The long train journey was exceptionally dull and tiresome, having experienced it once before.
The scenery outside the window could no longer bring him peace; instead, it reminded him of another real yet exhausting France beyond Paris.
Lionel had not informed the Zola family in Médan, nor had he told Alice and Patty in advance.
Two days later, he disembarked at Saint-Lazare train station like an ordinary traveler, finally setting foot once more in the "City of Light."
Paris embraced him with its usual stuffiness, clamor, and stench.
Although it was almost September, the foul odor of Paris had not diminished in the slightest; on the contrary, it had intensified due to days of high temperatures.
Lionel practically held his breath, hurried across the station square, hailed a cab, and returned to his apartment at 64 Rue Laffitte.
Washing away the dust of travel, Lionel lay on his familiar bed, feeling a unique tranquility, and fell into a deep sleep...
————
At six o'clock on Friday afternoon, the church bells had just rung, and employees from various buildings in the Second Arrondissement eagerly streamed out the doors.
Tomorrow was the weekend, and no sunset was more beautiful than that of a Friday.
Sophie Deneuve had also finished everything early, only waiting for the clock hands to align vertically before hurrying out of "Orby Trading Company."
Today she wore a light grey linen dress, high-necked and cuffed.
Although the style was conservative, her upright posture made it look distinctive.
"Sophie!"
A voice called from across the street.
Sophie looked up at the sound, and when her gaze fell upon Lionel by the roadside, her entire body instantly froze.
Her eyes widened in disbelief, and the cloth bag in her hand nearly slipped.
First surprise, then confusion, followed by an unmistakable joy that instantly brought a blush to her cheeks.
She almost gasped:
"Lé... Lionel?"
Then she instinctively looked around, as if unsure if it was an illusion:
"Aren't... aren't you in the Alps?"
Lionel walked up to her, his smile genuine and cheerful:
"The holiday ended early. You're the first person I wanted to see."
Sophie was still a bit slow to react:
"My God... I just saw you in the newspaper... Is everything alright? At home..."
Lionel said lightly:
"Everything is fine."
Other employees from "Orby Trading Company" also noticed the two, almost all of them finding it incredible.
Lionel was tall and handsome, dressed respectably and formally, and next to him was a light two-wheeled open carriage—though it was unclear if it was his or rented.
Sophie's face felt warm, but she eventually raised her head proudly, letting them gossip.
Lionel likewise didn't care about their gazes.
He first invited her into the carriage.
Once the carriage started moving and the cool breeze dispelled the heat, he spoke:
"Sophie, tomorrow is Saturday, and then the weekend... Will you come with me to the Bois de Boulogne? It's cool and quiet there. We can breathe fresh air and get away from all of this..."
Sophie was stunned.
The Bois de Boulogne?
That was a resort on the western outskirts of Paris.
Spend the weekend?
She knew all too well what that implied.
Although she no longer had parents to control her, she had never considered going on a vacation alone with a gentleman before marriage.
Hesitation and struggle appeared on Sophie's face:
"Lionel, this... we..."
Lionel interrupted her, his gaze burning:
"Sophie, I know your concerns. But I promise you, I just long for some peace and companionship.
Right now, I only want to be with someone who can make me feel relaxed and happy, to enjoy a moment of beauty... In Paris, you are the only one!"
Sophie looked at Lionel's face, suddenly remembering the Alpine starry sky he described in his letter, remembering herself in that stuffy office, and remembering the gossip of her male colleagues...
A courage she had never felt before suddenly welled up in Sophie's heart.
She met Lionel's gaze, a slightly shy curve on her lips:
"Alright, Lionel. I'll go with you."
————
The next day, the sun was bright.
Among the bustling crowd at the train station, Lionel spotted Sophie at once.
She had changed into a light blue fine cotton long dress, wearing a straw hat with ribbons, and carrying a small travel bag, as fresh as a flower in the morning dew.
The journey went smoothly, and before noon, they were already in the dense shade of the Bois de Boulogne.
Here, it was a world away from the stuffy and polluted Paris city center; the air was moist, fresh, and fragrant.
Along the wide forest paths, dense oak, beech, and chestnut trees cast cool shadows.
Lionel had already reserved a holiday cottage on the edge of the forest through an agent; the daily rent was as high as 80 francs, but not considered expensive in Paris.
They settled their luggage and had lunch in the simple kitchen provided by the cottage. In the afternoon, they walked in the forest, along winding paths, through sun-dappled woodlands.
At night, it was so quiet that it felt as if only they and this forest remained in the entire world; if their souls were tightly intertwined, their bodies would not be far apart...
The next day, Lionel gave Sophie a surprise.
He took Sophie to an open meadow in the forest.
There, a huge, colorful hot air balloon was resting on the ground, with several ground crew making final preparations.
This was a tethered hot air balloon, specifically for tourists to enjoy high-altitude views.
Sophie looked up at the enormous sphere, both confused and a little nervous:
"We... are we riding this?"
In Paris, hot air ballooning was not new.
Starting in spring, Parisians could see hot air balloons passing overhead almost every day.
But not every Parisian was willing to spend at least 8 francs to enjoy this rare experience.
However, Lionel did not choose the "free balloon" that could travel long distances this time, but opted for the safer, more conservative "tethered balloon."
A "tethered balloon" always remained connected to the ground by a rope, so it could not move once airborne.
Lionel was not lacking in "high-altitude experience," so he had no interest in entrusting his life to the much more dangerous "free balloon."
Lionel smiled:
"First class, I also want to see Paris from the sky."
They paid 20 francs per person and boarded the magnificent basket.
The basket had chest-high railings around it, was padded inside, and even had a fixed small tea table.
As flames roared, heating the air inside the balloon, the giant sphere slowly began to ascend.
Sophie instinctively grabbed Lionel's arm, but as the ground gradually receded, her fear was quickly replaced by awe.
The Bois de Boulogne unfolded beneath their feet, like a vast carpet of varying shades of green.
In the distance, the outline of Paris was faintly visible, and the Seine snaked through the city like a silver ribbon.
The familiar buildings shimmered in the sunlight, yet they strangely lost their usual sense of oppression and murkiness, becoming tiny and serene.
The surrounding countryside, villages, and roads were all visible, offering a breathtaking panoramic view.
"It's too beautiful..."
Sophie murmured, clutching Lionel's hand tightly, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
The gentle breeze lifted the hair beneath her hat brim, and the sunlight illuminated her joyful face.
Lionel stood beside her, his heart filled with a quiet joy.
The hot air balloon rose to an altitude of about five hundred meters, finally held firmly by thick cables, stabilizing at that height and slowly rotating.
At this moment, worldly worries, the stench of Paris, and the entanglements of Montiel seemed to be isolated beneath the clouds at their feet.
Sophie turned, about to say something, but Lionel's lips met hers...
———
The two-day holiday passed in a flash, and Lionel returned to his apartment, still lingering on the memory.
As soon as he entered the apartment building, the concierge handed him a package.
Lionel looked at the address:
"From England?"
(End of Chapter)
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