Flowers, Swords and France

Although it was a big deal about naming the child, Charlotte agreed without any hesitation. This was her grandfather's last wish, and she would never go against it.

After seeing her agree, the Duke breathed a sigh of relief with satisfaction.

At this moment, a sharp pain suddenly attacked him. He gasped for breath, his whole body twitched, and his face was distorted.

"Grandpa!" Charlotte burst into tears and threw herself on the old man.

The old man kept opening his mouth slightly, but could only make painful hoarse sounds, trying to speak but unable to speak at all. Finally, his hand trembled and pointed to a small box on the bedside table next to him.

Charles understood the old man's meaning, and hurried to the cabinet to take the box and handed it to Charlotte.

Charlotte opened the box with tears, and then handed it to the Duke.

The Duke pointed to a piece of paper with difficulty, motioning Charlotte to take it out.

Charlotte followed his arrangement, and then glanced at her grandfather and looked very surprised.

"Grandpa, is this your document?"

The Duke nodded.

"Read it!" He finally recovered a little from the pain and mustered up the strength to shout out a word.

Charlotte hesitated, looked at all the relatives standing around, and finally obeyed her grandfather's order.

"I, Philippe François Auguste de Treville, am old and feel that I will be called by the Lord soon, so I leave this document as a posthumous arrangement.

1. The real estates in Anjou, Troyes, Dijon and Giverny - the details have been attached separately - will be transferred to my son Philippe, but must be kept as permanent property. It is not allowed to be sold or transferred. He is only allowed to collect fixed annual rent and property income from it. When Philippe dies, these real estates will be transferred to the Treville Family Fund established by me.

2. All my deposits and cash, as well as the bills and securities I own, have been transferred to the Treville Family Fund. The specific amount and distribution have been attached separately, and its principal and all The interest will be used by the person in charge of the fund.

3. My son and grandson, as well as future generations, will receive a fixed income from the fund every year, and the specific amount will be determined by the person in charge of the fund.

4. The person in charge of the fund is determined to be my granddaughter Charlotte. If she is unable to exercise her power for some reason, her husband Charles de Treville has the right to act on her behalf.

5. There is no term limit for the person in charge, but he has the right to designate any family member as the new person in charge.

The above is the final decision made by me with full will and independent judgment. My descendants should respect my arrangement and no objection is allowed. "

In the bright candlelight, Charlotte read out all the words on the document in a crisp tone.

After listening to it, even though everyone was immersed in the grief of losing this relative, they still couldn't help looking at each other.

This is clearly the will made by the Duke!

Charles' heart moved, then raised his head and observed the reactions of others. According to their different interests, everyone showed different performances.

Charles observed carefully and found that Charlotte was more surprised than surprised. She was very happy that her grandfather recognized her and handed over the family to her as promised.

The old marquis was sad and calm, and he obviously knew his brother's arrangement a long time ago.

But it was different with his cousin.

He and his two sons were obviously not so happy.

This is easy to understand.

Logically speaking, the young Duke of Treville should have been the natural heir of the Duke, and everything should have been handed over to him, but the Duke let his granddaughter and grandson-in-law manage the wealth... This can't be said to be a huge blow.

And it is obvious that his two sons were the most affected - after the Duke died, his son, the young Duke of Treville, could still enjoy the rent income of those manors and have a fixed income to maintain a luxurious life - although the real estate was expressly prohibited from being sold. But when the young Duke of Treville died, his sons could not inherit this power at all, and could only rely on the Treville family foundation to obtain a fixed income - that is to say. The Duke of Treville finally let his son off the hook, but he put his grandson directly into a position where he could only bow down to Charles and Charlotte.

Eugene, the second grandson, was fine. He didn't expect to get much from the family, so he was relatively calm. But Charles' cousin Philippe, who was originally the heir to the family and the title, ended up in this situation, so he was particularly indignant.

The Duke also discovered the obvious reservations of his children and grandchildren.

"Are you dissatisfied?" he asked with difficulty. "Are you dissatisfied?"

No one answered.

"Philippe..." Seeing that no one raised any opinions, the Duke called his son.

"Dad?" Although his voice was not loud, the little Duke of Treville was startled.

"You...you swear to me. You are not allowed to object to my will after I die." The Duke coughed and looked at his son with a stern look, "Let your children swear too."

Looking at his father's eyes, the little Duke of Treville was speechless.

Even in the dying state, his father's will was still so inviolable.

It seems that everything has been arranged during his serious illness. Now, what else is there to say?

Dad, then follow your wishes. A tear dropped from the corner of his eye.

"I swear to God, I will never have any objection to your wishes." After hesitating for a moment, the little Duke swore. "If I break my oath, may the devil take away my soul and suffer in purgatory forever!"

Then, at his prompting, his youngest son Eugene also took the oath.

Only Phillip was left, and everyone's eyes were focused on him.

Phillip was obviously reluctant, his brows were furrowed, but he never spoke.

"Philip!" The little Duke's eyes widened.

Under his father's urging, Charles's cousin finally wriggled his lips and swore in a low voice, but he was obviously reluctant.

Seeing that his children and grandchildren finally agreed to his arrangement, the Duke finally relaxed.

Then he looked at Charlotte again.

Charlotte understood and picked up the document again.

"In addition, for the assets that the Bourbon family has deposited with us, my heirs still have the obligation to repay them after my death. When the other party needs them, they must transfer the funds to the Bourbon family in full as soon as possible. They must not Violation."

There are actually arrangements? And, what kind of arrangement is this?

Ciel was startled again. Then he looked at his cousin, but found that he was also confused.

"Dad? What kind of debt?" Little Duke Treville couldn't help but ask.

"It's the property that the Royal Bourbon family left with grandpa. During the July Revolution, the usurper forced His Majesty Charles X away. The royal family had a lot of property and real estate that they couldn't take away in a hurry, in order to prevent the shameful usurper from confiscating it. "So they secretly transferred them to Grandpa's name," Charlotte explained in a low voice, "Because of fear of the usurper's revenge, Grandpa has always kept this secret and only told it to me as a secretary... "

"For so many years, such a huge fortune has been in Grandpa's hands. Grandpa has been using it carefully, using..." Charlotte hesitated again, as if she was considering her words, but finally said "Using it as principal to invest. Then it generated huge profits. It has been a huge sum accumulated over the years."

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

No wonder the Duke is so enthusiastic about the cause of protecting the king... It turns out that it is to make a gesture so that the Bourbon family can continue to keep their assets in their hands...

Everyone said that the Duke of Treville was one of the few big landowners in the country, but it turned out that there was such a big secret inside.

Charles suddenly understood these issues that were unclear before.

What about Charlotte? Was Charlotte so actively loyal to the restoration cause of the Bourbon family in order to help the family maintain the right to use this wealth?

Ciel looked at his wife.

No, she should be sincere, although there are also considerations in this regard. He came to this conclusion quickly.

After a moment, he thought of another question.

Although the Royal Bourbon family occupied the entire France, now they are just a group of exiles. Since Duke Treville did not tell anyone about this. Then he could continue not to tell, take the secret to the grave, and let the family embezzle the property of the Royal Bourbon family.

However, he told his children and grandchildren before he died. He also specifically told his heirs to pay back the money...

Charles turned his eyes and looked at the dying old man on the bed.

Is he cold or passionate, loyal or rebellious?

Maybe they all have it, people have two sides after all.

"Okay...I will help you fulfill this wish." With an inexplicable rising emotion, Charles whispered, "I will raise enough money and then find a way to transfer it to the Bourbon family. This is We will complete the task you give us to the letter and never let you down.”

After receiving Charles's categorical guarantee, the Duke became even more relaxed.

Everything has been arranged, there is nothing to worry about. Maybe his son and grandson will want to resist, but his younger brother and grandson-in-law will never let him succeed. As long as they are around, his will can be carried out to the letter even after death.

Even the name of his great-grandson has been chosen according to his own wishes.

It is conceivable that after his death, the surname Treville, which he has worked hard for all his life, will be even more prosperous.

It was getting colder and colder, and he twitched unnaturally.

There were thousands more words he wanted to say, but he felt like his strength and spirit were being sucked away by the void.

He opened his eyes slightly, planning to use the last moment to review.

Yes, I have enjoyed enough glory and wealth in this life, I have tasted the taste of ups and downs, witnessed the collapse of a dynasty, experienced the storm of blood and fire, and served as a minister of a country... I have no regrets anymore.

However, these are not the things that make him most proud.

What are you most proud of?

What is it?

Memories rolled through my mind, but they became increasingly blurry.

"If you really have the courage, then take good care of your brother. I will leave him to you. Don't let me down." Just when he was anxious, this voice suddenly sounded in his ears.

Yes, that's dad's advice.

His eyes moved slightly, and then he saw his brother.

His figure became more and more blurred, but he saw the grief from the bottom of his heart in his brother.

Yes, he lived well. He could live even if I died, and he had a good grandson. I also married my most beloved granddaughter to his grandson...

Dad, I didn't disappoint your expectations!

An incomparable pride filled his chest.

He was qualified to face his father over there.

"Grandpa!" When Charlotte found that Grandpa's chest was no longer rising and falling, she cried loudly and threw herself on Grandpa.

"Be kind to your father and brother, they will be handed over to you in the future!"

Inadvertently, he left the same instructions as his father. (~^~)