Granville's estate

"... of course, Mr. Callister."

Even just over an hour ago, when Louis agreed to Callister's request of "not refusing his invitation and gift", he would never have imagined that he would be accepted by him so soon. The value of the gifts he received was too expensive and a headache—as a devout believer who has always used "frugality and restraint" as his motto, how could he have thought of the "gifts" that Callister said at that time, and the "gifts" he had received in the past 20 years? The various gifts you get (such as practical gifts such as flutes, candlesticks and game that neighbors give each other at Christmas) are not actually the same concept!

However, compared to the expensive and exquisite ornaments in the hands of the Viscount, what made Louis more uneasy was the distance between him and Callisto who was already too close.Knowing Callister's true thoughts, his every move is enough to have a huge impact on Louis, let alone their current situation-the distance between them is so close that Louis can smell it The Viscount's pleasant scent of citrus cologne reminded him inevitably of their utterly unworldly conversations in Callister's office, and he almost wished he could slip away; Come on, it becomes impossible to continue to reject the Viscount's request.

"I would be very happy if this is your sincere words. However, I still have to remind you that I shouldn't remind you of the promise you made every time."

While saying this, as if he hadn't noticed Louis' embarrassment at all—of course, he might have noticed it long ago, but deliberately pretended not to notice—Callister pulled Louis up very naturally. Then he put the gold pocket watch, which was so light as if it had no weight, together with the franc case inlaid with a sapphire feather crown pattern, into Louis's palm.

"I, I will remember your reminder." Louis replied anxiously and embarrassingly. He could feel the temperature of the Viscount's hand was very high, and he even had the illusion that his palm was about to be burned by the other party's body temperature. : "I will never forget again."

"Although you said so, but with me, you have forgotten the conditions you promised many times. There is no way to make people believe that you will remember after you leave my sight." Callister said, He deliberately ignored Louis's move to withdraw his hand: "I think maybe there should be something else to help you always remember the conditions you agreed to."

It didn't sound right at all, and Louis became vigilant all of a sudden. This familiar tone always gave him a bad feeling.

"Wh, what else?" Louis asked quite cautiously, very worried that the gentleman in front of him would come up with some unbelievable tricks—unfortunately, it turned out that his worries were indeed justified.

"Naturally, it must be something that can always remind you of the contract we have made." Callister said, when he said this, he guided Louis to open the sapphire with a very strong and irresistible hand. franc box, beckoning him to look inside the lid: "I thought it would be a good idea to put a portrait of me here, so that every time you open the franc box, you will remember the relationship between me and you. agreed."

"You, you better stop making such jokes!"

Hearing the Viscount's idea, Louis was so frightened that his heart stopped beating-yes, it is not a strange thing to put a small portrait in the franc box, and it can even be said that the whole of Europe A fashion that has been in vogue for a long time; but no matter what country, people will only hide the portraits of their closest people in their belongings. In fact, just explaining to Alred the origin of the gold pocket watch and the franc box is enough to cause headaches. If Alred sees the portrait of the Viscount in the franc box, he can hardly imagine The situation he will face at that time!

"If you insist on doing this, even if you violate my previous promise, I will never accept this box." Louis said, his tone of voice became hurried due to excessive fright.

"Listen to you, there is no room for negotiation?"

"Absolutely not, sir, it is impossible!"

"It's a pity that you turned down a brilliant idea," said Callister, who indeed looked very regretful and distressed: "It seems that I have found myself a love." A remorseful partner, to be honest, a customer who does not keep his word is the most unpopular person in the bank."

"There is absolutely no such statement in your original conditions, sir, this is not because I agreed to your conditions and then regretted it."

Maybe it was Callister's proposal of "putting his portrait in the franc box" that had such an impact on Louis that he had the guts to argue with the Viscount (of course, this can also be seen that Louis How unacceptable such an approach is), however, Callister was not at all angry at his argument.

"While I really didn't ask for a portrait, I remember that we agreed on a title," Callister said, watching with a slight smile from his blue-green eyes. Louis, with a graceful tone: "Little guy, have you counted how many times you just called me 'sir' again?"

"……Uh?"

After being reminded by Callister, Louis later realized the mistakes he made when he was emotional-from this perspective, it seems that it is really not unfair for the Viscount to say that he "loves to go back on his word" evaluation of.

"As a decent gentleman, I believe you will firmly keep your promise, right?" Callister asked. For some reason, Louis always felt that his tone was very similar to the one in the Bible story that tricked Adam and Eve into eating the apple. The snake said: "Since this is the case, shouldn't you immediately make up for what you owe?"

"This, I, I..."

Louis felt that he had fallen into Callister's trap, but this problem was created by himself; he wanted to use the title "Mr. Callister" again to ambiguously pass the current predicament, but The viscount has already seen his intentions: "You just called 'sir' twice, so the word 'sir' shouldn't appear again when making up, right?"

"But, I..."

Louis opened his mouth, and realized that he couldn't do what the viscount asked for without the word "sir", but directly called out the other party's name, which made him blushed for a moment, and he didn't know what to do.

Just when Louis was in a dilemma, the attendant Cabo appeared at the door of the small restaurant again, holding the coat that the Viscount took off before, and reminded his master who was urging Louis to fulfill his promise: "Sir, I am very sorry I don't want to disturb your conversation with M. Farentin, but I have to remind you that the time of departure is approaching, and the coachman has already harnessed the carriage and will take you to the residence of the Comte de Marcet at any time. "

"Carbo, you should know that sometimes it's not a good thing to be too conscientious."

"Ah, sir, I've actually tried my best not to interrupt your conversation with Mr. Farentin," Carbo said, "but time doesn't stop because of anyone, and if you don't start at the scheduled time, you may It would be too disrespectful to arrive at Count de Marcet's mansion after His Royal Highness arrives, so I have no choice but to come here to spoil your interest."

"My lord, it seems that I can no longer waste your precious time." Hearing what Kabo said, Louis hurriedly said to the people in front of him that Kabo's appearance was so timely that he almost wanted to tell the attendant Grateful: "I sincerely hope that you will be appreciated by His Highness at tonight's ball."

If the appearance of Kabo made Louis grasp the straw, then his master was not very happy about his servant's mess. The Viscount turned his head and glared at Kabo before turning back to look at Louis.

"Slick little guy." Callister snorted softly, needless to say, he was referring to Louis, which made Louis's face burn: "If it wasn't for today, His Highness would go there... Hmph, I'll keep this account for you first, and I'll add it together next time, don't think you can get away with it like this."

Even though he said this, the Viscount stretched out his hand to Louis very naturally—when Louis thought he might want to take away the gold pocket watch or the franc box without much defense, he quickly scratched Louis with his index finger. nose, and watched with satisfaction as Louis stood there stunned by his unattractive behavior.

"You, what are you doing?"

Louis asked blankly, he couldn't imagine that Callister, who is a nobleman, would do such a thing in front of his attendants, and when he finally realized it, he was about to find a crack in the ground Got in--O Holy Mary, a man of many years, being teased like a child by another gentleman--scratched nose!Or in front of other people!

"Given how many times you forgot your promises and were unwilling to make amends," Callister said, poised as if he wasn't making a move that was too weird for an adult but It's just an ordinary demeanor, and even seems to want to try again: "I will naturally charge a small interest first, as compensation for forgetting the agreement, isn't it?"

"You... From this point of view, the amount of interest your bank usually charges depends on your mood."

Louis looked at Callister very vigilantly, and when he found that the other party didn't seem to be planning to stop, he hurriedly leaned back as hard as he could, so as to put a little distance between him and Callister, which made the Viscount feel uncomfortable. Regrettably dismissed other thoughts.

"If you've ever had any contact with the Jews, you should know that when the debtor has no choice, the usurer can do whatever he wants to his debtor." Callister said to Louis, and he stepped back. He took a step forward and asked the attendant who came in to put on his coat: "In comparison, the little interest I charge is already very kind, isn't it?"

This is simply an irrefutable conclusion. Louis subconsciously glanced at Karbo, who was busy straightening the folds of his master's clothes, and seemed to have completely ignored the viscount's pun: "You, you said Makes sense."

"It's a matter of course." The Viscount said, after the attendants helped him put on his coat, the cold and arrogant nobleman that Louis saw before seemed to be back again, and he nodded at the gold pocket watch and the franc box in Louis' hands Chin: "Cabo will take you back to your friend in a while. I don't care how you explain it to your friend, but you must carry these gifts from me with you at all times."