Flowers, Swords and France

"Good evening, Miss Treville."

Hearing this greeting, the two girls who were originally sitting on the sofa and talking in a low voice immediately turned their eyes.

When they found that the person who greeted them was Matilda, they showed surprise and joy on their faces at the same time, and then hurriedly asked her to sit down with them.

Matilda also walked over and sat down with a smile on her face, and her worries just now were well hidden in her heart.

"Fran, Mary, how are you two doing recently?". With the most friendly expression she could make, Matilda smiled and asked her two old classmates.

"I'm fine." Before Mary could speak, Fran immediately gave an answer.

Her smile was very friendly, and it had a hint of girlish innocence, as if she really didn't know the world. If she hadn't seen her angry look from a distance just now, Matilda would probably be confused by this smile.

"Well... it's not bad." [无码].s. Mary's answer was a little reserved, and she looked at Matilda with some hesitation, as if she wanted to say something but stopped, and then glanced at Fran anxiously .

Seeing the two people's reactions, Matilda felt that she understood something in her heart, and she couldn't help but worry more. Obviously, Mary also saw Fran's anger at the moment, so she had been talking to her just now, trying to reduce her anger - but from the effect, it should be very unsatisfactory, so she is now more uneasy.

So, why is it?

Matilda blinked at Mary. But Mary still looked like she wanted to say something but stopped, and didn't say anything more. So she had to look at Fran again, her eyes full of confusion.

"You don't seem very happy today?" Because she really cares about the other party. So Matilda also abandoned those boring lies and asked Fran directly. "What happened?".

"How could that be?" Fran's eyes widened slightly, but she immediately covered it up with a smile. "I just feel a little uncomfortable."

"Really?" Matilda did not accept the other party's words, but she didn't know what to say.

In the end, she could only look at the other party sincerely.

"Well, maybe I think too much..." She shook her head a little dejectedly, but still grabbed Fran's hand. "But if there is really something unhappy, you must tell me, we are friends. I will definitely help you, do my best, no matter how troublesome it is, as long as we work together to find a way, we should be able to do it-didn't you tell me that at the beginning? Did you hear it, Fran?" Under Matilda's sincere gaze. Fran couldn't help but be moved. She lowered her eyes slightly, as if she didn't dare to look at the other party again.

"No one in this world can have everything go smoothly, right? Not many words" After a moment, she answered in a low voice.

"But as long as you have brains and determination, there is nothing you can't do in this world." Matilda still looked at Fran firmly, "You have such a capable brother. And you have friends like us, what do you have to be afraid of?"

Unexpectedly, when she said the second half of the sentence, Fran's face seemed to become even paler, and she lowered her head as if she didn't want to talk anymore.

Did I say anything wrong? Matilda was a little surprised.

"Oh, what's wrong with you two? It's like a drama..." Mary next to her saw that the atmosphere suddenly became solemn, and quickly joked, "Obviously everyone is here to have fun, what's there to be sad about?"

Then, she picked up the wine glass on the table. "Why don't we drink first? Not many words"...

Under her buffer, Matilda also came back to her senses, secretly regretting her impoliteness just now. In order to turn around the impulse just now, she let go of Fran's hand and put on that polite smile again.

"Sorry, maybe I'm overthinking. I've been a little nervous recently..." Although she said so, she kept looking at Fran, "I hope my performance just now didn't make you unhappy, Miss Treville."

"Oh, of course not." Fran shook her head again, but the smile she had just forced out had disappeared without a trace, leaving only confusion and anxiety.

She raised her head and looked at the people chatting and laughing in the hall, then sighed subconsciously, "...Actually, you're not wrong. I have a lot of troubles recently, but I don't know how to say it...Ah, I really envy them, they can actually talk and laugh."

"People who can only chat and laugh with others are not friends." Mary suddenly interrupted, and seemed a little depressed. Yes, "Only those of us who can talk about troubles together are friends."

"That being said, they are at least happy, right? Quite a few words" Fran still looked at the guests. "As long as you can calm your heart, it doesn't matter what it is, right? Quite a few words"

"No one can calm down in this way, they just pretend to be calm. Telling some witty jokes in social circles is enough for people to relax, but now few people care about other people, and these fleeting jokes are also There is nothing that makes people feel friendly and brings peace... Why is this so? A helpless bitter smile appeared on Da's face again, "It's just that this century and this era are too turbulent. Nothing is fixed anymore, so nothing is worth sticking to. Even those in power, Everyone is in danger, fearing that their life will be in jeopardy, so everyone spends money like water and has fun, and if you have wine today, you will get drunk today.”

"I do feel that what you said makes sense." After hearing Matilda's answer, Fran's expression became solemn and she nodded lightly. "Matilda, you are always so profound."

"I just like to sit on the sidelines..."

"Ah, we are not yet twenty years old, should we really discuss what society is in a serious manner? It is better to leave this topic for ten years!" Mary raised her glass with a smile, "If we are How surprised would it be for people to find us sneaking into a corner to drink?”

"No one will care anyway." Fran sighed softly, then picked up the wine glass and took a sip.

Why did that girl who once seemed to be detached from the world become so worried? Looking at Fran who was unhappy. Matilda felt herself horrified by Fran's astonishing changes after their long separation. This shock quickly turned into worry because the answer could not be obtained directly from the person involved.

Mr. Treville, your sister has become like this, how can you still pretend that nothing happened? For a moment, Matilda couldn't help but feel some complaints against Charles.

"Matilda, I heard that there was some turmoil in your family before. I have been worried about you. Now I see that everything has returned to calm. It's great." As if to find something to say. , Fran suddenly spoke, "I originally thought that no matter what difficulties we encounter, if you help us, we will definitely find a way to get through it, and it turned out to be like this..."

then. She laughed again. "However, you were right just now. Even those in power are in danger now, for fear of being in danger... Maybe you will have to worry about us soon..."...

Hopefully you don't know how I solved this problem. Matilda smiled bitterly in her heart again.

"Of course you don't have to worry about this issue, because after this turmoil, our two families have understood the benefits of working together... We will always help each other. At least that's what your brother and I think. We I have just made it clear, from now on everyone will Take action. Only in this way can we protect our interests as much as possible. So..." Matilda looked at Fran sincerely, "As I just said, I am your loyal friend and will do my best. We will do our best to help you without any polite words between us.”

Infected by Matilda's sincerity, Fran's lips trembled slightly, as if she was about to burst into tears. She reluctantly picked up the glass and concealed her excitement.

"Fortunately, I still have such loyal friends... I wish I could rely on you for everything!" She murmured to herself, and then took another sip of wine.

At this moment, there was another commotion in the hall, and the already noisy guests became even more noisy, attracting their attention.

Wherever they could see, everyone was surrounding Ciel and Charlotte, who were standing in the center, as if waiting for something. And Charlotte was holding Charles's hand with a smile on her face, holding it tightly, like a girl revealing her ownership of her most beloved toy in front of her friends.

Oh, it looks like the time has come. This thought flashed through their minds at the same time, but they all felt a little indescribable.

Just as they guessed, when the clock reached nine o'clock in the evening, Charles, who had pretended to greet Joseph Bonaparte and others, hugged Charlotte again according to the scheduled schedule, and then they both started again. Became the focus of sight.

Under the gaze of every guest, Ciel took a gentle breath calmly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your honor and attendance at this banquet tonight. I think everyone has heard before coming here that in addition to inviting everyone to the banquet, this banquet has other purposes..." He glanced He glanced at the men and women surrounding them, passing over the smiling and expectant faces, and finally, his eyes fell on Charlotte's face. Looking at the face that was radiant with happiness and flushed with shyness and expectation, he couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.

What a beautiful person!

"Well...yes, as everyone knows." After a moment, he slightly resisted the dizziness before and shouted out in a slightly excited tone, "I will be with Charlotte de Tre Miss Weir is engaged, and I will do my best to make this woman who favors me happy. We will join together to continue our family that has been carrying countless glory. Thank you for your testimony!"

With his loud shout, the guests who had been holding their breath and staring at them in anticipation, all burst into laughter, and then cheered and clapped almost synchronously. The endless stream of voices gathered into an unstoppable torrent, making the entire hall fall into an unprecedented noise.

Two such outstanding young men and women are about to enter the palace of marriage. Although it is a pity, they are a good match - most of the guests think so.

Seeing such a warm atmosphere. Charles, who has always been indifferent, couldn't help but be infected and a little excited. He turned his eyes again and looked at Charlotte who had been staring at him.

"At such a happy moment. Of course, I don't want only the two of us to enjoy this happiness, but hope to pass on the happiness to every guest present..." He also smiled on his face, "I won't say any more nonsense, I hope you can have fun next time!"...

As soon as he finished speaking, Charles took the mask from the servants next to him, and Charlotte also took it. The two smiled at each other. Then they put on the mask at the same time.

The two people wearing masks looked a little strange, which caused others to laugh, but soon. The guests also put on masks. Then, Charles made a gesture, and the band began to play cheerful dance music.

The cheerful masked ball after the banquet finally began.

In the relaxed and cheerful music. The guests who had already put on masks began to look for dance partners from all around. And in the center of their crowd, Charles and Charlotte, who had just put on masks, were dancing hand in hand. Under the brilliant candlelight, they seemed to be as dazzling as the sun surrounded by stars.

However, not everyone was as happy as them.

The original text is available at Liu # 9 @Shu/Bar!

Looking at the dancing figures of her brother and sister, Fran felt a pain in her heart and was indescribably uncomfortable. Although she had been mentally prepared for a long time. But when she really saw this scene, she still felt that she could not accept it at all.

She only felt her stomach churning. The wine I just drank seemed to burn in my stomach, making me feel extremely uncomfortable.

It was too uncomfortable, I couldn't bear to watch it anymore.

She suddenly stood up, her face pale.

"Sorry, I feel a little uncomfortable, I'm going to rest..." She didn't even force a smile, she threw down such a sentence and walked towards the door.

Looking at her leaving figure, Matilda was about to stand up and chase her, but her hand was pulled.

Matilda turned her head and found that Mary shook her head gently at her, as if to warn her to let Fran be alone. So, Matilda sat back and watched Fran leave the hall in a state of dismay.

"Marie, can you tell me now? What is going on?" Matilda sighed, and then looked at the Marquis who had been silent all the time, "What happened to make Miss Treville like this? You should know something, after all, you are often together..."

"Haven't you found it yet?" Mary also completely lost the smile she had just forced on. She took another sip of wine, "Everything today made Fran very unhappy."

"I can see that, but why?" Matilda frowned slightly, "Doesn't she like the marriage partner her brother chooses?"

"I'm afraid it's not just that..." Mary smiled bitterly, "It should be said that she hates any marriage partner her brother chooses."

"You mean..." Matilda was a little puzzled at first, and then slowly understood something.

Then, she opened her eyes wide. "You mean...she...she..."

Looking at Matilda's stunned look, Mary just shrugged lightly, indicating that the other party's guess was correct.

"Oh my God...Is that so? Oh, my God!" Because of the great shock, the usually calm Matilda couldn't help but speak incoherently, "This is too...too unbelievable!"

"Is it really unbelievable?" Mary asked calmly.

………………

Matilda fell into silence.

If you think about it carefully, it's not completely unimaginable.

The two siblings have been dependent on each other since childhood. It is not surprising that Fran has developed an abnormal attachment to her brother, not to mention... He is indeed very outstanding, enough to fascinate a young girl who has not experienced much of the world.

However, even so, this is a taboo that is not tolerated by the world...

"So, does he... know it?" After thinking for a long time, Matilda looked at Mary inquiringly, "How did he respond?"...

"He should know." Mary nodded, her expression could not tell whether she was happy or angry, "As for the response... Isn't it a response today?"

No wonder his response just now was so vague and strange, and no wonder she was so lost just now... Matilda suddenly realized.

"What a poor child, shouldn't we help her?" While thinking, a sentence suddenly came to her ear.

"How should we help? This kind of thing..." Matilda was about to answer, but she felt something was wrong.

No, it wasn't Mary who was speaking. This cold and arrogant tone seemed to have been heard somewhere before... It felt familiar.

She suddenly came to her senses and turned around to look.

Ms. Laura de Bovan, dressed in gorgeous clothes and with her hair tied up in a bun, was staring at her with eyes without any emotion.

The long-lost feeling of nausea suddenly hit Matilda's heart, and she didn't know what to do for a moment, and Mary next to her was also horrified.

"Ms. de Dillion, long time no see." A cold smile appeared on Laura's face, "I was still worried about your family before, I'm so glad that you are still qualified to meet me."

Matilda only felt a sudden pain in her heart, as if she was bitten hard.

"Ms. de Bovan, long time no see." With an admirable calmness, she greeted the "friend" she hadn't seen for several years.

ps: The Gang of Four was initially formed...

Chapter 119?? Meet again.

Chapter 119?? Meet again,