In the country house of the Charles, the carnival of drinking has not stopped, the laughter in the living room has been endless, and under the influence of alcohol and beautiful women, almost everyone has lost their minds and lost themselves in the drunken gold.

But Charles wasn't involved. On the balcony, he was playing cards with his two good friends, Lieutenant Colonel Lucien Leflaire and Viscount Alex de Roetrec.

Because of the perennial training in the social world, coupled with the fact that their brains are relatively easy to use, Charles and Alex are very proficient in card skills, and Lucien, as an officer from the army, naturally followed his comrades in his early years, and is also an excellent player, and his skills are not bad.

However, perhaps because of some restlessness, Lucien didn't play well today, losing to the other two all the time.

"Lucien, what's wrong with you? Get up on the wrong side of the bed? After a while, Charles asked a little strangely.

"Uh...... Hmm......" Lucien hesitated, not knowing how to answer.

However, he is really not a person who is good at hiding his feelings, so Charles quickly sees it.

"Are you worried about your brother-in-law?" He smiled and asked, "Don't worry, friend, he should be too happy to think of us right now." ”

"That's what worries people." Lucien replied with a straight face, "George...... George was still a young man, and he had never experienced a similar temptation before, so wouldn't it be a bit ...... to do it all at once Is it a bit excessive? If he had indulged in carnal pleasures at such a young age, that would ...... That would probably be very detrimental to his future development and not conducive to his future family life. Really, I think Albert they are too nonsense, how can they ...... How can this be! ”

After hearing their friend's complaints, Charles and Alex looked at each other and smiled.

"I don't think you understand your brother-in-law...... He's just following the same trajectory as his ancestors. Everyone has been like this since ancient times, what's so bad. Alex shrugged, "As for family life, haven't you seen the family life of the Count of Delion's family from his father?" ”

His rhetorical question made Lucien suddenly speechless. That's right, aren't all aristocratic families like this? And what reason is there to stop it? But...... He really doesn't like that.

"I also know, I know George will have a life of his own, so I didn't stop it just now, but I think ...... I don't think an aspiring person should indulge himself in alcohol. Lucien paused slightly, "Since we are a community, and a group seeking some idea and will—we cannot defend our community in this way, otherwise it will be difficult for us to maintain future unity, and it will be very bad for your reputation." ”

Lucien quickly understood what Charles meant, and he believed that Charles's group of young people could not be turned into a group of people who maintained their loyalty by drinking excessively, and that they could only be united by money and wine—that this would destroy the will of the members, and that the loyalty of the members would not be guaranteed, as money could afford it.

"You have a point, Lucien, we are a political group after all, and we should have some ideas, not just indulge in desires." Charles put the cards on the table and nodded, "Admittedly, we can't turn us into a playboy club, but a moderate amount of relaxation can be done." ”

"So what's our philosophy?" Alex spread his hands, "Do you want Monsieur de Treville to become the most powerful minister in France?" I'm afraid the prospect is not exciting. ”

"If I am supported by me, of course, it will not be exciting, but if I do, I will be able to preserve France's position on the European continent – and even make it even better. And I can keep the Empire's army in the position it deserves. Charles replied without hesitation, "There is no one in France today who can dominate the military, politics and even the economic world at the same time as I do, and I can manipulate the whole system of the country without any obstacles, so that the forces of all walks of life can be brought together instead of consuming each other, and only I can make this country the most dominant country on the European continent." ”

"Is it even more capable of doing this than Your Majesty?" Alex laughed again.

"Yes, I think I'm more adept at this than Your Majesty." Charles nodded without hesitation.

Although this kind of talk is actually very taboo.

In the midst of the stunned gaze of the two men, he picked up the cards on the table, and then spread them out one by one, "Look, I'm afraid you won't believe what I'm saying now, but I can tell you that I mean it." ”

"Charles, I think you know what you're talking about, right?" Lucien was a little overshadowed.

"I understand very clearly, now I am a servant of His Majesty, serving him and myself. But one day, one day in the future, Your Majesty may mess things up and put our country and our army in some dangerous situation...... That's when I had to be ready and stand up to save the country and put her back in what she was rightfully for, and to facilitate this work, a large and multidisciplinary group was the necessary tool. A smile suddenly appeared on Charles' face, "Didn't you let us talk about ideals?" Then when I talked to you about ideals, why were you scared like this? ”

"Your Majesty will certainly not be happy to hear these words." Alex whispered.

"Yes, he won't be happy, so now I can only tell you, not anyone else." Charles nodded, "In order for us not to be easily replaced, we need to build a huge group, as long as it is big enough, it will not be easily thrown away - as for how some of the people in this group were attracted, it doesn't really matter, even if it is for money, as long as it can strengthen my group, I will be open to it, I am not a person who cares about reputation, because my reputation is bad enough." ”

Before the two of them could react, Charles continued, "Although the two of you have different personalities, you are different from ordinary people, you have your own ways of doing things, and you have some ambitions to make a difference, and you will not denounce my ambitions, so I will tell you clearly." ”

"What about you...... So what do you want us to do? Lucien suppressed the surprise and panic in his heart and asked in a low voice.

That sentence alone was enough to prove that he was loyal enough to the Charles.

"It's very simple to find some officers that you like, and then do your best to encircle them, so that they can also support me openly or covertly and become a member of the group." Charles immediately replied, "If they want ideals, they give them ideals, and they want money...... I can also give them money, and of course I personally want the best of both. ”

"You don't seem to have asked me if I would like to agree." Viscount Alex de Lautrec's face turned a little ugly.

"No doubt you will agree, will you refuse my request?" Charles asked rhetorically, then reminded the other party with his eyes that the evidence of his guilt was still in his hands.

"Okay...... But don't expect me to do much well. After staring at each other for a moment, Alex was defeated.

"Looks like you've got it clear, right? I want party members, the more the better, both good and bad. Charles laughed, then picked up the cards again, "Come on, let's play again." ”

However, at this moment, the roar of horses' hooves can be heard in the distance, and Charles looks in the direction from which the sound came, only to find that his sister is returning from a horse.

Charles put the cards back in at once, then turned to look at the two of them.

"Go and let me know, let's stop making trouble inside, it's time to stop...... Let them all go back to the hotel and be with the women. George's side also let him rest, even if he is a young man, it is not good to be too indulgent. ”

Then he walked to the stable, and watched Fran jump off his horse.

He couldn't really see it in a blur, but he noticed that Fran seemed to have a painting in his hand.

"Girl, are you still having fun?" He asked casually.

Fran, however, did not answer, but walked over to him with her head bowed, her face very pale, as if she had experienced a heated argument.

"What, aren't you happy with the princess? Got into a fight? Charles hurriedly asked.

"How do you know?" Fran asked in a low voice.

"It's not hard to guess, you don't know anyone else here." Charles shrugged, "I'm a little curious, what did you say that made you so depressed now?" ”

"I told her that I already knew she was my real mother." Fran walked over to Charles' side. "Then I told her about Ezreal, told her that I shot him and sent him to the Americas......"

She ...... She won't understand you, will she? Charles suddenly felt a little dry and didn't know what to say, "So you guys are arguing?" ”

In fact, he also knew that Fran had good intentions in doing this, and she didn't have to say these things, and let Ezreal continue to suffer in the Americas—probably, she just couldn't let go of the last bit of mercy in her heart, so she chose to tell the real truth to the princess—no, to her mother.

It is conceivable what kind of will she has to hold to say these words in front of the princess.

"Understand? I don't think anyone will understand......" Fran smiled wryly, "who would understand a woman who shot her brother?" She was very angry, very, very angry, and then she gave me back the painting I had given her, and said that she would disown me as if she had never been my daughter. I...... I'm sad, but I don't blame her, and looking at what I've done myself, where am I to blame her? ”

Seeing her so sad, Charles suddenly felt a little distressed.

"No, I understand, not only understand, but also appreciate. Really, thank you, for being on my side. He said very sincerely, "She is angry with you now and wants to cut off contact with you, but I ...... I won't abandon you, and neither will Grandpa. So you don't have to be sad, you haven't lost anything, the original relatives have always been there, and those unexpected relatives, they suddenly appeared, they suddenly disappeared, what is the loss for you? Don't take it personally, kid. ”

"Grandpa also left me, he ...... He doesn't treat me like family anymore. So, sir, there is no one else with me but you. As if being moved, Fran suddenly threw herself into his arms, and then cried, "I'm the only one with you!" ”

As she hugged Charles, the painting in her hand fell to the ground with a clatter.

Charles felt some pity in his heart, so he didn't push the other person away, but just gently stroked the hair behind her back.

Suddenly, there was a sound of footsteps and commotion behind them, and it turned out that the officers were preparing to leave the place for the hotel.

Charles was in a hurry, and Fran immediately broke away from his embrace, only nodded at him affectionately, and then picked up the painting and ran away.

"Remember, sir, I'm really just you......" (To be continued.) )