Fated Encounter: 1-3 A Foreign Guest

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After a night out, Marie's life returns to its usual dullness. A foreign guest visits the Palace of Versailles. When the door opens, Marie sees a familiar figure...

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Style: Recommended: Ode to Grace Set Rewards: 3,000 , 600 , 3 , 1 , 1 , Blueprint: Moonlight Rose

Moonlight Rose

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Transcript

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• No one discovers my night at the ball. My life returns to its usual monotony.
• Life at Versailles is as dull as ever, and Father Vermond's lessons are still so dreary.
• The Dauphin continues to occupy himself with his hobbies, rarely spending time alone with me.
• What happened at the ball feels like a wonderful dream.

• Madame Deniau: Your Highness, the Duchess of Polignac has arrived.

• Gabrielle: Good morning, Marie. I've brought you a treat. Some pastries I made just for you.

• The maid carefully sets the small coffee table. Gabrielle pulls me over, and I catch the scent of butter and warm sugar.
• Gabrielle: These are some of the most popular pastries in Paris right now. I had the best confectioner in Paris teach me.

• Gabrielle: Try them! Tell me what you think.

• You: Thank you, Gabrielle. You're too good to me.

• The plates of delicate pastries are extraordinarily tempting. The aroma of fruit and cream fills the room.
• You: Madame Deniau, would you please allow me a private conversation with Gabrielle?

• Madame Deniau: Very well, Your Highness. I'll take my leave.

• Madame Deniau and all of the maids leave my room. As soon as the door closes, Gabrielle approaches me and starts talking in an excited whisper.
• Gabrielle: Now that we're alone, you can tell me more about the other night.

• Gabrielle: You must have made some wonderful memories at the masquerade ball.

• Gabrielle: You looked very happy chatting with that gentleman in the gardens.

• You: I was. We discussed our impressions of Paris.

• Gabrielle: Your impression of Paris?

• You: Yes. He's just arrived in France and has encountered many interesting things in Paris.

• Gabrielle: So, he's from another country too. Then he must have some idea how you feel as a foreigner.

• There's a touch of sadness in Gabrielle's voice. I'm about to ask about it, but I don't feel I can, given how hard she's trying to force a smile.
• Gabrielle: By the way, my dear, I remember you once telling me about the gugelhupf in Austria.

• Gabrielle: Can you tell me how they're made? I'll bake some for you!

• You: Gabrielle...

• You: You're always thinking of me. Keeping me company, caring for me...

• Gabrielle: That's what friends are for. Now come, Marie, tell me how to make gugelhupf!

• You: All right. Let me think...

• I think back to the pastries I used to have at Schönbrunn Palace and the recipes I once learned from the servants.
• Gabrielle listens attentively to me, nodding every now and then, a gentle smile on her lips.
• Gabrielle: Now that I know how to make them, I'll try baking some as soon as I get the chance.

• You: I look forward to trying them.

• Someone knocks on the door.
• Madame Deniau: Pardon me, Your Highness, Your Grace.

• Madame Deniau: A Swedish nobleman has come to the Palace. The Dauphin is receiving him in his study.

• Madame Deniau: His Highness asks you to attend as well. Please dress and come with me.

• You: (A Swedish nobleman? Could it be...?

• Gabrielle: What's wrong, Marie? You look a bit disturbed.

• You: It's nothing. Please excuse me, I must go.

• Gabrielle: All right, I'll be on my way home then. I hope you have a nice day, my dear.

• Madame Deniau: Please go change into appropriate attire, Your Highness.

• You: I will.

• Madame Deniau: Now that you're ready, please come with me at once.

• You: Yes, Madame Deniau.

• Accompanied by Madame Deniau, I go to the Dauphin's study.
• My heart is beating faster and faster. By the time I reach the study door, I can even feel my hands trembling.
• You: (If it truly is him...)

• Besides the Dauphin, there's another familiar face in the room... Count Fersen from Sweden.
• When he sees me, he rises and bows. The Dauphin comes over and introduces me to this "stranger."
• Louis XVI: Marie.

• You: Good day, Your Highness.

• Louis XVI: This is Count Axel von Fersen from Sweden.

• You: Greetings, I am Marie Antoinette. It's a pleasure to meet you.

• Fersen: Greetings, Madame la Dauphine. I confess, you are even more beautiful in person than I have heard.

• Fersen: The people of France are blessed to have such a distinguished Dauphine.

• There's a hint of a courteous smile in his calm gaze.
• I do my best to conceal my surprise, hoping my expression doesn't give me away.
• You: (Thank goodness, he doesn't seem to recognise me.)

• Louis XVI: Before coming to Paris, Count Fersen travelled to many countries and saw many fascinating things.

• Louis XVI: I was just going to ask him about the exquisite artistry and inventions at the places he's been to.

• Fersen tells the Dauphin about his travels. They talk about culture, history, and astronomy.
• Then Fersen reveals his familiarity with Latin, something the Dauphin has always been interested in.
• The Dauphin is completely absorbed in Fersen's stories, but I'm too nervous to say much of anything.
• Fersen: I also met a fascinating man who knows a great deal about geography.

• Fersen: He told me about America, and now I've developed an urge to go there.

• Louis XVI: But I heard from the generals at the Council of State that the people there are protesting the British government.

• Fersen: I understand they are fighting for their freedom. That is an admirable act of courage.

• I'm not at all interested in what they're discussing, so my mind drifts to worrying thoughts. Soon, I'm finding it hard to sit still.
• Louis XVI: Marie? Are you alright?

• You: Yes, Your Highness. I'm fine.

• Fersen: Perhaps what I'm saying is not of interest to Her Highness?

• You: What?

• You: (Has he been watching me during their entire conversation?)

• You: N-not at all. Your stories are interesting. I'm sure His Highness enjoys them very much.

• Louis XVI: Marie has never had much interest in these topics.

• Louis XVI: It's my fault. I was so engrossed, I forgot to include her.

• You: It's nothing, Your Highness. I'm not bored, truly.

• Fersen's face bears a knowing smile.
• Fersen: If your Highnesses do not mind, I'd like to tell you about the fascinating artists I've met on my travels.

• Fersen: I encountered many talented singers and musicians in Italy and Germany. I've also had the pleasure of seeing some outstanding performances.

• Fersen: I believe Madame la Dauphine will find these topics interesting.

• You: Oh, yes. I would like to hear more about that.

• It occurs to me I've unwittingly implied I was uninterested in what he was talking about before.
• I'm about to explain myself, but the Dauphin speaks before I can.
• Louis XVI: As Marie is so eager, please tell us more, Count Fersen.

• Louis XVI: I've not seen her this excited in a long time.

• You: Thank you for your attentiveness, Your Highness...

• Fersen tells us about the exquisite art he's seen.
• He speaks of drama, painting, and women's fashion. All of it fills me with curiosity.
• It's perhaps the most interesting afternoon I've had since I came to Versailles.
• We don't realise how late it is until Madame Deniau comes to remind us it's almost time to visit the Dauphin's aunts in their rooms.
• Fersen: It seems I should take my leave, Your Royal Highness.

• Louis XVI: It was such a pleasure to meet you, Count Fersen. Your stories amazed me.

• Louis XVI: And it's rare for Marie to be so engrossed.

• Fersen: The pleasure was all mine, Your Highness.

• Fersen: Please excuse me, Monseigneur le Dauphin, Madame la Dauphine.

• After Fersen departs, the Dauphin and I follow our routine and go to visit his aunts.
• He's assumed his usual aloof manner, and as always, the aunts subtly exclude me.
• Around seven o'clock, I claim I'm not feeling well and finally leave. Alone, I head to the gardens for a walk.

• You: (Will I always be an Austrian outsider to them, no matter how hard I try to fit in?)

• I stare at the lights in the room where the Dauphin is still visiting his aunts. I can faintly hear them laughing.
• People are always socialising and laughing in the aunts' rooms. Meanwhile, the only person to visit my room is Gabrielle.
• A gentle breeze blows, bringing with it the scent of roses in the gardens.
• I'm reminded of my romantic evening at the ball.

• Fersen: Paris has brought me countless surprises. But you are among the greatest of them.

• Fersen: Perhaps I should thank God for His blessing and thank fate for allowing the two of us to meet in Paris.

• Fersen: You are the most beautiful and enchanting lady I have ever met. I hope you will not forget me after tonight has ended.

• I can't think of anything but my time with Fersen at the ball, his elegant constitution, his manners, his eyes...
• You: (How wonderful it would be if I could truly befriend him.)

• But everyone in the Palace loves to gossip. I could never get away with it.
• There have always been rumours circulating about my marriage to the Dauphin. If I were to form a close friendship with a different man...
• You: (The gossip-loving nobles and servants would undoubtedly make a big deal out of it.)

• I walk through the moonlit garden, my heart heavy and my spirits low.
• Will I ever know warmth in this cold palace?