Flowers, Swords and France

Amidst the chirping of cicadas in early summer, several carriages galloped along the narrow road from London Docklands to the city, heading towards the heart of the British Empire.

Although there were many carriages passing by along the way, the carriage they were riding in was running smoothly. With the help of the police and management personnel, they moved forward with the highest priority.

Because this is a carriage specially sent by the royal family to pick up and drop off guests, the de Treville couple, as guests of Her Majesty the Queen, are preparing to attend the wedding of the British eldest princess, and they must not be neglected.

However, precisely because he was attending the wedding in a private capacity, the people who came to receive the couple were people from the palace, not government officials, but Charles did not care about the difference.

The English Channel is not wide. After just half a day's voyage from the Port of Calais in France, they disembarked in the Port of London and set foot on the land of this island country.

Even though he had experienced it personally, Charles still could not imagine that such a narrow strait would forever change the face of Europe and the world.

Seen from a distance, under the rising sun, the soot and other dust in the air is refracted into a golden mist, which permeates the whole city, making this metropolis seem like a mirage built in illusion, full of... An unreal color.

It looks really good, but...

"Ah... sneeze!" Charlotte wiped her already red nose with a handkerchief again. She had done this many times along the way, "Charles, we really came to the wrong place! If I had known you How wonderful it would be to reject Bonaparte's offer!"

Because of the stimulation, her nasal voice became very thick now. There was still an air of boredom in it.

Amidst these sneezes, the excitement at the beginning had disappeared, leaving only an unbearable feeling of discomfort.

"Don't be like this, my dear." Charles held Charlotte in his arms and gently wiped her red forehead, "The fog here is very thick in the morning, so it's really uncomfortable, but at noon It’s much better.”

"I think it won't be much better at noon!" Charlotte muttered in a low voice, then looked up at the suburbs that had quietly become prosperous outside the window, "This place is really lucky that these British people can live here!"

But Ciel didn't answer. He just smiled and stroked Charlotte's hair.

Although the air quality in Paris in this era is not good, it is not as unpleasant as London's smog, the closer you get to the city. The haze with dust became thicker and thicker, so much so that Charlotte felt a little unbearable.

The haze that has condensed countless dust lingers for a long time, and walking through it is a difficult experience for everyone, especially those who are new to this city.

While creating unparalleled wealth. The Industrial Revolution also transformed the world in a terrifying way. At this time, no one regarded it as a matter of life and death.

However, at this moment, the carriage suddenly stopped.

Arrive so soon?

Charles looked outside in surprise, but found that his group was still on the street and had not reached their destination.

"What happened?" He poked his head out of the car and asked the person in front of him in English.

"Sir," the driver in front turned around. She answered him respectfully, "We have just received an order from the queen's messenger... asking us to take you to another place."

"The queen's messenger? Another place?" Charles was surprised. "Would you please ask that gentleman to come and see me?"

"Okay, sir."

Soon, the queen's messenger was taken out of the carriage, and Ciel also stepped out of the carriage very politely.

"Hello, Mr. de Treville," the visitor was thin and tall, with gray hair. He was wearing a dress and pince-nez. He looked like a good gentleman and spoke French fluently. Look. Up there are the officials in the palace who are responsible for this kind of reception. "I am James Summer. I have the honor to be appointed by Her Majesty the Queen. I am now responsible for receiving you... If there is any inconvenience in the reception, please forgive me. I hope you will not leave a bad impression of Britain because of my negligence. ”

"Hello, Mr. Summer." Charles stretched out his hand and shook hands with him in a friendly manner. "I love Britain very much and respect you very much. Please don't worry. But please tell me, What happened, and why didn’t I know until now that I had to change my stay?”

As guests of the Queen, the palace officials originally arranged for them to stay at the Leeds Hotel near Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace. Unexpectedly, they had just arrived in London and suddenly received a request to change it, which really made him a little bit agitated. Surprised.

Even if it is an unofficial status, he is still a big shot now, so he shouldn't be treated like this.

"Sir, I can understand your surprise. In fact, we have only just received an order from Her Majesty the Queen - yes, this is a temporary decision made by Her Majesty himself." Mr. James Summer still had the same expression on his face It was Furui Mubo who was calm, but there was a little more doubt in his tone, "However, if you listen to the new residence arranged by Her Majesty the Queen, your mood will not get worse."

"Oh? Where is that?" Charles asked with a smile.

"In order to allow you to enjoy a more pleasant trip to the UK." James Summer straightened his back, "Her Majesty the Queen plans to let you and your wife live in Buckingham Palace."

"Buckingham Palace?"

Ciel was speechless for a moment in surprise.

They actually arranged for Charlotte and me to stay as guests at Buckingham Palace, where the royal family often lives? That is a rare courtesy...

Does Her Majesty the Queen really regard us as relatives?

A rather ridiculous question suddenly flashed through his mind.

"Of course, sir, if you don't want to, I can convey your opinions to Her Majesty the Queen. After all, she won't force others to do anything..."

"Oh, no, of course not!" Charles immediately regained consciousness. He waved his hands repeatedly to show that he had no objection to the Queen's temporary arrangement. "Please tell Her Majesty the Queen that I am honored to receive such courtesy!"

"Then, can I ask Madam back then?" James Summer looked up at the carriage.

"No need. My wife and I have the same opinion. There is no need to ask again." Charles shook his head. "She is not feeling well now and is not in good spirits, so we'd better not Don’t bother her anymore.”

"Oh, that's right." James Summer bowed to Ciel. "Then, please say hello to Madam for me. I'll go back and resume my duties first..."

"Okay. Just do as you please." Charles nodded and made a farewell gesture.

After watching James Summer leave, Charles returned to the car, and then patted the shoulder of Charlotte who was dozing with her eyes narrowed. Informed her of the Queen's sudden decision.

"Your Majesty wants us to stay at Buckingham Palace?"

After hearing the news. Although her cheeks were still a little red, her spirits had been lifted a lot. "Char, does Her Majesty the Queen think highly of us?"

"Yes, although I don't understand why." Charles nodded, "Because I don't want others to disturb you, so I directly agreed on your behalf..."

"Of course I will agree. How can I not agree to such a good thing?" Charlotte replied without thinking.

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

Then. She suddenly seemed to think of something again, and looked at Charles with some worry. "Ciel, does this mean that in addition to a few public appearances, we will have many opportunities to see Her Majesty the Queen?"

"I guess so, maybe we'll have lunch or dinner with the family."

"Hey! Now that you know, why do you still look so indifferent?" Charlotte pushed Ciel reproachfully, then sat up and rearranged her slightly messy appearance. "It is rare for Her Majesty the Queen to treat us with such courtesy. We cannot embarrass ourselves in front of her."

Then, she glanced around with dissatisfaction, "Oops! We just got this news, and we haven't prepared anything yet! If His Majesty is dissatisfied, it will be troublesome!"

"Don't be so nervous," Charles comforted Charlotte in a low voice while adjusting his clothes, "From the information received from various sources, the Queen and the Prince are not so rigid people and will not care about such small details. Besides, I have already told the messenger that you are not feeling well today, so even if some of the responses are not appropriate, I think they will understand..."

"It's all your fault!" After calming down for a while, Charlotte glanced at Charles with some resentment, "If you hadn't been there to say it all the time, I would have been much better prepared!"

"Hey, weren't you regretting it just now and wanting to go back? I was trying to comfort you!" After being accused so baselessly by Charlotte, Charles couldn't help but complain.

"It's not all because of you that I..."

In the midst of the bickering that the two people were almost accustomed to, the carriage moved along Trafalgar Square at an unhurried speed, passing majestic buildings with unique shapes.

"This is St. James's Palace. The king used to live here, but now it is only used as a place for celebrations and ceremonies... This is the Palace of Westminster, well, it is also the seat of Parliament. In fact, the United Kingdom The highest center of power..."

In order to divert Charlotte's attention, Charles began to point to places one by one. He didn't stop until the carriage passed a triumphal arch.

Charlotte thought that Ciel was saying that he was tired and wanted to take a rest, so she didn't take it seriously and just looked at the surrounding buildings, like every visitor who came here for the first time.

She didn't know that this marble arch, which was similar in style to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, had the same nature as that building. It was built by the king in 1829 during the reign of George IV to commemorate the great British victories at Trafalgar and Waterloo. Yes, if she knew, she would probably feel a lot more complicated... And Ciel knew, but he didn't care.

The appearance of this arch here meant more to him - he had reached his destination. .

Sure enough, after a short period of driving, the carriage gradually stopped.

Charles and his wife slowly walked out of the carriage.

Buckingham Palace is clearly visible in the distance.

At this time, the fog has dissipated, and the sun is shining on the earth, reflecting dazzling light.

In the building in front of you, guards wearing bearskin hats were patrolling around, watching everyone who approached here with vigilance.

Buckingham Palace stood behind them, exuding an arrogant and indifferent aura, as if they wanted to declare the majesty of the empire in this way.

Britain's national power is at its peak at this time, and this momentum is indeed unforgettable.

After all, this is an empire that has conquered almost the entire world!

A nation with only 25 million people occupies a vast land area that exceeds one-fifth of the earth's land area, and has opened up the industrial age that has changed the course of human civilization, and is ahead of any other nation in science and technology.

What a formidable country this is!

Maybe it does not act in accordance with morality and is difficult to admire, but no matter what, it must be taken seriously and respected.

Yes, it should be respected.

He bowed slightly to the palace in the distance. (To be continued...)