Chapter 31: Lying Down and Getting Shot

  "Oh heavens, that bewildered expression of yours, don't you remember me? My heart is bleeding, it hurts so much! It's as if a sharp dagger has pierced my heart deeply! I'm so heartbroken, knowing that since the day I met you, I've been thinking of you and looking forward to seeing you again. Today, the merciful Lord pitied my misfortune and allowed us to meet once more, but unexpectedly, you don't remember me at all! If only I had known this would happen, I'd rather not have had this reunion."

  Shocked, too shocked! Have we met before?

  But are all French people like this, greeting each other after meeting only once? If it were relatives and friends, wouldn't that be even more exaggerated?

  The most passionate and uninhibited way to greet in France that I can imagine is, while undressing, kissing, and rolling onto the bed.

  "Miss, your eloquence is truly remarkable! Your words are as abundant as the scripts of Constantinople's Grand Theater, and your grammar is almost on par with that of a first-rate poet! Your tone rises and falls with passion! Your voice is filled with emotion! This is clearly a natural gift, combined with the results of training under a renowned master. I dare say, if Miss has an interest in developing her skills as a playwright, her future prospects will be boundless! Surpassing even the gods of ancient Greek drama, Pan - this may be a bit exaggerated, but in this era, I believe that as long as Miss makes an effort, she can absolutely stand at the pinnacle and look down on everyone! So, who are you?"

  "Have you really forgotten me?" The girl with a dagger stuck in her chest asked again, seemingly unbothered.

  Silence is golden, I think this is probably the best way to respond!

  As expected, her eyes flashed with a hint of anger. If one didn't pay close attention, it would be easily masked by the smile she revealed: "Did I mistake you?"

  Nonsense! I've been fighting in Poland for several months before!

  "Oh? Is that so? Then I am truly sorry for my mistake. Handsome foreign prince, please allow me to introduce myself." The French woman lifted the excessively ornate hem of her skirt with one arm as she curtsied and slightly swung it outwards, revealing a dazzling white petticoat underneath. With her eyelids slightly raised, her amber-colored eyes were filled with charm. "I, Constance Fran?oise Marie d'Orléans, daughter of the Duke of Orléans, the King's trusted advisor and Lord High Chancellor, goddaughter of the Archbishop of Paris, cousin of Prince de Condé, Minister of War for the Kingdom, niece of the noble King of Castile, and also sister of the Sun King, Louis XIV."

  A string of titles that are too long and too awesome, all meaning one thing: my dad is a gangster, my younger male cousin is a gangster, my uncle is a gangster, the whole family are gangsters, and my older male cousin is an even bigger gangster! And he's also a solar gangster!

  It's so elegant to introduce oneself right away, such refined behavior and etiquette! I just don't get it, why did this become a phrase that means "to show off one's wealth and power" in the past... Hmm, is it because I'm now living in an imperialist and feudal society? Or maybe it's because Li Gang only revealed his own father's identity without mentioning his relatives like seventh aunt or eighth auntie?

  Forget it, don't think about it anymore.

  "Excuse me, madam, I think I know you. Where have we met before?" Constance, who had many affairs at home, turned her interest to other men's wives.

  "I am the Countess of Constantinople, and also the daughter of the Earl of Marseille Chambord. However, I now bear the surname Leonidas, and I am the mistress of the Sea Drifting Merchant Association. The Mademoiselle of the Duke of Orléans has seen me before, possibly because the Duke of Orléans had business dealings with our association, so she may have some impression of me."

  The duchess's daughter, Constance, raised an eyebrow and smiled as she circled around Wendell: "A trade association? Who would go to such a place, madam? I recall your beautiful face being at the grand ball in Marseille! Do you remember the twice-yearly Provence Earl's dinner party? It was there. In that joyful place, I knew many nobles who were taken by you to happiness and still yearn for your charm and captivating dance."

  "Is the annual dinner party hosted by the Count of Provence a place where people indulge in unbridled pleasure? I usually attend for official business, and if it weren't for the duke's daughter, I wouldn't have known!" The married woman covered her red lips with a small fan, feigning a look of genuine surprise.

  "I think it's because the Countess often leaves with other nobles early. Every time the banquet is held until late at night, many colorful fireworks will be set off there! Ah, on the nights when the fireworks bloom, that place is not only full of joy, but a paradise." Constance stepped forward, her spirit soaring.

  Wendy put away the small fan in her hand, unwilling to show weakness: "The Duchess is indeed full of energy, able to play around, make friends at banquets, and must have a wonderful and enchanting time on nights in Marseille. Unlike me, who is busy with official duties all day, even when attending banquets, I have to return home early to deal with the accumulated trivial matters!"

  "Is that so? Then why is it that the name of your wife is on everyone's lips in Marseille? Even at the court of Paris, they know that there is a beautiful courtesan in Marseille."

  "It's truly astonishing, if the Duchess returns to Marseille again, please thank those gentlemen who overpraised me on my behalf, I myself didn't know that besides being a Constantinople countess and a mistress of the sea, I also had the reputation of a socialite, but I'm curious what kind of people are in the Duchess's usual social circle, since they can know things about me that even I don't know..."

  I really want to interject a sentence at this time, woman, you are just a piece of meat... The female countess of the Roman Empire, the mistress of the Chamber of Commerce, and a piece of meat... The kind that is plump and juicy. However, looking at this battlefield with no smoke but full of murderous intent, I decided to remain silent, lest I get burned by the fire! Because this is just a war between women, from start to finish, not a single dirty word was said, yet every sentence revealed a meaning: you are a thorough and utter **bitch**, and an exceptionally **fucking** one at that.

  Sweat! What deep hatred is between these two people!

  "Instead of you going to thank the nobles in Marseille, there are a few guys here who can let Madame thank them. Please wait for a moment, I'll go find them!" The little French girl didn't forget to throw me a flirtatious glance as she left.

  But no one's wife is natural.

  "Wendell suddenly chimed in from beside him: 'Your Highness, where did you get acquainted with this duchess?'"

  "I've never seen it before." I'm telling the truth.

  "Haven't seen it before? If you haven't seen it before, then don't take it out on me, the innocent one who invited you for the first time. You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. Why make up an excuse like that." With a flick, Wendi unfolded the small fan in her hand and turned her head away, her face full of discontent.

  It's all my fault, wasn't Wendell the one who offended someone in Marseille?!

  I quickly washed our hands of the matter: "Since madam doesn't know her either, then we don't have to wait for them here."

  "That French duchess is a beauty, Your Highness is giving up just like that, don't you think it's a pity..."

  Hmm, it's so sour?

  Isn't this woman being jealous?

  This must be another one of those noblewomen's tricks to toy with the emotions of underage boys.

  "I've just driven off a pack of native dogs; if you think a few French wolves would be an improvement, I don't mind staying."

  The woman smiled at me and winked: "Then aren't you very tired? I didn't invite Your Highness here for this purpose. Alright, let's go to a quiet place, listen to some music, relax a bit, and then we'll head back home."

  We then went home, with the two words at the end making us seem like a married couple...

  We strolled around the outside, receiving many greetings from people. During this leisurely walk under the moonlight, we talked about France. Through my wife's introduction, I gradually gained a general understanding of the Palace of Versailles in France.

  At this moment, under the invitation of the old duke, more than a dozen music masters holding violins walked into the main hall of the mansion. This small orchestra composed of over ten people began to play beautiful melodies.

  The melody is beautiful, and even standing far away in the hallway outside the hall, you can hear it clearly. However, after listening to soft classical music for a long time, I always miss heavy metal rock music more, because this kind of violin and cello performance always makes me feel like something is missing - a passion, a passionate and stirring passion.

  At this time, the people who had just asked for peace finally found an opportunity to come up and chat. These people had discovered us as soon as I entered the old duke's mansion, but they all chose to temporarily avoid it like the old duke, leaving me and Wendi alone. It seems that they are very good at socializing, so I also need to muster up my spirit to deal with these high-ranking supporters of the Seofano family.

  Some come and some go, soon it's time for the solo performance. The solo performance is both a personal stage for the performer and a time for the audience to become familiar with the composer's personal style.

  First to appear, and the most highly anticipated. Today, the old duke's recommended performer is from Germany, named Johann Bachbel. The old duke introduced this artist with a high-pitched tone, giving him very high praise. I was chatting with others sentence by sentence, thinking it was just so-so, but when this performer started playing his instrument along with three other violinists, I realized I was wrong, and the notes flowing from the violin strings were both elegant and familiar, yet somehow, I couldn't remember what that piece of music was called!

  He waved his hand to interrupt the visitor's endless chatter, and this repeatedly rotating melody was really wonderful. When the performer stopped playing, I still had an aftertaste.

  Open your eyes, the little French girl Constance is back, this time she's not alone, behind her are really three French men around 24 or 25 years old, I also saw their departure caused dissatisfaction among the nearby noblewomen.

  Constance, with a hint of triumph, raised the corner of her mouth, as if it were an unconscious little movement: "Madam, your admirers, I have brought them all to you. This is Tyrena, this is Jean Harrispe, and this is Guy."

  She introduced them one by one from left to right. The three men stood in place with a look of astonishment on their faces, and after a moment's pause, they all reported their homes.

  Good heavens, all three are earls and all three are more or less relatives of Louis XIV!

  One of the three Frenchmen, whose name I have not yet recalled, was the first to speak up and said: "Madam, hearing your name is not as good as meeting you in person, your appearance surpasses your reputation!"

  "They say that Madame is matchless in beauty at Marseille's evening parties. Today, I see her and indeed it is true!" The second one hastened to speak up.

  "The other day, I had the good fortune to see your lovely face, and from then on, I couldn't forget it. Tossing and turning, I couldn't sleep at night, thinking about you day and night. So I took a boat from thousands of miles away in France to come to Constantinople just to see you. Now that my wish has been fulfilled, even if I die, I will have no regrets!" The third one, the one called Gui, I finally learned what sweet words are, listening to him made my skin crawl."

  "Thanks for reminding."

  Hopefully, November's Shin-chan won't disappoint... Will someone be rubbing it in, Shin-chan 14?

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