Somnium Delicata - Tumblr Posts
“You requested for me, father?” (Madeleine)
With glassy eyes, he took a look at his daughter, nervously standing at the door. "Yes. Come on in, Claude."
He allowed her to enter his study. He had to say it to her.
"We had to arrange your marriage to Pierre Hérisson. It's your hand against the family post. It would be this January. Until then, I would ask of you to assist at dissections. This might create trouble with your grandmother, it would probably be wiser for you to learn how to extract human fat before getting married. He's quite poorer, and thus he would need someone who could help him with that task. As much as I dislike going against my mother's wishes, blind obedience would certainly not help."
“Well, you can’t have everything in life. God made you born in a Christian family, a wealthy one. Your are also healthy and beautiful. Beside, given how many noblemen treat girls of ill repute, you should NOT be willing to go there in the current state of affairs.” tried to reason Jean-Baptiste, lazily leaving his eyes from the next execution order.
“Versailles sounds like a dream. Even if it’s just once, I’d like to go and see the palace with my own eyes, without people looking at me with scorn…”
What a klutz Charles could be...To succeed a beheading only to forget to check the moulinet that would strangle the condemn...
“Madeleine, I am firm about this. The answer is “no”. No disguise is perfect, and most nobles don’t believe in curses, they are too snobbish and well-educated for that. They are disgusted by most women and girls of ill repute, but they do make an exception when it beatings.”
He really shouldn’t have sent Charles to boarding school. He performed barely acceptably on the scaffold. Blood splattered everywhere, messy, sloppy.
“Versailles sounds like a dream. Even if it’s just once, I’d like to go and see the palace with my own eyes, without people looking at me with scorn…”
She did agree, but she did smile...
“This is no laughing matter.” he scolded.
She didn't take it seriously, or so it seemed. She seemed to take this lightly. "I hope for your sake you do keep your word. Otherwise, I am not sure what will save you. Chartois is much more powerful than Subyss. He doesn't need us, we need him."
Jean-Baptiste said sternly, and yet with a certains softness : "Claude, you are not allowed to go anywhere near lord de Chartois, that means not near his house nor the Palace of Versailles. It seems strict, but he's both an ally, and I must confess, one of the most depraved individuals I had the misfortune to encounter. He once killed for kicks, and tortures women of ill repute for amusement. Virgin or not, you are still one, and if something happens to you, I will have no choice but to break the alliance, and it's a precious one. Have I made myself clear."
(Jean-Baptiste, trying to be a normal parent for once)
She had heard occasionally of Lord de Chartois' unpleasant reputation (despite the Sansons' necessity for strong alliances), along with how the noble had something to do with Charles' first decapitation, but with how the man was described by her father made Madeleine almost want to laugh. There was no madame or gentilhomme who was "well-mannered" as they wanted to appear.
"Sounds like he and Subyss would be kindred spirits. " Madeleine joked darkly, her lips contorting into a grin that was a mixture of disgust and shock.
"Rest assured, father, that I'll take that advice to heart. There's no reason for me to see him unless he's next in line for Charles' or Marie's blade."
The perspective of being now alone, man of the house, was a daunting one.
"I sure will write to you. I promise.," responded Charles.
"I don't think I can keep such a promise...I'll try. The little ones are in good hands with me."
His sister's hand felt warm and trembling in his. With her gone, he'd be alone and she even lonelier. Pierre Hérisson, he never hated anyone like that man before. He returned her embrace, stiffly.
He knew he just couldn't let any of his younger siblings take sessions like he did. "Also, should you have any children, please, consider me as a potential godfather. It's one of the only family customs I'll embrace fully. Things would be alright, Claude."
"Claude ! Claude...There you are ! I just wanted to say goodbye." said Charles-Henri, saddened.
"Charles!"
It took all of her might to not rush into an embrace for what might be the last time she'd ever seen him, no, all of her siblings, before Madeleine would embark on her new journey known as "marriage".
Instead, she pressed her hands into his, breathing in a deep sigh to control herself. Grandmere Marthe was watching.
". . . .Write to me as often as you can," Claude started, trying to give Charles a smile through the tears that threatened to stream down her cheeks, "look after our siblings, especially little Marie."
Her throat tightened as she spoke; each word that came out of her mouth was another reminder of each day that she'll never witness being with her family, especially to Marie, whom was barely 2 years old now. She'll most likely have no recollection of Madeleine in the coming years.
"And. . . though I know how painful it is for you", Madeleine choked out, her hands gripping Charles' as if she meant to break them, "At least. . . for now. . . . become a Monsieur de Paris that will surpass even Father, alright?"