His Excellency the Count of Grandet

Because of the warning, Charles went back and asked more about the Earl of Artois, and found that Ferdinand's words were not groundless.

In the current society, there is a king and a parliament.

The status of the king is rather embarrassing, because he was kicked out by Napoleon and others before, and he was exiled abroad for 20 years.They were greeted back when Napoleon stepped down.

But the people who greeted them back were not genuinely loyal to the royal family.Most of them just need a monarch who can balance the royalists and the republicans, and maintain a delicate balance between the various factions; neither conservative nor radical, just maintain the status quo.

The current situation is that the king is like a decoration, and most of the real power is still in the hands of Congress.Because there are also nobles in the parliamentarians, it can barely be regarded as evenly divided between the republicans and the royalists, and the rest are vague or neutral.

Personally speaking, Louis XVIII disliked the republicans even more, after all, he had suffered a lot.But no matter how much he doesn't like it, he won't show it clearly, because on the surface, the republicans also recognize him as a monarch——

Just kidding, if he could live in the palace, why would he rush to get someone to throw him into exile abroad?

Therefore, with this complicated mentality, Louis XVIII would rather continue to keep this unembarrassing throne.From the fact that Victor can become a popular man in front of him, we can see his attitude——

As long as I'm still king, it doesn't matter what faction you are!

But Count Artois was nothing like his king brother.He is only an earl now, and he is entangled with his party members and the army, trying to build momentum for the nobles—the republicans are all traitors and thieves, and only the Bourbon royal family is the qualified and legal master of France; Great power, return to that supreme position again.

Congress is going to make a fuss?The king is really stunning!

In short, as the first in line to the throne, the Count of Artois made no secret of his hostility towards the emerging class.It is said that His Majesty the King sneered at his younger brother's behavior, so one can imagine what other people think.

From Charles' point of view, Louis XVIII was clear-headed.This king seems to be doing nothing, but at least he knows what he wants very clearly.As for the Earl of Artois, he seems ambitious, but he doesn’t have much brains—Napoleon, who wanted to be emperor, failed, and he still wants to continue?Compare yourself with Napoleon first, and then say this when you can win, okay?You know, during the heyday of Napoleon, the iron hooves almost flattened Europe, and now the French army can only be called the National Guard, because the surrounding countries are still worried about the blessing of another Napoleon in France!

But the sad thing is that people who are not smart usually think they are smart, and they usually do things without leeway because they are full of self-confidence.The Earl of Artois is absolutely capable of killing those who disagree with him.To highlight contradictions, provoke wars, and take the opportunity to try to restore the previous order... Count Artois undoubtedly thought so.

However, how you kill and who you kill will have an impact on the situation, and you must weigh the various consequences before taking action.When Ferdinand said that, he wanted Charles to be careful not to hit the gun himself.

With the status of the Grandet family, if it hadn't been a big hit last year, the danger of being unnoticed would have been true.So Charles didn't worry much about himself, only worried about others—his father and he both kept a low profile and treated others kindly, so they were unlikely to be killed by others;No matter who the Earl of Artois is eyeing, it is not a good thing for the middle class like them.

This question troubled Charles all the way, and he was not quite free from it until he reached Badenbay.He always had a bad premonition that the tree would fall and the monkeys would scatter, so he kept thinking about what he should do and what he could do—he must never let Count Artois succeed, whether it was assassination or enthronement!

But the rest of the group didn't think so, and of course they didn't know it yet.A group of people made an appointment to hang out together. They were of similar age and status, laughing and having a good time.On the way, they played cards and joked. When they got to the hot spring, they put down their luggage and went to enjoy it one after another.

Charles has no expectations for this group of second generation ancestors.He only came here this time to take care of Alphonse's emotions, otherwise he would not consider it; playing like this is a waste of time, and it does not conform to the life philosophy of a workaholic at all!Moreover, there are not many things that he can do alone. Of course, he must unite his reliable friends around him!

Alphonse can't imagine for the time being that he is regarded by Charles as a playboy who can be saved.He originally dragged Charles out to get in touch, now that he arrived at the place, he couldn't wait to drag Charles down to the hot spring—look, no matter how busy Charles is, he will still come out to play with him!They are still good friends!

Judging by the standards of later generations, Baden Hot Springs is a high-end private club.The guests who can get in are usually a bit of a status, and they need to make an appointment.In this way, it is a basic requirement for the business side to keep secrets for the guests, and the hot springs are usually small, suitable for lovers or other less visible relationships.

Therefore, there are only two larger hot springs, one male and one female, separated by a stone wall.But for the sake of fun, the wall is hollowed out, and the larger gap allows people to stretch their arms to get a glass of wine; if the two sides see each other, they can go directly to open the room.

Charles sat on the step farthest from the stone wall, squinted his eyes, and watched the laughter on the opposite side with cold eyes.Twenty or thirty people came in this wave, and they directly surrounded the venue.Men and women are almost divided, there are unmarried and married, and now they have reached the stage of flirting, and it is estimated that they will all have one-night stands soon.The itinerary is scheduled for three days, and some people can change their partners every day.

Your circle is really messy!

Charles had only one thing to say about it.But what is more tragic is that he also belongs to this circle now; because of his appearance and family wealth, there are still many women who try their best to tease him, but they are all ignored by him——

Not long after climbing out of a pit, he seemed to be in such a hurry to find himself another pit to jump into?

Alphonse laughed with the people on the other side for a while, and when he looked back, he saw that Charles was still in the old monk's trance, and he suddenly lost his composure.The deep water was about half a person tall. He swam back on hands and feet, sat down next to Charles, and asked, "What? You don't like these women?"

Charles was bullied by Annette before, and he had never participated in this kind of entertainment.Hearing Alphonse's question now, he just shook his head: "I'm too sleepy, I want to sleep."

Baden Springs is not too far from Paris, but the carriage will take half a day.Alphonse thought that Charles's small body could not withstand the bumps, so he couldn't help but patted Charles's shoulder on the water with a smile: "I think you are too honest? Since you have broken up with Annette, let's play now." It doesn't matter!"

Given that Alphonse's idea of ​​instant gratification is not uncommon among young people in Paris, Charles didn't bother to refute him.The young man is a little absurd, and it will be fine to adjust slowly in the future.When he went back, he would try to insinuate with Alphonse again, and objecting now might be counterproductive.

Seeing him squinting his eyes to rest his mind, Alphonse frowned.Originally, he came out to have fun, but what happened to Charles who just wanted to sleep? "I said, you haven't been with Annette since last spring, have you?"

"Yes." Charles admitted casually.

"Then this spring will be a whole year soon!" Alphonse said emphatically.

"Yes." Charles still didn't feel anything. "What the hell are you trying to say?"

"You haven't wanted a woman all year?" Alphonse said at last.In fact, this is still a tactful expression, because what he really wants to ask is, is it a man who has been holding back for a whole year and still doesn't want to find a woman?

Charles finally opened his eyes. "So this is the truth you've been trying to pull me out of?" Because Alphonse felt he and Annette had broken up and needed a new outlet?

For some reason, Alphonse felt that Charles's expression was half a smile at this time, which made people feel creepy.But then he put the thought behind him—how could it be?Charles has always been nice to him! "Isn't it?" He said confidently, "I'm thinking about your health!"

Charles felt a little headache.He didn't know before that Alphonse had the potential to be a bustard? "You don't need to worry about this matter," he said succinctly, "I know my own affairs."

Alphonse stared at Charles, obviously not convinced. "Don't tell me, you're so busy with work that you don't even think about it—" he stretched out his hand under Charles as he spoke.

Charles quickly caught Alphonse. "What do you want to do?" He made a serious face on purpose.If Alphonse hadn't moved very slowly and looked like he was joking, he wouldn't be so easy to talk to.

"What do I want?" Alphonse dragged his voice, obviously not taking it seriously. "Of course it's to see if you can do it!"

As long as you are a man, you don't want to be told you can't do it, and Charles is no exception.It took only two seconds for the two of them to talk about this issue, and it immediately turned into a fierce water fight.

The other flirting people turned their heads attracted by the voice, and were immediately speechless.Especially the women felt that their self-esteem had been hit; the men came back to their senses and thought that this was not bad, as it seemed that Charles really would not compete with them.

Charles and Alphonse didn't really fight, of course.After waiting for more than ten minutes, Charles really felt tired, so he yelled to stop. "Okay, you go on, I'll go back to my room and sleep."

Alphonse had no definite goal in the first place, and seeing that Charles was going back now, he didn't want to stay any longer. "Forget it, let me go back with you! You are so beautiful, what if you are overwhelmed by others as a woman along the way?"

This is outspoken!Charles angrily threw a handful of water at him, got up and wrapped himself in a towel and put on a bathrobe.The room is near the hot spring, and everyone comes and goes in yukata.Alphonse wiped off the water droplets on his head and face indifferently, took care of himself, and the two went out together.

I don't know whether it was Alphonse who was born with a crow's mouth, or Charles just memorized words today, but in the corridor about a hundred meters away, the two really ran into an acquaintance.

It is not complete to say that they are acquaintances, because among the four people, they only know Victor.Alphonse was about to say hello, but Charles stopped it by grabbing him from behind——

Look at the atmosphere before talking, idiot!

"...The place is really good." When Count Artois said this, he had actually noticed the two people opposite him, and he couldn't help squinting slightly, and didn't continue talking.In this kind of place, the fewer people who have seen him, the better, let alone heard what he said.

There was a man following him, and from the look on his face, he was on the same side as Count Artois.

"I can't agree with you any more, sir," echoed Mr. Van Leburg.His role today is that of a middleman, of course, to enliven the atmosphere.

Victor just nodded.He was walking in the back, but he couldn't stand tall. As soon as he raised his eyes, he saw Charles and Alphonse who were coming from the opposite side. He also noticed Charles' small movements, and his eyes immediately deepened.

It's really better to catch up with the coincidence, and I just met Charles.However, coming out with Alphonse really makes people uncomfortable... Didn't they all be seen away by others before that?Looking at Charles hugging left and right, he still has to deal with this so-called earl?

It looks like it's better to solve this problem as soon as possible, let's go and play with Shire!

Charles' eyes just met Victor's, although he just looked away and couldn't see any inner activities at all.At this time, of course, they had to pretend not to know each other, neither of them said a word, and passed by silently.But this does not affect Ciel's thinking——

Why does the gloomy guy in the lead look like Count Artois?What is Victor doing with this kind of person?

If Charles at this time knew what Victor was thinking, he would definitely vomit blood and offer a sentence: Please don't give up the treatment, okay?