A Precious Friend: 1-4 Meeting the Queen

*Gabrielle and Jules are brought before Queen Marie. The fateful encounter marks the beginning of their friendship.*

## Info

* **Rewards:** 3,000 , 600 , 1 , 1 , 1 , Blueprint: Lily's Cuddle

## Transcript

Expand for script.

* **Gabrielle:** (Is attending the ball really the right thing to do?)

* Perhaps I shouldn't go? Once I start to have such thoughts, my anxiety becomes uncontainable.
* As the carriage approaches Versailles, I turn to look towards the glorious palace that looms ahead.
* Still frowning, Dianna can't help but warn us.
* **Dianna:** We're about to reach Versailles. Once there, stay close and don't look around as if you've never seen it before.

* I look down at the creases on my dress and try to smooth them out with my hands, becoming more and more restless.
* **Dianna:** It's too late to worry about it now. Let's go. The ball is about to begin.

* The carriage stops at a spot not far from the palace. Jules and I follow closely behind Dianna in silence.
* We must pass through the beautiful gardens of Versailles to reach the grand palace doors.
* **Comtesse Ponier:** Is that Dianna? What a coincidence! And these two behind you are...?

* A beautifully dressed noblewoman, fully adorned with jewelry, looks at Jules and I in surprise.
* **Dianna:** Good day, Comtesse Ponier.

* **Dianna:** This is my brother, Jules Polignac, and his wife, Gabrielle.

* Dianna doesn't seem to want to introduce us any further, so she changes the topic by enthusiastically exchanging amenities with the Comtesse.
* **Dianna:** It has been so long! Your taste is as good as ever. This Polish gown suits you wonderfully.

* They walk towards the banquet hall shoulders abreast. Jules and I have to walk quickly to keep up.
* **Gabrielle:** Jules, my dear, I'm... I'm a little nervous...

* **Jules:** ...Gabrielle, my dear, be quiet and mind your etiquette.

* Jules rarely disciplines me so sternly, which makes me even more anxious.

* I follow behind Dianna with a very perturbed mind. I'm not even in the mood to appreciate the astonishing decorations of Versailles, until eventually we enter the banquet hall—

* At the end of the banquet hall stands the graceful Queen Marie. Nobles crowd around her, and they all seem to be introducing other guests to her.
* Their faces are powdered white; they wear tall wigs, and their necks and arms are covered in jewelry.
* **Dianna:** As you can see, Queen Marie is very busy. There are countless nobles waiting to be summoned.

* **Dianna:** You two wait here. I'm going to find the Comtesse. I'll come back after saying my greetings.

* Dianna's tone is cold and indifferent. She places us at the end of the summoning queue and walks off proudly.
* **Gabrielle:** This queue is so long... How many people are there ahead of us?

* **Jules:** Gabrielle, stay calm.

* **Gabrielle:** Oh... Jules, my dear, won't my dress be too disgraceful?

* **Jules:** There's no point discussing this now.

* **Gabrielle:** (Jules is particularly impatient today. Is it because of the disagreement with Dianna?)

* **Gabrielle:** (I don't blame him. He did run to and fro to gather the money for this dress. And yet...)

* We slowly move forward with the queue. The long wait makes us feel a little tired.
* After a long while, Dianna returns in her heavy and luxurious dress.
* **Dianna:** In a moment, I'll introduce you to Queen Marie. Remember these few things.

* **Dianna:** Don't look up directly at the Queen, maintain a humble attitude, and speak in honorifics.

* **Dianna:** Be sure that you don't do anything disgraceful. Understood?

* **Dianna:** As for your outfit... Well, let's just hope Queen Marie doesn't notice.

* She examines me from head to toe and scoffs.
* **Gabrielle:** ...I understand.

* After waiting a long time, we finally find ourselves standing before Queen Marie.
* Dianna respectfully performs all the noble courtesies, then smiles rather fawningly and introduces Jules and I to Queen Marie.
* **Dianna:** Queen Marie, this is my younger brother Jules Polignac and his wife Gabrielle.

* **Gabrielle:** Good day, Your Majesty...

* I anxiously perform my courtesies and keep my head slightly lowered. I can only see the Queen's intricately and extravagantly embroidered dress.
* It's of high quality material with gold trimming along the edge of the dress. The workmanship is meticulous.
* **Marie:** Gabrielle, is it? Greetings.

* Queen Marie's voice is beautiful and gentle, like a clear stream.
* **Gabrielle:** (What a gentle voice... Didn't Dianna say that she is arrogant?)

* My curiosity got the better of me. I raise my head to take a brief look at Queen Marie.
* Queen Marie has a dignified and beautiful face, with charming contours and a naturally noble air about her.
* The moment I meet her eyes, she gives me a playful smile and looks me up and down with intrigue.
* **Marie:** Be at ease.

* She extends her hand and pulls me up, then takes me aside.
* **Gabrielle:** Eh...?

* I stiffen at the Queen's touch, and look at her in disbelief.
* **Marie:** There's no need to be nervous, Gabrielle. Just chat with me for a while.

* **Gabrielle:** Y-Yes.

* Queen Marie keeps smiling, perhaps because of my nervousness.
* **Marie:** I rarely see you in Versailles.

* **Gabrielle:** ...Yes, Your Majesty. I haven't visited Versailles ever since your wedding.

* **Marie:** Oh? Why is that?

* Queen Marie looks at me curiously. It seems she merely wants to know the answer and isn't trying to give me a hard time.
* **Gabrielle:** Well...

* **Marie:** Is something holding you back? You can tell me.

* **Gabrielle:** (The reason I can't come to the palace regularly is because of our finances and standing. But to tell this to the Queen...)

* I'm still anxious, and Dianna's warning flashes across my mindâ€”don't do anything disgraceful.
* Despite my hesitation, Queen Marie shows not a hint of frustration. Instead, she waits for me patiently.
* **Gabrielle:** Actually, the main reason I cannot come to the palace regularly is that my husband and I are not in a very good financial situation...

* Faced with Queen Marie's kind disposition, I can't help but blurt out the truth.
* **Gabrielle:** Besides, we're not important people, so we don't really get the opportunity to come to the palace.

* **Marie:** I see...

* It seems that Queen Marie wasn't expecting me to be so blunt. She gives me a look of surprise mixed with admiration.
* **Marie:** In this palace, it is rare to meet such a sincere and frank person.

* Queen Marie winks at me playfully, then warmly clasps my trembling hands.
* **Marie:** Allow me to invite you to the Palace of Versailles to take part in the salon and ball.

* **Gabrielle:** Eh...?

* **Gabrielle:** (Queen Marie is inviting me personally? This is something I have never even dreamed of...)

* Before I can even thank Queen Marie, she is already pulling me to the center of the dance floor.
* Only then do I notice Dianna watching with envy from a distance, and the eyes of everyone present upon us.
* **Gabrielle:** I...

* I look nervously at Queen Marie ahead of me, who stops and gives me another playful wink.
* **Marie:** Let's enjoy the ball together.

* Queen Marie's approachability makes me feel completely at ease. I spend the entire evening by Queen Marie's side.
* This is by far the most enjoyable ball I've attended in years.