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Chapter Text

“Maud” The older man's voice barked through the royal stables.

The said young woman slightly jumped only to force herself to concentrate harder on fastening the girth of her saddle. Feeling the man approach, she turned her head towards him.

“Captain” she answered, her bright green pupils disdainfully staring at him, before falling silent again.

The musketeer stood tall facing the affront without a flinch. He shouldn't be surprised. That girl is in every part her mother's daughter with this attitude.

“Maud, please” he tried softly, this time.

She ignored him once more, adjusting the stirrups before climbing on top of the dark bay mare that stood next to her.

He stood alone watching her silhouette disappear, gracefully walking the beast outside the alley of stalls to join the other riders ready to follow the royal hunt.

She must be a great rider if this is one thing she has inherited from him, he suddenly found himself thinking. Even after all those years it still felt strange to acknowledge that she was his too. 

The truth is he doesn’t know her. He used to know the little girl she once was.

He now is a stranger to the young woman before his eyes.

Chapter Text

“Summer afternoons used to be more fun, once upon another time” Maud sighed, closing her fan.

The warm breeze that assailed Fontainebleau these past few days made it nearly impossible to do anything interesting not to mention how suffocating the many layers that covered her body felt. 

On the other side of the room her friend, Marie, did not seem bothered by the heat as her hand drew cursives on paper.

Perhaps it was a Mediterranean specificity, after all the Mancini family found its origins in Ancient Rome and Marie had been born in said city in the warmth of late spring.

“Let's talk !” 

Her friend jumped on the bed next to her, in a whirlwind of pink silk, white lace and blonde hair. The two young women had been presented at the young age of fourteen by Marie's uncle Cardinal Mazarin. Since then Marie escaped the apartments she shared with her sisters to spend the afternoon with her.

“Your  sister would be appalled to see you behave like this” Maud chuckled thinking about how Olympe Mancini often chastised her younger sister about her jovial behavior.

“My sister is no fun since she got married” Marie joked before continuing “Anyway, who was that man you were talking to while you saddled your horse ?”

 “No one you should worry about.”

“Well, this man did seem to be important since you worked so hard to ignore him. You never do that, even with the King's brother or my sisters”

“I have no desire to talk about it.”

Maud's green eyes coldly stared at her friend,

“Fairly nice, dear friend, I was only trying to help.”

Marie pouted in answer, rising up from the bed to sit on the edge of the window.

“That man was my father.”  Maud admitted, biting her lip, before continuing “Swordsman, captain of his majesty's famous musketeer, that's him. However when it comes to his daughter he rarely has time to spare”  

“So now we know who the mysterious Monsieur d'Athos, Comte de la Fère is. You don't really look like him”

“I tend to favor my mother ” 

***

 The chapel's bells rung five times signaling the beginning of the vespers. Meanwhile, both young women ran through the stairs almost falling 

“Mademoiselle d'Athos, it's rare to see you late for mass” 

The royal figure appeared at the bottom of the stairs, causing Maud to jump in surprise. Followed by Marie, she quickly made her way down to clumsily plunge in a profound curtsy.

 However, she was no fool, this kind of distinction wasn't innocent.

The king's gaze had already shifted to another direction. Next to her, her friend curved her lips into a broad smile and blushed from ear to ear.

Ever since their formal introduction a few months ago, the king and Marie only had eyes for each other.

This is what falling love must look like, Maud mused. 

The two were often seen taking long promenades, reading poetry in the gardens or riding together during the hunt. Nothing like she had known both of her parents to be like.

"Mademoiselle Mancini, perhaps we could meet in the garden for a small promenade after the service.”  The king spoke again, fixing Marie.

“Of course, sire” the young Italian answered looking down and visibly blushing at this attention

The king finally turned his eyes back in Maud's direction. 

She already knew exactly what this would be about.

“Perhaps you could join us”  Are, indeed the five words coming out of his mouth and the young woman already mentally rolled her eyes.

While the King and Marie went on their romantic walk , she would be forced to watch out for them from a distant bench.  To be fair she had no desire to play gooseberry for the hundredth time.      

However, that was without thinking the two lovebirds were giving her a choice.

An instant passed and her mouth didn't even have time to form a word of protest that Marie had already answered.

“Thank you, sire.” 

 “Why did you not let me -” Maud cursed, once the king was out of sight. 

“I am deeply sorry of dragging you in this.But you know the Queen and my uncle trust you more than they trust me, and they wouldn't let me see Louis” Marie pleaded with a guilty smile on her lips.

“Fine, but it's the last time ”

Chapter Text

The vespers went on for what felt like hours, to the point where Maud's eyes were tired of trying to decipher the inscriptions on the chapel's stained glass windows. She suddenly found herself wishing she had an excuse to stay in her room curled up with a book to avoid the heat that made Fontainebleau feel like a furnace.

After another minute the priest finally turned back and she hoped her hardships were over. Unfortunately for her, he faced the altar ,again, while chanting some old cantique.

Unsatisfied, Maud bit her lip and tried to concentrate only to let her thoughts roam free.

It felt good to be closer to nature, to escape the heat of the palace, to go for a promenade whenever she had time or follow the royal hunts but she felt nostalgic. She missed Paris, its busy streets, the markets and most importantly the garrison. The king and his mother, still haunted by the memories of the Fronde, avoided the capital whenever they could, choosing to go to Saint Germain or Fontainebleau the very moment spring came. She had lived the Fronde, she still remembered the shots, her father trying to dissipate the rebellious crowds, the corpses coming to the garrison. In the span of two years the parliaments, princes and parisians had defied the crown. The monarchy had almost vacillated and Maud easily reckoned how traumatized the King had been.

A nudge soon drew her out from her reminiscence, she met Marie's mocking gaze 

“Dear Maud, here I thought I was the dreamer. Don't worry, your hardships are over, Mademoiselle de la Fère”

“I was not dreaming. How obvious was my extreme boredom?"

“Very obvious" Marie smiled mischievously and soon murmured "The Queen looked very displeased.”

“Goodness, I still don't understand how she can stand hours by the crucifix” 

“She's pious and devoted, qualities that I apparently lack of you listen to my uncle” Marie laughed playing with her fan trying her best to impersonate the cardinal while dragging Maud out of the chapel.

“It's not devotion you lack, it's calm and poise. Your emotions can be read leagues from here” Maud remarked, putting back in place a dark brown curl.

“Yes but what fun would there be without emotions? I'm terribly sorry but look at that 'suitable expression' on that face of yours ! You look like a puppet.”

“I'm not”

“That's until proven otherwise. Your loyalty could push you to do anything”

Marie was right and she knew it. That was apparently one quality out of the few she and her father shared. In order to avoid any further conflict, she used a talent of her own and changed the subject because otherwise Marie always had an answer.

“You know what ? I won't say anything more.” Maud rolled her eyes. “Now let's go find your prince charming.”

“He's better than any prince charming, you know.”

“I know”

 ****

The two young women found themselves sitting next to each other on a stone bench near the castle garden, waiting. 

“He better not be late.” Maud mumbled.

On the other side of the bench Marie was anxiously fidgeting with her skirts, worrying that Louis had forgotten his promise

“He said he'll be here.” her friend sighed.

How did she get caught in this again… Thankfully it's supposed to be the last time, but is it really ?

Another minute passed, the regal silhouette finally appeared down the pathway, graciously walking in their direction. 

Marie ran in his direction with the brightest smile on her lips. Maud watched from afar the king pulling her friend into a loving embrace. Innocently, She turned around, giving the lovebirds some privacy as their lips met. They almost disappeared in the horizon, and Maud couldn't help but think.

Someone here had to be realistic. The situation between the two would not last forever.

The king will eventually marry some foreign princess for political reasons and surely the Queen and the Cardinal had already found some suitable match. It is only in novels that a young Italian girl marries the greatest king of the world.

But Maud was too loyal to say anything. When they are together the king and Marie's face glow like they are the only people left in the world, she was she could never bear to tell them. The king is like a brother. They have played together in the gardens in the Louvre as children under the wistful eyes of the Queen.Marie is her greatest friend. She couldn't bear to see any of them unhappy.

Until now, she has never been one to believe in love. Her parents have torn each other apart in the name of love and she's never wished to have a chance at repeating the same pattern.

But as the lovers walk back in her direction, sharing a tender kiss before parting.This time Maud did not turn back,  she let a fond grin appear on her lips

She wished things could stay this way forever.

Chapter Text

“Your majesty.” The ambassador bowed, meeting the Queen’s gaze.

The man’s attitude easily betrayed his former profession. His agile low bow was an acute reminiscence of how he used to surprise his opponents. His keen look betrayed to any passer-by how he once was Paris' most famous marksman.

“Oh, Aramis.” The monarch’s stern expression quickly melted in a fond grin.“Do not care for such formalities.”

“My Queen, How long has it been?” Aramis smirked in answer.

“Far too long I believe.”

He felt her body shivered as he chastely kissed her gloved hand.

Time had passed since their first meeting, he no longer is a musketeer nor is she a young submissive queen.

The Fronde and her husband’s death has forever changed them. Following the riots she had entrusted him with the mission of making peace with her birth country. He now spends most of this time away from her as a french ambassador at King Phillipe’s court. 

He often misses her, but it was necessary to shut any rumors that could unsettle her power. She is now the queen mother, ruling France in their son’s stead with the help of the cardinal Mazarin.

“I wish your return here were under better circumstances.” She sighed, letting a strand of blonde hair fall from her neat bun.

“Being by your side can soften any critical circumstances.” Aramis murmured

“Don't flatter me, Aramis. I'm too old for that” 

”You'll never be.” 

Aramis observed Queen Anne moving to the window. He followed her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She immediately freed herself from his clasp. He frowned, her face was grave, her usually soft blue gaze was cold and full of worry. Their private reunions were usually more jovial.

They would have normally been more effusive, because in the public eye, they can never show their inclination. They only get stolen moments like these, of a forever platonic intimacy. 

“Louis wants to join our armies in Flanders” She finally admitted avoiding crossing his gaze.

“He’s the king, it’s his duty” He answered, trying to hide his uneasiness.

“He’s my son!” She cried, letting her regal facade slip. 

The mere thought of him standing in front of cannonballs worried him too but he also knew that she was overprotecting him. At twenty years old, Louis was devoted to France and it was his destiny. He couldn’t forever be confined inside royal palaces. Besides, the people, tired of Mazarin’s and the Queen’s politics, was already begging for their beloved young king to take on his royal responsibilities.

“You are his mother, it is only normal that you worry;” He paused, watching his lover finally turn in his direction. “But you must understand that-”

The Queen cried again, not letting him finish the sentence.“I don’t need your advice.”

“If the Cardinal has approved of his decision-”

“You and Giulio don’t understand anything” She nervously fiddled with the cross hanging around her neck. “Louis is innocent. He knows about playing the guitar, dancing and hunting. He sees war as nothing but a game, a way to impress his lover ” 

“A lover ?” He asked, raising his eyebrows.

The monarch turned again to the window and he followed her gaze.

 Under their eyes, a charming scene was taking place in the gardens of Fontainebleau. Louis was in the gallant company of a young blonde woman. He seemed to only have eyes for her and her pink dress.

“He has become infatuated with the cardinal’s niece.” She revealed biting her lip in anger

“They do say that young love is the sweetest of all.” 

She ignored his answer.“I cannot protect him anymore. I feel like he is slipping through my fingers.”

“He keeps secrets from me and I cannot bear it”

“Louis is a man now.” 

“He even has accomplices to make sure nothing comes to my ears. Your niece is actually one of them.”

“Well, Maud has known Louis since they were children. It is only logical that she would help him if he asks.” He couldn’t help but let out a small laugh and stroke his beard.“The cardinal's niece, the king, and the Musketeer's daughter sound like one of those cheap novels the ladies adore in the salons of Paris.”

“All of this could eventually ruin everything we have done to end this war.”

“I know.” He paused, regaining a more formal attitude and continued “Trust him. He’ll do what is right when the time comes. As for my niece, her loyalty to the crown is infaillible.”

“You indulge him too much.”

He took a few steps back, leaving the Queen alone in the window frame.

“Your majesty, I shall see you at the counsel meeting later” He bowed, making his way to the door.

“Aramis” The regal woman turned around. Her eyes softened, seemingly regretting the fit of anger. “I want you to go with him” 

“I have given up my soldier’s uniform, my queen.”

“I will send for help.” She retorted as he left.