Story timeline: Oscar and André have joined the French Guards a short time ago.

Characters: mainly Oscar and André : I don't own these characters

Fandom: Rose of Versailles

Original author: Nicole

Where to find the original version: excessfanfiction, section drama

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Chapter one: to save my angel

Like all mornings in the Jarjayes-mansion, granny climbed the stairs to wake up Oscar to get her out of bed. The sun had already appeared in the skies and the day promised to be hot. Oscar, having some free days, had decided to stay in bed.

But for granny it was time for her to wake up, her little Oscar had already slept enough.

So, she climbed the stairs separating her from the room of the young woman and pulled the heavy curtains aside in a swift move, letting the radiant sunshine infiltrate the room, what had for effect to wake up Oscar, who desperately tried to hide under the sheets.

-"Noooooooo, please granny, not yet! Let me sleep a little more!"

-"Out of the question, you have already slept more than enough!" Shouted the old lady." Now come out of bed!"

Joining her actions to her word, granny tore away the sheets that covered Oscar.

-"Now you have no reason anymore to stay in bed"

-"Granny, sometimes you're worse than my father."

The old lady, visibly not happy with such comment, grumbled some incomprehensible words in a low voice before disappearing from the room.

-"Oh well, I'll better get up now indeed."

Oscar gathered all her courage and finally left her bed, got herself decent and descended to the kitchen to take a good breakfast. Once she had finished, she went searching for André.

-"Granny, have you by any chance seen André somewhere?"

-"Of course I have, he's just behind you."

Oscar turned around, and upon seeing André, a radiant smile illuminated her face.

-"You wanted to see me Oscar?"

-"Ah yes, I wanted to ask if you wanted to go horse-riding with me today. We can take some food with us to pick-nick somewhere. What do you think?"

-"What a splendid idea, let's go!"

After a short preparation, they departed for a great part of the day.

It was already late in the afternoon when they finally returned, but the two friends had passed a wonderful time outside. They had been fencing, talking about this and that, and of course there had been some friendly bickering, like in the time they were still kids.

It had been long ago since they last past so much time together. In fact, since they had joined the French guard, they hadn't spent any time together. The growing problems in all of Paris hadn't helped either. But the thing that had caused their separation the most, had been that one night. The night in which André had confessed his love for Oscar.

But the young woman had decided to start all anew with her childhood friend. Even if there had happened regrettable things between them in the past, she liked feeling André's presence at her sides, and she felt less lonely when they were together.

When it came to the young man, he felt joyful seeing Oscar's forgiveness towards him, but he still felt an enormous guilt for what he had dared to do.

When they arrived, they noticed granny waiting for them, standing in front of the entrance of the mansion.

-"My little Oscar, your father has returned and he wishes to speak to you immediately. "

-"He's already here? Very well, I'll go see him at once. André, could you please take care of my horse?"

-"Of course, don't worry, I'll treat him well."

-"I trust you will. Thanks."

She turned back to granny, while André leaded their horses to the stable.

-"I suppose my father's in his study?"

-"Not this time, he's waiting for you in your room."

-"Ahh… Very well, I'll go see what he wants from me."

Oscar climbed the stairs and entered in her room. Just as she was told, the general was waiting for her inside, standing straight in front of the window, with his back facing her. After a moment of silence, the general decided to speak.

-"I thought I had raised you to be well-mannered, but as to what I see, I must be mistaken. Did I not learn you to knock the door before entering in a room?"

The voice of the general was harsh… very harsh, which did predict nothing good. Oscar had not even noticed before she had entered.

To knock on doors of rooms, she told herself, so what? It's not like she was at her father's study after all. But she refrained wisely from telling him those thoughts. She already felt a storm coming and it wouldn't do any good to put oil on the fire.

Oscar knew her father very well, and she had already seen his legendary angers. Sometimes, he could not control himself. But today, it seemed even worse. Never before had she seen him in a similar state. What had she done this time that he was like this? She had no idea.

Oscar realized she was terrified. How could it be that her father made her feel such fear, at that very moment? She had already faced his angers many times. So why?

Oscar straightened her back. If she were to affront her father, she would do so with dignity.

-"You wanted to see me father?"

Oscar stepped forward and closed the door behind her.

The general turned around at last. His eyes expressed nothing but contempt.

-"How dare you still call me that after what you've done? You have betrayed me! Brought disgrace over our family!" (he was shouting at that time)

-"But, what are you talking about? I don't understand what I could have done to disgrace our name."

-"You don't understand! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!"

The general strode to were Oscar was standing and slapped her violently. She shook heavily under its impact, but the wall behind her prevented her from falling. Oscar recomposed herself and calmed her heavy breathing after a few moments and stood up firmly again. Her cheek had become a deep scarlet red. In her eyes one could see confusion.

-"Stop looking at me that way, as if you have nothing to be accused of. You don't understand? Is that it? You do not understand?"

-"…"

-"Well? Are you going to respond, or did they cut your tongue of?"

Oscar sighed and lowered her eyes, which resulted in another slap from her father.

-"I annoy you."

The young woman felt lost. Whatever she did, it only seemed to anger her father even more.

-"N-no father."

-"No what?"

-"No, they did not cut my tongue of, no, you do not annoy me, never in my life and yes, I do not understand what I am to blame for.

-"You better lower your voice in my presence instead of using such an arrogant tone. Am I understood?"

-"Yes father."

-"So, there is nothing you have done that could be regarded as a sin?"

-"I don't see what that would be father."

-"Then I shall refresh your memory. Sometime ago, you went to a ball, shortly before you demanded of the queen for you to be transferred to a new regiment."

Oscar suddenly became very pale. Could it be that her father talked of that one ball where she…? No, impossible. Nobody had recognized her.

-"Well! Has your memory returned?"

-"….."

-"No? Well, in that case, let's continue. You went there, so it seems, wearing a dress."

Oscar's eyes widened. No, it wasn't possible! He could not know it. That day, he was not at the mansion, he was even far away, on a mission miles from Paris.

So how could he know? Somebody had told him? But who? Only three persons had known. Granny, André and Fersen. And she knew it had not been one of them.

Her father pulled her out of her thoughts.

-"You see what I'm talking about now. So tell me, is this the truth?"

What should she do? What should she do to escape from this situation? She could not possibly lie to her father, he would surely notice. But he already looked so enraged.

-"Father, please let me explain myself."

-"There's nothing to be explained. It's the truth, or it's a lie. So?"

The general had grabbed the collar of her shirt and started to shake her poor body.

-"Will you finally talk, or do I have to rip the words one by one out of your mouth?"

-"Yes!" (Oscar screamed)

-"Yes what?"

-"Yes, I dressed up as a woman to go to that ball."

When he heard those words, the general gave her a violent punch with his fist.

...

So far for the first chapter.

Do not comment about writing style or try to influence the story, because this is only a translation from someone else's story.