Flowers, Swords and France

"Dear Mr. Treville, if you have no important things to do in your schedule or any entertainment you have planned, I sincerely invite you to come to my humble home tonight at 7 o'clock to attend the dinner. I will be very happy if you can attend. Philippe de Treville."

Charles took this extremely simple note and read it carefully three times. This note, or invitation, was delivered by the servant of the Duke of Treville in the morning.

He read it for so long not because he couldn't understand the meaning, but because he couldn't figure out the reason.

He couldn't understand the fact that the Duke of Treville, who had always ignored the Marquis's family, would invite him to his house for a dinner for the first time.

Why? What happened to make him make this decision? Is it because...

That shadow passed through his mind.

Could it be related to her? It seems that there is a connection. So should he go? Or should he refuse?

After thinking it over, he decided that it would be best to decline politely to avoid any complications.

"Charles, what do you think of this invitation?" the old man next to him suddenly asked.

When Charles received the invitation, the old marquis was also having breakfast downstairs.

"Grandpa, I want to refuse this invitation." Charles replied. "Now is the critical moment for us to implement the plan. I think we should not be distracted by other trivial matters, nor should we cause other things."

Unexpectedly, the old man did not answer immediately after hearing his answer, but put down the newspaper in his hand and stared at him closely. Although his face was old and yellow, and his hair was white, his eyes still retained the intimidating power of the old general.

"Grandpa...?" Charles asked hurriedly, seeing the marquis's strange expression. "Did I say something wrong?"

He was very uncomfortable with this intimidating gaze.

After a while, the old marquis spoke. "My grandson, you are distracted by trivial matters. Your feelings for Charlotte have made your mind a little confused and you can't see the reality clearly."

"Ah?" Charles exclaimed in a low voice.

"My poor child, do you really think that Charlotte is the only royalist in our respected Duke of Treville? Who do you think led her to this path?" The old marquis stopped looking at him and cast his eyes out the window.

Charles took a deep breath.

Yes! Yes!

It is well known that the Duke of Treville was very important in the previous dynasty. After the establishment of the July Dynasty, he often publicly criticized the administration and foreign policy of the new dynasty. He also chose to refuse to serve in the new government and semi-secluded himself at home. Would it be strange for such a person to be politically inclined to the royal party and even join the secret organization of the royal party?

Not strange at all!

"I have two older brothers who did not participate in the conspiracy. Even if I was arrested, they would not be implicated..." At this time, the voice echoed in his mind again.

She did not mention her grandfather.

Her real meaning was obvious.

God, why did you think of it now? Charles' eyes widened.

"Yes, why did you think of it now?" As if he saw through what Charles was thinking, the old marquis asked coldly. "It's easy to think of, isn't it? I understood it when I heard you talk about it that day."

"Yes..."

"I didn't say it at the time, so that you could figure it out by yourself, but you, you..." The old man's tone was somewhat rare with regret and disappointment, "You still haven't figured it out after so long. Do you not understand, or do you not want to think about things related to Charlotte in your heart, so you subconsciously ignore these things that were originally easy to think of?"

Charles lowered his head. "Grandpa, I'm sorry, I was wrong."

"There's nothing to be sorry for. You are still young, and it's normal that you can't grasp the boundary between career and feelings for a while. Everyone has been young, I understand, and I have experienced it. But you should pay attention in the future, and try to overcome this shortcoming. Don't forget what career you are engaged in! Don't forget your own goals and ambitions! Remember..." The marquis squeezed his hand, as if he wanted to leave a mark there. "Charles, feelings are feelings, career is career!"

Charles closed his eyes, and opened them again after a moment. "I will, Grandpa. Thank you."

"That's good." The old marquis's sharp eyes gradually returned to their previous calmness, and then he snorted softly. "Hmph, I knew that old Philippe would not be willing to be lonely, but I didn't expect that he would continue to cling to the dead tree of the Bourbon royal family... He is still the same idiot as before."

When mentioning King Louis Philippe or his brother, the old marquis was always full of ridicule, and Charles had long been accustomed to it and didn't take it seriously.

"So, do you think I should accept his invitation?" He asked the most important question.

"Of course I will go, Charles. You know, our respected Duke of Treville is not the kind of person who likes to make trouble out of nothing. Since he invites you to go today, he must have some secret plans." The old marquis answered as a matter of course. "So... shouldn't you go to test the waters?"

"Okay, then I'll go to visit tonight."

"Charle, I say it again, remember it carefully." The old Marquis squeezed Charles's hand again, "Emotions are feelings, and career is career!"

He didn't say which was more important, because there was no need to say it.

To a Treville man, the relative importance of these two things should and must be clear at a glance. Moreover, he has great confidence in the mind of his grandson who he has watched grow up.

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Charles arrived at the Duke of Treville's residence on time fifteen minutes before seven o'clock in the evening. Since it was summer at this time, the sky darkened very slowly, and there were still a few thin rays of light on the horizon.

Compared with the last experience, this time Charles's journey was much smoother. The carriage drove directly into the gate and then stopped in the vestibule of the Duke's Palace. After putting down the pedal, Charles walked out of the carriage.

"Good evening, Charles!" Before he could stand still, there was a greeting. "You're finally here."

Charles Xunsheng looked up and found his cousin standing on the steps, looking at him with a slight smile.

She was wearing a gray-white dress tonight, embroidered with various golden patterns, which shone with golden light in the dusk. Coupled with her blond hair spread out and a smile on her face, no matter from which angle she looked. All of them are extremely beautiful.

Who could have imagined that just a few days ago, such a beautiful woman with a charming smile led someone to kill someone without any hesitation?

Read the original article in Liu#9@书/吧!

Of course Ciel didn't know about this. However, Ciel clearly knew the purpose of his visit today.

"Good evening, Charlotte, nice to meet you." He nodded politely and walked up the steps.

Seeing Ciel's cold answer, Charlotte was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but smile and shook her head.

"Oh, you are so polite when you come to your relatives' house..."

"Having said that, I didn't even come here a few times when I was a kid. You always came to my house to play." Ciel's tone was still calm, "I don't have any affection for this place."

"Oh, you are really..." Charlotte smiled again and shook her head slightly, indicating that there was nothing she could do about Ciel. Then, she suddenly stretched out her right hand and took the hand of Charles who had already walked up the steps. "Okay, my grandpa has been waiting for a long time. Let's go there quickly."

After his hand was held, Ciel couldn't help but frown slightly. He wanted to pull his hand away, but when he did, Charlotte's grip tightened, causing his attempt to fail. After trying it for a while, Ciel stopped trying to withdraw his hand.

After all, as Charlotte said before, the more deliberately you refuse, the more it looks like you can't let go?

Charlotte held her brother's hand and walked slowly down the corridor.

Just like last time, when passing the portraits of the Dukes of Treville, Charles paid a casual tribute.

"Although you have already been here once last time, your time is limited after all, right? You probably haven't seen many places..." When she said this, Charlotte suddenly turned her head, and then lowered her voice, "Go up The last time you came to talk to Grandpa, Grandpa praised you, saying that you are calm and know how to negotiate... Grandpa is not someone who praises people easily, so just be happy. "

"Well, it's an honor." Charles replied calmly.

As the march continued, Charlotte's slender and white palms became slightly sweaty, making the two hands almost glued together.

"Charle, I'm very happy that you are willing to come to the appointment. I was always worried that you wouldn't come." Charlotte whispered again. Since her back was to Charles, Charles couldn't see her at this moment. expression.

Excited or regretful? Are you happy or disappointed?

It's unclear, and it doesn't matter at the moment.

Charles didn't answer.

A few minutes later, the two people walked to a door at the end of the corridor. When the servant at the door saw the two people coming, he immediately bowed and saluted, and then opened the door. It seems that this is the restaurant for the dinner.

Charlotte continued to hold Ciel's hand and walked in, and the door was closed randomly.

The Duke of Treville was indeed inside. At this moment, he was sitting at the head seat of the dining table, looking at the two people who came in expressionlessly. After seeing Ciel, he nodded slightly as a greeting.

"Good evening, Ciel."

Ciel, on the other hand, saluted and then spoke in an extremely humble tone.

"Good evening, Monsieur the Duke of Treville."

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