Fated Encounter: 1-4 Garden of Eden

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Fersen keeps showing up in Versailles, distressing Marie. Gabrielle senses something's amiss when she notices how distracted Marie is...

Info

Style: Recommended: Summer Breeze Set Rewards: 3,000 , 600 , 3 , 1 , 1 , Blueprint: Banquet Lights

Banquet Lights

Dialogue Choices

Gabrielle: You've met Count Fersen before?

• Confess to Gabrielle
• Stay silent

Transcript

Expand for script.

• Count Fersen begins making frequent appearances at the palace. It's not long before he starts winning everyone over.
• The Dauphin and the aunts speak highly of him. Even Madame Deniau, who's always severe, praises him.
• The noblewomen who love to gossip about my life with the Dauphin only talk about Fersen now.
• They discuss how to invite this charming foreign nobleman to their mansions.

• In every one of our conversations, Fersen behaves with extraordinary calm and propriety.
• He's always friendly, but he never reveals the side of himself I saw the night of the ball.
• You: (It seems like I'm simply the Dauphine of France to him.)

• Father Vermond: Your Highness.

• You: (But if this continues, he'll see through me one day, won't he?)

• Father Vermond: Your Highness, are you listening to me?

• You: Sorry, Father Vermond. What were you saying?

• Father Vermond: Your Highness, your conduct these last few days deeply concerns me.

• Father Vermond: As the future Queen of France, I hope you take your lessons seriously.

• You: Father Vermond, I...

• Father Vermond: Your mother constantly told me to remind you to take more care with your attire, appearance, and bearing.

• Father Vermond: "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

• Father Vermond: Do not forget the Bible's teachings, Your Highness.

• You: Yes, Father Vermond, I understand.

• Father Vermond: Let us conclude for today. May the Lord be with you, Your Highness.

• Father Vermond closes the Bible he's holding. He bows to me, then leaves my room.
• When he's gone, I heave a sigh of relief.
• Madame Deniau: Your Highness.

• You: (Dear Lord, have mercy on me.)

• You: (Am I going to be criticized for impropriety again?)

• Madame Deniau: Father Vermond's lessons are of utmost importance. I hope you're taking them seriously.

• Madame Deniau stands in the doorway. She's ramrod straight, her expression stern.
• She looks ready to start another speech but is stalled by the sudden arrival of a maid.
• Maid: Your Highness, Your Grace, the Duchess of Polignac has arrived. She's waiting for Her Highness in the parlor.

• You: (Thank goodness for Gabrielle.)

• Madame Deniau: Your Highness. In the future, please take your lessons seriously. Religion and etiquette will be crucial to your role as the Queen.

• You: I will, Madame Deniau.

• I promise her I'll remain committed to my lessons, then leave. I hurry to the parlor, excited to see Gabrielle.

• Gabrielle: Good afternoon, Madame la Dauphine.

• You: There's no need for such formality, Gabrielle. I'm so glad you've come!

• You: Father Vermond's soporific lessons on religion were driving me mad.

• Gabrielle: A walk in the gardens might revive you. We could go together.

• Gabrielle: On my way here, I saw that all the roses have bloomed. We should go out and enjoy them.

• It's only then that I notice the rare, splendid sunshine outside.
• You: Yes, let's go. I'd love your company on a walk through the gardens.

• You: But first, let me change into something more suitable for such a beautiful afternoon.

• Gabrielle: Dear Marie, you always look so lovely.

• You: Thank you, Gabrielle. Now that I'm ready, let's be off.

• The gardens of Versailles are in full bloom, as breathtaking and fragrant as I imagine the Garden of Eden was.
• The sun feels warm, and delicate flowers blossom in the light.
• I stroll through the gardens with Gabrielle, listening to her chatter.
• Gabrielle: By the way, my dear, do you remember Count Fersen, the one who came to see the Dauphin the other day?

• Gabrielle: I heard he's very popular with the Parisian nobles now. My husband has been planning on hosting him.

• You: Oh?

• When I hear that name, I suddenly feel like a secret has been exposed, and I instantly become nervous.
• You: Count Fersen?

• You: I-I've often seen him at the palace, but I don't know him well.

• Gabrielle: My dear, why do you get so nervous whenever he's mentioned?

• You: I-I don't...

• I struggle to act calm, but I'm not doing a very good job.
• You: (What is wrong with me?)

• Gabrielle: The same thing happened the other day, when you heard Madame Deniau say a Swedish nobleman had come for an audience.

• Gabrielle: Could it be...

• You: (Dear Gabrielle, she's too clever to keep secrets from.)

• Gabrielle: You've met Count Fersen before?

Confess to Gabrielle

• You: Actually...

• Gabrielle: Come, my dear, tell me quick.

• You: Count Fersen is the man I danced with at the masquerade ball.

• Gabrielle: What?!

• Gabrielle cannot mask her surprise. She grabs my hands and stares at me, her eyes wide with wonder.
• Gabrielle: Good heavens! When did you find out?

• You: He told me who he was on the night of the ball.

Stay silent

• I give Gabrielle a look that says her suspicion is not unfounded.
• Gabrielle: I knew it!

• Gabrielle: Count Fersen is the mysterious man from masquerade ball, isn't he?

• You: ...

• You: How did you know?

• Gabrielle: A man you'd have reason to be nervous about every time he's mentioned. Who else could it be?

• Gabrielle: When did you find out Count Fersen was the gentleman from the ball?

• You: He told me who he was on the night of the ball.

• Gabrielle: At the ball?

• You: Yes. I didn't expect to learn his identity, but he wanted me to know, so he told me.

• You: He even took off his mask.

• Gabrielle: Does he know who you are?

• You: I didn't tell him. He said he's sure we'll meet again, and he'll find out who I am eventually.

• You: But so far, he hasn't recognized me.

• Gabrielle: You interact with him so often, it's only a matter of time before he does...

• Gabrielle: Perhaps he already knows, and just hasn't said?

• You: I certainly hope not.

• You: He's so friendly with the nobles. If anyone learns I went to a masquerade ball...

• You: I'll be the sole subject pouring from the mouths of every gossip around.

• Though to be honest, that's not my greatest concern.
• If he knows I was the one who danced with him that night, then he almost certainly understands why I haven't revealed myself.
• What I'm truly worried about is—
• Gabrielle: How do you feel about him?

• Gabrielle: You haven't spent much time with him, but he's clearly had an impression on you.

• Gabrielle: Are you drawn to him because he can relate to you as a foreigner?

• You: Gabrielle...

• Gabrielle: Yes?

• You: I...

• I tell Gabrielle everything about the conversation Fersen and I had at the ball and his conversation with the Dauphin in the study.
• Gabrielle doesn't say much. She just keeps watching me, smiling gently.
• You: I can't deny I'm captivated by the way he speaks and acts.

• You: What if he's right and we were fated to meet?

• You: But in my present circumstances... if I were seen with a noble man from another country...

• Gabrielle: Everyone will scrutinize your behavior.

• You: Yes. That's my greatest concern.

• I bow my head.
• Gabrielle clasps my hands in hers and gives me a warm smile.
• Gabrielle: My dear, I hope you can be happy.

• Gabrielle: I know your life at Versailles hasn't been pleasant. I don't know how you bear the weight of so much pressure.

• Gabrielle: And I bet I don't even know the half of it.

• You: Gabrielle...

• Gabrielle: No matter what you choose, I'll always stand by your side.

• Gabrielle: If there's anything you need help with, just tell me.

• You: Thank you, Gabrielle.

• Gabrielle's smile reaches her eyes.
• I'm comforted by her support. I know she'll be my friend, no matter what I decide.
• Even if I don't make the right choice.
• Maid: Your Highness, Your Grace.

• I'm about to say more, but a maid comes and interrupts my train of thought.
• You: Yes? What is it?

• Maid: Your Highness, the Duke of Polignac has sent a messenger for the Duchess.

• Maid: An important guest has paid a surprise visit to the Duke's residence. He hopes the Duchess will return as soon as possible.

• Gabrielle: Why now?

• You: It's all right, Gabrielle.

• Gabrielle: How disappointing. I had hoped to spend more time with you.

• You: Even our short time together has lifted my spirits.

• You: Don't worry. I'll take care of myself.

• You: Please take care of yourself too. And you can always come to me with any problem you have. You know that, right?

• Gabrielle: Yes, Your Highness.

• You: Good. Take care on your way back, my dear. Goodbye.

• Gabrielle: Then I'll be taking my leave. Goodbye, Your Highness. Good luck with everything.

• As I watch Gabrielle leave, I feel my unease return.
• There's a war going on in my mind, a battle between what I want and what I need.
• You: (I'm not ready to go back to my room.)

• My bedroom is cold and gloomy. I decide to stay in the gardens a while longer.
• We're having a rare day of fine weather. Perhaps the warm sunlight will rid me of my chills.
• You: (So many of the roses have blossomed.)

• The garden is a riot of colorful roses: bright red, blushing pink, sunny yellow.
• You: (And pale white roses too.)

• I'm reminded of the white roses I saw in the Count's garden the night of the ball.
• And I can't help remembering what Fersen said...

• Fersen: I hope we meet again. And when we do, we can walk among the gardens once more while you share your thoughts and feelings.

• You: (Good heavens, why am I thinking of that again?)

• I shake my head, trying to dislodge the memory from my mind.
• But the harder I try to forget it, the more vivid it becomes.
• You: (In the garden among the roses...)

• You: (I feel compelled to find more white roses in this garden.)

• I begin walking to the east side of the garden where I'm sure there's an abundance of white roses.
• Something deep inside me seems to be urging me on. My steps quicken.
• My racing heart matches the clatter of my heels. My pace continues to quicken until I've finally reached the white roses.
• But I'm not the only one here... In the fading light, I can faintly see someone else in the garden.
• You: (Who could be here at this hour?)

• I slow down and try to calm my breathing.
• The light is too poor to make out who it is. I approach quietly.
• They must hear me because they turn around when I get nearer.
• Our eyes meet.
• You: Count Fersen?