"Dear Monsieur Tremier, if you do not have any important business on your agenda, or if you do not have any entertainment scheduled, I invite you to the Humble House at seven o'clock tonight for the dinner to be held at that time. I'd love to see you there. Philippe de Treville".

Charles took the extremely simple note and read it carefully three times. This note, or invitation, was delivered in the morning by a servant from the Duke's palace of Treville.

He watched it for so long, not because he couldn't understand the meaning, but because he couldn't figure out the reason.

He could not comprehend the fact that the Duke of Treville, his cousin, who had always been indifferent to the Marquis's family, would invite him to a dinner party in his mansion for the first time.

weishenme？ What exactly happened to make him make this decision? Is it because ......

The shadow crossed his mind.

Could it have something to do with her? It looks like there's definitely something to do with it. So should you go or not? Or should we decline it?

After thinking about it, he decided that it was better to decline it to avoid more complications.

"Charles, what do you think of this invitation?" The old man next to him suddenly asked.

When Charles received this invitation, the old Marquis happened to be having breakfast downstairs.

"Grandpa, I want to decline this invitation." Charles replied. "Now is the critical moment for us to execute Jihua, and I don't think we should be distracted by other small things, nor should we provoke other things."

Unexpectedly, the old man did not answer immediately after listening to his answer, but put down the newspaper in his hand and stared at him tightly, although his face was old and yellow, although he was already gray, but his eyes still retained the intimidating power of the old general.

"Grandpa......?" Seeing that the Marquis's expression was a little strange, Charles hurriedly asked. "Did I say something wrong?"

He was so uncomfortable staring at him.

It was a long time before the old marquis spoke. "My grandson, you're just being distracted by small things, and your feelings for Charlotte make your mind a little chaotic and can't see reality clearly."

"Huh?" Charles exclaimed quietly.

"My poor boy, do you really think that our esteemed Duke of Treville has only one royal party, Charlotte? Who do you think will lead her down this path? The old marquis no longer looked at him, but looked out the window.

Charles took a deep breath.

That's right! That's right!

The Duke of Treville was known to be very important in the previous dynasty, and after the establishment of the July Dynasty, he often openly criticized the governance and foreign policies of the new dynasty, and even chose to refuse to serve in the new government and live in semi-seclusion on his own. Is it strange that such a person is politically inclined to the royal party, and even joins the secret organization of the royal party?

Not surprising at all!

"I have two older brothers, and they are not involved in the conspiracy, and even if I am caught, they will not be implicated......" The voice echoed in his head.

She didn't mention her grandfather.

What she really meant was already obvious.

God, weishenme only thought of it now? Charles' eyes widened.

"yes, weishenme only thought of it now?" As if he had seen through what Charles was thinking, the old marquis asked coldly. "It's easy to think of, isn't it? As soon as I heard you say this that day, I understood. ”

"Yes......"

"I didn't say it at the time, it was for you to figure it out for yourself, and as a result, you ......," there was a rare regret and disappointment in the old man's tone, "You still haven't figured it out after so long." Do you not understand, or do you not want to think about things related to Charlotte in your heart, so you subconsciously ignore these things that are easy to think of? ”

Charles bowed his head. "Grandpa, I'm sorry, I was wrong."

"There's nothing to be sorry for, you're still young, and it's normal to not be able to grasp the line between career and relationship for a while. Everyone has been young, and I know it, and I've been through it. However, you should pay attention in the future, try to overcome this shortcoming, and don't forget what you are doing! Don't forget your own goals and ambitions! Remember......" The Marquis squeezed his hand as if to leave a mark there. "Charles, feelings are feelings, careers are careers!"

Charles closed his eyes, and reopened them after a moment. "I will, Grandpa. xiexie you. ”

"That's good." The old marquis's originally sharp gaze gradually turned back to his previous calm, and then, he snorted softly. "Hmph, I knew that this old fellow Philip would not be willing to be lonely, but I didn't expect him to continue to hug the dead tree of the Bourbons...... He's still the same stupid guy as before. ”

When it comes to King Louis Philippe or his brother, the old marquis is always full of sarcasm, and Charles has long been accustomed to it.

"So, do you think I should accept his invitation?" He asked the most important question.

"Of course I'm going, Charles. You know, our esteemed Duke of Treville is not the kind of person who likes to make a fuss, and since he is inviting you over today, he must have something in his secret. The old marquis replied as a matter of course. So...... Shouldn't you go to the bottom of it? ”

"Haode, then I'll visit you tonight."

"Charles, I'll say it again, you give me a good memory." The old marquis squeezed Charles's hand again, "Feelings are feelings, and careers are careers!" ”

He didn't say which was more important, because there was no need to say it at all.

For a man of the Trevier family, it should and must be clear which of these two things is more important. Moreover, he has great confidence in the mind of his grandson, who has grown up.

==============================================

Charles arrived at the Duke's palace fifteen minutes before seven p.m. Since it was summer, it darkened slowly, and there was still a few glimmers of light on the horizon.

This time the charr went much more smoothly than the previous experience, the carriage drove straight into the gate, then stopped in the vestibule of the ducal palace, and after the pedals were lowered, Charles stepped out of the carriage.

"Good evening, Charles!" Before he could stand still, a greeting came. "You're here."

Charles looked up and saw his cousin standing on the steps, looking at him with a slight smile.

She wore a long gray-white dress tonight, embroidered with various golden patterns, which shimmered in the twilight, and combined with the blonde hair that spread out and the smile on her face, she was extremely beautiful from every angle.

Who would have thought that such a beautiful woman with a clever smile would kill someone without any delay just a few days ago?

Charles, of course, didn't know about it. However, Charles knew exactly what he was here for.

"Good evening, Charlotte, it's a pleasure to meet you." He nodded politely and walked up the steps.

Seeing Charles' cold answer, Charlotte was stunned for a moment, and then couldn't help but smile bitterly and shook her head.

"Oh, you're really, and you're so polite to come to your relative's house......"

"Having said that, I didn't even come a few times when I was a child, and you came to my house to play." Charles's tone remained flat, "I don't have much affection for this place. ”

"Oh, you're a ...... man," Charlotte smiled again and shook her head slightly, indicating that she couldn't do anything about Charles. Then, suddenly, she stretched out her right hand and grabbed Charles's hand, who had already walked up the steps, "Okay, my grandfather has been waiting for a long time, let's hurry over." ”

After being held by the hand, Charles couldn't help but frown slightly. He tried to withdraw his hand, but when he did, Charlotte gripped harder and harder, and his attempt failed. After a few attempts, Charles stopped trying to withdraw his hand.

In the final analysis, as Charlotte said before, the more deliberate the refusal, the more it seems that she can't let go?

Charlotte took her brother's hand and slowly walked through the hallway.

As on the previous occasion, Charles casually saluted as he passed by the portraits of the Duke of Treville.

"You've been here once last time, but time is limited, right? I shouldn't have seen a lot of places......" Charlotte suddenly turned her head as she said this, and then lowered her voice, "The last time you came to talk to grandpa, grandpa praised you, saying that you are calm and know how to negotiate...... Grandpa doesn't praise people easily, so be happy. ”

"Well, it's an honor." Charles replied nonchalantly.

As the march continued, Charlotte's slender white palms were slightly sweaty, making the two hands almost glue together.

"Charles, I'm very happy that you're willing to come to the appointment, and I've been worried that you won't come." Charlotte whispered again, since her back was to Charles, so Charles couldn't see her expression at the moment.

Is it excitement or regret? Is it joy or loss?

I don't know, and it doesn't matter anymore.

Charles did not answer.

After a few minutes, the two men came to a door at the end of the corridor, and when the servant at the door saw that they were coming, he immediately bowed and saluted, and then opened the door. It seems that this is the restaurant for the dinner party.

Charlotte continued to take Charles' hand and walked in, and the door was randomly shut.

The Duke of Treville was inside. At this moment, he was sitting at the head of the table, looking at the two people who came in with a blank face. When he saw Charles, he nodded slightly.

"Good evening, Charles."

Charles saluted, and then spoke in a very humble tone.

"Good evening, Mr. Duke of Treville."