Disclaimer: Berusaiyu no Bara & all characters © ® All Rights Reserved Ikeda
Productions 1972-1973, Tokyo Movie Shinsha Co. 1979-1980.
Except faux Oscar
Part 1: The Incident
by Aria (crune@coqui.net)
A figure moved from within the shadows of the chamber, creeping
steadily towards the sleeping girl in the bed. The girl moved and the figure
stopped. A few minutes later it began walking towards the girl again.
Marie-Antoinette, future queen of France woke up feeling something
cold and sharp pressing lightly against her neck. She felt someone's presence
sitting behind her on the bed and knew instantly that a dagger was pointed at
her throat. She fought the urge to scream valiantly as she tried to see who
her assailant was.
"W-w-who are you?"
Her assailant spoke in a whisper; it's voice undistinguishable. "I
would control the volume of my voice if I were you, Future Queen..."
"W-what do you want?" the girl whispered.
"Your engagement ring."
Marie-Antoinette reached with trembling hands for the ring and handed
it to her assailant. It let her go to take the ring and while it was in front
of her, she tried to look at who it was--but it had a hood covering it's face.
The figure noticed the quick perusal in an instant.
"What a curious bird you are," it said and in a lighting quick
movement it pulled its dark hood back.
Tendrils of blonde hair escaped--white in the moonlight...
Light eyes, maybe green or blue...she couldn't tell...
And the figure moved forward...cold lips touched hers.
It ... kissed her! Marie-Antoinette thought of struggling, but the
figure was suddenly gone. Had she imagined it? Was it a dream?
She moved back against the bed and looked at her right hand. The ring
was gone. Marie-Antoinette was overcome by panic. Someone had managed to get
into her private chamber...it could come back...
The wave of fear kept getting larger and the she screamed.
***
Versailles was in uproar the next morning. Voices could be heard
discussing the latest 'gossip'.
"Did you hear about the 'incident' yesterday?" a female voice asked.
"Oh my, yes. I can't believe someone would be capable of doing that,"
a second female voice replied.
Another joined in. "Frankly, I'm not surprised. The Royal Guard seems
to have forgotten what it protects."
"Lady Catherine, don't you think you are being a bit harsh?" the
first voice countered.
"Not at all. The Princess could have been killed!"
There was a collective gasp.
Lady Catherine continued speaking, "You'd think they would be more
careful after all this is the second time there is an attempt on Marie
Antoinette's life."
The first voice spoke again dubiously, "Second time?"
"Yes, Lady Nicole--don't tell me you forgot about the impostor that
posed as the Princess a few weeks ago. Nothing good could have come out of
it."
"But to say that it's a murder attempt..."
"Don't be so naive, Lady Madeleine. One would think you don't know
how dangerous the court is," Lady Catherine said condescendingly.
There was a gasp.
"Surely..." Lady Nicole tried to speak, but her voice fluttered
nervously, "surely you don't think a noble was responsible for this".
Lady Catherine's tone was suddenly cold and emotionless; "I never
said that. I would appreciate if you didn't put words in my mouth again, Lady
Nicole."
***
"You wished to speak with me, Father?" Oscar Jarjayes shut the door
gently behind her.
"Why weren't you at the Palace today?" General Jarjayes asked
accusingly, his eyes boring into Oscar's.
Oscar's face remained impassive. "I left Gerodere in charge yesterday,
since everything looked peaceful. He has instructions to send for me if
anything happens--"
Her speech was interrupted by a sharp sound and Oscar's head was
thrown back. Her left cheek was burning...The realization hit her a second
later--her father slapped her.
"You fool!" her father yelled. "You could have been executed for your
irresponsibility."
She remained silent.
"Don't you know what has happened in the Palace today?"
Oscar slowly shook her head. Her father walked closer to her, his
expression menacing.
"An attempt was made on Marie Antoniette's life last night."
Oscar's eyes betrayed her surprise. She hesitated before saying,
"But there were guards at the door!"
The General ignored her. "You should have made sure it didn't happen.
Mistakes are not tolerated from the Royal Guard Commander!"
The young woman's eyes glittered with pent-up fury. She wanted to
scream that it wasn't her fault...
Oscar turned and opened the door.
"Where are you going?" the General asked, "Don't you dare turn your
back on me."
"I'm going to the Palace, Father," she said without turning around,
"It seems I have no time to waste." With that, Oscar walked out and shut the
door.
***
"Oscar where are you going?" Andre asked as she ran quickly for the
stable.
"To the Palace, there's been an ...", she winced, "an emergency."
"I'll go with you."
She got on her horse. "No. No it would be best if you stayed here."
Andre's face briefly betrayed hurt, but it quickly faded before Oscar
noticed.
"I'm sorry I can't tell you right now, I need to hurry--I promise
I'll tell you when I get back," with that she galloped off.
***
Oscar frantically looked for Gerodere when she got to the palace. She
found him talking with some guards near the Princess' chambers.
"Gerodere," she called out, "I need to speak with you."
He nodded and followed her to an empty room. Oscar shut the door.
"What is this all about!" Oscar hissed angrily, "And why did you not
send for me?"
"Calm down, Commander, I did not send for you because I had no time.
Besides, the situation is under control."
Oscar seethed in fury. "Do not tell me to calm down," she said
angrily. "I'd much rather you'd tell me exactly what is going on, seeing as
to how I'm the Commander of the Royal Guard and have the right to know."
Gerodere sighed. "An intruder came into the Princess' chamber and
stole her engagement ring."
"What? How could the intruder slip past the guards?"
"We don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know? Haven't you spoken with the
guards?"
"Yes we have, but they say they don't remember any intruder."
"They must have fallen asleep then"; she made a disgusted face and
looked away, "pathetic."
"Commander, they *could have*," Gerodere said uneasily, "but I don't
think so."
She fixed Gerodere with a skeptical stare. "Oh? Why not."
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair absentmindedly, "I know
these men Commander and I know that the ones that protect the Princess are
not the kind to fall asleep during such a task. Besides what are the chances
that both of them were asleep when the intruder arrived?"
"Apparently the chances were too high for my liking, Gerodere," Oscar
said acidly, "Have you spoken with the Princess?"
"Yes," Gerodere said haltingly.
"What has she said about this intruder. Did she provide you with an
accurate description?"
"Not really."
"So she doesn't know what the assailant looks like?"
"Her description is not very accurate..."
"Well?"
"She said it had long blonde hair and light eyes--possibly green or
blue and was tall."
Oscar sucked in a breath and there was a heavy silence.
"Commander?"
Oscar's voice was small. "Has the word spread around the court?"
"Not of the description of the intruder, she just told me some
minutes before you arrived."
"Make sure it doesn't spread," Oscar said and turned to leave.
"Commander."
"Yes, Gerodere?" she asked without turning.
"Many people in the court match the Princess' description," he said
in a reassuring tone.
"I know that."
"Both male and female."
Oscar's hand began to reach for the doorknob, but stopped.
"Has the King heard about the incident?"
"Yes."
If Oscar's back weren't towards him, Gerodere would have seen Oscar
swallow nervously and lick her lips.
"What are his orders?"
"For now he only wishes for the intruder to be caught."
Oscar reached for the doorknob again.
"What are your orders, Commander?"
"The guards that were by the Princess' chambers..."
"Yes?"
"Change them from their post. Put some new ones there. And I wish to
be the first to know of anything else that might happen."
With that Oscar opened the door and left, her boots thumping quickly
away.
***
"Damn!" Oscar said pacing around the living room. It was night and
she was back at the Jarjayes mansion completely frustrated by the day's
events.
"So you're at a standstill," Andre remarked from the chair opposite
Oscar.
"Of course. The description Marie-Antoinette gave us is completely
useless! Plus the thief left no evidence or mark and the guards don't
remember a thing!" she threw herself on a chair.
"It just seems like a strange crime to me."
"What do you mean?"
"Hmmm, I don't know. Someone creeping to the Princess' room and
stealing only her engagement ring."
Oscar stared at him, "*Only* stealing her engagement ring? You mean,
*only* stealing the wedding ring of the Future Queen of France?"
"It's just that, Oscar. Why would someone want to do that? It seems
to have no functional purpose. After all, the intruder could have killed her
or actually grabbed more jewelry. Think about it."
"I guess you're right. After all, the only big consequences are the
Princess' fearing for her life and more gossip around Versailles, and of
course the ring itself."
"But it's not like the King can't offer her more security or afford
to buy her another ring."
Oscar couldn't help but smile. "Yes. There has to be something else
behind it."
"Did you get to talk to the Princess?"
Oscar frowned. "No, she felt...'indisposed' and didn't want talk to
anyone except her maids the entire day."
"She did talk to Gerodere though."
Oscar's frown deepened and fury flashed on her face for a second.
"That's because he got there first."
Andre watched her carefully for a minute. "Hey Oscar," he said, "have
...have you thought of the possibility that the intruder could have been one
of your men?"
Her eyes flashed. "Well, it couldn't have been the two guards that
were by her door. They don't fit the description. However...," she rubbed her
eyes wearily, "much as I hate the idea, I have to admit it could be one of
them...even through I don't think the chances are that high."
"Oscar...you don't really know these men that well."
"I know that!" she snapped.
There was a crushing silence.
"I'm sorry, Andre. I guess I'm cranky and sleepy. It's been a
terrible day."
"That's okay." he said, "why don't you go to bed. Maybe tomorrow
something else will come up."
Oscar rose from the chair. "I hope so."
"Oscar?"
"Yes?"
"You never told me exactly what was Marie Antoniette's description."
"Blonde hair, blue or green eyes, tall. She couldn't tell if it was
male or female". Oscar paused. "There are many in the court that match that
description."
"Oscar, do you think--"
"No," she interrupted.
Andre continued regardless, "--that someone could be impersonating
you?"
"Like I said Andre, lots of people in the court match that
description. Good night."
She left.
***
"Is the Princess still feeling indisposed?" Marie Antoinette heard
someone ask outside her door.
One of the maids answered her, "I'm not sure--she must be having tea
right now. Would you like me to ask if she wishes to see you?"
"Yes, thank you. Tell her that the Royal Guard Commander wishes to
speak with her."
Marie Antoinette stifled the impulse to groan. All she wanted to do
was forget the incident, but the foolish guards kept asking her for
information she didn't have. She sipped delicately from her teacup as the
maid walked in.
"Princess--"
"Send him in," she interrupted the maid. maybe this would be the
last time she'd be forced to deal with the incident.
The maid bowed her head and went to open the door.
The Commander walked in.
Long blonde hair...
Blue eyes...
The teacup fell slowly from her hands to the floor and shattered.
to be continued...
END part 1
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