Flowers, Swords and France

Just as his grandfather hoped, Charles did stay at his home that night. To be precise, he stayed in his grandfather's secretary's bed.

When he woke up from his sleep, it was already broad daylight, and the sunlight fell straight down from the window and swept onto them.

Mary was still hugging him and lying in his arms. Traces of last night's joy were everywhere. Even her body had some red marks, like something on a white paper. They look like spots, which are both distressing and exciting to look at.

Although I may have made a mistake that was sorry for Charlotte, I feel good. After thinking quietly for a moment, Ciel thought to himself.

After betraying his pregnant wife, he unexpectedly found that he didn't feel much regret in his heart now.

Am I really a hopeless scumbag?

It seems like this doesn’t need an answer at all. Isn’t it an obvious fact? He smiled bitterly in his mind.

Since you are already a scumbag, why do you need to pretend to be guilty anymore? With this thought of self-destruction, he reached out and gently touched Mary's smooth back. The skin within reach is smooth and soft, just like stroking a piece of brocade.

Under his unconscious touch, Mary also opened her eyes slightly. The blurred vision quickly focused on his face, and then Mary's usual smile appeared on her face.

"It seems you had a lot of fun last night."

"I hope I can give you the same feeling." Ciel replied with a smile.

"Well, I feel very happy too." Mary nodded solemnly, "I'm very glad that I successfully completed the task of paying tribute and fulfilled my duty as a vassal. In the process of dedicating ourselves, our virtues It has also been sublimated..."

"That's enough, don't say that. Just tell me whether I have made you happy." Charles quickly stopped her deliberate tirade.

Mary didn't answer, she just raised her head and looked at him with her teasing and slightly sarcastic smile.

Men are really weird, she thought to herself. He asked himself if he was happy. In essence, I still hope to get something like "I don't love your money and status, but the person you are." It seems like every man has this urge.

But Mary didn't want him to be satisfied so easily.

"I understand. You must feel sorry because I didn't blush and say that I was very happy to satisfy your conquest..." Mary's smile slowly faded. Then he looked at him seriously, "Well, let me tell you, I am so happy to be with you. It makes me uncomfortable. Please, stay with me."

Although this answer was very satisfying on paper, Ciel couldn't be happier at this moment.

"You seem to like teasing me?" After a moment of astonishment, he sighed dejectedly.

Seeing his slightly disappointed look, Mary couldn't help laughing.

"Don't you think this is interesting?"

Then, she suddenly reached out and hugged Charles tightly, "Okay, I'm really happy, sir."

I don't find it interesting... Of course Ciel wouldn't answer that way.

However, I feel better now. Wouldn't it be better if you said this earlier? Even acting is fine!

He looked at the woman lying in his arms, looked at her, and couldn't help but reach out and pinch her face.

"What a kitten."

"Cats are very smart, aren't they? Dogs are too impulsive and always like to be close to their owners. Although they feel cute most of the time, if they are always like this, they will always be annoying. But cats know that if they stay away, they will always be Keep the distance just right and never embarrass the owner…Don’t you just love cats?”

"But if the cat is too smart, the owner will be in trouble. He doesn't know what the cat sees." Charles held her face in his hands, and then held it in front of him. Then he and Mary's eyes met. "Tell me, Mary, does the cat like its owner?"

After all, he is a man. No matter what, he always wants to ask for an answer. Seeing Ciel behave like this. Mary's smile grew wider.

"If you insist on getting an answer... then I would say, of course the cat likes its owner." There was always some sarcasm flowing in her golden brown pupils, "But will you accept such a simple answer?"

Ciel was stunned.

Mary's answer was really too light, and it always made him feel like he couldn't catch her - just like a cat.

However, whether she was sincere or out of a need to please herself, for Ciel, having this answer was better than getting a cruel answer.

We do need to deceive ourselves sometimes, he thought to himself, it wouldn't make much difference anyway, why not make everyone happy. Besides, who am I qualified to ask others to fall in love with me?

"I accept your answer." He lowered his face gently and kissed Mary's forehead. "Thank you, Mary, I will..."

He was about to say, "I will repay you," but suddenly realized that it was really inappropriate to say such words at this time, so he changed his mind, "I will... take good care of that cat until she doesn't want me to take care of it anymore. "

"The cat will thank you too, sir." Mary kissed him on the cheek too. "Something you may not know is that cats are also loyal."

"I hope it will always be like this." Charles smiled, then put her down and went to the bed to change his clothes.

"You didn't go home last night. Is everything okay with the lady?" Mary also got up gently.

"It should be fine." Charles answered as calmly as possible, "I have so many things to do, it's normal for me not to go home, and besides... I'm staying at my grandfather's house, what's the problem?"

"I feel relieved when you say that." Mary nodded seriously, "Although it sounds like you still feel guilty."

...

"I really want to punish you again." After a moment of silence, Charles said helplessly.

Then he took out his pocket watch from his pocket and looked at the time, "It's a pity that I have an appointment today."

"Oh, that's a pity." Mary raised her eyebrows, "Then, do you want me to go out and help you check before leaving? If you go out like this, what if you run into someone you don't want to run into, wouldn't it be embarrassing for you?"

...

"Okay, thank you."

Mary is right. He will stay here tonight. Grandpa must have known, and he didn't care if he knew, but he didn't want that person to know. Otherwise, it would be too embarrassing.

"Lucky. She is sorting the paintings in the storage room now, and she doesn't seem to know what happened last night." Mary went out for a while and came back, "You go quickly, I'll go find her there and help her."

"Thank you. Thank you..." Charles didn't know what he was thanking for, he just walked out.

His carriage had been sent back last night. As soon as he walked out of his house, he found a rental carriage and went all the way to a high-end restaurant on Peace Street.

Because his current status is very different, he deliberately kept a low profile, holding a newspaper while reading and walked into the restaurant, then walked upstairs and walked all the way to the box he had agreed on.

The door was not closed, he pushed it open gently.

"Mr. Treville!" As soon as he saw his face. Andrei Bezukhov, a tall, thin Russian with a mustache, a gentle appearance and very polite manners, walked up to him and extended his hand to him. "I'm so glad you can come."

"I'm also glad to see my old friend again." Charles also extended his hand and shook hands with him, and then the two sat down at the table together.

Andrei had asked to see him at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before, but Charles was not there at the time, so he could only leave a note with his secretary, saying that he wanted to treat Charles to another meal. Although as an important person in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it seemed a bit wrong to have a meal with diplomats from other countries in private. But Charles agreed without thinking, after all, Andrei Bezukhov and he had some friendship.

Just a few years ago, he met this Russian in this restaurant under the leadership of his good friend Albert. At that time, he was still a rebel with no status. In order to raise some funds for himself, he sold a batch of forged antiques to Andrei Bezukhov. At that time, his interactions with Andrei Bezukhov always had a bit of the gangster habits of a playboy.

Now, he has become a big man that all of France is paying attention to, while Andrei Bezukhov has only changed from a third-class secretary of the Russian Embassy in France to a second-class secretary. The status between the two people is very different, so their interactions always have a bit of Charles' condescending taste.

Maybe it was Charles's illusion, or maybe Andrei really did it deliberately, anyway, he felt that the Russian was now a little respectful to him. Moreover, it must be said that Charles enjoyed this feeling very much.

"I really didn't expect that you would suddenly become our colleague, and it seems that you are doing a really good job." As soon as he sat down, Andrei poured wine for both of them attentively. "Last time, you really pissed off our ambassador, and when he came back, he scolded you in front of everyone."

The original text is available at Liu # 9 @shu/ba!

"Oh? I'm very happy about that." Charles remained calm, "You have to know that this man insulted my grandfather in person. I'm glad that I was able to give him a good slap before he left Paris."

"Hahahaha..." Seeing Charles so arrogant, Andre laughed instead, "Charles, don't worry, I'm not here to blame you. To be honest, I'm very happy that you can make him so angry. This Count has always been so pretentious. To be honest, we are also very happy that he suffered such a loss. But... can I ask why he was so angry? Are you angry?"

"I can't tell you this, some things can only be considered confidential." Charles shook his head regretfully, "Or, I should answer you in our jargon: Sorry, no comment."

"Oh! Look! How skilled you are..." Andre didn't take it as an offense at all, but continued to laugh, "Charles, you are a very talented diplomat, you can make a career in this field. Come, let's toast to diplomacy!"

"Cheers!" Charles didn't waste time, clinked glasses with him directly, and then drank a glass of brandy.

After the strong liquor went down, the two people immediately became closer.

"Charles, I'm really happy that you can treat me with this attitude." After a while of drinking, Andre's face flushed slightly, "I thought it would be difficult to see you now, after all..."

"Friendship can sometimes transcend status. What's more, in this era, none of us can be said to have a stable status." Charles replied with a smile. "Instead of focusing on putting on airs, I want to maintain friendships with others as much as possible, so that when I unfortunately lose my status, at least I still have friends to look for."

"Hey. You are absolutely right!" As if he touched some resonance in his heart, Andre shouted, "You know, I am no longer young, and my father is getting older. . I don’t have much capital or time to waste, but compared to you, I can say that I have accomplished nothing. I have squandered my youth on endless enjoyment in this city..."

"Why do you look like a poet today, Andre?" Charles looked at him strangely, "I remember you are not usually like this, and you should be happy with it."

"Yes, I enjoy it and will continue to indulge in it in the future... However, I have to make some plans for myself, Charles. I think you understand what I mean. My father is old and I don't know when God will "My brother will not be generous to me after inheriting the family business." Andre smiled slyly, "I have to make some plans for the future, and you can just help me."

"Help you?" Charles stopped, and then asked curiously, "How?"

"To be precise, it's to help my father..." Andre's voice became lower and lower, "Yes. Charles, my father has a favor that you need to do, and he is willing to pay for it."

"Pay...to ask me for help?" Charles became even more confused.

His father, Count Bezukhov, was a well-known large landowner in Russia. He is also one of the few richest people in Russia. Such a person actually wants to ask for help?

Could it be some smuggling or other illegal activities?

still……

"I am happy to help the respected Count Bezukhov, but..." Charles replied implicitly and reservedly, "Andre, you also know. My position does not allow me to ignore the interests of the country."

"No, no, no, sir, my father absolutely does not need you to betray the national interests." Seeing Charles's reply, Andre quickly waved his hand to deny, "He just...he just hopes that you can help him issue a few passports and let a few people It's just a simple matter for you that you can come to France safely from Russia, but it's a life-saving grace for some people, and... my father is willing to pay a high price for it, you just need to sign a few words. A name can be exchanged for a large sum of francs."

Ciel slightly understood something.

"Some things are not so easy to sign." Charles looked at the other party calmly, "I have to know who they are and whether they will be harmful to France."

"It will definitely not harm France. On the contrary, they all like France very much and hope to turn Russia into like France." Andre smiled gently. "Charles, I will make it clear. If you don't want to, please do it." Keep it secret for us. They... they have some objections to His Majesty the Tsar's words and deeds, so the government wants them, and my father needs to bring them out safely. And don't worry, the passports have fake names, and no one will implicate you. All you have to do is sign and accept the franc."

Bribe me? Do you think I can be bribed so easily?

But... this seems very interesting. Count Bezukhov, a wealthy Russian landowner, is obviously a vested interest, but he is still a supporter of the anti-government elements... Interesting.

"How many francs are there?" He pretended to be very surprised.

"My father plans to pay 150,000 francs to save them." Andre replied without thinking.

It seems that the count promised to pay at least two hundred thousand, and he must have withheld it. But Ciel didn't care about that.

"I will consider it. If I am sure there is no problem... I will do a favor to my friend." After pondering for a moment, Ciel replied.

"Thank you, Charles, what a friend!" Andre said happily, "My father will be very happy now."

Then, the two people continued to exchange cups and cups, just talking about interesting things, as if the transaction just now did not exist.

"By the way, my friend, I want to ask you a question." Before leaving, Charles suddenly asked. "You should be very professional about this."

"What? Just ask."

"If there is a girl who always likes to tease you, ridicule you, and also likes to pretend to be serious and say that she likes you..." Ciel looked at the other person with a confused face, "Then does she like you or not?"

"You must like me. If you hate me, which girl will say more to me?" Andre looked confused, "Isn't this obvious? Some girls just like to say something that they don't mean, because they Feeling that expressing yourself too much will make you look weak or embarrassed , so they want to tease you in various other ways to remind you of their existence. Although such girls are rare, I have met a few. To be honest, I sometimes play with them. It’s quite fun...Why, you’ve also encountered this?”

Andre seemed to understand something, and looked at Charles with a playful expression, "Girls like this are usually very smart, so you should be careful when dealing with them."

He didn't care that Charles had a wife.

"Thank you, my friend." Charles patted him on the shoulder. "I think you've solved one of my problems."

Even if it depends on this sentence, I have to help you, my friend. (~^~)