His Excellency the Count of Grandet

Guillaume was deeply shocked by this invitation. "Your Excellency really said that?"

It was already late at night when he asked this question.Because they received the 50 francs paid in advance by the Duke of Orleans during the day, and a signed wine document (the average purchase price reached 210 francs; because of the high quality, there are additional subsidies for those in Bordeaux), the father and son are doing accounts in the study.

"That's right," Charles nestled in the soft armchair, staring at the blazing fire in the fireplace, tapping his fingers on the table, "and I have already agreed."

"This..." Guillaume didn't know what to say.

He couldn't say that what Shire did was wrong, because it was a great honor—

Only those who are truly important can be qualified to participate in this kind of party.If the salons in Paris are all circles of interests combined by politicians, nobles, capitalists, etc., the royal family is undoubtedly the highest level.

This is exactly his goal, to become one of the people at the top of the entire Paris interest chain.

Then they had now touched the perimeter, and it was taking much faster than he thought.On the one hand, this certainly shows Shire's strength, but on the other hand, it is unavoidably a little too fast.

He is not the only one who sharpened his head and wanted to climb up. What would others think when they saw their speed?Is there anyone who is jealous? At least Michelle's actions have shown one thing——

They were a middling wine wholesaler last year and this year they are starting to get swept up; Michel is always smiling, yes, but he's not throwing out the first growths to everyone What a bait!

"You're worried, father." Charles recovered from his contemplation, noticing the way Guillaume was holding the document, trying not to let it go, "Are you trying to say that a big tree attracts the wind?"

Guillaume nodded and shook his head again. “There’s a part of me that thinks that, but another part of me is telling myself it’s inevitable. As soon as we get bigger, whether it’s fast or slow, we can’t avoid this development. I’m more worried about… ..." He took half a step and put his hand on Charles' shoulder, "This time you have to go alone." This is no different from the previous few times; it's nothing more than dealing with ordinary strangers, this time the object is a sentence A great man whose words can determine life and death!

Charles smiled. "May I take it that you mind that you cannot go?"

Guillaume, who was originally worried, almost laughed angrily. "What nonsense are you talking about?" He patted the back of Charles' head lightly, "No matter what daddy does, isn't it still left to you in the end?"

Charles looked sideways at his father.

Guillaume is ten years younger than Grandet, but since he and Eugenie are almost latecomers, Grandet is 70 years old this year, and Guillaume is almost 60 years old.If Grandet relies on his calculating mind to make people forget his real age, Guillaume prefers to eat well, not often angry, and like all Parisian high-class people, he looks younger than his actual age.

But no matter how you say it, a person has been busy all his life, and when he reaches his sixtieth year, it's time to enjoy peace and happiness.

Charles wanted to think so, and didn't plan to say it, at least not now.Seeing how his father was worried about him, he had to wait until everything was on the right track before he could persuade his father to retire. "Of course I know that you are looking after me. You have always taken good care of me." He said in a more serious tone, "But you can't always stand in front of me, right? Shouldn't it be my turn to stand in front of me?" Where are you, father?"

Guillaume still wanted to say a few words about him, at least to ensure that Charles would not joke so casually in the formal salon; but before he could say it, he was blocked by Charles' answer.A choke, more precisely; a feeling he'd never felt hit him before, making his eyes sore.

He opened his mouth several times, and finally managed to say a word: "I have never heard of it. Going to the mainland can make people more sweet-talking!" This sounded like a reproach, but there were obviously other feelings more.

Seeing that his gag had worked, Charles honestly did not refute.Even if he felt that the salon was full of dangers while hiding opportunities, and that it was difficult to grasp, he could not tell Guillaume; as a child, one should always coax the old man.If you really want to say something, wait for him to solve it, and then it will be too late!

Now that you've decided to go, it's time to do some preparatory work.But Ferdinand, like his father, the Duke of Orleans, never talked; he told Charles that he was going to introduce some people to Charles, and then there was nothing.

This bit of information is simply not enough.It's just that the people who can go are either high-ranking or powerful, and it's hard to get news.After all, this is a formal, highest-level salon, not a so-called gathering of some second-generation ancestors who only know how to eat, drink and have fun.

However, Charles knew that he still had two channels: both Victor and Michel were definitely guests of the royal salon.

Which one to choose?This question does not need to be considered at all.

"You're here," Victor said, with a sour tone, "I thought you'd already been hooked!"

Charles casually fiddled with the overlong willow pine branches hanging by the roadside, letting the soft ice crystals fly off from them—because Paris had just had a hailstorm, and he caught up with Victor's walk this time Time, the meeting place directly turned into the garden of Victor's mansion——asked nonchalantly, "Which one are you talking about?"

which?Which one?Michelle, Ampere, and a cousin of Saumur... so you know that I will be jealous!

Victor had only this thought for a while.On the one hand, he was very resentful, but on the other hand, he felt that this might not be a bad thing - at least he was the first thing Charles thought of. "I heard from the Duke of Orleans," he said in a serious tone, "we all agree to do this."

Charles rolled his eyes.Well, he knew that this group of people belonged together!Michel and the Earl of Artois are all the way, they must only support the Duke of Orleans!

Seeing that he didn't speak, Victor asked again: "What do you think?"

It's too late to ask now... Although it's a slight improvement compared to before... "Thanks to you." Charles said that deliberately.

Victor naturally wouldn't be easily choked by such a sentence. "I know you're not interested in this; but sometimes it's necessary to be noticed."

Charles didn't object.Because Victor is right, proper communication is indeed necessary; if one person can achieve dominance, then he must cross the starting point Long Aotian. "If I had objected, I wouldn't be here now."

"So you came today just to ask how you should behave in the salon?" Victor stood still.

"Don't always ask what you know." Charles walked out two steps and turned his head to look when he heard the creaking sound of stepping on the snow on the side. "Otherwise, do you think I should ask Mr. Michel about it?"

"Don't mention him to me." Victor immediately protested. "I don't want to hear his name again after dealing with him for days, it's still from you!"

"What's the matter?" Charles wanted to know what happened to these two people, so he couldn't help asking.

"Isn't it those things?" Victor frowned, "I don't worry about the end of every year, whether it's a bank or a chamber of commerce!"

Charles thought about Victor's positions that were too big to overwhelm people--President of the Central Bank of France, President of the National Chamber of Commerce--couldn't help but light a root of wax for Victor silently.The end of the year is the busiest time, and it couldn't be easier to do something to impress people.

"I think Michele seems to be very good at this, dealing with people and whatnot." He commented on this.Michelle is very popular, so if you want to add trouble, there will be help; the trouble doesn't need to be too big, just a few more will be enough for Victor.

Victor gave Charles a sharp look for this. "I'm assuming you're not complimenting him?"

"It's not true, I'm just stating the facts I've seen." Charles shrugged, "Why do you think so?"

Victor grunted, which sounded like a hum that hadn't come out yet. "Because of your tone," he pointed out directly, "it always makes me think that you seem to have a crush on him—maybe it's this aspect?"

Charles stared at him, noncommittal.

"Is this what I mean?" Victor frowned even more tightly, "He must have raised some chips, but you didn't tell me. Let me think about it—receptions, wineries, and more A lot?" He saw the affirmation on Charles' face, and couldn't help saying with disgust: "It's really nothing new!"

novelty?New to smashing out money order books like you?If other people know about it, they will only think that this person should take medicine, right?

Charles couldn't help complaining in his heart.But he wasn't going to say it, he just said: "Compared to this, shouldn't you answer the question about the salon at the beginning?"

But Victor said nothing.He crossed his arms and looked at Charles with an indescribable gaze.From top to bottom, and from bottom to top.

The distance between the two was only a few steps, and this blatant gaze made Charles feel like he was being stared through.It felt familiar... Then he thought of the time when he and Victor bumped into each other in the tailor shop, and the eyes of the other party were almost the same as now.

Why did the integrity value of this product drop again?

Victor stared at Ciel, and Ciel didn't flinch.The atmosphere fell into silence for a while.In the process, the sky began to snow again.Little by little crystal snowflakes invisibly dilute the feeling of suffocation.

Charles felt that this situation blurred the sharp lines of Victor's face very well, and also sharpened his senses - not only did he notice the aggression in the other's eyes bit by bit, but he also noticed this It was a direct reaction to this emotion—a snowflake that had just landed on Victor's shoulder wanted to stay, but suddenly trembled and flew out.

The beast sleeping in the veins woke up, eagerly sniffing the air.

Charles moved suddenly.He took two steps towards Victor, kissed him on the thin lips, and then stepped back half a step.His movement was very fast, definitely not more than two seconds.

"Do you know what you're doing?" Victor finally said, licking his lips at the same time.

"I just know that I can't let you do what you want first." Charles shrugged slightly, "It's not my style to sit and wait."

"Then I have to admit, I really admire your style." Victor said.But before he finished speaking, he had already taken action——

He wrapped his arm around Charles' waist, pressed the other hand on the back of Charles' head, and kissed him almost fiercely.