While Charles was still nervously wrestling with the great banker in the baron's study, his sister had already arrived at the ball, led by the baron's daughter.

The large golden living room soon amazed Fran again.

Under the bright lights, there were all splendid utensils and elaborate costumes, and the hall was noisy with young men dressed beautifully, young ladies in jewels, soldiers with crosses and crosses, and foreign envoys wearing colorful belts. And in the midst of all the noise, the band's soft, soothing music coiled through the hall, making it all dizzying. In this way, the upper class seems to want to declare that they have recovered from the disaster of the past few months and have regained the privilege they once had.

This magnificent scene made this young girl, who was still not deeply involved in the world, unable to come back to her senses for a while.

"Miss Treville, what do you seem to be thinking?" Lola next to her noticed that Fran seemed to be in a trance, so she asked in a low voice.

"Ah, I'm sorry......" Fran smiled sheepishly, "I've experienced so little social scene, so I was so scared by the scene in your house all of a sudden, it's amazing!" ”

"Haven't you been to the palace before?" Lola was a little weird.

"But the pomp and circumstance there isn't as big as you......" Fran replied with wide eyes, "and there aren't that many ......."

The girl's inadvertent compliment made Lola laugh a little.

"Of course. Not everyone can get an invitation from the royal family, but we can invite anyone. ”

With that, she reached out to a table next to her. Prepare those champagnes from there.

"Oh, I forgot, you can't drink......" She seemed to think of something when she first touched the glass, so she only took herself a glass of wine, and handed Fran a glass of juice. Come on, have a drink. ”

Fran gladly took the cup from her hand. Then take a gentle sip. "Thank you, thank you, I've been here for so long, and I'm really a little thirsty."

While the two of them were talking. A large crowd of young people gathered around.

What made Fran a little sad and depressed was that the crowd was mainly courteous to Lola next to her, and only a few people noticed Fran, and even accosted her without saying a few words—no matter how calm a girl was. It's impossible not to want to be a star in the limelight.

And Lola's reaction made Fran even more depressed - Lola in this starry situation. But she didn't seem to show any joy, she dealt with the young men coldly, polite but enough to make the group retreat, and soon the young men withdrew, as if to find a new target.

After they were gone, Lola took another sip of champagne unhurriedly.

"You don't seem to be happy?" She suddenly looked at Fran with a hint of amusement in her tone.

"Oh, no." Fran quickly shook her head in denial. I took another sip of juice to cover myself.

"Actually, you don't have to worry about your charm, they come to me to be courteous. It's just that I'm the only daughter of Baron de Beauwon, not that I'm prettier than you. Lola ignored Fran's denial and continued, "Of course they won't be courteous to you in front of me, they're afraid I'll be jealous. But, ...... look," there was a hint of banter in her tone, "you've been taken to heart by them......"

Fran hurriedly followed her line of sight to look to the other side, and found that the young people just now were whispering something, and from time to time they swept their eyes over her side. Her face suddenly flushed a little, and she quickly looked away.

"I'm not wrong, am I?" Lola's tone was still as cold as ever, but it seemed to be a little more narrow, "They are all wondering which beautiful lady this is, Miss Treville, you used me as a foil tonight, and you made a stunning appearance......"

Fran's face became even more embarrassed, and she quickly changed the subject.

"You seem to know them well?"

"Well," Lola nodded, "they're all my brother's friends, a bunch of swingers, and the ones who splurge with my brother." If you want to find yourself a dance partner tonight, it's best not to think about them, we have something else that is much better......"

This person is really harsh and cold. After hearing her words, Fran couldn't help but sigh secretly in her heart.

"Look, my brother is here!" Lola suddenly shouted.

The only son of Baron Beauwon, Maurice de Beauvan, also came, and the group of young men burst into a small cheer, and immediately gathered around him and laughed loudly.

"You see, this group of parasites is surrounding my brother, and what about my brother? He just likes the feeling of being surrounded by this group of people, which makes him feel important. Lola looked intently at the group of young men in front of her, and her tone became more and more acerb, "But who made him the only son of Baron de Beauwon?" No way, he was born to have it all......"

Fran was slightly surprised, she had grown up in admiration for her brother since she was a child, and it was hard to imagine that a girl would look at her brother like this. However, after all, this is a matter of other people's families, and she doesn't want to say anything.

"You can't talk to him like that when he comes." Fran smiled and said in order to lighten the mood.

"He's not coming, he doesn't like to talk to me, we don't talk much now." Lola shook her head slightly, then drank the wine from her glass, then took another glass from the side.

You're always like this, it's normal that people don't like to talk to you, right...... Fran said something in her heart, but only in her heart, of course.

"By the way," Lola said after a moment of silence, as if something had suddenly occurred to her, "it's interesting to say, maybe we can still be relatives because of Maurice." ”

"Huh? Relatives? What do you mean? Fran was a little puzzled by what she said.

"The Duke of Treville. If I'm not mistaken, it seems like you're a brother to your grandfather, right? Then his family is naturally your relatives, right? ”

When she heard about this family, a hint of her buttocks suddenly flashed in Fran's eyes. But it quickly returned to normal, "Well, that's right, of course their family is our relative, but we haven't had much contact with each other for so many years, so it's not very friendly. ”

"That's right." Lola nodded slightly, "My brother." Now courting the granddaughter of the Duke of Treville, your cousin, Mademoiselle Charlotte de Treville, looks like he's addicted to it. If he succeeds, won't we become relatives? ”

After hearing Lola's explanation. Fran was startled at first, then immediately looked up at the other side. Maurice de Beauvan, however, did not notice the girl's gaze, and continued to laugh and laugh with his friends, and drink constantly.

Suddenly. In the eyes of the maiden. Maurice de Beauwon, who was already quite handsome and upright, suddenly became more chic and handsome, which was very pleasing to the eye.

All the best, sir! God will bless you! She silently blessed the only son of the big banker in her heart.

"Oh yo, isn't this our beautiful Mademoiselle de Treville? Good evening. At this moment, she suddenly heard a greeting from the side. The voice is low and gentle, but there is always a cynical teasing.

Fran hurriedly looked to the side, and was surprised to see that it was a young man.

The young man was well-dressed. Wearing a blue bow tie, his slender neck is as white as his shirt. He looked at Fran with a smile and nodded. Then he turned to look at Lola next to her, "Why, Miss de Beauwon, you actually invited her over?" ”

Fran frowned slightly, and then quickly remembered that the young man was a good friend of his brother, Monsieur Albert de Foa-Gray.

"Good evening, Monsieur de Foa Grass." She hurriedly said hello to the other party.

"Ahh Ha, didn't your guardian come over tonight? Albert looked at Fran with a smile and quipped, "It's not good to have such a beautiful young lady go to the ball alone, and don't forget that there are so many bachelors here!" When they see you, where can they still hold on to God! ”

"Her brother has arrived, sir." Before Fran could reply, Miss de Beauvang replied directly, her tone as cold as ever, "It's just that I'm talking to my father about something now, and I'll be over later, and I guess it won't be long before I do." ”

"Oh! I see! Albert nodded exaggeratedly, indicating that he already knew the whole situation, "I just say, how could Charles leave such a lovely child here alone?" She hasn't learned anything yet! ”

"Huh?" Fran was a little surprised. "What are you talking about?"

"Monsieur de Foa-Grass." Lola looked at Albert coldly, "I've always thought you were a funny young man, but I must tell you that sometimes your jokes aren't funny at all. You say my house looks like some terrible dragon's lair......"

"Oh, nothing, nothing, just kidding, you're sure you'll forgive me for the offense." Albert shook his head, then looked at Fran with a smirk, "It's almost time to dance, Miss Treville, and your irresistible charm makes me want to invite you to a waltz ......"

He bowed down deeply and invited Fran with great sincerity.

At this moment, the melody of the piece suddenly changed to a waltz, and the people in the hall scattered in all directions, leaving an empty marble floor in the middle.

"Miss Treville, please give it to poor Albert!" Albert invited again, and although it seemed to be pleading, the tone was very cheerful.

Fran hesitated for a moment, but in the end, the girl's lively and sought-after nature prevailed, and she glanced at Lola next to her, who only shrugged her shoulders slightly, saying that the matter was just her own preference.

Fran gently stretched out her hand, Albert gently took her, and the two of them walked together to the makeshift dance floor, where they danced to bouquet waltzes in the hall illuminated by crystal chandeliers as bright as day.

Fran followed the dance steps and walked backwards. Join Albert for a stroll on the dance floor. At first, her movements are a little jerky, but slowly, her steps melt into the melodious music. The waves swirl one after the other.

"Girl, I didn't expect your steps to be so light!" Albert smiled and sighed, "I have a hunch that a new star in the social world has risen!" ”

"You seem to mean more than that to me, sir?" Although the compliment to the young man was very useful, Fran was keenly aware of the unusualness. She asked in a low voice as she swayed her footsteps at an angle.

"Oh. So you've already found out! Albert still smiled, "That's right, Miss Treville. What I want to tell you is......" his voice lowered, "don't get too close to the family. In fact, I mean, you'd better not have anything to do with this family. ”

"For what?" Fran was a little surprised.

"That Miss de Beauwon. She inadvertently said a very correct fact. Albert's tone was a little cold, but the smile on his face did not change at all, "This is the terrible dragon's lair, this family is a group of evil dragons, guarding the great treasure that has been plundered, devouring everyone who comes near them, although their mouths are not able to breathe fire for the time being...... Baron de Beauvan, a terrible murderer. That's why he was able to get where he is now. In that case, why do you want to get any closer to them? This will only get you in trouble. ”

"You seem to hate them?"

"Nope. I don't hate them, I'm just stating a fact," Albert took Fran's hand and turned a little bit more, "in fact, I admire the big banker." But I don't want to see my best friend's sister suffer because of their family. ”

"I didn't approach them." Fran defended herself.

"Then don't let them approach on their own. Did you hear how Mademoiselle de Beauvang usually spoke? It's arrogant, isn't it? Also, did you see her eyes? It was an empty look that literally treated all of us like reptiles! What Baron Beauwan hid in his heart, she wrote it all on her face. My friend, listen to me, both father and daughter are extremely dangerous, and if you can get away, you should run as far as you can......"

After listening to Albert's words, Fran fell silent. She didn't know if there was any basis for the other party's solemn statement, but she vaguely felt that the other party was right.

"So, you don't want to have anything to do with them, do you?" She asked in a low voice.

"Oh? I? That's certainly different. Albert laughed, then continued, with an obvious jokingness, "I, like most people here, want to be involved with this family...... Let's not forget, Baron de Beauvang has only one daughter, who can marry his daughter, and how much dowry will he get? Million? Or ten million? Just thinking about it can drive poor poor devils like us crazy! Look again, how many young ladies here are flirting with our Maurice? That's the only son of this rich man! What mother doesn't want to give her daughter this family business......"

Fran, who was new to the social scene, was a little dizzy by Albert's words.

"You ......"

"So realistic? No, lovely Miss Treville, it's tradition. In France today......" Albert's tone was rather calm, but there seemed to be a hint of sarcasm, "I have never seen a man willing to marry a young girl from a famous family, but without a dowry." And even if there were, it would certainly be a bourgeois nouveau riche. So, in this respect, we are still stuck in the distant 11th century......"

Fran stopped talking, and even her steps began to lose their lightness, but she could barely keep up with the rhythm.

"I'm sorry, my words may be hard to hear, but these are the truth." Albert smiled apologetically at Fran again, "Social is Vanity Fair, you see?" Oh no, I'd say you've figured it out, it's just hard to believe it if you don't see it with your own eyes...... A lot of people are like that, but it doesn't matter, as long as the first lesson is good, it will be easy to do later. ”

"So you volunteered to be my first teacher?" Fran frowned slightly and looked up at Albert.

"I'm honored." Albert pretended not to hear her sarcasm.

The girl continued to dance with Albert, but her thoughts could no longer be contained. The spirit that had been lifted up just now had been swept away by Albert's words.

As she danced, her eyes wandered to every corner. I didn't see anything, but I seemed to see everything.

The men at the ball, with very few exceptions, were almost all languid, and had no personality in their appearances, or rather, they were all the same personalities. The resolute, proud, ambitious look in the portraits of her ancestors is no longer visible. The girls were similarly concerned, pale and smiling but insincere.

No matter how elegant the etiquette is, it cannot erase the rampant materialism and undisguised selfishness.

This is high society, I'm finally here.

Suddenly, she felt dizzy and almost slipped. Fortunately, Albert quickly helped her regain her balance.

"I think you need to take a break?" Albert asked considerately.

Fran was about to answer, but suddenly her eyes stopped and she stared blankly ahead.

Her brother, who had appeared across from the living room, was passing in front of a person. He walked forward without squinting, both humble and empty-sighted.

Her brother had returned from Baron Beauwon's study, with millions of booty, and though she did not know the truth, she could still feel the excitement and passion in the young man's body.

"Well, it's time for me to rest." After a few moments, she finally withdrew her gaze and smiled at her partner.

The dance music stopped. (To be continued......)