Charlotte's light figure disappeared into the dark hallway with the dull turn of the door, while Charles sat firmly in his seat, his gaze fixed on the doorway.

Charlotte gave him a lot of surprises today, but the most surprising thing for him was the news she gave at the end.

"Just now, outside the room, there wasn't just one audience."

In a tone that was playful to the point of mockery, she handed Charles a reality he didn't want to know.

Although this reality is a little unbelievable, Charles does not doubt the truth of it, after all, Charlotte does not need to tell a clumsy lie to amuse herself.

So, his sister did eavesdrop on her conversation with the Attorney General of Villefort.

So, the question is, why did she do it?

There's a more important question, has she done this before?

He didn't have answers to either question, but both pointed to a terrible possibility at the same time.

He didn't want to doubt his sister, because it was too absurd, after all, he asked himself if he was really good to his sister, almost the kind of good that put his heart into his heart, he couldn't find any reason why his sister wanted to deal with him, and he didn't believe that she would have any ill will towards him.

But then why did my sister do that?

What thoughts are turning in the heart of such an innocent and lovely child?

He suddenly had a feeling that "maybe his world is not as easy to grasp as he imagined", and Charles, who had always felt that he was at ease, was suddenly a little uncertain at the moment.

And, there's an even more terrible fact.

Since Fran had been eavesdropping at the time, she must have heard what the Attorney General of Villefort said about her parents—her mother died in childbirth when she gave birth to her, and her father was the villain who killed her mother. Will it be sad and painful or angry and hateful?

He wanted to talk to his sister about it tomorrow, but quickly dismissed the idea.

Maybe it's because he doesn't feel the need for a showdown now, maybe it's just that he doesn't want to embarrass the two of them even more.

In the midst of this confusion and entanglement, he fell asleep in a daze, and the impact he faced tonight was so great that even he could not bear it.

…………………………

It wasn't until dawn that Charles was awakened by the servant's knock at the door, and it was already breakfast time at home.

The old marquis was born in the military, and his personality was also very severe, so he had always been strict in governing the family, and brought the habits of the army to the family, when he was at home, he ate at home on time every day, and the family members at home must also come to the table on time to accompany the old man.

Over time, this habit was formed at home, whenever it came to a fixed time, he would consciously come to the dining room, and even if he overslept, the servants would urge him, and this rule, even if the old marshal was not at home recently, was still strictly enforced.

With a lingering drowsiness, Charles squinted his eyes and crawled up, then yawned and freshened up before heading into the dining room.

The food on the table is the same as ever, but the people sitting inside have changed dramatically.

Fran, dressed in a white dress, was sitting in her usual seat, her eyes a little erratic, as if she couldn't figure out what was going on in her home; Valentina cowered timidly beside her, like a frightened squirrel, very nervous. On the other side of the long dining table sat Valentina's father, the Attorney General of Villefort, who did not seem to have slept well last night, with big dark circles under his eyes and eyes full of anxiety and depression.

"Sir!"

As soon as she saw Charles, Fran, who had been a little ownerless, immediately came to her senses, and she shouted at Charles with wide eyes, as if to ask her brother why there were two more guests in the house overnight.

"Good morning, everyone." Charles nodded to everyone present, and then sat down next to his sister, "Ah, sorry, I forgot to tell you, Valentina had something at home last night, so she came to our house to ask me for help, and by the way, she rested at our place, huh...... Her father did the same. ”

"yes, I'm grateful for Charles' help to our family." At this time, the Attorney General of Villefort also laughed dryly, "Thanks to his help, we have finally come out of the bad things." ”

In order to curry favor with Charles, the Attorney General of Villefort is now very low, and at this time he can't care about the dignity of his elders, and he needs to let Charles hide the truth for him and keep his position.

Fran still didn't seem to understand, and blinked in confusion, as if she really didn't know anything.

Valentina was still nervous, and it was evident that she was still a little restrained and scared in front of her father, who had been in power for a long time, and although it seemed that his father had reached some compromise with Charles, she was still instinctively afraid.

So her gaze kept wandering to Charles, as if waiting for him to give an answer.

The two of them were separated by a Fran and couldn't communicate directly, so Charles just gave her a reassuring look, and then ate by herself, although Valentina still wanted to ask about the situation, but she couldn't ask now, so she had to hang her head and eat together.

In this way, the two families ate breakfast in an almost dull and calm manner, like a group of unrelated passers-by.

When he was almost done, Charles gestured to Valentina and left the table herself, while Valentina cautiously followed him out of the dining room.

"Charles, last night...... Did you quarrel with my father last night? As soon as she came out, she couldn't hold back the doubts in her heart, and immediately asked Charles, "How is it......?"

"Don't worry, everything is already going well." Charles turned around and gave her a warm smile, "I had a good exchange with your father last night, he has forgiven you for the mistake of sneaking away, and I won't scold you anymore, you can just go home with him later, and take care of your grandmother's funeral." ”

"How so?!" Valentina's mouth opened wide in surprise, apparently not quite believing Charles' explanation so lightly, "Daddy...... Dad is not such a good talker, he will not easily agree with you, will he ...... Is he cheating on you? ”

She knew her father too well, so she knew that her father was not such a good talker, and when she heard Charles say that her father had compromised, she immediately panicked, and she didn't care if it was appropriate to say bad things about her father behind her back, so she directly reminded Charles.

"Don't ask more about the specific situation, in short, don't worry, he won't lie to me, he won't dare." Charles smiled rather mysteriously, "Now that he's trying his best to calm down the previous turmoil, he can even say that he needs to curry favor with you, so you're basically safe now." ”

"Really?" Valentina was still a little skeptical, but she was clearly happy.

"Of course it's true." Charles nodded again.

"Okay - I believe you, to be honest, I was also shocked when I saw my dad today, and instead of scolding me, he said hello to me...... It's like...... It's as if we were at home and nothing happened. Valentina muttered to herself, "I really didn't expect that someone like my father would be soft, it's incredible." ”

That's because he had been caught with a sore foot and had to give in, Charles replied in his heart.

"You've been working really hard these days, go back and have a good rest, take advantage of this time to adjust your mentality, you still have a lot to do in the future." Charles leaned closer to Valentina, "Of course, although your father's side has been accommodating, that doesn't mean that everything will be calm, and you still have to maintain the most basic vigilance-"

"Beware of my stepmother, right?" Valentina immediately picked up the conversation.

Charles spread his hands, there was no need to be too explicit.

"I understand, I will, don't worry." Valentina nodded, then a little gloomy, "Actually...... Dad wasn't so harsh at first, and it wasn't until he married his stepmother that he became like that...... So, it would have been nice if he had been cautious at first! ”

Charles didn't think so, he felt that the Inspector General of Villefort was a natural villain, selfish and evil, and even if he married another successor, his nature would not change, at most he would only be a little more restrained on the surface.

However, Valentina is a child after all, and what child wants to admit that his father is a big badass? She can only desperately find reasons to exonerate her father and put the blame on her stepmother.

Similar families are usually like this, people often reprimand stepmothers for being ruthless, but in fact, if there is no acquiescence or even participation of the father, what stepmother can bully the child like this?

Of course, in order not to spoil Valentina, there was no need for him to say these words.

"Valentina, what happened before, no matter how much you regret it, no matter how painful it is, it doesn't make sense, because it has already happened." Charles felt that it was time for him to do a good job, so he mobilized the other party before leaving, "You can only cheer up and muster up the courage to face the future, don't forget what I said before, you are not only living for yourself, but also for your grandfather, and your dead grandparents, they hope that you can live well from the bottom of their hearts, so you must respond to their expectations with your own actions." Do your best to fight for the future! Good bye. ”

"Thank you so much...... You're always so calm, so reliable, my cousin, I don't know where I'd been without your help, you're my benefactor! Valentina burst into tears, and then rushed straight towards Charles.

Caught off guard, Charles could only reach out and hug Valentina.

Valentina fell on his chest and sobbed.

Charles was embarrassed at first, but soon laughed helplessly, reaching out and stroking her hair as if he were a pet.

"Okay, don't cry......"

Charles could understand her feelings. She has experienced so many disasters before, especially her grandparents have died one after another, so she has accumulated too much pressure, and she escaped from the house in a hurry last night, which is the peak of pressure, just relying on a force to support it, and now with the help of Charles, she temporarily got rid of the pressure and relaxed, and the emotions accumulated before were like a flash flood, pouring out of her head.

In a sense, this is also a good thing, if the pressure accumulates too much and can't vent, people will be crushed, and if Valentina vents like this, the mood will be much better.

Valentina's cries gradually subsided under his reassurance, but she still leaned on his shoulder, as if trying to draw the courage to continue fighting.

"I don't know how I'm going to survive without your help, so I'm really grateful to you, Charles." There was still some crying in her voice, "I will always ...... I will never and will never forget the favor you have given me, I swear to you, as long as I ...... As long as you get out of the predicament, I will do everything I can to repay you, no matter what you want me to do, I will do whatever I want to do to repay you, anything! ”

This silly girl! I just beg you not to reproach me for using you when the time comes! Charles thought to himself.

"Don't say that, we are relatives, help each other, it's right, live well, this is the best reward for me, girl."

Under Charles's deliberate appeasement, Valentina, who was grateful to him, left with her father, and the turmoil within the Villefort family was temporarily calmed down, although there was still a turbulent undercurrent under the calm water, but at least for now, it was calm on the surface.

But Charles, at this time, has to deal with another turmoil.

"Sir, can you now tell me what happened last night? Why is there suddenly more uninvited guests in our house? ”

When Charles returned to his study, Fran walked in and questioned him bluntly.

Her tone was less tactful, almost shy, almost questioning, and she was obviously incomprehensible to the sudden state of affairs.

She didn't have a smile on her face, but puffed up her face, looking anxious and even a little angry.

Where does this anxiety and anger come from?

Is it from an uninvited guest, or from some old story overheard?

Charles, who was looking at his sister, couldn't help but speculate in his heart.

"Valentina suffered a tragic blow yesterday, so she was distraught and ran to our house to rest." Charles struggled to contain his thoughts, and explained to Fran what had happened to Valentina last night.

"Then I'm all the more incomprehensible, sir." Fran still didn't buy it, and still asked Charles aggressively, "Her grandmother died, which is a very sad and tragic thing, I feel sorry for her, but why did she encounter such a sad thing, her first choice was not to get through with her family, but to choose to run to our house?" Isn't that the right thing to do? ”

"It's really inappropriate for a normal family to do this, but their family is not a normal family - you can also see that her father is not good to her, and her stepmother and brother often bully her, so she has no one to talk to, and she feels very lonely." Charles patiently explained to Fran, "I know she's doing something inappropriate, but please be considerate of her, she's really not having an easy life." ”

"I'm afraid it's not just because I have a bad relationship with my family, right?" Fran kept her eyes on Charles, "Why else would she throw herself into your arms?" I think she has other intentions, think about it! ”

"You see?" Charles was a little surprised.

"Of course I did! You and she huddled in the hallway so loudly, how could I not see it? Fran interrupted Charles loudly, "It's a shame that she did this, Grandma just left, and she threw her arms on someone else......"

"Don't say that about her! She's just so sad, I've helped her so much, she's grateful to me, and she's dependent on me. Charles interrupted Fran.

"Yes, just because she depends on you, she wants to make you her own, you are not a woman so she won't understand, but I can see it." Fran said anxiously to Charles, "So you must not fall for her, this kind of person likes to pretend to be pitiful and win the favor of others......"

Charles didn't speak, just looked at Fran, he never thought that these words could come out of his sister's mouth.

She had always behaved so well-behaved, empathetic, and compassionate, and it turned out that the words were so mean that they almost came out of Charlotte's mouth.

It can be seen that she is in a state of confusion now, otherwise she would never have said such mean words.

Perhaps he felt that he had gone too far, and Fran's face suddenly flushed a little, obviously embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, sir, I ...... I'm afraid I'm going too far, Valentina is not a bad person, I shouldn't have said that about her, she has suffered so much. Fran's voice was a little short, and her breathing became heavy, "I...... I don't really have any ill will towards her, I just ...... I'm just scared you've been scammed, I'm just ...... I'm so scared to lose you! ”

"Lose me?" Charles was a little baffled. "What do you mean?"

"It's not interesting, I'm just scared...... God, I'm so scared of losing you! The blush on Fran's face faded and was replaced by a pale, somewhat incoherent, "You...... You're so different from what you used to be! ”

"What's different?" Charles was still a little ignorant.

"In the past, you would never do this to help people, you would smile politely at them and keep your distance - but you are different to Valentina, you have been helping her, sparing no effort, and dragging grandpa to help her, I don't know what is the charm of this girl, worthy of your effort?"

"Can't I help her?" Charles lowered his gaze slightly, he didn't like to be meddled in his own affairs, "I have my plans. ”

"You want to help Valentina, I understand, I support it, but you ...... Don't be impressed by her pity, it's just a weapon for girls, and she's trying to deceive you, whether intentionally or unconsciously. Fran became even more anxious, "I'm scared...... I'm scared, it's because you're so fascinated by her pity, that's why you're so dedicated to her. ”

When his sister said this, Charles also felt a little crying and laughing.

Yes, he has been helping Valentina since he helped the Marquis de Novatier make his will, and in the eyes of others, I am afraid that there will really be some associations - so it is no wonder that the Prosecutor General of Villefort would do such a move.

Wait a minute...... Charles finally understands why Fran is so troubled by the loss.

When she was eavesdropping last night, she must have heard the Prosecutor General's proposal last night, and she didn't refuse to her face, so she was terrified, afraid that she was really interested in Valentina!

Because I was too nervous, I broke out today and wanted to make myself "change my mind".

So, the point is, what is your own heart?

Is it really just for the purpose of collecting a chess piece that she has been helping Valentina?

Not really.

After getting to know Valentina a little, Charles should have a little appreciation and sympathy for her, she is indeed quite an interesting girl.

But, Charles asked himself, there was absolutely no such special feeling.

"Then don't worry, I won't be deceived, I'm still quite clear-headed." Charles replied calmly, "Don't worry, I don't think much of Valantina, she's just a friend." ”

"Really?" Fran looked at Charles expectantly.

"Yes." Charles nodded. "I'm just out of compassion and ...... And some other reasons to help her so much, as for what you are worried about, you definitely think too much. ”

"Can you promise me?" Fran asked nervously.

"How insecure you are......" Charles teased her, then held out his finger to his sister, "I promise you, I don't think much of her." ”

Fran reached out, hooked his fingers, and shook it twice vigorously.

Then, a smile of ecstasy appeared on her face, and then, like Valentina just now, went straight into Charles's arms.

"Great, it seems that you still remember Grandpa's advice." Fran let out a long sigh of relief, seeming relieved. "Sir, you're really freaking me out."

Because the sense of crisis was regained by the blood color on her face, and that innocent look, it was like being resurrected.

"I don't know how you suddenly had so many thoughts." Charles touched her head, "Did you hear any rumors?" Yesterday the Attorney General told me that he didn't mean that. ”

Charles: It's a subtle temptation.

"Sir, no one said anything to me." Almost without any thought, the child in her arms replied. "I'm sorry for my own thoughts......"

The acting is really too good to be amazing.

Charles had to make this assessment in his heart, half painfully and half happily.