Flowers, Swords and France

The gallery left by the late famous painter Durenberg, after a long period of inactivity, is shining again today. ∷Top∷Point∷Novel,

Since the evening, a number of gorgeously decorated carriages have been coming from all over the streets to the gallery and stopped outside its gate. This scene, which has not been seen for several years, seems to have brought people back to the past, back to the heyday of this gallery.

However, when the carriage door opened and the well-dressed passengers carefully walked out of the carriage, this illusion was easily shattered.

These passengers were all former students here, who had spent several years studying here, but now they are getting further and further away from their girls and have entered the most glorious era of a woman's life.

After several years of polishing, their faces no longer have the immaturity of the time, but are filled with charming but insincere smiles. The ease and grace shown in their behavior have fully revealed the charm of women, but people can't feel how much real warmth.

After they met, they would greet each other, and then walk into the gallery slowly while exchanging polite greetings. They joked with each other and burst into laughter from time to time, as if recalling many happy past events.

Until they followed the old memories, walked up the stairs, and then passed through the open door and entered the studio where they studied daily in the past, a strange feeling suddenly revived in their increasingly dry hearts.

Because it was getting dark, the large glass windows on the side had been blocked by faded dark velvet curtains, and under the illumination of the slightly mottled and rusty copper candlesticks on the wall. Dark and uncertain shadows flickered; beside the wall, the canvases and frames scattered on the ground. It was as if it had just been discarded yesterday. The walls and floors that were stained with various paints were full of memories.

Everyone looked at the messy studio. They couldn't help but stay stunned, as if time had stopped temporarily.

In this messy arrangement and the floor that was stained with paint and could not see its original appearance, they recalled their carefree days. In those days, they really lived without worries and enjoyed the sweetest life.

Only at this time, everyone's face would show a thoughtful or even lost expression. This expression only existed for a short moment, and was just hidden under the smile, like a sacrifice to youth.

If there was a painter here who could draw their true appearance at this moment. What a good thing that would be...

Society took away their purity and innocence, and gave them a worldly and calm smile.

"Ms. de Treville, happy birthday!"

They shouted to the girl standing in the middle of the studio one by one.

The girl was also dressed up at this time, smiling and greeting everyone.

These old classmates gathered together with smiles on their faces.

What a warm scene! Who would believe that this was just a deliberate cover-up for an unspeakable crime?

How many shadows that never see the light of day are hidden under the candlelight as bright as day?

……………………

Matilda felt that she should be very happy today.

Today she attended a party organized by her good friend at the place where she used to study painting, and met many other friends. Everyone chatted together and recalled the bits and pieces of the old days. For a moment, it seemed as if they had returned to the old days and threw away all their worries.

"Ms. Treville, you have chosen a good place today." She smiled at Fran standing next to her, "We haven't been here for a long time, and I miss it."

"Since the teacher gave this place to me, I haven't been here much, and it's just idle. This time, after deciding to hold the party here, I asked someone to clean it temporarily. So many places may not be very clean..." Fran smiled a little embarrassedly, "But. I think it's good like this, it's much more interesting than at home."

"No, this is perfect! If there were no sculptures, paints and canvases scattered around, I would be uncomfortable!" Mary suddenly laughed, "Just think about how naughty we were at that time, and we actually made such a great achievement!"

Then, as if it was a prank, she leaned over to look at a plaster bust at her feet, and then playfully flicked its forehead with her fingers.

Since she had a love affair with Charles, she stayed at home for a while, and even made excuses not to meet her good friend, for fear that she would find out. Fortunately, she has recovered now, otherwise she might not be able to attend her friend's birthday party.

Her action caused a burst of laughter. Influenced by her, everyone threw away their manners and started to fiddle with the remains on the ground. Some people even kicked the sculptures under their feet, as if they had found a very interesting toy.

Only then did people realize that these people were actually children according to the standards of later generations.

"Fortunately, you didn't call your brother here today." Although she didn't participate in this kind of playfulness, Laura also seemed very happy, "Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to talk properly today."

"That's right!" one of her friends echoed, "It's great that we are the only ones here!"

Matilda frowned slightly.

This is what makes her most unhappy today.

She didn't object to what Laura said, but staying with Laura would never make her feel happy.

However, for Fran's sake, she did not express her unhappiness openly.

"So, we would like to thank Miss Treville for taking out this place for us to get together again." Matilda still smiled, "I sincerely hope that the gift we just gave her will satisfy her."

The others also laughed.

In this coordinated smile, there are not many old differences that can be seen, as if they were not the ones who were divided into two groups to fight or even fight with each other.

However. This is just an appearance.

Aristocrats, especially women among aristocrats, may not remember grace. But you can definitely hold a grudge. The differences between the banking party and the aristocratic party still exist, and the "grievances" they had back then may last until their graves. But no one will pick up paints and cakes and throw them at each other like they did then. They have grown up and have learned the hatred and tolerance of the upper class, so now they can only smile at each other, and are always ready to seize the opportunity to viciously punish each other without blood.

"Oh? You can think so, it seems that I really came up with a good idea," Fran looked very happy, as if she didn't feel the coldness under this smile, "In this way, everyone will treat this place as a party from now on. A place where you can come often in the future..."

Matilda could feel the moment. Many people feel embarrassed.

Of course, not everyone among the former classmates present was as sincerely happy for Fran as Matilda and Mary. Some were even surprised that the teacher actually gave away the painting gallery and his collection before his death. Fran felt a little resentful and jealous.

This is especially true after Fran used the tone of a host to invite everyone to come often in the future.

However, no one present expressed this emotion. Instead, everyone smiled at Fran and agreed with her.

Because, no matter how you look at it, Fran is the teacher's most outstanding student. If the teacher gave it to someone else, I'm afraid it would be even less convincing, so I couldn't say anything weird, I could only envy her good luck;

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

The more important reason is. Nowadays, the Treville family has taken advantage of the changing situation and climbed to the top of the country. They are very famous. This group of women comes from the upper class. Naturally, I have learned early on from my parents how to deal with such people.

In this way, the two parties led by Matilda and Laura seemed to be irreconcilable in the studio. Nowadays, no one mentions the grudges from back then, and everyone is smiling. Congratulations to Fran on her birthday.

In this scene of stars overlapping the moon, Fran, surrounded by smiles and compliments, seemed like a princess in a trance, becoming the focus of everyone's attention.

The girl who always stayed in the corner, ignored by both factions, and seemed to only think about painting, now stands out and stands above the others - the world is so unpredictable.

"You are so beautiful today, Fran." Mary suddenly looked at Fran with envy, "To be honest, I was very jealous of you back then. You are so beautiful and you can draw so well... But then I gave up jealousy. Because I found that no matter what, I couldn't surpass you in these two aspects, so... I had no choice but to look up. "

Perhaps because she is now working for the Treville family, or perhaps because of the hidden guilt in her heart, Mary's current attitude toward Fran is the most flattering, as if she is serving her respectfully, and she is not afraid at all of being in trouble for complimenting Fran too much. Offend other people.

"Huh?" Fran's face turned slightly red and she blinked, "You...are you going too far?"

"Isn't that what it was like at that time?" Matilda felt the same guilt, so she echoed, "At least I haven't found anyone among us who can surpass you in these two aspects."

After hearing what the two of them said, hidden dissatisfaction flashed across many people's faces, but they also agreed.

"Yes, I also think Miss Treville is the most beautiful among us."

"And talented..."

"The teacher valued her the most at that time, so he passed the studio to her..."

After seeing someone taking the lead, everyone complimented Fran so much that she blushed so hard that she looked very happy.

"See? I'm right? Everyone thinks so," Mary rubbed Fran's shoulder, "Stop being so modest, miss!"

"You know how to make fun of me!" Fran couldn't help but spat at Mary, and then everyone laughed again.

Looking at this harmonious scene, Matilda suddenly felt curious. To be honest, she didn't care that her former henchmen were fawning over others now - although there was inevitably a sense of loss. But... what about that person? She is not easy to get along with. Can she accept it?

While thinking about it, she glanced at Laura secretly, wanting to see her trying to hide her embarrassment and anger.

However, she miscalculated. Laura's expression was still as cheerful as before.

Has she changed her personality, or has she become more gloomy? Matilda thought to herself, she would rather believe the latter.

At this moment, as if she felt her gaze, Laura suddenly raised her head and glanced at Matilda.

Such a cold and emotionless gaze, sharp and fierce, murderous, made Matilda's blood seem to solidify for a moment.

This person really hasn't changed at all. How could Fran think of inviting her here?

Enough, really enough. Matilda thought.

In any case, she has given Fran enough face, and there is no need to stay with this person all the time.

Then wait and see, and find an excuse to leave later, she made up her mind. (To be continued...)