A Precious Friend: 1-1 Newlyweds

*The newly-wedded Gabrielle leads a frugal, yet blissful life as a noble with her husband, Jules. Little do they know that their peaceful lives will soon be shattered by a grandiose royal wedding.*

## Info

* **Rewards:** 3,000 , 600 , 1 , 1 , 1 , Blueprint: Gentle Grace

### Dialogue Choices

Note: Changing choices when replaying will cost 5

**Jules:** Are you...disappointed with out life, my dear?

* **A Little Disappointed.**
* **Not at All Disappointed.**

## Transcript

Expand for script.

* Now that the spring ceremony has finished, the wedding of Louis, heir to the crown, and Princess Marie is approaching.
* The streets of France are abuzz with talk of the affair. Everyone is excited for it. Everyone except for me.
* The royal wedding means there will be an extravagant ceremony and a grand ball. My husband Jules and I must attend, even though we are "penniless nobles".
* I pace anxiously in my room, worried about the costs of attending this wedding.
* **Gabrielle:** Please come in.

* **Jules:** What are you doing, Gabrielle?

* **Gabrielle:** My mind is troubled, my dear.

* **Jules:** Is it about the royal wedding?

* **Gabrielle:** Yes. I must purchase a new dress to attend it, and I'm concerned about the cost.

* Jules sighs deeply.
* **Jules:** We are rather tight on money right now, my dear.

* **Gabrielle:** If I wear an old dress to the wedding, we'll become laughing stocks.

* **Jules:** You know our family's finances have been in dire straits these past few years.

* **Gabrielle:** Yes, I understand. It's just that... don't you think wearing shabby clothes will tarnish our family's reputation?

* **Gabrielle:** And we haven't made an appearance at a formal social occasion in a long time...

* **Jules:** ...You're right. I'll think of something.

* We look at each other in dismay, wondering how to cobble together the money needed for new clothes.
* Before we can come up with a solution, Jules turns his mind to another difficult question.
* **Jules:** Are you... disappointed with our life, my dear?

A Little Disappointed.

* **Gabrielle:** Why do you suddenly ask such a question, my dear Jules?

* **Jules:** Struggling to maintain our dignity, unable to participate in social events...

* **Jules:** We're forced to remain in Claye Manor. Does this lifestyle not bother you at all?

* **Gabrielle:** (Does it really not bother me? Am I just pretending?)

* But it's hard for me to be truthful when my husband looks so downtrodden.
* **Gabrielle:** My dear, I...

* **Jules:** ...I guess I shouldn't ask such a question. We should focus on...

Not at All Disappointed.

* **Gabrielle:** Why would you think I would be disappointed in our life?

* **Gabrielle:** New clothes and social events are not necessities.

* **Gabrielle:** I'm happy to be living with you here in Claye Manor...

* **Jules:** But Gabrielle, you...

* I gently put my finger over Jules' lips to hush him.
* **Gabrielle:** Are our days in Claye Manor not joyous?

* **Jules:** Gabrielle, you really are an angel sent from the Lord.

* **Jules:** What's more important right now anyway is...

* **Jules:** ...the lavish wedding of Prince Louis and Princess Marie.

* **Jules:** Shall we go to Bohmer and procure some new clothes?

* **Gabrielle:** There's little time until the wedding. We should go and see him as soon as possible.

* **Jules:** Then we will go tomorrow.

* The next morning, my husband and I take the carriage to Bohmer's shop.

* **Bohmer:** If it isn't the honorable Monsieur and Madame Polignac!

* **Gabrielle:** Good day, Monsieur Bohmer.

* **Bohmer:** It has been some time, Madame Polignac. You are as beautiful as ever.

* Bohmer, with his pleasing smile, seems to have anticipated the reason for our visit today.
* **Bohmer:** Have you come because that grand royal wedding is approaching?

* **Jules:** That's precisely the reason for our visit.

* **Gabrielle:** Do you have a suitable ball gown on hand?

* He rubs his hands together nervously, showing an expression of slight embarrassment.
* **Bohmer:** Well, yes, but...

* **Jules:** Speak plainly!

* **Bohmer:** Well, you see, Monsieur Polignac...

* **Bohmer:** As you know, every noble in France has been invited to the wedding, so every tailor has ordered large quantities of material.

* **Bohmer:** I'm afraid you have come rather late, so the price will be higher than usual...

* **Gabrielle:** How much?

* Bohmer returns to his pleasing expression and continues...
* **Bohmer:** I can provide the grandest of ball gowns! You must wear something worthy of the glory of the Polignac family.

* **Bohmer:** As for the price... It's only fifty thousand livres!

* **Gabrielle:** F-Fifty thousand livres!

* **Gabrielle:** We... we need to talk this over.

* Bohmer leaves the parlor, using the excuse of bringing us his ready-made dresses.
* **Gabrielle:** I hadn't expected the price of ball gowns to have gone up so preposterously...

* **Jules:** This has completely ruined our plans. With our limited budget, we will have to...

* **Gabrielle:** Make do with the cheapest clothing.

* The thought of those haughty nobles looking down on me because of a cheap dress makes me sigh.
* **Jules:** If you're worried about how the nobles of Versailles will judge us behind our backs...

* **Jules:** I'm afraid there's not much we can do. But we do have a "secret weapon"...

* Jules' words pique my curiosity. I can't think of any adornment that I would consider a "secret weapon".
* **Jules:** Silly girl. The "secret weapon" is your natural beauty!

* **Jules:** Your beauty requires no adornments whatsoever, Gabrielle.

* I know Jules is only trying to comfort me, but I still enjoy the praise.
* My heart is lifted in joy.
* **Gabrielle:** Do you really mean that?

* **Jules:** Of course, my Gabrielle, my beloved, my wife.

* **Jules:** A dress, no matter how gorgeous, is merely an embellishment. Your beauty cannot be hidden.

* **Gabrielle:** Jules, you're making me blush.

* **Bohmer:** Pardon me, Monsieur and Madame Polignac. Have you finished your discussion?

* **Bohmer:** I have selected a few suitable dresses to show you!

* I ask him to come in, and I pick out the most ordinary dress from those he shows.
* **Gabrielle:** Monsieur Bohmer, I choose this one.

* **Bohmer:** Th... This one?

* **Bohmer:** Ahem... I mean, there are ones that suit you better.

* **Gabrielle:** Are you saying this one doesn't suit me?

* **Bohmer:** Of course it suits you! Why, it was made for you! If you have any other needs, please let me know.

* **Jules:** Now that we've chosen a dress, let's go home, my dear.

* Jules bends down slightly and reaches out his hand to me in a gentlemanly manner. I happily take his arm.
* **Gabrielle:** All right, let's go home.