The Last Rose of Versailles

Chapter 1: A Reluctant Proposal

The year was 1770, and Élise Marguerite de Montclair was eighteen, beautiful, and strong-willed. Raised in the tranquil countryside of Provence, she had lived a life far removed from the intrigues of the French court. But her father, the Duke of Montclair, had grander ambitions. He sought to secure his family's future by offering his daughter in marriage to the young King of France, Louis-Auguste.

The news of the betrothal arrived on a brisk autumn day, and with it, Élise's sense of freedom seemed to vanish like the last of the summer leaves. She pleaded with her father, begging him to reconsider, but his mind was set. "You have been chosen, Élise," he said sternly. "It is an honor that you will marry the King."

Chapter 2: The Arrival at Versailles

Élise's journey to Versailles was a long and lonely one. She sat in her carriage, her heart heavy with dread, her thoughts lingering on the life she was leaving behind. As the gilded gates of the palace came into view, she felt a surge of panic. Versailles, with its endless corridors and mirrored halls, was like nothing she had ever seen — beautiful, but cold and unwelcoming.

Her arrival was met with pomp and ceremony. The courtiers watched her with keen interest, their eyes following her every move. To them, she was a new player in their endless game of power and politics. King Louis-Auguste awaited her in the Hall of Mirrors, his face a mix of anticipation and nervousness. He was younger than she expected, with soft brown eyes and an uncertain smile. He extended his hand to her, and she took it, feeling the weight of her fate settle upon her shoulders.

Chapter 3: A Marriage of State

Their wedding was a grand affair, attended by the most powerful nobles in France. Élise felt like a puppet, dressed and positioned for display. The King, meanwhile, was captivated by her beauty, believing that this marriage would bring him the companionship he desperately craved. But Élise's heart was cold, and her eyes remained distant.

The days that followed were a whirlwind of ceremonies and introductions. Élise struggled to adjust to life at court, where every word was scrutinized, every gesture analyzed. She found solace in the palace gardens, where she could escape the suffocating atmosphere of the court and be alone with her thoughts. But even in the gardens, she could feel Louis's gaze upon her, watching, waiting.

Chapter 4: A King's Love, A Queen's Duty

Louis was kind and attentive, doing everything he could to make her feel at home. He sent her gifts, organized elaborate dinners in her honor, and sought her company at every opportunity. But Élise remained guarded. She had not chosen this life, and she did not love him. To her, he was simply the King, a man she had been forced to marry.

One evening, after yet another stifling banquet, Louis found her alone in the library. "Why do you avoid me, Élise?" he asked softly. "What have I done to make you so cold?"

She turned to him, her eyes filled with a mixture of defiance and sadness. "You have done nothing, Your Majesty. But you must understand, I am here not by choice but by duty. How can I love a man I do not know?"

Louis sighed, a look of disappointment passing over his face. "I do not ask for love, only that you give me a chance," he replied. "Let us try to make the best of this union, for both our sakes."

Chapter 5: The Gilded Cage

Life at Versailles was a constant battle for Élise. The courtiers eyed her with suspicion, whispering behind their fans, questioning her loyalty to the King. The Queen Mother, Marie Leszczyńska, was particularly cold, viewing Élise as a threat to her own influence over her son. "The new Queen is young and untested," she would say to her ladies. "We shall see if she can endure."