A quarter of an hour before Charles returned home, dinner at the Marquis de Treville's palace was about to begin.

As has always been the case, the Marquis de Treville, who had not been out of his house today, arrived punctually in the dining room to prepare his dinner.

Even at home, the field marshal, who was already dying, still paid great attention to his demeanor, his hair was carefully groomed, his short gray hair was neatly combed, even his beard was cleanly shaved, and he wore a black coat, which looked dignified and dignified.

However, decentness is decent, and in any case, this kind of dress seems to be a little too solemn.

Echoing the costume, the old man's expression was also very strict, and even a little cold, as if he was participating in some heavy activity, and he couldn't see any sense of relaxation.

With his stern appearance in the background, the whole restaurant seems to fall into a subtle and stiff atmosphere, not at all like a family dinner.

And just then, the door suddenly opened again. The old man's granddaughter and her close friend Mary had also walked in and sat side by side at one side of the table.

What is very strange is that they are obviously two women who are in the prime of their youth and beauty, but their expressions are also very strict, and they do not have the laughter of young people, but look as full of heart as the old marquis.

When the clock struck the hour, Fran and Mary owed themselves to the Marquis of Treville at the same time, but the old man waved his hand and signaled that dinner would begin.

As the servants brought dinner to the table, dish by dish. Everyone quietly fiddled with their utensils and said no more.

A dark and oppressive cloud of silence hung over the restaurant. The light-heartedness and laughter of the past are gone.

The Marquis of Treville ate slowly, feeling that the food was more tasteless than usual. It tastes like chewing wax. This unsettling feeling has been going on for a long time lately.

Maybe it's because of the deterioration of taste in old age.

No, not just this reason, really that reason...... I'm sitting across from him. The old man smiled bitterly in his heart, and then raised his gaze to look at his granddaughter.

Because of the initial recovery from a serious illness, Fran's face was pale and emaciated, and even a trace of blood had disappeared. The blonde hair has also lost its former luster, and the whole person seems to have dimmed.

Even people who don't know her can see that she is in a very bad mood now, and her brows are slightly locked, revealing anxiety and sorrow that can't be concealed.

With a slow movement, she brought the dinner into her mouth, but her eyes were fixed on somewhere, and she didn't look at the food, maybe she didn't know what she was eating.

Looking at his granddaughter, who was full of sadness and lost her soul, the old man opened his mouth to say something. But in the end, nothing was said.

Ay! What is this qiē for? He couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh in his heart.

After so many years, he finally came out and regained his old power and glory - and even went one step further, although it no longer meant much to himself. But I thought I had finally given my grandson and granddaughter a good home. As a result, at the end of the day, it was found that every qiē was a disaster.

This feeling. And how can this old man not be heartbroken?

During this time, every day at home and granddaughter meals. It was all a psychological torment for him, but he couldn't help but come to see his granddaughter. I'm worried that something will happen to her again.

After these days of observation, Fran has no thoughts of thinking about it again for the time being, but this kind of unsolvable sorrow is probably also a kind of chronic suicide.

The old man was very heartbroken every time he saw his granddaughter's appearance, but he didn't know what to do, so he had to choose silence again and again.

Just then, Fran suddenly stood up and bowed to her grandfather, apparently intending to end her dinner, though the food on the plate hadn't been touched at all.

Seeing that Fran was about to leave, Mary quickly stopped her dinner and prepared to leave as well.

What a dutiful caretaker...... The old man sighed again.

No, it can't go on like this. You can't really keep your granddaughter like a prisoner, right?!

Looking at the back of Fran as he planned to turn away, the old man finally made up his mind.

"Girl...... Don't go yet! He stopped Fran.

Fran turned around a little sluggishly, and then looked at the old marquis suspiciously, "Grandpa, is there anything else you can do?" ”

"You've been feeling better lately, haven't you?" The old marquis tried to make his grim expression a little softer, and even reluctantly squeezed out a smile, "I heard from the doctor that the injuries seem to have healed?" ”

"Yes, Grandpa." Fran nodded slightly, "The injuries on my body are all healed. ”

The wound in my heart has not healed at all.

"Even if you're cured, your body is still recuperating now, why don't you eat more?" The old man asked reproachfully, "Look at you, how thin have you become now?" ”

"Thank you for your concern...... Fran's smile added a little bitterness, "but my appetite has not been very good lately, so I can eat so much." Don't worry, I'm fine. ”

"Hey, how can I not be worried!" The old man let out a long sigh, "You...... You...... Ay! ”

After a long sigh, the old man finally regained his composure.

"Recently...... You've been bored lately, haven't you? He stood up, and then walked over to Fran step by step, "Do you want to go out for a walk and get some air?" It's also good for your appetite. ”

"You...... Let me out? Fran was amazed.

"You are my granddaughter, who grew up under my knees, can I still detain you like this for the rest of my life?" The old man frowned slightly, "Girl, is there anyone in this world who cares more about your safety than me?" ”

"But...... But......" Fran hesitated. "Aren't you afraid of ......"

"yes, I'm afraid. I'm so scared, I'm afraid you'll do something stupid again. forced grandpa to have no way out. The old marquis directly interrupted Fran's words, "So, little beauty, just do grandpa a favor, you can repent!" That's good for everyone, isn't it? ”

"Repent ......?" The joy on Fran's face vanished in an instant, and she regained her calm and calmness just now, "What do you mean?" ”

"Don't you understand what I mean?" The old man's brow furrowed even tighter. "No, you know what I mean. Now that your brothers are married, do you still want to cling to this unwarranted delusion? Wake up, child, and go live your own happy life, grandpa assures you that as long as you listen to grandpa's words, you will not be in trouble for the rest of your life - your brother and I will be your guardians. ”

“…… Delusion...... Is that how you see me? Fran's face stiffened with pain, "That's right, too." This is indeed a delusion. But...... I'm never going to throw it away, and if I lose this delusion, then I'm ...... What am I left with? What happiness do I have left? You say you can give me happiness? No, it's just a mess of life. I don't want it! I don't want a guardian in the sky, I just want a mortal who stays by my side and is always within reach! ”

By this time. Still unrepentant? The old man's eyes slowly widened.

"Fran, you need to take a break now. Let's go! Seeing that something was wrong, Mary grabbed Fran and tried to take her away.

"Sounds like you're thinking of me like a bastard who is preoccupied with oppressing you!" With a rare anger. The old man looked at Mary and motioned for her not to talk too much. "But...... Is there anything I can't do with you? Haven't I loved you enough in my life? God testify, I have not been so nice to your grandmother! I just want you to do something that is humane and good for yourself, have you ever had any selfish intentions? And you...... And you speak to your grandfather in such a tone! Kid, you make me so sad! ”

"Grandpa, how can I be dissatisfied with you?" Fran looked at her grandfather sadly, tears slowly flowing from her face, "I answer you with the greatest respect, otherwise I could have lied to you!" I can do anything else for you, but this is the only thing that doesn't work, you know me, and once I make up my mind, I will never change it! ”

While crying, she couldn't help herself and walked towards her grandfather, and then threw herself into her grandfather's arms and cried loudly.

God knows how many tears she's shed over the past year or so. Even Mary next to her was so sympathetic that she looked away.

The old marquis's anger slowly subsided at the sound of his granddaughter's crying, and at last he sighed again and gently stroked Fran's hair.

"What a clever child, what's the ...... Why do you have to do such a stupid thing? ”

"In my life, I only do one stupid thing, can't I do this?" Fran, who was lying in his arms, asked in a muffled voice with a crying voice. "You said you are willing to give me a qiē, that's good, I don't want this qiē, you just give me this, is it okay?"

What a kid! It's so childish! Can this be used for bargaining? The old man sighed inwardly again.

"No, I can't promise you, it's not the same thing as whether I love you or not. You have this desire, actually...... Actually, it's understandable, after all, you have been dependent on each other since childhood, and he loves you so much......" The old man shook his head a little frustratedly, "But...... What's the solution? That's how people come by, you can't always get what you want. ”

As he replied helplessly, but without turning around, Fran, who knew that there was no hope, slowly stopped crying and left his grandfather's arms.

"Until now, do you still think it's just a child's wayward thought? Okay, actually, that's not surprising. Fran's face was already full of despair and realization, "However, I will tell you now, no matter what you and he think, I will never change my mind anyway, no matter what glory and wealth are on the other side, I just want to choose my current self." I told him that day, and now you can only get the same answer...... That's right, no matter what you're going to put me up against. I won't change my mind, absolutely not! That's the case. Even if I lose a qiē, at least I can still be a Trevier! ”

"Stupid. Stupidity! With such a categorical answer, the old marquis's face turned blue with anger, and his hands trembled a little, "Are you going to be locked up by us all the time?" ”

"Then you can close it! I will silently accept your disposition, and you don't even have to force it, just tell me how I will deal with me, and I will do it myself! Fran looked up and looked at her grandfather proudly, "You detain me." Or if I am given any other punishment, I will accept it silently, because this is the fate I have to face. However, I will not change my will because of this, and I will prove to you that I am worthy of being your granddaughter! ”

"Are you still thinking of any tricks? Girl, you know, grandpa never spoke to you, but this time it was different. Grandpa is very serious to tell you......" The Marquis of Tréville looked at Fran with a stern face, obviously having made up some kind of determination, "If you don't make any more trouble, Grandpa is willing to forgive you for what you did before." But if ...... If you insist on going your own way, ruining your brother's future, and dishonoring our family. So ......"

After a moment's pause, the old man's tone took on a hint of bitterness. "Well, sometimes we have to make some painful choices. You know what I mean, right? ”

God knows how ruthless this old man was to be able to say these words to his beloved granddaughter.

Fran only felt that her heart suddenly tightened, and it hurt terribly.

"In your eyes, my brother is much more important than me, and I understand it, and this is understandable, because my brother has placed your life's hopes on him, and I always upset you. Shame on the family...... Yes, disgrace the family...... Hah......" she smiled bitterly, not knowing whether it was mockery or sadness, "yes, we kill, we steal, we rob, none of these have disgraced us, and I ...... And I just want to stay with the people I love, so that the family will be disgraced! I understand that sin in broad daylight is sin, but ...... Would you believe that I would be bad for you and your brother? No! Not even at any time before that! ”

"So what do you want!" The old marquis couldn't hold back any longer, and asked his granddaughter loudly.

"Me? What else can I do? Is there any other way forward in my current situation? In front of Grandpa's loud shouting, Fran didn't show any flinching, just very sad, "Don't worry, I won't do anything anymore, anyway, this qiē is meaningless." I silently accept my fate, do not cause trouble to anyone, and even stop seeking suicide so that you will not be disgraced again! I just want to live with this illusion and live in disgrace, can't I do that? ”

The granddaughter's rhetorical question made the old marquis silent.

Her confession made him finally understand that her will was stronger than he thought, and even that kind of conceit and arrogance were so like a Treville.

From her demeanor and tone, he could tell that this was really a Treville's unquestionable certainty, not the unpredictable willfulness of a child.

Obviously, the granddaughter may not secretly engage in any more conspiracies that may harm her family, but she will live a depressed life like now...... Until the final premature aging and disappearance.

Is it necessary for such a beautiful flower to quietly wither away before it blooms?

He was so heartbroken that he didn't even know what to say.

God, what should I do? Why do I have to suffer such a sin at the end? Have I committed some sin that you should punish me like this all the time?

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door of the restaurant.

Mary walked to the door and heard the servant's briefing.

After listening, she walked back and said to the two men with a smile on her face.

"Sir...... Sir is here today! ”

"Charles...... Is Charles here? As soon as he heard the news of his grandson's coming, the old marquis regained his spirits.

No, it's not okay for him to see himself so depressed.

He quickly rearranged his crumpled clothes and returned to his seat.

Then, he glanced at Fran, whose chest was still heaving, and who was clearly still very excited.

Forget it, let's talk about it later...... It's rare for a grandson to come to see you today, but you can't let him go back with a bad mood. The old man, who loved his grandson, had such a thought in his heart.

"Okay...... All right...... I see......" The old man reluctantly composed, then looked at Fran, "you...... These ridiculous words and thoughts of yours, put them away for me first, and we will talk about them later, and we will talk about them later! Your brother is here today, don't go back yet, accompany him to dinner, you know? Don't tell him all the stupid things you just said! ”

Fran didn't answer, just nodded silently.

Then the old Marquis stopped looking at her, and turned his gaze to Mary.

Mary nodded knowingly, "Okay, I'll pick up Mr. ”

Then, she turned around and prepared to leave the restaurant.

It's just that, when she was about to leave, she looked sideways slightly, and said, "Good job!" The encouraging eyes were cast on his friends.

Her friend, on the other hand, just nodded lightly and never said a word again.

"At least a good start." Mary thought to herself. (To be continued......)