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The sudden change in Marie's role catches her off guard, and along with it comes a barrage of gossip...
Info[]
Dialogue Choices[]
Should I go see Fersen at a time like this?
- Accept his invitation
- Reject his invitation
Transcript[]
Expand for script.
- That night felt like a dream. I went to sleep as the Dauphine, but upon waking, I had become the Queen of France.
- The royal carriage carries Louis and me through crowds of cheering people, from the Palace of Versailles to Reims Cathedral.
- Under God's gaze, the Cardinal places the heavy crown upon my head.
- After the coronation, there are many celebrations. I barely have time to catch my breath.
- You: (If only Fersen were here...)
- Since parting that day, we haven't had a chance to meet in private again.
- The last time I saw him was after the coronation. On our way back to Versailles, I happened to glance out the carriage window.
- Fersen and Count Kroetz were standing together in the crowd. Our eyes met.
- You: (When will we see each other again?)
- I look down at the envelope in my hands. It's a letter from my mother. Madame Deniau gave it to me this morning.
- My dearest daughter, Marie:
- I will not be congratulating you on your new title. I have heard some terrible rumors, and I wish to remind you, my dear child, that you will pay a hefty price if you keep indulging in luxury and neglecting your responsibilities. I am worried about you pushing everything aside for your own enjoyment. You must take serious matters into your hands, and most importantly, resist the temptation to splurge. You must not only bring happiness to yourself, but to the people as well.
- Marie Theresa from Austria
- I read the letter over and over again. Each time I do, my heart sinks even more.
- Madame Adelaide: There you are, Your Majesty.
- I spin around and hide the letter behind me.
- You: Madame Adelaide?
- Madame Adelaide: Madame Deniau told me you left your room early this morning.
- Madame Adelaide: I was about to go to the Petit Trianon in search of you. I heard you've been spending most of your time there.
- A few days ago, the King gave me Petit Trianon as a gift. I finally have my own realm of freedom.
- This has made Madame Adelaide dislike me even more.
- You: Did you need me for something, Madame Adelaide?
- Madame Adelaide: Your Majesty, I believe Madame Deniau has spoken to you about those rumors.
- Madame Adelaide: I'm not sure if you know, but many tabloids have written your behavior into a flirtatious story. It's become the talk of the salons.
- You: What?
- Madame Adelaide: You are now the Queen of France. You know that you represent not just yourself but the entire royal family, and even the whole of France.
- You: I...
- Madame Adelaide: If you'll excuse me, Your Majesty.
- Madame Adelaide: I hope you understand what you're doing. Never do something that will bring shame to the royal family again.
- Without even waiting for my reply, Madame Adelaide whirls about and leaves.
- You: (How can I possibly explain my behavior? I have only myself to blame.)
- You: (I made this choice.)
- Competing emotions well up inside me. I feel like there are two voices in my head, arguing with each other.
- One voice warns me not to fail my mother or forget my responsibilities.
- But the other tempts me, encouraging me to pursue happiness.
- You: *sigh*
- Trying to drive both voices out of my head, I walk alone to the Petit Trianon.
- The Palace of Versailles is like a transparent cage. Everything I say and do is watched by countless people.
- But the Petit Trianon is my Garden of Eden. Here I am free from all constraints.
- I greet my guests not as the Queen of France, but as Marie Antoinette.
- Guests such as...
- Gabrielle: Good day, Your Majesty.
- You: Please, Gabrielle, call me Marie in private, as you did before.
- Gabrielle: All right, if that's what you want.
- Gabrielle: It's rare for you to have the chance to rest here, Marie. You must be exhausted.
- You: I am. Ever since the coronation, I've had to see so many people and learn so many things...
- You: I haven't had the chance to speak with anyone. Not with you, and not with...
- Gabrielle: I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, my dear.
- You: No, Gabrielle, it's not your fault.
- You: I'm glad you came to see me today. I already feel much better!
- Gabrielle: I'm so glad.
- Gabrielle: Oh! I almost forgot.
- Gabrielle: I have a surprise for you.
- You: A surprise?
- Gabrielle smiles and hands the surprise to me...
- You: Oh...!
- It's a delicate white rose. It's fragrance is light and sweet. One look at it, and I think of Fersen.
- Gabrielle: It seems like you already know who it's from.
- Gabrielle: He came to me this morning and asked me to bring this to you as soon as possible.
- Gabrielle: In addition to the rose...
- Gabrielle hands me a delicate wine-red envelope that's sealed with silver wax.
- My princess,
- I think the sudden changes must have disarmed us both. It pains me to be away from you. This rose holds my thoughts for you, and I hope you can feel them. It may be risky, but I still hope to see you once more. I have too much to say to you.
- Yours, Fersen
- You: A meeting...
- Gabrielle: What's wrong, my dear? What did Fersen say in his letter?
- You: He wants to see me...
- Gabrielle: At a time like this?
- I've desperately wanted to see him. The moment I read the letter, I know what answer I want to give him.
- But then I remember Madame Adelaide warning me not to forget the circumstances I'm in now.
- I look helplessly at Gabrielle, not knowing what to do.
- Gabrielle: Hasn't he heard...
- Gabrielle: Oh, no, it's nothing. Forget what I said.
- You: Are you talking about the rumors about me?
- Gabrielle: My dear, y-you know?
- You: Yes, Madame Deniau and Madame Adelaide told me about them.
- Gabrielle: I'm sorry, Marie...
- Gabrielle: I brought you to that ball because I wanted to cheer you up. I never thought it would cause you so much trouble.
- Gabrielle: I never wanted you to be sad.
- You: It's all right, Gabrielle. I know you were trying to make me happy, as you always are.
- You: If it wasn't for that ball, I wouldn't have met Fersen.
- Gabrielle: But, my dear...
- You: Attending the masquerade ball, spending time with Fersen, following my heart—these are all decisions I made myself.
- You: Didn't I say I would gladly accept whatever I might face in the future?
- Gabrielle: Marie...
- Gabrielle: If you decide to go, I'll do my best to help you.
- Gabrielle: So... what is your decision?
- Looking at the letter and the white rose in my hands, I long to accept Fersen's invitation...
- But I also need to consider my current position and all of the gossip...
- Should I go see Fersen at a time like this?
Accept his invitation
- You: (Though he's rather playful when he's with me, Fersen is not an impulsive person.)
- You: (He must have something very important to tell me if he wants to see me at a time like this.)
- You: (Madame Adelaide only mentioned the ball. She didn't say anything about Fersen...)
- You: (As long as I'm cautious, I should be all right.)
- Gabrielle: Are you worried about the rumors, my dear?
- You: I am. Are there rumors about anything other than my going to the masquerade ball?
- Gabrielle: Some say you do nothing but amuse yourself and squander money...
- Gabrielle: The rest say you and His Majesty cannot rule this country properly...
- You: (It seems like they haven't found out about Fersen and me.)
- You: I want to see him, Gabrielle.
- You: I think he must have something important to say. Otherwise, he wouldn't ask me to see him at a time like this.
- Gabrielle: I understand, Marie. Is there anything I can do to help you?
- You: Let me think...
- You: (How do I go see him?)
- You: Ah, I know. I told His Majesty I will go to the church to pray for blessings from God.
- You: Since it's not a formal royal Mass, I will be accompanied by only Madame Deniau and Father Vermond.
- You: I'll ask Fersen to meet me at the church after the Mass.
- Gabrielle: Perfect. I'll take this message to him.
- You: Thank you, Gabrielle.
Reject his invitation
- You: (Although I want to see him, the gossip has had such an enormous impact on me...)
- You: (My mother has always warned me not to make any mistakes, and I've already let her down.)
- You: (I've already made a mistake. I can't make another.)
- You: I can't see him right now, Gabrielle.
- Gabrielle: You're worried about the rumors, aren't you?
- You: Yes. Now even my mother knows about this. It's too risky for me to meet Fersen at a time like this.
- You: If worse rumors spread, it will affect not only me, but the entire royal family.
- You: And if people find out about us, he...
- Gabrielle: I understand, Marie. I think you're right.
- Gabrielle: I'm certain Fersen will understand.
- You: I think so too. I must ask him to be patient.
- Gabrielle: I will let him know your thoughts.
- You: No, Gabrielle. I want to write him a letter, to tell him my decision and the reason behind it.
- You: Just give me a few moments.
- I have Gabrielle wait for me in the gardens, then run alone to my room in the Petit Trianon.
- I find a pen and paper and quickly compose a short letter.
- When signing the letter, I somehow manage to drip ink next to my name. It feels like fate has played a strange joke on me.
- Gabrielle: Have you finished your letter, my dear?
- You: I have.
- I look down at the letter in my hands and read it one more time, worried I'll find a mistake.
- You: ("Just as you are thinking of me, so I am thinking of you.")
- You: ("I promise you that my feelings are genuine, but only the passage of time will prove this to you.")
- I read the last two sentences again, sigh, and put the letter in an envelope.
- You: Please give him this letter, Gabrielle.
- Gabrielle: I will. What will you do now?
- You: In a few days, I'll go to the church with Madame Deniau and Father Vermond.
- You: I will pray for God to bless the King, myself, and the whole of France.
- You: (And Fersen too...)
- Gabrielle: God will surely bless you, Marie.
- After Gabrielle leaves, I return to my room alone.
- You: What would my life be like now, if I hadn't met Fersen?
- I put the white rose he gave me in my favorite porcelain vase.
- The sunlight in the Palace of Versailles is so cold, it makes the rose look fragile and small, like it might wither at the slightest touch.
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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