Water lanterns and dreams in 1 nights

broken.The Duke looked at me thoughtfully and smiled fleetingly: "Indeed."

"But didn't you say you loved her?"

"I love her, once full of sincerity. I love her smile, blonde hair, and good disposition. I love her like I love a poem. I would like to make her laugh and make her life rich and happy, isolated from the conflicts and frustrations of the world. , to keep her heart filthy. There is no desire in this love, which tends to make a person unclean, both in body and in mind."

"But she is the opposite to you." I understood a little bit, "This kind of love makes her feel full of pain."

"She gradually refused to go out, refused to see people, and did not fulfill her duties as a hostess. She was making petty temper and told me to submit to her. This kind of resistance could not bruise me, but made her depressed. I could see her gradually withering. Broken, so I went to her and told her that if she could accept that maybe I didn't love her anymore, we'd spend the night together."

"Because if you spend the night with her, she will no longer be pure, and you may not love her anymore?"

The duke did not answer my words.The morning light came in softly from the window lattice, the Duke turned his back to the light, and the light of the early sun painted him golden, his expression was rarely so tender and sentimental. "She kept the appointment." That was the end of the story.

I see what he means.still have a question. "Why did all my mother's belongings disappear later?"

"Things purified by the flames can be delivered to the Pure Land." The duke replied. "Are you sad?"

"Some." Not really.

"Well, you're asking for trouble," said the Duke. "Come here."

I got up from my chair and walked over to him, only to get a hug that wasn't very warm or soft.His hug was firm and sure, holding me tightly in his arms, with my side face pressed against his chest, as if I could hear the slow and firm vibration of his heart.We seldom hugged, to be exact, even rarely had physical contact, maybe I was suspicious, sometimes I could feel his tendency to avoid my touch, sometimes he acted like he wanted it, which made me a little confused.

"I still want to ask..." My voice muffled from his arms.Even if he believed in the purifying properties of the fire, the manor would not be without a formal portrait of its mistress, in accordance with the tradition of painting portraits of nobles.

"Enough questions for today." He silenced me.

"Why did you send me away in the first place?"

"To avoid fate."

"And why did you take me back?"

"Because of contempt for fate."

"What are you talking about..."

"You will never know what I don't want you to know, Andrei." The prince said a second time, stroking the nape of my neck tentatively, "enough questions for today."

He let go of me who was speechless, "Eat your breakfast, the class is about to start." He got up as he said, "I'll excuse you first, don't forget what you promised." The Duke left the restaurant.I looked at his position, but most of his own breakfast was left behind.

In fact, I am not at all satisfied with his answer, which may be true, but it is undoubtedly only part of the truth, a prelude.This is a person who does not easily reveal what he wants to keep secret.

The lilies in the vase in the middle of the dining table hang their heads slenderly, casting a quiet shadow on the table.

9. Duke 08

We don't do much fun.At least rarely in the form of a banquet.

BMW fragrant cars, lanterns and string music, grand fireworks, alcoholic transpiration and noisy crowds, this is not what the Duke and I like.We only hold two parties in a year, in April and August, the former is the Duke's birthday, and the latter is mine. In any case, some entertainment is indispensable, but because I am not a full-fledged adult in previous years, even if I can't be blamed for disappearing quickly after the party started, and this year is a bit different.

In Turandot, a man has entered adulthood at the age of 14. He must shoulder the responsibilities within his identity, gradually participate in the conversations of the elders, and begin to have the right to speak.Similarly, there is one thing that is also customary and unavoidable. The elders in the family need to show their children suitable candidates for marriage.It is not necessary to get married back then. 14 years old is a signal that you can start a family. At least the sooner you negotiate and get engaged, the better girls will not be called to other families to start first.

And I am still in a state of doing nothing.

I understand what is waiting for my future, just like what I was taught, like all my grandparents, I will have a fiancée who will become my wife, and then inherit the family, the title, give birth to a child, and die of old age if it goes well.I am familiar with all these processes, but everything is covered with a fine white veil like looking at flowers in a fog. I can't feel the tension and sense of substitution in it.I saw people in front of me congratulating me with fake smiles, knowing that what I had came from the Duke, and as for myself, it was just an insignificant existence.But even that didn't stir me up much, I wasn't bored or sorry for myself, and frankly I'm still confused - is this going to be my future?I was thrown here unprepared. Even if there has been no change for more than ten years, can I logically think that I will also die here in the next few decades? Then what is the reason and significance of my coming here? ?

Even if these questions don't come to my mind often, perhaps they are the subtle way that I deny my legitimacy in this world and prevent me from truly participating in it.

The banquet had already begun, and the duke delivered a speech, introduced me to some important people who were closely related to the family, and then told me to move freely, which also surprised me. 13 years old and 15 years old, it doesn't seem to be reflected in his attitude towards me, and he doesn't need my growth, and this seems too unusual in the attitude of a prominent duke and his only son.Sometimes I even get the illusion that he doesn't want me to grow up, which is obviously illogical considering I'm his only known heir.

In fact there are always other possibilities.In those ancient families, the skeletons in the cupboard were inhumane, but there was always news, and as the wind spread to the other ear, it was never uncommon for illegitimate children to be born.The duke is handsome, rich, respected, and so young compared to his status, even if he meets a few beautiful and noble mistresses in private, it is not surprising that another lucky one will be born among them.The Duke never mentioned such things, and I have never seen any women around him. If only from the appearance, he lived a life like a penance, with no sympathy/lust collusion, it is impossible to imagine him. Will show a wild side in front of women.I always have a doubt about this. If I have to choose, I tend to think about people in an evil way. People read books, believe in faith, and create morality, just to prevent the degenerate thoughts in their hearts from leaking into the world. On the fearful side, there is no doubt that there is a dark prison hidden in the Duke's heart.

In short, I was planning to slip away from the banquet, and after the beginning, there was no use for me, and in front of me, there was an extravagantly dressed and potbellied viscount. It was a strange embarrassment, as if he was wearing the best outfit in the mansion.We clearly met for the first time, but he talked to me, and it was all about non-marginal things such as divination and philosophy. Out of politeness, I nodded in agreement from time to time, and my eyes were absent-mindedly on the thick bush on his funny round face. on the beard.The viscount talked enthusiastically, but it was difficult to break the awkward atmosphere of the conversation. I guess he must have realized this, so he frequently took out his handkerchief to wipe his sweat and took out his pocket watch to count the time.His behavior was nothing short of procrastination, and then I turned to thinking about why.

Finally, it seemed to me that the hour hand turned around for a quarter of a week, and a white hand stretched out from behind the Viscount and put it on his arm. The Viscount turned his head happily and shouted: "Penelope!" A beautiful and natural girl appeared beside him, and smiled generously at me: "I'm really sorry, compared to my long-winded father, I took up too much of your time."

Ah, now I understand how things are going.

The lady named Penelope had a bright smile with a hint of embarrassment, and she was also quite troubled by her father's behavior, which made me feel a little more fond of her unconsciously.Her father's purpose is so obvious and shallow, he has acted too much, but her temperament is just right, she seems to be a well-proportioned woman.

"Where." I said, "I'm bored too."

"I'm sorry to make you listen to his babbling for so long. You don't have to be so polite. Anyway, at home, my mother and I don't want to listen to him for too long." Penelope comforted me bluntly.

It's too familiar now.I thought.

In any case, the current situation does not seem like we can just walk away, so we chatted for a while. Penelope has a straightforward personality and is easier to get along with than ordinary noble girls. At least there is no need to guess whether there are many specious overtones in her words. I'm really tired of those exchanges that hide their intentions in many layers of words. Listening to them is like listening to reading comprehension, even though I have enough opportunities to get in touch with them.

After a while, the band played music, and many well-dressed men and women walked onto the dance floor arm in arm. I was just watching, but Penelope suggested enthusiastically, "Why don't we go dance too?"

I stared into her shining eyes, "It's all right." I replied, and then reached out to her.

I