As night began to fall in Paris, the flowers in the garden of the Baron Tangral's palace began to lose their original beauty, and Miss Tangral's birthday concert came to an end.

In the afterglow of the setting sun, the girl bathed in the golden sunlight sang the last lyrics, and then narrowed her eyes slightly, as if enjoying the afterglow of dusk, and at this time, warm applause also rang out in the garden.

Most of these guests, who had just come to the concert as a social courtesy, soon discovered that what they had come here today was a genius and an unparalleled pleasure.

In just half a day, Miss Tangral's birthday concert was very successful in making a deep impression on everyone who attended, and it was also very regrettable that such a genius was buried in the mansion of an upstart banker, and I am afraid that there will not be much time to shine in the future.

Yes, the social world has always been very well-informed, and the news that the Tangral family is about to marry Marshal's family has already reached the ears of almost everyone, and everyone is only waiting for the two families to officially announce the news, and at the same time secretly envy Albert de Marseff, who was too terrible luck to be able to pick up such a perfect fiancée.

By this time, Miss Tangral, who had been singing for a long time, of course, had no energy to sing anymore, and the guests began to move freely, and she gathered with a small group of familiar friends.

Of course, there is no shortage of extravagant enjoyment in the Baron Tangral's mansion, all kinds of fine wine and delicacies are served, and the guests gather together in twos and threes.

She is in a good mood now, her face is a little red, her usual cold and arrogant temperament has quietly disappeared at this time, and her eyes are full of excitement and gratitude.

She drank the water from the cup in her hand, letting the cool liquid moisten her throat, which had been overworked for half a day.

"Thank you for here...... I will never forget your help, never. A moment later, full of gratitude, she whispered to her friends. It's often said that only tried-and-tested friendships are true friendships, and I'm finally seeing ...... You are my true friends, and Eugénie de Tangral is a man who will never betray his friends. ”

Although her voice was a little hoarse because she had been singing for an afternoon, it was still extremely infectious, and because of the passion contained in it, it became particularly moving.

Standing in front of her were three of her classmates in the studio, and the only ones among her classmates who were willing to attend her birthday and farewell party, and it was because of the help of these people that so many people were able to come to her banquet, and she felt full of gratitude for the friendship shown by her friends.

Seeing Eugenie so excited, the three girls opposite Matilda, Fran and Mary all looked at each other, they didn't expect Eugenie to take this matter so seriously.

"Don't take it personally, Eugenie, we're just doing it with our hands, and it's you who should be the most proud of yourself today." Matilda, the eldest of the three, spoke first, she was always so gentle, and her eyes were full of proper concern, "Your performance is so perfect, although I have been prepared, I am still intoxicated...... So all the praise you have earned is what you deserve, and you deserve our praise. ”

"Yes, Eugenie, I'm so grateful for my decision not to miss such a great performance." Mary on the side also accosted, "Lola, they have always been cruel to everyone, in fact, I can't get used to them for a long time, I can endure other things, but this time it must not be as they want, I must support you, otherwise it will bury your talent......"

"Thank you...... Thank you......" Eugenie was even more excited by the two friends, she thanked her again and again, and then continued to drink water to hide the tears in the corners of her eyes.

Mary is really a cunning kitten. Looking at Mary with a courteous face, Fran smiled in her heart.

Mary had always been afraid of falling out with Lola and them, so she didn't want to come at all, but Fran insisted that she choose a side, so she had to come over helplessly, but when she got here, she said that she would come over to cheer for Eugenie, which was really flexible.

Of course, I knew in my heart that Fran didn't mean to debunk her friend's tricks, and she was also there to help.

"Okay, Eugenie, you said it, we are friends, then we should cheer for you, there is no need to be so grateful—you just treat us as guests, I have always heard that your family enjoys a lot of luxury, give me a chance to see the world today?"

"Of course, of course." Eugenie wiped away her tears, then smiled and nodded, "Then let's start with the drink." ”

Then she gestured to one of the maids next to her, who took a tray with a few small cups on it, and asked her friends to take it along.

"It's cream and chocolate and crushed ice, and there's some special flavoring in it, and it's delicious." She told her friends, "It's so hot now, let's cool off with this." ”

In order to maintain her throat, she almost did not drink cold drinks and stimulating drinks for a period of time after practicing singing, and only drank warm pure water all the time, but of course she couldn't use such a simple drink to entertain friends.

Fran took the cup, looked inside, and then carefully scooped a spoonful with a spoon and tasted it in her mouth.

"Ah, it does taste good, but it doesn't feel very strange, does it?" She was quick to make a comment.

"That's because the final seasoning hasn't been added yet......" Eugénie prolonged, then made another mysterious gesture to the maid.

Fran looked at the maid in bewilderment, and then was stunned to find that the other party had brought a glass bottle from the side.

Inside the glass bottle was a mass of golden liquid, rolling with the maid's footsteps, emitting a blurry brilliance.

"It's ...... Alcohol? After a moment, Fran made a guess.

"yes, that's wine." Miss Tangral nodded, and then went on to explain, "To be exact, this is my father's special ale on his estate, and it tastes very good, but it's the way I found to drink it mixed with ice cream, and he hasn't enjoyed it yet, so you can drink some of it before the ice melts, and I promise you won't be disappointed." ”

"But...... It's drinking! Fran's eyes widened slightly, "We're not here yet, are we?" ”

Fran's reaction stunned the other three, who looked at each other before laughing at each other.

"You ...... What's wrong with you guys? Looking at her friends' strange behavior, Fran was even more puzzled, "Did I say something wrong?" ”

"That's right...... It's just that...... It's just a little funny, we just didn't expect that by this time, there would be such a well-behaved child. Miss Tangral tried to hold back her laughter, but she kept smiling, and she patted Fran's smooth cheek, and then exclaimed in a low voice, "Oh, oh, our Miss Trevil is such a good boy!" ”

"You ......" Fran blinked, then looked at her friends, "You've all drank." ”

"yes, I've drunk it a long time ago and I don't know how many times." Mary nodded generously, as if proud of her secret rebellion against society.

"I ...... I often have to go to the palace, and sometimes I have to attend banquets, and I have to ...... Gotta drink it. Matilda looked away, a little embarrassed.

Fran's face turned red suddenly. "My brother said that children are not allowed to drink alcohol until they are adults. So I thought ...... I thought everyone was like this! ”

"So, it's strange that it's you and not us." Eugenie asserted, and then she picked up the bottle that had been opened by the maid, and poured it into the glass in front of her. "Children at this age can't be so obedient, otherwise they will lose a lot of things~"

The golden liquor, slowly steeped in white cream and ice cubes, then submerged in black chocolate, the various colors are mixed together, and it looks colorful.

When she was done, she closed the lid and gently shook it a few times to allow the wine to blend better with the ingredients.

Then, she handed it to Fran.

"So, little girl, you can try a whole new feeling today, and you will thank me." She laughed and seduced Fran, who was already a little overwhelmed, like the serpent facing Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Fran looked at the glass stretched out in front of her, not knowing what to do, and at this point, she noticed that Mary and Matilda had already taken the initiative to pour wine into their own glass, apparently not rejecting the so-called new experience at all.

"If my brother found out, he would be angry." She struggled a little in the end.

"Wouldn't it be better if you didn't let him know?" Eugenie asked, "Now that it's just us, what are you afraid of?" ”

Fran thought about it, and felt that it made sense.

She looked at her friends who were trying the drink, and then the urge to drink it suddenly swelled in her heart.

People's curiosity, and the fear of losing face in front of their friends, can always overcome timidity, and this time was no exception.

"Just take a few sips and taste the taste, no one will say anything anyway......" Finally, she excused herself in her mind.

With trembling hands, she raised the seemingly weighty cup to her lips, and then opened her pale red lips as if she had tasted poison and took a sip.

The ale, mixed with the taste of chocolate, soon brought a bitterness to her mouth, almost making her vomit.

But I don't know why, but soon there was a little sweetness in this bitterness, like drinking mellow coffee.

Eugenie really didn't say anything big, and the taste was very good.

And in addition to the taste, the nervousness of being scolded by her brother gave her the pleasure of breaking the rules.

Stimulated by the experience she had never experienced before, her mind was already a little foggy, and she didn't know what she was doing.

The three people next to him were stunned to find that this girl who touched wine for the first time drank a whole glass of wine with ice cubes in one go.

"Fran, you've got a talent for drinking." Mary smacked her tongue, and then took a sip of shock herself.

"I think it's just a novice's self-control, and people who have just drunk don't know how to control it, and they don't know how to bear it." Matilda looked at Eugenie with some distress, "Eugenie, our joke is a bit too much......

"Where is it overdone? What's wrong with drinking more of such a delicious drink? Eugenie replied with a smile, "Besides, everyone will have such a day, and it is good to study earlier." ”

"Yes...... Oh, yes...... The drinks were delicious. Before Matilda could say anything more, Fran spoke, but her voice was a little shaky, "Eugenie, can you give me another drink?" I'd like to try it too. ”

At this time, her face was like a ripe apple, very red, which added to the allure of youth, and her blue eyes were rippling with lake water, which was amazingly beautiful.

"You...... That's what a cup looks like, huh? Now even Miss Tangral was a little frightened, "Don't drink it." ”

"Am I alright? I'm so good...... The whole body is warm. Fran shook her head and looked at Miss Tangral expectantly.

Eugénie had the heart to refuse, but when she was looked at by such a beautiful girl with watery eyes, she couldn't even say no.

"What a goblin, it's fascinating." She sighed helplessly, "Okay then, one last cup, and you have to promise me that you'll go to rest when you're done." ”

"Good! Good! I promise you! Fura nodded like a hamster.

Eugenie carefully made another of these special drinks, and handed it to Fran, who drank it all in a few more sips.

Soon, her face, which was already red, seemed to be hot, and an inexplicable smile appeared on her face, and her steps were no longer steady, swaying slightly in the cool breeze, and she looked like she would fall down at any time.

"I'm so drunk." All three of them came to a conclusion at the same time.

"I ...... I'm not drunk. Fran retorted confusedly, "I can have two more glasses, Eugenie, pour me more." ”

"yes, you're not drunk, you just need a break." Eugenie held her up, "Alright, miss, this is the end of today's experience class, go sleep for a while, don't drink any more." ”

Without waiting for Fran to speak, she greeted the maid next to her and asked her to take her to her room in the mansion to rest.

Seeing Fran staggering away as she was helped, the three of them were a little speechless all of a sudden.

"It's a big joke...... Matilda grieved, "I should have stopped it." ”

"What are you doing so solemnly, what is it to drink some wine?" Miss Tangral was not at all panicked, "Who hasn't drunk it?" She's a little bit drunk, but it's good to rest. ”

"But...... What if her brother gets angry? Don't forget...... He doesn't let his children drink. Mary was still a little hesitant.

"Come on, what children don't have, what's wrong with everyone drinking a little wine these days? Everyone can enjoy life. If he was angry about this, it would be strange, what was he going to do? Raising angels? Eugenie still disagreed, "Anyway, you don't have to worry, even if there is anything I will bear, you guests can enjoy it!" Well, let's have another drink! ”

Marie and Matilda looked at each other, and each felt that Eugenie had a point, so they were no longer nervous.

"Cheers."

……………………………………

At this time, Fran could no longer think of her friends, under the influence of alcohol, she was hot, her brain was dull, and even her memory was blurred.

She had no memory of where she was, except that a maid had supported her, led her around the corridors and corridors of the mansion, led her to a lavishly furnished room, and laid her to bed.

Before coming here, she had passed through many people, but people were chatting happily, no one was looking at her, and she could no longer understand what they were chatting, only that it was a swarm of flies buzzing.

Is this the social world? I don't think it's interesting. The ignorant girl thought to herself.

She lay in a daze, feeling only that there was a layer of fog between heaven and earth, and she couldn't see anything clearly, not even the passage of time.

Half-asleep and half-awake, she tossed and turned, her confused gaze constantly sweeping across the room.

Suddenly, she noticed a shadow in front of her.

She summoned the last remaining brain power and eyesight to analyze the shadow in front of her...... It's a person!

Oh, my God! There was a man standing in front of her bed!

For a moment she almost choked her breath, she tried to get up, but her body didn't listen.

"Who! You are...... Who! She could only ask with the strength she had left.

"Don't worry, beautiful Miss Treville, if I wanted to do you badly, I would have done it long ago." The visitor replied indifferently, "By the way, I would like to remind you that you should try not to drink alcohol in the future, this has never been your specialty." ”

"Oh...... yes, I'll ...... in the future I won't drink anymore. As soon as he heard that the other party knew whose child he was, Fran suddenly felt a lot more relieved, after all, the name of Marshal Trever was still terrifying.

What's more, she could hear it, this voice was a girl's voice, and although it was deliberately low, she could still hear the immaturity in it.

She struggled to keep her eyes open and looked at the shadow in front of her.

At this time, she finally saw a little clearly, standing in front of the bed was a child in a gray dress, short in stature, her hair was coiled behind her head and the color was not clear, and she was wearing a hat on her head, and a veil hung under the hat, covering her face, which seemed to be deliberately hiding her identity.

The child, and the girl, made most of Fran's fear just now dissipate.

"You...... Who are you? Fran asked again.

At the moment, her brain is really dull, so she can't think too much at all, so she can only ask this question.

"I am a traveler who has visited the world." "It's not a pleasant trip, but at least it's not a place that feels completely strange to me, and I want to thank God Almighty for that." ”

"So, traveler, you...... Do you know me? Fran asked again, "...... Have we met? ”

"Yes, I know you, and of course you won't know me...... Everyone has their own world, and unfortunately there aren't many intersections. The other party replied.

Fran didn't understand what the other party was talking about, was she a relative of Baron Tangral?

She's sleepy right now, and she's trying to get rid of this weird guy who suddenly appeared.

"And what are you looking for me?" She asked in a low voice.

"I have something I want to remind you, or your brother." The other party replied.

"What's wrong with my brother? He...... Did something happen to him? Fran shuddered, and then her vague mind suddenly became a little clearer, and she was so worried.

"He's doing a big stupid thing." The other party replied coldly, as if he was a little disdainful of Charles, "I have heard that he has been deliberately approaching the Count of Monte Cristo lately, but from what I have heard from my father, this man is a gangster who has done all kinds of evil and daring, and has countless bloody cases in his hands, and more importantly, he and my father have been working together recently, and my father may tolerate him doing something terrible...... So only a fool would have a relationship with him. ”

"Oh my God! Oh, my God! He's been dating someone by that name lately! As soon as he heard the other party say this, Fran exclaimed again and again, "Is that person really an evil bandit?" That...... What about that gentleman. ”

She struggled violently on the bed, trying to sit up, and then rushed out of bed, but her body did not obey the call, and stuck softly on the bed, making her eyes almost cry.

"Don't worry, it's still early, you have time to rest now, poor boy." The other party stretched out his hand and pressed it on Fran's shoulder, helping her to calm down, "This is France after all, even if it is a bandit, he will not easily show his fangs." ”

She was still young next year, but she was so old-fashioned to appease Flan that it was only because drinking had eroded her judgment that Fran didn't feel abnormal.

"Yes, it's still ......early," Fran slowly calmed down, and then looked at the other gratefully, "Thank you for the reminder, miss, although I don't know where you are sacred, but you can remind us with kind words, presumably one of my brother's friends, I will relay and remind him for you." ”

"Friends? If you think so, you're wrong. The face behind the veil seemed to sneer, "If I said I wanted to dismantle him and chop him up and feed it to the dogs, but I just didn't want to be done for him, would you appreciate me?" ”

Fran was stunned, her eyes widened and she looked at each other in dismay, "You...... Is it a joke! ”

"It's a shame I'm not." The other party replied with a sneer. "I'm serious, and I assure you that I definitely have the chance, though not necessarily now."

Although the other party was not tall, Fran still felt an icy chill.

It was indeed a terrible hatred.

How could my brother have offended such a young child?

Fran couldn't figure it out, but now she didn't have the time or space to reminisce.

"You, don't think about it!" She blurted out, "No matter where you are, I'm ...... I'm not going to let you get away with it! ”

"I think you'd reply to me like that, but even if you tried to stop me, what could you do?" The other party seems to be deliberately mocking Fran, "You're just a cute kid, with great talent and a likable personality, but that's about it—you're powerless." ”

"No, I'm not ......" Fran breathed heavily.

"You are." The other party interrupted Fran, "You are weak, you are compassionate, you are afraid of blood, you are a fragile vase, you can only be cared for, but there is no other use except to be shown, your brother raised you to be an angel, but this is the world, I'm sorry...... You are weak. ”

"I'm not...... I'm not...... Hell, you shut up, I'm not! Fran's eyes widened in anger, then she slammed into her feet and tried to grab the other man's hand, "I don't want to offend anyone, but I won't tolerate you hurting him, and if you dare to do so, I'll cut you off one by one until you live and see that you're only half of your body left!" You give me to remember! ”

In an instant, the warmth of the artist vanished, and her face was hideous and terrifying, like that of a demon.

The other side didn't respond, just looked at Fran coldly, neither scared nor angry.

Fran glared at the other without flinching.

"Poof, huh, hahaha......" Suddenly, the other party laughed in a low voice.

This laughter made the room that had been almost frozen warm again.

"No matter where you are, you're you......" the other party sighed, "yes, this is the real you, and I miss it a little...... Take a good look in the mirror and think back to what you used to be. ”

With this inexplicable sentence, in Fran's blurred vision, the other party suddenly disappeared.

What am I doing? Fran suddenly felt like her mind went blank.

Sleepiness reigned over her mind, and she closed her eyes again.

……………………

When she opened her eyes again, Fran found that her brother was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at her helplessly and reproachfully.

Having fully regained control of her body, she reached out and grabbed her brother's hand.

"Sir."

"You're sweating enough for a shower." Charles frowned slightly, and vaguely criticized his sister, "As a first-time drinker, two large glasses are too much. ”

"I'm sorry......" Fran smiled slightly. I won't be in the future. ”

This slightly miserable smile made Charles unable to speak of a ready reprimand.

Hey, it's not a big mistake anyway, forget it.

"Don't just talk about it, remember that you are not allowed to drink until you are an adult." He tried to keep a straight face and scare his sister.

"I'll remember." Fran nodded slightly, "I...... I just had a dream. ”

"Looks like a nightmare, right?" Charles sighed, "Otherwise I wouldn't be sweating so much." ”

"yes, it's a nightmare." Fran nodded slightly, "I...... I dreamed that you were in danger, and then I begged me to come and save you. And then I assure you, I ...... I will do everything in my power to save you, even if it sets the whole world on fire. ”

Charles couldn't help but laugh out loud at these words.

"What a stupid child, what a stupid dream!"