Side Story: Adieu
Of course, these troublemaking boys didn''t dare to defy the commands of the little Countess. Reluctantly, they said sorry to Edith.
Charlene ordered them with a long face, "Do it again. Show more respect. Bow."
The boys lined up with a grimace, but had no choice but to bend down in front of Edith, saying aloud all in unison, "We were wrong! We won''t do it again!"
After the boys slinked away, Edith was so delighted that she pecked Charlene''s cheeks hard on both sides. In Edith''s eyes, Charlene was an all-powerful angel. Everyone had to listen to her! Edith felt proud to have such a good friend.
Knowing that she had finally helped someone, Charlene felt a sense of relief.
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Raphael had so much fun playing with the two little sisters all day until evening before he finally went back home. He felt really happy as he remembered all the things they did together. Just then, the footman came up to him and said that his lordship the Count wanted to see him in the study to check his Latin homework.
Raphael''s happiness all at once turned into fear. Every time he met his father in the study, he would break out in a cold sweat on his back.
Father would glance at his lack of progress in rhetoric and then look down at him with a disgusted expression. He would address Raphael as "Monsieur" and "vous," making Raphael feel so upset that he wanted to cry.
Father clearly loved Sister a lot. No matter what curious materials Charlene asked for her experiments, Father would find a way to get them for her as soon as possible.
But Raphael didn''t even dare to let Father hear him playing the violin. He was afraid that if Father heard how well he played, he would think Raphael hadn''t been studying his proper lessons.
Raphael knew that his timid and gloomy nature wouldn''t make the grown-up dote on him. However, Father could have shared him some love too, if he wasn''t the heir.
Raphael vaguely remembered that he once had an older brother named Andre. Andre was the firstborn in the family and was said to look a lot like him. But they were also different. Andre had a smart and early-maturing mind, a well-mannered demeanor, just like Sister. What''s more, he was outgoing and skilled in horse riding and sword fighting, like a true man.
This older brother was truly deserving of being the heir of the family. Unfortunately, he got smallpox around Raphael''s age and tragically died.
As Raphael timidly entered the study, he felt his father''s gaz