After consulting with the minister on what to do, Charles rushed directly to the Élysée Palace to ask for a meeting with the current president. As usual, it didn't take long for him to be allowed to go to the President's audience.

"Charles, I think I know why you came to me for something." In the interview room, Louis Bonaparte spoke as soon as he saw Charles, and then pointed to the seat next to him, motioning for him to sit down. "It's troublesome over there, isn't it? How's it going? ”

"Thanks to you, it has basically been taken care of now, the local commotion has now subsided, and the work can be restarted soon." Charles replied respectfully.

"I hope to try to put an end to this kind of thing in the future, the impact is too bad." Louis Bonaparte had no expression on his face, "How about the newspapers now full of attacks on you?" Doesn't it feel good? ”

"Well, it does feel bad......," Charles sighed, "but since we are serving the country, then we should never care too much about personal discredit." Now that we have set a goal, no matter what kind of difficulties we encounter along the way, we can only find ways to overcome and eliminate them. ”

"That's true, but, Charles...... A lot of times, there isn't that much truth in the world. Louis Bonaparte said coldly. Negligence is negligence after all, and we can't act as if nothing happened. ”

Sensing that something was wrong with the other party's tone, Charles looked up in surprise.

"You can see that you have achieved a lot in the past year and a half. But...... We also have to admit that there are still many omissions in some aspects of the work of the Ministry of Railways...... The press's attacks on you are not entirely baseless slander and abuse. Louis Bonaparte still had no joy on his face. Charles, I think sometimes we need to make certain changes to certain details. ”

"Change? ...... you mean? ”

"Let's not talk about the accident for the time being, the new round of financing of the Ministry of Railways seems to be very unsmooth, right? Three consecutive rounds of funding in a short period of time have reduced the recognition of you and increased the difficulty of fundraising...... Charles, isn't that a mistake? Louis Bonaparte looked at Charles, "If the fundraising after that is very unsatisfactory." Can we also act as if nothing happened? Should I just watch this department squander the trust of the people? ”

"Sir, you can also see how much responsibility is on our heads. We must obey your will to speed up the construction of the country's railways, which will require money, so there is no way to raise money multiple times in a short period of time. Charles quickly explained. I told you before. I will do my best to contribute to the construction of railways in the country, and I can't give up on this goal, right? ”

Louis Bonaparte continued to stare at Charles, and then suddenly laughed.

"Hahahaha, Charles, why are you so nervous? I didn't deny your efforts and achievements? Although these issues have been mentioned, I have no intention of using you to quell the doubts of the outside world. You've done a great job, and you need to continue to do it well in the future, if you're really short of money. There's no way to continue issuing bonds, right? I understand you, Charles. ”

After receiving such praise from the president. Charles's heart also settled down a little. However, he quickly figured out the implicit meaning of the other party's words.

"You're saying that it should be ...... by someone else. To take on this responsibility? Charles glanced at the other, "For example...... For example, Your Excellency our Minister. ”

Louis Bonaparte just shrugged his shoulders and did not answer.

Yes, after the death of the previous Count of Delierion, the family's use of Louis Bonaparte became less and less. It is not inconceivable that Louis Bonaparte, as a competent politician, would want to cross the river and tear down bridges, abandon the Dilillion family, who had never been his associates, and give the post of Minister of Railways to someone else as a reward, which has always been the reality of the world.

Hehe, hehehehe, it's exactly what I want, but it saves me a lot of effort.

"But...... But...... "In that case," said Charles, pretending to be reluctant, "the Minister has always worked with us relatively smoothly, and has been quite supportive of my work, so I am afraid that a hasty change would be a bit ...... It's a bit of a hassle......"

"Don't you know who he is? It's not capable at all, it's just a momentary political need, and he was rewarded with such a position. Now that the politics have changed a lot, we don't need to be courting this family all the time, are we? Louis Bonaparte said coldly, as if he had already planned in his heart, "Besides, we should always use something to prevaricate public opinion, and if he does not go, will you go?" ”

"That's not what I meant......" Charles couldn't help but hang his head under the other party's sharp gaze, and his heart was full of joy after passing the level. You are the President and our Chief, and I will follow your will, sir. ”

"That's good." Louis Bonaparte nodded, "Do your best in the future, Charles." ”

………………

"In short, what Mr. President means is that he is not very satisfied with the current work of our Ministry of Railways, and there is a huge pressure from public opinion, so he has decided to reorganize our Ministry in the near future, well...... Judging by his tone, it was a huge adjustment. ”

In the reception room at the Count's palace in Dilillion, Charles told his afternoon conversation with Louis Bonaparte at the Élysée Palace, but concealed the fact that Louis Bonaparte did not want to touch him.

"It seems that his mind is already very determined......

There were two people sitting next to him, the Count and Matilda, father and daughter.

"This ungrateful bastard! My father helped him get on stage, and he rewarded us with this! "Count Delierion's face was already horribly pale, and he slapped his right hand on the table." This bastard! What takes care of public opinion and public opinion, and who does it deceive? What is the death of a few people? It's just that we are in the way and want to kick it away! Bastard! I won't let him get his way! ”

"Dad. Calm down. Matilda, who was next to her, couldn't stand it anymore and reached out and pulled the corner of her father's clothes.

"Calm down? How can I calm down! Others have already tried to leave us alone, and you still tell me to calm down! The Count tore Matilda's hand away, "How am I going to calm down now?" ”

"Even if you're so angry, it won't help, right? Swearing won't solve the problem. Matilda looked at her father indifferently, "Grandpa is here." will not be angry. ”

As if stunned by his daughter's gaze, the Count of Delier gradually recovered from his previous state of rage, but his chest still rose and fell violently. Apparently still angry. "He's going to kick us away like that? Absolutely not! I will never listen to him obediently, and I will resign myself, no way! ”

"Even if you don't resign, he can fire you. There is no point in this kind of angry talk. Dad, we'll have to find another way. Matilda smiled bitterly, then reached out to help her glasses, "Dad, it's not time to run out of water, don't be in such a hurry." ”

"That's true, but ...... But he's president. The Count frowned, then sighed suddenly. Hey, if only Daddy were still alive! How dare he treat me like this then. But now, there are not even a few people who really want to speak for me! ”

"Grandpa is dead, Dad, we have to face reality after all." Matilda replied in a low voice, and then, suddenly, she looked at Charles, "Mr. Trevier, what about you?" What are your plans for the future? ”

"Me?" Charles was a little caught off guard by her sudden question, but quickly reacted, "I don't know what to do, and I don't know what the president plans to do with us right now." In short, I'll do my job well first, and then I'll wait for the verdict of fate. ”

He sighed discouragedly, "Hey...... I really didn't expect our hard work to be rewarded with such a result! It's so unfair. ”

"Yes, it's so unfair, we have worked so hard that a few small things will wipe out our credit! Does that make sense! The Count chimed in, "Charles, we must not accept such an outcome. ”

"I'll fight hard, sir, but sometimes fate likes to play tricks on people, and I can only ...... can only be grudgingly accepted. Charles also sighed, "In short, no matter what the final result is, I will always respect you and support you." Your pioneering contribution to our ministry is enough to be recorded in the history of the department, nay, the entire history of the construction of France, and no one can erase such an achievement. ”

Charles's tone was full of sorrow and sincere exclamation, as if he were really upset about it—when it comes to reading eulogies to others, no one will be stingy with good words.

"Thank you...... Shire. As if touched by Charles' sincerity, the Count looked at Charles, then patted him on the shoulder. Only you are a friend of our family, always have been. ”

"Well, it always has been." Charles nodded emphatically.

………………

As Charles walked out of the room and was about to go home, Matilda's greeting suddenly sounded from behind.

"Mr. Treville?"

"What's the matter? Mathilda? Charles asked, curiously.

"I ...... Can I talk to you about that? The girl's gaze was a little evasive, as if she was a little uneasy. It won't take you too long. ”

"Well, of course, it's an honor." Charles hurriedly replied.

Then, together with the two of them, they wandered along the long paths of the Earl's Court.

At this time, the moon was already high in the sky, because there was no floating clouds to cover it, and the clear moonlight poured down on the ground without reservation, as if to pave the ground with a layer of silver mysterious light, both clear and hazy.

"Mr. Treville, this seems to be the second time, and you are walking here with me." After walking for a while, Matilda finally spoke, "Feeling...... It feels weird. ”

"Oh, it's the second time, indeed." Charles also remembered that when he had come here with Louis Bonaparte, he had been called out by Matilda, and that he had taken a walk here as well. While chatting about Mary.

"Hehe, time flies so fast, two years have passed in a flash. I don't feel it at all. Matilda smiled, "But if you think about it, these two years are not completely meaningless, all kinds of big things happened in the middle, my grandfather also passed away, and we got to know each other......"

"Well, that's how it works. It's fast and slow, and it's confusing. Charles nodded.

"yes...... It's like these moonshines, and it's confusing......" Matilda looked up. Look at the sky.

Charles didn't know why, but because of etiquette, he didn't bother.

Suddenly, as if inadvertently. Matilda spoke.

"Mr. Treville. In fact...... Actually, you already have a plan in mind, right? My dad will be kicked out of Mr. Bonaparte, and you will remain in office. ”

"Hmm!"

Although the voice of the question was soft, it made Charles's heart tighten.

He quickly turned his head and stared at Matilda.

The girl, who was dressed in a white dress and wore glasses, was whitened by the moonlight, as if she had been refined. Because I'm still looking up at the sky, my neck is already very slender. and the collarbone form a few wonderful arcs, and the shadows in the moonlight are getting deeper and deeper. As if it was intended to be spied on.

"You...... What do you mean by that? Charles asked tentatively.

"It's nothing...... It's just a guess. Matilda still looked up at the sky, "You're so sincere. Generally speaking, a person of your position and of your origin is probably only in two ways when he finds himself in his present situation—either he is as anxious as my father is because he is worried about his position; Or they are indifferent because they don't care about themselves. And you are not anxious and indifferent, as if you are completely anxious for my father...... It's so sincere, so in my opinion, it's definitely fake. ”

"It's too sincere, so it's fake?" Charles's heart moved.

"That's right, that's what I'm trying to say." Matilda smiled slightly apologetically and slowly pulled her gaze off the air. "Ah, I'm sorry, I don't know exactly how to describe it...... That's how it feels anyway. ”

The smile on Charles' face froze.

Because it's so sincere, it's definitely false.

Although this sentence may seem contradictory, it is incredibly accurate in the world in which he and the girl lived.

Accurate enough to expose all the disguises of Monsieur Charles de Treville.

"Mr. Treville, please tell me, am I mistaken?" Matilda continued to ask.

Instead of looking at Charles, she looked up at the sky, and the moon was reflected in the brown eyes behind the lenses, which seemed to glow with a pale golden light.

Do I really need to keep lying to her? Can you really be deceived?

Charles did not answer.

"Oh, that seems to be true." Matilda gradually lowered her gaze from the sky to the flowerbed next to her, "Judging by your reaction, it seems that you are sure that my father is retiring from the position of minister...... Has Mr. Bonaparte already made such a decision? This is not very strange, after all, there is a difference between intimacy and intimacy, and in the eyes of Monsieur Bonaparte, a follower like yours must be heavier than someone like me who has followed halfway......"

Before Charles could speak, Matilda continued, "And what do you think personally? I would like to know what you really think. Is it a dissatisfaction but reluctance to accept it, or is this the result you expected, or even expected? ”

Although she was talking about the whole family, Matilda was neither excited, nor angry or denunciated by Charles, but just asked calmly, as if she were just asking "what are you going to eat tonight".

The focus of those eyes finally condensed into Charles.

"I don't particularly want that to happen, but ...... There are many things in the world that people can't help but do. After a long silence, Charles finally said slowly, "Matilda, I'm really sorry. ”

"That said, you've pretty much expected this outcome, haven't you?" Matilda's eyes were very clear, as if she had already understood, "That's right, since I lost my grandfather and my father is so unreliable, it has long been seen that there is such a result, and it is normal." ”

"I'm sorry, Matilda." Again, Charles gave this answer.

"It's okay, there's nothing to regret about it." Matilda smiled slightly, in this world where the moonlight had cast a mysterious spell, this small smile was like a laurel flower in a flower bed, and it actually added a touch of charm to this girl who was always strict. "Besides, it's not even to the point where it's unthinkable."

"And what do you think?" Charles asked, somewhat curious.

"If you say to the president that you want to take responsibility for what has happened, and then ask him to resign, and try to absolve my father of responsibility, I want to come...... My father can stay on the job, right? ”

Charles looked at Matilda carefully, and the expression on his face suddenly became very strange.

This question is so detached from reality that there is no need to answer it.

"Can you do that?" Matilda looked at Charles inquiringly, "Actually, I've always admired your ......"

The moon stood right behind her, spilling countless streams of silk-lubricated and delicate light from the sky and finally onto her.

"Hahahahaha......" Charles finally couldn't help laughing.

"Nope." (To be continued......)