The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 917: Chapter 26 You French folks!

Bazac supported Mrs. Berny as they walked up to the second-floor room.

Although he had many lovers, Mrs. Berny, as his first, a noble lady whom he admired, always held an extremely special place in Balzac’s heart.

Before becoming Balzac’s lover, Mrs. Berny never had the thought of having a romance with this boy 23 years her junior, nor did she ever seduce him. But perhaps it was precisely because of this that the fledgling Balzac was instead conquered by the allure exuded by this lady.

Every time Balzac came to this neighbor’s house to tutor her daughters, Mrs. Berny always liked to tease Balzac, happily mocking his mannerisms, ridiculing his pretension and ambition.

And as they became familiar with each other, she began to play the role of a confidant aunt, listening to Balzac talk about his childhood, recounting how his mother had long left him neglected.

Whenever Mrs. Berny heard these stories, she couldn’t help but think of her own son who died young, and she saw the hidden brilliance in this unremarkable-looking youth.

As for Balzac, the 22-year-old young man was already deeply infatuated with Mrs. Berny’s noble demeanor. Although she wasn’t extraordinarily beautiful, even at 45, she still possessed delicate skin and a fair neck.

Moreover, as the goddaughter of Queen Mary Antoinette of Louis XVI, Mrs. Berny’s frequent presence in the upper echelons of the old society lent her words an indescribable elegance.

In Balzac’s own words, ”Mrs. Berny’s rolled r’s feel like they’re caressing you.”

The young Balzac mustered a great deal of courage to finally confess to Mrs. Berny.

However, when Mrs. Berny read Balzac’s love letter, she laughed heartily, continuing to mock his sighs, his novels, and his sense of fashion.

But the stubborn Balzac didn’t know what giving up meant; he genuinely liked this lady who was older than his mother, and he also knew that her marriage was unhappy and that she once had a lover.

These were all the reasons Balzac thought he could succeed.

Nevertheless, when Mrs. Berny first received Balzac’s pursuit, she was somewhat startled. She did not dislike Balzac; she even considered him half a son. But to be lovers with such a younger person was something Mrs. Berny had never considered.

Balzac’s love letters came one after another, written with variety, and after a complex period of psychological activity, Mrs. Berny’s feelings evolved from initial fright to something more subtle.

She still did not accept this young man’s pursuit, even commanding him after he recited his love letter to her in person, never to speak of love again, otherwise, she would never see him again.

The stubborn Balzac was heartbroken over this. At one point, he wrote letters lamenting that he would never love Mrs. Berny again.

But not loving did not mean he intended to cut ties; he still came to Mrs. Berny’s residence every day to tutor her daughters, meeting her with a smile, and leaving with a melancholic expression.

One night, after leaving, he realized he had forgotten something at the Berny residence and went back for it, only to find, to his surprise, Mrs. Berny sitting in the garden on a bench, lost in thought, wearing a beautiful festive gown.

Perhaps the enchanting moonlight was simply too alluring, for it was there that Mrs. Berny accepted Balzac’s first kiss.

How could one describe this romance spanning twenty-three years?

From Mrs. Berny’s perspective, this young man appeared nothing like those in-age couples. Rather than relying on this young boy, she seemed to dominate in every respect; she taught Balzac and patiently watched this talented young man, eager to see what great achievements he could accomplish eventually.

And Balzac’s treatment of Mrs. Berny was unlike his later encounters with young, beautiful girls. This relationship was enduring and solid, even taking on elements of familial affection. This could be seen from the affectionate nickname he used for her in his letters, often calling her ”my poor mama.”

But just after this relationship had stabilized, Balzac’s mother discovered her son leaving early and returning late every day, and a woman’s intuition quickly led her to realize her silly son was hiding something.

She soon uncovered the truth and began trying to separate her son from the lover her own age.

But no matter how hard she tried, it was futile. Indeed, she exercised strict control over Balzac, but his grandmother, Balzac’s maternal grandmother, indulged him greatly.

When the elderly lady noticed Balzac’s exceptionally poor spirits, she voluntarily took on the responsibility of transmitting messages between her grandson and his lover.

Balzac’s mother often harshly rebuked Balzac for being idle and clumsy, while his grandmother and Mrs. Berny continually supported his literary dreams in secret.