Sur ma peau

May we meet in a place where there is no darkness.

——"1984"

"A nearby farmer came to tell me that they heard gunshots last night." The mayor of the town where the castle is located visited early in the morning. A man in his forties, wearing a more English-style simple dress, without family marks Zhang's traces do not seem to be of noble origin.Behind him was a farmer in rough clothes, shy and stooped, but after the mayor finished speaking, he immediately added: "There is also a dead horse."

Minos glanced over, and the farmer immediately shut up.

"I need to see Lord Sewell," said the mayor.After the founding of the Republic, it was forbidden to use the old title, so the mayor also changed his name to Yabofika.At this moment when everyone is eager to get rid of the relationship with the royal family and nobles, it is considered courageous to come to visit early in the morning.

Provence, which once belonged to the territory of Abafica, was divided into several parts in the previous administrative division, but it did not affect the local administrators.When she was an earl, Abfika was not very concerned about the taxation of the territory, and let the people choose capable people to manage it themselves, without paying taxes to the lord's private individuals. After the implementation of the New Deal, this group of administrators continued without change. .People who remember their kindness in difficult times are rare.

But in the middle of the night last night, the man started to have a fever, and the fever rose several times. It was not stabilized until this morning, and he fell asleep again after taking medicine and light porridge.Before Minos came down, he filled the fireplace in the bedroom with new pine logs, which kept the room at a comfortable temperature, and he would not feel cold even in his nightgown.

The castle is a building from several centuries ago. Its appearance is still simple and old-fashioned, but its interior is a popular decoration of the upper class. Comfortable light colors, woolen tapestry with the royal family and Abafika personal badges, surrounded by brass candelabrums, famous marble sculptures, because the attendants are restricted in range of activities, one person comes in a tall cabinet The charcoal stove has been extinguished without anyone adding charcoal, and the temperature is not much higher than that outside.Therefore, even if people were awake, Minos did not intend to pay attention to their request.So he said formulaically: "Sorry, no visits are accepted now."

"According to the Constitution, you have no right to restrict the freedom of Mr. Sewell before you have been convicted." The top hat in the mayor's hand was slightly deformed, but he still tried to maintain a peaceful tone.

The mayor probably doesn't know about the abolishment of the 91 Constitution. In a marginal area like Provence, it is common to be uninformed. Now the arrest and sentencing by the conspirators trial court does not even require any evidence, as long as the accusation enough to convict.Minos was considering whether they should be thrown out, and from the upstairs viewing platform came Jabofika's voice, nasal with sickness.

"Minos, is there a visitor?"

While speaking, he walked down the fan-shaped stairs on the left side of the hall, wearing a white fur cloak, which was a bit of self-knowledge.

"Good day, my lord." The mayor bowed and saluted. The peasants behind him almost knelt on the ground when they saw the lord, but Minos stretched out his hand and pushed him aside to prevent someone from coming forward to help him.

"Good day, gentlemen." Abafica nodded to the two, and extended her hand to Minos.

Minos took his hand naturally, the skin not covered by the fur was tinged with cold air, only the palm was still warm, and he glanced at the two of them, "Go to the reception room to talk." Although he hadn't had time to click The fireplace is also more comfortable than the hall.

The guards of the gendarmerie brought hot water and tea, but there was no refreshment. After drinking something, the mayor greeted a few words politely. Since Minos didn’t say anything extra, it was the cowardly farmer who opened the door. Chatterbox, from the weather to the harvest in the field, with the neighbor's cattle, the pretty waitress in the town coffee shop, who's boy and who's boy are jealous of her...

The thick Provencal accent could only make out the general content. Minos wanted him to shut up several times, but seeing that Jabofika was interested in listening, he dismissed the idea.It was not until near lunch that the farmer left with him at the urging of the mayor.

"When are you going back to Paris?" Jabofika asked after seeing off the visitors.Losing the secret thread in Paris, it took some time for the new channel to be established. The words of the farm informant seemed to be chatty, but they contained a lot of information, which was enough to prove that what Minos said last night was true.

The dragoons that had been handed over to Shion shouldn't have reported to him anymore, but Shion had made redundant arrangements, so he couldn't have an accident in the territory, otherwise Minos and his gendarmerie squad would not be able to leave Provence safely.

"The Supreme Court does not accept cases during the New Year's holiday." Minos said calmly, and led Yabofika back to the room. The snowy winter day is not suitable for people who have just recovered from a fever. Besides, he has other arrangements. .

"How long is the court's New Year's holiday according to the Republican calendar?"

"20 days, starting from last night." Minos said that starting from last night, he no longer needs to perform official duties, but a personal behavior.

An individual's subjective behavior of bringing this person into his own protection scope.Last night, he couldn't fall asleep at all. As soon as he closed his eyes, nightmares came one after another, the missed bullets, the slowly spreading blood, and the heavy and dull sound of the body falling from the horse's back.

The power changes and the demons dance wildly. Without real power, it means being slaughtered by others. The so-called equality and justice have become empty jokes. How many people in the parliament are waiting for the prince who has released the military power to throw himself into the trap. The quagmire he foresaw at the beginning, but now he can't do it Stand by.

The gendarmerie removed the vigilance from everyone that day, and set up defenses in the castle as guards, and the aide commanded a small number of servants to prepare for the coming New Year.Minos left the castle after lunch, and Abefica went to the castle to visit his nephew, Louis Charles, who came from Paris.

The boy under the care of the eldest princess Marie Theresia has not yet learned how to separate, and his emotions have gradually stabilized around familiar relatives. Although he is a little pale and weak, he has revealed the vitality he should have at his age. When the door came, he couldn't sit still and ran to open the door.Thearesia seemed to be teaching him Latin, and her eyes turned red when she saw Abfika.

"You rest for a while, I'll teach." In order to prevent her from crying, Jabofika took the book from her hand and asked casually, "What have you learned?" Queen Mary passively resisted the rules of raising princes and princesses in Versailles , and bringing their children into the Petit Trianon Palace to raise them personally, caused their patience, but they were more intimate and sincere.Unlike him, he was alienated from his brothers, hated and jealous.They still have hope, and he is just a monster cultivated in the old days, a weapon used to erect kingship to frighten the people.

"It's just the beginning." Theresa replied with a sob.

"Recently, I will arrange for you to leave and come back when the situation is stable." Tears cannot solve any problems. In the current world, people must be independent and strong.

Two days later, Minos returned to the castle in the evening, took another person, walked straight through the hall and corridors, and entered the main dining room with the portrait of St. Michael.The New Year's main course is served on a silver plate with a family crest, as if guessing that Minos will bring guests back, five tableware is spread on the table, and gem-encrusted knives and forks are lined up on a clean white napkin superior.

One big and two young members of the royal family are waiting for them.

"Good evening, the journey has been exhausting." Jabofika said to the new face in the castle.

Provence was not harmed by drought and turmoil, and it is also a place rich in perfume, essential oil and wine. Some private merchant ships bypassed the British sea blockade against France, entered the Bay of Lion through the Mediterranean Sea, and docked at the Port of Saint-Louis. trading activities.The younger brother of Minos who has lived overseas for a long time, the youngest son without a title, owns his own fleet, mixes with other merchant ships, and enters the port of Provence together.From Avignon to and from the port, plus waiting for someone, you can almost calculate the return time.

After twelve o'clock, when the castle's fireworks were lit, the carriage that came back with Minos drove out of the castle without a sound, leaving only Minos and Jabofika in the banquet hall.

In fact, he could have come back earlier, but it took him some time to find a gift after waiting for Aiagos' boat.

"What are you looking for?" Aiagos finally realized after turning half a circle in the market at the port.

"Golden iris."

The national flower of France, the symbol of the royal family.

"The royal family is finished, who will plant—" Aiagos silently swallowed the last few words, turning into vague syllables. "That thing." The king and queen are done playing, but right now, it's very obvious who the flowers are going to be given to.

His Royal Highness the Great Prince who stayed in the castle of the territory, Minos' lover - Aiagos is still skeptical about this. Based on what he knows about his elder brother, it is hard to imagine that he will like the cold personality destined to be lonely. Someone, it is possible to be interested, but it is not a good interest.

"I'll get it for you." He curled his lips and said, "Is there anything else you want?" It's not a problem that can be solved with money and strength.

"No," Minos said.

"Don't give me any good things, why are you so stingy, and you're not as poor as before." Aiagos muttered as he entrusted Minos to write down, and managed to trick back a person who didn't dislike the bad character of his elder brother. , don't coax a little, sooner or later you have to break up.

"To shut up."

The golden iris, a symbol of freedom and light.

And, desperate love.

After Aiagos ordered his sailors, half an hour later, someone came back with a bouquet of flowers tied with ribbons. In Provence, people are not as scrupulous as Paris, but they cultivate and sell beautiful flowers at will. flowers.

"I just need to take the two little ones away?" Although he hardly stayed in France, it doesn't mean that Aiagos knew nothing. The merchants were always well-informed. His eldest prince is the serious concern of those in power at present.

"He won't leave France at this time." The news from Paris was transmitted to Minos through the carrier pigeons. The method of communication inspired by Yabo Fica was finally used.

The iris flower, worth only a few sou, was placed on Yabofika's bedside as a New Year's gift.By daybreak, they would be preparing to return to Paris to face their war.

From the first meeting on New Year's Eve in 89, plus today, they have known each other for four full years.

"Won't you dance with me?" Minos said suddenly.

"Then, do I have the honor to invite you to dance with me, sir?" Yabofika lowered her head, palms up, and made an invitation gesture. This time Minos did not refuse, and put her hand into his.

There is no music, no guests at the New Year's Ball, and the first dance with the person in front of you is based on feeling and tacit understanding.

Maybe the last one.

If you lose, you will go to hell together; if you win, you will have the separation of powers, politics and law.