Elodie changed into a new outfit.
She changed into a slim-fitting robe with a skirt that reached her white heels, and the comfort level seemed obviously much higher than the tutu she had just worn when she and Anthony went out for a walk.
Qingdeng has not yet seen a pair of small and cute white velvet slippers on his palm-sized slender feet. This is the first time Qingdeng has seen these 19th century European women's slippers. The heels of the shoes even have a high heel design. When stepped on the ground, it will make a crisp "ta-la-ta-la" sound.
"Miss Angoulême, hello." Qingden briefly said hello to Elodie, then turned to look around, "Miss Angoulême, what are you doing here in the dining room? Angoulême Where are Monsieur and Miss Leroy?"
"I'm reading." Elodie smiled sweetly, "The light in the restaurant is the best, so I like to stay in the restaurant and read during the day."
"Grandpa, he is doing some work matters in his bedroom."
"Miss Leroy is cleaning the kitchen."
Qingden looked at the long table seat where Elodie was sitting just now. There was indeed an open book on the table.
With his good eyesight, Qingdeng saw that the pages of this book were printed with French words that were densely packed like tadpoles, which Qingdeng could not understand at all.
"Mr. Orange, are you out for a rest?" Elodie flashed her big eyes at Qingden several times.
"Well, that's right." Qingdeng smiled slightly, "My friends and I are a little thirsty, so we wanted to ask if there is any water."
"Ah, Mr. Orange, you came at just the right time." The smile on Elodie's face became even brighter, "Just now, Grandpa had already asked Miss Leroy to prepare the best for our family now. black tea and snacks to entertain you all."
"I'll ask Miss Leroy if the tea is ready."
After saying that, Elodie quickly walked to the long table, picked up a silver rattle, and shook it gently.
Ding bell~~
Qingdeng couldn't help but feel his ears ringing with the crisp and clear ringing sound of the bells, spreading in all directions.
As soon as the bell rang, a series of unhurried footsteps were heard coming straight towards Qingden, Elodie and the others - Leroy wiped his wet hands with the apron tied in front of him. He walked quickly to Elodie.
Elodie chattered a lot of French to Leroy.
Then Leroy also responded to Elodie in French.
Qing Deng knows absolutely nothing about French. The only French vocabulary he knows is "Bonjour" (hello).
So from Qingden's current perspective, seeing Elodie and Leroy speaking French to each other is no different from seeing two scientists discussing quantum mechanics - even though they know deep down that they are talking about human beings. language, but I still feel like they are saying some kind of magic spell.
After Leroy's words fell, Elodie nodded slightly and said something to Leroy. Then she saw Leroy returning along the original path from where he came and disappearing from Qingden's eyes.
"Miss Leroy said the black tea will be brewed soon." Elodie switched back to Japanese, "I have asked her to send the black tea and snacks to you as soon as she prepares the black tea."
Qingdeng bowed slightly and said "I am deeply grateful" to Elodie.
At this time, out of the corner of Qingden's eye, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a beautifully wrapped gift box placed on a small round table not far from him.
This gift box is completely Japanese style, both in terms of the box style and the packaging technique.
In such a European-style mansion, there is such a Japanese-style gift box... It's like wearing a French palace dress but with a sword on your waist. It's extremely abrupt and inconsistent.
Qingden couldn't help but feel a little curious about this gift box and asked Elodie:
"Ms. Angoulême, what is this gift box?"
Elodie turned to look at the gift box on the table: "Oh, this is the gift Grandpa is going to give to Mr. Bright at Mr. Bright's ball five days later."
"Mr. Bright?" Qingden repeated this name, which was quite unfamiliar to him, in a low voice.
Seeing the confusion on Qingdeng's face, Elodie smiled slightly, and then began to outline to Qingdeng who this "Mr. Bright" was.
Bright, whose full name is John Bright, is an Englishman who was one of the first foreign businessmen to land in Japan after Japan opened its doors.
Because he is an old-timer in the business world, and he is kind-hearted and likes to support younger people. Many people have been helped by him, so he is very popular and is very popular and respected in this Edo settlement.
In five days, it will be Brett's 60th birthday.
In order to properly celebrate his 60th birthday, Bright decided to hold a grand dance at his home on his birthday in five days. Most of the people in the Edo settlement received Bright's invitation to the party.
Anthony has some friendship with Brett, so he was naturally invited.
"Mr. Bright likes Japanese sake very much, and he drinks a lot." Elodie said slowly, "I heard that Mr. Bright drinks seven or eight bottles of sake every day.
.To satisfy his drinking needs, he purchases a large amount of sake every month from a wine merchant named Natsume Sohachiro."
"So grandpa did what he wanted and ordered a very expensive bottle of sake from Kyoto... which is this gift box."
"Grandpa plans to use this bottle of expensive sake as a birthday gift and present it to Mr. Bright at the banquet in five days."
Qingdeng nodded slightly: "I see..."
Qingdeng didn't know this Bright at all, nor did he care about him, so as soon as the name "Bright" appeared in Qingdeng's mind, it immediately drifted away like a floating cloud.
However, when he heard Elodie mention the title "Grandpa"... Qingden couldn't help but recall the scene of the dispute between Elodie and her grandfather Anthony that he had just witnessed in the study.
After Qingden hesitated for a moment, he whispered to Elodie:
"Ms. Angoulême, although it may be a bit presumptuous for an outsider like me to say this...but you and your grandfather should get along well and don't quarrel."
Elodie looked at Qingden blankly, then showed an apologetic wry smile.
"Mr. Orange, please allow me to apologize again for letting you see a very indecent scene in the study just now."
She stretched out her hands, gently lifted her robe, and bowed slightly to Qingdeng.
"Quite sorry."
"Grandpa and I have reconciled."
At this point, Elodie's apologetic smile turned into a smile that reminded people of the warm sunshine in spring.
"This is probably my daily life with grandpa."
"My grandpa and I often quarrel over trivial matters, and then we quickly make up."
"Grandpa and I had already reconciled when we first left the study."
"I'm very sorry for causing you to worry."
Qingdeng let out a long breath and smiled relievedly: "It's okay, as long as you and your grandfather reconcile."
"By the way, Miss Angoulême, you are really powerful."
Qingden cast an admiring look at Elodie.
"The words you just said in the study are still in my ears to this day."
"That's really good. I agree with your point of view."
Every word and every sentence Elodie said in the study to refute Anthony... resonated with Qingdeng.
Qingdeng has always insisted that one of the biggest absurdities in the world is that people are too harsh on good people, and then too tolerant of bad people.
Just like Elodie said just now - people like to use extremely harsh standards to hold good people to good people. As long as there is anything about good people that is not to their liking, they will criticize them. But when it comes to treating evil people
And he is always very tolerant. As long as those evil people do some good deeds, he feels that they are not so bad after all.
Therefore, after hearing that Elodie actually expressed such insightful thoughts and ideas that appealed to his taste, Qingden was not only pleasantly surprised, but also felt a bit of admiration for Elodie.
Elodie is only 12 years old this year.
In modern times, Elodie is only a sixth-grade elementary school student.
At the age of only a sixth-grade elementary school student, he can have such sharp conversation...it has to be admired.
Qingden's sudden compliment made Elodie smile shyly: "Those are just my humble opinions. I'll make you laugh, Mr. Tachibana."
"When I heard my grandpa commenting on Cat Monk and Fox Monk like this, I was so angry that I couldn't help but express all my thoughts and thoughts in one go."
"Now that I think about it carefully, I really shouldn't have..."
"How can you make such a fuss with your own family in front of the guests?"
"It's really unseemly and rude."
After saying that, Elodie folded her two delicate hands as white as green onion in front of her belly button, her face filled with shame, and she lowered her head in shame.
Looking at Elodie who looked ashamed, Qingden couldn't help but secretly sighed: Is this really a little girl who is only 12 years old this year...?
Elodie's current mood is slightly depressed due to self-blame... After Qingden thought for a moment, he decided to change the topic.
A topic that should cheer up Elodie.
"Ms. Angoulême, you really like the Cat Monk and the Fox Monk so much that you actually bought their paintings."
As soon as he finished speaking, the corners of Qingdeng's mouth twitched in an imperceptible arc.
Elodie, who is Mai Kinoshita's best friend, actually admires the cat monk and the fox monk... Qingden still has a sense of unrealistic absurdity.
Currently, there are so many people throughout Edo who worship the cat monk and the fox monk, and Elodie happens to be one of these people.
Should I say it's too much of a coincidence...or should I say it's too much of a fate...
Qingden took the initiative to switch to this topic in order to cheer up Elodie.
The effect was very significant - Elodie, who was feeling depressed just now, immediately became energetic.
"Well! I really, really respect the Cat Monk and the Fox Monk!" Elodie raised her head, her eyes twinkling, and her white cheeks began to glow with a rosy luster.
As early as in the study just now, before the argument broke out between Elodie and Anthony, Qingden noticed that Elodie seemed to have the characteristic of "when she is excited or agitated, her face will turn red."
Just like now - after mentioning the person she loved and admired, Elodie was in a state of excitement, and her fair little face turned white and rosy at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"When I first learned about the deeds of Cat Little Monk and Fox Little Monk, I respected them very much!"
"I asked Miss Leroy to help me find all the paintings related to Cat Monk and Fox Monk that I could find on the market."
"I wanted to put all the paintings I collected in a place where I can often see them, so I argued with my grandfather for a long time before finally convincing him to let me hang these paintings in a few places at home where I often stay.
place."
Qingden raised his eyebrows: "Do you have other paintings?"
Elodie nodded vigorously: "I have a total of 4 paintings of Cat Monk and the others."
"Two pairs are hanging in my bedroom, one is hanging in the study, and the other is hanging right here in the dining room."
After saying that, Elodie stretched out her hand and pointed to her left front.
Qingteng looked in the direction pointed by Elodie and saw that there was indeed an ukiyo-e hanging on the southwest wall of the restaurant. Because the hanging location was too remote, Qingteng had never discovered this painting before.
Qingnobu walked quickly to the side of the ukiyo-e in three steps and carefully looked at the contents of the painting, and then the expression on his face became strange again.
The composition of this painting is quite simple - two men in black wearing black fox masks and black scarves stand side by side on the roof of a densely packed row of houses. Behind them are the dark night and
The full moon hanging high in the night sky.
Elodie walked to Qingdeng's side unexpectedly.
"Mr. Orange, let me tell you a little secret." Elodie lowered her voice and whispered to Qingden in a mysterious tone, "I have a very strange fate with the cat monk and the fox monk."
"Huh?" Qingdeng raised his eyebrows, "How do you say this?"
"I have seen the Cat Monk and the Fox Monk with my own eyes." Elodie, with a touch of pride and excitement between her brows, straightened out her flat chest, "Just last month, that was the first time the Fox Monk appeared in public.
That night, I saw with my own eyes the Cat Monk and the Fox Monk running across the roof of the house opposite my house."
Elodie described in great detail the origin, process and outcome of her first encounter with the Cat Monk and the Fox Monk.
After listening to Elodie's story quietly, Qingden couldn't help but laugh, and for a moment he didn't know what kind of expression he should show.
On the night when he first appeared in the public eye as the "Fox Monk"... that is, the night when he agreed to go with Mai Kinoshita to deal with the group of people who wanted to use the sword to test the sword, he and Mai Kinoshita fought for
After getting rid of the sudden appearance of the officials from the execution office, they indeed entered the Edo settlement where the houses were generally grand, making it easier for them to escape. At the same time, Kinoshita Mai was very familiar with the terrain here.
Qingden never expected that... when he and Kinoshita Mai were running away from the government's pursuers in this settlement, Elodie, who suddenly woke up from her sleep, would see them escaping in a hurry.
"How about it? Aren't Cat Monk and Fox Monk and I very destined?" Elodie said in a triumphant tone, "I suddenly woke up at that time, and then I happened to see the man running across from our house.
The little fox monk and the little cat monk who passed by.”
"As long as I wake up earlier or later, or go to the window earlier or later, I won't have the chance to see them."
Qingdeng nodded lightly: "Well...it is indeed very destined..."
After finishing speaking, Qing Deng silently added in his heart:
——Miss Angoulême, you are indeed very close to the cat monk and the fox monk...the former is your best friend, and the latter is standing by your side now.
After proudly talking about her "indissoluble bond" with Fox Monk and Cat Monk, Elodie seemed to suddenly remember something, and the smile on her face paused.
Immediately afterwards, she glanced at Qingdeng hesitantly.
"Mr. Tachibana, can I...ask you a few questions?"
"Huh?" Qingden signaled Elodie with his eyes: Just ask.
Elodie took a deep breath: "I have always heard that Cat Monk is a very beautiful girl, and Fox Monk is a very handsome boy... Is this true?"
"If this is suspected of leaking secrets and it's inconvenient to tell outsiders, then just pretend I didn't ask."
Although she tried her best to suppress it, there was still a bit of excitement and expectation in Elodie's tone.
Especially when she said the sentence "Fox Monk is a very handsome young man", Elodie's tone revealed a very obvious look of expectation.
Aoto is the "Sanchai" Tongxin who specializes in public security in Edo. Elodie must be eager to get some information about her idol that she didn't know before from Aoto, who is an insider.
That's why you asked Qingdeng like this.
A very beautiful girl and a very handsome boy... The corners of Qingdeng's mouth twitched again imperceptibly.
It is not difficult to guess that these rumors are probably made up by some people to satisfy their own imagination.
"The cat monk and the fox monk are a yellow-faced grandma and a bald middle-aged man" and "the cat monk and the fox monk are a beautiful girl and a beautiful boy" - it is obvious which of the two is more popular and which one is more in line with the heroic fantasy of the common people.
.
But I have to say that this rumor turned out to be correct by mistake.
Cat Monk is indeed a beautiful girl, and she has a top-notch face and figure.
Fox Monk is indeed a handsome boy... Although it seems a bit narcissistic to say so, Qingdeng does feel that his face can barely bear the adjective "handsome".
It was naturally impossible for Qingden to tell Elodie the truth, so he could only give a very official answer:
"Ms. Angoulême, we in Edo do not know much more about the cat monk and the fox monk than the common people in the city."
"Until now, we have not completely determined the genders of Cat Monk and Fox Monk."
"So what you just said about beautiful girls and handsome boys... is probably just nonsense spread by people who want to do something good."
"This, that's it..." Elodie pursed her lips in frustration.
Just at this time--
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom...
Very suddenly there was a very rhythmic knocking at the entrance.
Qingden and Elodie both raised their gazes and looked in the direction of the entrance.
"Huh? Why would someone knock on the door at this time... (French)" Elodie subconsciously muttered to herself in her native language, walked back to the long table in the restaurant, and picked up the silver rattle.
, shook it heavily a few times.
Leroy appeared in front of Qingden and Elodie again.
Elodie said something to Leroy in French.
Leroy nodded, then walked quickly but politely through the corridor on the left side of the restaurant and went straight to the entrance of the house.
Immediately afterwards, the sound of the door opening, footsteps, voices... these sounds reached Qingdeng's ears one after another.
After a while, Qingdeng heard a "click" sound - this was the sound of the door closing.
Leroy returned to Qingdeng and the others' sight while carrying a rather exquisite-looking wooden box.
As soon as she came back, she started exchanging "magic curses" with Elodie.
Qingden couldn't understand what they were talking about at all, so he could only observe their expressions. He noticed that Elodie suddenly burst into laughter when she saw the wooden box in Leroy's hand.
Elodie pointed to the long table in the restaurant next to her, and then she saw Leroy put the wooden box in her hand on the long table, and then walked away - she should have gone back to continue her work.
Already.
As soon as Leroy left, Elodie immediately jumped towards the wooden box as if she couldn't wait.
"Miss Angoulême." Qingden, who followed Elodie to the wooden box, asked in confusion, "What is this?"
Elodie did not immediately answer Qingden's question.
Instead, he first showed a sly smile to Qingden, and then slowly opened the wooden box with a "click".
Inside the wooden box, there is a very finely crafted wooden Western rapier.
Qingdeng's pupils shrank slightly: "Stab the sword...?"
"This is my favorite sword." A hint of childlike smile appeared in Elodie's eyes, "I accidentally broke the tip of the sword while practicing the sword a while ago, so my grandpa commissioned one of his skilled carpenters.
Living friends help me repair my sword."
"Finally, the repairs were completed and sent back."
Sword training... Qingden keenly captured this word from Elodie's words that made him even want to ignore it: "Miss Angoulême, can you swordsmanship?"
"Well, I have been practicing swordsmanship since I was a child."
Elodie raised her hand and stroked the stabbing sword in the box with a very gentle movement, a trace of nostalgia and reminiscence hung between her brows.
"I have loved Robin Hood since I was a child...Ah, Mr. Tachibana, you probably don't know who Robin Hood is."
"Robin Hood is a very famous thief in various European countries who likes to rob the rich and give to the poor, and performs chivalrous acts of justice."
"I like this legendary thief very much."
"Mr. Orange, don't laugh when I say it."
Elodie smiled sheepishly, her whole face turned red, she drew her right hand to her chest, raised her index finger and fiddled with the three-strand braid hanging on her chest in circles.
"I have always dreamed of becoming a capable thief like Robin Hood, who is willing to help weak thieves."
"So when I was old enough to learn swordsmanship, I pestered my... family and asked them to help me find a swordsmanship teacher."
"Even now that I have moved to Japan with my grandfather, I have never slacked off in practicing swordsmanship."
"In the beginning, in addition to swordsmanship, I originally wanted to learn archery, because Robin Hood is a magic arrow who can 'shoot another arrow that has hit the bull's-eye and split the arrow in two.'
hand."
"But because my family is very opposed to me learning archery, they think archery is useless in this era except for hunting and fun. Learning swordsmanship can be used for self-defense anyway, so I can only quit.
The next best thing is to concentrate on learning swordsmanship."
After saying that, Elodie stretched out her hand and picked up the bayonet in the box.
Elodie's beloved sword is made entirely of wood, so it is very light. Even a little girl like her, whose body bones have not yet grown, can easily lift and wave it.
"The man who helped me repair the sword is really good." Elodie looked at the stabbing sword in her hand seriously for a few times, then stabbed the sword in the air in front of her. "The repair is as good as new."
At this time, Elodie didn't notice that Qingden beside her was showing a look of laughter.
Do you dream of becoming a grand thief... Qingnobu finally understands why Kinoshita Mai and Elodie can become very close friends.
Although the two of them seem to have very different external personalities, one is introverted and shy, the other is lively and cheerful, but their inner thoughts are quite close.
Qingden took a few glances at Elodie's movements of swinging the sword, and his brows suddenly raised in surprise: "Miss Angoulême, your movements are quite powerful."
Qingdeng's words were not flattering Elodie.
Elodie's sword-swinging movements are indeed quite powerful, and the sword path is very stable. For a little girl who is only 12 years old this year, this is already a particularly sharp skill.
Hearing Qingdeng's praise... Elodie did not show any joy.
Instead, he looked depressed.
"Mr. Orange, you are so complimentary."
"I'm still far away."
"Whether it's in terms of skill or character... I'm far behind."
Speaking of this, Elodie seemed to recall some bad memories. She stared straight at the rapier in her hand, her face darkening.
"If you don't have the courage to confront others... then it's useless to hone your skills to the best of your ability."
"I'm really lacking this kind of courage right now."
Elodie raised her head and looked at Qingden, with a dry smile that was somewhat self-deprecating on her face.
"Although I keep saying that I 'dream to be a thieves like Robin Hood,' I don't even have the courage that an ordinary person should have..."
"I'm too timid."
"Not to mention seeing others coming towards me with bright weapons... Just hearing others yelling at me would often make me shrink into a ball with fear, and I wouldn't even dare to move..."
Having said that, Elodie flattened her lips as if she wanted to relieve her depressed mood, and waved the rapier in her hand casually, disturbing the air around her, as if she were shooing away the flies around her.
Suddenly, without any warning - Elodie's body suddenly paused, and then her eyes lit up.
"Yes, why did I forget..." After muttering at a volume that she couldn't hear clearly, Elodie excitedly cast her gaze back to Qingden.
"Mr. Orange, can you practice swordsmanship with me for a while now?"
"Huh?" Qingden was startled, and then he asked Elodie with his eyes: Miss Angoulême, why do you so suddenly ask me to practice swordsmanship with you now?
Elodie, who understood the meaning of Qingden's eyes, slightly curved her lips.
"There's no special reason."
"It's just...just a whim."
"Mr. Orange, if you don't want to, then forget it..."
Qingdeng frowned slightly and pondered.
He subconsciously wanted to refuse Elodie who suddenly made such an inexplicable request.
After all, he still has the task of "monitoring the snack house", but he doesn't have much time to play with Elodie here.
However... after seeing Elodie's current expression, the words of rejection that had already rushed to Qingdeng's lips could not be said.
Although she tried her best to put on a smile that said "I don't care", Elodie's eyes still looked at Qingdeng with vague hope and expectation.
Mr. Tachibana, please accompany me to practice swordsmanship for a while - Elodie almost wrote this line directly on her face.
*******
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Today is the last day of this month. If you still have monthly votes, be sure to vote for this book! (Leopard Head Cries.jpg)
Please vote for me monthly! Please vote for recommendation!
Some of the contents in this book that you think I have mentioned in a few words are actually very substantial and important foreshadowing. For example, I will ask you now: Do any of you remember that it appeared in a certain chapter in the previous article and in this chapter?
Natsume Sōhachiro? You must have ignored this person.
I suggest that everyone pay more attention to this chapter and read it carefully. Those who are interested can find a notebook and write down some of Elodie’s seemingly strange words and actions in this chapter, or simply add a bookmark to this chapter.
Come back and read more about this chapter when you have nothing to do in the future, it will be useful.
This chapter has been completed!