Interlude: A Day in Court leads to a Day of (Mis)Trust
You felt very awkward with the dress on. It was too long, too flowery, and you couldn't wear a sword on it. The shoes, if you could call those stilts that were somehow supposed to carry your weight shoes, were hurting your feet, and you did not have any kind of warm socks. And in the Palace, you wanted to have nice warm socks.
"Must I wear this?" You asked Josephine as she finally finished examining you and smiling. "These shoes are extremely uncomfortable."
Josephine folded her arms. "You are going to court and you are going to dress the part of the Empress, not the Marshal. You made that choice remember?"
"Yes, and I wish to also wear something that doesn't hurt my feet." You stated. "Even barefoot is better than this."
Josephine frowned. "At least humor them for a couple of steps."
"We're quite more than a couple of steps from the throne room and the ballroom." You said, not trying to say it properly while you groaned in pain as you took a step, shaking as you tried to balance. "What fool designed this madness?"
Josephine shook her head. "Some designer in the city. He saw some old fashion that were formally in style and tweaked it for court. It's quite popular among some of the more… former noblewomen in court."
"Including you?" You asked.
Josephine nodded before she gave a sly smile. "I prefer something far more comfortable."
That traitor. "I should fire you for this pain and suffering." You stated with a growl.
"But you won't because than you would be helpless with the other people who would seek to embarrass you." She replied.
You frowned. "I want to carry my pistol."
"An Empress does not carry a pistol." Josephine replied.
"But I do."
"Come on My Empress, we must get going." She replied ignoring the statement you made.
And it was agony that you felt for the entire walk to court.
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You were this close to ripping the shoes off and shooting someone with one of the guard's rifles to get them all to scatter. Sure it would not be the best impression for the Republicans, the surviving monarchists who were now your allies, and those that Napoleon liked and gave positions in court… who were afraid of angering you because you could send a corps after them.
But you were dreadfully in pain and you wanted it to stop. And it couldn't stop while the sun was still up in the sky and pleasantries had to be given. To everyone.
"Is the Empress alright?" A voice asked as you saw that some were starting to stare at you as you finished greeting one of the newer nobles… well not new, but an ex duke that wormed his way back into a position at court as an assistant
"I've heard she cannot wear anything that is dignified and I am right. She cannot." A Lady of court whispered. "She is truly ugly in that dress."
Well, you didn't want to wear a dress, so maybe you could shoot that lady first.
"I am fine." You loudly proclaimed, and walked towards the throne, and plopped yourself on it.
Josephine was horrified. "Empress, you can't just sit on the throne!"
"Why not, it's a chair, and my feet hurt, and it's there. I'm sitting on it." You stated.
Every courtier was horrified.
"That is Napoleon's throne," Josephine stated. "Only he's allowed to sit there."
"I'm sure he won't mind." You shot back finely feeling relief as you took off those horrible shoes you had endured wearing… and saw blood coming from your ankles.
"There are others who would mind," Josephine said, exasperated at the things she was telling you. "Those who really wish for a more… Decorum from the Empress."
She was horrified, looking at the shoe marks and the blood on your ankles.
You frowned. "If I wanted more decorum, I would have sent them all away, and forced everyone to wear a uniform." You complained. "And burn these shoes, they are horrible.
There was a gasp from the crowd, someone really fainting at you making such a proclamation and the shoes were taken away by one of the courtiers, hopefully for a good burning.
"You can now see why I detest court." You heard a familiar voice, and it made you turn.
You then saw Louis, wearing a few new medals of your creation on his chest. And in his arm, a hat, a big one like the one you wore, with black feathers… falcon feathers.
He stood tall, and beside him were his two… objects of affection.
Gabriella was… well you were not going to call her ugly, but she was clearly not a pretty woman in a conventional sense. Her teeth were bucked, her blonde hair was not only short, and youthful, but dirty, with mud in her hair. Her uniform was wearing a combat ribbon and the Second Coalition medal.
And for Charles… you didn't think you could ever imagine a Mini Denis in your life. Yet there he was sitting in the flesh. Though he had a…
No, he had different eyes than the jovial mad Marshal that was your comrade. He was calmer, more disciplined. His eyes are sharper and far more.
Well to say that they were more daring than his father's, which would be impossible, yet they were.
"Good to see you, Marshal!" Charles said as he saluted to you.
You saluted back. "I'm glad to see you are still as enthusiastic as ever."
"Always." He replied. You then noticed he had a pistol on his side.
Josephine seemed very concerned, but not you. "That weapon loaded?"
"Yes." He replied. "Why wouldn't it be?"
He had snuck a gun past your security. My god…. He was good.
You would need to see if you could get another one.
"Hello, Empress." Gabriella gave a perfect bow, as if she was pretending to be a boy, and had been practicing, despite her almost instinctive desire to courtesy to you. "I am honored to meet you in person, instead of your commands."
"It is an honor as well Gabriella." You replied with a small nod of your head. "Louis, I take it you are not very happy being here?"
Louis turned his head and saw a fair few faces that you probably suspected were the same type or the same people who wanted to crown him angered at your presence and angered by… everything about you.
"Don't worry about them." You stated. "Are you alright?"
Gabriella started. "Yes, do you have to wear that silly dress, or were you forced to?"
You turned to Josephine. "Forced." You replied.
"My God, you really are a puppet-like the nobles wished for Louis to be." She said with a laugh.
You turned to Louis and saw his face turn red in embarrassment. "Stop. please." He was trying to stop her from shouting. "I don't want any attention."
You were about to say something when the doors to the room were opened and in came a very large party.
A Party with Austrian colors.
"Your Majesty the Empress, I present to you, Archduchess Marie Anne, or the Empire of Austria." A Herald proclaimed.
Louis' face turned both red and white at the same time. As he saw the Archduchess walk forward, and courtesy to you, before looking to Louis. "Hello, Prince Capet."
And you paled. You turned to Josephine. "Did you know about this?" You asked.
"Napoleon knew you would not come if you knew." Josephine stated.
Oh shit.
"Is she part of the diplomatic Embassy from Austria?" You asked.
"Yes," Josephine said. "You would know if you actually listened to me briefing you about the happenings of court."
You look towards the Archduchess and allow yourself to smile, uncomfortableness aside.
"Welcome to Paris, Archduchess." You replied, with a small courtesy. "I hope you find your stay well, and comfortable."
Marie nodded. "I shall find it greatly comforting, thank you, Empress."
Reward:
All of Louis Lovers are now in the same room and general area.
You are caught off guard by your lack of politics again.
God help you.
The Austrian Embassy has arrived to make a deal with Napoleon and France, to save itself.
New Actions avalible.
ANL Enjoy.
