Chapter II

Christmas is the liveliest day of the year in Annecy Town, a candy store near the "brightest restaurant" is crowded with children, Mary, who has been watching Charlotte since leaving the restaurant, also shifted her gaze, the little girl's mind is on her face, Charlotte deliberately slowed down, Mary really stood in front of the candy store and did not leave, a white and chubby little boy at the door was licking a chocolate bar, looking satisfied. Behind him was a woman, gorgeously dressed, looking at the boy dotingly.

Charlotte wondered if Mary was envious of the little boy's candy, or his mother, or both.

"The candy in the candy store looks delicious, do you want it?"

Charlotte said to Mary in a tone that coaxed a child, Mary nodded affirmatively, and shook her head a little regretfully,

"Miss Charlotte, I didn't sell a match to-day, so let the candy stay in the store for a few more days."

"I know the way home, it's too late, you don't have to take me home, thank you Miss Charlotte for your hospitality today, I'll be waiting for you in this restaurant in three days." ”

Seeing Mary's maturity that did not match her age, Charlotte didn't know how to love her, and was reluctant to let Mary return to that poor home.

"Mary, can you go to my sister's house today, my sister's house has a warm bed, as well as turkey, cheese and all kinds of sweets, tomorrow my sister will send you home, okay?"

(a) (Ben) [read] novel ybdu

Charlotte was now like a bad child trafficker, fishing her with what the little girl craved the most, and Mary listened to Charlotte's words and couldn't help but begin to imagine in her mind that she was lying on a soft bed, eating roasted duck, and a warm stove. Mary did not resist Charlotte's temptation and agreed to stay at Charlotte's house temporarily.

It was a few steps to get out of this dimly lit street, but the road ahead was blocked by a horse-drawn carriage, as if hearing Charlotte's footsteps, the curtain shook, and a tall, thin man with a slightly bent back stepped out of the carriage. The night was dark, and the man's face could not be seen clearly, which made Charlotte feel uneasy.

"Miss Charlotte, won't you come home with me?"

The man's tone was slow but with a strong sense of oppression, and Charlotte immediately recognized that the man who robbed people halfway was the personable "gentleman" in the restaurant. Sensing the man's bad intentions, Charlotte subconsciously turned around and ran, only a few steps away when she was stopped by a burly man who came out of nowhere.

The corner of the "gentleman" mouth hooked a wicked smile, and looked at Charlotte with anger on his face proudly, as if he was very satisfied with Charlotte's performance, he waved his hand, and the burly man immediately got out of the way. Charlotte knew that she couldn't run, and she didn't struggle anymore, so she might as well just go with him and see what this person was trying to do.

Thinking so, Charlotte didn't look at Mary and decisively climbed into the carriage. The man had forgotten that Charlotte had a small attendant, and got into the carriage behind Charlotte and left the side street.

Forgotten by everyone, Mary was helpless, and ran two streets behind the carriage, but Mary was too young to watch the carriage run farther and farther until it disappeared.

Guessing everything that might happen to Charlotte, Mary returned home in despair, and as soon as she entered the door, she was searched up and down by the drunkard's father, who did not find a single money, burned his reason, slapped Mary to the ground, and then kicked again, Mary, who had something in her heart, was not prepared to take a solid kick from her father, and fainted all of a sudden. The drunkard father had no mercy and let Mary lie on the ground, straddle Mary's small body and squeeze out the door, not knowing where to go.

In the haze, Mary heard the quarrel of her parents and snapped! It's the sound of a plate breaking! Then there was another fierce quarrel, mixed with Mom's screams and Dad's abuse. His head was dizzy, his chest was like a boulder, and his exhaled breath burned his skin like fire.

"Mommy, Mommy"

Mary's hoarse voice was completely lost in her father's scolding, and she suddenly missed Charlotte, and thought that Charlotte had been kidnapped yesterday, and the crystal tears crossed her cheeks, leaving white marks on her dirty little face.

Touch! The sound of the door being slammed shut, the drunkard father finally left, the two women in the family were relieved, the curtain on the door hole was lifted, the mother walked to Mary's bedside, squatted down and touched Mary's forehead, saw the tears on Mary's face, the mother sighed faintly, and held Mary in her arms,

"Mary, my poor Mary."

"Mom"

"Am I going to die?"

"Poor Mary, sleep."

"Mom, will Dad come back?"

The mother didn't answer Mary, but just patted Mary on the back, and neither of them spoke again.

The next morning, when Charlotte returned home, she unexpectedly found the family sitting neatly around the dining table, and when she saw her return, her father and mother warmly greeted her to dinner, and Katie blinked ambiguously. Afraid that her parents would worry, Charlotte just wanted to explain why she didn't come home last night, and Lydia hurriedly said:

"Hurry up and eat, I'm going to be hungry when I come back now."

I don't know why Lydia didn't ask about last night, but since they didn't ask, she just didn't say it, after all, it was too dangerous, and the less they knew, the better.

Back in the room, change into a white cotton dress at home, and look in the mirror to familiarize yourself or adapt to your face.

"I love to look in the mirror so much, have you ever seen the Duke of Windsor?"

As soon as she pushed the door and saw Charlotte engrossed in front of the mirror, Katie couldn't help but laugh at her sister.

"What Duke of Windsor?"

"Tsk~ You still pretend not to know. Yesterday the Duke of Windsor sent someone to say that my sister was invited to attend the Duke of Windsor's mother's party, tell me, is it that the Duke of Windsor loves you, so he invited you through his mother's banquet? ”

I didn't expect the Duke of Windsor to "give an explanation" like this. Charlotte was a little helpless, and it was impossible for her to avoid him now.

"Katie, you're thinking too much. Don't go around talking nonsense, in case someone else hears it and thinks our family is in touch with the Duke of Windsor. ”

"What!? Who do we tie up? Although the Lucas family is not a nobleman, we are rich and rival the country, so why should we fight them. ”

Charlotte is helpless again, because she is too rich, so there are so many people eyeing her!

"Then don't go out and talk nonsense!"

"Hmph, it's the truth anyway, they gossip because they're jealous that you're married well."

Charlotte is almost on her forehead! The agitation will be recognized, Charlotte has to take the bitter route, as for Katie will be misunderstood? Well, she's already misunderstood, so whatever.

Charlotte immediately changed into a 45° sad posture looking at the sky, and her voice was ethereal,

"The Duke of Windsor and I don't like to be high-profile."

After saying this, Charlotte pretended to be melancholy and lowered her head, leaving Katie with a lot of room for her imagination to flourish.

After sending Katie away, Charlotte fell into deep thought, and since she returned from the Duke of Windsor's house, she had been pondering a question: how did the story of Cinderella play out next? Did the prince and Cinderella go through a rebellion? If there is really a rebellion, will you be cannon fodder? No, no, absolutely not! Once the rebellion really happens, no matter who wins, his own family will definitely be a victim, do you want to make someone else a stepping stone to the throne? Even if Charlotte doesn't care, she has to think about the Lucas family, she occupies the body of their eldest daughter, and accordingly has to take care of the family, and she can't just walk away by herself, and now that she has found Mary, it is impossible for Mary to follow her to wander between countries. It seems that this rebellion, which may not be possible, has to be planned for a long time.

Besides, last night, Rochester listened to the servant's report and learned that the heartwarming young lady got into the carriage of the Duke of Windsor's house, and it was the butler of the Windsor family and the most trusted knight of the Windsor family who came to pick her up. Our prince has been thinking of her beautiful face since he returned to the palace, and it is time for the palace to hold a banquet.