Flowers, Swords and France

Breakfast at the Marquis de Treville's mansion is always quite simple. But as long as his physical condition allows, the old marquis always eats with his grandchildren.

Today, Fran was a little strange. While eating with her head down as usual, she would occasionally glance at her grandfather and brother.

Charles was quite surprised, but just when he wanted to ask his sister what was wrong, the old marquis spoke.

"Little beauty, what are you thinking about again?"

Looking at Fran, who seemed a little restless, the old marquis asked with a smile. His smile combined the kindness of the elders to their children and the humorous jokes unique to cavalry officers.

Fran suddenly raised her head, with a few crumbs hanging from the corners of her mouth, looking like a frightened little squirrel. She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but finally answered. "Nothing, grandpa, I'm fine."

Then she lowered her head and continued to eat-just before glancing at Charles again.

Generally speaking, when a girl says this, it means something must have happened, and it seems to be related to Charles. The Marquis looked at Charles with an inquiring look, and Charles shrugged lightly to show that he was confused.

As time passed, Fran's eyes became more and more unfriendly, and even turned into a stern question. What happened? Charles used his brain to think carefully about why his sister behaved like this.

"Fran, are you feeling unwell today?" He asked tentatively.

"I feel very well, sir." Fran answered rather stiffly.

In the dictionary of female surnames, this means "I feel unwell, I am angry", and Charles understood it.

"Then you today..." he tried to ask again.

"I am very good today." Fran interrupted him and put back her tableware. "I am going to school. The teacher's requirements are very strict recently."

What happened? The Marquis looked at his grandson again.

Charles quickly used his brain. Go to school... draw... draw...

An idea flashed.

He smiled and looked at the old marquis.

"I almost forgot to tell you one thing, Miss Treville is going to be famous..."

"Huh?" The old marquis was a little confused.

Fran was still packing, but it was obvious that she was listening to Charles' words with her ears perked up, which made Charles sure that he had hit the final answer.

Charles used the tone of a shop assistant to explain to the old marquis. "Mr. Durenberg will hold a personal exhibition in the near future, and Fran is his best student, and her works will be solemnly recommended by him to the people who come to the exhibition. So you see, there is a shining new star that will rise slowly in the bright starry sky of French art..."

"Oh! No wonder!" The old marquis opened his mouth wide, half in surprise, and half to make his granddaughter happy.

Then he looked at Fran, "My grandson, you are worthy of being my grandson! Come, come here and let grandpa have a good look!"

"It's nothing, the teacher just introduced my work by the way, he said I still have a lot to learn. You see, brother didn't take it seriously at all, and waited so long before he remembered it..." Fran, who had been waiting for a long time, raised her head and walked to her grandfather. Although she was deliberately modest, her eyebrows hid the joy that could not be concealed.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I was really confused..." Charles apologized repeatedly.

Fran lowered her head, and the old marquis gently kissed her forehead.

"Fran, I know you have talent, keep working hard, you will definitely become famous!" Then he patted his granddaughter on the back as encouragement. "When the time comes, I will definitely go to see my granddaughter's masterpiece, and I will tell those old friends what a great grandson I have..."

"Thank you, Grandpa, I will try my best. I will go to school first!"

After receiving the long-awaited praise, Fran blushed, smiled so hard that even her eyebrows curved, and almost jumped out of the dining room. Before leaving, she did not forget to glance at Charles to show her dissatisfaction with him for taking so long to think of it.

The old marquis and Charles watched her leave with smiles on their faces.

"She has grown up, hasn't she?" The old man suddenly said. "What a lovely little girl."

"Yes, she has grown up." Charles echoed.

"Now I really can't see who in France is worthy of this angel." The old marquis sighed, "I'll have to think hard about it when the time comes."

"It doesn't matter, we can look for it slowly." Charles replied, "I've already told her that I will prepare a dowry of 100 million for her when the time comes. By then, let alone the famous family or the royal family, even Apollo will be worthy of her!"

"100 million?" The marquis raised his eyebrows slightly, "You really dare to say that."

"I'm serious." Charles' tone was very steady.

"Then I'll tell you too, I plan to divide my savings into two halves in the future, you and her each half, and I will never favor either side."

"Give it all to her, the wisdom and teachings you have given me are enough." Charles replied calmly.

The two watched the carriage that took Fran to school leave the marquis's mansion.

As the carriage ran farther and farther until it disappeared, the smiles on their faces and the tenderness in their eyes slowly disappeared. Instead, he put on the serious, cold, and indifferent expression that a politician and a conspirator should have. This was the expression that Charles saw most often in the portraits of his ancestors in the Duke of Treville's palace.

Treville was still Treville after all.

"Charles, it's good that you have this intention." The Marquis' tone has now become very serious. "You know what love is. In fact, I admire you for that. Those who don't love anyone in their hearts and don't believe in anyone can only become bloodthirsty scum."

Ciel nodded slightly.

"But feelings are feelings, and career is career. When carrying out career-especially our current career-you should never have unnecessary emotions-remember, flowers are used to give to the ones you love. We can only give the enemy a sharp sword. You can compromise with the enemy, shake hands with them, or even hug them. It doesn't matter. These are just to make it easier to choke their necks, nothing else. reason."

"I know, Grandpa." Charles will always remember the old man's teachings.

The old Marquis had a look of approval on his face. "I'm glad you've been able to differentiate and hope you can continue to do so."

Looking at his grandson who was thoughtful under his reminder, the old man smiled again and gave some encouragement.

"Because of our efforts, Count de La Porta has now turned to us - this is a great progress for our cause, and you are also praised for it, Charles."

"That would be great."

"Besides, I didn't expect that the things you made recently are very effective, Ciel. I really didn't expect these things to be so useful. Young people are really open-minded..."

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

Ciel smiled humbly.

"It's just a temporary idea."

"Surte has been a little disgraced by us recently, but I know this person. He will not let it go easily in the face of offense. He will redouble his revenge. Now I dare to say that his people are already desperately looking for him. There are various clues to catch people, and they are here to avenge him. So, you must be careful not to expose yourself." The Marquis looked at Charles, and his eyes that were a little cloudy due to old age turned out to be very clear at this moment.

He reached out and patted his grandson on the shoulder.

"Although the situation is good, you must pay attention to safety, Ciel. Remember, you are my only grandson, you are my hope, my incarnation, and you are the only thing I can leave to the world after I enter the loess. Wealth, so you have to take care of yourself. If the price of organizational success is sacrificing your life, then what does this revolution mean to me?”

Ciel sat upright in his seat, feeling the tightness of the big hand squeezing his shoulders.

"Of course, I want you to be careful, but I'm not telling you to be hesitant or do nothing. Just do it if you like it! The Treville family may lack friendship in their blood, but they never lack courage."

"Okay." Charles also looked at the old man and replied solemnly.

Just as Charles was about to finish breakfast, the old man suddenly asked again.

"Charlotte has been here lately, hasn't she?"

"Ahem" Ciel choked.

The old Marquis had a playful smile in his eyes.

"Although you told your servants not to tell me, they will still tell me if I want to know."

"Yes." Charles had to admit honestly.

"That kid is good." The Marquis' tone became a little serious. "Ciel, do you understand what I mean?"

"Uh..." Ciel didn't know how to answer.

"Charles, I told you before that you should find a smart and talented woman as soon as possible to continue the bloodline of the Treville family as soon as possible." The old Marquis continued, "However, during this period of time, you have The performance is not satisfactory.”

Charles was about to say something, but the Marquis raised his hand to stop him.

"My brother is an idiot, but surprisingly, his granddaughter is not. I watched Charlotte grow up, and I can see it, so I never stopped you from interacting with her, even if I I never go to see my brother. Besides, a child who knows everything is more trustworthy than a woman who runs away from nowhere. ?" He continued, "She has always loved you, and she can also get a large dowry, so that you have enough resources to realize your ideals. Moreover, she also has the brains to be your help. This is not a good match. If you are worried that Philip will not agree, then there is no need. I believe Charlotte has many ways to force him to agree. "

"But she is a royal party member." Charles replied. "I argued with her several times, but in the end no one could convince the other, so we had to go our own ways."

"The royal gang? How could it be? When did it start?" The old Marquis opened his eyes wide and looked a little surprised. "Don't she understand that if she chooses this path, she will have no choice but to turn against you?"

"It started before the separation, and it's obvious that she knew the consequences." Charles said somewhat helplessly.

The old man frowned.

"Char, does she still love you?"

Ciel pondered for a moment.

The Charlotte who broke up with herself decisively, and the Charlotte who ran over to call the police in panic, which one is the real Charlotte?

Maybe both.

"I don't know, maybe." Finally, he chose to answer.

"That's good," the old cavalry officer's decisiveness was clearly revealed at this moment. Unintentionally, he used the same tone as when he ordered his men to attack a certain position. "Ciel, knock her down and take her away."

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