After visiting the old painter Durrenburg, the Charles siblings and Mary returned to their home in a carriage – Fran urged his friends to have dinner at home, and Mademoiselle Marquis gladly agreed.

Under the clear sky of early spring, the scenery in Paris is very beautiful, but Fran seems to have encountered something from the painter, and he bows his head and is silent, completely ignoring the window. Under her influence, the other two people also had their own hearts, so the carriage returned to the Marquis de Treville's palace in silence.

As soon as he returned to the living room of the mansion, Charles smiled and made a request to his sister.

"Miss Treville, could you go and pour us a cup of tea?"

After hearing Charles's instructions, a hint of panic crossed Fran's eyes, and she glanced at her friend with some anxiety, and found that the other person's eyes were also a little panicked. She understood the true meaning of Charles's words.

She moved her mouth to say something more, but under her brother's smile, she couldn't say anything.

"That's good......" she nodded reluctantly, and slowly left the living room.

So, as Charles had hoped, there were only two people left in the living room.

Their emotions are very different now, one is calm and relaxed, and the other is sitting on pins and needles.

Charles remained silent, and under this bewildering silence, the Marquis's face slowly turned a little pale, and she glanced at Charles with some uneasiness, as if she wanted to say something.

Although it does seem a little pitiful, there are some things that have to be said.

Charles sat in his seat. Leisurely looking at the Marquis on the other side.

"Miss Leolan, you have once again taken advantage of my sister's friendship with you, and thus skillfully saved yourself from a new crisis. Shouldn't I congratulate you? ”

"Mr. Treville. You misunderstood me......" After hearing Charles's sarcastic words, Mademoiselle Marquis hastened to defend herself, "The situation is not exactly as you think......

"Maybe not exactly, but the basics are clear, right?" There was still a hint of sarcasm in Charles's tone, "You ran into a problem, you ran to my house to find my sister, you pretended to be weak. In the end, you largely avoided the crisis. Isn't that so? ”

Under Charles's cross-examination, Mary's face became even paler, and she was speechless for a while.

Charles pursued the victory without sympathy.

"I don't want to accuse you of anything. Everyone has the right to fight to defend their property, and in fact I must admit that you did a great job...... However, I want to tell you that my sister and I were not born to help you. Even if you don't get thanks. We also deserve to be treated with respect and not fooled by you as fools. I've fulfilled Fran's wish for her, and I don't want the same thing to happen a third time, or you'll know the consequences - no matter how much my sister protects you, I'll have countless ways to ruin your family, do you believe it? ”

"Sir, I didn't try to fool you!" Mary replied in a trembling voice.

After hearing Charles's words, she knew in her heart that things had reached the worst. If I don't explain anything, I'm afraid I won't be able to get to the door of the Trevil house again.

"Really?" Charles asked rhetorically with a sneer.

"It's true......" Mary looked at Charles. Trying her best to convey the sincerity in her heart to the other person's eyes, tears seemed to well-up in the corners of her eyes, "You and Fran have helped me so much, how can I be so ungrateful to you?" ”

"I can't say for sure." Charles was unmoved by her tears, and her words became more and more acerb, "Isn't the most common thing we see in the social arena is ingratitude? In any case, sixteen or seventeen years should learn everything that our fathers should teach us. In the face of money, I have seen a lot of shame, and in all fairness, you are quite good like this, so I said, I am not particularly angry with you. ”

"Trust me, sir!" Tears fell suddenly from the corners of Mary's eyes, and her expression was very anxious. "Well, I'll admit, at first, I did intend to ask you for help, but I didn't intend to trick you into helping me!"

After hearing her answer, Charles thought about it carefully, what she said made sense, how could she have expected that Charles had spare money to help her solve the problem in the first place?

However, there was no wavering on his face.

"Maybe your tears are sincere, maybe not, it doesn't matter, just think you're from the heart. Yes, you're pretty and know how to elicit empathy...... "Although he felt that he was a little too harsh in his heart, Charles still didn't show this compassion on his face, and his face was still the same, "However, it would be naïve to think that you would be able to do whatever you want in front of the Tréville family. ”

When it should be harsh, man must be harsh, and this is a truth that he has long learned in the social field.

"If you want to ask for help, there are many ways, even just say it. It's not about trying to tease my sister's compassion like I do now, is it? ”

"But...... But ......" Mademoiselle Marquise continued to have tears on her face, and she could not even speak clearly under the sobs.

"But you're worried that my sister and I won't help you if we don't show pity, right?" Charles made up the rest for her.

Mary hung her head for a moment, but finally nodded sadly. In this way, she admitted her hidden calculations in the depths of her heart, and also admitted the fact that she used her friend, and no longer defended herself.

He'll despise me for that.

She closed her eyes slightly, dejectedly waiting for the verdict of fate.

"You're thinking too much, really. Do you really think Fran can't see what you're thinking? Even so, she wants to be able to help you...... I hope you can understand her painstaking efforts and stop dealing with her with such hypocritical friendliness in the future. All right? Charles's voice suddenly softened a lot. I know that this pitiful protective color is indeed very important to you, and you need to pretend to be mindless in front of the world...... But. At least not in front of my sister, or you're blaspheming her friendship with you. Please remember my words today! ”

Later...... Later? And later!

Mary opened her eyes and suddenly looked up, her eyes mixed with surprise and surprise.

"What do you mean...... Will I be able to deal with your family in the future? ”

"Yes, but be careful, don't disguise yourself in front of us...... Miss Leolan, I honestly think you are. It should be many times better than what you have always shown to us......"

"You don't hate me for that?" She didn't seem to pay attention to what Charles said, but to the strange place.

"Of course not, at least for now." Charles replied as a matter of course. "You're just trying to protect yourself, it's just human nature, what's to blame?"

She just wanted to protect herself, at least she didn't want to hurt anyone. So Charles really didn't hate her that much—at least morally. Charles felt that he was not qualified to underestimate anyone now.

The smile suddenly bloomed on the delicate face that still had tear stains, and she was radiant for a moment.

"Thank you, Mr. Treville, I will definitely remember your lesson."

This smile, reserved and calm, seems to have completely taken off the original "pitiful" camouflage.

"Am I teaching you anything?" Charles still kept a straight face, but his tone was much softer. "This is just a reminder that you still want to deal with us. Then we should listen to our advice. ”

"Thank you, teacher!" Mary was still smiling, as if ignoring his deliberate coldness.

…………

She still remembers it.

Charles ignored her and turned his head to the door.

"Okay, I'm done talking now, come in! How long are you going to stand? ”

At Charles's scolding, the door reopened, and Fran, who was holding a tray, slowly walked in.

She also followed her brother's example, and there was no expression on her face, but when she was putting tea down, she glanced at Charles lightly, as if in protest. "You were too rude, sir!"

Charles, on the other hand, shrugged his shoulders indifferently.

Sometimes, it's a good thing to get things out sooner.

"Don't be so sad, Mary, cheer up, my brother is just showing no mercy......" Fran whispered to Mademoiselle Marquis after the tea.

"Fran, I'm sorry......"

"It's okay, it's okay." Fran was still smiling.

…………

Soon, it was time for dinner at the Marquis de Treville's palace.

The old marquis was not feeling well today, so the servants served him directly in his bedroom, and only three young men sat on either side of the table.

Fran and her friends were talking and laughing, while Charles was intently reading the newspaper.

However, Fran's musings were interrupted by a question.

"Brother, did you say before that you wanted to find a female companion?"

Charles took the newspaper and nodded a little confusedly, remembering that he had said "find a maid", but it meant the same thing anyway.

"What's wrong?"

"Do you have a choice now?" Fran asked in a low voice. "If not......"

Charles immediately understood what she meant, and then turned to look at Miss Marquis.

"Mr. Treville, I want to be your sister's maid companion......" Mary whispered, looking at Charles, "I beg you to grant me this request." ”

"At least it saves some money, doesn't it? And Mary can usually help you with some chores, she must be very reliable! Fran continued her persuasion work.

In this era, it was very common for low-ranking or wealthless nobles to serve as secretaries or governesses or female companions, just as small lords went to the homes of big nobles as vassals in the Middle Ages.

But, Mademoiselle de la Marquis de léoland, no matter how you say it, she will not be reduced to this point.

Charles looked at Mademoiselle Marquis and was silent for a while.

What was she thinking?

Maybe it's a friendship, but it doesn't matter.

But......

"Help me? What do you think she can do to help me? Charles asked Fran with a smile.

"Please don't underestimate me, Mr. Treville." Mary replied directly.

"Oh? Is it? All right...... Prove it to me. Charles replied casually, and then looked at the girl across from him rather harshly, "I want to buy those deposit vouchers at a low price now, the more the better...... Can you find a way to help me get a big deal? As long as you can. As long as you can prove yourself useful, I certainly don't mind if you come and be my assistant......"

"Huh?"

The two girls exclaimed at the same time. (To be continued......)

PS: Spell Card [Girl Secretary] GET!

In addition, Xie Lu Xie Shuyou Dr. Bai Hechou rewarded again...... I'm always feeling a little embarrassed......

I will continue to work hard!