"Charles, congratulations."

In the halls of the Élysée Palace, the president of the current French Republic smiled and patted Charles on the shoulder.

Then, the people next to him also applauded, and the atmosphere was very warm.

In the midst of this applause, Charles smiled rather embarrassedly.

"Mr. President, I am just doing my best to serve my country, and you give me such an honor...... I'm ashamed. ”

"It's all at this time, what else do you need to be humble?" Louis Bonaparte burst out laughing.

At the height of the atmosphere, his right hand reached for the tray in the hand of the attendant next to him, and then picked up the medallion from it.

"In recognition of your merits, Charles, I award you this medal on behalf of the country." He turned his head back to look at Charles, and said as if in a serious tone, "Next, please continue to work hard to serve your country." ”

After the decision to transfer Charles, perhaps out of reproach to Charles, and on the strong recommendation of the Minister Count Delion Delion, the President quickly agreed to add Charles' name to the recent list of honourers, and awarded Charles a medal of honor of the fourth class in recognition of his so-called national contributions during his work at the Ministry of Railways.

"I will." Charles looked directly at the other and replied with a look of determination that would not make him doubt his enthusiasm.

"Good." Louis Bonaparte nodded, and then pinned the fourth-degree medal of honor to Charles' chest.

After that, don't do it. He clapped his hands, and the people around him clapped in response, and for a moment the applause poured into Charles's ears like a tidal wave. made him feel a little dizzy in a trance.

The small gold medal shone quietly on his chest, and although it was light, it pressed his chest a little tightly, as if there was a wordless sense of coercion.

He knew that it was a psychological effect, and because it was the first medal he had received, he felt a little nervous and excited.

It was the highest point of honor he had ever reached in his life, but he knew he couldn't stop there. There are higher peaks waiting for him to climb, and more to take......

But, deep down in his heart. But it was as if a voice was constantly questioning him.

Why did I get the Medal of Honor? Is it because of these crimes?

Yes, I cheated, I betrayed, I robbed money. I killed someone. I did all kinds of evil, so in order to reward me, the state issued me a medal of honor and encouraged me to praise me for what I had done.

Because my evil deeds were not obvious enough, they only gave me the Medal of Honor of the fourth degree, and after that, my evil deeds will become greater and greater, and I will kill more people. When the time comes, my honor will be higher and higher, and my medals will be more and more advanced......

What an upside-down world! Charles couldn't help but laugh at himself in his heart.

But. Hasn't the world been like this since ancient times? There's nothing out of the ordinary.

He quickly extinguished this ill-fashioned thought in his mind and enjoyed the moment that belonged to him.

"Thank you, Mr. President." Charles bowed down again in thanks, in a natural and chic manner. "I will continue to fight for our dream cause until the last breath."

"Well, yes, that's good." After everyone applauded, Louis Bonaparte looked at his young henchman again, "The vigor of young people is really enviable!" ”

After being awarded the medal by the president himself, Charles, wearing a ceremonial dress and a red ribbon, followed the president, adding an indescribable momentum to the original youthful spirit and the usual humble smile, which is the kind of calm and commanding bearing that is unique to national dignitaries, the kind of political bearing.

"My friend, I said earlier, this man has a lot of promise!" The Count of Dillieon, who was watching this scene not far away, said with a smile to the others, as if he was afraid that others would not know that this young man was close to him.

………………

After awarding the medals to Charles and others, a banquet was held at the presidential palace, and before the banquet began, Charles was left by the president's side.

"Charles, how's the handover going?" As he walked through the long corridors of the Élysée Palace, the president whispered to Charles, who had walked next to him, "If I need more time, I can give me some more grace." ”

"Judging from the current situation, it seems that even if I am transferred, the work of the department will be able to operate normally as planned. So, I don't need any more grace time......" Charles replied respectfully, "in fact, I'm already jumping on the bandwagon." ”

"Oh? Very good. The President nodded approvingly, "I have always been very satisfied with your work, and I don't think there will be any exceptions this time." So, let's have some fun during this time, it should be fun, right? ”

"Huh......?" Charles was stunned.

"It's been rumored that you're going to have a ball with the Duchess of that house at the Duke's palace and announce your marriage to her by the way, right? Have a good time at the prom, Charles. ”

"Oh, this...... It's true. I don't think I'm the kind of person who likes to have fun in the social world, though...... That's why work makes me happier. Although he was a little surprised that the president already knew about this, Charles immediately replied, "Also, I'm sorry I didn't invite you due to various considerations, but if you can enjoy it, I think it is a rare honor for Charlotte and ......."

"Oh, that's not necessary, haven't you thought about it before? The invitees are all young people, and I'm already a half-old man, so it's not good to go there and have fun, and it's not good to affect your interest......" Louis Bonaparte replied with a smile. "That duchess is indeed very beautiful, I heard that she can bring a large dowry, right? Shire. Sometimes I really think you're enviable. ”

"Where are you......" The future emperor teased, Charles could only laugh, so much that he didn't know what to say.

"Still. Although I can't go, you should invite Joseph as well, after all, he is also a young man, and he is also a fellow party, and it is rare for you to have a banquet, and it is not good not to invite him. ”

The president's sudden words made Charles stunned.

What does he mean by that? What is it implying to me?

Because of the relationship between these recent events. Charles did not send an invitation to Joseph Bonaparte, for he did not want to give the impression of hesitation and hesitation, at least for the time being, when there was no need to deviate from his new alliance.

However, at this time. What did Louis Bonaparte mean when he said this?

"Charles, we are a partisan and deserve to be united. Isn't it? Seeing that Charles had not answered. Louis Bonaparte continued, "I know that you have had some contradictions before, but these contradictions should not be taken to heart, after all, don't you all serve the country? You can't lose your harmony because of such a trivial matter......"

Charles frowned slightly, but quickly stretched out again.

Although I don't know what Louis Bonaparte was for, it would be too uninteresting to refuse the leader's request at this time.

"Actually...... Actually, I have always wanted to reconcile with Joseph, but I am afraid that he still has problems with me. It would be self-defeating to go to him now, so I didn't invite him. ”

"If that's the case. That would be great. Louis Bonaparte smiled rather strangely, "Charles, then you can reconcile here, and we will have dinner together anyway." ”

"Okay." Charles replied immediately.

Soon, the group came to the dining room of the Élysée Palace and took their seats, and Charles found that Louis Bonaparte was really sitting on his words, and had already arranged for Charles and Joseph Bonaparte to sit on either side of him.

From the first time Joseph Bonaparte saw himself, Charles knew that the resentment in the man's heart had not been eliminated at all. However, after only a moment, the sparkle in his eyes vanished, and he just smiled and nodded at Charles in congratulations, as if nothing had happened.

There is no sincerity in this smile, but Charles doesn't care, in the world he lives in, sincerity is a scarce commodity. He gave the other a warm smile in return.

Louis Bonaparte, who had been sitting in the middle of the throne, had been greeting the people beside him, as if he had not seen the two of them interacting, until the feast was about to begin, when he turned his eyes to look at the two young party members.

"Joseph, Charles, I have specially arranged for the two of you to come here today, and you should all know without me saying it...... That's right, I hope that you two promising young people, don't be vindictive because of this little thing before, and continue to be united, so that we can achieve our wishes in the future, understand? ”

Before the two men could reply, Louis Bonaparte looked directly at his cousin, "Especially you, Joseph, you are my cousin, will I still treat you badly?" What is it if you don't become a minister now? I'll find you a seat in the future, don't hold a grudge against Charles for this, he also made this judgment for the sake of the country......"

After hearing Louis Bonaparte's words, Joseph Bonaparte's smile froze slightly, and then quickly returned to normal.

"Well, you're right, I've been thinking so for a long time, what's this little thing? I didn't take it to heart for a long time. He smiled and nodded, then turned to look at Charles, "Charles, you really didn't tell me beforehand, and you didn't come to say hello to me afterwards, don't you say it's a little interesting for you to do this?" We're friends! ”

There was still no trace of sincerity in his smile.

But this is also easy to understand, because what Louis Bonaparte just said was not a persuasion at all. On the one hand, he hinted that Charles Joseph hated him, and on the other hand, he implied that Charles felt that he was embarrassed by the task—although both of these things are true, how can it be said that these facts are being persuaded to say that they are being spoken?

It's more like provoking, Charles thought coldly to himself.

Then it is clear that Louis Bonaparte did not really want Charles and Joseph Bonaparte to reconcile, but hoped that their struggle would continue, as long as they did not make a big deal that would affect his plans.

Why did he do that?

The thought quickly crossed Charles' mind.

Morni.

It must be because of Morni. Louis Bonaparte knew that Charles was planning to conspire with Morny, so he deliberately created a rift between Charles and Morny.

Well, as the leader of the political group, he certainly wants to see his men fighting each other. Even if it's his cousin and his younger brother, he wants them to fight.

After reading Louis Bonaparte's thoughts, Charles's mind was much more settled. In any case, since Louis Bonaparte came in this way, it means that he did not mean to snub himself, but only wanted to keep himself from getting too close to either of the two factions in the family, so as not to affect the balance between his subordinates.

"Joseph, it's great that you're so reasonable!" After thinking about this, Charles looked at Joseph Bonaparte with a happy face, "I've always been worried that you won't understand me, so I don't dare to look for you, for fear of upsetting you again......"

"In that case, you two should shake hands and throw all the previous unhappiness in the back of your head." Louis Bonaparte abruptly mentioned.

Charles and Joseph Bonaparte stood up almost at the same time, stretched out their hands, and then shook each other hard, and Louis Bonaparte nodded with satisfaction.

"Joseph, I'm going to have a ball recently, are you interested in having fun? It's right in my cousin Charlotte's house. As soon as he sat down, Charles extended an invitation.

"Oh, I can't ask for it!" Joseph Bonaparte immediately agreed, "I heard that you have invited a lot of people, and the scene must be grand." ”

Then, under the watchful eye of Louis Bonaparte, the two men continued to talk enthusiastically, as if they had really forgotten their previous suspicions.

However, while talking to Joseph Bonaparte, Charles kept thinking about it.

Do you really want to follow the steps of Louis Bonaparte?

If you defect again like this, it will be difficult to find allies in the future.

No, it won't work.

In between picking up his glass, he turned his gaze to Molny, who was sitting in the distance, and found that the other party was talking calmly with the person next to him, as if he had not noticed that his nemesis and new friend were having a good time.

He nodded slightly at the other and drank his drink. (To be continued......)