AN: Here it is, a new story… I don't know if it's serious to begin a new while I'm still on Love and Friendship but I have this idea in my mind for long enough… It came to me when I saw a picture of Haruka and Michiru in old fashioned clothes on a trading card. So there it is, I hope you'll enjoy it. This story is situated in the 18TH century in Paris. The historical context isn't respected so imagine it's a totally imaginary world that occurs in existing places and that have some sides of the society of the time (in other words I wanted to recreate the atmosphere of the absolute monarchy in France but as I am not an expert in French history I invented and tried to guess many things… (of course names doesn't fit the nationalities I'll use but I didn't want to change them)
That life we had in 18th century Paris
Chapter 1
I'll make you mine
« Oh… This one is rather cute… » said a man in the crowd to his neighbour as a beautiful turquoise-haired girl in a light blue dress entered the room. The guy's neighbour was looking at the girl with great interest.
« Rather cute? Are you joking? A long time passed since such a beauty passed those doors… I swear you I'll make her mine whatever the way. » said the neighbour… who was a handsome tall blonde man in his early twenties.
« No chance… I guess the king will want to have her first. »
« The king… Look at his face… I guess he didn't noticed her yet. »
The girl walked silently but with an incredible grace to the King's throne, as the custom asked. She made a reverence and while a man on the side introduced her name loudly.
« Miss Michiru Kaioh, daughter of the count of Toscana. »
The two guys where still talking in a very low voice.
« Italian aristocrat… She's not anyone… »
« You two are talking about the new little one… a little too young if you ask me… I heard she's only sixteen. » said a woman behind them.
« I prefer young girls… Let's see if I can join her for the afternoon's walk… »
Michiru didn't felt really at ease, her father had sent her here, to the court of the King of France because he hoped she would find a suitor… not that she needed one… but he had passed a deal with her, a very unusual one, he had allowed her to decide who she would marry. Not entirely of course… her father still have to accept the person… but he thought if his daughter fell in love with someone acceptable for her condition it would be better than marrying her to an old seventy year old rich pervert… But Michiru had only a month left before turning seventeen, and after, her father would take a decision alone. Michiru began to feel desperate, though she talked a perfect French without any accent, she had talked to no one, it was an embarrassing situation to be alone in such a place… but suddenly, a butler or something like that (she didn't know how to recognize the French servitors) came to her.
« Excuse me countess, but my master, Lord Tenoh would like you to accept his company for the walk this afternoon, and ask if you want to join him now if you accept his invitation. »
« Very well… Who is your master? »
« I'll drive you to him, he's the tall blonde man who is making you a sign. »
Michiru noticed him and her heart fell from her chest… A tall blonde man was slightly wavering his hand. He was handsome, more than any of the men in the room, his features were thin and delicate… and his glance had something unreadable. Michiru was too glad that someone wanted to talk to her to think about it twice… She followed the servitor who led her to the blonde man.
« Here you are Miss Kaioh. I couldn't let a young lady as you alone… This is not every day that such a beautiful person passes those doors. »
« Don't flatter me… » said Michiru, blushing hard.
« As a gentleman I never lie. Will you accept my company for the afternoon's walk? The king always make us have a walk in the palace's gardens in the afternoon, I think it will begin in no time, so we'll learn to know each other better.. »
« I accept, thank you very much Lord Tenoh. »
As Lord Tenoh had said he would, the king announced that he wanted the walk to begin only a few seconds after.
A little while after, while walking around the palace gardens…
« I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself properly, I'm Lord Haruka Tenoh, son of the Duke of Aquitaine. »
« So you're French. I am Italian, Miss Michiru Kaioh, daughter of the count of Toscana. »
« I heard this. But don't be so formal, we are outside, and I don't think anyone will pay attention to you… Though I think it's a mistake to not pay attention to a beautiful lady like you… So what are you interests in life? »
« I… I play the violin and I also paint and draw. »
« Italian are said to be the bests artists in the world. For my part I'm in horse races, a new thing our king invented to keep busy young men like me… our parents and grandparents were warlords, we are racers and duellists… yes I am also a duellist. But it's not funny, we're not allowed to kill each other in the competitions. »
Michiru looked at Haruka in horror.
« I'm joking, I prefer not to kill anyone… I'm pacifist. »
« I don't like killings… I don't know if it is the same here, but there are killings everyday in duels in Toscana. »
« It is the same… Young men can't go to war so they pass their time playing, drinking hard, so it all ends to sword duels and people dies. »
« Did you ever got involved in a duel? »
« I did. Against my will, but sometimes you must defend yourself and your honnor. »
« I… I'm glad they didn't kill you… Otherwise we wouldn't have this interesting talk. »
« The pleasure in entirely mine. »
When she left Haruka, Michiru was on a little cloud, her maid, Setsuna Meio, a wise women, older than she was, saw it.
In Michiru Kaioh's room, before dinner…
« Miss could you stop moving? I can't fix your hair properly. Why are you so excited? »
« I… I passed a wonderful day… »
« At the court? Don't tell me you are becoming mundane? The French court is the worst place you can imagine, there are all kinds of gossips, your father shouldn't have sent you there, you're too young, they'll eat you. »
« Eat me? Probably, but I talked to no one. »
« No one? And the young Lord Tenoh? »
« How do you know? »
« The gossips are quick in Paris, I guess your father already knows… It was dangerous, Miss. »
« Dangerous? »
« This young man hasn't a good reputation with women… He's said to be a virtue stealer… Many of the women he had been seen joined the church not long after… He ruined their reputations. Imagine, a young women not married that is seen in a closed room or in a garden with a young man… it doesn't sound well. »
« No… He's a perfect gentleman, he wouldn't put a woman in such a situation… I can't believe it… Setsuna… I think I found myself a suitor. »
« If you say so… »
« He said so many nice things… I'm sure… I'm sure he is already in love with me. I'll talk to my father tonight. »
« Don't you think you should talk with the man first… »
« I wouldn't dare… »
« Maybe you should wait a little… »
« I've got one month left! Lord Tenoh is the most handsome man and the better man I met so far. »
« And you're in love with him, aren't you? »
« Maybe yes… no… I'm truly in love with him. This man will be my husband, I want no one else. »
« I hope you won't regret it. »
Later when Michiru was finally done, she went to the dinner room where her father waited for her.
« Michiru. So how was your first day at the court? »
« Great… I mean it was an interesting visit, father. »
Her father smiled.
« I heard you met someone… interesting. »
« You did? Actually… I met a… a man. »
« You met the son of Lord Tenoh. You cold have been more discreet, following his footman under the King's nose and all the court wasn't smart… I think I have no other choice than to meet his father and try to arrange the marriage now, isn't it? »
« Father… You really mean it? »
« Yes, though I guess it will be… awful for you to marry someone like him, a young and handsome man… You must hate me by now… » said her father in a teasing way.
« Thank you very much, Father. »