Flowers, Swords and France

It is already the last day of 1868. The daylight shrouded in dark clouds is gradually fading, and the sky is slowly casting shadows. In a few hours, the New Year will come.

The whole world seems to be holding its breath, waiting for the arrival of the new year - although for the earth, this is just another ordinary orbital journey.

At a dining table in a mansion, the owners of the mansion were already sitting on their seats, seemingly waiting for dinner time to arrive.

Under the ceiling painted with portraits, the crystal chandelier with a gold-plated frame illuminates the marble floor that is always polished and discernible. The gilt candlesticks also light candles. Coupled with the tassels and curtains everywhere, this restaurant is as luxurious as The palace that the Arabs only dreamed of in "One Thousand and One Nights".

Sitting next to the dining table are two women, their faces look very young and energetic. Moreover, the outlines of their faces are very similar and beautiful, they are both wearing white winter skirts, their sitting postures and expressions are roughly the same, and they have the same long golden hair, they look like a pair of sisters.

The servants have been patrolling the restaurant, placing the prepared meals on the table one after another.

However, unlike her demure appearance, the taller and older woman seemed a little anxious. She looked at the quartz chiming clock next to the dining table from time to time, as if she was waiting for something.

"You seem to be in a hurry, ma'am." After a moment, the girl sitting opposite her laughed slightly. "Are you so worried? Since he said he would come, he will come."

Slightly teasing, the lady felt slightly embarrassed, and then she slightly adjusted her sitting posture to make herself appear more reserved and indifferent.

"I'm not worried that he won't come, my dear." Her voice had the gentleness of an adult and a little charm of her youth, "I'm just worried that it's going to snow. Look at the weather, if If it really goes down, he’ll be in trouble on the road.”

"I hope your concern can be transmitted to his heart in every detail. Otherwise, I should feel worthless for you, dear lady." The girl is still smiling.

"Alice!" The lady made a serious face, as if she was scolding, "We are here now. Why do we still call it that?"

"Then what should I call you?" Alice asked with a smile, and then stuffed two grapes into her mouth without much respect.

Her mother was slightly embarrassed.

"In a day like this, do you still want to vent your anger on your mother? Alice?" Then, she sighed sadly, "I admit that we are all sorry for you. But am I so bad that I can't even call you that?" Isn’t it enough?”

The sad look on her mother's face suddenly made Alice feel a little pity in her heart.

Yes, how lonely she would be without me by her side...

"Mom, I'm happy to call you that...but..." Alice still couldn't help but feel angry, "But you don't treat me as your daughter! You rejected my request and frustrated me. Your passion pushed away the love I offered you, and then you came to accuse me of not loving you! God knows how much I love you..."

The mother was startled for a moment, and then she realized that her daughter was angry with her.

"You...are you angry because I didn't approve your request?"

Alice looked away. No more answers.

The mother quietly looked at her young but very beautiful daughter.

Her face, her waist, and her posture were all the same as her own back then, and even her arrogance and stubbornness were completely imitated.

Ten years ago, young children only knew how to act coquettishly, asking for some toys at most. However, ten years later, the children have grown up, and reality has sharpened their claws. Now they ask for power. It's wealth, it's a status that ordinary people can't reach...

Yes, her daughter asked her to be her assistant a while ago. Participate in the mainland railway project.

The Continental Railway Plan is a giant railway line plan recently planned by the government together with the governments of other friendly countries. This idea is indeed very large. It is planned to run from the westernmost point of the European continent, the French port city of Brest, all the way through Europe, through the territories of Switzerland and the Austrian Empire, and all the way to the Turkish Empire at the westernmost point of the European continent. Finally, it leads directly to Asia.

Because the starting point is from Brest on the Atlantic coast, passing through Istanbul, the capital of the Turkish Empire (that is, Byzantine), and finally planned to be built to Baghdad in the Middle East, this plan is also called the 3B Railway Plan.

As one of the directors of the French Railway Federation, this mother knows more inside information than the outside world. Because of the favorable conditions of the prosperous population and developed industry of the European continent, as well as the friendly relations between the empire and Austria and Turkey, the railway plan from Brest to Byzantium has actually been negotiated and will start construction soon.

Due to the limitations of natural and industrial conditions, as well as the political misgivings of the Turks, construction on the section from Byzantium to Baghdad may not begin until more than ten years.

She also knew that in the planning of some top people in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Transport, there had always been an idea to build a railway to Beijing and turn it into a 4B railway. However, the natural constraints to realize this idea are too great. Investment and manpower expenditures are astronomical, coupled with the political pressure exerted by Britain and Russia fearing that India and Russia will be strategically divided and surrounded (in fact, this is exactly what happened The true purpose of a railway), so I don’t know what will happen decades later. Now it can only be regarded as a conversation piece after dinner.

Despite this, several countries joining together to build a railway line from the westernmost point to the easternmost point of the European continent will still be a major event that changes the face of Europe and the world - now the United States is building the Pacific Railway across the American continent, and the same is true It's an incredible project, but after all, the United States is alone overseas and does not have such a big impact on the world.

To carry out such a large project, the manpower, material resources and technical capabilities required are very amazing. The Duchess of Kanicht, a big banker, is naturally involved in the fund preparations - and her daughter Liana is also a member of the group. Her assistant began to be active in this money-driven political and business arena, just like her mother back then.

Seeing this, Alice recently asked her mother to participate as her agent, but her mother politely refused because of her young age. So she feels a little angry with her mother recently.

"Don't worry, child, you are still young. I think you should enjoy your youth more. There are so many interesting things that you have not experienced..." With an inexplicable feeling, the mother advised the child, " I am already old, and I can only entrust you with everything in my future, so why should you be anxious?"

"But others didn't wait!" Alice interrupted her mother. "You haven't seen that Lianna is not much older than me, and she has already participated in that project with her mother. God knows what kind of experience she can get from this! How could I let her succeed so easily? ?”

"She's older than you, and she's your sister, so what's the point of just letting her go?" My mother was still a little disapproving.

"She is a madman. You know, she was brought up by her mother. Since her mother is a madman, she must be a madman. There is absolutely no mistake." Alice said coldly in a straightforward manner. Judging her sister, "She is as dangerous as her mother. I know that she has always been pretentious and thinks that we brothers and sisters are only worthy of being her." A slave, so if...if I indulge in pleasure as you want, then sooner or later Clovis and I will be at her mercy! No, this is not possible! It’s just a bastard, and I am the product of your and my father’s love, the product of pure blood! How could I lose to a bastard?”

"..." Mother was suddenly speechless.

She knew her daughter too well. It is completely obvious that her daughter's character will never compromise before achieving her goal - just like how she treated her brother.

Perhaps because of the setbacks she suffered as a child, she was doubly proud of her bloodline and used this method to compensate for her psychological shortcomings and trauma. This pride in blood has also turned into a fanaticism to safeguard the interests of the Treville family - but it is the "interests" in her mind.

"Well, if you insist, then I will agree." Finally, the mother sighed, "But you have to agree to a few conditions."

"Please tell me, I will listen!" Alice was overjoyed when her mother's attitude relaxed.

"First, your participation in it can only be done in secret. You can't show off or show off to the outside world, especially you can't use the power of me and your father to bully others. Since you don't understand anything, you should study hard.

Second, you have to remember that you begged to participate. Since I let you in, I will never allow you to feel bored and want to leave midway. You have to be aware of it.

Thirdly, I don’t care what your feelings are towards Laura and Lianna. They are never allowed to be revealed in the affairs, let alone being angry with her or other people to affect the completion of the affairs. Since I can do it with Laura, you must do it too. "The mother raised her head and spoke her request in a calm manner, "This is not only a request, but also an order. As long as you participate, you must abide by it. Do you understand? ! "

"No problem, I promise you! Don't worry, I will follow all your instructions, just like I have always done..." Alice used her slender white hands to stuff herself a few more purple grapes , the bright red grape juice was also flowing beside her fresh lips, "I will definitely help you and dad build this railway, no matter how many people die!"

"It's a good thing to be determined and ambitious, but..." Mother frowned slightly, "Sometimes you just talk too much. We didn't talk like that back then."

"I am your and your father's child. I should shoulder everything for you and fight for you to the end. Isn't this natural? Back then, you could study in peace and contentment, but now the situation is different." Alice did not give in. " I have learned a lot from your experience, the most valuable of which is - as long as you set your goal, you must stick to it until it is achieved, and you are not afraid of sacrificing others and yourself, and overcome all difficulties. Besides, without your persistence and determination. Juejue, will there still be me in the world?"

Seeing her daughter's stubborn and unyielding appearance, the mother felt helpless at first, and then smiled bitterly.

She is my daughter after all... She thought bitterly but happily.

At this moment, there was a sudden snapping sound from the huge glass window.

The mother and daughter looked at the window at the same time, and then saw snow slowly falling outside the window.

"Oh, it's really snowing!" Mother shouted out worriedly. "It won't be delayed, right?"

"How about we go out and take a look together?" Alice was also a little worried.

"Okay." Mother nodded.

Just as the two people stood up and prepared to leave the restaurant. Suddenly they heard a commotion coming from outside the door, and the commotion was getting closer and closer to them.

The mother and daughter looked at each other with surprise in their eyes, and then slowly sat down at the same time.

The commotion soon stopped. Next, the door of the restaurant was pushed open by the servant.

Then, the Prince of Potsdam, dressed in casual clothes and a black tie, appeared at the door. Although his attitude is calm and gentle. But all the light seemed to focus on him in an instant.

He looked at the mother and daughter sitting at the dining table with a smile.

How beautiful!

"Happy New Year, two beauties. I hope you haven't been kept waiting too long."

The mother quietly looked at the prince, who had no menstruation, and suddenly felt her eyes sore.

"We haven't been waiting long, sir. Please take a seat."

Seeing that there seemed to be some sadness between the two middle-aged people, Alice suddenly chuckled, making the atmosphere relaxed again.

"Yes, we haven't been here for too long, and we haven't been talking about you, and we haven't been worried about your late arrival. Especially Madam, we haven't been talking about you, Your Highness. Of course, I also wish you a happy New Year."

"Oh? That really makes me sad." Charles couldn't help laughing, "What a clever kid!"

"Okay, stop talking!" Mother shouted out in embarrassment, "Sit down quickly, we will have dinner early, you must be hungry along the way."

"There's no rush." ​​The prince still smiled, and then he walked to Alice's side.

then. He took out a small box from his body and handed it to her gently. "Before eating, please allow me to offer a New Year's gift to this beautiful lady..."

"A gift?" Alice took the small box with curiosity and opened it gently. "ah!"

she exclaimed.

because. Inside this box is a huge diamond, so big that people even suspect that there is something wrong with their eyes.

Under her gaze, the diamond lay quietly on the velvet, emitting a light blue glow, just like the blue lake water, which was breathtaking.

Have parents like this. She has naturally been used to seeing all kinds of wealth since she was a child, but when she encounters such a treasure, she still can't help but feel excited - who can resist this kind of light?

"You...you mean you want to give it to me?"

"If you are willing to accept it, then it will be yours." The prince shrugged, "Do you want it?"

"Yes!" At a speed that was difficult to see clearly, Alice took the box into her arms, and then kept looking at the diamond, "How beautiful it is!"

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

"As long as you like it." Seeing Alice looking so happy, the prince was also very happy and gently stroked his daughter's silky hair.

"What a beautiful diamond!" Compared to Alice's cheers, her mother, who was accustomed to the world, was equally attracted, but was much calmer after all, "It...it can't be unknown. Could it be... …Is it the diamond that the Sun King was once proud of?”

"Yes." Ciel nodded. "I paid a fortune to get it back."

"But... this is unlucky, Bourbons... Bourbons..." The mother hesitated, obviously remembering some legends.

"Bourbon did not perish because of a gem, and it would not be the case if we were defeated." The prince suddenly raised his head arrogantly, "The Treville family does not need to care about the curse, they follow the rules. So, My daughter can play with it as much as she wants..."

"You are right, Dad! We don't need to care about legends! We can defend ourselves on behalf of God!" At this moment, Alice also cheered with joy.

Then suddenly she stood up and kissed her father on the cheek.

"Dad, thank you for the gift you gave me...I will make it into a pendant and wear it on my body. I will wear your love on my body all the time!"

"Believe me, you will be even more amazingly beautiful then." The prince bowed to his daughter teasingly, "God will be attracted to you."

Seeing the smiling faces of father and daughter, the mother who wanted to say something else stopped. Laughed the same way.

Then, dinner began, but although there were many dishes. But the three of them kept talking and laughing, so they didn't move much.

"Your daughter has grown up, sir." As she spoke, the mother conveyed her daughter's request just now, "Alice is pestering me all day long now. She must ask me to do errands for her..."

"Errand? But she's still so young!" The prince was a little shocked.

"I'm not young anymore, Dad!" Alice immediately protested. "After enduring so much, so much, so much care and favor from you, I can...and must make some proofs. I must tell myself that I Worth your preference!”

"But..." The prince still hesitated.

"Okay, it's nothing. You're just following me and taking a look. There's no problem." At this time, the mother spoke for her daughter, "She wants to do something when she grows up, so it's okay to study early now..."

Seeing that the mother and daughter seemed to have reached a tacit understanding, the prince blinked and finally had to agree. "Okay... Now that you have already discussed it, what else can I say? However, Alice, you are weak, so don't overexert yourself..."

"Yeah. I will, thank you, Dad!" Alice cheered and kissed her father's face again.

"Hey, in that case... I originally planned to give you a gift later. Now I might as well give it to you in advance..." After a moment of silence, the father pinched his daughter's face lovingly, "Today will definitely be This is your happiest day!”

"What? What else?" Alice opened her eyes wide.

"It's shares." The prince shrugged, "To be precise, it's shares in Suez."

"Suez? Is that the canal?" Before Alice could react, her mother exclaimed and lost her voice. "The canal that connects the Mediterranean and the Red Sea?"

"Yes, that's the canal." The prince nodded.

"Are you ready to start work? It's strange, I haven't heard the news before..." She was still a little confused.

Just a few years ago, the French government had obtained a concession from the rulers of Egypt to build a canal on the Isthmus of Suez to connect the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. There is no doubt that this will be a world-changing project.

"We are ready to start construction, but it is not us, but the British who will take the lead." The prince explained patiently, "The moves we have made recently are a bit big, and the British friends are a bit sensitive, so for the sake of the current peace in Europe, I am ready to Make some compromises with Britain. As part of the general compromise, France will withdraw from the fight for the Suez Canal, and the rights it has obtained will be transferred to the United Kingdom - that is, the Suez Canal will be built and operated by the British, and they will have control."

"In other words, as a condition for allowing us to communicate with Europe on land, the British require access to this world artery?" The other party quickly understood what he meant.

"That's it." The prince showed his hands, "Diplomacy is compromise - at least before we are ready to show off, we must seek some compromises. Anyway, we don't have a fleet that can rival the Royal Navy now, and even if we have the operating rights of Suez, it is illusory. It's better to use it to make deals with the British, and business on the mainland is serious..."

"You can do as you wish. I have no objection." Mother nodded, indicating that she completely agreed with the prince's arrangement. "But what about the shares you are talking about?"

"Of course I can't give it all to the British for free?" the prince asked with a smile, "At that time, the construction and operation of the Suez Canal will be responsible for the construction and operation of the Suez Canal. The British will of course take the lead, but a certain The shares will be held by foreigners... well, I mean, by our people, as we deserve, and the British gentlemen don't mind. It means that we own some shares that do not affect the management rights. As for these shares, I will let a French bank hold them, and the shareholders of this French bank will be some of my loyal subordinates. This is what the so-called politics is. I must make my followers feel that they have a future with me, whether it is political or financial. As for the remaining ones, I will make other arrangements..."

"And you, are you going to give these to Alice?" The mother finally understood the prince's arrangement.

As a canal connecting three continents, one can imagine the future status of the Suez Canal. At least in the foreseeable future, this matter will be a rolling ocean of money, but the prince plans to give part of it to Alice...

Mother and daughter looked at each other.

"No!" Before Alice could say anything, her mother flatly rejected Ciel's suggestion.

"Huh?" The prince was a little stunned.

"It's true that you love her very much - but the rules cannot be broken. Since she is your daughter and a member of this great family, she has the same obligations as everyone else." The mother looked at the prince seriously, "I know that you particularly prefer her. It's enough that you have this intention. You don't need to make any special arrangements."

"But..." The prince wanted to say something else.

"Dad, stop talking. I really don't need this gift. You can either give it to other subordinates, or put it under the name of the family foundation..." Alice also spoke, "I really... …I’ve had enough from you.”

Then, she suddenly hugged her father, who was still sitting in the chair, and looked at him with eyes full of love.

"Thank you. You have given me such an expensive gift. I...I am very grateful to you. You really...really don't have to feel guilty about me. You have given me enough. I don't need to find ways to do it." Compensate me. Yes, I am very grateful to God for being born as your daughter. I...I will never blame you or my mother until the last breath of my life, so please follow your mother's words. Do it, please!”

Hearing his daughter's deep confession, the prince's originally strong and calm face suddenly twitched slightly, and even tears flashed in his eyes. He stretched out his hand to touch his daughter's face again, but his trembling hand finally let go and took his daughter into his arms.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry...Alice, my dear daughter."

"Okay! What do you want to turn this New Year into!" Seeing that both the father and daughter were about to cry, the mother, who was also sad in her heart, suddenly slapped the table heavily, sobering them all up from their excitement, "A good dinner, what did you mess up?"

"I'm sorry." After a moment of silence, the prince smiled apologetically, and then gently sent his daughter back to her seat.

"Sir, you are going back later, right?" After eating for a while, the mother asked again.

"Yes." The prince lowered his eyes, looking even more apologetic.

Every New Year, the prince would hold a large banquet as usual, summoning a large number of party members to discuss various matters, and this year was no exception.

"Nothing, how could I blame you?" Mother shook her head, "I just pray that you can give me more time... Someone who is absolutely trustworthy will come to help us draw a picture, I hope you can stay with me for a while."

"Painter?"

"Yes, I have sponsored so many painters, I have to let them get some return, right?" Mother said as a matter of course.

"Okay, I must draw!" Alice shouted like a child, shaking her father's hand. "I will put the gem you gave me on my chest, it will be beautiful!"

The schedule is indeed very tight, but in front of the mother and daughter's expectant eyes, what does it matter?

The prince laughed.

"Okay, it takes as long as you want."(~^~)

PS: There is a problem in the previous chapter.

"The Blue Danube" is not a work of the 1850s. I apologize to the readers for forgetting it when writing this paragraph...

Also, niche books are just works for self-entertainment, and they have no achievements and do not block anyone's way. If you don't like it, don't read it. Please report it. Thank you...