[Masterpiece Les Miserables] Paris Sparks

When Corona walked into the count's magnificent mansion, the count greeted her from the study.He signaled the steward who was leading the way to step back, and then greeted Corona, showing an undisguised surprise. "May I ask, what brought you here at such a late hour?" he asked politely.

"Yes, I should really be sorry, Earl, to bother you in the middle of the night." Corona replied, and she glanced at the door of the study next to her.The count led her into the study knowingly, and closed the door, leaving only the two of them in the room. "So, what you want to talk to me about is probably a very confidential matter." He said in a relaxed tone.

"I can't say whether it is a secret or not. But you may not know yet that another terrible thing has just happened to Villefort's house this evening."

"Really! That family has suffered enough misfortunes." When the earl replied, there seemed to be a gleam of joy in his eyes. "So, what happened this time?"

"The eldest daughter of the family, Mademoiselle Valentine. She was poisoned."

The earl's lips moved slightly, judging from the shape of his mouth, it seemed that he was whispering "another one!" to himself.Then he raised his voice and asked: "Is this what brought you here?"

"This is a matter of life and death, count, but you don't seem at all excited."

"Why should I be excited?"

"Because this time, the doctor made it clear that Miss Valentine did not fall ill accidentally, but was poisoned."

"What does it matter to me?" replied Monte Cristo, shrugging his shoulders. "Do I know those people? Why should I lose this to save that? Well, no, because I have no preference between the victim and the victim."

"Don't you care if you have nothing to do with it? Count, I have known Valentine since she was four or five years old. She was a very miserable child who lost her mother when she was young, and her grandparents were far away. , her father's affection for her was very weak, and he didn't know how to take care of children. Later, her father married a stepmother, and her life was even more difficult. But she was a very kind and noble girl by nature, and she never got angry , never jealous, treat everyone with gentleness and kindness, and have never done a single evil thing in your life. Earl, isn't it enough to move your heart to see such an innocent girl suffer a tragic fate?"

For a moment the Count seemed to waver, but that might have been Corona's illusion, for the slight sympathy faded away almost immediately. "Oh, isn't that the way of the world? It's not the first time I've seen a miserable fate for a man who has done nothing wrong. If you have a deep friendship with Mademoiselle Valentine, I can only advise you. Sorry."

"She's still alive." Corona said, her fingers on her knees tightly gripping her skirt, "She still has a chance to escape this fate."

The earl raised his eyebrows slightly, showing a look of surprise, but his answer was as firm as a stone: "But what does it have to do with me?"

"It's just because Maximilian is not in the country, and I thought he admired you so much, so I asked you to tell me about it." Corona said, "I just pity Maximilian! When he comes back, he will find out about this matter." News, I really don’t know how he’s going to survive.”

"What does that have to do with Maximilian?"

"So he didn't tell you? Maximilian and Valentine have been in love for a long time."

"What!" asked the count, "Maximilian! He actually loves Valentine?! He loves the daughter of that family?!"

"Yes. You just came back from vacation. I'm afraid you don't know what Maximilian is up to lately? He wants to elope with Valentine. Valentine has agreed, and her grandfather has agreed, two weeks Since then, he has been busy preparing for this matter, and he even asked me to help. He originally planned to pick up Valentine and her grandfather and live abroad as soon as he returned to China. Just get married. It's a pity that Valentine's body is weak now, and she is in such a dangerous environment. It is only a matter of time before she is poisoned for the second time by the murderer and killed completely! Maximilian happily returned to Paris Come on, I thought I could finally live a happy life with my sweetheart, but when I heard such bad news, how do you tell him to live?"

The Count of Monte Cristo uttered a low, suppressed growl. "Maximilian!" he cried, "Maximilian Morrel—you dare tell me that he loves the daughter of that damned family!"

He jumped up from his chair and approached Corona a few steps. His face was so gloomy, like the sky before a storm, and the terrifying look in his eyes was something Corona had never seen before, as if His inner war had reached a limit, and it burst out from the expression on his face.Even with her guts, she couldn't help but leaned back.But she immediately grabbed the hem of the skirt, restrained her movements, and continued to speak nonchalantly: "Maximilian's heart has been decided several years ago. You can ask his sister Yuli, Or ask him yourself, and you will not receive a second answer. He is indeed a wretched man! You think, he returns to Paris with the sweetest ideals, and what awaits him is the bitterest parting in the world. How is that any different from having misfortune at a wedding?"

"Stop talking!" the count growled in a low voice.When he said this, his expression was so painful and struggling that even Corona dared not disobey it.Holding his hair with both hands, he walked up and down the room for a few steps. For a moment, he had restrained himself so strongly; his violently heaving chest calmed down, like the raging waves after the dark clouds have passed, being mellowed by the sun. same as the irradiation.This silent struggle and self-control lasted about twenty seconds; then the Count raised his pale face. "Excuse me. I hope I don't startle you with my sudden bursts of emotion."

"No." Corona replied calmly, as if nothing happened just now.

"I already understand what you mean by coming here! You are right, an innocent girl should not be allowed to die like this, let alone a pair of lovers should not be separated. Thank you for telling me the news in time! Now the girl is not dead yet , I can still try. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to think quietly for a while. Please go home and wait, I will send you a message.”

"I thank you for Maximilian and Valentine," replied Corona.She stood up and was about to take her leave.When she reached the door of the study, the count asked behind her, "But how did you come to find me?"

Corona turned around calmly.

"Because Maximilian admired you very much, when I learned of this unfortunate incident, I couldn't help but want to consult you. I can swear to you that no matter who asks me, I have only one reason."

She quickly left the house of the Count of Monte Cristo, and old Duranto faithfully waited for her at the door.After driving away, he asked from the front: "Miss Evermond, are you all right?"

"I have nothing."

"You look pale." Old Duranto asked with concern.

"Maybe it's because the night wind is too cold." Corona said perfunctorily. She reached out to smooth the skirt, but felt a burst of wetness.With the light in the carriage, she lowered her head to look, only to find that the hem of the front skirt had been wrinkled by her, and the cold sweat on her hands had clearly stained two wet marks on that piece.

The author has something to say: review the character relationship of the Count of Monte Cristo

Maximilian Morrel = son of benefactor

Valentine? Villefort = the daughter of the enemy

They fell in love freely without telling their parents.

Also, I modified the original timeline of The Count of Monte Cristo.The story logic and timeline written by Alexandre Dumas are too seamless and impenetrable, so let’s think of it as the magic change of the timeline caused by Corona’s butterfly effect...