Chapter 49 Thirteen

London, Friday, October 13, 1899 The Fantasy Circus did not meet everyone's expectations, nor did it hold a grand anniversary celebration in the tenth year according to the general tradition, but waited until the circus opened and traveled for nearly thirteen years before holding it.Some people say that the celebration was held at that time because the timing of the ten-year anniversary came and went, and no one thought of having a celebration party until after it was missed. The reception was held on Friday, October 13, 1899, at the Chandrash.Christopher.The townhouses of Lefevre.The guest list was carefully screened, with only members of the circus and a few select special guests present.Of course, this event has not been publicized. Although some people may guess that this event is related to the circus, there is no way to confirm it.Moreover, the circus has always been notorious for insisting on using only black and white to the point that people would not doubt that the circus has a connection with such a colorful event.

The event was colorful, with houses and partygoers adorning themselves in every shade of the rainbow.The lighting in each room is specially treated, one is various greens and blues, and the other is various reds and oranges.The scattered tables in the restaurant are covered with bright patterned tablecloths.The centerpiece is an exquisite flower arrangement, using only the brightest flowers.In the ballroom, chamber ensemble members in fancy red velvet suits played bizarre but melodic tunes that could be danced to.Even the champagne flutes are dark cobalt blue rather than clear glass, and the staff are dressed in green rather than black.Chandrash himself wore a bright purple suit with a swirl-patterned gold vest; all night he smoked custom-made cigars, puffing out matching purple and blue smoke.

The golden arms of the elephant head statue in the front hall are filled with roses of different varieties, ranging from natural to unimaginable tones. As long as someone passes by, the petals will fall one after another. The bar pours cocktails into oddly shaped and colorful glasses, ranging from ruby-hued liquor to cloud-green absinthe.Vibrant silk brocades hang from the walls, draping everything that remains in motion.Candles glow in stained-glass candlesticks, casting dancing ambience over the party and participants. Poppy and Wedgie were about the age of the circus, the youngest of the guests.They showed off their bright red hair in a color-coordinated outfit: the warm blue of the morning sky, edged with hints of pink and yellow.Chandrash gave them two fluffy blue-eyed orange cats with striped ribbons around their necks for their birthdays.Poppy and Weggy fell in love with each other so much that they nicknamed them Botis and Puff, but then they couldn't remember which of the two cats looked the same. You and I call together.

Except for the dead Tara.Burgess, all the members of the circus who originally planned the painting together were present, Leni.Burgess arrived in a flowing canary yellow gown, accompanied by Aiden in a navy blue suit.Barris, he's done his best to add color to his body, the tie is a slightly brighter blue, and he's pinned a yellow rose to his lapel. A． Mr. H︱, arrived in his usual gray attire. After much coercion and coercion from Chandrash, Madame Padwa came, all radiant gold silk, embroidered with red thread, and her white hair adorned with crimson feathers.She spent most of the evening sitting in a chair by the fire, watching the unfolding activities around her without taking part in them herself.

Frederick.Dyson received a special invitation on the condition that not a word of the gathering be made public or mentioned to anyone.He happily promised to show up to the meeting in all red, with just a touch of black, the opposite of his usual attire. He spent most of the night with Celia.Bowen, whose exquisite dress is constantly changing colors, no matter who she is closest to, the dress will automatically change colors to complement the other party's outfit. With no other performers besides the orchestra, it was difficult to hire amazing entertainment for a party attended mainly by circus members.Much of the evening was spent talking and socializing.

As soon as midnight arrives, the banquet begins immediately. Each dish is shaped in black or white. Once poked with a fork or spoon, it will burst into colorful colors and reveal layers of taste.Several dishes were served in small mirrors rather than formal plates. Poppy and Weggy quietly stuffed some suitable food crumbs to the little orange cat at their feet, while listening to Mrs. Padwa's story about ballet.Their mother cautioned that the story might not be entirely suitable for twins who were only thirteen years old, but Mrs. Padwa continued unfazed, only the most unsavory details were blurred, but Wage could learn from it. The twinkle in her eyes read it, even if she didn't say it aloud.

The pastry consists mostly of giant, multi-tiered cakes shaped like a circus tent, streaked with icing and filled with bright raspberry buttercream.There are also miniature chocolate leopards on the cake, and strawberries covered in rings of dark and white chocolate. After the snacks were off the table, Chandrash delivered a lengthy speech, thanking all the guests for the past thirteen wonderful years, and for all the surprises created by the circus that was only a conception more than ten years ago .The speech went on for a while, talking about dreams, family and trying to be unique in a world of sameness.Some of it was profound, others rambling and nonsensical, but almost everyone at the meeting thought it was a thoughtful move.After the speech, many people took the opportunity to thank him personally for throwing the party and creating the circus, and several commented specifically on how he felt.

Except, of course, for the fact that he mentioned that with the exception of the Murray twins, no one seems to age with age, and there was an awkward silence, interrupted only by Mr. Barris' coughing. broken.No one dared to bring it up, but after an hour Chandrash had forgotten most of what he had to say, and many seemed relieved. After the banquet, there was a dance in the ballroom. Sections of bright and colorful silk with gold decorations flowed down, covered the walls and windows, and shone in the candlelight. A． Mr. H︱ wandered along the edge of the room, most of the time unnoticed.He spoke to only a few guests, including Mr. Barris, who introduced him to Mr. Dyson.After the three men had a brief but fascinating conversation about clocks and the nature of time, A. Mr. H︱ politely finds an excuse and disappears into the background again.

He avoided the dance hall altogether, except that Yuezi stepped onto the dance floor and danced a waltz.Tsukiko was wearing a long dress transformed from a pink kimono, her hair was piled up in delicate knots, and eye-catching rouge was painted around her eyes. Couples of guests were overwhelmed by the elegance they radiated together. Isobe is in clear sky blue. , repeatedly tried to grab Marco's attention but in vain.He was always trying to avoid her, and he was dressed like the rest of the staff, making it hard to spot in a crowd.Finally, with the help of a few glasses of wine, Yuezi persuaded her to abandon her efforts and dragged her into the sunken garden to divert her attention.

Marco was busy running around at Chandrash's errands, or hanging around Madame Padwa (she tapped him with her stick several times when he asked her if she needed help), and besides, Focus on Celia. I can't ask you to dance, it's almost ruining me.He whispered as she walked past him in the ballroom, the dark green of his suit seeping through her gown like moss. It would be too easy to destroy you.Celia murmured softly and winked at him.At this time, Chandrash came to her side lightly and stretched out his arms to her.As he pulled her away, the spreading moss green was crushed by dark purple and glittering gold.

Chandrash introduces Celia to A. H︱Mr., can't remember if they've met before.Celia said they had never met, but she remembered the gentleman who took her hand politely, because he looked exactly the same as when she was six years old, only the suits were updated with the current fashion. Several people pestered Celia to ask her to perform. At first she refused, but later, she stopped insisting.She pulled the interested Tsukiko to the center of the dance floor, and she disappeared in the blink of an eye, even though there were spectators all around.One moment there were two women wearing petal pink dresses, and the next moment only Celia was left. A few seconds later, there was a scream from the library, and Tsukiko reappeared in a sarcophagus decorated with pendant flowers in the corner.Yuezi took a glass of wine from the stunned waiter and gave him an innocent smile before returning to the ballroom. She passed Poppy, who was teaching the little orange cat how to climb on her shoulders, and Wedgie, who was pulling books from the library's well-stocked shelves to read one by one.Finally Poppy dragged him away so he wouldn't spend the whole party reading. The guests moved in colorful groups, from the ballroom through the aisles and library, like a moving rainbow, intermittently laughing and chatting.Even in the wee hours of the morning, the atmosphere is loud and cheerful. Marco grabbed Celia's hand and dragged her into a dark alcove behind a towering golden statue as Celia walked across the hall alone.The sudden movement in the air caused the rose petals to whirl wildly. I'm not quite used to it yet, you know.Celia said.She drew her hand back without turning away, but there wasn't much room between the wall and the statue.The color of her gown faded to a deep, dense green. You look just like the first time I saw you.Marco said. So I assume you're wearing that color on purpose?Celia asked. Just a lucky coincidence, Chandrash insisted that all the staff wear green, and I didn't expect your outfit to be so ingenious. Celia shrugged.I just can't decide what to wear. you're gorgeous. Thank you, Celia responded, refusing to make eye contact with him, you are so handsome, I prefer your real face. His face changed, transformed into the face she remembered in minute detail from a night in the same room three years earlier, under far more intimate circumstances.Afterwards, apart from the brief moments when they were free to steal time, the two of them had little chance to contact each other. Isn't it a little risky to show that face in this group of people?Celia asked. I only do this to you, Marco said: Others see me as I always have been. They stood watching each other in silence, and a laughing crowd crossed the hall from the other side of the statue.The noise reverberated throughout the space, but they were separated by a considerable distance, so Celia and Marco escaped their attention.Celia's gown was still mossy green. Marco raised his hand to push the loose curly hair away from Celia's face, stuffed it behind her ear, and stroked her cheek with his fingertips.Her eyelids fluttered shut, and the rose petals at their feet began to stir. I miss you.He whispered softly. There was electricity in the air between them as he leaned in and brushed his lips lightly against her neck. In another room, guests, grumbling at the sudden heat, drew fans from colorful handbags and fanned them like tropical birds flapping their wings. In the shade of the elephant head statue, Celia suddenly withdrew.Marco couldn't immediately tell why she did it, until the gray clouds swirled in the green of her gown. Hello, Alexander.she said, nodding to the man who had quietly appeared behind them both without disturbing the rose petals scattered across the floor. The man in the gray suit nodded politely.Miss Bowen, if you don't mind, I would like to speak to your companion in private. Of course I don't mind.Celia said that she didn't even glance at Marco when she left.As she crossed the hall, the Murray twins were luring the little orange cat with shiny silver spoons of coffee stirring, and the gown changed from dawn gray to violet-blue sunset. I don't think this behavior is appropriate.The man in the gray suit said to Marco. So you know her.Marco said quietly, his eyes still on Celia.She stopped at the entrance of the ballroom; her dress was flushed with crimson when Mr. Dyson handed her a glass of champagne. I have met her face to face, but I don't think I have any special knowledge of her. You knew who she was before this all started, but it never occurred to me to tell me? I don't think it's necessary. A large group of guests wandered into the hall from the dining room, causing the fallen petals to flutter slowly again.Marco escorts the man in the gray suit through the library, slides the stained glass window to the empty game room, and continues their conversation. Thirteen years without a word, and now you want to talk to me?Marco asked. I have nothing in particular to talk to you about, I just wish to interrupt your conversation with Miss Bowen. She knows your name. She obviously has a good memory, what would you like to discuss? I wonder if I'm doing well.Ma Ke said in a low and cold tone. You're making more than enough progress, says the mentor: you're in a stable employment situation here, and it's a good place to work. But I can't be myself.You taught me these things and then put me here pretending to be someone else while she took center stage doing what she was doing. But no one in that room believed it.They thought she was lying to them, they couldn't see her real face, just like they couldn't see yours, she was just more conspicuous.It's not about having an audience, and I'm proving it.You can do what she does without covering it up with flamboyant spectacle and trickery.You can remain anonymous and get as much achievement as hers.I suggest you keep her distance and focus on your work. I fell in love with her. Nothing Marco has said or done before has ever elicited any visible response from the man in the gray suit, not even the one time he accidentally set the table on fire in class, but the man's face is now gritted. Have a touch of sadness. Sad to hear that, he said: That would make the challenge even harder for you. We have been fighting like this for more than ten years, when will it end? It ends when someone wins. How long will that take?Marco asked. It's hard to say, the last challenge lasted thirty-seven years. We can't keep this circus going for thirty-seven years. Then you don't have to wait long.You were an excellent student in the past and are now an excellent competitor. How did you know?Marco said in a high voice: For years you wouldn't even talk to me.I didn't do anything for you.Everything I did, every transformation I made for the circus, every incredible feat and astonishing sight, was done for her. Your motivation doesn't dictate the game itself. I don't want to play your game anymore, Marco said: I quit. You cannot withdraw, says the Master: you are bound by this competition, bound by her.The challenge continues until one of you loses, and you have no choice in the matter. Marco picked up a ball from the pool table and hurled it at the man in the gray suit.The opponent stepped sideways to dodge, and the ball smashed hard into the twilight painted glass. Marco said nothing, turned his head away from the mentor, stepped out of the door at the back of the room, and passed by Isobe in the hall without even noticing her existence, and she was standing close enough to hear the segment of the debate. He went straight to the ballroom and walked slowly to the center of the dance floor.He took Celia's arm and turned her away from Mr. Dyson. Marco hurls her into emerald green arms, so close they can't tell where his suit ends and her gown begins. For Celia, the rest of the room disappeared as soon as he took her into his arms. But before she could open her mouth to express her surprise, his mouth was already on her lips, and she was lost in the indescribable sense of happiness. The way Marco kissed her, as if there were only the two of them in the world. The surrounding air swirled into a storm, and the glass door leading to the garden was suddenly blown open, and the bulging curtains were tangled into balls. Every eye in the crowded ballroom turned to them. Then he let her go and walked away. By the time Marco left the room, almost everyone had forgotten the whole incident.That memory was replaced by a moment of confusion, which everyone blamed on the heat or the excess champagne. Mr. Dyson could not recall why Celia had suddenly stopped dancing, nor could he recall when her gown changed to its current dark green. What's wrong?asked when he realized she was shaking. A． Mr. H︱ stomped across the front hall, deliberately avoiding tripping Bobby and Wedgie. The two sprawled on the ground, teaching Bootis and Pavel how to stand on their backs and spin around. Wedgie trailed behind the man in the gray suit after handing Bobby the Bootis (or Paffer).He watched the latter enter the hall, retrieve his gray top hat and silver cane from the butler, and leave by the front door.After the man stepped outside, Wage put his nose against the nearest window and watched him pass under the streetlights and disappear into the darkness. Poppy came to him then, and the kittens purred happily, perched on his shoulders.Chandrash followed closely behind her, weaving through the crowd in the hall. What's wrong?Bobby asked: What happened?Wedge turned away from the windowpane. That man is nowhere to be seen.He said.Chandrash leaned over the twins, peering out the window at the deserted street. what did you just say?Chandrash asked, but Poppy, Wedgie, and the orange cats were already running across the hall, lost in the colorful crowd.