[Masterpiece Les Miserables] Paris Sparks

"Your painting is finished, ma'am." Corona said proudly, presenting the final painting to Madame de Morcerf.

This painting was originally just to give Corona a perfunctory excuse. Neither Madame de Morcerf nor Corona was really in a hurry to paint it, so it took nearly a year for a portrait to be finally completed.But this painting is indeed intentional.The painting is not a noble lady with luxurious clothes and elegant temperament, but a fisherman's girl in red. The girl's clothes are simple, her eyes are pure, and her hair is slightly messed up by the sea breeze. She is standing on the pier, with the boundless sea behind her. Connect with the sky.Madame de Morcerf gazed at the picture wistfully for a long time before calling for the servants. "Frame this painting and hang it in the corridor." She ordered.

The servant led away, and she turned to Corona again, "As for your reward..."

"You don't need to mention any remuneration, this painting will be considered as a gift from me." Corona smiled, "It's just to celebrate your birthday, I hope you don't mind the simplicity of this gift."

Since Caton passed away and Corona lost her title, she has been under the protection of Mrs. Morcerf. Until now, she can rely on her reputation to stand on her own, and the relationship between the two has not weakened.There are both feelings and interests in this. Now Corona hints that she wants to bring their relationship closer, and Madame Morcerf does not refuse. "How can you think it's so simple? This is probably one of the most expensive gifts I've ever received." She said with a smile, "Dear Corona, then you must come to my birthday party."

"It's my honor." Corona bowed to thank her.

Madame de Morcerf was not very familiar with the unspoken rules among the nobles. When Corona was a carefree countess under the protection of her father, they also had a chat without regard to etiquette.But now, the status and power of the two are different, and they are proficient in the undercurrent of social rhetoric. Although the relationship is still close, when they talk, they can't help but fall into the pattern of being colorful and complimenting each other.While she was saying her polite thanks, a sense of disappointment welled up in her heart.

Of course, this in no way prevented her from attending Madame de Morcerf's birthday party.The party was just a few days away, and she put on delicate makeup, carefully braided her hair, and her pale green dress was embroidered with delicate lilies in silver thread.This attire was not outstanding: among the bejeweled ladies and ladies, the dress could not be too gorgeous and extravagant.What really attracted everyone's attention was her fame and her extraordinary beauty, so Corona entered the venue, and after greeting the people she knew, she had a drink, found a quiet corner, and admired the scene under the lights with her back to the crowd. garden.

But she was only clean for a while.Halfway through the party, footsteps approached from behind to the rhythm of music on the dance floor.

"Why do you hide your beauty from the dance floor on such a lively night?" said a male voice with a smile.

Corona turned around with her wine glass in hand.In front of her stood a young man in a white shirt and a bright blue velvet vest with gold buttons. He saluted politely: "Courfeyrac, at your command. I have the honor to know your Your name, miss?"

Corona stared at him in shock, even forgetting to greet him in accordance with the etiquette.

That's right, it was that Courfeyrac—the one that Carton wanted to betroth her.Over the years, he has grown from a teenager to a young man, but his vibrant wit has not changed at all.If you look closely, it is still easy to identify.Only then did she vaguely remember that Courfeyrac seemed to have said that he planned to come to Paris to study at the University.But that was a few years ago. At that time, Corona was upset by the sudden engagement, and she had long forgotten about it.She never expected that she would meet him again at this time.

She didn't speak for a while.Courfeyrac looked at her suspiciously, and his expression slowly turned into thinking.

"I beg your pardon for my rashness. Have I seen you somewhere before?" he asked.

Only then did Corona regain her own language. "So, you don't remember me." She said calmly, gracefully placing the half-full drink in her hand on the table next to her to hide her surprise—and embarrassment, "I'm Corona? Evermond, if you still have an impression of this name, you may recall that we met once in your father's manor a few years ago."

"Ah, so it's you!" Courfeyrac's eyes lit up and he laughed, "Yes, of course I remember you."

They only had a short side at that time, and the two of them spent at most an hour, and half of them were still talking about how to fight against the parents and cancel the marriage contract. In Corona's mind, she didn't have a bad impression of him, but there was nothing wrong with it friendship.But Courfeyrac obviously didn't think so.He exudes a joyful, comfortable familiarity, less polite and more alive. "So, in order to celebrate our happy cooperation a few years ago, would you like to dance with me?" He asked with a smile, bowed slightly, and held out his hand to her.

Corona almost wanted to stare at him - doesn't this person know what embarrassment is?How would she say, "We tried to get married and it fell through" if someone asked why they met?God, she wanted to close her eyes just thinking about the way it was said.

Alas, unfortunately, it was at the Countess de Morcerf's evening party.She would not lose face at such a banquet, and Courfeyrac looked so brisk in front of her.Besides, speaking of it, she should really be thankful that Courfeyrac had just been willing to cooperate with her in opposing the engagement a few years ago. "Of course," she said, placing her pale green gloved hand in Courfeyrac's.

Courfeyrac led her onto the dance floor.Right now the piece has just begun, a brisk waltz, with the ladies' gorgeous skirts swirling and swaying on the dance floor like an overly showy kaleidoscope.The two of them joined the kaleidoscope, adding a touch of color to it. "Several years have passed since you told me that you did not want to be engaged. I wonder if you have succeeded in changing your father's will?" asked Courfeyrac.

"I can only say that I haven't fallen into that kind of cage called 'husband'."

"Then I would like to congratulate you," said Courfeyrac, "and I have not yet been bound by marriage—thanks to your wise decision. Love is pleasant, and marriage will make the petals of roses wither. Leave her thorns."

"Perhaps it is because you have not yet met the rose that will last forever in your heart."

"If there is such a rose in the world, I hope that this flower will not fall in love with me seriously. I just smell the fragrance of the flower and I am satisfied."

"If you will allow me to change the analogy, I will say that you only want to enjoy the moment when a flower blooms, but you neither want to water and cultivate the soil for her, nor care about the fruit she bears. It is such a thing ?"

Courfeyrac laughed: "If you must make me say such heartless words, I can't refute them! But although I can't cultivate a flower, I won't hurt them either. It's harmless to both parties. What's wrong with being happy for a while?"

"There's nothing wrong with it, and I'm not saying you're unfeeling." Corona said politely, with a social smile, "I can only borrow your words: I hope you can get what you want, but May all the everlasting roses in the world find no love for you, but only a moment of happiness from you."

At this moment, the music in the background reached a strong tone, and Courfeyrac let go of one hand and let her spin in a circle.When she turned back again, the fluttering ribbons falling limply back onto her blond hair, he regarded her with amusement. "Have I offended you?" he asked.

"Why do you ask that! Nothing."

He did not offend Corona, nor did she feel angry in her heart.But this conversation reminded her of the experience of Fantine who was once abandoned, and Courfeyrac, if you think about the good, may be a sentimental and lovable young man; if you think about him at the worst, he is another A Doromeer—and Coronne, for Fantine's sake, did not like such a man.

"Ah, then just think I'm thinking too much. If a person wants to win the heart of the rose, he may be tired of the lily." Courfeyrac said briskly, pulling her around again.He was clearly a good dancer, with light and precise steps and graceful gestures.They didn't talk much after that, and the second half of the song passed quickly.Courfeyrac sent her to the sidelines and let go.

"Thank you for your kindness, and I wish you a pleasant evening, beautiful lady." He winked at Corona playfully, and threw her among the little nobles who were looking for paintings and seeking relationships, and let her be taken care of with all his heart. Overwhelmed by the society you want to avoid.Then he turned around and went to find his next partner.

Corona did not mention this to Fantine.

It was not that she was still in that overprotective manner, and did not want Fantine to know these things.Only she suspected that Courfeyrac would also remind Fantine of Doromeers--so it was better not to say it.So she simply didn't tell anyone in the family, but just mentioned it in passing when she was chatting with Annie while arranging the teaching aids before class.

Most of the female workers in class had to work overtime in the factory, and only Corona and Annie arrived early in the empty classroom. "Whether he has a marriage contract or not, haven't you guys settled it? Then he is an irrelevant person to you, so ignore him." Annie said, she has always been so straightforward and open-minded, "But I think You don't have to hate him too much. Many female workers' relationships don't last long. If one fails, find another. Sometimes both of them are just looking for fun. There are also many people who don't care about love at all, just find a suitable age Yes, if you can live together and save a few more sous a day, you will be considered a marriage."

"That's unavoidable. Since he has such superior conditions, he can choose freely..." Corona sighed, "Forget it, maybe I'm just jealous of him, he can freely choose whether to marry or not, and choose to have a relationship Talk about the object of love."

"To be fair, I think you could, too," said Anne, "but it's your fault for choosing someone who has no love at all."

"I understand. But what can I do?" said Corona. "Who can not love Enjolras?"

Anne shook her head with her usual "you're hopeless" look.Corona always felt that this scene was very familiar, and she recalled it after a while—she was in this mood when Basil Howard boasted how beautiful and pure Dorian Gray was in front of her with a dreamy face.

... Well, now Basil could come and laugh at her.

She smiled to herself, and turned to the topic of teaching materials: there had never been a literacy class specially set up for female workers before, and the textbooks they used now were all made up by Corona, compiled and used now.Sometimes after a few classes, I feel that the effect is not very good, and I will make adjustments again.This is really a big project, and it is a topic that cannot be talked about endlessly.But this was only a few words, and someone knocked on the door outside.

"Come in." Coronna raised her voice and replied, thinking that some female worker had arrived early.But it wasn't the working girl who came in—it was Feuilly.

She recognized Feuilly, was startled immediately, and quickly lowered her head.Feuilly also seemed a little embarrassed: "I'm here to find Anne." He explained, "The batch of brochures you were going to print last time have already been printed."

"So soon? That's great!" Annie jumped up, "Let's go outside and talk—students are coming later."

She urged Feuilly to go out, and turned around when she walked to the door: "By the way, you will have to pay for it after printing, miss!"

"Okay." Corona replied with a smile.After they went out and closed the door, she frowned again in the empty classroom alone.

Did Feuilly hear the first few sentences of their conversation?He was never one to gossip, but maybe he would occasionally mention in the chat that there was such a rich lady who secretly admired Enjolras.

She frowned and thought for a while, then suddenly raised her eyebrows and exhaled.

So what if he heard it?So what if he told Enjolras?

As Anne said, she just admired Enjolras.What's wrong with this?

The author has something to say: Courfeyrac is like Doromeer. ← Hugo said that, not me.

But I still think Courfeyrac is really cute!Wish I had written one-tenth of his cuteness...