"Come, Earl, I will take you to try your skills. Maybe you need my advice——"
The girl's bright smile contained an evil spirit that was eager to try, which made Edmond Dantès feel a little nervous.
Only then did he feel the danger hidden in this energetic girl.
She can't really be a very powerful swordsman as she said, right?
"What about my proposal, Mr. Earl?" Because he didn't say anything, Agnes continued to ask, "Think about it carefully. If you follow my proposal, my father will not doubt you, and he can even treat you like a child." Here are the distinguished guests!”
Agnes continued to persuade, her eyes sparkling like a child wanting to beg for a toy.
At her current age, she is indeed just a child... Edmond Dantès sighed inwardly.
A child who has experienced happiness since childhood and has never seen the dangers of the world is like the purest white flower, self-respecting and independent, kind and helpful, possessing the best qualities.
It is indeed a rare honor to be regarded as a friend by her.
What's more, she had helped him so much just now, so he should repay her and satisfy her thoughts——
"Okay, I also think your idea is very appropriate." He nodded.
"Well! That's the best!" Agnes clapped her hands gently, excited for the good idea she had come up with.
Then, she raised her eyebrows again, "Okay, then I'll take you to a place, and we can try it out now."
"Where to go?" Edmond Dantès couldn't help but ask.
"Go to my teacher's house," replied Agnes. "She is not in Paris at the moment, so she has entrusted it to me. I think there I can discuss it with you and see if there is anything I need to tell you."
Although her tone was normal, she sounded extremely confident, as if she was sure that she would win, and this also aroused a little bit of competitiveness in Edmond's heart.
As a male, and having been trained as a sailor for many years, I am physically strong, so there is no reason why I have no chance of winning, right?
So he said nothing more and let Agnes call for the carriage to speed towards the new destination.
The carriage crossed the Seine River along the bridge, then headed southeast, out of the city to the suburbs, and finally arrived outside an apartment building.
The concierge downstairs seemed to have been familiar with Agnes for a long time, so after seeing her, he just bowed and let her go. Then Agnes took Edmond Dantès to the second floor, and then opened the door with the key. Door.
As soon as he entered the door, Edmond found that the furnishings in the living room were very simple, with very few furniture and an empty wooden floor in the middle, which could be described as empty.
The windows were tightly covered with white curtains, and the light was dim. In the corner next to the fireplace, there was a shelf with several swords. The layout of the entire room was cold and rigid, and there was simply no trace of gender. If it weren't for If Agnes had called her "her", Edmond Dantès would never have imagined that the master was a woman.
The room is quite clean, and there is a balcony in the corner of the room. There are several potted plants planted on the balcony. Flowers are blooming in the potted plants. It seems that after the owner leaves, there are still people here to take care of it from time to time.
At this time, Agnes whispered to Edmund, "My teacher doesn't like others touching her things, so we can just do the activities in the living room. Anyway, everything we need is here."
Then, she walked to the weapons shelf, picked at it, and then looked at Edmund.
"Sir, go on!"
As she spoke, she picked up a sword and threw it towards Edmund.
Edmund caught the sword quickly, and then he saw that it was an unedged sword, and it seemed that it was just used for practice.
The handle of the sword is very smooth, and it has obviously been soaked by the user's sweat for a long time.
Then, Agnes also picked up a sword and walked up to Edmund.
When she held the sword in her hand, her eyes suddenly became sharp, like a lioness eyeing its prey. Her fragile-looking body exuded a pressure that was difficult to face.
"You need to adjust your condition first, sir -" She smiled and waved her sword. "I'll wait until you're ready before we start."
Edmond Dantès knew that a fight was about to begin, so he took a calm breath, adjusted his body, and prepared to fight.
He has not received strict swordsmanship training, but when he was a sailor, in order to guard against pirate attacks, he and other crew members received rough training. But a long time has passed, and now he can only rely on memories while putting on a show.
"Are you ready?" Agnes gently raised her sword and pointed at her opponent.
"Yes, I'm ready." Edmond Dantès took a deep breath.
"Okay! Let's get started! Three...two...one!"
When she shouted one, Agnes suddenly started to move. Her eyes were full of murderous intent, and then she took two steps forward and stabbed Edmond hard in the chest.
Edmond was shocked by Agnes's speed. He never expected that the weak-looking girl could be so powerful. In a panic, he quickly raised his sword to block, but in the dazzling gap, Agnes stopped. She stepped forward, then turned slightly sideways, then retracted her sword and stabbed hard. The sword in her hand bypassed Edmond Dantès's defense and stabbed him directly in the chest.
Just like that, the fight between the two ended in just a few seconds.
"ah……"
The severe pain made Edmond cover his chest and abdomen and screamed.
This fierce blow made his vision go dark, he almost fainted, and he almost shed tears from the pain.
"Are you...are you okay?" Agnes retracted her sword, then walked up to him and looked at him uneasily, "I'm sorry...it seems like I hit too hard..."
"It's okay, miss, I... give me some time, I can recover." Edmund hissed in reply.
At this moment, it suddenly occurred to him that when he was attacked by His Majesty with a cane in the crypt where the treasure was hidden, he was stabbed in the exact same spot in the chest.
Is this a random coincidence or the reincarnation of history?
No, neither of them, it should be that these two equally excellent swordsmen are both proficient in how to neutralize the opponent's combat power in an instant without causing injury to the opponent.
No wonder Agnes said that she had fought against His Majesty... She indeed has the confidence and ability.
"It seems that although you have a good physique, you lack basic knowledge." Agnes said with a little regret, "If you want to learn, you need to start from scratch. And at your current age, you want to It’s already very difficult to have particularly high achievements…”
Edmond Dantes was silent.
He sensed a hint of pity in Agnes's tone.
For a moment, his heart was suddenly filled with anger.
He doesn't hate Agnes, but he hates being pitied, because pity can't resolve his hatred, it can only make him feel how small and powerless he is, and how vulnerable he is to others.
No! no! This is definitely not the fate I want to accept!
The sense of superiority and victory he had just gained from Danglars was gone at this moment. Edmond Dantès once again saw the self he hated most, the one who was weak and could only lie in the dungeon of Chateau d'If. An ignorant young man who is at the mercy of others.
What can you be happy about now? Do you deserve to be happy? You haven't accomplished anything yet.
The title you have now and the wealth you have are all given by that young man as a gift. In other words, they all belong to him.
What is something that truly belongs to you? What is your real ability? What qualifications do you have to ask for a better position, and what ability do you have to avenge yourself?
These angry accusations echoed in Edmond's mind, leaving him with nowhere to escape and making him miserable and angry.
"I'm sorry, sir... I may have gone too far..." Seeing his sad and desperate look, Agnes couldn't help but regret it, "I shouldn't have forced you to compete for my own pleasure... I'm sorry , if you don’t like it, then let’s forget it and let me make up another reason?”
"No, Mademoiselle, you have done a great job. I am very grateful to you!" Edmond Dantès raised his head and looked at Agnes passionately, "You let me discover the truth and let me see clearly. Kill yourself."
"It's not like that..." Agnes felt a little embarrassed, wondering if the other party had been damaged by her.
"I admire your swordsmanship very much. I can imagine how much effort you have put into it." Edmond continued to look at the girl eagerly, "Can you teach me? Although you said that I don't have too high a skill anymore." I have succeeded, but I think that as long as I work hard, I will be able to become an excellent swordsman, and I have this determination."
Yes, he has made up his mind to take this opportunity to learn swordsmanship and improve himself.
Not only for self-defense, but also to master a skill that the nobles like, and use it to create their own identity and personality, blend into the French upper class, and become.
The French are arrogant and arrogant. People will not care about an unknown foreign noble, but if the other person is an excellent swordsman, then it is worth looking at with admiration.
He blends into the upper class, establishes his identity, and then can approach his enemies unnoticed. He will spy on them secretly, find their weaknesses, and eventually defeat them one by one.
Yes, he had to do it.
"Sir, are you interested in learning?" Agnes asked, "If you are willing, I can teach you. After all, you work for that guy. If your skills are too weak, it won't work. I will train you as a Give him a gift. But how long will you stay in Paris this time?"
"I should only be able to stay for a few days." Edmond Dantès replied. "His Majesty is anxious for me to bring the people and money to him, so I will leave after selling the jewelry and cannot waste time. But I think it won’t be long before I come to Paris again.”
"How many days... It seems that I can't teach him too deeply..." Agnes frowned and said with some trouble.
Then, as if she had made some decision, she raised her head and looked at Edmund again, "Count, how about this? I think I can give you emergency training, at least so that you can put on an airs, bluff It should be no problem to live with someone, at least it can convince my father that you are indeed a relative of my teacher. Anyway, this time we just want your identity to be recognized by your father. This is enough, right? If you are still interested in the future, If so, I can continue to teach you."
"That's great." Edmond Dantès nodded. "But...what if someone challenges me?"
"Don't worry so much. We are not in the 16th century now but in the 19th century. There are not so many aggressive fools on the streets and in the living room. As long as you don't take the initiative to provoke others, there won't be that many people looking for you when you have nothing to do. It's a foreigner." Agnes couldn't help but laugh. "Besides, if anyone dares to challenge you, I will stop them and declare that whoever bullies my teacher's relatives has trouble with me. If you think like that, no one will dare to persist anymore..."
Although her tone was calm, she could feel a sense of pride.
Edmond Dantès now understood that this lady was not just bragging, she really had this ability.
A girl of noble birth and such an outstanding figure is worthy of being the flower of the high mountains. She deserves the best happiness.
Maybe only His Majesty is worthy of it? He suddenly couldn't help but think to himself.
"Thank you, Miss Agnes." He put aside these boring thoughts, and then solemnly bowed to Agnes, "I am very grateful for your help to me, although I have nothing to repay you now. Favor, but if I have the opportunity in the future, I will definitely do my best to help you."
"You don't have to say it to this extent!" Agnes was a little embarrassed, "It's okay, Earl, just think that I am looking for something to do because I am idle and panicking. It's just a piece of cake. It's not worthy of your seriousness."
"For you this is a piece of cake, for me this is an indelible favor and kindness." Edmond Dantès replied, "I have seen too much malice in my life, so even a little kindness is They are all dazzling lights to me, and I must repay these kindnesses with sincerity, because I have to repay those malicious intentions with the same ruthlessness, and I will retaliate, no matter what."
Agnes blinked, not quite understanding the count's seemingly philosophical answers.
However, as of now, she has nothing else to do.
"Well, since you are pressed for time, let's not waste any more time -" she raised her sword again and pointed at the Count of Monte Cristo, "let's start from the most basic place!"
………………
It was not until evening that Edmond Dantès took Agnes' carriage and returned to the residence of the Marquis of Treville under the cover of darkness.
His complexion was grim, as it should be, for he had endured severe torture.
Agnes taught him his posture and steps with a sword, and now his whole body seemed to be falling apart. He himself was secretly amazed that he could actually walk to the living room without support.
But now he had reached his limit, and he collapsed on the sofa, unable to move a step.
"Are you...are you okay!?" Alice almost panicked when she saw Edmond like this, "Have you encountered any crisis situation?"
"No, everything goes well, madam." Edmond Dantès shook his head slightly, "I just... just learned from your sister."
"Agnes!" Alice shouted angrily. "I'll reprimand her later, sir."
"No, don't do this, madam, I asked her." Edmund quickly replied, "I hope... I hope I can learn something."
"Mr. Earl?" Alice was a little surprised.
"Fate made me fall to the bottom, and then gave me the opportunity to get up. Now that the opportunity has come, I must seize it. I want to make myself a strong person, madam." Edmond sighed, " I want to be a person who is qualified to stand upright in front of you and others.”
Looking at the count's decisive expression, Alice seemed to understand something.
So, she smiled slightly and said, "Then, I wish you all the best, sir."
Then, she changed the topic, "By the way, my father-in-law wants me to tell you something - he will arrange an important meeting next, and you must attend as a special envoy. The voice you convey is what everyone is looking forward to. I don’t know how many years…”
"I am honored." The Count of Monte Cristo closed his eyes slightly.
I, Edmond Dantès, am going to be great, and must be so.
