Flowers, Swords and France

A grand event is about to take place today on Saint-Dominique Street, near the Saint-Germain district, where many wealthy people gather. Many celebrities, wealthy businessmen, journalists and art critics gathered in a large gallery today.

They all came to attend an art exhibition.

From the corridor to the hall, there are paintings that are either exquisite or vivid, faithfully recording the painter's progress in painting skills and life experiences over the past few decades.

At this moment, this respected old painter is standing in the middle of the hall, accepting interviews from several well-known newspapers.

"Mr. Durenberg, how are you feeling today?" A reporter stood next to an old man with a gray beard holding a small notebook. "Is today the biggest exhibition you have ever held?"

"Need I say? Of course I am excited! Incomparable excitement!" The old painter Durenberg looked around with excitement, and even the wrinkles on his face seemed to be smoothed out, and his face was full of rosy. "I am so happy. Thinking back to decades ago, the poor boy who had nothing just walked into Paris, he could actually walk to today... I thank my teacher for selflessly teaching me everything, and I also thank France for not erasing me from my origin, but giving talented people fair opportunities..."

The reporter listened and wrote, nodding frequently.

After decades of hard work in France, his accent has long been smoothed out, and his French with a Parisian accent is much smoother than most people from other provinces. Not only the accent, he also knows clearly what he should say to make the French happiest. To be able to make a name for oneself in the picky and somewhat arrogant French painting world as a foreigner, one needs more than just extraordinary talent.

The reporters asked questions one after another. Although the old painter had already developed the habit of coping with it for decades, people always have limited energy after getting older, so the painter gradually became tired. Several reporters were also senior people who had worked for many years. After seeing the painter like this, they looked at each other for a few times, and then stopped asking questions at the same time, kindly giving the old painter a chance to rest.

The old painter who got the time kept pacing in the hall, admiring the paintings on the wall, rubbing his hands constantly, and almost shaking. Obviously, he was extremely excited.

Of course, he was indeed qualified to be happy - just today, the old painter reached the pinnacle of art and life, held his largest personal exhibition so far, and so many celebrities came to support him, all of which were exchanged for his amazing efforts for decades.

What made him feel that his life was complete was not only painting and becoming famous, but also something else, that is...

his lovely students.

Although these students are all very cunning and not easy to deal with, which makes him feel very troubled on weekdays, being able to guide so many smart and beautiful students is still the most self-satisfied thing in his mind.

………………

Flan took Charles' hand, and the brother and sister got off the carriage together and walked into the gallery. Fran was still wearing a plain white dress today, with a flower-shaped hairpin on her head. She didn't wear any special makeup, but she showed the charm of a girl to the fullest.

"Brother, I'm so nervous..." Fran spoke while walking, her voice trembling a little. At this moment, the long corridor in her eyes seemed to be endless.

"Don't worry, my sister." Charles patted his sister's head gently, constantly giving her passion and courage, "Your talent is unparalleled. I knew it from the beginning. No one can compare to you."

Hands were held tighter, but Fran's steps became firm again.

"Yes, I must be the best!" Fran whispered to herself, as if to cheer herself up.

"Don't add pressure to yourself, you are still young, and it is not easy for teachers to recommend you." Charles couldn't help but comfort her again.

………………

"Teacher!"

A greeting woke up the old painter who was still in deep thought. He looked up and found that one of his most admired students had just appeared at the door.

"Miss Treville, you are finally here." The old painter laughed again, and then he noticed the young man standing next to the girl.

He felt a little familiar, but he couldn't remember who it was.

"Who is this...?" He asked hesitantly.

"My brother, Charles." Fran immediately replied with a smile, "I came here to participate in the exhibition today."

Charles bowed to the old painter who had been famous for a long time to show his respect, without any aristocratic airs.

"Mr. Durenberg, I sincerely thank you for your careful teaching of Fran, and I wish your exhibition a great success."

"No wonder I feel familiar with you!" The old painter suddenly realized, and then nodded to Charles, "Hello, Mr. Treville. Although today is the first time we meet, your sister often draws you in her paintings, so we are not completely strangers..."

There was a little joking in his tone, and he did not seem particularly unfamiliar because of the first meeting. Obviously, he had a good impression of Charles because of Fran, and Charles was also very humble, which made him quite satisfied.

Charles smiled a little awkwardly at this teasing, but he was quite happy in his heart, and secretly pulled his sister's hand to show his praise.

Fran's face was a little red, and she also pulled her brother's hand heavily.

Just as the few people were still chatting, two more people came in.

There was also a man and a woman, the woman holding the man's hand, the man was a short and fat middle-aged man, and the woman was a young girl in gorgeous clothes. Judging from their ages, they should be father and daughter.

As soon as they came in, the middle-aged man nodded to the old painter from a distance, as if to congratulate him.

The old painter smiled at the brother and sister as if apologizing, and then Charles shook his head to indicate that it was okay. Then the old painter walked over directly, as if he was going to talk to the other party in person.

Charles didn't feel anything at first glance, but soon he recognized the middle-aged man.

Isn't this the big banker Baron de Bovan whom he met at the home of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (current Prime Minister) that day?

"The girl over there is one of my classmates, Miss Laura de Bovan. Her family is very rich! She often distributes small gifts to her classmates... The one next to her seems to be her father. He seems to love his daughter very much. It is said that the teacher can hold this exhibition with his large sponsorship..." As if she noticed her brother's doubts, Fran explained softly, "What's wrong, do you know them, brother?"

Charles understood in his heart. No wonder the old painter wanted to greet him as soon as he saw him. It turned out that he met a big sponsor.

Yes, they are father and daughter. The big banker Baron Pierre de Bovan and his beloved daughter Laura came to this exhibition together.

When Charles thought of this, he planned to look away to avoid being recognized.

But, it was too late.

The middle-aged man had already seen Charles, and after a few seconds of confusion, he slightly widened his eyes, as if he had recalled Charles' memory in his mind. Then, he tilted his head towards his daughter, as if he wanted to ask something.

Oops, he was recognized! He secretly said that it was not good. He was thinking about countermeasures.

The other party was obviously asking about Fran's identity, and her daughter would definitely answer truthfully.

"Fran!" Charles called his sister.

"What's the matter?" Fran was a little strange because of Charles's suddenly serious tone.

"If someone asks later, you can say that I am your cousin, Charlotte's brother Eugene, remember." Charles said his request softly.

The original text is in the six # 9 @book/bar!

Fran's face darkened a little when she heard the word Charlotte.

"Why?"

"There is no reason, it's just a need, do you understand? Brother needs you to do this." Charles' tone was extremely serious, even a little urgent.

Fran opened her eyes wide and seemed a little at a loss, but she soon regained her composure.

"Okay, brother, I understand. If someone asks later, I will say this..."

Charles breathed a sigh of relief.

"But..." Fran suddenly thought of something and became a little hesitant, "Didn't we just tell Teacher Durenberg? He already knows that you are my brother..."

"This is easy to explain, because you are shy." Charles' voice became calm again.

"Shy?" Fran was a little confused.

"Because I am your cousin and your fiancé, you are embarrassed to say it in front of the teacher, so you can only say that I am your biological brother. This is normal." Charles expressed his considerations.

To be honest, he was able to make up such a round lie in a blink of an eye, and he also admired himself a little.

However, he seemed to underestimate his sister's tolerance.

Fran's face turned red in an instant.

"You...you...how can you say such a thing!" She almost shouted.

Several eyes swept over from the side in an instant.

Charles thought it was not good and hurriedly dragged his sister away.

"The fiancé... How can you say such things to your sister!" Fran's face was now red as if water was about to drip out, there was a thin film in her eyes, and her breathing was very heavy and rapid, "This... This..."

"Isn't this just a lie? Why are you so angry!" Charles's face was also a little embarrassed, "I don't want to be like this, but just think of it as helping your brother once! Okay?"

After saying that, he gently patted his sister's head.

I don't know how long it took, Fran's breathing finally calmed down, but her face was still red.

"I know, brother is really..."

[Once you accept this kind of character setting, it's actually pretty good =. =]

Just when the brother and sister were arguing and the old painter was greeting the great banker Baron Bovan, another large group of people walked in.

When the old painter saw who was coming, he quickly said goodbye to the banker and walked over there.

Walking in the middle of the group was an old woman with wrinkles on her face, looking like she was in her sixties or seventies. Although she no longer had the youthful beauty of the past, the arrogance and serious expression between her eyebrows still revealed a sense of majesty, but she was a little too thin, her figure was a little haggard, and her face was very pale, and she looked sick.

As this group of people entered, the gallery, which was originally a little noisy, suddenly became silent. The "big man" that Durenberg promised to Fran finally showed up at the scheduled time.

The only living sister of His Majesty the King (born in 1777), "Ms. Adelaide" who enjoys great reputation among the people, Louise-Marie-Adelaide-Eugenie-d'Orleans-Bourbon, who lived in seclusion in the Tuileries Palace because she never married, finally came to attend the exhibition as she promised before.

"Karl, don't let me down this time." The lady's elegant, humorous, and slightly tired voice echoed in the gallery, "I have been looking forward to your exhibition for a long time."

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