changes in the current situation, generally between 3-5%. What Charles said was a rough estimate. 】

Mary stared intently at the blond young man who was carefully wiping the chess pieces while calmly giving her analysis and suggestions. It was this young man who saved her and was seriously considering her future.

Now it's the phase's turn.

"Of course, people always have to have some hobbies in life. Either they will be filled with good hobbies, or they will be filled with bad habits. I suggest that you give yourself more hobbies that are fun and elegant without spending money. To pass the time - firstly, to be cruel, your current capital is not enough to support those luxurious hobbies; secondly, in my opinion, fancy clothes and jewelry may not make a girl much more beautiful. I think you can try it. Try learning dance or vocal music. Of course, the painting you are learning now is also very good..."

"is that so?"

"Well, that's how I see it." Ciel nodded without hesitation.

Finally it's the queen's turn.

"These interests that are not particularly expensive but are somewhat elegant can make you more stylish, and the 1.4 million yuan principal as a dowry can make you shine. How many outstanding young men will be unable to sleep at night for you! You can slowly choose and find a smart, promising and loyal one among them, and then you can live happily with him. You see, as long as you are willing to listen to my advice, I believe your future will be extremely bright..."

Charles put the wiped queen on the chessboard.

Marie still looked at Charles.

"Besides, you are wise, you know how to make choices and know how to make decisions. As long as you are willing to listen to my advice and live this kind of restrained - not stingy - life, happiness will never leave you." Charles added at last.

"You still haven't forgotten to ridicule me because of my request for help." Marie sighed.

Charles looked at Marie sincerely after wiping the chess pieces. "I really said so much for you, of course, whether you listen or not is your business."

Marie was silent, and after a moment she nodded.

"I know, I will follow your advice."

"I am really pleased with your wisdom."

"And I will continue to associate with Fran, I will visit her often and talk with her... You won't object, will you?" Mary looked at Charles expectantly.

"Of course, you and her are good friends." Charles gently spread his hands.

A sly look suddenly flashed in Mary's eyes.

"As for your suggestion to find a more elegant hobby for yourself, I also think it makes a lot of sense..."

Charles nodded.

"So, of course you won't refuse to teach me chess?" Mary suddenly laughed and stared at Charles closely, and the melancholy that almost overwhelmed her just now was almost swept away.

Charles' face froze.

Ouch, he actually gave himself a checkmate!

But...it's nothing.

"Okay, it's my honor." He smiled lightly in response.