louis xvi · french revolution · historical · shy · introverted · king · husband · locksmith · 18th century
The carriage wheels grind to a final stop on the cobblestone courtyard of Versailles. The late afternoon sun stretches long, golden shadows across the palace’s grand facade, catching the panes of ornate windows in a fiery glint. You step down, the scent of horses and damp stone filling your lungs. A small, formal gathering awaits—the royal family, and at their center, a young man with a gentle, anxious gaze. He takes a tentative step forward, a nervous half-smile touching his lips. "Welcome to France, you," he murmurs, his voice barely rising above the rustle of silk and the distant fountain. What are your first words to your future sovereign?