Alexandre Bontemps

Alexandre Bontemps is a love interest in the book Vying for Versailles.

## About Alexandre

Alexandre Bontemps is valet to the King and considered the second most powerful man in France. He, King Louis XIV and Prince Philippe grew up together.

His father was Louis's father's surgeon and valent, so Alexandre was around court even as a small boy. Desribed as a watchful, quiet and intelligent kid, he was always underfoot and following people like a shadow. Being raised by his cold and manipulative father who trained dogs in order to learn about the behaviors of men lead to Alexandre growing up without love, thinking his only value comes from being of service to others. Alexandre's mother was a gentle, kind and faithful woman, but his father treated her badly, being incapable of loving her for who she is. She was cowed by his father, and Alexandre wasn't close to her as a result. He inherited the post of the King's valet when he was sixteen and has been devoted to Louis ever since, swearing to never have a family of his own. Alexandre is very loyal and tries to protect his King from any threats that may arise. He doesn't trust anyone, hates gratitude and has never expressed a want or a need..

Alexandre has much good fortune, due to the King's beneficence, but no wife nor children, which is why he likes to sponsor others. He becomes Renée's patron after catching her stealing and blackmails her into being his agent in Versailles. Watching Renée's growing success in the court, Alexandre gets jealous and confesses to her that he feels like an outsider in Versailles. While working together to undercover intrigues, Alexandre and Renée spend a lot of time with each other and and get closer over time.

In the beginning of Season 2, Alexandre becomes the new Governor of Versailles which makes him responsible for the further development and building of the royal residence, increasing his influence even more. He has more and more trouble resisiting Renée's charm and they start playing games, teasing each other while pretending that no real feelings are involved. After finally sleeping together, Alexandre makes it clear that a relationship is not an option because of who he is and how he works. He and Renée still continue seeing each other, until Alexandre confesses their affair to Louis. Since the King doesn't want a spymaster in love, he plans to marry Alexandre off to “secure” him. Not willing to marry a stranger, Alexandre then decides to leave court and assist his King from outside of the circle.

After he and Renée barely see each other for a year, he returns to warn the woman about a poisoner plotting to kill the King. Renée reacts upset, being angry because Alexandre didn't fight the King when he was told to leave, not fighting to stay with her. The pair continues their desperate games, teasing and supporting each other while trying to find the poisoner in time. After working together again with Renée, Alexandre finally gives into his desires and allows more intimacy between them, but Renée knows he will never see himself as her equal unless given a title.

## Relationships

* Louis XIV: King to whom he pledged his full loyalty.
* Renée de Noailles: Protegée, friend or Love Interest.

## Quotes

* *"I fear I wasn't myself tonight. I was dreaming and I - I feel I never woke."* (S1, E9)
* *"Mademoiselle, you have charmed the entire court. You are altogether too charming."* (S1, Ep10)
* *"I wasn’t raised with... love. Or affection. I was praised if I did my duty. I was punished if I did not."* (S1, Ep10)
* *"I could have never expected you."* (S1, Ep10)
* *"Mademoiselle de Noailles, I'll hold my breath. The next time you act, the world will tremble on its axis and the course of history will change."* (S1, Ep10)
* *"I have so little self-control around you."* (S2, Ep5)
* *"I will not let you be indifferent to me."* (S2, Ep5)
* *"I want you to say my name as if you're mine."* (S2, Ep5)
* *"I don’t fall in love. For me, love isn’t given once. It’s given forever. To love is to be revealed. To be known. To have no secrets. I must have secrets, Renée."* (S2, Ep5)
* *"I had it all figured out until you came along."* (S2, Ep7)
* *"You and I… We shouldn’t be in love. It’s not done. Intendant or not, I’m a valet and you’re the daughter of a marquis. It’s not best, for those of our ilk. It will end in heartbreak."* (S2. Ep10)
* *"Dreams aren’t for men like me."* (S2, Ep10)
* *"Respecting a capable woman is never a sign or weakness, Monsieur."*
* *"Some women are only beautiful by candlelight. But you… You are always beautiful."* (S3, Ep4)
* *"I’m a man who does favors. I like it, to have others owe me."* (S3, Ep5)
* *"Don’t make me say that I love you."* (S3, Ep5)
* *"You will always be beautiful to me. You’re mine, Mademoiselle Renée."* (S3, Ep6)

## Trivia

* Prince Philippe de France says Alexandre's only hobby is cutting the King's hair.
* Asked about what Alexandre would do for a living if he wouldn't be valet to the King, the author of the story said that he would have gone into a competitive field, like law or administration. He would be drawn into an area that is complex and powerful and competitive, yet where he could also be generous. She thinks he still would've found his way into government and do something important, like working in the cabinet or as a senator's aid.
* Alexandre is an only child.
* He smells of soap, vanilla and cinnamon.
* He has had other relationships, but they were always brief. He never let himself fall in love before Renée.
* Alexandre drinks a lot of tea and prefers to prepare it himself, with an iron kettle above the fireplace in his room.
* He leaves small gifts for people at court – a hangover remedy at a nobleman’s door or a bouquet of flowers for a woman who’s suffered the loss of a pet.
* The author has stated that Alexandre's astrological sign would be Scorpio♏.
* The author has stated that if Alexandre was an animal, he would be a dog.

## Romance path

Alexandre's romance path opens at the end of Season 1. To unlock it, you don't have to be single and are free to romance anyone as long as you make sure to get all of Alexandre's relationship improvements and follow the important steps listed below.

Relationship choices leading to an intimate scene are marked with a 💖 symbol.

* Season 1
* Season 2
* Season 3

**Season 1**

**Ep1**

* Are you asking, Monsieur? [❗ Your relationship to Alexandre has improved.]
* (Alexandre’s.)
	+ (The trunk.)
	+ (The luggage.)
	+ If you stole 2 items, including the ecus (coins) from Alexander's room, you will see: [❗ Your relationship with Alexandre has improved] and [❗ You impressed Alexandre]
* (Alexandre.) [❗ Your relationship with Alexandre has improved]
* (Settle the horse and save the man.) (💎18) [❗ Your relationships with Catherine, Armand, and Alexandre improved.]

**Ep3**

* (Go back to bed.) (Free) [❗ Your relationship with Alexandre has improved.]

**Ep4**

* (No one special.) (Free)

**Ep5**

* "Follow Hugues's wife." (💎18) (You discover useful information to pass to Alexandre.) OR
* "Follow Hugues." (💎18) (You discover useful information to pass to Alexandre.)

**Ep8**

* (No.) (You will not seduce Hugues.)
* (Ask him about his father.) (💎8)
	+ (Stay silent.) [❗ Your relationship with Alexandre strengthens.]

**Ep9**

* "That Alexandre asked me to seduce Hugues." [+1 Calculation ♟️]
* (Speak to Alexandre.) (💎18) [❗Alexandre is intrigued by your presence.]
	+ (Confront him directly.) [❗Your relationship to Alexandre has improved.]
* (Go boating.) (💎156)
	+ (Alexandre.) [❗Your relationship with Alexandre improves.]
	+ Help Alexandre and François [❗Your relationship with François improves.] [❗Alexandre believes your idea is clever.]
* (Power.)/(Money.)/(Fame.) (💎18)
* (Tell Alexandre.)

**Ep10**

* (Tell Alexandre.) [❗Your relationship with Alexandre strengthens.]
* (Pretend to sleep.)
* If you have a bad reputation in the court: (Search Paris for evidence.) (💎23) [❗You've pleased Alexandre.]. [❗Your strongest friendship at court is with Alexandre.]
* (Say yes to tea.)
	+ (I might...)
	+ (Deny my feelings.) [❗You delighted Alexandre.]
	+ (Stop blackmailing me. Treat me as a partner.) [❗You pleased Alexandre.]

**Season 2**

**Ep1**

* Adjoining Room (💎45)
	+ Alexandre
* (Alexandre.) [❗Your relationship with Alexandre strengthens.]
* (Ride with someone.) (💎22)
	+ Alexandre [❗Your relationship with Alexandre strengthens.]

**Ep2**

* (Knock.) (💎12) [❗Your relationship to Alexandre strengthens.]

**Ep3**

* (Go to the cellars.) (💎20) [You meet the informant and receive valuable information.]

**Ep4**

* (Ask for his help.) (💎19) [❗Your relationship with Alexandre strengthens.]
	+ 💖 (Pull Alexandre into a secret passage.) (Note: This choice leads to an unskippable kiss scene.)

**Ep5**

* 💖 (Persuade him to be with me tonight.) (💎102)

**Ep 6**

* (Open adjoining door.) (💎17)

**Ep7**

* (Enter adjoining room.) (💎20) [❗Your relationship with Alexandre strengthens.]

**Ep9**

* 💖 (Sneak a kiss with Alexandre.) [❗Your relationship with Alexandre intensifies.]

**Ep10**

* Alexandre

**Season 3**

**Ep1**

* “Yes, I will.”

**Ep2**

* (Follow him.)
	+ 💖 (Give in.) (💎23)

**Ep3**

* (Manipulate Olympia into an invitation.) (💎50)
	+ 💖 (Kiss him.)

**Ep4**

* (Defend Alexandre.)
	+ 💖 I have great expectations of you, Monsieur. (💎49) [CG Unlocked] [❗ The necklace has been added to your wardrobe.] (Kiss scene)

**Ep5**

* 💖 (Tease him until he confesses he cares.) (💎18)

**Ep7**

* I disagree. First, the personal. (💎20)
* (Kiss him.)

**Ep8**

* 💖 Do you want me to say please? (💎30) [Sex scene]
	+ Yes, I do. (💎8)

## Gallery

* Sprites and items
* CG images
* Additional content
**Sprites and items**

Alexandre's sprite (S1, Ep1)Alexandre's bright smile (S1, Ep1)Alexandre's slight smile (S1, Ep1)Alexandre in a shirt (S1, Ep9)Alexandre in a new outfit (S2, Ep1)Alexandre dressed as a common man (S2, Ep5)Alexandre's angry sprite (S2, Ep5)Alexandre's romantic sprite (S2, Ep5)Alexandre in a ball outfit (S2, Ep9)Alexandre with a mask (S2, Ep9)Alexandre's sprite (S3, Ep2)Alexandre with open shirt (S3, Ep5)**CG images**

CG unlocked in S2, Ep5 (💎102)CG unlocked in S2, Ep5 (💎102)CG unlocked in S2, Ep5 (💎102)CG unlocked in S2, Ep5 (💎102)CG unlocked in S2, Ep8 (💎95)CG unlocked in S2, Ep8 (💎95)CG unlocked in S2, Ep8 (💎95)CG unlocked in S2, Ep8 (💎95)CG unlocked in S3, Ep4 (💎49)CG unlocked in S3, Ep4 (💎49)CG unlocked in S3, Ep4 (💎49)CG unlocked in S3, Ep4 (💎49)**Additional content**

Alexandre's romance (RC Facebook, September 2023)
## References

1. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceClub/comments/10bur56/hi\_i\_am\_langley\_the\_writer\_for\_vying\_for/
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceClub/comments/18nrmel/hi\_i\_am\_langley\_the\_writer\_for\_vying\_for/