Marie Noir

# The pianist

### Also known as

The fair lady (Gustave), Menteuse Marie (Patrica), Fujin Koto (Michieyo), The pianist, The musician (path A), The duchess (path B)

### Part of

Vines on piano titles, The tenth author's journal

### Likes

Diligent, herb (poisonous), playing music, rain, dresses

### Dislikes

Laziness, plague doctor, revolution, lawyer, mud

### Hobby

Playing piano, writing music, making tea, making "medicine"

### Authority

**Author**, **Song of wind and sky**, **Music prodigy**

"So what if the citizens hate me? They are no better than scums of noble that listened to phonies"

Marie to Baron Noir

## Profile

Marie, also known as "The Pianist," takes on the role of the protagonist in "Vines on Piano Titles" and serves as the third author in the series of the Tenth Author's Journal.

Her story was the second to be written in the journal, following her immersion in Gustave's tale. Marie opted for a more modest narrative, distinct from Gustave's epic, and her child, Mikhail, assumed the role of a philosophical hero. In this story, moral questions were raised repeatedly, presenting the characters with dilemmas to resolve or confront, often pushing the boundaries of their beliefs. Mikhail, in particular, stood out for their unique versatility when it came to relationships and interactions with others.

## History

### Vines on piano titles

#### Birth of a star

On the day of Marie's birth, a star streaked across the sky, its radiant descent coinciding with the hour of her arrival into the world. It was this celestial spectacle that inspired her parents to name her Marie, signifying a "wished-for child," in recognition of the destiny that seemed to accompany her from the moment of her birth. Even as an infant, Marie displayed an innate and remarkable sense of musical intuition.

Marie was the firstborn in the lineage of the Noir family, known for their involvement in various clandestine arts and infamous scheming. These practices often cast the Noirs as the enigmatic shadows behind the throne, serving as the emperor's clandestine advisors. The family's storied tradition had its origins with their patriarch, Triboulet "Véloce" Noir, who had once been the royal jester in the court of King Louis XII.

From the very beginning, Marie's path had been laid out for her. Her father, in accordance with family tradition and arrangements with the current Duke of Languedoc, had destined her to become the future duchess. Her role would extend beyond the mere title, as she was also intended to serve as the royal musician within the palace, subtly wielding the power of music to influence and uphold the king's rule.

Despite the Noir family's reputation for notorious scheming, Marie focused her energies primarily on honing her piano skills. Her musical talents were nothing short of extraordinary, captivating the hearts of boys and earning the admiration of girls. However, due to her family's covert background, Marie adopted a strategy of maintaining a low profile, striving to avoid standing out too conspicuously, much like a star that mustn't shine too brightly in the night sky.

#### The great flame of Dieppe

As a noble, Marie found herself obliged to exercise her authority even among the rural peasants. One such instance occurred in the autumn of her seventh year when she accompanied her father, Baron Noir, on a tax collection mission to the village of Dieppe.Dieppe was a modest settlement, consisting of no more than ten humble houses, and it had long been viewed with disdain by the neighboring communities. Its residents were a motley assortment of wandering non-believers and former convicts, giving rise to its less than favorable reputation.

Marie's arrival in Dieppe, expected to be met with warm civility, was instead marred by the boorish behavior of the local peasants. They were loud, unruly, and seemingly oblivious to the proper etiquette of greeting a noble. To make matters worse, even Marie's cherished dress fell victim to the mud carelessly strewn about by the misbehaving children. It was at this point that Marie hatched a plan to exact her revenge.

Her scheme unfolded in two stages. First, she ordered her guards to encircle the village with a barrier of oil-soaked cloth, and they donned pristine white attire. This precaution was intended to ensure that anyone who attempted to escape would be deterred by the ominous spectacle of these enigmatic figures clad in white rather than the expected armor-clad guards. Secondly, Marie initiated a clandestine campaign to spread rumors about the presence of a fanatical group with a penchant for pyromania. These rumors suggested that this group was on a mission to cleanse the village of sinners.

As the autumn season drew to a close, the village of Dieppe became the stage for a fiery spectacle. It was a night forever etched in history as "The Great Flame of Dieppe."

#### Earn one’s middle name

At the age of ten, Marie partook in the hallowed coming-of-age ceremony of the Noir house, an event steeped in tradition and significance. As part of this ceremony, she was assigned a one-year task to achieve something of great glory, aided by the unique techniques and resources of the Noir family. However, Marie was bound by the strict mandate that she must not divulge any information about the ceremony to the outside world, rendering her accomplishment essentially meaningless in the eyes of others. Unperturbed, she set forth on her quest to fulfill her task with utmost dedication and cunning.

The current patriarch of the Noir house, Gérard Noir, had earned his moniker "Joieux" due to his ability to sway and influence nobles in Languedoc through the production of fine wines and the use of hallucinatory powders. However, his name also carried a tinge of sadness, as it was intertwined with addiction and its devastating consequences. Marie, unfortunately, could not tread the same path as her father. Her innate talents with potions and her latent abilities did not bring joy, but instead ushered in silent and untraceable death to her victims. This incongruity led to her being mockingly referred to as the "Silent" or "Soundless" one, a derisive epithet that contrasted with her title as the pianist.

Determined to reshape her inherited name and reputation, Marie devised an intricate plan. She initiated a web of rumors among the nobles, operating under the veil of anonymity. Each noble was encouraged to share a confession, be it truth or falsehood, with the promise of receiving "advice" from higher-ranking nobility. This clandestine network of information allowed Marie to discern fact from fiction with precision. In a span of just one year, Marie skillfully identified those nobles who remained loyal to the crown and those who covertly plotted treason against it. She unveiled Austrian spies who exploited Queen Marie Antoinette's influence to undermine the French monarchy, effectively countering her declining political sway.

In recognition of her remarkable achievement, her father, Gérard Noir, bestowed upon her a fitting middle name. Henceforth, Marie became known as Marie "Menteuse" Noir, signifying her mastery of deception and manipulation in the intricate world of nobility and politics.

#### Downhill rolling head

The golden crown adorning the head of King Louis XVI, a symbol of monarchy and power, would not retain its luster for long. When Marie was a mere 14 years old, she bore witness to the harrowing events of the French Revolution, events that would forever alter the course of her life. The revolution brought about the imprisonment of the king and queen, and even her own father, Gérard Noir, a man renowned for his loyalty within the noble society, fell victim to the changing tides of fate.

With the once-illustrious House Noir now an empty seat, Marie valiantly attempted to shoulder her father's responsibilities. She strived to maintain the intricate web of deception, a network of information that had been her father's legacy, all in a desperate bid to aid him. During this tumultuous period, her mother's health began to deteriorate.

House Noir, once closely aligned with the sovereign, saw its reputation decline precipitously. Many of its members, including mistresses and siblings, resorted to desperate measures to make ends meet in the midst of the changing era. Despite the family's dwindling status, Marie managed to establish contact and secure the escape of those family members who had not succumbed to corruption amid the shifting sands of revolution. Throughout it all, she clung to the hope of one day securing her father's release from prison.

Tragically, that hope was extinguished with the grim and public execution of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. The promises of clemency for those who had aided the revolution's rise were callously discarded, and Gérard met his demise at the hands of the executioner's blade. Fearing for the lives of her remaining family members, Marie hastily gathered what little remained of her possessions. She joined her ailing mother and a family of children who had been abandoned by her aunts and uncles, embarking on a journey into a new world—one where the morning no longer shone brightly on the remnants of yesterday.

#### Upon the snowy requiem

In the new world, the harsh reality of survival swiftly reduced the number of children to a mere three. Many faced the grim specter of starvation, and some were even kidnapped, destined for a life of slavery. Marie's mother's health continued to deteriorate, her strength waning with each passing day, until, in the oppressive heat of a summer night during the second week in their new land, she drew her final breath.

Marie, now the last patriarch of the Noir family, took on the solemn duty of imparting the traditional family arts to the three surviving children. She dedicated every waking moment to composing music while the young ones assisted with household chores. Her once-promising music career had dwindled in the obscurity of their fallen noble status, her presence diminished.

As the children began to grow and develop their talents, affluent families in the new world took notice. Marie, with a heavy heart, allowed them to depart, severing their ties to the notorious Noir house and discarding their family name. Slowly but surely, the last of the three children made the choice to leave the Noir household behind, pursuing a career in art photography under a new master.

> "I never wanted to be what you called the emperor's shadow. I would rather work under the dark coal mine. Goodbye, Patriarch Noir, you and your delusional dreams,"
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Sam’s last farewell

> "Lady Marie, I want to dance on the stage. But with the family art tying me down, I just can't... Did you permit such at the cost of my last name? What a small price to face. I won't forget your kindness each time I dance with these feet, Lady Marie,"
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Charlotte’s last farewell

> "Patriarch Noir... no, Lady Marie. I was more than glad to be under your wing. But this is our last farewell. You have raised us to be honorable humans,"
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Joseph’s last farewell

That year marked Marie's final winter, and she spent her last dime on inadequate food and firewood. In desperation, she sought refuge in an abandoned church, offering prayers to God beneath the sliver of snow. There, she sang one last haunting melody while playing the broken-down organ. It was not the bitter cold that claimed her, but the crumbling rubble of the forsaken church, bringing an end to the poignant songbird's journey.