Chapter 624 For Love (4,000-word chapter, please vote for me)
The square of Notre Dame in Paris fell silent for a moment.
The ladies who originally planned to bid for the "first coupon" were stunned in place - who is this? He simply doesn’t play according to the routine!
Normally, everyone would increase their prices by one to two thousand or two to three thousand francs, gradually pushing the atmosphere to a climax. In the end, several wealthy young ladies who refused to admit defeat fought hard, and one of them, in a fit of enthusiasm, shouted an astonishingly high price, overwhelming all the opponents...
But at this time, someone immediately added more than 30,000, raising the price to a terrifying height of 40,000 francs!
In the square, everyone craned their necks and looked in the direction where "40,000 francs" was shouted. Most people could only see a black and white lace dress, while those in the front could see the face of the owner of the dress that was so beautiful that they forgot to breathe.
Archbishop Beaumont saw the situation cold and tried his best to wink at the priest responsible for presiding over the "bidding".
The latter coughed quickly, made the sign of the cross, looked at the crowd and said:
"Oh, this lady's piety enabled her to bask in the light of the Lord. Who else, then, would like to show her holy faith and soul to God?"
Still no one said anything.
In fact, there are still a few aristocratic ladies here who can afford 40,000 francs, but they are all hesitant.
Camelia's momentum in raising the price just now clearly means that she is determined to win at all costs. If she raises the price, she will probably add another ten thousand or twenty thousand francs. Will she follow or not?
It's too expensive if you follow her. If you don't follow her, it won't look like she's being outclassed. So, it’s better to show that you don’t intend to bid and let her go.
In fact, Camelia, this idiot, never thought about using any price increase tactics. She just heard that the "first love coupon" was very effective - last year, Miss Debray, who took it, got a proposal from her sweetheart after she returned home. Before that, the gentleman didn't seem to have much interest in her. interest.
So, in order to make the crown prince fall in love with her, she decided to "buy" this love coupon. Yes, she had never participated in any auction before. She just thought it was a purchase from the church, and based on last year's "transaction price" of more than 40,000 francs, she shouted out.
Unexpectedly, it unexpectedly produced a "scare" effect.
The priest who presided over the bidding tried all kinds of persuasion and talked eloquently for two or three minutes, but still no one participated in raising the price.
Archbishop Beaumont's heart bleeds. He had invested a lot of energy in promoting the Valentine's Day event before. He originally thought that the "first love coupon" would fetch a sky-high price, but he did not expect that it would be 5,000 francs lower than last year.
The priest on the stage couldn't delay any longer, and finally loudly announced that Camelia would receive the Lord's blessing.
With a grimace, Archbishop Beaumont took out a beautifully made love coupon, sprinkled holy water on it, prayed again, and then solemnly handed it to Camelia.
After the dust of the "first love coupon" settled, people flocked to the church door. There were more than a dozen priests selling love coupons there. Ladies who can't grab the first one can also buy a less powerful one - the cheapest one only costs 5 sous, the one personally blessed by the archbishop is only 3 francs, and the one sprinkled with holy water is 7 francs.
Camelia's face was flushed with excitement. She held the love coupon and prepared to find a secluded place in the church. According to the church's propaganda, she only needed to write the crown prince's name on the coupon, and God would be there. Will make him fall in love with her!
However, as soon as she got out of the crowd and came to the church corridor, she met two noble ladies. The person on the left wearing a dark pink tutu is the one who just bid 7,000 francs for the love coupon.
The two noble ladies stared at Camelia eagerly. The latter turned around and planned to go around them.
Unexpectedly, I heard the harsh voice of "Puffy Skirt":
"Ha! It's so ridiculous that a wild girl from Austria, who doesn't even have a title of nobility, shamelessly came to Notre Dame de Paris to buy the 'first love coupon'.
"Don't think that we don't know your dirty thoughts. Just by relying on this coupon, God will protect you and become the crown prince. Humph! Go ahead and dream!"
The aristocratic lady next to her had a look of shared hatred on her face and curled her lips and said:
"That's right! Even if you get the 'first love coupon', His Highness will not be able to like you, he will only find you disgusting!"
Camelia immediately lowered her head and nervously wanted to slip away quickly.
Seeing her timidity, "Puffy Skirt" became even more enthusiastic and stretched out her hand to block her face:
"40,000 francs, haha, it must be a huge sum of money for you, right? It's a pity to waste it.
"Let me tell you, only someone with a noble background like me can possibly interest His Highness, and there is no need for any coupons to help."
She was "humiliated" by Camelia's bid of 40,000 francs today, at least that's what she thought. At the same time, she is also the crown prince's crush. She came to compete for love coupons in order to make his highness favor her, but there are rumors in the Palace of Versailles that Camelia wants to become the crown prince's mistress. This made her angry and jealous.
"I...you...how could you...be like this..." Camelia was so anxious that she couldn't speak clearly, and tears kept rolling in her eyes.
"Puffy Skirt" pointed at Camelia and chuckled at the woman beside her:
"Look, she really knows how to pretend to be pitiful, as if we have bullied her. She must have used this trick to seduce His Highness in front of His Highness."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Austrian bitch, put away your ridiculous tears! I'm warning you not to write His Highness's name on this coupon, do you hear me?"
The two kept sarcastic. This is also the habit of the aristocrats of the Palace of Versailles. They consider themselves to be of noble birth, and they look down on those without noble titles, especially those from Austria, from the bottom of their hearts.
Moreover, this person they looked down on was very beautiful, could get close to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and today he had humiliated them in public. At this time, they just wanted to humiliate her to vent their anger.
Camelia just bowed her head and wiped tears in grievance:
"You... you... go too far..."
At this moment, Perna, who was holding a 7-franc love coupon in her hand, was walking from the other end of the corridor, but she felt that she heard a familiar voice. She immediately took a few steps back and turned to look at the crowd of more than ten people watching. place.
"Camelia?"
When she saw the long, slightly curly golden hair, she couldn't help but frown slightly, and then walked over quickly.
"There are at least hundreds of servants like you around Your Highness, but you are the only one who thinks you can..."
"Puffy skirt" was just saying that when he saw a tall woman wearing a dark green skirt standing between him and Camelia, even though she was a little angry:
"Damn it, get out of my way..."
However, when she saw clearly that the person coming was Perna, she took a half step back nervously:
"Miss Perna."
Although Perna was only from a minor noble family, she was the rumored chief mistress of the Crown Prince in the Palace of Versailles - His Highness valued her very much and even took her with him on the battlefield.
Perna glanced at Camelia who was crying and said to "Tutu Skirt" in a cold voice:
"Miss Heriot, what are you doing?"
"Miss Perna, I...well, I just remind this guy of low origin not to have any wishful thinking about His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
When Perna saw the love coupon held in Camelia's hand, she immediately understood the truth - she had just witnessed the latter's extravagant spending of money - although Camelia was her rival in love, She couldn't turn a blind eye to this situation. After all, she had experienced in the military camp and had seen big scenes. She immediately turned to Miss Heriot and said coldly:
"Really? Maybe I can help you ask for credit from His Highness and tell him that someone stopped his maid in public today, humiliated her origins, and asked her to stay away from you. I think His Highness the Crown Prince will definitely thank you for your kindness. , isn’t it?”
"No! Please don't do this!" Heriot was shocked and shook his head desperately, "I'm not..."
She raised her eyes to look at Perna, and when she saw that she was unmoved, she had to grit her teeth, lowered her head to Camelia and said:
"I apologize for what I just said, please forgive me."
The maid's tears instantly became more intense.
Perna gently stroked her back and said to Heriot:
"I hope this won't happen again."
After the two aristocratic ladies left in embarrassment, Perna pulled Camelia out of the crowd of onlookers. Seeing that the latter was still crying, she reluctantly turned around and entered the church. She randomly found a prayer room and opened the door. enter.
Her attention was all on the maid, and she didn't even see the guards in civilian clothes standing at the door of the prayer room.
The guards were familiar with her and Camelia, and thought they were invited by the crown prince, so they let them in.
Perna asked her love rival to sit down on the bench, wiped her tears with a handkerchief, and comforted her: "Don't be sad, they are just jealous of you. You are more beautiful than them, and you also got the first love coupon.
"Don't talk about those people, actually... In fact, even I am a little jealous of you. You know, jealousy can make people stupid..."
Camelia suddenly hugged her slender waist and choked with sobs: "Thank you, thank you, Miss Perna. If you hadn't appeared, I really don't know what I would have done..."
She said and lowered her head: "But they are right. I come from a humble background and should not have unrealistic thoughts about His Highness..."
At this moment, a person lying soundly asleep on the bench in the last row of the small prayer room was awakened by their voices.
The man took the Bible away from his face and rubbed his sleepy eyes. It was Joseph.
Speaking of which, I can't blame him. Reading the Bible is really too hypnotic. In addition, he read the report sent from the Caribbean a little late last night, and he fell asleep just now.
He was about to ask the priest if the Valentine's Day event was over, but suddenly he remembered that there was a girl's voice just now.
He poked his head out from the back of the bench and saw Perna and Camelia on the bench in the front row, with their backs facing him.
"..."
Joseph raised his hand to say hello to the two of them, but heard Perna say:
"You shouldn't think so. Everyone has the right to pursue their own love, especially a beautiful and lovely girl like you."
Joseph hesitated for a moment, feeling that they would think he was listening in the corner, so he slowly lay back on the bench.
"Thank you for your comfort." Camelia took a deep breath, as if she had made a lot of determination, and handed the love coupon in her hand to Perna, "Miss Perna, I know you also like Wang. Your Highness, and you are the one worthy of him
"This love coupon is given to you, I hope it can bring you the love you expect."
Perna looked at the expensive love coupon in surprise, pushed it back and said softly:
"This...how can I accept this? It's too precious. Moreover, you should stick to your love. I don't think His Highness will reject you."
Joseph suddenly opened his mouth wide. He seemed to have heard something he shouldn't have heard!
Camelia was obviously very surprised: "But, Miss Perna, don't you blame me for trying to steal His Highness from you?"
"Robbing?" Perna sighed, "Your Highness, how can he belong only to me?"
She looked at the maid and showed a helpless smile: "You also know that His Highness's wife can only be a princess. Even if he has me in his heart, I can only be his mistress at most...
"His Royal Highness is so perfect and full of charm. In fact, as long as I can always be by his side, it is already a gift from God. How can I expect to have him alone?"
Camelia hesitated for a while, finally raised her head, looked at her, and whispered:
"So, I can also..."
"This is your right," Perna nodded. "If His Highness likes you, then you should be by his side, take care of him, and bring him happiness and peace of mind.
"Of course, this doesn't seem fair to you, but we have to endure something for love.
"You see, our destinies are actually very similar. We are both attracted to a perfect soul and are willing to pay everything for it."
Perna didn't know why she said this to Camelia. It was probably because the feelings in her heart had been suppressed for too long, and the latter was the person who could best understand these feelings.
Camelia stood up and bowed to Perna:
"You are really... great. I finally understand why His Highness can't live without you."
Joseph already felt like his brain was going to shut down.
Are all girls in this era so generous?
Even if we leave this to the Eastern Empire, there will be at least dozens of episodes of palace fighting. It will take a lot of musk, love potions, etc., and you just talk about these things in such a friendly manner?
Ah, no, it seems that the person they are talking about is themselves!
These little girls are too...
Joseph was suddenly stunned. He always subconsciously regarded them as little girls, but in fact Perna seemed to be 19 years old, and Camelia was about to turn 18.
And I am already 17 years old this year and will soon be an adult.
He glanced at the muscles on his arms subconsciously. Even if they did develop something with them, it seemed normal...
Somehow, Joseph suddenly thought, if he had to choose between Perna and Camelia, who should he choose?
Both of them are top beauties, both have gentle and pleasant personalities, and they are both very kind to themselves.
Ah...what a difficult problem!
(End of chapter)