The Law of the Silent Gentleman

"You...? Invite me...?"

Giuliano was speechless. According to the plot of "Madelaine and Lorenzo", the two protagonists met on the riverside. Since Madeleine is a foreigner, Lorenzo recommended himself as her guide, and the two traveled together in Vanessa. Had a great time. But Giuliano was born and raised in Vanessa, so he didn't need any guides... Is Enzo determined to continue this scene?

Then? How did Madeleine answer Lorenzo?

"I...uh... I'm new to Guibao, and I'm not very familiar with the local customs and customs. Your appearance is just like the timely rain on a spring night, which makes me feel how lucky I am."

He took Enzo's arm. Enzo turned to him, eyes almost crescents behind the mask. Is he laughing? Although Enzo is very good at hiding his emotions, but after getting along with him for a long time, Giuliano can always feel the clues from his expression. Now that his face was hidden by the mask, Giuliano couldn't quite figure out what he was thinking.

"Then let us begin with the rivers. Behold, the Deran River from the top of the snowy mountains divides our beautiful city-state in two like silk around the waist of a lady. The richest and most prosperous place in the world Cities always need water, don't they, my sir?"

"It's... the river that really impresses me... um,?"

Giuliano thought hard, but he was not so serious when he read the book. Although he can still remember the general plot, it is difficult to remember every word and every sentence of the dialogue of the characters. After all, the focus of that kind of book is not at all how the hero and heroine travel... After all, how did Enzo remember it so clearly? He knew that Enzo could recite every poem by Erice Iniesta, which he attributed to Enzo's excellent memory combined with practice makes perfect. So to be able to remember the entire content of "Madelaine and Lorenzo", Enzo must either have a photographic memory or have read it too many times? !

The way he looked at Enzo changed immediately. Enzo seemed to have noticed this too, and coughed twice quickly, skipping directly to the next plot without even investigating when Giuliano forgot his words. He took his playmate by the arm and came to the embankment. Many cruise ships are dressed in red and green, stopping on the shore to attract guests.

Enzo pointed to the nearest boat to them. The boatman immediately raised the pole and bowed courteously to them. The mask on his face almost fell into the river.

He yelled: "Welcome, honorable sir! It only costs five silver coins to take a boat tour of Vanessa! It comes with the most authentic and detailed explanation!"

Giuliano was stunned to himself. Sit down and start the price! It doesn't cost a single silver coin to travel by boat for a day, but the price has increased so many times during the festival? Do you really think tourists are big fat sheep? The plot of "Madelaine and Lorenzo" is really unrealistic. How could the poor young Lorenzo afford the expensive boat money?

Of course, Enzo didn't care about the price increase at all, and directly pulled Giuliano onto the boat.

"Please take us down the river and take a slow tour." Enzo generously threw a golden coin to the boatman, "My companion has just arrived in Vanessa, please make sure he has a good impression of our beautiful city-state. "

The boatman wiped the gold coins desperately with the corner of his clothes, unable to believe his eyes. Jealous eyes shot from the surrounding cruise ships. The boatman immediately stuffed the gold coins into his belt, and treated the two guests more courteously.

"Okay! Gentlemen, please sit still!" He pushed the river embankment with the boat pole, and the cruise ship left the bank and drifted towards the middle of the river. Another boat took over immediately, sliding into the void.

There are many cruise ships on the river, and they must always be careful not to hit other ships. Fortunately, the skills of the boatmen were passable, and they were not in a hurry, so no traffic accidents occurred.

They passed the stone-arched bridge across the Derain. Giuliano heard the clear voice of the flower girl trying to yell among the noisy voices. The heavy shadow cast by the arched stone bridge fell over them. It is said that the bridge hole of this bridge is a famous dating site, where lovers secretly exchange secret kisses under the cover of stones above their heads. But today is Mardi Gras and everyone is wearing masks, so no one is kissing.

Enzo suddenly touched his hand. He turned to the assassin inexplicably, and the latter's finger touched the position of the mask's lips, as if hinting at something. Giuliano's face became hot, and he looked away embarrassingly, pretending to admire the reliefs on the roof of the bridge. Is Enzo thinking the same thing as him?

The boatman's enthusiastic voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Two gentlemen, please look! In front of us is the famous new large library in Vanessa City! The old library was caught in a fire during the reign of Emperor Darian, so the new library was specially chosen to be located by the river, in order to facilitate water and fire fighting. .” The boatman laughed a few times to himself, probably thinking it was very humorous.

As a Vanessa, Giuliano certainly knew the whole story, but in order to eliminate the awkward atmosphere between him and Enzo, he pretended to be surprised and asked the boatman: "Really? It's really novel, please introduce more."

Just as the boatman was about to display his talents, Enzo suddenly put his arms around Giuliano's waist from behind and directed him to look in the direction of the library.

"The one who designed the library was Master Bolan, a famous artist in the era of Emperor Darien. He is not only talented in painting, but also good at designing architecture and machinery." Enzo, like the most dedicated and knowledgeable guide, introduced books to Giuliano Library, "The entire library has a complete water supply system. The water flows through the library through a complex pipe network, and then discharged into the river, so that even if there is a fire, water can be taken in time. The library has been completed for more than 900 years, and the water supply system is still in place today. The work has not been rebuilt once, which shows the superb skills of Master Bolan."

The boatman looked at Enzo in amazement and forgot to punting the boat. How can there be such a person in the world, who even wants to grab the tour guide business? Then his eyes fell on Enzo's hand on Giuliano's waist, and he shut his mouth tactfully.

The cruise ship went down the river, and a pitch-black spire appeared in sight.

"Look over there," Enzo continued, "that is the Shadow Tower. It used to be Vanessa's special prison, where many important politicians were imprisoned. For example, Mrs. Duchamonro was imprisoned here by her own son. .And the 'Fake Governor' Xiuludi was imprisoned three times and released three times. Now the Shadow Tower is free of prisoners, as long as they pay, everyone can visit the tower." He turned to Giuliano, "What do you mean Woolen cloth?"

"Uh...I don't really want to visit prisons..."

"That's right. Then please look at the left hand side. That magnificent palace is the famous Parador Palace. Bastian III of the Second Dynasty built it as a residence, and later gave it to his beloved daughter. Princess Lucier. She was unmarried all her life and spent her whole life in the palace. Before she died, she donated the palace to Vanessa City Hall. Now it is a museum."

"Now we are passing the famous Ains Bridge. It is the first stone bridge across the Deran River. At the end of the First Dynasty, it was broken by the trebuchets of the rebels. During the difficult years of Vanessa, women People donated their jewelry to rebuild it. You can see a plaque on the bridge with the names of 531 donors engraved on it."

Naturally, Giuliano knew these allusions well, but he liked Enzo's eloquent tone, his thoughtful and considerate service, as if he was really a first-time visitor to Vanessa, and he was destined to Someone who makes a living meets and falls in love. Who wouldn't be jealous of meeting the right person in a beautiful city? If every romantic encounter could last a lifetime together in the end, how much sorrow and trouble would there be in the world?

Seeing that Giuliano was silent, Enzo suddenly said to the boatman, "Put us down right here."

"Follow me! Do you need a villain to wait for you in the river at the back door of the theater?"

"No. Our tour ends here."

The boatman docked in a daze. Enzo grabbed Giuliano's hand, "Please first." Giuliano was puzzled, but the situation forced him to obey the command. He took Enzo's arm ashore and gave the assassin a hand. The boatman asked again: "Is there really no need for a villain to wait for you?"

"Go about your business. Good luck with your business."

Enzo ignored him, but walked towards the Grand Theater holding Giuliano's hand. During the carnival, the Grand Theater is open all night, with six or seven troupes performing various repertoires in turn, and even foreign teams from afar come to present fresh performances. Of course, tickets are usually sold out a few days ago.

"Will you take me to the theater?" asked Giuliano. He was so familiar with Enzo, but now he had to "act" in a proper way, which exhausted him to death. Why doesn't Enzo go to the stage to perform? Forget it, he will definitely become a generation of popular actors.

"Do you like drama? Today the Grand Theater is showing the opera "The Sigh of a Flower", which tells the love tragedy of a pair of men and women from a feuding family. Ah, what a sad story, it seems not suitable for the festive atmosphere, but the heroine It’s a famous soprano singer of Vanessa, it would be a pity not to listen to it.”

"The tickets must have been sold out long ago? I'm afraid I won't be able to go..."

Enzo said lightly: "It's okay, I have a perennial box in the Grand Theater, and I can go there anytime."

— How did I never know about this? ! I really can't see that you still have the leisure time to watch dramas! Enzo, oh Enzo, how many things have you not told me?

Giuliano was spooked again. Before he could react in time, he was dragged into the theater by Enzo. The welcoming guests at the door said to them politely: "Are the two gentlemen here to watch "The Sigh of Flowers?"

"yes."

"It's already the second act, you two are late. Please show me your tickets."

"The Lark Box."

The welcoming guests looked at Enzo, and then bowed: "Please go to the third floor."

They enter the theater. The clear soprano and the powerful tenor overlap each other, echoing in the corridor. Giuliano listened intently and found that the opera had reached the end of the second act, and the hero and heroine were just discussing elopement. The Skylark box is facing the stage, the location is excellent, and the rent is naturally high. Enzo has a wallet to go here, but he doesn't come here a few times a year. Even Giuliano, who is a nobleman and always spendthrift, feels heartache for him.

"Surely you don't come here often," he said bitterly.

"How did you get it?"

"It's just a guess."

"You guessed right. I don't come here very often, because I'm so busy with work. But if you like, you will always be my guest, and you can use this box at any time."

Giuliano asked him with his eyes whether he was joking or serious. Enzo nodded, then looked towards the stage without saying a word.

"You are such a mysterious person. But I have never liked people with too many secrets." Giuliano said dryly. He thought he knew Enzo very well, but now he realized that what he knew was the tip of the iceberg.

"If I don't have a secret, how can I surprise you?"

Enzo put his hand on Giuliano's.

"You don't seem very happy? Not satisfied with today's schedule?"

Giuliano looked at him in bewilderment: "No, I'm satisfied...I just...I didn't expect..." He stared blankly at the carpet under his feet, "I didn't know this was going to happen, I wasn't prepared at all..."

"Some things need to be carefully planned, but more things in this world always come suddenly and people are caught off guard. Just like when I met you."

Enzo slowly took Giuliano's hand, "No one ever told me that I would meet someone like you, and I would be so fascinated by you. Although the time with you was short, it has deeply changed my life." For the rest of my life, I can no longer bear to live alone, and I can't live a day without you."

The lights on the stage dimmed, and the heroine began to sing a mournful solo. Enzo's eyes showed a faint blue color due to the changing light, like some kind of very pale gemstones.

"It's a pity that we will be separated in the end. Even if there is a reunion, you probably won't recognize me. Ordinary people can't recognize each other because they wear masks, and we can't recognize each other because we take off masks. What a pity! This time spent with you For a period of time, it will become a secret memory hidden in my heart forever. When I miss you the most, I will take it out and taste it alone, like drinking a cup of sweet bitter wine..."

Enzo withdrew his hand: "Even though I have thousands of secrets, this secret is only known to you."

It's not like what's in the book... Giuliano thought in amazement. Lorenzo said a similar line, but not this one. So Enzo is improvising?

No, it was for him. Only the two of them understood what it meant.

His chest was filled with sweetness immediately, but a trace of bitterness crept into his heart. Sweet bitters, ah, so it is. Enzo can always use poetic language to say what he can't.

"If you will take off the mask, I can..."

"That's not customary, and will bring bad luck to both of us."

"Then...I...I also thought of a way to make us recognize each other in the future..."

Giuliano grabbed Enzo by the skirt and put his weight on it. The two rolled off the chair together. At this time, the heroine on the stage just sang the most difficult part of the whole act, and the theater burst into warm applause, and no one heard the sound of chairs overturning.

"If you can't use your face to identify it, then use your body to identify it! Please let me remember your body..."

Giuliano unbuttoned his clothes, "Please give me a beautiful night that will never be forgotten in my life, and let me remember you forever."