Ten Years Later Chapter 48 - Fontainebleau at Two o'Clock in the Morning

Louise de la Vallière Chapter 24 - The First Quarrel

In which Louise de la Vallière finds herself unexpectedly accused and reproached within the queen-mother's chambers, caught amidst whispered intrigues and misunderstandings that weigh heavily upon her gentle heart. The king’s tender yet troubled visit to her apartments reveals a deepening sorrow and unspoken suspicions, as courtly tensions and jealousies begin to cast long shadows upon their fragile affections.

Louise de la Vallière Chapter 23 - Triumfeminate

In which the arrival of the king in Paris stirs the queen and queen-mother into a delicate discourse on love, loyalty, and the complexities of courtly affections, as whispers of jealousy and intrigue weave through their conversation. The sombre elegance of the royal household is punctuated by a duel born of flirtation, prompting the queen-mother to intervene with firm resolve regarding the fate of a certain maid of honour.

Louise de la Vallière Chapter 22 - The Journey

In which the royal party sets out on a journey under a blazing sun, and the king, oppressed by the heat and longing for fresh air, seizes the chance to ride Monsieur’s beautiful bay horse, thus prompting a tender encounter with La Vallière. Amidst the shimmering dust and the restless court, a quiet yet profound exchange unfolds between them, marked by promises and the delicate unfolding of youthful affection.

Louise de la Vallière Chapter 20 - Showing the Advantage of Having Two Strings to One's Bow

In which the ever-watchful Manicamp is drawn into a delicate web of courtly intrigue involving a grievously wounded friend whose honour and loyalty are fiercely contested amid whispered scandals and a burning passion. The princess seeks to unravel the tangled truths with a mixture of impatience and veiled emotion, as alliances and affections intertwine in the shadow of the king’s jealous gaze.

Louise de la Vallière Chapter 21 - M. Malicorne the Keeper of the Records of France

In which the sombre chamber of a grievously wounded young nobleman becomes the scene of a secretive and tender visitation by a masked lady, whose presence stirs faint life in the fading embers of consciousness. Meanwhile, a prudent attendant secures a bloodstained token of the encounter, resolving to entrust it to the curious and watchful M. Malicorne, the dedicated custodian of royal secrets.