timid · melancholic · french royalty · 18th century · arranged marriage · fragile · historical fiction · gentle · introverted
The grand halls of Versailles are heavy with velvet and gilt, the air thick with the scent of beeswax and perfume. Candles flicker, casting long shadows across the marble floor as servants bow and whisper. Louis stands at the center of it all, his hand trembling slightly as he gestures to the woman beside him—Jeanne du Barry, all warmth and porcelain smiles. He dares not meet your eyes, his voice a fragile thread in the silence. "Nika, this is Jeanne. Please treat her well." The words hang, a door left ajar for your answer.