Flowers, Swords and France

"Congratulations, Ciel."

In the hall of the Elysee Palace, the current president of the French Republic smiled and patted Charles on the shoulder.

Then, people nearby also applauded, and the atmosphere was very warm.

Amidst the applause, Ciel smiled sheepishly.

"Mr. President, I am just trying my best to serve the country. You give me such an honor...it really makes me feel ashamed."

"It's already this time, why do you need to be modest?" Louis Bonaparte laughed.

When the atmosphere reached its peak, his right hand reached out to the tray in the hand of the attendant next to him, and then picked up the medal from it.

"In recognition of your merits, Charles, on behalf of the country, I award this medal to you." He turned back to look at Charles, and seemed to say sincerely, "Next, please continue to work hard and serve the country."

After deciding to transfer Charles, on the one hand, perhaps out of guilt for Charles, and on the other hand, after the strong recommendation of Minister Count Dillion, the president quickly agreed to name the most recent honoree. {小} Added Charles's name to the list and awarded Charles a fourth-level Medal of Honor in recognition of his so-called national contribution during his work at the Ministry of Railways. By the way, he told the outside world, His young partisan had not lost favor with the president.

"I will," Ciel answered, looking directly at the other man with a firm look that would not let him doubt his enthusiasm.

"Very good." Louis Bonaparte nodded, and then personally placed the fourth-level Medal of Honor on Charles's chest.

After it's over. He clapped, and the people next to him also clapped in response. For a while, the applause poured into Ciel's ears like a tide. It made him feel a little dizzy in a trance.

The small gold medal shone quietly on his chest. Although it was very light, it made his chest feel tight, as if there was a silent pressure.

He knew this was a psychological effect because it was the first medal he had ever received, so he felt a little nervous and excited.

This was the highest point of honor he had reached in his life so far, but he knew he could not stop there. There are higher peaks waiting for him to climb, and more things waiting for him to capture...

But deep down in his heart. But it seems that there is a voice that keeps questioning myself.

Why on earth did I get the Medal of Honor? Is it because of the crimes I committed?

Yes, I cheated, I betrayed, I stole money. I killed someone. I do all kinds of evil, so in order to reward me, the country gave me the Medal of Honor and encouraged me to praise everything I did.

Because my evil deeds were not obvious enough, they only awarded me the fourth-level Medal of Honor. In the future, my evil deeds will become more and more serious, and I will kill more people. At that time, my honor will be higher and higher, and my medal will be more and more advanced...

This is really a topsy-turvy world! Ciel couldn't help but laugh at himself in his heart.

but. Isn’t this what the world has been like since ancient times? There's nothing surprising about it.

He quickly put an end to this inappropriate thought in his mind and peacefully enjoyed the moment that belonged to him.

"Thank you, Mr. President." Charles bowed again to express his thanks, his posture natural and unrestrained. "I will continue to fight for our dream career until my last breath."

"Well, yes, it's really good." After everyone finished applauding, Louis Bonaparte looked at his young confidant again, "The youthful spirit is really enviable!"

After being awarded the medal in person by the president, Charles, who was wearing a formal dress, a medal and a red ribbon, followed the president. In addition to the original vigor of a young man and his usual humble smile, he added an unspeakable momentum. It is the kind of calm and bossy demeanor that is unique to national dignitaries, the kind of politician's demeanor.

"My friend, I have told you before that this man has great potential!" Count Diliion, who was watching this scene not far away, smiled and said to others, as if he was afraid that others would not know that this young man was closely related to him.

………………

After conferring honors on Charles and others, a banquet was held at the Presidential Palace. Before the banquet, Charles was left by the president's side.

"Charles, how is the recent work handover going?" The president asked Charles in a low voice as he walked through the long corridor of the Elysee Palace. "If you need more time, I can give you more time." Some grace.”

"Judging from the current situation, everything is going relatively smoothly. It seems that even if I am transferred, the work of the ministry can still run normally according to the previous plan. Therefore, I do not need more grace time..." Charles He replied respectfully, "In fact, I'm already eager to try it."

"Oh? Very good." The president nodded approvingly, "I have always been very satisfied with your work, and I think there will be no exception this time. So, it would be fun to have some fun during this time? "

"Huh...?" Charles was stunned for a moment.

"Everyone has spread the word that you will hold a ball at the Duke of Treville's house with the princess of that family and announce your marriage to her. Is this true? I wish you a good time at the ball. Have fun, Charles."

"Oh, this... it's indeed true. However, I guess I'm not the kind of person who likes to have fun in the social world... so work makes me happier." Although the president already knew about this He felt a little surprised, but Charles immediately answered the other party, "Also, I'm sorry that I didn't invite you due to various considerations. If you can come here, I think it will be a rare honor for Charlotte and me..."

"Oh, there's no need for that. Haven't you already considered it before? The people invited this time are all young people. I'm already an old man. Why go there to have fun? It's not good to affect your interest..." Louis-Bo Nabal replied with a smile. "That princess is indeed pretty. I heard she can bring a large dowry? Charles. Sometimes I really think you are quite enviable."

"What are you talking about..." Under the future emperor's teasing, Ciel could only smile and was so embarrassed that he didn't know what to say.

"However. Although I can't go, you should at least invite Joseph. After all, he is also a young man, and he is also a party member. It is rare for you to hold a banquet. It would not be good not to invite him."

The president's sudden words stunned Charles.

What does he mean? What are you implying to me?

Because of these recent events. Charles indeed did not send an invitation to Joseph Bonaparte. He did not want to leave an impression of hesitation and hesitation on others. At least for now, there was no need to deviate from his new alliance.

However at this time. Instead, Louis Bonaparte said this. What did it mean?

"Char, we are members of the same party and should be united sincerely, right?" Seeing that Charles had not answered. Louis Bonaparte continued, "I know you have had some conflicts before, but these conflicts should not be taken to heart. After all, aren't we all serving the country? We can't lose harmony because of such trivial matters. …”

Ciel frowned slightly, but soon relaxed again.

Although I don’t know why Louis Bonaparte said this, it would be too unwise to refuse the leader’s request at this time.

"Actually... I have always wanted to reconcile with Joseph, but I was worried that he still had problems with me. If I go to him now, it would be self-defeating, so I didn't invite him."

"If that's the case, that would be great." Louis Bonaparte smiled rather strangely, "Charles, then you might as well reconcile here. Anyway, we will have dinner together later."

"Okay." Charles replied immediately.

Soon, this group of people came to sit down in the restaurant of the Elysée Palace, and then Charles discovered that Louis Bonaparte was really talking and acting, and had actually arranged for Charles and Joseph Bonaparte to sit separately. To either side of him.

From the first moment Joseph Bonaparte saw himself, Charles knew that the resentment towards him in this man's heart had not been eliminated at all. However, just a moment later, the light in his eyes disappeared, and he just smiled and nodded his congratulations to Ciel, as if nothing happened.

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

There was no sincerity in this smile, but that didn't matter to Ciel. In the world he lived in, sincerity was a scarce commodity. He also gave the other party a warm smile in return.

Louis Bonaparte, who had been sitting in the main seat, had been greeting the people next to him. It seemed that he had not seen the interaction between the two of them. It was not until the banquet was about to begin that he turned his eyes and looked at the two young people. Party member.

"Joseph, Charles, I specially arranged for the two of you to come here today. I don't need to tell you about my intentions... Yes, I hope that you two young people with great future will not let this trivial matter happen. And fighting spirit, we must continue to unite, so that we can achieve our wishes in the future, understand? "

Before the two people could answer, Louis Bonaparte looked directly at his cousin, "Especially you, Joseph, you are my cousin, can I still treat you badly? What does it mean if I don't become a minister now? ? I will find a seat for you in the future, don’t hold grudges against Charles, he also made this judgment for the sake of the country..."

After hearing Louis Bonaparte's words, Joseph Bonaparte's smile froze slightly, and then quickly returned to normal.

"Well, actually you are right. I have thought so for a long time. What does this little thing mean? I have not taken it to heart for a long time." He nodded with a smile, then turned to look at Charles, " Charles, you really didn’t say anything to me beforehand, and you didn’t come to say hello to me afterwards. Don’t you think it was a bit unreasonable for you to do this? We are friends!”

There was still no trace of sincerity in his smile.

But this is easy to understand, because what Louis Bonaparte just said was not at all trying to persuade him to fight. On the one hand, he was hinting to Charles that Joseph held a grudge against him, and on the other hand, he was hinting to Joseph that Charles felt that he was embarrassing him. Although both of these things were true, how could speaking of these facts be said to be trying to persuade him to fight?

On the contrary, it was more like provocation, Ciel thought coldly in his heart.

Then the situation is obvious. Louis Bonaparte does not really want Charles and Joseph Bonaparte to reconcile. Instead, he hopes that their struggle will continue, as long as no major incident occurs that affects his plans.

Why did he do this?

A thought quickly flashed through Ciel's mind.

Morny.

It must be because of Morny. Louis Bonaparte knew that Charles planned to conspire with Morny, so he deliberately created a gap between Charles and Morny.

Well, as the leader of a political group, he certainly wants to see his men fighting with each other. Even if it was his cousin and his younger brother, he still wanted them to fight.

After seeing Louis Bonaparte's thoughts, Charles calmed down a lot. In any case, since Louis Bonaparte is here, it means that he does not mean to neglect himself, but just wants to prevent himself from getting too close to either of the two factions in the family, so as not to affect the balance among his subordinates. That’s all.

"Joseph, it's great that you can be so reasonable!" After thinking about this, Charles looked at Joseph Bonaparte with a happy face, "I was always worried that you wouldn't understand me, so I didn't dare to come to you. , for fear of making you unhappy again..."

"In that case, you two shake hands and put all the previous unhappiness behind your head." Louis Bonaparte suddenly suggested.

Charles and Joseph Bonaparte stood up almost at the same time, stretched out their hands, and then shook each other's hands vigorously. Louis Bonaparte nodded with satisfaction.

"Joseph, I'm going to hold a dance soon. Are you interested in coming? It's going to be at my cousin Charlotte's house." After sitting down, Charles immediately extended an invitation.

"Oh, that's what I asked for!" Joseph Bonaparte immediately agreed, "I heard that you invited a lot of people, and the occasion will be grand."

Then, under the gaze of Louis Bonaparte, the two people continued to chat warmly, as if they had really forgotten their previous rift.

However, although he was talking to Joseph Bonaparte, Charles was constantly thinking about it.

Do I really want to follow Louis Bonaparte's footsteps?

If they rebel again like this, it will be difficult to find allies in the future.

No, that won't work.

Taking advantage of the break in picking up the wine glass, he turned his attention to Morny, who was sitting far away, and found that he was talking calmly and calmly to the people next to him, as if he didn't even notice that his nemesis and new friend were enjoying the wine. of.

He nodded slightly towards the other party and drank the wine. (To be continued...)