Chapter 45 - The Heart of Ever After

Paris, 2018

The painting hung in one of the Renaissance galleries in the Louvre, the one dedicated to portraits of French monarchs and noble families. The young girl and her father stood together admiring the collection, hands interlocked, looking ecstatically at the grandest painting of a family of royals the little girl had ever seen.

Monsieur Auguste Laurent de Torreine, a young historian from Chartres, had brought his 10-year-old daughter to Paris after taking the girl on a tour of royal palaces throughout the country. They had visited several of the chateaus of the Loire Valley, and today, they had arrived in Paris to visit the Louvre Museum, the last stop in their journey.

They strolled through the first floor galleries, taking the time to absorb the beauty of the place. Then they stopped on the second floor of the Museum's Lescot Wing, overlooking the inner Cour Carrée. The place was impressive—entering one of those immense halls that dwarfed the visitors scattered through its galleries, one had the impression of being transported to another time, a time when Kings and Queens walked hand in hand commanding attention. Monsieur Auguste and his young daughter ended up in the Renaissance paintings gallery, the one with the portraits of the royals from the old House of Valois when they ruled France, as well as some portraits of Kings from the House of Bourbon, the House that succeeded the Valois.

Among the paintings were several portraits of King Francis I, the first King from the Valois-Angoulême branch. There were some paintings of King Francis' first son, Prince François de Valois, and also of François and Henri as children, and a painting of Princess Madeline, who married the King of Scotland and died soon after, and of course of Princess Marguerite de Valois. Then there were those of Henri as Dauphin riding his horse, and also Henri as King Henri II with his wife Danielle, and his sons François II, Charles IX and Henri III. But it was this particular family portrait centered around Henri and Danielle that captivated the girl.

Like its occupants, the painting overtook its designated space with its grandeur. The context of the painting weighed heavy upon itself, and the juxtaposition of the past and present of the setting offered opportunity to experience the Louvre as it once was—a royal palace, not the museum it had become.

The young girl looked dreamily at the grand painting in front of her, her eyes as big as melons. It was said that Leonardo Da Vinci was its main author but wasn't able to finish it before passing onto the next life. It was his most loyal apprentice, Gustave Martin, a childhood friend of Princess Danielle, who had finished the portrait.

The girl looked up at her father and whispered reverently. "Papa, this is so big! It's so beautiful! Can you tell me about it?"

"Yes, ma mignonne. This painting tells part of the story of a one of France's oldest royal families —the Valois. You see the couple there sitting on the very elaborate thrones? They are King Francis I and his Queen, Marie Claude de France. See how even though they are above and sitting on their thrones, they are off to the side? This is because although they were King and Queen, this portrait is not focused on them, but on Prince Henri, the future King Henri II. So there, in the center of the portrait is Prince Henri and his wife Danielle. They were Dauphin and the Dauphine at the time. The Dauphine is seated with their first baby in her lap. That is the central scene. Standing next to the monarchs is their daughter Marguerite, a princess of France and at the time Duchesse de Berry. And scattered throughout the background are representations and symbols of the many branches of the family, and some symbolic scenes and characters related to them. It's a different way to show the world a family tree. This tree though starts its story from the trunk, which is the younger royal couple—the Dauphin and Dauphine—, and then it takes us to the roots and to its branches. Other paintings in this gallery show their future."

The girl was intrigued. She had visited the Louvre with her school but had never spent much time with the paintings in the Renaissance galleries. The school trips were geared towards learning about Greek, Roman and Egyptian antiquities, and very little time was spent with the history of the French ancien régime.

Now, after visiting all these royal places, the history of the monarchy began to spark her interest. She knew that her father and mother enjoyed reading about France's royal past and they loved to discuss its legacy. But this was the first time her father had taken her on an extensive trip of royal chateaus, so the girl understood that this trip was meaningful. She loved that her papa wanted to share his passion for history with her, and she knew that on this trip, she would be learning not only about France but about her family as well.

Monsieur Auguste lowered himself to look into his child's eyes. "You remember all the places we have been visiting in the Loire Valley? Those places tell us about the life of many French monarchs, and it is there that we find the history of the Valois and learn the many stories that surrounded them. Today, I want you to learn the legend of Henri and Danielle."

The young father, eager to teach his daughter about the French Renaissance, began to describe countless details about the painting and its setting.

"My dear, do you know that this is the very same room where the Valois royal family sat to have their portrait sketched? That is what the guide said, and it makes sense, as this was once a throne room. Many important people and common folk, like us, came to meet under these ceilings, in this palace. Many audiences took place and many decisions that made France great were made in these rooms. The palace was vibrant and full of life, with visitors from all over the world. They negotiated treaties, created alliances, debated love and concerted marriages, and argued about how to make life better for the country. People came here to defend their passions and they showed their emotions. They laughed and cried, and yelled and made demands. These walls are full of history. Many wars were launched from these rooms, but also many peace treaties were signed here as well. Luckily for France and other kingdoms, the periods of peace allowed the Kings of the Renaissance to prosper and the kingdom to flourish."

"The Renaissance kings? Like Francis I and Henri II? Is it true that King Francis was an absolute monarch?"

"More or less, but not completely, ma puce. Francis I increased the centralization of the state and tried to subjugate the several factions in the French wars of religion, but there were still many powerful noblemen who fought him. Nevertheless, Francis was a very powerful and feared monarch; his icon was the salamander and his motto was Nutrisco et extinguo or 'I nourish and I extinguish.' He did many good things, for example he was a patron of the arts and brought many cultural changes to France; he attracted many Italian artists to our country. King Francis also built important palaces such as the Château de Chambord, and converted this very palace, the Louvre, originally built as a fortress, into a residential palace. But he was not a real absolute monarch. And he was not always a good father, either."

"What do you mean, papa? He didn't love his kids?"

"I supposed he did. But he didn't think about his children's wellbeing when he allowed the Emperor Carlos V to hold them hostage and keep them in prison when they were young children. The King was captured after he lost a battle against the Emperor, and he then agreed to exchange his freedom for that of his two older sons —the then 8 years-old Dauphin François, and his younger brother, 7 years-old Henri."

"The young princes were in a prison?"

"Yes, the boys spent almost four years in captivity in Spain, and that scared them for life. The Dauphin François became a very somber and distrustful boy, and Henri, who used to be a gentle boy, became paranoid and developed a very passionate personality, not to mention the very difficult and fragile relationship he had with his father all his life. After a few years, François became very friendly but Henri continued having difficulty making friends. However, the few friends he had he kept for life. He was said to be fiercely faithful and obsessive, which explains the loyal obstinacy with which he stood by his friends and later by his wife Danielle."

The girl went back to look at the big family portrait. She looked intently at it to try to understand the character of the subjects, the powerful Renaissance King and his son, Prince Henri, who along with his wife seemed to command all the attention.

"Why is the picture centered on Prince Henri and Princess Danielle, papa?"

"I guess it is because the painting was commissioned by Henri to celebrate his wife and the birth of his first son. Leonardo wanted the painting to be about their marriage, showing a loving portrait of the soon to be King Henri II, and his wife, the soon to be Queen Danielle. He also wanted to show Henri's devotion as a family man so he has Princess Danielle face us while the Prince looks lovingly at the child in Danielle's arms. Through the staging of the subjects, their clothes, and the light and the expression on their faces, the grand visionary Leonardo Da Vinci tell us about their relationships and the family's hidden stories. Through the colors and the symbolic elements in the background he gives us the story of the palace and the family. It's all there in front of us."

"Look, papa, Prince Henri is looking at Princess Danielle and his hand is holding the baby's hand. I like him, Prince Henri; he looks kind. But he doesn't look like an angel." She giggled. "His top, it's like a short dress, but it's very beautiful and shines with all the gold thread in it. And those fleur-de-lys, we have those on our big chairs in the living room. I like them! Is that a real gold chain around his neck? It looks very heavy. What about his shoes? What are those letters on them? And…"

Little Danielle barely took a breath while asking questions and making comments about everything she saw.

"One thing at a time, ma petite! The very handsome Henri is wearing his formal prince clothes. The fleur de lys, as you know, is historically used to represent the French monarchy, and today it still appears in the coat of arms of the King of Spain, who like Danielle, is from the House of Bourbon. If you look more closely see there, in this painting Queen Danielle is wearing it in her cape."

The child stared at her father, and she looked at the painting with different eyes. "Everything is so beautiful. Princess Danielle's gown shimmers in the light, and the Queen, Queen Marie, she is beautiful too. They are both in red. They have such lovely capes. Look at Princess Danielle's cape; it has little spots in the trim and the images in lining looks as if they are angel's wings. She is an angel. I would love to have a cape like hers. Would that make me a princess?"

Her father laughed and looked closer at the canvas and the cape. "You are right dear; she is wearing the ermine fur which has those tiny spots. Only royalty could wear it back then. And there is a pattern in the lining. I never noticed it." He stood back and took a more inquisitive look at it. "It does give Danielle the aire of having wings. It looks like they are protecting her. You have the eyes of a child so you can see so much more than adults."

The girl kept asking questions about everything in the painting— the cape of the Queen and the dress of Princess Marguerite, the scepter in the hand of the King, and the Dauphin crown on Henri's head.

"Henri was younger than his brother François. How did he become Dauphin and then King?"

"As King Francis' first son, François was the Dauphin and Duke of Brittany. Henri was the second son and received the title of Duke of Orleans. He was not supposed to inherit the throne. When François suddenly died Henri became Dauphin of France and Duke of Brittany. King Francis wasn't very pleased at that time about the prospect of Henri becoming King."

"Oh, did they ever get along?"

"Well, Henri was a difficult boy. He always resented his father for his childhood captivity, so for many years he and the King didn't enjoy a particularly good father-son relationship. When Henri became Dauphin, King Francis tried to mend their relationship and prepare him for the throne. He then insisted that Henri get married but he opposed Henri's marriage to Danielle because he didn't consider her fit to be Henri's wife."

"Why? She was so pretty."

"Well, Queen Danielle's story is as beautiful as it is complicated. She was a princess of the blood, but she was not raised as one; in fact she herself believed she was a commoner, a simple peasant. So naturally King Francis, who believed so as well, opposed her marriage to his heir." The father paused and taking the girl by the hand walked to the nearest bench. He sat down and sat the girl on his lap.

"You see, my dear, at that time, it was preferred that a prince marry a princess or a highborn noble girl, an heiress, because royal marriages during the Renaissance were a way to seal political alliances. The Court didn't know Danielle was a Bourbon heiress and also heiress to a number of Italian duchies. At first, no one in France thought that Henri's marriage to Danielle was beneficial. In fact, the Court thought the opportunity to marry the prince to an important princess had been squandered and they treated Danielle very badly. But Henri adored her, so he fought his father and made her Dauphine."

"That is a beautiful story, papa. Like a fairy tale."

"Yes, dear. The tale of Prince Henri and Princess Danielle was passed down through generations. Do you there are many interesting versions about their unconventional story? Some historians emphasize Danielle's humble beginnings, and how her strong spirit and love for all people made her a good Queen and changed Prince Henri for the better. Other people portrayed Danielle as a manipulative beauty who enticed the prince making him fall in love. He became so dependent upon her that he would do anything and everything her heart desired. He showered her with precious gifts and untold riches. But the most loved and told story was the one of the haughty Prince Henri who fell in love with Danielle and defied the Court and the King to marry her; and the loving and kind Danielle who despite being abused and treated as a commoner by her stepmother, the baroness Rodmilla de Ghent, rose to become a beloved Queen. Danielle was strong and she not only won the love of Prince Henri, but also the love and admiration of his father, the powerful King Francis I and Queen Marie, and the respect of their Court and kingdom."

"How did they come together, Danielle and Henri? Can you tell me some of the stories?"

"Well, Henri and Danielle fell in love with each other almost the minute they met. You already know Henri was a prince from the illustrious House of Valois. Danielle, on the other hand, had royal blood but she didn't know it. She was not told until she went to live with her uncle at the age of eighteen. Her real father was the prominent Charles III Duke de Bourbon, but Danielle was raised by Charles' half brother, Auguste de Barbarac, who was an untitled noble and a merchant. "

"Auguste? Like you?"

"Yes. I was named after him! Your grandparents were so in love with the story of Danielle and Henri that they named me after two of the people who exerted great influence over them—Danielle's papa Auguste and Henri's best friend, Marc Laurent."

"And that is why my name is Danielle? Papa, is it true that you and maman named me after the Princess, I mean, Queen Danielle? I would like to hear more about her, about the girl who became princess and then queen." The girl joyfully wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.

"Oui, ma mignonne!" The father laughed. "I love Queen Danielle's story, but it was your mother and your grandmother who were obsessed with the princess and insisted in naming you after her and the Queen Mother, the two most important women in Henri's life; that's why your name is Danielle Marie. The princess and the Queen were a source of inspiration to your mother. She was in awe of these women of the 16th century who dared to be strong, determined and accomplished at a time when women had very little power. Queen Marie always supported Danielle and Henri's marriage, and when Henri ascended the throne, Queen Marie was there to guide him and Danielle as monarchs."

"And Queen Danielle? How was she?"

"She was a very accomplished woman. Along with the King, she built a university where all could study regardless of their station. She still is a source of inspiration for many women today, and for your mother and I, she was a love muse."

Redirecting her eyes the girl looked at the big painting and pointed to King Henri II. "Tell me more about their story, please. You have not told me how they came together! How was Danielle a noble and also a peasant? That is confusing."

"Well, Danielle's real mother was Suzanne de Bourbon, daughter of Anne de France, herself the daughter of Louis XI of France. So you see, her lineage was not only noble, but Royal. Unfortunately, Danielle never met her mother who died in childbirth. Danielle's father, the Duke of Bourbon, had committed treason against King Francis and was exiled, and to protect his only child, Danielle, he made everyone believe that she was the daughter of his half-brother Auguste de Barbarac. All you should know is that it was with great joy that Auguste raised her and loved her as a daughter. Sadly, Auguste married the very ambitious Baroness de Ghent, and died shortly after, leaving Danielle with the wicked baroness who promptly stripped her of any privilege. In fact, Danielle was working as a servant for her stepmother when she met Prince Henri; she was picking apples from her family's orchard."

"That's how they met?"

"Well, it's a long story. As the legend tells us, when Prince Henri was running away from his princely duties he took a horse that belonged to Danielle's papa Auguste. She saw him in the apple orchard and being very strong willed and assertive, she knocked him off the horse by throwing apples at him." Auguste began to laugh aloud. Little Danielle looked at him in amusement and after a minute they were both laughing, imagining a bewildered prince being thrown off a horse by a girl.

Monsieur Auguste continued with the story. "Remember the orchards we walked through in Hautefort when we visited that area last year? I told you of two people who loved each other very much amongst the apples. Oh, you are still so young. I must have bored you with my blatherings then."

"Oh papa, I remember. I love to hear you tell me things. Please tell me more about their story."

"Well, Henri and Danielle met another time and he didn't recognize her, because this time she disguised herself as a courtier and told Prince Henri that her name was Nicole de Lancret— the woman she believed to be her mother—, and that she was a comtesse, without knowing that in reality, she was a duchess."

"Wow! How funny!"

"Well, it was not very funny at the time, it actually created some serious problems."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the King had given Prince Henri five days to find a bride or he would have to marry the princess of Spain. Henri was already very much in love with Danielle, and since he believed her to be a comtesse, he invited her to an important bal masqué in which the King would announce Prince Henri's marriage. The prince planned to announce Danielle as his intended and Danielle planned to confess to Henri that she was not a comtesse but a simple peasant."

"Oh. Did she confess? And what did the prince do?"

"Well, Danielle walked into the bal looking like an angel. She was wearing a beautiful dress, Nicole's wedding dress to Auguste, embellished by Leonardo with angel wings and when Prince Henri saw her he was enchanted. But a terrible thing happened: Danielle's stepmother, who had an ugly soul, tore the angel wings off Danielle's dress and told the prince that Danielle was a pretender and a servant in her house. She embarrassed the poor Danielle in front of the prince and the whole Court. Prince Henri took offense at Danielle because she had lied to him by telling him she was a comtesse. She had given him a false name. He believed the lies told by the stepmother and although Danielle tried to explain immediately, the prince rejected her and insulted her."

Auguste paused to organize his thoughts. He was trying to explain the story in simple terms for his daughter to understand. Speaking softly so as not to disturb the visitors in the gallery, he continued. "Many bad things happened to Danielle after that. Luckily for the kingdom, the prince came to his senses soon enough, although he almost married the Spanish princess. But Henri realized that no matter what she was wearing, no matter if he knew her as Danielle or by another name, or if she was royal or peasant, he loved her. He was sorry for his rejection of her and they were able to work things out because they loved each other truly. They overcame their mutual betrayal."

"Papa, what is betrayal?"

"Oh, it is when someone offers you hope, safety, trust and then one day does quite the opposite and that offer is rebuked. You are open for hurt. Betrayal is all the things that tear your heart out and that make you cry. I think, as the legend goes, Henri felt that same pain because Danielle had lied to him, and Danielle felt betrayed because he rejected her after offering her his love. Danielle had gone to the bal to tell him all of her secrets so he would know she loved him deeply. He never let her speak so it became most painful for Danielle."

M. Auguste stopped to look at the painting again and to contemplate the lining that looked like angel's wings.

"I think that Leonardo understood that it was an important moment for their love and he included these clues, the wing pattern, in this painting so Queen Danielle and King Henri II would remember that moment in which they almost lost each other. It was meant to remind them that they should always trust and forgive each other, and that the hard work they did to overcome their mistake was that of angels' work."

"I am glad they got to marry! They look so pretty together!"

Auguste went down onto one knee to lower himself to his daughter's eye level. "This painting was hung in the entrance hall of the residential palace because Henri wanted to show his family pride, but also he wanted to tell the story of his Queen, Danielle. His motto as King was Donec totum impleat orbem or 'Till she fills the whole world, ' and also Plena est œmula solis 'the rival of the son is full,' which people believed he dedicated to Danielle. His emblem was the crescent moon, which has always been that of the House of Orleans."

Little Danielle was fascinated by the story; she felt she wanted to learn everything about Henri and Danielle. She looked around at all the paintings surrounding her and kept asking questions. "Papa, there are many other portraits with people who look like they belong in the royal family. Who are they?"

He looked around and threw his hand out in a very grand gesture. "Each one of these portraits in this gallery tells a little bit of the story of the grand court of Valois. King Francis commissioned many of the portraits here; they are paintings of his family, his children, his sister Marguerite de Navarre, and his closest friends.

The father pointed to a series of drawings. "Prince Henri also commissioned many portraits of Danielle, several of them done by Leonardo but also by other artists. You see, when Danielle married Henri and became Dauphine people were fascinated by her, so many artists fought to have the honor to paint the new princess. After the first family portrait, Henri started a tradition of having Danielle pose for a portrait every year, so there are many portraits of Danielle as a princess and then as a Queen."

Auguste and little Danielle walked down the gallery to a series of portraits of children and young royals. "These hung here are of Henri and Danielle's children—they had ten but only six survived to adulthood! Some portraits were painted when they were already adults. You see, when Danielle became Queen, she continued the family tradition by having important artists create many portraits of her children. At the time, the Court moved frequently and it was considered dangerous to have the royal children travel with the Court. They needed to be protected from epidemics and other dangers. The children were raised separate from their parents at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, close to Paris. Danielle could not stand being away from her children, so she convinced Henri to stay at Saint-Germain for long periods of time and have frequent portraits of their children. She created an important collection, and thanks to her commissions today we can follow closely the family history and we have a faithful representation of her children at every stage of their development. Here you can see some of the oils, but there are also many drawings and watercolors that are kept at the National Library."

They walked through the gallery in a full circle and found themselves in front of another family painting. More than a portrait, this was an allegorical painting of the family, done in vibrant colors and full of symbolism. It showed many people, fantastic figures and representations of family stories and Court events. And again, at its center, were Henri and Danielle. M. Auguste drew little Danielle's attention back to some details. "Queen Danielle was a beautiful woman, and she became very powerful. She was determined, educated and enlightened. In this portrait, done several years after she had become Queen, we can see the strength and determination in her face; she was no longer the vulnerable princess whom the Court mistreated. This is the time in which together with the King, she built some of the more magnificent buildings and gardens in the country and brought to France the greatest artists and art."

"Look at the background, papa. It looks like a fantasy world. There are many trees, and clouds and people floating in the clouds. Who are they?"

"That is a symbolic way to paint the family members who had departed."

"Oh, I see. I see a man there. That must be her papa Auguste."

"Auguste is there in the clouds next to Danielle's mother, Suzanne de Bourbon, and also her blood father, Charles III Duc de Bourbon. Duchess Suzanne died and went to heaven when Danielle arrived on this earth. Suzanne and Charles are there together with Auguste, because he was the papa that raised Danielle. He has a book in his hand because he loved books. He used to bring many books to Danielle and they would read together. He wished for her to grow and be a strong educated woman because he knew that one day, she would be a princess."

"He knew?"

"Of course he knew that Danielle was of royal blood and that one day, she would become a princess."

"Tell me about the other people in the painting, please."

"Well, I believe some of the children playing in the foreground are Henri and Danielle's grand and great grandchildren. That group in the far right, high up near the edge of the painting, that is Danielle's sister Jacqueline, her husband Captain Marc Laurent and her children. Oh, the stories that are told about Jacqueline and Laurent, those are lovely as well. The captain met her when Danielle and Prince Henri were courting, just getting to know each other. So many stories and so much love."

"Papa take me closer to the clouds please. I want to look closer at the clouds papa."

Auguste walked as close as possible, lifting his daughter high. She pointed to the blue-lavender and pink clouds that surrounded the figures of Danielle's mother Suzanne and father Charles and her papa Auguste and two babies. "Papa, look how the clouds make a crib for the sweet babies. Those babies are so beautiful. Why are they floating in the clouds?"

"That means that they went to heaven and joined the angels. Like your mama did."

"Oh, it must have been a very sad day for them. I know I was so sad when baby Jeanette left us. I bet mama is there with them."

"Yes, I believe your mama is there. I can see her beautiful face there in the clouds. She has wings as well, just like Queen Danielle. I believe the babies are the twin daughters of King Henri and Queen Danielle. One was stillborn and the other joined the angels in heaven a few weeks after being born. It surely was a very sad moment; they wept for years at the loss of their beloved children. Their names were Victoria of France and Joan of France, two beautiful baby princesses."

"Papa, you miss mama don't you?"

"Yes, my love I do. I believe you do as well. But I have you, we have each other and we have this story that she loved so much. She and I spent many days here at the museum. These images help me remember the love of your mother."

"Why did you bring me here today, papa?"

Auguste was caught off guard by the question.

"I want you to learn about the history of France, and about Prince Henri and Princess Danielle, how they inspired us."

He took little Danielle to the far end of the gallery where a painting of an elegant woman, attired as if going to a Court festivity seemed to meet their eyes.

"Look. This is something else I want to share with you. "

"Oh, papa! Who is she? She looks like mama!" Little Danielle exclaimed in awe.

"Well, your mother,…she was the great great granddaughter of this woman, Jacqueline de Ghent, Princess Danielle's stepsister. You saw her in that last portrait. So you see, there is more than one way in which your mom and I were meant for each other."

They stood looking at the painting for a while and then moved towards the far corner. Auguste pointed at a little painting.

"I also brought you here to celebrate your mother. I met her here 15 years ago. It is our anniversary." He sighed, reminiscing. "We met in front of that portrait at the end of the wall, the very small one there," Auguste said still pointing to a very small painting. His daughter squinted and craned her head to see the tiny object.

"You met maman there?" She pointed at the portrait and giggled. "It's so small." They moved closer, finally reaching it.

"Yes, it is small, but it was the most precious portrait that King Henri had of Queen Danielle. This is a special portrait that King Henri kept just for himself. It was hidden in the King's private studio at Fontainebleau, and while the King was alive, few people had the privilege to see it. King Henri II commissioned Lavinia Fontana, one of the very few female artists of her time, to paint his most adored Queen. He asked her to paint an image of Danielle that only an accomplished woman could create. Through the eyes of a woman; that is what King Henri said."

Auguste grew suddenly silent. Little Danielle knew that when her father got silent and had that sudden nostalgic look she was to keep quiet; he was probably reminiscing about old times, gone to a place that she could not access. She waited patiently and after a little while he shook his head recalling himself back to her.

He spoke softly; he was about to share a secret. "Do you see those letters below the portrait, the HD intertwined? Those are the letters that told the world that Henri and Danielle could never be separated. They were one. As you walk throughout the Louvre, look for the HD and there you will see the spirit of their union." Memories flooded his mind and he was overcome by emotion. He took a deep breath, and continued to talk softly, almost in a whisper. "This is also the place I chose to propose to your mama. And it was the place she said yes and made me the happiest man alive."

"Queen Danielle reminded me of your mother who was my greatest and only love. And Queen Danielle was one of your mother's inspiration. I believe Leonardo and each artist that put their brush to the canvas understood that the love that Henri and Danielle had was special and whatever and whoever was touched by them, their life was that much greater."

"Papa, you are crying."

Auguste kneeled to hold little Danielle. "Your mama told me to show you this image of Queen Danielle when you were old enough to appreciate it. I am crying because you are my joy and one day you will be a woman who will shine like the stars and change the world; like Danielle did in her time. The work you'd do will be important, and if you work hard and love people with all your heart, you'll be remembered forever after."

"I like that, papa. I want to live in the heart of ever after."

As they walked out of the gallery, little Danielle turned around to take a last glimpse of the grand family portrait and it seemed that Danielle and Henri were smiling upon her. And she smiled back with joy in her heart.

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