Flowers, Swords and France

Today is another weekend when she does not have to go to school. According to the previous agreement, Miss Marie-de Leoland came to visit the Marquis of Treville again with a little anxiety in her heart.

Miss Leolan, who has just become a wealthy heiress, has not yet learned how to have the confidence of a wealthy person, but at least she has begun to learn to decorate herself. She changed from the dark clothes in the past. Today she wore a light blue silk dress and a string of thin pearl necklaces, which made her fair neck more slender, especially her newly ironed curly hair. , also brought a hint of sincerity to her.

However, it is still fair to say that since that day when she listened to Charles's advice, Mademoiselle Leolan, who suddenly became rich in Chad, has been more cautious in spending money. She bought a small apartment in a second-class neighborhood near here and lived a reclusive life, rarely participating in activities that cost a lot of money. Even the carriage used for traveling is rented on a long-term basis, and the annual rent is only 2,400 francs. It is neither shabby nor luxurious, and is just within the range that my annual consumption budget can afford.

Today's dress is a rare luxury for her.

After arriving at the palace, Fran quickly came out to receive her in the small reception room. Fran's eyes lit up as soon as she saw her, and then she looked at her carefully again. "Oh, you look stunning today, Mary!"

"Who can compare to you..." Mary blushed a little.

"It's rare to dress up properly. Don't say such deliberately modest words. I will be angry! This dress costs almost a thousand francs, right? It's so smooth!" Fran stretched out her hand and rubbed it gently. Rubbing her friend's skirt, she sighed, "No matter who says money is the root of all evil, I think having money is really a good thing... I just can't wear such a nice dress."

"Does it look good? I have been choosing this dress for a long time." Seeing Fran praising the dress she chose, Mary couldn't help but be overjoyed. "Although it's a little expensive, it feels good. But Fran, to tell you the truth, I think no matter what clothes you wear, they will become the best-looking clothes after you put them on."

"You are a real person. Didn't I tell you not to always pick up nice things to say?" Fran smiled happily, and then took her friend's hand, "Let's go to my room together."

"Well, let's go." Mary concealed her inner anxiety well and asked in an almost completely casual tone. "By the way, is your brother at home today? I haven't seen him since I came in?"

After hearing this question, Fran raised her eyebrows slightly, and the smile on her face unconsciously flashed a cloud.

Mary was shocked, but she still pretended to be casual and continued to ask.

"What's wrong, Fran? Isn't he at home?"

"No, he is here." Fran replied dryly, then turned her face away. "I'm just sitting in my room, not knowing what I'm doing."

"Huh? Did you quarrel with him? It seems like you were unhappy when he mentioned it." Mary asked again in concern, almost not caring about hiding it.

Fran shook her head. "Go to my room first."

After arriving in the room and just sitting on Fran's bed, Mary couldn't help but ask again. "Flan, what happened to you and your brother? You usually mention him a lot, but recently..."

"You care about him very much." Fran said angrily.

"Eh? Well... uh..." After a few seconds, Mary finally thought of the words. "Isn't it because I care about you? Don't you usually have a good relationship with your brother? But recently it seems that you rarely mention him, and even if you mention him, you look very bad. Why is this? As far as I can see, your brother usually has a good relationship with you. I still care about you, so I won’t do anything to you, right? Think about my lesson... I envy you, so don’t go my way.”

"Hey..." The girl actually sighed, with a little bit of loss and confusion in her eyes. "Well, maybe it would be good to talk to someone..."

"Well, tell me, I will definitely keep it a secret!" Mary looked at Fran.

"A while ago, my brother's former lover came to visit my house." Fran lowered her voice.

"Eh? Lover?! Who?" her friend exclaimed.

"It's just his previous lover, they broke up long ago." Fran replied calmly. "She is the granddaughter of my grandfather's brother, Duke Treville, and her name is Charlotte. After all, she is also my cousin."

"Granddaughter of the Duke of Treville?" Mary couldn't help but repeat herself. "Your cousin?"

Too bad! She is both the Duke's granddaughter and her cousin! The relationship is so close, and they are from such a wealthy family! How can this be good... However, it seems that they have broken up?

"Already separated?" She confirmed again.

"Well, yes, just two years ago." Fran replied.

"Then why does she come to visit again?" Mary's voice unconsciously contained a little vibrato, but neither of them noticed it. "Do you want to start over with Ciel?"

"She is so scheming, who knows what she thinks." Fran said coldly. "But looking at my brother's appearance that day, it was obvious that he was a little distracted. It seems that he has not forgotten Charlotte in his heart."

"Is that so..." Mary was a little depressed. "So what do you think of...this...Charlotte?"

"You want to know?"

"Um."

"I hate her very much. I hate her very much." Fran replied word for word. "I haven't liked her since I was a child. She is too strict, and I'm afraid she will never learn to be gentle."

Maryton was pleasantly surprised. "That's right..."

"I'm afraid she sees me the same way." Fran's blue eyes were full of girlish melancholy at this moment, "She also dislikes me very much, and even hates me a little, yes, I can tell. If, I mean if...if one day she really marries her brother, I'm afraid I will be She marries far away, to Russia, America or God knows where. Maybe one day you will never see me again... I mean it! Every time I see her smiling at me, I feel so happy. I shuddered when I saw her eyes when she smiled, I knew she would do this to me!"

"No way?!" Mary exclaimed.

"Really. So Mary, since she came again that day, I have been so scared. I am afraid that one day my brother will abandon me, will not want me, and then throw me to the ends of the earth..." Fran lowered her head and pinched He tightened his friend's hand.

"No, your brother loves you so much, how could he bear to let you suffer?" Mary comforted her immediately.

"Maybe not for a while, but what if Charlotte keeps instigating him? There is no guarantee that one day he will be deceived..." Fran still lowered her head, "You have never seen Charlotte, so you don't know. She is extremely arrogant and stubborn at heart, and will never give up until she reaches her goal, so, I am really scared..."

Mary hugged her friend tightly. "My friend, don't be afraid. I will never let this happen, no matter what. You have saved me, so I will try my best to save you. Don't worry!"

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

"Thank you, Mary!" Fran also hugged the other party.

"No wonder you've been a little distracted recently. You didn't concentrate on painting, and you were criticized by the teacher." Mary also sighed, "So you were all worried about this kind of thing..."

"Don't mention this..." Fran's face turned red again, "I also know that I should concentrate on drawing during class, but when that time comes, I always think about what if that guy Charlotte takes my brother away. What should I do? I can't help but wonder, Mary!"

"My friend!" Mary couldn't help but hugged her tightly again.

Should we just watch one of the most beautiful flowers in France gradually wither and wither? No, never!

Well, I am helping Fran, I want to save Fran! In this way, the girl found a noble reason for her action in her heart.

"But you don't have to worry too much, Fran." She began to comfort Fran again. "As you said, didn't they break up before? That means there must be many irreparable differences between them. As long as these differences cannot be bridged, wouldn't they be able to get back together?"

"Disagreements...disagreements..." Fran recited silently twice. “Just keep them divided… stay divided…”

"Isn't that so?" Mary asked.

Fran bit her lip and thought for a moment.

"What you said makes so much sense! Thank you, Mary!" After a moment, Fran seemed to have discovered something. She raised her head and looked at her friend and smiled. "You are indeed my good friend!"

"Of course I am, always will be." Mary smiled back.

"Well, I understand." Fran's eyes regained their brightness. "It's great that I have a friend like you. As long as I have your help, I will never have to worry about nightmares coming."

Looking at the beautiful girl who was radiant again, Mary's heart couldn't help but be captured by it. Then she sighed softly.

"My dear friend, if I were your brother, I would never turn my back on such a lovely, kind angel. I would never let her suffer, not in my entire life."

Unexpectedly, Fran's reaction was very strange.

"Angel?" Fran lowered her head again. "I am not an angel. My friend, I committed a sin two years ago. I disobeyed the teachings of my Heavenly Father. I both told lies and did bad things. But I have no regrets. I am very grateful for my sins."

"You will not commit any sin, Fran, and God will always bless you." Mary hugged her tightly again.

"God will not bless me." A little teardrop appeared in Fran's eyes.

"If possible, I would rather not have its blessing."