Queen Marie: 2-2 Meeting the Aristocrats

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Taxing the aristocrats is the only way to solve France's financial woes! This time, I am not going to back down!

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• Style:
• Required: Gabrielle Goodwill Lv. 3
• Recommended: Ode to Grace Set
• Perfect Score: ~4,650
• Rewards: Blueprint: Dream Petals, 3,000 Gold, 600 Experience, 3 Reader's Coupon, 1 Gift Materials, 1 Clothing Materials, 10 Cotton, 10 Leather, 5 Pearl, Eagle Crest Relic

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Transcript

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• Gabrielle: Marie, about the voluntary taxes you mentioned...

• You: How did it go? Did you succeed?

• Upon hearing my reply, her doe-like eyes go dim...
• Gabrielle: You know that my family isn't like the other noble families... My husband says... that this tax will be a very heavy burden on us.

• You: I understand, Gabrielle... But you are the only person I can trust.

• You: The tax reforms depend heavily on whether we can get the aristocrats to pay taxes.

• After gazing at me for a long while, Gabrielle finally heaves a sigh.
• Gabrielle: Marie, you've helped me so much over the years. If not for you, my family would long be...

• Gabrielle: This is the first time you've asked anything of me. Of course I want to help you. So I had a huge fight with my husband...

• You: My goodness! You... actually argued with him?

• Gabrielle: Yes, I surprised myself... I don't know where I got the courage, but I threatened him and said that if he didn't agree to it, I'd make him lose his wife and children!

• You: And then...?

• Gabrielle: I won, Marie... I won! Do you know how happy that makes me?

• Gabrielle: I can finally... be of help to you!

• Right now, gentle Gabrielle looks just like a gleeful child. Her innocent smile is absolutely dazzling, as thought there's nothing else in this world she could be happier about.
• I can't help smiling back at her. We look into each other's eyes, and for a moment, I feel this indescribable bliss.
• You: Gabrielle... Oh, I don't know how to thank you!

• Gabrielle: Please don't say that. Your smile is worth it all.

• You: With your support, the reform has gotten off to a good start...

• You: And now I'll have to persuade the other noble families, and gain even more support!

• Gabrielle: Do you intend to go by yourself? Aren't you afraid they'll treat you badly?

• You: This is my duty. It's my responsibility.

• Gabrielle: Do let me go with you... No matter what, my family would have some ties to them, and I might be able to help.

• Faced with such resolve, I find myself unable to reject her.
• You: All right. Thank you, Gabrielle. Let's go!

• We visit a lot of noble families, and explain the new tax reforms, asking for their support.
• But...

• Villars: Yes, yes, we get it... On the day, we will definitely support your Majesty's reforms.

• You: Please keep to your promise. The King and I are placing a lot of trust in you.

• Fourquevaux: I understand his Majesty's concern, but I must discuss this with the rest of my family members. I cannot make the decision on my own.

• Fourquevaux: Of course, we do hope to be of help to the King. Rest assured, your Majesty.

• You: We are counting on you, and we believe that France will be proud of you.

• After a few days of visits, I realise that the situation isn't as dire as I thought, but it's also not particularly promising.
• I can only do my best before the conference day, and pray earnestly every day as well...

• On the morning of the meeting, I take extra care in choosing the perfect outfit for the occasion.
• You: I must dress well enough to match my status as the Queen.

• You: This outfit it shall be.

• Deniau: Your Highness, His Majesty the King is waiting.

• You: All right.

• The King and I sit next to one another on our thrones, and the nobles gradually file into the room.
• A lot of the nobles look troubled and shocked by our choice of participants, but I merely smile politely back at them in return. I must act the part of a dignified Queen.
• I notice that the King has been silent since the start. He looks incredibly grave, and I believe that this conference is extremely important to him.
• You: It's not easy to maintain your view under the pressure of many... In fact, you could say it's extremely difficult.

• You: But I believe that with your Majesty's participation, and the support from the Marquis de Lafayette and Count Fersen, we shall succeed.

• Louis XVI: Is that so? I am prepared to be hated by all the nobles...

• You: Your Majesty...

• Louis XVI: This is the only way to carry out the plans I have in mind to revive the country's finances.

• Louis XVI: It was my decision to fund the American War, and now I must bear the responsibility for my decision... This is a duty a King must bear.

• Louis XVI: But to make you stand together with me and face the ire of all the nobles... As your husband, I feel that I have done you wrong.

• You: I am the Queen of France, and I cannot wash my hands of the matter and pretend that this has nothing to do with me!

• Louis XVI: Thank you, Marie.

• The King gazes at me warmly, with a tinge of respect. Then he turns towards Blaisdell, who has been standing attentively at his side.
• Louis XVI: Everyone has arrived, Blaisdell. We can start the conference.

• Blaisdell announces the direction of our reforms, and goes into a detailed explanation. Once he finishes speaking, there is immediate objection from the aristocrats.
• Villars: You want to take away our rights and our dignity, and make us pay taxes like ordinary civilians?

• Villars: Your Majesty, I do not understand what you and the ministers are thinking!

• Mondego: I agree with the Duke of Villars, and I don't understand why the Queen has been included in this conference.

• Mondego: The Queen is responsible for a large part of France's financial ruin!

• Now that the nobles are pointing their fingers at me, the King and his supporters exchange glances. The situation is already a little out of hand even before we try to keep things under control.
• Lafayette: Silence, everyone!

• I know what these nobles are trying to do. If they manage to turn this conference into a "punish the Queen" session, they will win the battle...
• I try hard to remain clam. I mustn't let them goad me into a rage.
• Fersen: Haven't you all always blamed the royal family for everything? And you all keep saying that the Queen only cares about her clothes and jewellery.

• Fersen: Well, here she is, doing her part for the future of France! But what about your attitude? You're treating her like a criminal!

• Mondego: So simply being present counts as taking part in the conference? Do you mean to say that everyone gathering in the Place de la Concorde are discussing national matters every day?

• Lafayette: Watch your words, Mondego-

• You: Lafayette, thank you. Let me speak!

• I lift my head up high... and meet the curious and suspicious eyes of everyone in the room.
• Courage is welling up from within me, and running through my veins... part of my royal pride and self confidence.
• You: I understand that you're all doubtful of me. Be suspicious, if that's what you wish.

• You: But I stand here before you, to let everyone know, that I wish to do my best for France! And I am taking responsibility for my past actions!

• You: Or perhaps you would say, I'm Austrian... That I'm an Austrian wolf, and why would I care about France?

• You: Because I'm not a leech. And I know that the people of France have provided me with a life of comfort, as well as love and respect!

• You: I, and the King, and every one of you here, have been living off the people's taxes. That is why we can lead luxurious and carefree lives.

• You: And now, are we going to sacrifice the people's rights in order to defend our privileges... and doom our kingdom?

• You: Once we lose the support of the people, we lose the kingdom's protection, and all our privileges, status, and our dignity are but mere foam on water!

• You: You may wish to continue with your lives of luxury, and attempt to increase your income, but I will not let your foolish actions ruin France!

• My words have captured everyone's attention, and some are unconsciously nodding their heads, while others are frowning and glaring furiously at me.
• Their reactions surprise me, and I take a deep breath before continuing...
• You: For the country's future, these reforms must take place!

• You: The reforms will cost us, but no matter how high the price is, I am willing to do my part... because I am a part of France.

• You: Every single one of you in an invaluable part of France, and I believe that your love for this kingdom is much more passionate than mine.

• You: And if someone like me, who has been so frivolous in the past, can change for the sake of France, so can you!

• The room is silent. The nobles are all staring at me, as though they cannot believe what they have just heard.
• I meet their eyes fearlessly. I am the Queen of France, and I stand by my beliefs.

• Louis XVI: What the Queen has just said, is exactly what I wanted to say... and her words represent the will of the royal family.

• The King starts to clap, and Fersen and his other supporters join in. They look at me with admiration, much like the way the Austrian people regard Queen Theresa.
• Lafayette: The Queen is right. If the nobles refuse to cooperate with the royal family, all of our status and power will be for nought.

• His grave, yet sharp gaze sweeps across the room, and then rests on me. He gives me a respectful bow.
• Lafayette: I respect the Queen's resolve and the changed in her. As a marquis, I am willing to follow in her footsteps, and pay taxes from now on, to do my part for France.

• Fersen: Come on, my old battle comrade, don't leave me out, Lafayette.

• Fourquevaux: The Fourquevaux family willingly supports the reform.

• As more and more noble families publicly announce their support, the tide turns in favour of the royal family. I look at each and every one of them with gratitude.
• But of course, there are also some who promised me their support beforehand, and yet are silent now...
• You: (Duke Polignac doesn't want to support us at all... is he that unwilling to stand with the royal family, despite Gabrielle?)

• You: (There are other nobles who are struggling just like him, because they are unwilling to give up their privileges...)

• Mondego: Well, the Queen has certainly hurled quite a terrible accusation at us! So if we refuse to pay taxes, we are to blame for the ruin of France? Preposterous!

• Louis XVI: All you should be concerned about, is whether you are willing to support the royal family and the civilians in our quest to help France.

• Mondego: Your Majesty, I'm sorry but all I hear form the Queen's speech, is the royal family's selfish intent to collect money out of greed.

• Villars: Exactly! The royal family has run out of money, and wants to bleed the nobles dry!

• Blaisdell: Don't worry. The royal family will never stoop to such underhanded means.

• Blaisdell: But if the civilians think that you are the ones who got in the way of this conference, causing their taxes to rise further... Well, we have no control over what they think, do we?

• Mondego: This is a threat! A threat!

• Fersen: Oh? I think Blaisdell's just giving you an earnest warning. Lafayette, do you think that was a threat?

• Lafayette: No, I don't think so. And I think Count Mondego has simply misunderstood.

• Mondego: You...!

• Those nobles look like they've choked on a frog, but even if they're unwilling to comply, they now know where they stand.
• Mondego: Let us consider it for a few more days. You can't expect us to make a decision on the spot when it's something this important!

• Villars: That's right!

• You: (Oh... so they're trying to buy time?)

• Now that they've found a straw to grasp, many of the opposing nobles nod their heads at Count Mondego.
• The King and Lafayette exchange glances, and after a moment's thought, the King speaks.
• Louis XVI: Then we shall allow everyone a bit more time to consider this. But I believe that you will not let me down and betray my trust in you.

• Louis XVI: Dismissed.

• As the nobles leave the room, I slowly close my eyes, and pray fervently...
• You: (I hope that everything will get better.)