[The Phantom of the Opera] Boundary Bridge

Mrs. Rustin Connolly has always been keen on socializing, and the invitation sent from the Earl of Connolly's residence is naturally unique and exquisite.Therefore, long before the princess's slender white fingers unfolded the invitation card outlining the lush rose vines, she knew the name of the inviter.But a commanding and unquestionable voice interrupted her.

"Princess, you should let the invitation stay on the table and enjoy your afternoon tea and sunshine quietly. When Ms. Gay comes over at three o'clock, she will read the letter for you."

Bernard Ward is serious and rigid, and even the best watchmaker cannot create such a masterpiece of order.He is proud of the glory of the Duke's mansion for many generations, and he is even more deeply infatuated with the orderly rules that are well-proportioned and graceful, like Greek marble statues.The loyal old butler loved his duties so much that even though he was deeply saddened by the successive deaths of the Duke and Duchess, that only strengthened Bernard's belief in guarding the honor of this ancient surname.He is like a loyal dog, guarding the remnants of yesterday, grinning and barking at everyone who offends him in his delusion.Even if that person is his little master, the Duke's only ten-year-old only daughter.

The princess raised her head slightly. She was wearing a lace cap with a large brim, which firmly hid her graceful neck like a swan.Two wide silk ties tied a firm bow at the chin.Her complexion was unhealthy pale, although her face was as delicate as oriental porcelain, it was distorted due to excessive paleness.The golden curly hair has a completely different splendor, but something deeper is engraved in her pair of azure eyes—quiet and inexplicably sad, with occasional flashes of light in them.

Just as the young lady was about to say something, the old housekeeper's hawk-like eyes had already spotted a few strands of blond hair scattered around the princess' ears.He gave the maid a very dignified look, and ordered another older woman to come forward and rearrange the lady's hair, making sure to hide all the golden color in the off-white hat brim.When he was finally able to look at the image of the princess with satisfaction and felt that it was perfect, Bernard smiled broadly and continued the previous topic: "What does the lady want to say to me?"

During the whole process, the princess was like a doll at the mercy of people. She was even so quiet and docile that people doubted whether she was still alive.But following Bernard's words, the princess seemed to be woken up with a start, her blue eyes rolled vigorously, and some light burst out from within - Bernard coughed.The earlier vividness of awakening had faded from her face.

The princess said very quietly: "Thank you, Bernard, nothing."

She turned her head to the side, half of her ungrown face was melancholy and dignified, with a painful charm.The princess pretended to be admiring the golden arabesques on the walls, but a sigh escaped her slightly parted lips.

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A little later, the Duchess still learned the content of the invitation - Mrs. Connolly held a horse race and invited the Duchess to watch it.Elora closed the invitation without saying a word, and Bena immediately persuaded from the side in an eager but not overly tone: "Miss, this is a very suitable social opportunity for you—"

"I'm a little tired, Bernard." Arora lowered her head, because she was in a reading posture before, so this action will not attract criticism, and at the same time, the shadow just hides her expression, "You know my The body is not fit to go out."

"But—" Benar Ward seemed to be immersed in his own enthusiasm, his voice was a little more enthusiastic than before, and there was a hint of accusation in it, "The Grand Duke Egmont will also go, miss. You It will be good for your title and property to accompany your fiancé."

Elora was still hanging her head, this posture was kept for so long that even Bena felt something was wrong, just as he was about to remind him sternly, she suddenly raised her head, with a forbearing but equally heartbreaking expression on her face With a look on her face, she said, "Beina..."

"You've got to go." And once again, as so many times before, Bena Ward made the decision for her.Elora watched him quietly, knowing that the other party completely believed that he was doing it for her, this absurd farce made her more painful.She wanted to say something, but a sharp cough interrupted her.

"You should rest." Bena said quickly, and most of the time he was willing to put her physical condition first.But before sending her to the door of the bedroom and about to say goodbye, the old butler said in a loving and experienced tone: "Miss, the Grand Duke Egmont is beautiful, rich and easy-going, powerful and powerful. The most important thing—is Yes, the most important thing for you young ladies is that he also has a good impression of you, isn't this our best marriage partner?"

Elora didn't speak, her blue eyes were like the deep sea where the little mermaid and her sisters lived, as described in Andersen's "The Daughter of the Sea", quiet and deep, with countless secrets hidden.She kissed Bernard's side face tiredly, returned to her bedroom, took off her lace hat and long silk gloves, and slowly drank a bowl of black bitter medicine by the maid's hand .She sleeps so calmly and yet so disturbed, like a goddess in distress.

Angels would be heartbroken by this scene.

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Two weeks later, Elora was coughing incessantly, wrapped in a thick woolen shawl, as she sat in Benar's carefully arranged carriage.Some morbid blushes appeared on her pale cheeks, but this redness made the pallor even more shocking, forming a strange beauty in contrast.It's like a drop of red that Snow White's mother pricked her finger on the snow, but Elora is obviously more sick.She knew the servants guessed that she wouldn't survive the winter.

But she should live, for something that might appear in her life.Elora didn't know if she could wait until that day, just like those painful moments in the past, she sank her spirit into the beautiful world woven by books, and then showed a peaceful smile on her lips.She must be grateful to several women for the opportunity to read those books, but unfortunately her mother was not one of them.Elora's heart sank, just about to enter that world, suddenly, she felt another more beautiful thing hit her heart.It took more than ten seconds for her to realize that it was her ears that were awakened first.

No, all this is insignificant.Arora seemed to see a beam of wonderful light shining into reality from fantasy, she ignored Benner's scolding, and eagerly raised the thick car curtain—the sound became clearer, and at the same time, Arora Fascinated by this beautiful voice, he couldn't help closing his eyes with a smile.But soon, she hastily opened it again, wanting to mobilize all senses to remember this incredible moment.Bena's loud questioning sounded not far behind the car, as if asking her what she needed, but Aurora couldn't care less about it—

It was the sound of a violin, mixed with a mellow male voice and a little girl's crisp child's voice.Elora has heard many violin performances, but no one has ever performed as tenderly, intoxicated, and refreshingly as this person.Like the breeze with the fragrance of flowers in the wilderness, and like the slightly humid air when boating on the lake, these imaginations after reading in the book all appeared in her mind concretely, like real memories.One shimmering fragment after another danced, and the violinist was magical.At this time, Elora could clearly see the performer and his accompaniment.A middle-aged man in simple and old clothes but neat and simple, and a girl wearing a red scarf beside him, who was obviously his daughter, who looked only seven or eight years old.Her singing voice was lively and joyful, but she didn't seem to be concentrating on singing. At this moment, she looked curiously towards the direction of the pedestrian carriage, and Aurora's eyes met hers unexpectedly.

It was a girl with a ruddy complexion and a slightly sweet complexion, with curly brown hair and big eyes full of innocent curiosity.She looks so lively and innocent, and so pure and lovely, the red scarf makes her more beautiful, and the old skirt is even more charming.Elora stared at her, and she also gave Elora a sweet smile.The princess with blond hair and snow skin had some strange emotions in her sad blue eyes. They seemed to be two completely different worlds that occasionally meet.At that moment, I couldn't tell what kind of impulse hit Arora, and she ordered in a firm voice to Bena Ward who was catching up from behind:

"Please stop the homeless father and daughter, I want to hear them sing."

Bernard looked completely taken aback by this unqualified request, and he looked at Arora in confusion, as if he couldn't understand the meaning of this sentence.But Elora couldn't compromise this time, she said in a firm tone she had never had before: "I want to hear them sing."

The old butler was probably overly surprised, or realized that the young lady's decision this time could not be changed. In short, he watched her silently, as if he was wandering and thinking, and did not stop Ai Ruola from ordering another maid to go to that place. Message to father and daughter.Elora's heart was pounding. She had the curtains completely hung up and parked the carriage very close to the father and daughter. Now she could see the face of the girl who was two or three years younger than her. The lovely freckles, she gave her a gentle smile.

"I'm sorry," she said, in a soft and slightly slurred drawl. "If I bother you, can you please sing me a song? Anything, I'd love to hear it." Her accent was a little French aristocratic Taste, but not much.

The middle-aged man wiped his bow and asked calmly, even kindly: "So, miss, what do you want to hear?" , Bena finally thought of protesting, but the middle-aged man gave his surname at Elora's insistence.His surname is Dayer, and he is a very famous Danish violinist, so Bernard has no reason to stop him. "Christine, do you have a question?"

The girl in the red scarf smiled nervously and confidently: "Daddy, I can sing all your songs."

This time, Aurora was silent for a long time, because she couldn't treat this possibly unique opportunity in her life—the chance of two worlds intersecting rashly.She was as silent as if she would never answer again, but before Christine blinked her eyes and asked her father for an answer, the princess's gentle and emotional voice came out of the carriage:

"Aurora - that's my name, please sing me a song about it."

Bernard looked even more disapproving, but after a struggle he said nothing, quietly waiting for the magic moment that his princess had been waiting for.Then Christine tilted her head and asked innocently and curiously, "Dawn? That's really a good name. Daddy," she turned to her kind father, "I'll sing the "Dawn Hymn" you wrote earlier. "how?"

Old Daye's answer was to pull out the first scale of the violin, with a gentle and tolerant smile on his lips.So Christine sang along with boundless joy and love. The girl's crisp voice was obviously not sweet enough, but it was bright and filled with infinite hope, like a flying lark...there is only her in the world. With the singing and the accompaniment of my father, the whole convoy fell silent.Elora closed her eyes and listened quietly, as if her soul had been washed.After a while, tears welled up in her eyes.

After a long time, the world was quiet. After the performance of the Daye father and daughter, Arora didn't say a word. She was immersed in that strange world, and at the same time she kept crying, violently and silently.Bednar finally tried to persuade her with a word or two, but he could not find words.He sent the father and daughter away with good words, and Christine was still curiously speaking childish words, but Arora just buried her head and cried even harder.After a long time, she opened her eyes, her pale face glowed with a strange and beautiful brilliance, as if she had gained everything and lost everything.Without saying a word, she allowed the maid to wipe and remake her face.

The driveway that had been silent for a long time finally heard the noise of horseshoes again, but it did not come from the princess's convoy.A black steed galloped over from the other side of the road, and the boy sitting on it had a flamboyant and flirtatious smile, his golden-brown hair shining in the sun.The young man riding his horse shouted loudly: "Ai Ruola——Ai Ruola—I have been waiting for you for a long time, why haven't you arrived yet? Has something happened to you?" There were also several horses behind him. The horses were chasing, and they were also crying anxiously: "Duke Egmont! Duke Egmont!"

"Are you all right, Miss?" Bernard leaned over to the carriage and asked, in his voice was disapproval of Egmont's reckless behavior, but also a subtle joy that this move raised his own value.He was the watchful old housekeeper again.

Elora - pressed the corners of her eyes, and then a wistful smile appeared on her lips.She didn't even need to be reminded by Bernard, she had already opened the car curtain with a hand wearing a long pearl-colored silk glove, revealing half of her face to respond to the impatient and concerned boy.She said, "Egmont, I'm fine...I'm so fine."

Egmont leaned over to her car window, still complaining in detail, but his eyes shone with joy the moment he saw her face.He leaned over, seemed to be smiling, and seemed to want to kiss her, but in the end he just stuck out his tongue mischievously, and then said arrogantly: "Ai Ruola, you actually made me wait for you for a quarter of an hour—but look For the sake of your beauty, I forgive you. And you have to support me today, I will win this race for sure."

"My fault, Egmont." Elora said, she motioned for the carriage to move on, and Egmont immediately became happy.He rode the horse by the window, and rode slowly with the speed of the carriage. After a while, he couldn't help himself and galloped forward, but he came back with a face full of impatience after a while.Bernard looked at the gap and desperately explained something to Elora, while the blond princess looked back with the same wistful smile a few minutes ago, but saw nothing.

The aristocratic lady goes to the Jockey Club in a gorgeous and exquisite carriage, while the ordinary and lively girl travels around the world with her father-destiny always intersects and disperses in this way, and then goes to different worlds.The world that Aurora deeply buries in her heart... the world she longs for.

It will either die someday in the future or be resurrected someday in the future.

The author has something to say: *This chapter takes place several years before the timeline of the main text. Arora is ten years old and Christine is seven years old.

*Using part of the original setting, Daye took Xiao Ke to wander around.Old Daye died when Xiao Ke was ten years old, and she was taken to Paris.

*So do you understand why the heroine exchanged singing voices? 2333. Destiny, she is a torturing little fairy