[Infrastructure] Rose kissed Barcelona

"Your Majesty, if the people of Barcelona really hand over the princess, then we...?" the cardinal asked with a bow.

Carlos didn't speak, just blew lightly, blowing out the match in his hand.

Several red candles are arranged in a row on the table, the flames are faint.Bloody candle tears trickled down drop by drop.

He just turned around.

The gold embroidered paisley pattern on the cloak shone dazzlingly in the candlelight, and he wrote lightly: "Then withdraw the troops."

The cardinal raised his head in astonishment: "Then you just let them go?"

Carlos laughed contemptuously, "I don't let it go, what's the point? After leaving here, go north immediately. In this way, the first thing Barcelona will face is Alfonso's army."

"Do you think that little bastard will let the city go?"

The cowardly little boy with the crown probably only had this bit of courage.

His only talent is probably finding a good mother.

Tuk tuk, a few crisp knocking sounds came from the edge of the window.

Carlos looked up and saw a little sparrow poking its head.

It seemed to regard the scattered frost on the inside of the window as rice grains, and pecked a few more times.

He looked at this fluffy little creature, and his thoughts suddenly flew back to more than ten years ago.

At that time, the royal family in Madrid was singing and dancing. He once sneaked into the capital, and sneaked into a duke's castle ball with a perfect disguise.

The castle was filled with the fragrance of flowers, barbecue and fine wine. He walked to the marble balcony with a glass of red wine in his hand, and squinted his eyes to appreciate the open scenery in the distance.

The glowing silky field and the sapphire-like river should have belonged to him.

At this moment, a little boy wearing a delicate knitted vest and a small black cloak stumbled over.

Carlos' sanity prevented him from slamming the wine glass on the little boy's face.

But he hated children the most.

A clear little girl's voice came from a distance: "Alfonso! Where are you?"

Carlos, who was about to leave, stopped.

Alfonso almost jumped up in shock, looked around in a hurry, and finally cast his eyes on Carlos for help.

He begged timidly and softly: "Sir, can you take care of Lulu for me? My sister doesn't like it, but it can't fly yet, and I'm afraid it will be eaten by cats..."

He was holding a little sparrow that hadn't even grown a feather in his hand, and his weak cry was weak.

"Alfonso? You bad guy! If you don't come out, I'll tell my mother not to let you go back to the palace!" The little girl's voice was getting closer.

Carlos looked down into those teary black eyes.

It's dark, it's bright, it's so clean, it's so fragile—it's an urge to destroy.

He smiled: "No problem, leave it to me. Lulu will wait for you here."

"Thank you, sir!" Alfonso was overjoyed, carefully put the little sparrow into Carlos' hands, and touched its feathers reluctantly: "Lulu, I'll come back to see you later, I can't take Joe away." I'm terrified."

He ran joltingly on his fat short legs.

Carlos watched him run away, then slowly closed his hands, feeling a beating heart.

The fingers are covered with soft down.

The chick in the palm seemed to sense something, and began to scream very uneasy.

He moved his hands slightly, feeling the warm and fragile flesh at his fingertips.

What a charming touch, this life that flourishes in the palm of your hand.

A rapid and desperate cry sounded suddenly—covered with a faint "click"—and stopped abruptly.

Carlos raised his lips.

As for later?

I heard that there was an uproar at the ball, and a bloody bird carcass on the terrace frightened the three-year-old little prince, who developed a high fever that night.

The dance ended without a trace, but in the end it was not clear what was going on.

"Maybe it's a cat?" said the people.

Her Majesty the Queen was very dissatisfied with the Crown Prince's timidity.But after the little prince's fever subsided, he completely forgot about this memory, and his personality changed drastically, and he suddenly became taciturn, so the queen couldn't be too harsh.

……

More than ten years later, Carlos's thoughts returned to reality, and he saw a transparent glass jar next to him from the corner of his eye.

There are a few small and thin earthworms wriggling slowly inside, which are prepared for him to dig ice for fishing.

He knocked on the window, and the little sparrow was frightened away.

Carlos picked up the tweezers beside him and smiled coldly.

Sparrows were good, he liked animals that squealed before they died.

Unlike earthworms, there is no sound at all. The only fun is to watch it twist and imagine what it would sound like if it could scream.

Of course, what he likes most is the screams of people.

"Anyway, it's not the first time Barcelona has been suppressed. They should have gotten used to it." Carlos put the tweezers into the glass jar leisurely.

The earthworm was suddenly poked by the cold metal and began to squirm violently.

"As for the future... tell me, will he give in to me because of this useless princess and make me the king of the north?"

The cardinal lowered his head and did not dare to speak.

But he felt sure not.

Carlos didn't seem to want to hear his answer either.

He just said to himself slowly: "That boy Alfonso, he will."

The cardinal sighed in his heart, "Your Majesty, I have one last question... What if Barcelona didn't hand her over?"

"Oh," Carlos smiled, "you don't know Catalonia."

He seemed to have finally chosen, and took out a small earthworm from the jar.

"Also, I gave the little princess a little gift - I believe this will help them make a better decision."

It may be difficult to hand over a comrade-in-arms who gets along day and night.

But what about a cowardly, selfish traitor full of lies?

Carlos turned and hung the earthworm in the tweezers over the candle flame.

The earthworm began to twist its body crazily, but it was firmly controlled above the flame, no matter how much it twisted, it could not avoid the burning pain.

"After all, the most charming moment of the weak is the last scream of their dying struggle."

1874 12 Month 20 Day.

Negotiations on Diagonal Avenue are about to begin.

The sky and the earth were cold and white, as if even the air was frozen.

There are many buildings on both sides of the wide avenue, and armed people are standing at the gate, and every building is silent-but both sides know that there are all people inside at this moment.

Maybe behind every window are muzzles.

However, Barcelona does not have enough manpower.

Soldiers with guns were arranged on the commanding heights, but in more windows, those who crowded around the windows and watched cautiously were ordinary people.

They may be carrying knives, swords and clubs, or other personal weapons, but they are civilians after all.

For example, the lobby on the fourth floor of the building where Olanpu is located—almost all the patients who came here were patients from the hospital at the back. People who had regained their mobility eagerly flocked here, wanting to learn about the negotiation situation as soon as possible.

So Olanpu and several other nurses and volunteers had no choice but to follow.

"Are you insane? You still need to bring a drawing board here?" Olanpu had nothing to say.

Vincent was busy finding a suitable angle to place his drawing board, so that he could get a good view to watch the negotiation, "Leave me alone, you are blocking my light."

Olanpu rolled his eyes.

"Sir, if you think you've lived too long, you are welcome to go downstairs and sit down in the middle of Diagonal Avenue to draw—that's the place with the best view."

"You can ridicule whatever you want," Vincent found a seat, and waved his hand contentedly, "I know you are just jealous of my talent, after all I can use a paintbrush as a weapon. Of course, if you want to learn from me, I have no objection." .Please—I'll seriously think about it."

Olanpu turned and went to another window.

After a while, there was a commotion in the crowd - two people walked into their sight at the same time.

On this side of Barcelona is the chubby Manolo, while on the opposite side he wears the red robes of a cardinal.Both were holding white flags symbolizing peace talks.

"That's still a bishop? God." Someone exclaimed.

Immediately someone answered: "The Lord does not support wicked people, so this cardinal is just a shoddy impostor."

"A bishop, a politician—it can be regarded as a colleague, after all, they all make a living by deceiving people."

According to the plan, the two would meet in the middle of the wide avenue, plant the flag next to it, and then negotiate under the witness of both parties.

However, just as Manolo took a few steps, the bishop on the opposite side suddenly stopped, raised a flag and shouted: "Everyone in Barcelona!"

Manolo's face turned cold, and he also stopped.What the hell are they doing?

He cautiously reached behind his back and made a cryptic gesture.

He considered that he might not be able to go back, this is to prepare people for an attack at any time.Carlos cannot be trusted after all.

"—I am going to announce His Majesty's message to all of you. The message is high above, and will resound through Barcelona in the witness of the sun, without any furtive negotiations."

Manolo glanced silently at the overcast sky.

The sun doesn't seem to agree with you, my friend.

But in any case, he decided to sit still and see what they really wanted to do.

Even if it was a treacherous sneak attack, they were already prepared.

"The people of Barcelona have shown strength, resilience and unparalleled courage over the past three months. His Majesty Carlos has the utmost respect for the heroic people of Barcelona."

"...What is he doing?" Many people were confused.

"Hey, don't be hypocritical!" Olanpu spat, "It's really full of respect, then kneel down and beg us for forgiveness."

"He is also very sorry. His Majesty's best soldiers have not yet been dispatched, and Barcelona has reached the end of its strength. You have proved your courage to God, but if you continue to resist, this beautiful city will be reduced to ashes. "

"You guys worked hard. Unfortunately, not all resistance works - as the fate of Barcelona more than 100 years ago proved."

Many people gritted their teeth secretly.

"Everyone! His Majesty the King feels very sad. Such an excellent nation has lived under the oppression of the Madrid royal family for so long. This is inhumane treatment."

The cardinal's voice was deep but penetrating, with a kind of bewitching magic: "And His Majesty is merciful. He sent me to tell everyone that he is willing to forgive Barcelona-we are willing to stop attacking this city. City."

"What?" Everyone looked at each other in surprise.

"Don't be too happy. The next step is the key point." Olanpu said coldly.

Sure enough, the cardinal paused for a moment and continued, "We will withdraw our troops on very, very simple terms."

"You only need to hand over one person-yes, one person. Hand over, and His Majesty will not attack Barcelona again."

There was a sudden silence in all the buildings facing the street.

A person?

Who is so important?

Everyone raised their hearts and listened to what he had to say next.

The cardinal looked around, satisfied with the effect.

"Everyone! Such a stubborn, fearless, and respectable city is entitled to tell a cheap, vicious lie."

"A woman - you think that woman is the goddess of fortune in Barcelona, ​​that she brings prosperity and good luck to Barcelona. But it is actually a complete fraud, and she has been lying to you!"

"...Asshole." Manolo suddenly understood what Carlos was going to do.

But in the current situation, it is impossible for him to interrupt the other party.The curiosity of all Barcelona people reached its peak at this time.

"That woman named Joy has never told you the truth - her last name is not Fernandez, much less Gaudi."

"She's a Bourbon, the princess of that criminal royal family in Madrid!"

Like a thunderbolt, this side of Diagonal Avenue suddenly fell into a dead silence.

Everyone froze in place.

"...Damn it." Olanpu murmured.

Vincent turned to look at her in horror: "Hey, aren't you Spaniards..."

"Shut up!" Olanpu glared at him viciously.

A childish voice suddenly sounded: "Mom, so Miss Gaudi is actually a princess!"

"Hush—" the mother nervously hugged her daughter into her arms and covered her mouth.

"As I said just now, His Majesty Carlos never wanted to hurt the great people of Barcelona. He respected the people with backbone, the noble and oppressed people. Guys, we actually have the same enemy - the Bourbon royal family in Madrid!"

"Come on, compatriots in Barcelona, ​​don't forget your hatred! His Majesty Carlos solemnly promises that as long as you hand over that vicious woman, he will withdraw his troops to the north as soon as possible, and promise that no more shells will fall In this city."

Olanpu flung open the window and shouted out: "Don't listen to him! They won't keep their promises!"

"Everyone can see that Joey has been fighting for us!"

She shouted hoarsely, for fear that no one would hear: "Mr. Gaudi is gone, think how sad she must be! This is the most difficult time... If we defend her, then at least she has enemies in front of her, and there are enemies behind her." us!"

The voice could not be restrained from crying: "If we want to give up on her... then she is such a lonely little girl, with nothing behind her, and the enemy and us in front of her..."

"boom!"

A shot went off.

At the same time, Vincent threw her down under the window sill at a speed that no one could react.

"What are you doing?" Olanpu stared at Vincent tearfully.

Nothing happened.

"...I'm here to save you!" Vincent exclaimed angrily.

"But I'm in no danger."

It was a loud shot.

"I know! I'm not blind!" Vincent replied bitterly.

The shot was to stop the commotion caused by Olanpu's words.

The cardinal laughed loudly: "Well said, how pitiful! Then let me ask you, where is she now?"

When Ada heard his words, she almost went crazy in the temporary headquarters in the building facing the street.

What about Her Highness?

Everyone also looked at each other in blank dismay.No one knows where Joey went.

"I'll tell you a little secret. His Majesty Carlos did a little experiment—he told that little secret to that woman a little earlier." The cardinal said slowly.

"The result? Now she's gone—because she knows her deception has been exposed, she's scared, she's running away!"

"Let's take a guess. Did she go out to sea in a hurry? It doesn't matter. His Majesty has arranged for someone to monitor the exit, and she will not be allowed to escape."

"Or, is she hiding somewhere? In this case, it will be up to our friends in Barcelona to find her."

"Or……"

"Are you looking for me?" A crisp voice suddenly came from the middle of Diagonal Street.

Everyone looked up in amazement——

The slender girl was wearing an incomparably gorgeous rose red dress. The fluffy skirt was inlaid with complicated lace, gemstones and agates, which seemed a bit too cumbersome——

She was leaning forward, struggling to pull the hem of her skirt to get out of the low underground pipe maintenance opening.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Even the cardinal was stunned for a moment.How...how did she appear from there?

Joey straightened the hem of her skirt as if no one was there, and turned her back to the southeast side.

That was half of the city belonging to Barcelona, ​​full of her friends and comrades in arms.

She glanced up.

The northwest side occupied by the enemy at the moment is in that direction—the most beautiful church should have been built originally.

That church existed only in her memory.

She smiled faintly, and turned her eyes to the cardinal: "Okay, here I come. ——It's your majesty's turn to keep his promise."

She paused every word, "Now, retreat."

The cardinal was stunned for a moment before he recovered his voice: "Uh, okay..."

"Your Highness!" A young voice with a crying voice suddenly came from behind Joey.

Joey froze.

The voice sounded a little familiar, but I couldn't remember who it was.She didn't dare to turn her head, fearing what she would see when she turned her head, which would make her lose the courage she had finally mustered up.

But at the next moment, a "whoosh" volleyed across the sky——

She doesn't need to look back at all to see.

Over the building in front of me, the red and white Burgundy cross flag was pierced by an arrow.

In a blink of an eye it started to burn.

Another voice shouted from behind: "Your Highness! He said you are the princess of some evil royal family in Madrid..."

"We both know it's not!"

Joey thought silently in his heart, er, he was actually right.

"—You will always be our Royal Highness Rose of Barcelona!"

The author has something to say: Joey: Well, although it is a bit embarrassing to climb out of the plumbing maintenance hole in a fantasy princess outfit... But at least I came on time than the author, right?