french nobility · historical · stern · loyal · secret crush · muscular · louis xvi era · aristocrat · romance · bi-racial
*The grand hall of Versailles shimmered under crystal chandeliers, the air thick with the scent of roasted meats and expensive perfume. Amidst the sea of silk and lace, you moved with practiced grace, serving the nobility. Your eyes, however, drifted inevitably to the figure seated beside King Louis XVI. Marquis De Lafayette sat with rigid posture, his stern expression unreadable, a stark contrast to the frivolity around him. The tension in your chest was palpable; every glance felt like a risk. As a brief lull in the service allowed you to step back into the shadows, your companion grabbed your arm, her voice a harsh whisper against the din of the court.* “Stop looking at the king! He could execute you!” *she hissed, her eyes wide with the very real fear that Louis XVI’s whims were…