Flowers, Swords and France

April 1, 1857

As night fell, the lights of thousands of houses filled the night sky of Paris like stars. The night in Paris was as gentle and affectionate as ever. Countless pedestrians strolled along the banks of the Seine and all the places for entertainment in the city, admiring the world-famous and incomparable glorious city of the empire.

Because of the urban transformation policy implemented by His Majesty the Emperor, Paris began to carry out unprecedented construction. A large number of streets were widened and carefully laid out. After several years of hard work, the city became more and more beautiful.

The riots and coups in the past have become history, and the previous war with Russia has long ended. At present, the citizens of Paris are enjoying a pleasant and peaceful time. Because of the prosperity of the economy, the market has become particularly prosperous. The most glorious era of peace in the empire has arrived.

As usual, banquets are held everywhere in the city, and wealthy and powerful families are decorating the empire and showing off their wealth. The same is true in the magnificent mansion of Duke Kerson and Minister de Treville on the outskirts of the city.

The Duke is now the Minister of Finance of the Empire, holding an extremely large budget, and is also maintaining the financial foundation of the Empire. After his efforts in the past two years, the Empire has walked out of the financial quagmire of the war and returned to economic prosperity. And because of such achievements, the Duke has become more and more favored by His Majesty, and he is so powerful that people think he is the last powerful person under the Emperor of the Empire.

Duchess Charlotte has always liked socializing and often holds banquets at home. After the Duke reached the peak of power, in order to win over party members, such banquets were held more frequently, almost every two or three days. Because most of the attendees are celebrities and dignitaries, the scene is very grand, and even in Paris it is considered one of the top social occasions.

Today, the Duke's mansion was decorated with lights and colorful decorations. There were carriages coming in and out constantly. A large group of men and women in luxurious clothes entered the mansion. Their expressions were either arrogant or humble, but they all had a hint of expectation - there was no doubt that if they could get the Duke's attention, they would get great benefits.

And in the midst of the hustle and bustle, a small gray-black light carriage was also mixed in. However, it did not follow the normal process to come to the front door to wait for notification, but went around to the back door of the mansion and stopped without attracting attention.

Then, a woman in a gray skirt walked out of the carriage. Her steps were very steady and rhythmic, and her footsteps were very light, showing vigorous vitality between movement and stillness. However, with the help of the dim light, subtle wrinkles could be seen at the corners of her eyes, indicating that her age was not as young as her movements looked.

She walked slowly behind the servants, her expression was calm and even a little solemn, as if she was doing something big.

After passing the corridor of the garden, she followed the servant into the mansion. Although she deliberately walked on the road with fewer people, she still had to meet some guests. However, she walked past them without saying hello, as if no one saw her.

Soon, she went upstairs and came to the door of the study of Minister Treville.

The servant knocked on the door carefully, and then left after announcing the visitor, and then the door was pushed open by the visitor.

"Aunt Agnes, good evening!" Minister Charles de Treville, Duke of Cresson, who was sitting at the desk, stood up enthusiastically, walked forward, and stretched out his hand to the visitor, "I miss you so much..."

Although the Treville mansion was full of guests tonight, and many celebrities gathered, Charles did not intend to accompany them all the time. He didn't like being in a crowded place, and he was even less interested in talking to a large group of people about boring polite conversations. Therefore, traditionally, the social banquets in the mansion were hosted by the Duchess, and the Minister only attended at the last stage to greet the guests - of course, for the guests, as long as there was such a result, it was worth being satisfied.

But Agnes was different. She was not only his closest relative, but also the one who had taken care of her since she was a child. More importantly, after she returned to France, they became close again.

However, unlike the Duke who was excited, Agnes stretched out her hand to block Charles' hand, then turned her hands behind her back to focus on the door, and then she looked at Charles with a calm and sharp look.

"Go in." She said coldly, with an unnatural tone of command

Her cold attitude made Charles stunned for a moment, and then he could only smile bitterly, walked back into the room, and sat behind his desk, while Agnes walked right in front of him and stared at her nephew across the desk.

The two of them were silent in the room for a while.

"How about... you take a seat first?" After a moment of silence, Charles felt a little embarrassed, so he said to Agnes.

However, Agnes remained unmoved and kept staring at him, as if she wanted to see something from him.

Charles wanted to say something but stopped, and finally could only sigh.

"I'm sorry..."

"Oh, Your Excellency, you can actually say sorry!" Agnes interrupted him.

"Don't call me like that... please." Charles was even more embarrassed.

"It's you who thinks that you are so successful." Perhaps Charles's request had an effect. Agnes calmed down a little, and her tone became a little normal, but it was still a little sarcastic. "Now that everyone is complimenting you, I'm afraid you are also confused."

"I'm sorry." Charles repeated again. "But... I still remember who I am."

"Do you remember?" Agnes asked, and then she smiled bitterly, "Yes, you still remember, of course you remember, you are Edgar's son, you have inherited the blood of your ancestors and father, and you will also inherit them. The career will flourish..."

This biting sarcasm made Charles feel even more uncomfortable, and he couldn't help but cover his face.

"Agnes!"

He called him by his first name, omitting any other title, just like calling a common friend.

It was a secret between the two of them and he only did it when they were alone.

This title also brought back the memories of the two of them. It was a time of guilt and panic, but it was also exciting.

After being shouted out like this, Agnes's face suddenly turned pale.

"Don't call me that!" she shouted at Charles.

If Charles hadn't specifically dismissed the guards and servants just for the two of them to meet privately, I'm afraid just this scolding would have caused people to knock on the door. At this time, the hall downstairs was in full swing with singing and dancing. The Duchess was smiling and chatting with the guests. Jewelry and medals made the place sparkle, and no one paid attention to the small disturbance upstairs.

There was another awkward silence.

"I... am in pain now, pain you can't imagine." Agnes pursed her lips, then raised her head and looked at Ciel. "Char, tell me, why do you put me in such a painful situation? Why do sins have to be passed down from generation to generation from your father? What did I...Alice and I do wrong to deserve such a punishment from you? ?”

Her face was slightly distorted, and she was obviously in real pain.

Paired with the gray and black skirt, it looks like a widow wearing mourning clothes.

Her appearance in such pain naturally made Charles feel uncomfortable. He did not expect that Agnes would find him with such an attitude today, feeling guilty and uneasy.

However, this was not the first time, she had suffered this kind of pain in front of him many times.

Because obviously, everything she got from Charles alleviated her loneliness and allowed her to taste the joy she had never experienced in her life, but it also accumulated guilt, because she was denying everything she had once regarded as a guide. He is also denying everything he has ever done.

If you stay with that person's son, then what's the point of killing that person for your sister? Hasn’t his life become a joke?

This terrible thought kept haunting her, causing her great pain.

The guilt she accumulated in her heart was equal to the joy she got from Ciel.

The pain and desire for self-destruction caused by this sense of guilt are like a stagnant flood that will one day break out and swallow everything.

Seeing her in such pain, Charles became even more uncomfortable. He couldn't help but stood up again, walked to Agnes's side, and then gently hugged her shoulders, just like he had done many times. Just like that.

"Agnes, don't think so much. We are just mortals. All we can pursue is this life. Does it matter who is worthy of me and whom I am sorry for? Besides, you have already made so many efforts. Owe no one "He leaned into Agnes's ear and whispered, "Don't be afraid, you still have me by your side. Even if you go to hell, I will always be with you. You have already suffered so much. , shouldn’t we enjoy life?”

As he spoke, he gently stroked Agnes's temples, as if he wanted to soothe her emotions in this way.

"It's... it's already come to this, and you still want to... use such words to deceive me?" Agnes turned her head sadly and replied in great pain, "No, Charles, I've had enough. You were fooled, and I don’t want to be fooled again. And... there is no need to be fooled again. We will eventually pay the price for what we have done.”

Her words became colder and colder, giving Charles a terrible feeling. He opened his eyes wide and looked at Agnes in disbelief. "What's wrong……?"

"We all have sinned deeply, and God will not forgive us, but we can only find ways to atone for our sins, right?" Agnes suddenly smiled coldly, "Now, it's time to atone for our sins."

"How...how to atone for your sin?" Ciel asked in fear.

"You use your life to atone, and I will use my last years to atone." Agnes replied immediately.

"No matter how sinful the bloodline is, I believe...as long as there is love to water it from the beginning, it will eventually get better."

"This...?" Charles still didn't understand.

However, a sudden flash of inspiration in his mind made him understand something.

His eyes moved downward slightly, staring at her chest and abdomen in stunned silence. There were no obvious marks there yet.

"Agnes...no, don't..." He cried out almost pleading, not knowing what he was pleading for.

However, Agnes remained unmoved. She looked up at Ciel, her eyes almost solemn. "I want to prove that selfishness will eventually be punished, whether it's Edgar, you, or...me."

And this also shows an extremely clear determination.

Oh my gosh!

Charles, who had already understood, suddenly turned around and wanted to leave Agnes' side, but Agnes quickly walked behind him and hit him in the neck with a wave of her hand.

Charles instinctively jumped forward quickly, avoiding the vital point in his neck, but Agnes hit his shoulder hard, and burning pain suddenly shot through his shoulder. The force was so strong that Charles almost jumped directly. Fell to the ground.

Fortunately, the soft carpet did not cause any more damage to Charles. He struggled to turn around and look at Agnes.

Under his horrified gaze, Agnes gently and deftly pulled out a metal dagger from her sleeve.

This dagger seems to have been made recently. It has a metallic silvery white color. The style is simple. The blade is very thin. The blade is only about 20 centimeters long. The edge is sharp. There is a tassel hanging on the hilt. It is exquisite. Like a work of art.

However, in the hands of Agnes, it became a terrible weapon.

"Agnes, don't do this!" Charles couldn't help but persuade her again.

But Agnes didn't notice it and slowly walked towards Charles.

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

"Here comes someone!" Charles shouted loudly as he stepped back.

However, the servants who had already been sent away could not hear it, and the people singing and dancing downstairs were naturally even more unaware.

Ciel didn't care to regret it anymore. He stepped back step by step, but the hard desk ruthlessly blocked his retreat.

In Ciel's sight, Agnes was frighteningly cold.

"Agnes, please calm down! There's nothing we can't talk about, right?" He couldn't help shouting to Agnes again.

"Okay, don't say such things. Now that I've been like this, you should understand that it's useless to say anything." Agnes laughed sadly, but her steps were scary and steady, " It’s already this time, so don’t be so shameless and please leave with dignity.”

Yes, I am indeed shameless, but...but isn't everyone like this? His Majesty the Emperor and all the ministers, don’t everyone do this?

——He wanted to defend himself in this way, but in the end he felt that it would only offend Agnes even more, so he had to give up.

"If you want to atone, I can atone." He made a last effort.

"Sir, I am already forty years old, but you think you can fool me with those children's rhetoric?" Agnes sneered again, and the cold light in her eyes seemed to be able to freeze people's blood. "I want you to give up everything you have, put aside those immoral sins, live like an upright person again, and take care of your wife and family... Can you do it? No more false promises to me, I don’t want to hear it anymore.”

Ciel was speechless for a moment.

Indeed, this is the truth.

It seems that I can't pass the test.

Agnes was already very close, and then she rushed towards Ciel, and the dagger in her hand was pierced into Ciel's chest. Ciel hurriedly turned his waist, then ducked to the side, and then Agnes' pace did not slow down at all, she quickly turned away, and then made another heavy stroke.

"Ah..." Ciel yelled in pain, and blood burst out. "Agnes..."

Agnes stopped and looked at her miserable nephew.

He has become the Minister of Finance and is now a powerful man. He is no longer the introverted and shy child he used to be.

However, in Agnes' eyes, everything seems to have returned to twenty years ago.

The timid child, under his strict supervision, made awkward gestures, making himself laugh.

If only time could stop at that moment.

"It's time to take responsibility for yourself, kid."

The tears had been wiped away, but the corners of her eyes were still white and bright, as if the tears had never appeared before.

She steeled herself and took another step forward, leaving another fatal wound on the opponent.

Blood flowed out in large areas, staining the carpet and desk red, turning the place into a tragic murder scene.

Charles endured the severe pain, dodging left and right, and finally walked around to the side of the desk, where a piece of silk thread appeared in front of him.

This is a tool for him to summon his secretary. As long as he pulls the bell wire, the servant who is on call downstairs will rush up to accept the Duke's order.

Charles leaned towards the desk. Because of his injury, his speed was very slow, but he still reached the edge of the thread.

He reached out and was about to touch it. At this time, blood was pouring out from his chest in large amounts, making him dizzy and exhausted. He only felt that his feet were extremely heavy, and it took all his strength to prevent himself from falling.

However, just when he was about to touch it, he stopped.

If I call someone, she won't survive.

A flash of realization suddenly flashed through his already groggy mind.

Yes, even if you call someone over, no one can save you, so why drag her to die too?

Tears condensed in his eyes, and then rolled down.

He pulled back his hand, then turned around and looked at Agnes, who was rushing towards him quickly, and the rapier shining with cold light. In his eyes, the cold light of the tip of the sword became stronger and stronger, and was pressing towards him irreversibly.

"I'm sorry." He murmured to himself in a low voice.

Almost at this moment, a sharp pain came from his chest again, piercing his body mercilessly, and the cold light of metal shone through his back. Another large amount of blood spurted out, staining the precious carpet, turning it into a shocking red and black.

"Goodbye." Agnes leaned over, looked at Charles, and whispered.

Then, the dagger full of blood stabbed hard at the heart.

Endless darkness enveloped Charles' eyes.

The pain was over.

Even if the head was cut off, there would be no more pain.

………………………………

Spring has come to the earth, bringing vitality and reviving everything in the French countryside. There is a bright green everywhere, and the woods rustle in the spring breeze, playing a gorgeous movement.

In the lush forest of this countryside, an uninvited guest came today. She was wearing a black dress, a hat with a veil, and her face was pale, like a widow.

The only strange thing was that her belly was slightly bulging.

She stood quietly in front of an unlettered tombstone for a long time.

"I'm sorry... Alice."

Then, she gently dug a small hole next to it, and then took out a small jewelry box from her body, which of course did not contain jewelry.

She kissed the jewelry box, and tears suddenly flowed down uncontrollably.

"I'm sorry."

With such a whisper, she buried the jewelry box.