Chapter 376 Siblings Bond Part 2
Exiting the grandeur of the Palais Garnier, the siblings emerged into the cool evening air, the vibrant energy of Paris enveloping them. The bustling streets were alive with the sounds of the city, a symphony of honking cars, distant music, and the murmur of conversation from passersby. The glow of streetlights cast a warm hue over the pavements, painting the scene in a comfortable, familiar light.
Francis, leading the group, navigated through the throng of theater-goers with ease. His eyes scanned the area, a habit born from his upbringing in a world where awareness was as important as breathing. Behind him, Daphne chatted animatedly about the play, her words punctuated by expressive gestures. Aveline listened with a gentle smile, occasionally adding her thoughts, while Tristan trailed behind, his gaze occasionally drifting to the architecture of the city.
As they reached the parking area, Tristan fished the car keys out of his pocket.
"Can I drive this time?" Francis asked as he turned towards Tristan, a playful challenge in his tone.
Tristan chuckled, handing over the keys. "Sure, why not? Let's see if you've still got it," he teased.
Francis caught the keys with a swift movement, a grin spreading across his face. "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten how to drive," he said confidently, heading towards the driver's side of the car.
Daphne and Aveline followed, slipping into the back seats. Daphne, leaning forward again curiously eyed the interior of the car.
"I wish I knew how to drive a car," Daphne mused.
"Do you want to learn?" Francis turned his head back slightly to look at her. "I can teach you sometime," he offered, starting the car by putting the keys into the ignition and turning them. The engine responded with a gentle purr, signaling readiness.
"Really? You would teach me?" Daphne's eyes lit up with excitement. "I'd love that!"
"We'll set up a time for lessons," Francis replied with a smile, shifting the car into gear and easing out of the parking spot.
As they drove through the Parisian streets, the siblings engaged in light conversation.
"The best thing in Paris is the nightlife, look at the lights…it's colorful," Daphne observed pridefully. "There's no place on Earth like Paris at night."
"Well, I don't think so. Milan and Turin are also looking like Paris, as well as Rome," Aveline interjected.
"Madrid too," Tristan added. "But yeah, you are right, all of the cities mentioned looked like Paris because it's inspired by it. Paris has a certain charm that's hard to replicate."
"Where are we going again?" Aveline asked.
"Ah…we are heading to Le Bon Marche," Francis answered. "Daphne mentioned wanting to check out some of the new fashion collections they have on display."
"That's right," Daphne said excitedly. "I heard they've got some exclusive pieces from emerging designers. It could be interesting to see what's in trend."
"Don't you literally have hundreds of clothes in your closet already?" Tristan joked, glancing at Daphne in the rearview mirror.
Daphne laughed. "One can never have too many options," she replied playfully. "Besides, it's always good to keep up with the latest trends."
"So that's where you spend most of your yearly allowance, on that closet of yours?" Tristan continued to tease, keeping the mood light. "You know if you run out of allowance, father won't give you any extras, right?"
lightsΝοvel.cοm "Oh, I manage just fine," Daphne said with a smirk. "I'm not the one who splurged on that ridiculously expensive watch last week," she teased Tristan, turning his joke back on him.
Tristan chuckled, "Touché. But at least my watch is a one-time purchase, and made by Swiss. The Swiss are really good at making watches."
"Daphne, I have a story to tell you, do you know Marie Antoinette? The last Queen of the Kingdom of France?"
"I know her," Daphne confirmed. "What about her?"
"You know, people hated her for her being a spendthrift," Francis said.
"Well, the reason that was the case is because Marie used public funds for her personal expenses, which isn't the case with us," Daphne said, clarifying the difference. "The money that our father and mother are giving to us comes from their businesses. Speaking of which, I wanted to start a business as soon as I arrived in Canada."
"That sounds like a great idea," Francis encouraged. "What kind of business are you thinking about?"
"I'm considering a retail company. The name of the brand would be Daphne, and it's going to be a brand associated with luxury and quality," Daphne explained. "I've been researching the market and it seems like there's a growing demand for unique, high-end products."
"Good luck with that," Tristan said. "Oh—we are arriving at Le Bon Marché."
The siblings looked out from the windshield and saw the illuminated fa?ade of Le Bon Marché,
"That's a lot of people," Aveline noted as they observed the bustling crowd around the store. "Has it always been the case?"
"It's probably one of the most popular and biggest department stores in the world. Oh, it's also the first. You can always expect a crowd here," Francis explained as he parked the car in the parking area.
As they stepped out of the car, they were immediately enveloped in the lively atmosphere of the shopping district. The area around Le Bon Marché was always a hub of activity, with locals and tourists alike drawn to its reputation for luxury goods and exceptional shopping experience.
Inside the store, the siblings stuck together as they made their way through the crowds. Each sibling had a distinct style and taste, but they enjoyed sharing opinions and giving each other fashion advice. Daphne led the group to some of her favorite sections, pointing out the latest trends and designer pieces.
She suggested clothes to Aveline, to which Aveline purchased her suggestion. After that, it was Tristan's turn, suggesting watches to Francis, to which Francis bought some.
Francis led the siblings to the art store, which is on the second floor. In order to get to that level, they used an escalator, a new invention that had been recently installed in the store.
Reaching the second floor, they found themselves in the midst of an array of stunning artworks ranging from classic to contemporary pieces.
"Look at that painting!" Francis pointed his fingers to the painting mounted on the wall. "It's Father in Mecca!"
"Oh…it's the store of Jacques-Louis David, father's personal painter," Tristan added.
"That's right," Francis confirmed. "David captured Father's visit to Mecca perfectly. The detail in his work is always so impressive. But we all know that this isn't the original. The original is in the Palace of Versailles."
"No wonder the price is cheap," Tristan noted. "Next time, it's going to be our painting."
"Hmm…yeah…I think my portrait is going to be displayed not in this store but in the Louvre or the Palace of Versailles. I'm going to be the Emperor in the future anyway."
Tristan scoffed softly. "Yeah…"
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