It was not until the afternoon that Charles left the country house in a modest carriage.

After a period of driving, the carriage returned to Paris, and Charles changed the carriage in a secluded place before heading to his home.

When the carriage finally stopped, the exhaustion of the long journey and the "hard battle" made it almost difficult for Charles to get up, and after a moment of adjustment, he stepped out of the carriage.

The carriage quickly re-departed and headed for the stables, leaving Charles alone in the wide courtyard.

The wide lawn leads to a few paths, dotted with greenery that sway in the cold winter wind, and the marble steps lead to a majestic mansion leading up the stairs. The house is divided into three floors, with a large door on the front, which appears to lead to the living room on the ground floor, and a large window on each side of the door, decorated with stained glass.

It was already evening, and the winter night was about to cover the whole land, so the rooms of the mansion were already lit with candles, and the front of the charr was brightly lit.

This is the residence of the Duke of Kirsun, the home of the Charles.

Charles did not pause, but walked slowly down the path towards the mansion, greeting him with servants along the way, but he ignored it and walked on step by step.

The Duke's Pavilion took the next step up the steps, and the servants lined up on either side to greet him, just before he reached the last step. The door slowly opened inward. So His Excellency the Duke didn't need to slow down, and walked straight in.

Following the carpet in the doorway, Charles walked forward step by step. It wasn't until a moment later that he finally reached the center of the long hall.

And there, at this time, a man was standing.

"Charles, you're finally back." Charlotte, Duchess of Kersson, welcomed her husband's return with a heartfelt smile. "We've been waiting for you for a long time."

She was wearing a court-style dress with a fluffy hem. She looked graceful and elegant, and her long blonde hair was tied up in a bun at the sides and hung with floral ornaments on the back of her head. It looks noble and charming. The glow of the pearl necklace she wore around her neck set off her face and neck even fairer.

However, this qiē was not as good as that smile in Charles's eyes.

Illuminated by candlelight, Charlotte's smile added an unknown amount of warmth to Charles's heart. The concern contained in the turquoise pupils. It filled him with the warmth of home.

Although his wife no longer has the youth of the past, she has a little more calm and luxurious.

"Well, I'm back, sorry to keep you waiting." He nodded and apologized to his wife.

"It's okay, Charles, after all, there's a lot to do right now." Charlotte chuckled and shook her head. "Anyway, the guests haven't come yet."

"Are you ready for the evening banquet?"

"Well, it's ready." Charlotte nodded. "Anyway, there aren't many guests invited today."

"It's not much, but none of them are easy to mess with, so you have to be careful. Besides, we shouldn't make too much noise and let His Majesty the Emperor not worry. ”

Hearing Charles mention the Emperor, Charlotte's face suddenly became gloomy.

"Charles, don't talk to him in front of me." Charlotte's tone suddenly turned cold, "On such a good day, we should think more about those pleasant things." ”

Then, Charlotte slowly approached Charles, and said in a voice that only Charles could hear, "Charles, I will never forgive any Bonaparte, how dare they do this to us......"

"Me too." Charles replied with a smile, and then took his wife in his arms. "But we're not angry, we're just retaliating."

"Yes, we must take revenge, I will never spare them." Charlotte's face pressed against Charles's chest, and she whispered, "As long as we're together, we don't have to fear anyone." ”

"Well, yes, that's it." Charles patted Charlotte on the back, "It's been hard for you, Charlotte, you're busy......"

"Of course I'm busy, there's so much to do." Charlotte replied in a low voice, "I'm going to follow you to Vienna, and the children and the family will have to be reorganized......"

"Charlotte, actually...... Actually, you can stay in Paris, and you don't have to follow me to suffer. ”

"What are you talking about? I am your wife, of course I have to share the weal and woe with you, even if you go to the ends of the earth, I will go with you. Besides, Vienna is not a very bad place, and I can't suffer any crimes......" Charlotte replied softly, and then, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, and her smile suddenly took on a chill, "Also, if I don't look at you, God knows what wild woman you'll hook up with there, you bastard!" ”

As if because she was still angry, Charlotte suddenly stretched out her right hand, grabbed Charles's ear, and rubbed it vigorously.

"Ahh Charles cried out in pain in a hurry, and then quickly reached out and grabbed Charlotte's hand, but Charlotte clenched it tightly, as if she wanted to take this opportunity to vent her anger. "Charlotte, don't do that...... Don't do this! ”

In this way, the two of them rubbed together as if they were teenagers, and Charles found that the servants in the distance had strange expressions, as if they wanted to laugh but did not dare to laugh.

Although the Duchess and Duchess were over thirty years old, they often made some slightly childish actions in front of everyone, which really made these servants feel a little speechless.

Fortunately, the clock suddenly rang at this time, and finally saved Charles from the pain and embarrassment. Because......

"The children are coming," said Charlotte, retracting her hand, regaining her dignity as if nothing had happened. "Tell them about it."

"yes, okay." Charles nodded.

Just as the two of them were muttering, the door to the side of the hall opened. Three children—two males and one female—walked briskly with the servant.

They were not very old, the oldest was only five or six years old, and the youngest girl was only two or three years old, as if she could not walk steadily.

Under the watchful eye of the duchess and duchess, children dressed in costumes walked up to them. Then stand respectfully, waiting for the blessing of your parents.

Of the three children, the eldest and youngest are blonde. However, the boy in the middle was a little strange, his hair was dark brown, and even more surprisingly, his eyes were a faint purple. Compared to the ignorance of his brother and sister. The kid seems to have learned a lot. There was no childishness on his face anymore, but he looked at his parents calmly with his strange eyes.

This gaze, which was both inquiring and judging, made Charles forget to speak for a while.

Charlotte, who was next to her, hurriedly and secretly pulled Charles's sleeve.

"Oh, Merry Christmas, kids." Charles reacted and greeted his children.

"Merry Christmas. Father. The three children greeted him at the same time.

"Well, that's good. Very good. In front of his own children, Charles didn't seem to know what to say, just smiled vigorously, "You can get a gift tonight, you can get it after you fall asleep, I hope you have a good dream......"

In this era, the legend of Santa Claus wearing Christmas clothes and turning over the chimney to give gifts to children has not yet spread, but there is indeed a tradition of parents giving gifts to their children.

"Thank you, Dad." The eldest son and the daughter thanked their father at the same time, but the second son only nodded slightly.

Charles didn't pay much attention to the second son's cold attitude, but turned his eyes to his daughter, who was looking at his father adoringly, and thanked him like a little doll.

As she looked at her more and more, Charles reached out and picked her up, kissed her on the forehead, and then let her ride on her neck, and the little girl giggled at her father's amusement, causing everyone in the hall to laugh.

After playing for a while, Charles put her daughter down, and then looked at her two sons rather sternly.

"Listen, Dad and Mom are going on a long trip recently, and it may be a long time before they come back, so you must be obedient when you stay at home, and don't cause trouble, understand?"

Under Charles's gaze, the two sons hurriedly nodded and agreed to their father's order.

Then, as there was business to come, Charles made a gesture for the servants to take the three children away.

"Clovis and LeRoche don't have a good relationship, they fight a lot, and if we weren't there, they wouldn't have fallen out during this time, right? It's really worrying......" Charlotte muttered in Charles' ear, as if a little worried, "Also, you spoil your daughter too much, right?" I don't usually smile at my son...... Especially Lelouch, you've been very him, don't be like this, Charles! Do you still believe in the absurd legend that purple pupils can bring disaster? No matter what, he's our child! ”

"How so, you're thinking too much." Charles hurriedly replied with a smile, "Isn't it right to be strict with your son and tolerant to your daughter?" If a boy wants to fight, how can he be cultivated in gentleness? As for Lerouche, of course I don't believe in any hellish legends, I just think that this child is usually indifferent, always a little careless when he studies, and can't help but be more strict when he disciplines him......"

"You're right, LeRouche does seem to be a little indifferent...... We do have to urge him to learn more, and now that he has us to help him, what can he do in the future? Charles, I must leave him more possessions. Charlotte sighed softly, obviously worried about her youngest son's future, "However, I can't completely belittle him like this, as far as I can see, Lerouche is still very smart, as long as you are willing to learn everything by heart, you can learn it." ”

"It's too early to think about that much, Charlotte."

"Of course, mothers have to think about these, how can they be as ruthless as fathers." Charlotte replied with some displeasure. "We don't care about our children, who cares?"

"In that case......" Charles shrugged, then lowered his voice rather narrowly. Why don't we work harder and have another one recently? Of course, it's better to have a daughter......"

"I'm talking to you about business, what are you kidding!" A flush flashed across Charlotte's face. It seems that he wants to reach out and twist his ears again.

At this moment, the roll call of the servants came from outside the door into the hall.

The Duchess regained their usual attitude in an instant, and a perfect smile appeared on their faces.

Indeed, here comes the business.

………………

As time passed, one by one the guests rushed to the palace of the Duke of Kersund, and were then taken to the dining room by the servants.

As with the usual banquets at the Duke's palace in the past, tonight's dinner was attended by celebrities. From a soldier to a politician, from a businessman to an official, it can almost be regarded as a small upper class.

But. Different from ordinary social banquets, the expressions of the group of people sitting around the table were very solemn, and they could even be said to be a little dignified.

Luxuriously furnished restaurant. Under the cover of gilded candlesticks, it is resplendent with gold. The gold cutlery is also perfect, and the delicacies that the servants keep bringing in are enough to make any discerning gourmand sigh.

However, the people around the table were silent, without any small talk or laughter, and not many people even looked at each other, and the whole restaurant fell into an eerie silence.

The Duchess of Kerson and his wife sit at the head of the long dining table, while on the wall behind them hangs a huge portrait of the late Marshal Victor de Treville, Duke of Kerson. Marshal in military uniform. He was looking at everyone at the table with a resolute and stern gaze, which made people feel solemn.

Wait until everyone is almost there. Charles raised his glass slightly.

"Cheers, everyone."

"Cheers!" When the silence was finally broken, the others chimed in, raised their glasses, took their first sips, and began their meal.

"I think you already know that His Majesty the Emperor has decided to make me ambassador to Austria." In the midst of the clash of utensils, the Duke said casually.

"Your Majesty is really powerful...... "Isn't it the best use of everything?" said his good friend, the wealthy businessman Albert de Foa Gray, with a playful expression. Let the pro-Austrian faction clean up the mess and sit back and enjoy the results. ”

Although this mocking tone was very disrespectful to His Majesty, none of you present were surprised by Albert's expression.

"I'm afraid Your Majesty's consideration is more than that." Government official Clemman-Leczynski said, "He is not only dissatisfied with His Excellency the Duke, after the transfer of His Excellency the Duke, I am afraid that there will be many unlucky people in the future."

"Who's to say it isn't! Hehe, Charles hasn't left yet, he has already started, and there are a lot of personnel changes in the army now...... I see, this time His Majesty is really going to make a radical change. The man who spoke was Marshal Conrobert, who, though he was nearly sixty years old, still seemed energetic and ambitious. It's just that his expression seems to be a little depressed now, "Hey, in my opinion, I'm afraid I won't be able to escape by then." ”

Then, consciously or unconsciously, he glanced at General Lucien de Leflaire next to him. "After this war, His Majesty promoted a large number of people. Now many of us are probably going to have to step aside, who doesn't know that Duke Margenta is the future pillar of the Empire, hey! ”

Duke of Margenta refers to Marshal Patrice Maurice de MacMahon, in the Franco-Austrian War, as a military commander, he became one of the key figures who made France win the Battle of Margenta because of his bravery, and also became the new favorite of the emperor Xià in the army, since the end of the battle, the emperor directly named him the marshal and duke of the empire, he also became a new rising star in the army, and the emperor also appointed these new generals, slowly crowding out the old ones. Marshal Conrobert, of course, was among them.

De Lefreer was a little distracted by the marshal's slightly suspicious gaze, and as soon as he wanted to say something, Charles spoke directly.

"Although Lucien has also been promoted recently because of his military exploits, I believe that Lucien will not take refuge in those unscrupulous people, he has always been his own person, marshal, you don't have to worry about him."

Lucien gave Charles a grateful look.

Without waiting for the others to speak, Charles glanced at everyone again, "Now." As you must have figured out, His Majesty the Emperor had squeezed me out not just because I disagreed with him on the Austrian question, but because of deeper considerations. Let me put it more bluntly. That's who we are...... Our group of people has aroused the jealousy of His Majesty, and now everyone has begun to be excluded. ”

Although there was some commotion at first, everyone soon regained their composure, and apparently agreed with the Duke's judgment. Then everyone looked at the duke, as if they were waiting for him to come up with an idea.

"That's right, we're all our own people. Now that it has been suppressed, then it is all the more necessary to hug together, only in this way can we come out of the storm. Charles said calmly. Although our shape is not good now, after all, we are all people who have contributed to the empire, and we cannot be thrown away all at once, and I am confident in that. ”

"So. What should we do? The marshal asked in a low voice.

"We should be low-key now. Don't get your attention anymore. As long as we are calm, His Majesty will have to turn his attention to some of the forces that are more worrying to him. Of course, being calm doesn't mean we don't do anything......"

Charles deliberately lengthened his voice. "According to my judgment, the international and domestic business will not be very good in the next few years, and I will let people shrink their operations first and save their money, which may come in handy when the time comes. Lucien, you and Foster try to find people in the army who can share the same goals. But don't rush to promote them, remember first...... As for the political issues. Although I went to Vienna, there is a telegram, and it will not be impossible to deal with the matter, so you should try to contact as little as possible in the future and wait for the opportunity. ”

"What kind of time are you waiting for?" Lucien asked rhetorically.

"Waiting for my time to get back on my feet." Charles replied coldly. "Do you really think that the Empire can abandon me lightly? No, it's impossible, there are too many things in this empire that I have created single-handedly, and no one can run this plane better than me, and neither can His Majesty the Emperor. He now thought he could throw me away, but time would soon tell how wrong the idea was, and it wouldn't be long before there would be panic and crisis in the markets, and the Treasury had Clemand and others...... Hmph, in short, they can't solve it, and when the time comes...... They're still going to have to get me back and clean up the mess. ”

Charles half-truthfully stated his considerations, and he certainly wouldn't have said his plans to counterfeit money on such an occasion, but it was still convincing enough.

"It would be great if that were the case!" Everyone here seemed to have been given a shot in the arm, and they all smiled for a while.

"And this time......" said Charles's expression was stern and cold, "I will not entrust our fate to the whims of the king." ”

The restaurant fell silent again, and everyone looked at Charles as if to ponder the meaning of his words. They'll all understand.

"Cheers!" Without saying anything more, Charles raised his glass again.

"Cheers!"

"Charles, you go and rest first, and I'll take care of the rest." After a few drinks, Charlotte seemed to notice Charles' exhaustion, and Charlotte whispered in Charles' ear.

"Thank you, Charlotte." Instead of rejecting his wife's kindness, Charles stood up and apologized to the others.

Because they understood Charles' current state, of course, the others would not keep much, and they blessed him one after another, and Charles returned the salute one by one, and then walked out of the restaurant slowly.

"You've been waiting for a long time, haven't you?" After taking out a few small notebooks from the dining table, Charlotte looked at the people next to her with a smile, and suddenly brought the majesty of a queen. "Because there have been too many recent changes, I have postponed the dividend payment until today, and I hope this Christmas gift can make everyone happy......

With kinship and old relationships as the root system and money as the link, this huge interest group was formed. And the black ledger that records these secrets, except for Charles, only Charlotte and the other person can know the whole picture.

Ignoring the commotion behind him, Charles walked straight out of his grand mansion through the side door, and then walked to the garden of the Duke's palace. After gently pushing open the glass door, he came to the greenhouse in the garden, and then he felt a spring-like warmth.

Although it is the middle of winter and it is still snowing outside, the garden is full of flowers, including roses and dahlias, which are the most beautiful and rare varieties of greenhouse flowers. This sumptuous greenhouse in the palace of the Dukes of Kersun has always been famous among the upper class of the Empire.

I don't know when the duke and his wife took great pleasure in taking good care of the exotic flowers and plants, and often took care of them here; And their sons and daughters often play here, and they think of it as an extremely interesting place.

In the midst of a purple and red greenhouse, Charles's originally solemn and tense mood suddenly became relaxed. He breathed deeply, feeling the rare aroma of mid-winter.

Then he walked to the edge of the greenhouse. Because the temperature difference between the inside and outside is too large, there are now patches of water mist attached to the glass of the greenhouse, making it difficult to see the outside.

Charles pulled a handkerchief out of his coat pocket, then reached out and wiped the glass, and then, looking through the barely transparent glass, he looked out at the night scene.

The brightly lit Duke's Palace was full of people at this time, but it sounded like a world away in the greenhouse, and at this time, a little bit of white was slowly drifting down from the sky.

It's snowing.

Suddenly, there was the sound of soft footsteps behind me. But Charles stared silently into the distance, motionless.

The footsteps got closer and closer, and finally stopped.

Then, suddenly, Charles felt a sinking in his back.

The sudden man hugged him tightly and pressed his face against his back.

Looking at the growing snow outside, Charles suddenly smiled.

"Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, sir." His voice seemed to have a hint of weeping.

"After Charlotte and I left, all the qiē here will be handed over to you, sorry...... I can rest assured that the others can only rely on you. ”

"Then let me go to Austria with you, and leave Charlotte behind!" The voice behind her seemed to carry some indescribable affection, "Isn't she the queen of the social world?" Then let her stay, the prosperity here is suitable for her. ”

"It's not going to work." Charles smiled bitterly, "How can an ambassador take office without his own wife but with someone else's reasoning?" Listen to me, take care of this place for me, and I'll be back soon. ”

Charles felt as if his back was getting wet.

"Alright, alright, I will." As if it sensed that Charles's decision had been made, she stopped insisting, but her tone became colder and colder. He ...... How dare he do this to you, I must kill him, I must kill him! ”

"You don't have to say it so strictly, he's just for himself." Charles sighed, then changed the subject, "The children have also entrusted it to you, don't let anything happen to them." ”

"Okay, I'm not going to put them in any danger. You also have to promise me to come back soon. ”

"Well, I'll do my best." Charles nodded.

Then, he turned around and looked at the woman in front of him.

Even though he has seen it countless times, this delicate face still makes his heart pound.

He slowly lowered his head and kissed it.

The snow outside was getting heavier and heavier, and the faint moisture in the greenhouse slowly covered the glass windows again, and among the blooming flowers, the two people kissed passionately, as if the temperature had risen a few more points.

I don't know how long it took for the lips to finally part.

"I love you......" she muttered to herself with her eyes closed. (To be continued......)

PS: I'm sorry if anyone is upset because of the content of the previous part.

But since it's something that's pre-programmed, and I don't want to change it (because it's not malicious in my opinion), that's the way it is.

If you can accept it, and read it, I appreciate it; If you can't accept it, then I don't blame you for abandoning the book.

But, anyway, please don't come to the book review section or anywhere else to attack the author, okay? The author is a psychologically sensitive and fragile person, and he can't afford to take too many blows, thank you.