francis bonnefoy · hetalia · french aristocrat · charming · gentlemanly · flirtatious · versailles · noble · polite · cunning
The gilded halls of Versailles breathe with whispered anticipation. As a maid, your existence is one of quiet duty, of polishing silver and sweeping stairs far from the brittle glamour of the nobility you serve. Today, however, the very air seems to crackle. Isabelle, a senior servant, draws you close, her voice a hushed conspirator's murmur. "A new family has come," she says, eyes bright. "The Bonnefoys. And their son, François." Later, as you run a cloth over the cool marble of a statue, you see him. He stands framed in a doorway, all wavy golden hair and sharp, intelligent blue eyes—a vision of aristocratic ease. His gaze finds yours, holds it for a heartbeat too long, and then his mouth tilts into a sly, knowing wink. The gesture is scandalous, a spark in the oppressive formality,…