The Language of the Heart / Chapter 2 An Alternative Universe Story Author: Empress E-mail: empress_chan@yahoo.de AN: Did I mention that I'm from Germany? Very evil country!!!! And teachers too! I have 4 exams this week.. *sigh* Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon. Chapter 2 In the next few days Serenity got to know her parents and brother, and learned to love them. She was also introduced to her friends, whom she felt like she had known for years. First of all there was Litalle, or Lita, who seemed to be like an older sister to her and the other girls. Lita was married to Nate, a Marquis ,who seemed to treat her as his little sister, like the other two guys Mal and Zach. Mal 'was' the Comte de La Bretonne, and engaged to her second cousin ,Mina, who looked a lot like Serenity. She was a cheerful person, and was always talking, in contrast to Amy, a very sweet, shy girl who was married to Zach. +++ a few days later / castle gardens of the de la Fountains +++ "Yes, Julie. That's a daffodil. How about if you show it to your mommy?" "I will, auntie Rena. Can you play hide and seek with me then?" "I wish I could, but I'm afraid that it's time to go to bed. But I promise you that we'll play it when I'm here again, do you agree?" "Yes, auntie. I love you." The little girl then kissed Serenity on her cheek and ran away with her flower in the direction where her mother sat with the other ladies. Serenity sighed and turned to admire the sight of the beautiful garden when suddenly a beautiful girl appeared in a pale yellow gown at her side. "Why are you looking so sad, Serena? Don't you want to accompany us?" asked Mina, one of her *friends* that she got to know her in the last few days. Serenity felt that she could trust Baroness Minalle de Vigée-Lebrun completely. (***That's her full name***) "I don't know, Mina. It seems that something is missing in my life, but I don't know what." "Maybe you're imagining things, Rena. I wouldn't worry so much. It's such a beautiful day. And we miss your smile, so come on!" "You're right Mina." and she left the gardens with a happy smile. +++ Chambord (Palace of the de la Fayettete's) +++ "No, I'm not going to do that. Do you think I'm going to agree with you? It's hilarious that my parents want me to settle down and MARRY! And his majesty wanted it also? For his age, he's a worse womanizer than I!" "Endymion what are you thinking? You insulted his majesty! Do you not know the punishment for lese-majesty?" "I don't care, father! Why the sudden idea? Maybe he was jealous that the little Mademoiselle Frengard doesn't like him as much as me?" Endymion asked sarcastically. "Your silence is enough for me. I will not follow the orders of an immature king! If he doesn't get what he wants, he demands that the others are out of line!" "Are you forgetting that if you disobey the orders of the king, you will be thrown into the Bastille, and that you will bring shame on the name of our family?" "Leave me alone!" "You are going to hear me out, Endymion. If you do not find a bride in three months, I will disinherit you!" Silence. It was so quiet that you could hear a needle drop. Grinding his teeth, Endymion nodded slowly his head and replied, "Father, I'm going to fulfill yours and the king's wishes. But don't expect the most suitable bride, DUC DE LA FAYETTE!" and he stormed out of the room, leaving his father angry and confused. +++ party at the house of the Baron d' Mouton +++ "Endymion why are you so gloomy today, my friend?" "Nate, my father wants me to marry!" Noel de la Fountain burst out laughing at the statement of his Friend, Prince Endymion Darien de la Fayette. "You? The eternal bachelor? That's a joke? You're only 26!" "Nate, you were 26 when you married, and when your kids were born." "But that's another thing. I fell in love with Lita, and my parents never forced me to marry some girl. If I haven't found someone before my 34th birthday, they would come and bug me." "Well, my mother wishes grandchildren and my father too wants to see a new heir. But the real cause is that his majesty wants that slut Frengard in his bed. And she doesn't want it because she thinks that I will fall in love with and marry her. Have you ever heard such a ridiculous thought?" "Hmmm. I see, you have no choice. Have your parents presented your betrothed yet?" "There is no betrothed yet. But if I don't find a bride in the next three months, my father is going to disinherit me." Whistling Nate responded: "Definitely not good. But at least you have the chance to find a girl that you will fall in love." "Nate, you're sometimes so optimistic. Can you really imagine me falling for a girl?" "Wonders never cease. And now come on, let's enjoy the party." +++ the study room of the Marquis de Lavoisier +++ Knocking at the door, the Comtesse Serenity Angelique de Lavoisier stepped into the room. "Father, you wanted to speak with me?" "Oh Serenity it's good that you are here. Indeed I wanted discuss with you an important matter. Please sit down." "You know that I only want the best for you, Serenity. And please understand what I'm going to say now." He paused. "You are now 20 years old, and have gone to the school of Madame Claudel. Your mother and I are thinking about marriage. At your age, many girls had made their debut and are now wives and mothers. I wish you could be here in our home longer, but I want you to experience love. I was very lucky that I found your mother and married her. I still love her as much as I did the first day I laid my eyes on her. And I wish the same the thing for you. Jed is already engaged to a charming Italian Contessa, and you are the only one who hasn't found anyone yet. I had hoped that you would fall in love with one of your friends, but it seems that the other four madams caught them. So what are you saying, Angel?" Many different emotions filled Serenity when her father spoke to her. Fear, curiosity, excitement and ...happiness? "Father I don't know what to say. It's just so sudden. I ... I understand what you feel, and I will respect your decision." Gulping, she continued, "I will accept any suitor that you bring. But I'm begging you , father, that I can choose the man who will be my husband." "Of course, Serenity. I would never force you in any marriage that you don't want." Hearing this Serenity sighed in relief, aand hugged her father "It's okay princess. And hear me out. In two days there will be a huge ball in Versailles that we will attend. Our king has also sent you an invitation, because he was worried about your health. He was happy to hear that you are all right, and wanted to see our family at the ball, because since your accident we haven't been in Versailles." "Yes father. I'll go with you to see Versailles." +++ evening before the ball / Serenity's chambers +++ "Marie, do you know where my shoes are?" asked Serenity "I will bring them in one minute, Mademoiselle. Please wait till then!" exclaimed Marie and rushed through the door leaving Serenity alone in front of the mirror. #You can do it Serena. I know you do. You will go to that ball, and make polite conversation, and ... meet one of the most famous kings of the world, Louis the Fourteenth. Called Roi du Soleil, the sun king. And I'm going to meet him. It's every historian's dream to meet one of the most powerful men in the history of the world, the founder of such an important epoch. He ordered to build Versailles and now I'm going to go there. What if I screw up?! And the whole thing about marriage!!! How I'm gonna manage to ...# Marie interrupted Serenity's thoughts as she rushed through the door holding the shoes triumphantly into the air. "I've got them, Mademoiselle. Your outfit is now perfect." And indeed it was, Serenity wore a gown that had a corselet with deep cleavage, and was embroiled with sapphires and diamonds. The sleeves and the ends of her skirt were decorated with expensive Venetian lace. Where the corselet ended you could see the deep blue skirt, cut in the middle where another skirt of silver flowed out. Around her neck she wore a blue diamond, known as the 'La Coer de La Mere'. (*** I LIKE Titanic!***) Her hair was styled into many locks that surrounded her delicate face. On her head she wore a beautiful tiara that consisted of platinum, diamonds and pearls. It was called 'Russian Beauty'. (***I have a picture of it. It was made in the year 1987 but it belongs to the Russian crown jewels treasure.***) "Mademoiselle must go now. The Marquis and Marquise are waiting for you." "Right, Marie. I have to go." +++ 10.00p.m. / Versailles +++ Looking out of her window, she gasped at the sight. Before her There was a palace out of fairy tales, so beautiful and magnificent that it was hard to believe to be true. The gates were decorated at the top with gold, and beside them stood the Versailles guards, who were clothed in gold and blue, the royal colors of the Bourbons. After passing the gates the carriage stopped before the Marble Courtyard, where many other carriages stood. A servant opened the carriage and led them out. Opening a huge glass door, he led the Lavoisiers into the entrance hall of the queen. Following another servant, they reached the marble stairs of the queen. Going through various rooms, they finally reached the first antechamber, and the second antechamber of the dauphin. They were finally in the mirror hall of Versailles. A hall that was full of huge golden statues and crystal chandeliers. Huge mirrors that were parts of the walls shone, and beside them were statues of the ancient Greek gods and goddesses, like Apollo, Diana, Hestia, Mars, Hermes and Aphrodite. The ceiling was decorated with gold and fantastic murals that told the political successes of Louis the Fourteenth. Golden furniture with red velvet and marble vases stood at the sides. #Am I dreaming? I don't wanna wake up and see that all this is gone! All those people who are laughing and enjoying this luxury are real. Dancing and talking they live in this fairy tale. They are rich as Croesus, and beautiful and handsome as gods. And I? I'm a part of them! I'm the Comtesse Serenity Angelique de Lavoisier and I'm going to knock them dead. I don't care if I change history!# "Serenity are you alright? You look too pale." asked Veronique, her mother. "Oh, excuse me mother. But I was admiring the hall. It's unbelievable how beautiful this place is." "I know what you mean. I always catch my breath every time I come to Versailles. But now, we have to greet his majesty. He's waiting for us." Leading the way, the Marquise went into the direction where the silver Apollo throne stood. Many people surrounded this place. Beautiful women, who wanted to capture the attention of the king. Expensive clothed men, who discussed politics, and would do anything to become advisors of his majesty. And there sat the king, not an impressive figure, but an old looking man. But what caught Serenity's eye was the man beside him. Laughing about some lame joke of his majesty, she faced his broad shoulders that were in black velveteen jacket. Suddenly he turned around, as if he felt her curious stare. And then for the first time, cerulean eyes met midnight blue. to be continued .... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Am I not evil?