Sur ma peau

01.

Everything I saw sowed the seeds of an inevitable revolution.

--Voltaire

Paris.

Royal Entertainment Hall.

On New Year's Eve of 1789, there was no festive atmosphere in the old palace of Paris, which was supposed to be a place for common people to revel. people are terrified.

"Something happened." The teenager who came hurriedly walked up to the stage at the end of the room, and said to several organizers who were talking in low voices: "An hour ago, the royal guards surrounded the Yinfang on Saint-André Art Street, my The master, Earl Plowin, has been arrested."

"French rose." Someone muttered softly in the shadows, with a bit of disdain and gloating, when Shi On glared at him fiercely, that person ducked down to avoid looking at each other.

This is not a complimenting name. The French rose is not the refined and refined variety in Versailles, but a thorny shrub that can be seen everywhere in the mountains and fields without careful care. Decorative garden fence.This title, in addition to his appearance, is more of a satire on the earl's life experience. Although he is the king's younger brother, Earl Ploin left Versailles for the territory of Provence when he was a teenager, until the incident in Brittany two years ago. Only after returning to the upper class, in the eyes of Versailles and Parisians, even the gorgeous flowers from the noble seeds cannot get rid of the earthy smell that has grown in the backcountry for more than ten years.

"Why is he there? He can't be absent at the masquerade ball at Versailles tonight." The Marquis of Condorcet, who also came from aristocratic background, was no stranger to the tradition of Versailles, and he couldn't hide the surprise on his face.

Unlike the king's other brother, Earl Plowin admired free thought very much, and often walked between Paris. Although there was a bit of aristocratic alienation in his speech and behavior, he did a lot for the third class. , so it is very popular among the people.

"Someone handed him a manuscript yesterday, and he and the author agreed to meet there tonight." The underage Shi On was the knight's servant brought back by the earl from Provence. It was said that he was the second son of a certain baron in the earl's territory. Sent to the earl to be trained as a knight, the earl will not deliberately hide too many things from him.

"With Yabo Fika's skills, it shouldn't be a problem to get away alone. Who else is on the scene tonight?" Kondo Sai crossed hands, walked around in a circle, and asked.

"Several workers who stayed at Yinfang to watch the night."

"Buying time for the workers to retreat is indeed something he will do." This answer made the Marquis smile bitterly. In this situation, integrity is not a good thing.

"He's too conspicuous." Mrs. Roland, holding her husband's arm, lowered her folding fan and said with a sigh.

"This is a trap. The royal guard is in the hands of Count Artois. He and Jabofika have always had political disagreements." Condorce crossed his fingers in front of his lips as if praying, and then he looked at Shion, "The manuscript Where are you from?"

"It's not a trap." Maximilian Robespierre, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said, "I entrusted someone to hand it over to him. It's another friend's work. For safety, I can't reveal his identity." and name."

"I didn't expect him to go to Yinfang himself for this."

It was no secret that the king didn't like Earl Ploin's frequent visits to Paris. For this reason, he had repeatedly sent the earl down. Recently, the earl had hardly left Versailles.

"That's a draft of an amendment bill. I think the earl's statement to the parliament will have a higher chance of success."

"Before I return, the royal police are taking the count to the Bastille."

"The Bastille...I'm afraid it will be difficult for Abafika to escape unscathed this time." Robespierre's face flashed in a trance, as if recalling his life in the academy.

The warden is Minos of the Gelfin family. He was well-known in the law school. He was exceptionally promoted by Count Artois two years ago to be the controller of the strongest prison in France.

Minos was more famous for his blood and brutality than his law school reputation.

"That draft..."

"He is an earl, the blood of the royal family, and he is still in the top ten heirs to the throne. If he doesn't speak, the Bastille can't touch him." The Marquis of Condorcet, who knew the nobleman's background, comforted him.

"He won't betray us." Robespierre tapped on the table, frowning and concluding.

The young knight squire glanced gratefully at the man who spoke for his master, and brought them the last news of the trip: "My master is not good at lying."

"He will plead guilty."

"And it won't implicate any of you."

Minos hated working overtime at any time, especially being woken out of bed in the middle of the night.

This is a boring job, and there are not many living people in the strongest prison in France.

Four fraudsters, two mentally ill, this kind of pension position is more suitable for its previous manager, the old Marquis de Launay.

Yawning, he lazily shuffled up the office tower, wondering why he was called to work overtime.

On New Year's Eve, the ball in Versailles has always been all night long. His Majesty the King is weak and has no opinion. He knows nothing about politics. So what kind of taboo did this one who was sent here commit?

When he turned into the office, he saw the person sitting in the interrogation chair who was still wearing a masquerade ball gown, but he was shocked suddenly and instantly sobered up.

The royal guards handed over the crime book, along with papers as evidence. Minos squinted his eyes and scanned the light of the torches on the wall before standing up straight and walking forward.

"At this time, you should be at the New Year's Ball in Versailles, not in the lower part of Paris, my lord." It was not that he offended the king, but that he was caught with a room full of radicals in the Indian workshop in downtown Paris. Flyers together with Earl.

The mask decorated with golden gemstones and feathers covered most of the face, only the graceful jaw was exposed. Minos raised his hand to take off the mask on the opponent's face. The face under the cover made time seem to stop for a moment, which is unique to the royal family. In the blue pupils, there is no panic and fear, but calm and peaceful, like a windless lake, crystal clear.

How beautiful, what a delight.

"A well-deserved name, the Rose of France."