It was already evening, and the glow began to cover the land. For most of the city, it's almost time to go home and restock for tomorrow's work, but for some, it's just the beginning of social life.

In the Dilieon family's mansion, the servants were busy putting up lights and trying to erase the last traces of the funeral of a month earlier.

Although the sudden death of the old earl still left some sorrow on the family, and their celebration became subtle and reserved, they wanted to use it in this way to dilute the shadow of the bad news of a month ago.

"Matilda, what's wrong, aren't you happy?"

In the garden of the Earl's Court, Julie looked at her sister and asked worriedly.

"Huh? Yes...... No, I'm happy. Matilda, who had been looking up at the clouds, as if she had just been awakened, quickly replied.

Although there was not much evidence on her face to support this statement, Julie accepted her answer.

"That's good." Julie nodded, "Today is your banquet." ”

Then, as if playing a prank, she laughed a little narrowly, "Don't forget, Mr. Trevier is coming, too, and if you don't cheer up, you'll be snubbing your guests." ”

"You don't have to be so nervous, right? We don't have to please him. Matilda frowned slightly, "Mom and Dad are really ...... too"

"It's not flattering, right? I just hope you can grasp a rare marriage partner, after all, they are heartbroken by me. I don't want you to repeat the mistakes of the past...... Now a young and promising young man like him is rare. Julie still smiled and replied, "Of course." If you can charm him, that's great! ”

"It's so easy to be fascinated." Matilda's face suddenly appeared with an imperceptible flush. "I'm so unattractive......"

"Who said that!" Julie interrupted her sister in disgruntle, then reached out and grabbed Matilda's shoulders and made her look at herself, "My sister is so beautiful. How could it not be likable! Look at how white this skin is? How fine is hair? How delicate are the facial features? How smart are people? As long as you know a little bit about you, how can you not like it? ”

"That's too much...... "Matilda was a little embarrassed." I'm just a girl with glasses and no sense of sex......"

"It's not too much, even if you're wearing a pair of glasses. It looks very intellectual, so good-looking! Although you haven't learned this lesson yet, you can always learn it slowly! Julie continued, "Alright. Don't worry so much. It's about to start, let's go......"

Then she dragged her sister out of the garden.

………………

By the time Charles arrived at the Count's Palace, the feast was almost begin.

When the servants announced his name, he was greeted by Matilda, the protagonist of the feast and the second lady of the Diliion family.

"Happy birthday, Miss Delion."

Charles hurriedly offered his blessing to Matilda, and then handed over his own gift.

"Thank you for coming, sir." Matilda also hurriedly saluted the other party. But Charles felt as if she was cowering, as if she was afraid of something.

After receiving Charles' gift. Matilda was supposed to go to entertain another guest, but as if something was going on, she looked at Charles with some hesitation, and stopped talking. For a moment, the two seemed to be the focus of attention.

"Ah, what's the matter with you?" Charles asked curiously.

"Hmm...... Didn't Fran come tonight? After hesitating for a long time, Matilda suddenly asked.

"She can't come because of something recently, and she asked me to apologize to you." Charles immediately replied, "That's why I've prepared two gifts for you, and I hope you don't take them to heart." ”

"Oh, of course, how could I ...... How could you be mad at her......" Matilda smiled reluctantly, then looked up at Charles slightly, "Mr. Treville...... Well...... I have a request, I wonder if you can grant it? ”

"Can you just say it?" Charles was a little curious.

"Hmm...... Wait...... When the dance starts, can you dance with me? Among the young people who seem to be coming today...... Well...... There are not many suitable ones...... Well, you get the idea. Matilda finally spoke up in fits and starts.

"Of course I do, it's my pleasure." Charles couldn't help but laugh, "But, Matilda, what's wrong with you today?" Isn't that like you? ”

"It's just a little exciting...... It's nothing. Matilda bowed her head. So, please remember what you promised me. ”

"Okay." Charles nodded again, then watched her go to greet a new guest.

Because it is a famous family in high society, although it is only a small banquet, the earl's palace is still full of friends at this time, but most of them are young people. From time to time, Charles greeted people he knew, and eventually struck up a conversation with Matilda's brother-in-law, Lucien.

Although he had been listening to Lucien talk about the strange things he had encountered during his expedition to Italy, Charles occasionally paid attention to Matilda out of the corner of his eye, because her previous appearance made him feel so strange.

Under his quiet observation, Matilda was politely receiving every guest, occasionally chatting with friends, but in Charles's opinion, she was not in any mood of excitement or happiness at this time, still calmly watching everyone, wandering away from the whole banquet, as if she was not the protagonist tonight but a spectator in a corner.

For some reason, Charles felt that this was really normal Matilda.

In other words, when you talk to me, does she become a little abnormal? Plus. She also asked me to dance with her...... Could it be that she's having a crush on me?

Charles was suddenly stirred by the thought - even though he had already decided to marry Charlotte, people would always be happy about it.

Well. When the time comes, be gentle when you reject her, and try not to break her heart. With this fluttering feeling, he thought leisurely.

………………

As the music plays, Charles makes good on his promise and dances with Matilda, much to Charles' surprise, albeit a little cold and even wooden. But Matilda's dancing was so light that she could compare to Lola that day.

"They're a good match," said Julie, sitting next to her. He looked at the dancing of the two young men, and then turned to look at Lucien, "Honey, did you say that?" ”

"Ahh It's a good match. Lucien nodded. But I heard that the charr seems to be ......."

As if feeling that this was not appropriate at this time, Lucien quickly stopped and continued to enjoy the dance between the two young men.

At this time, Charles and Matilda could no longer feel what was being said, they were already immersed in the dance, accompanied by a soft and soothing waltz, as if they were walking in the woods.

With the rhythm of the dance, Matilda's initial cringe was gone. Dancing with Charles casually, it looked like he was indeed enjoying his birthday party.

"You're beautiful tonight." Charles complimented him in due course.

"Thank you for the compliment." Matilda also smiled and replied, "You are also very attractive tonight." It's so hard for you, it's like you have to do everything, and busy people still have to come to me. ”

"It's my pleasure and I don't feel bothered at all." Charles hurriedly replied, "Besides, your father is my boss, shouldn't I be able to please his daughter?" ”

"Hehe......" Matilda laughed deeper, "I don't see you have so much respect for my father...... We weren't ...... together that day."

At this point, she suddenly stopped.

Charles understood why, of course—Matilda's pulling his father out of his mistress's bed that day was not a nice thing to do, and Matilda certainly didn't dare to continue.

Thinking of this, the two of them smiled heartily and stopped continuing the topic.

When the song was finished, Charles and Matilda walked to the resting place.

"Speaking of my father, he seems to admire you, and often mentions you to me......," Matilda looked at Charles after a while, and spread her hands gently, "so today he has been telling me to treat you well." ”

"I am very grateful to him for nurturing and loving me." Charles replied sternly, as if it were not him the man who had been plotting against His Excellency the Minister. "So I'm happy to accompany you to relieve your boredom and happiness."

"Really? That's great, they'll be happy to hear that. Matilda smiled again, as if there was a deep meaning in her eyes. However, for them, today's banquet is not just to help me celebrate, they have other plans......"

Charles felt something in his heart, and as soon as he wanted to speak, Matilda continued.

"That's right, they just want to find me a suitable marriage partner. Quite simply, they were disappointed in their sister, so they wanted me to find a good family to help the family............"

Then she looked at Charles, "At the moment, you seem to like them." ”

Well, that's true...... Charles sighed inwardly.

"So what do you think?" He looked at Matilda cautiously. "Don't you object? That's how they decide your future......"

Matilda gave Charles a look back, making him feel like he had asked an overly stupid question.

"Well, I'm just asking......"

"Although there is nothing to love or not, if it were you, I wouldn't find anything unbearable." Matilda said suddenly, her face a little embarrassed, but her tone was still very calm, it was obvious that she had thought about this question many times, "I'm sorry, I should have blushed and lowered my head at this point and whispered that I love you...... However, I ...... Sure enough, it still can't be done. All I can say is that if you really choose me, I will honor you and help you as God has taught us. And try to fall in love with you later - of course I can't guarantee that, and I guess you won't mind. What do you think? Are you okay with that? ”

After a quick retribution, Matilda turned her face away. Apparently. She was not as casual as she seemed, but she mustered up the courage to say this.

The girl's extraordinary courage made Charles stunned for a while, speechless.

After a long time, he turned his face away in the other direction.

"I really appreciate how much they value me, but, I'm sorry...... I have made a marriage contract with someone. ”

Matilda turned around.

"That's right......" she sighed. But it didn't seem surprising, "Is that the Duchess de Treville?" I think I've heard some rumors, but I didn't expect them to be true......"

"I'm sorry." Charles still didn't retract his gaze. Obviously still a little embarrassed.

Matilda's reaction, however, was completely unexpected.

"Oh, that's great......," Matilda let out a long sigh of relief, as if relieved. Now I don't have to worry about what to do with you! ”

"Huh?" Charles turned his head in surprise.

"Ever since I learned what my parents meant. I've been worried, I don't know how to deal with you, I'm afraid I'll make you unhappy and my parents down, but it's great that it's so real! Matilda's joy seemed to be heartfelt, and she looked at Charles with a smile, "Mr. Treville, we can finally be friends again." ”

…… In other words, I was just making a fool of myself?

Charles didn't know what to say for a moment.

All right. That's actually fine.

"Looks like Daddy is going to be disappointed again......" Matilda chuckled and took a sip of her drink, "but." I'd like you not to tell him about it lately, or they'll have to find me a new target, and I'll have to be upset with another guy - well, at least let me rest for a while, right? ”

"Okay, that's fine." Charles hurriedly agreed.

"I knew you were a friend!" Matilda drank the wine in her glass in one gulp, then suddenly reached out and grabbed Charles's hand, "Here, I just have something I want to show you!" ”

Without telling Charles, she pulled Charles in one direction and left the hall, ignoring the sight of the other people in the hall.

"Looks very smooth, my dear." Looking at the backs of the two young men leaving, Julie smiled and said to Lucien.

"Ah, probably." Lucien replied vaguely, wondering if the rumor he had heard earlier was true.

………………

It didn't take long for Matilda to take Charles to a room.

The décor of this room is very simple, except for a bed covered with white sheets, except for a few eye-catching bookshelves by the window, which are filled with books and essays, and the desk is also full of various letters.

"This is your bedroom?" Charles looked at Matilda in amazement.

"Yes, yes, this is my bedroom." Matilda nodded without hesitation, then took out a silk towel and wiped her glasses, "It's cold, isn't it?" My sister also said that she is not girlish at all, so I have never dared to bring you here. Well, now that you say that, I don't mind that......"

"Actually...... Actually, it's not bad. Charles replied with a smile. This arrangement is very Matilda's style. ”

"Thank you for saying that, I can stand it without compliments." Matilda laughed too, "Wait a minute, I'll give it to you right away." ”

Then, without waiting for Charles to reply, she quickly walked over to a bookshelf, searched it incessantly, and finally pulled out a paper folder.

Then, she took the paper and walked back to Charles, "Mr. Treville, this is what I want to give you. ”

"yes, okay." Charles took the paper folder and flipped through it casually, and then he quickly understood, "These are your grandfather's manuscripts?" ”

"Yes, these are all manuscripts left by my grandfather when he was alive, but I wrote them down." Matilda nodded, and then her expression suddenly became a little gloomy, "Grandpa's many essays back then were dictated by him and then written by me. After he passed away, I picked out some of the texts that I thought were important, and this was only a part. I have divided these statements into categories, some of which are about internal affairs, some of which are devoted to foreign affairs, and some of which are purely records of the views of certain people......"

"Oh! That's a good thing! As an elder politician, the Count of Delion had his own unique views on many things, and it would be very helpful for us to be able to draw on his wisdom. Sharton was a little taken aback, then looked at it more carefully, "Well, Matilda, thanks to you. ”

"I just helped tidy it up, and it's my grandpa who is really powerful, isn't it?" Matilda smiled sheepishly, "Mr. Treyville, I don't know if you remember the first time we met?" ”

"Well...... "Charles muttered for a moment, "it seems like we were playing chess and then talking about the Austrians?" ”

"Yes, that's right. You said something about the Austrians, and the meaning is exactly the same as what Grandpa said to others before. Matilda nodded, "I was thinking - this young man is so powerful, he can actually coincide with grandpa's thoughts!" ”

Then she flipped the manuscript to one page, "You see, here my grandfather wrote to a friend, 'Poor Austrian Empire is now decaying to the point of no return, it has become a zombie, lifeless, hopeless, and no one can bring it back to life.'" Its current monarch is an idiot, and the highly-anticipated Franz-Joseph is just a new abscess on this zombie...... However, because of this, it is more valuable for our country to be used......"

Then she looked at Charles, "So, when I came back from your house, I told my grandfather your opinion, and he was also very surprised, saying that you must have a great future in the future!" ”

"So it is......," Charles continued, with some amazement, to open the manuscript, and found that it was not only about the Austrians, but also about the late Count of Dillieon, whose views were very much in line with him in many other places, and there were other points that made him feel a little surprised and enlightened.

So, after looking through it for a while, he looked at Matilda solemnly, "Matilda, if it's convenient, can you lend me these manuscripts to see?" ”

"If you don't, why should I bring you here?" Matilda laughed again, "Of course, sir, you can take it, anyway, after Grandpa's death, you are the only one who can care about him." Even dad ......"

As if she didn't think it was good to talk about her father behind her back, she immediately changed the subject, "Mr. Treville, it's so nice to talk to you after you don't have to find a way to please you!" It's so hard to find a good friend these days. ”

"Me too." Charles nodded in the same way. (To be continued......)