Flowers, Swords and France

After discussing countermeasures with the minister, Charles went directly to the Elysee Palace to meet the current president. As usual, he was allowed to meet the president without waiting for a long time.

"Charles, I think I know why you came to see me." In the reception room, as soon as he saw Charles, Yi-Bonaparte spoke, then pointed to the seat next to him and motioned him to sit down. "Isn't the matter over there troublesome? How is it handled?"

"Thanks to you, it has basically been properly handled now, the local unrest has now subsided, and the project can be restarted soon." Charles replied respectfully.

"I hope to avoid this kind of thing in the future. The impact is really bad." Yi-Bonaparte's face was expressionless. "Now the newspapers are full of attacks on you. How do you feel? Do you feel bad?"

"Well, it does feel bad..." Charles sighed, "But since we are serving the country, we should never care too much about personal reputation. Since the goal has been set, no matter what kind of difficulties we encounter in the middle, we can only find ways to overcome and eliminate them. If we choose to escape, then won't all the hard work we put in before be completely wasted?"

"That's right, but, Charles... Many times, there are not so many reasons in the world." Yi-Bonaparte said coldly. "Faults are faults after all. We can't pretend that nothing happened."

Because he felt that the other party's tone was a little wrong, Charles raised his head in surprise.

"Although everyone can see that you have made a lot of achievements in the past year and a half, we have to admit that there are still many omissions in some aspects of the work of the Ministry of Railways... The attacks on you by the press are not completely groundless slander and abuse." Yi-Bonaparte's face still showed no joy or anger, "Charles, I think sometimes we need to make some changes to certain details."

"Change? What do you mean...?"

"Let's not talk about the accident for now. The new round of financing of the Ministry of Railways seems to be not going well, right? The continuous rounds of financing in a short period of time have reduced the outside world's recognition of you and increased your fundraising difficulties...Charles, Isn't this a fault? "Yi-Bonaparte looked at Charles, "If the fundraising is not ideal in the future, can we just pretend that nothing happened? Should I just watch this department squander the trust of the people?"

"Sir, you can see how heavy the responsibility is on us. We must obey your will and speed up the country's iron construction. These require money, so there is no way to raise funds multiple times in a short period of time." Charles hurriedly explained, "I told you before that I will do my best to contribute to the country's iron construction. I can't give up this goal, right?"

Yi-Bonaparte continued to stare at Charles, and then suddenly laughed.

"Hahahaha, Charles, why are you so nervous? I didn't deny your efforts and achievements? Although I mentioned these issues, I didn't mean to use you to quell the outside world's doubts. You have done a good job and you need to continue to do a good job in the future. If you really lack money, there is no way to continue to issue bonds, right? I understand you, Charles. "

After receiving such praise from the president, Charles' heart was slightly settled. However, he soon understood the implicit meaning of the other party's words.

"You mean, someone else should take this responsibility?" Charles glanced at him, "For example... For example, our Minister."

Yi-Bonaparte just shrugged and didn't answer.

That's right, after the previous generation of Count Dillion passed away, the value of this family to Yi-Bonaparte became more and more useful. As a qualified politician, it is not unimaginable for Yi-Bonaparte to cross the river and burn the bridge, abandon the Dillion family who has never been his accomplice, and give the position of Minister of Railways to someone else as a reward - this world has always been so realistic.

Haha, haha, it's just what I want, it saves me a lot of effort.

"But...but..." Since that was the case, Charles pretended to be reluctant, "The minister has always cooperated with us smoothly, and he is quite supportive of my work. If we replace him hastily, it might be a little...a little troublesome..."

"Don't you know him? He is not capable at all. He was only awarded such a position because of temporary political needs. The political situation has changed a lot now. We don't need to keep trying to please this family, right?" Yi-Bonaparte said coldly, looking like he had made up his mind, "Besides, we should always use something to evade public opinion. If he doesn't leave, are you willing to leave?"

"That's not what I meant..." Under the other party's sharp gaze, Charles couldn't help but lower his head, and his heart was filled with joy after passing a level. "You are the president and also our leader. I will follow your will, sir."

"That's good." Yi-Bonaparte nodded, "Do a good job in the future, Charles."

………………

"In short, Mr. President means that he is not satisfied with the current work of our Ministry of Railways, and he is facing huge pressure from public opinion, so he decided to reorganize our ministry in the near future. Well... Judging from his tone, it is a huge adjustment."

In the reception room of Count Dillion's mansion, Charles told the whole story of his conversation with Bonaparte in the Elysee Palace in the afternoon, but concealed the fact that Bonaparte did not want to touch him.

"It seems that his mind has been determined..."

There were two people sitting next to him, the count and Matilda, father and daughter.

"This ungrateful bastard! My father helped him to come to power, but he used this to repay us!" Count Dillion's face was already terribly pale, and he slapped his right hand on the table, "This bastard! What about taking care of public opinion and public opinion, who are you fooling? What's the point of a few deaths? He just thinks we are in the way and wants to kick us away! Bastard! I won't let him get what he wants!"

"Dad, calm down." Matilda next to him couldn't stand it anymore, and reached out to pull the corner of her father's clothes.

"Calm down? How can I calm down! Others are already trying to leave us alone, and you still want me to calm down!" The Count pulled Matilda's hand away, "How can I calm down in this situation?"

"Even if you are so angry, it won't help, right? Cursing won't solve the problem." Matilda looked at her father calmly, "Grandpa wouldn't be angry if he was here."

Seemingly shocked by his daughter's gaze, Count Dillion gradually recovered from his previous state of rage, but his chest was still heaving violently, and it was obvious that he was still very angry. "He wants to kick us out like this? Absolutely not! I will never listen to him obediently. I want him to resign on my own, no way!"

"Even if you don't resign, he can fire you. There is no point in such angry words. Dad, we have to find another way." Matilda smiled bitterly, then stretched out her hand to adjust her glasses, "Dad, it's not the end of the road yet, don't be so anxious."

"That's true, but... but he is the president." The count frowned, and then suddenly sighed, "Oh, if Dad was still alive! How dare he treat me like this at that time, but now, there are not even a few people who really want to help me!"

"Grandpa is dead, Dad, we have to face reality after all." Matilda replied in a low voice, and then she suddenly looked at Charles, "Mr. Treville, what about you? What are your plans for the future?"

"Me?" Charles was caught off guard by her sudden question, but he quickly reacted, "I don't know what to do. I don't know how the president plans to deal with us now. . Anyway, I'll do my current job well first, and then wait for the judgment of fate. "

He sighed dejectedly, "Ah... I really didn't expect that our hard work would end up with such a result! This is unfair."

"Yes, it's unfair. We worked so hard, but a few things will wipe out our merits! Does this make sense?" The count also echoed, "Charles, we absolutely cannot accept such a result."

"I will try my best to fight, sir, but sometimes fate likes to play tricks on people, and I can only... can only accept it reluctantly." Charles also sighed, "In short, no matter what the final result is, I will continue to respect and support you. Your contribution to the creation of our department is enough to be recorded in the history of the department, no, in the entire construction history of France. Such achievements cannot be erased by anyone."

Charles' tone was full of sadness and sincere sighs, as if he was really very unfair about this - when reading a eulogy to others, everyone would not be stingy with good words.

"Thank you...Charles." The Count seemed to be moved by Charles' sincerity, and then patted his shoulder. "You are the only friend of our family, and you have always been."

"Yes, always." Charles nodded heavily.

………………

When Charles walked out of the room and prepared to go home, Matilda's voice suddenly sounded from behind.

"Mr. Treville?"

"What's the matter, Matilda?" Charles asked curiously.

"Can I...can I talk to you?" The girl's eyes were a little evasive, as if she was a little uneasy. "It won't take up much of your time."

"Yes, of course, it's an honor." Charles replied quickly.

Then, the two of them strolled along the long path of the Count's Mansion together.

At this time, the moon was already high in the sky. Because there was no cloud covering it, the clear moonlight poured down to the ground without reservation, as if it covered the ground with a layer of silver mysterious light, which was both clear and hazy.

"Mr. Treville, this seems to be the second time you and I have walked here." After walking for a while, Matilda finally spoke, "It feels... it feels strange."

"Oh, it is indeed the second time." Charles also remembered that when he came here to visit with Yi-Bonaparte before, he was also called out by Matilda, and then they also walked here and talked about Marie.

"Haha, time flies so fast, two years have passed in a flash, and I don't feel it at all." Matilda smiled, "But if you think about it carefully, these two years are not completely meaningless. Various major events happened in the middle, my grandfather also passed away, and we also got to know each other..."

"Well, time is like this, fast and slow, making people at a loss." Charles nodded.

"Yeah...just like these moonlights, it makes people feel at a loss..." Matilda raised her head and looked at the sky.

Ciel didn't know why, but out of etiquette, he didn't bother him.

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

Suddenly, as if by accident, Matilda spoke.

"Mr. Treville, actually...actually you already know, right? My father will be kicked out by Mr. Bonaparte, but you will stay in office."

"Um!"

Although the voice of the question was soft, it made Ciel's heart tighten.

He quickly turned his head and stared at Matilda.

This girl wearing a white dress and glasses was made even whiter under the moonlight, as if she had been refined. Because he was still looking up at the sky, his already very slender neck and collarbone formed some wonderful arcs, and the shadows under the moonlight became deeper and deeper, as if they were intended to make people peek through.

"You...what do you mean?" Charles asked tentatively.

"It's nothing...it's just a guess." Matilda still looked up at the sky, "You are sincere. Generally speaking, people in your position and background will not meet the current situation. There are probably only two possible situations - either You are anxious like my father because you are worried about your status; or you are extremely indifferent because the matter is none of your business, but you are not anxious or indifferent, you seem to be completely worried about my father... You are sincere, so I do. In my opinion, it is definitely false.”

"It's sincere, so it's false?" Charles' heart moved.

"Yes, that's what I thought." Matilda showed a slightly apologetic smile and slowly moved her gaze down from the air. "Ah, I'm really sorry. I don't know how to describe it accurately... Anyway, this is how it feels."

The smile on Ciel's face froze.

Because it is sincere, it must be false.

Although this sentence seems contradictory, in the world where he and this girl live, this sentence is incredibly accurate.

Accurate enough to expose all the disguises of M. Charles de Treville.

"Mr. Treville, please tell me, am I wrong?" Matilda continued to ask.

She did not look at Ciel, but looked up at the sky. The moon was reflected in the brown eyes staring at the sky behind the lenses, which seemed to emit a pale golden light.

Do I really need to keep lying to her? Can it really be deceived?

Charles didn't answer.

"Oh, that seems to be true." Matilda gradually turned her gaze from the sky back to the flower bed next to her. "Judging from your reaction, it seems that you are sure that my father will step down from the position of minister." He resigned... Has Mr. Bonaparte already made this decision? , the weight must be heavier than that of people like me who are half-acquainted..."

Before Charles could say anything, Matilda continued, "So what do you think personally? I want to know what you really think. Are you dissatisfied but have no choice but to accept it, or is this something you expected, Or even the expected result?”

Although she was talking about things about the entire family, Matilda was neither excited nor angry or denounced towards Charles. She just asked calmly, as if she was just asking "What do you plan to eat tonight?" Same.

The focus of those eyes finally focused on Ciel.

"I don't particularly hope for such a result, but... there are many things in the world that people can't do anything about." After a long silence, Charles finally said slowly, "Matilda, I'm really sorry. "

"In other words, you have almost expected this result, right?" Matilda's eyes were very clear, as if she had understood everything, "That's right, now that grandpa has been lost, dad is so unreliable. , it has been seen for a long time that this result is normal. ”

"I'm sorry, Matilda." Charles still only gave this answer.

"It's okay, there's nothing to regret." Matilda smiled slightly. In this world where the moonlight cast a mysterious spell, this tiny smile was like a laurel flower in a flower bed. She was actually so serious for this person. The girl adds a bit of charm. "Besides, everything is not beyond imagination."

"Then what do you think?" Charles asked curiously.

"If you speak to the president and want to take responsibility for what has happened, then ask him to resign, and try to remove my father's responsibility, then... my father can continue to serve, right?"

Charles looked at Matilda carefully, and the expression on his face suddenly became very strange.

This question is so far removed from reality that there is no need to answer it.

"Can you do this?" Matilda looked at Charles inquiringly, "Actually, I have always admired you..."

The moon stood behind her, shining countless rays of light that were as lubricated and slender as silk from the sky, and finally fell on her body.

"Hahahahahaha..." Charles finally couldn't help laughing.

"No." r1152