A Precious Friend: 1-4 Meeting the Queen

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Gabrielle and Jules are brought before Queen Marie. The fateful encounter marks the beginning of their friendship.

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Style: No dress-up component Rewards: 3,000 , 600 , 1 , 1 , 1 , Blueprint: Lily's Cuddle

Lily's Cuddle

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Transcript

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• Gabrielle: (Is attending the ball really the right thing to do?)

• Perhaps I shouldn't go? Once I start to have such thoughts, my anxiety becomes uncontainable.
• As the carriage approaches Versailles, I turn to look towards the glorious palace that looms ahead.
• Still frowning, Dianna can't help but warn us.
• Dianna: We're about to reach Versailles. Once there, stay close and don't look around as if you've never seen it before.

• I look down at the creases on my dress and try to smooth them out with my hands, becoming more and more restless.
• Dianna: It's too late to worry about it now. Let's go. The ball is about to begin.

• The carriage stops at a spot not far from the palace. Jules and I follow closely behind Dianna in silence.
• We must pass through the beautiful gardens of Versailles to reach the grand palace doors.
• Comtesse Ponier: Is that Dianna? What a coincidence! And these two behind you are...?

• A beautifully dressed noblewoman, fully adorned with jewelry, looks at Jules and I in surprise.
• Dianna: Good day, Comtesse Ponier.

• Dianna: This is my brother, Jules Polignac, and his wife, Gabrielle.

• Dianna doesn't seem to want to introduce us any further, so she changes the topic by enthusiastically exchanging amenities with the Comtesse.
• Dianna: It has been so long! Your taste is as good as ever. This Polish gown suits you wonderfully.

• They walk towards the banquet hall shoulders abreast. Jules and I have to walk quickly to keep up.
• Gabrielle: Jules, my dear, I'm... I'm a little nervous...

• Jules: ...Gabrielle, my dear, be quiet and mind your etiquette.

• Jules rarely disciplines me so sternly, which makes me even more anxious.

• I follow behind Dianna with a very perturbed mind. I'm not even in the mood to appreciate the astonishing decorations of Versailles, until eventually we enter the banquet hall—

• At the end of the banquet hall stands the graceful Queen Marie. Nobles crowd around her, and they all seem to be introducing other guests to her.
• Their faces are powdered white; they wear tall wigs, and their necks and arms are covered in jewelry.
• Dianna: As you can see, Queen Marie is very busy. There are countless nobles waiting to be summoned.

• Dianna: You two wait here. I'm going to find the Comtesse. I'll come back after saying my greetings.

• Dianna's tone is cold and indifferent. She places us at the end of the summoning queue and walks off proudly.
• Gabrielle: This queue is so long... How many people are there ahead of us?

• Jules: Gabrielle, stay calm.

• Gabrielle: Oh... Jules, my dear, won't my dress be too disgraceful?

• Jules: There's no point discussing this now.

• Gabrielle: (Jules is particularly impatient today. Is it because of the disagreement with Dianna?)

• Gabrielle: (I don't blame him. He did run to and fro to gather the money for this dress. And yet...)

• We slowly move forward with the queue. The long wait makes us feel a little tired.
• After a long while, Dianna returns in her heavy and luxurious dress.
• Dianna: In a moment, I'll introduce you to Queen Marie. Remember these few things.

• Dianna: Don't look up directly at the Queen, maintain a humble attitude, and speak in honorifics.

• Dianna: Be sure that you don't do anything disgraceful. Understood?

• Dianna: As for your outfit... Well, let's just hope Queen Marie doesn't notice.

• She examines me from head to toe and scoffs.
• Gabrielle: ...I understand.

• After waiting a long time, we finally find ourselves standing before Queen Marie.
• Dianna respectfully performs all the noble courtesies, then smiles rather fawningly and introduces Jules and I to Queen Marie.
• Dianna: Queen Marie, this is my younger brother Jules Polignac and his wife Gabrielle.

• Gabrielle: Good day, Your Majesty...

• I anxiously perform my courtesies and keep my head slightly lowered. I can only see the Queen's intricately and extravagantly embroidered dress.
• It's of high quality material with gold trimming along the edge of the dress. The workmanship is meticulous.
• Marie: Gabrielle, is it? Greetings.

• Queen Marie's voice is beautiful and gentle, like a clear stream.
• Gabrielle: (What a gentle voice... Didn't Dianna say that she is arrogant?)

• My curiosity got the better of me. I raise my head to take a brief look at Queen Marie.
• Queen Marie has a dignified and beautiful face, with charming contours and a naturally noble air about her.
• The moment I meet her eyes, she gives me a playful smile and looks me up and down with intrigue.
• Marie: Be at ease.

• She extends her hand and pulls me up, then takes me aside.
• Gabrielle: Eh...?

• I stiffen at the Queen's touch, and look at her in disbelief.
• Marie: There's no need to be nervous, Gabrielle. Just chat with me for a while.

• Gabrielle: Y-Yes.

• Queen Marie keeps smiling, perhaps because of my nervousness.
• Marie: I rarely see you in Versailles.

• Gabrielle: ...Yes, Your Majesty. I haven't visited Versailles ever since your wedding.

• Marie: Oh? Why is that?

• Queen Marie looks at me curiously. It seems she merely wants to know the answer and isn't trying to give me a hard time.
• Gabrielle: Well...

• Marie: Is something holding you back? You can tell me.

• Gabrielle: (The reason I can't come to the palace regularly is because of our finances and standing. But to tell this to the Queen...)

• I'm still anxious, and Dianna's warning flashes across my mind—don't do anything disgraceful.
• Despite my hesitation, Queen Marie shows not a hint of frustration. Instead, she waits for me patiently.
• Gabrielle: Actually, the main reason I cannot come to the palace regularly is that my husband and I are not in a very good financial situation...

• Faced with Queen Marie's kind disposition, I can't help but blurt out the truth.
• Gabrielle: Besides, we're not important people, so we don't really get the opportunity to come to the palace.

• Marie: I see...

• It seems that Queen Marie wasn't expecting me to be so blunt. She gives me a look of surprise mixed with admiration.
• Marie: In this palace, it is rare to meet such a sincere and frank person.

• Queen Marie winks at me playfully, then warmly clasps my trembling hands.
• Marie: Allow me to invite you to the Palace of Versailles to take part in the salon and ball.

• Gabrielle: Eh...?

• Gabrielle: (Queen Marie is inviting me personally? This is something I have never even dreamed of...)

• Before I can even thank Queen Marie, she is already pulling me to the center of the dance floor.
• Only then do I notice Dianna watching with envy from a distance, and the eyes of everyone present upon us.
• Gabrielle: I...

• I look nervously at Queen Marie ahead of me, who stops and gives me another playful wink.
• Marie: Let's enjoy the ball together.

• Queen Marie's approachability makes me feel completely at ease. I spend the entire evening by Queen Marie's side.
• This is by far the most enjoyable ball I've attended in years.