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It's a sunny day in spring, but Marie's feeling down. Just when she's feeling helpless and vexed, Gabrielle offers her a great suggestion.
Info[]
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Dialogue Choices[]
Gabrielle: My dear Marie, this is a chance for you to set down your burden and catch your breath.
- Accept the invitation
- Find a reason to refuse
Transcript[]
Expand for script.
- This is the fourth spring I've spent at the Palace of Versailles.
- The weather is slowly warming. The flowers in the gardens have grown new shoots and will soon bloom.
- It's a rare sunny day. Early in the morning, the Dauphin brought his courtiers to the grounds for a hunt.
- I have nothing to do but stay alone in my room, staring out the window at the gardens and waiting for time to pass.
- You: (I miss Schönbrunn so much...)
- I've been in France for four years, but many people still see me as an outsider. They call me "the Austrian woman."
- You: (I wonder how my darling Mops is doing now?)
- In my dreams, I often hear Mops's soft whimpers, and laughter echoing in Schönbrunn Palace.
- But I have to bury my longing for home deep inside. I can't speak to anyone here about it.
- Gabrielle: Madame la Dauphine, my dear Marie, I hope you're having a pleasant afternoon.
- You: Gabrielle, I'm so happy you've come to see me.
- Gabrielle: What's wrong? It's a shame to see your beautiful face looking so melancholy.
- You: I'm glad you're here. Life's been somewhat dull lately.
- Gabrielle: Dull? My dear, there are a million ways to entertain yourself here.
- Gabrielle: I imagine if you desired it, the Dauphin would throw the grandest ball for you.
- You: Gabrielle, you know that as the Dauphine of France, I must set a good example.
- You: At a ball, there would be countless people watching me. I couldn't make a single mistake.
- Gabrielle: I understand. You've been strong under such tremendous pressure.
- Gabrielle: Though your determination does make me worry...
- Gabrielle: Please don't put too much pressure on yourself, my dear.
- You: Don't worry, Gabrielle. Seeing you has already lifted my spirits.
- Gabrielle: Dear Marie, I'm so pleased to hear that!
- Gabrielle: And I have an idea I think will lift your spirits even more.
- You: Oh? What is it?
- Gabrielle: How about we attend a masquerade ball?
- You: A masquerade ball?
- Gabrielle: Comtesse de Noailles is holding one at her residence tonight!
- Gabrielle: Everyone will be wearing masks to hide who they are.
- You: Masks? So no one will know who anyone else is?
- Gabrielle: That's right. Wear a mask to the ball, and no one will know you're the Dauphine of France.
- You: (A masquerade ball where I can hide who I am? That sounds marvelous!)
- You: (It would be nice to attend a ball where I can relax.)
- You: (But what if someone discovers me there so late at night?)
- Gabrielle: My dear Marie, this is a chance for you to set down your burden and catch your breath.
Accept the invitation
- You: I would like a chance to unwind. A masquerade ball where I can hide who I am sounds like fun.
- Gabrielle: Wonderful! I'm so glad you'll be coming with me.
- You: Thank you for always looking out for me, Gabrielle.
- Gabrielle: That's what friends are for.
- Gabrielle: You've always been the one protecting me, caring for me...
- Gabrielle: I know I can't help much, but I will still do my best to make you happy.
- You: I don't deserve you, Gabrielle.
- You: You're my best friend. I want you to be happy, so let's enjoy ourselves tonight.
Find a reason to refuse
- You: (If someone discovers the Dauphine left the palace in the middle of the night to attend a ball, gossip will spread like wildfire.)
- You: Gabrielle, I want to go, but I can't help worrying...
- Gabrielle: God bless you, my dear. Why must you bear this heavy responsibility?
- Gabrielle: You're still a young lady, but you can't enjoy your youth.
- Gabrielle: Forget your position for a while, Marie, and come enjoy the ball.
- You: But what if someone discovers me?
- Gabrielle: Don't worry. I'll make all the necessary preparations!
- You: All right. In that case, let's enjoy ourselves tonight.
- Gabrielle: Then we're agreed. Tonight at eleven, I'll wait for you outside the Petit Trianon.
- Gabrielle: You should rest now. After all, it's going to be a long night. You'll need your energy.
- You: A masquerade ball...
- You: (I can hide who I am and speak to others from behind a mask.)
- You: (I won't have to worry about being criticized for minor mistakes or being told that my conduct is unbefitting for the Dauphine.)
- You: (Finally, I can just be myself.)
- You: I can even dance to my heart's content like I used to.
- It's almost eleven. Under cover of darkness, I sneak over to the Petit Trianon. An unfamiliar carriage is waiting outside.
- I hesitate to approach it, but then Gabrielle opens the carriage door and waves at me.
- Her smiling face makes my uneasiness fade.
- I smile in return and board the carriage.
- Gabrielle: I promised I'd prepare everything, and I did. Now you can relax and enjoy yourself.
- You: I didn't recognize this carriage. Why didn't you come in one of your own?
- Gabrielle: Our carriages are too flashy. This one has a plain exterior, so we'll escape people's notice.
- Gabrielle: But inside, it's still spacious and comfortable. It's perfect, no?
- Gabrielle: The proprietors of this rental service are very trustworthy, so you have nothing to worry about.
- You: (Although the carriage looks plain, the inside is extravagantly decorated. Perhaps it's provided exclusively to nobles.)
- You: (It's obvious Gabrielle has taken many precautions so I'll feel at ease.)
- You: Thank you for being so thoughtful.
- Gabrielle: It was my pleasure, Marie.
- Gabrielle: This is my gift to you. Try it on, I hope you like them.
- You: Thank you, Gabrielle! You're far too good to me.
- Gabrielle: How lovely! Marie, you look elegant and mysterious. I'm certain no one will recognize you.
- Gabrielle: Perhaps tomorrow, all of Paris will be abuzz with stories of a beautiful, mysterious woman!
- You: Really? Gabrielle, I...
- Gabrielle: Maybe you'll even meet someone special tonight.
- You: Meet someone? But I...
- I reflect on the time I've spent with the Dauphin.
- He's never been unkind to me, yet he always has an air of detached coolness around me.
- No matter how hard I try to be friendly, we never get closer.
- It's as if I'll always be an outsider at Versailles, and never his wife.
- Gabrielle: My dear, we're forgetting our duties for one night.
- Gabrielle: Throw off those heavy shackles and enjoy this beautiful, romantic evening.
- Gabrielle: Don't worry, Marie. No one will know it's you under the mask.
- You: (That's right. No one will know it's me.)
- You: (It's just this one time. Everything will be fine.)
- You: You're right. Tonight, I'm not the Dauphine. I'm just Marie.
- You: Perhaps I really will meet someone...
- Gabrielle: Have fun, my dear. It's no more than a harmless game of romance.
- Gabrielle: What a pity it'd be if someone as lovely as you were not appreciated.
- Gabrielle: No one will recognize us. All you need to do is enjoy the ball and dance to your heart's content.
- Gabrielle: Which gentleman will have the honor of dancing with you tonight, I wonder?
- Gabrielle: He ought to thank God for such a blessing.
- You: Don't be ridiculous, Gabrielle. You shower me with too much flattery. Keep this up and I worry I'll be conceited.
- Gabrielle: But dancing with you is a blessing. You're a perfect dancer.
- You: Well then, pray I meet a perfect dance partner tonight.
- Gabrielle: I pray my good friend will find a good dance partner and enjoy an unforgettable evening.
- My eagerness finally overcomes my unease. All the way to the dance, Gabrielle and I talk about our hopes for the night.
- As soon as we step out of the carriage, I see Comte de Noailles's residence is filled with brilliant light.
- You: (We're still outside, and I can already hear the music. This ball is so lively.)
- You: (I feel certain I'll have fun tonight. The balls at Versailles are dull by comparison.)
- Thinking of my anxiety during balls at the palace stirs my unease. I start to worry I'll be recognized.
- You: (No, that won't happen! It's just one night. Everything will be fine.)
- You: (This is a rare opportunity to relax and have fun. Don't overthink it.)
- Gabrielle: We're here, Marie. Let's go in, quick!
- You: Coming, Gabrielle. I hope we make some happy memories.
- Pushing all my worries to the back of my mind, I take Gabrielle's hand and walk toward the front door.
Stories
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Chapter 1
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Chapter 2
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Side Stories
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Chapter 1
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Chapter 1
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Chapter 1
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Chapter 1
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Chapter 1
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Chapter 1
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Traveler's Notes
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