The Palace of Versailles, 2006 (Louis)

Subject: The Palace of Versailles, 2006 (Louis) Sun Dec 12, 2021 1:06 pm

Vanessa had often heard motherhood described as challenging, had been told the experience would leave her more exhausted than anything she had ever faced in her life, that the sacred calling would not be rewarding on most days and that the product of all her hard work and sacrifice would be apathetic at best to all her plights. The witch had been told to be prepared for such an eventuality and before Jacques was borne, she had begun on the path of everlasting patience and understanding, only to discover that her child – their child – was once again defying the odds.

Jacques did not cry through the night like most babies if the nannies were to be trusted. He hardly ever threw a fuss and only did so until he could make himself be understood. The child never seemed to needlessly trouble anyone and his learning curve was the fastest observed in the Clement lineage in decades. At the age of one, he had already outstripped both his father and his uncle and was well on the way to outdoing his Grandpere, Thomas Clement, who had amassed a two thousand word vocabulary at the age of two. Already, when given a book, the young boy was starting to look more interested in the words than the pictures, a family historian had noted with something akin to wonder in his wizened old eyes.

And then there was the magic. Jacques had begun showing signs of magic even before his first birthday, watching the balloons float up to the palace ceiling and raising his hands to make translucent bubbles appear from thin air and do the same. The child had watched every color of the rainbow bounce off the bubbles, finding that a lot more attractive than single colored balloons. Having noted his interest, Vanessa had made sure to ask the nanny for a better supply of toys to be provided to the young master.

The deals that had been taking up so much negotiations were all but done, Louis finally having returned to work fully after she was well enough to be left at the palace with Jacques. His hard work had made sure that every competitor, investor and critic fell in line. Now, the launch date was slowly approaching. Soon, this technology would be made readily available worldwide and the beta testing had garnered mostly positive results.

Sometimes Vanessa would accompany Louis on his shorter trips, taking the baby with her much to everyone’s surprise. Only a few servants travelled with them on these destinations but that did little to soften the disapproval from Maman’s face. She had insisted Jacques be left home where he was safe, that travelling with a baby was the surest way to end up despising it, that she herself would look after the little prince if Vanessa was worried about the nannies’ reliability. But Vanessa hadn’t given in, not much in the world could keep her away from Jacques for extended periods of time so if she was going, so was her first borne.

It was a bit before Jacques second name day that Vanessa found out she was expecting yet again. Her moons blood was no indication of the abnormality as it had never quite returned to its regular pattern after Jacques’s birth. She had been warned that her body was altered in ways that might be cause for concern but Vanessa had ignored the hysterics for the most part. She may not be medically inclined but she knew she would have another child; it was just one of those truths she had acknowledged a long time ago despite Louis’s worries over their following children. Hopefully, the happiness they had shared with Jacques had made him forget about that imminent danger, at least she was hoping so as she broke the news to him a few days later when she had had a chance to confirm with the master. The man had looked worried; a response she hoped would not be shared by her husband too.

Louis was ecstatic for the most part but the worry lingered behind the happiness. Vanessa’s suspicions were confirmed when she heard he and been to see the master to discuss the more practical aspects of having a second child, more specifically the toll it would take on Vanessa to go through the birthing process all over again. The master had been honest as his duty entailed; he had said it would be far more difficult now, how it might even be wiser to terminate the pregnancy in its earlier stages. Thank the Gods Louis was just as vehemently opposed to that idea as Vanessa was.

So it was with great caution that the couple embarked once again on the journey of bringing another Clement into the world. For Jacques’ second birthday, he was told his final present would be a baby brother or sister but that he would have to wait for a bit. The toddler had simply looked up inquisitively at his parents before nodding. Even at this age he knew good things look a longer time to come.

“And I can keep them at the palace?” he asked, looking up at his mother than his father in silent permission.

“Of course, though you may have to sometimes share your Papa and I with them. The baby will be very small, we will all have to look after him or her when they get here.”

This seems to give the boy pause for thought, before he nodded once again. “I can take care of them,” he spoke confidently before returning to the small child friendly cyvasse board he was unpacking from his pile of gifts, not noticing the proud smiles on his parents features. Of course Jacques hadn’t reacted hysterically at having a sibling, he was a Clement through and through.

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The Palace of Versailles, 2006 (Louis) Rsz_ve10

Subject: Re: The Palace of Versailles, 2006 (Louis) Sun Dec 12, 2021 1:08 pm

Becoming a parent was nothing like Louis would have expected. In truth, it seemed to fit both himself and Vanessa well. Of course, there was a nanny on hand, whenever the two of them became slightly overwhelmed, but nine times out of ten, either Louis or Vanessa were dealing with their son's needs without a second thought. Though, Louis had to concede after trying (only once) to change his son's soiled clothing, that some things in life were definitely below the Lord Clement.

He'd tried, though, and no one could take that away from him.

Even if both his Grandmere and Maman had been highly disapproving of him acting in such a manner, he'd done it simply out of curiosity. Often Louis could be found doing things that he perhaps shouldn't have, including being part of the good night routine that came with being a father. After all, it could not hurt to press a soft kiss to his son's forehead before he left him in the care of the nannies for the night.

It most certainly wasn't the done thing in the Palace, but the Palace was under a new rule.

But Jacques grew up well, learning things much earlier than he had -- or so Louis was told by the Maesters and his parents, even Grandmere looked to have something of a proud twinkle in her eyes when she found Jacques to be displaying magic early on, and a very good understanding of the French language that sometimes even surprised Louis. Vanessa had, without a doubt, given the house one of the best assets it had had in decades, but Louis was only interested in what she had blessed him with. A strong son, intelligent, and a Clement through and through. Nothing could ever be said against the witch, for she had provided the best heir the house could ask for.

But Louis' sight of his son's development was hindered heavily by the launch of the product Vanessa had brought to him five years ago. Flooding the mass market with the products they'd made, and opening the technology to the world. It was a big job, it took a lot of time, but Louis knew Vanessa would never hold such things against him. He was, after all, the forefront of the project, even if it was in her name he did the work. And everyone wanted to meet with him.

It had been shortly before Jacques second birthday that the news had come. It had felt like something of a blow when Vanessa had first told him she was with child again. He had not forgotten the warning of more children from the maesters upon Jacques' arrival. He had not forgotten what could happen if they had more. Yet, Louis had made no attempt, after his initial conversation on the subject, to deter Vanessa from allowing herself to fall with child once more. Fear of shattering her happiness had kept him from requesting that they not try for more.

And it would have shown in the moment she told him she was with child. The worry would be in his eyes even as he smiled back at her when she broke the news. Vanessa wanted more children, he knew she believed that it was her duty to provide him with heirs -- pointedly in the plural, and not singular -- but Louis had never suggested he believed this. He was happy as the small family of three that they were.

But Vanessa's enthusiasm for their second child had pushed Louis down the same route, and he continued to be happy for the child in and around her so that she would never doubt his want for the child. Louis, however, had gone to the maesters to discuss the situation. Wanting to know everything he could in that moment to ensure he did not put Vanessa in harms way.

The only way to be sure she was kept from such fates, however, would be to rid her of her happiness. There was no way on the Earth Louis could bring himself to terminate the pregnancy, knowing Vanessa would never forgive him for such things, he had accepted the fates wishes, and embraced their second child without a second thought.

Jacques had taken the news with much more enthusiasm than Louis -- though the Lord Clement had come to show his happiness much more freely about the subject, there was still worry in his eyes that he kept their son from seeing -- agreeing to looking after his little brother or sister. Louis had shared a small smile with his wife as Jacques had taken the new calmly, turning his attention back to his new toys which included a cyvasse board that Louis simply knew to be Vanessa's idea. No doubt their son would soon be an ace at the game many adults could not even fathom, it was something of a fond memory of his own from his childhood with Vanessa.

As a few more months went by, Louis was away from the Palace once again with their project. On extended tours of the world in which he had crammed in meeting after meeting. The Lord Clement had worked back from Vanessa's due date, making sure that the whole month before the arrival of their second child he would be no further from her than a room or two. The maesters had suggested the possibility of an early pregnancy -- where Jacques had been on time, they were not sure the second would be so prompt.

Louis had, therefore, given himself enough time to finish all of his work -- though this included sitting on meeting after meeting (sometimes up to ten in a day) simply to get through everything he had to do. Each night whilst Louis was away, he would fall in to bed exhausted, but only after penning a letter each to his wife and his son, detailing how much he missed them both, and asking of Jacques' day.

Whilst Jacques might not yet be able to write back to him, Louis knew that it would make his son happy to hear from his father and the places he was visiting. A promise, of course, to show Jacques to these places next time. After all, Jacques would never be too young to start learning the ways of the Clement world.

It was mid-December, snows were falling heavily in Canada that winter. Mountains of it had settled in and around the hotel that was playing host to the conference Louis was heading. The cold air stung if you walked outside without the appropriate garments, but Louis had needed to step outside for a moment as he felt a little sick. He blamed his exhaustion, as he rubbed his hands together in an effort to get warm.

But it was only ten more days, or so, and he would be back with his family, ready to wait out the time they had before the arrival of the second Clement child.

Ten days.

"Monsieur," His aide called from the door, not daring to step out from the warmth of the building. "I would recommend coming back inside, you will catch a chill... They're waiting for you, too..."

Louis nodded, waving them away as he drew in one last, deep breath. The sickening feeling he'd thought to be something to do with the stuffiness of the room was not fading...

Shaking thoughts, no, worries of home from his head, Louis retreated back inside of the building, telling himself everything was fine. It was just the nerves of the next month and a half, trying to throw him off today.

And, as a Clement, he would not allow such things to hinder him.

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~ Lord Clement ~ Profile ~ 55 ~

Thank you to the amazing Ruby for the signatures! <3

Subject: Re: The Palace of Versailles, 2006 (Louis) Sun Dec 12, 2021 1:08 pm

Days without Louis were always the hardest, not that Vanessa would allow it be openly displayed. On the surface, little had changed about Lady Clement as she went about her daily business. Being with child did not exempt her from social visits and public obligations, which had come to a stop with November. Her condition as deemed dire enough to keep her inside the palace during what was shaping up to be one of the coldest winters in modern history. However, staying indoors did not mean she ws completely unburdened, the Annual Clement Christmas Gala was fast and expecting or not, the Lady of the Palace was always the designated hostess.

Being a Clement had never really meant a sense of warmth and safety, the security that one would never be judged for their flaws and shortcomings. Quite the contrary, being of the greatest house in France kept one on their toes, forever looking over their shoulder to judge what they were doing by how others reacted. The success of this gala would be judged by how Maman and Grandmere perceived it, the mistakes they would be looking for because they knew the current Lady Clement was prone to the physical weaknesses of carrying a child. Vanessa would never give them an opportunity to note such mistakes.

“Maman,” Jacques was walking now, more advanced than most toddlers his age. What was most striking about the young heir though was not that he could stand upright but the grace with which he carried his slowly thinning frame. Baby fat still lingered on his face and in pockets around his short logs but the boy managed it with the grace of a child much older in years. Almost as if he knew he couldn’t afford to toddle around like his peers. The book he held in his hand for tonight’s reading was also carefully offered to her, no hint of impatience or forcefulness on his face. He knew his Maman read him a story every night, and she would do the same tonight, there was no need to kick a fuss.

Vanessa had never worried over depriving her son from traditional fairy tales, those were for the common folks. Stories of princes and princesses, stories that instilled common values, gender biases and lowered aspirations were not for Clement children. Vanessa read to him the stories she and Louis (and Dominic) had been read to when they were as young. Stories of the Clement history compiled in easier language for the comprehension of children. Today’s tale featured Ser Jacques the first, the youngest son of Lord Thomas and Lady Lissette, the firsts of their names. The witch had noticed the child developing an interest in his namesake and agreeably took the book from him. The child climbed into bed on his own, siting quietly as he waited for his Maman to begin.

***

Every day, a new letter arrived from the Lord Clement and be read to his son, sometimes the lines written by too tired or unsteady a hand to make sense of by anyone other than Vanessa. Letters addressed to her and Jacques were stored safely on her nightstand but the letters written solely to his son, the boy was allowed to take into his room when the nanny came to get him each night. Jacques kept those letters as organized as he kept any of his things, even beginning to read some of the easier words in his father’s missives. His reading was already getting out of hand and soon he would need more challenging martial to keep him interested. Vanessa would have to instruct the nanny to pay closer attention to her son’s reading habits.

That night, as they were just finishing up the story of Lady Helaena Clement, the pain struck, quite sudden and forceful, rendering Vanessa frozen where she sat. Only the awareness that her child was in the same room with her kept the witch from screaming. It would not do to scare Jacques this way.

The brunette sat still, hoping for the pain to pass just for a moment, just long enough for her to reach for the bell only an arm’s length away to summon a servant. But the pain was all consuming, keeping her frozen in place, all her energies focused on not making a sound. Her body fought the urge to curl in on itself as the little life inside her seemed to writhe in agony. Something was very wrong.

Jacques looked up from where he sat, a moment of uncertainty flashed in his eyes as he stared at his mother’s comatose form. “Maman?” he questioned, unblinking eyes staring at her before trailing down her body to the chair, making Vanessa realize that he had found something more frightening than the picture of his mother sitting deathly still.

It took a moment for her to notice the blood, dripping steadily off the chair and on to the thick white carpet below. The need for a servant became more urgent yet her body refused to cooperate. Jacques stared at her once again, this time, his face focused in concentration. At once, all the bells in her suite began to ring, chiming loudly throughout the palace and summoning everyone to her bedchamber.

The first person in was her ladies maid, followed by the nanny who snatched up the toddler to keep him from witnessing what came next. Soon enough the maesters were crowded, the midwives sent for and Vanessa laid out on her bed. The consensus being that the child would need to be physically extracted lest its life be forfeit.

“Louis…” the witch mumbled as someone reached to give her a dose of numbing medication. Soon she would be made to go to sleep, but before she did, they had to know, they and to tell him. The delirious witch kept repeating his name again and again until the darkness finally claimed her.

And in darkness she would remain for the following three weeks, oblivious to the world and what awaited her in the aftermath.

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Subject: Re: The Palace of Versailles, 2006 (Louis) Sun Dec 12, 2021 1:10 pm

Louis' speech had flowed through with success, securing the details as were required, fielding enquiries from many more people that were necessary to the completion of further deals. Everything was working through on schedule, everything was going to be fine -- this was the mantra Louis was telling himself in the brief opportunities that he had when there was a quiet moment.

Perhaps the stuffiness was aided by the fresh air, or perhaps Louis had simply been too busy to think on the subject of his nausea. The day moved on through to lunch, where Louis was hounded off the record for more information, for which he obliged and sat politely asking questions and creating more contacts as was necessary of his role.

After lunch, Louis was to speak further on the project, his notes ready, his mind ready despite the lack of a break he'd been granted. The Frenchman was heading back up to the large conference room when his man moved from the door -- obviously he'd been waiting for Louis' return -- his expression not nearly as nice as Louis would have liked. However, after a few quickly delivered sentences in hushed French, the Lord Clement didn't even bat an eyelid as he rattled off the instructions for what was going to happen.

A second man was going to finish the talks. An apology was to be made for his absence, but it was to be noted that he was leaving only due to a family emergency. The rest of the meetings were to go ahead without him. The project would not flop, it would keep on schedule, and Louis was only to be contacted if it was necessary. He would make contact when Vanessa was well, and not before.

With the information relayed, Louis hard barely stopped himself from running to the nearest vacant room. Only when he was sure the room was clear did the distant sound of a crack sound.

Louis' feet hit the gravel of the driveway harder than intended, and his feet moved him in a sprint towards the palace. It might have been wet under foot, it could have been slippy, Merlin only knew what the weather in France was doing compared to Canada, because Louis Clement took no notice.

The doors of the palace thudded against the wall as Louis pushed through them, leaving them shaking in his wake. A servant was already rushing down the stairs towards him -- evidently someone had tried to get him waylaid.

"M'Lord-"

"Lady Clement is in her chambers?" Louis asked, not playing in to the clutches of whomever had tried to stall him.

"Yes, M'Lord." The servant replied, giving a hurried bow as Louis took off up the stairs two at a time. It was only a few moments before Louis emerged in the room in which he knew without asking that Vanessa would be. Her room was a mess, the redness of a multitude of cloths, blankets, and... Louis noted a moment later, the carpet showed that their baby had come early...

Or, Louis had hoped that was what this was.

The warning of the maesters was ringing in Louis' ears as he stepped further in to the room.

No baby was in evidence with Vanessa, her stomach -- though covered, was flat. Her brow was wet with what Louis assumed to be sweat, but she was sleeping. Peacefully, he believed... hoped...

"My Lord. The baby came early." The maester said, though that explanation was unnecessary, Louis could see that much for himself. The small movement in the Lord's jaw must have been enough of an inclination to show that the man need continue else anger him further. "A little girl, my lord, she's with the nurses. She wasn't breathing on her own with enough strength -- we're quite sure that it's only going to be precautionary measures needed -- so we'll monitor her for a the next couple of days to be sure-"

"Vanessa."

"After the cesarean-"

"The what?" Louis asked, his eyes moving from his wife to the maester at his side. The maester would know the flash of anger in the Lord's eyes almost as well as any member of the Clement staff, it was a trait Louis had never shook off.

"Cesarean, my lord, if we did not act quickly it would have put both the child and Lady Clement at risk. Without you here to make the decision, I took the decision to make sure to bring both of them through. However," The maester paused, and Louis could feel the dread fill him in a manner much stronger than the dread had earlier in the day -- something he realised now he had time to think on the subject. "Lady Clement has been placed in to a medically induced coma to help her heal from the ordeal."

"You've what?" Louis asked, his body tensing considerably in that moment. Had he of been here... he'd never had agreed to such things. Vanessa wouldn't be like this... The maester carefully steered Louis back out of the room, pulling the door up.

"My lord, you must understand had we not have acted in this manner we may well not have-"

"You cut Vanessa open without consent from a Clement?" Louis interrupted, his voice growing louder now, he was angry. He was beginning to shake, because the man had no idea how this worked. He had little to no knowledge on how safe Vanessa was, and the fact he'd allowed all of this was catching up on him quickly. He should never have... "And now, she's in a medically induced coma? How long for? When will she wake up? Will there be side effects?"

Louis' voice was quite uneven by now, but there was movement just past the maester. Jacques had come to the end of the corridor in which his bedroom was, his little face contorted with the excitement of seeing his father after such a long time, but the uncertainty because he could hear raised voices, and knew his Maman was not well.

Taking a deep breath, Louis pushed the feelings down, stepped past the maester who had not managed an answer, and crossed the landing to his son. Kneeling before his son, Louis gave the boy a quick hug, before holding his small hands. "Papa needs you to be brave." Louis told his son, voice soft, but carrying enough authority to show this was not just a playful request, it was serious. "Go back to bed, go with your nanny. Go on." Louis insisted, but Jacques didn't move.

The young boy stood contemplating his father for a moment. Before speaking one word. "Maman?"

"Maman is sleeping." Louis told his son -- it wasn't exactly a lie. "She needs to have a big sleep."

Jacques took another moment to study his father, before nodding once. The boy reached up to place a kiss on his Papa's cheek, before turning back towards his Nanny, who took him back to his room. Louis did not see the boy for the rest of the evening, Jacques Clement was much too good for a boy of his age.

And, the saviour of the maester who had almost been on the end of Louis' temper.

***

By the time Louis returned to his wife, the evidence of the birth had been cleaned away, and Vanessa looked much more comfortable than she had before. Louis had, once again, brought a chair to her side, and sat by her side, his hand finding hers as he wondered what he was going to come up against.

The maester's hadn't known, in truth, so Louis had simply done as he had when Jacques had come in to the world. He sat talking to his wife softly, assuring her that their child -- their baby girl -- was okay. That Jacques was tucked up in bed, sleeping and waiting for her to wake up. He spoke of his travels, until finally the Lord Clement had fallen asleep in the chair at the most uncomfortable angle.

It had been maybe a few hours later that the sound of crying met Louis' ears, much closer than he had expected. Coming round from slumber he'd managed, Louis focused on the sound, that was coming from the midwife's, who held a bundle in her arms, trying to soothe the child. She explained, with many apologies, that she couldn't get the child to settle, and that perhaps they could try the child laying with her Maman. Louis had agreed, finally seeing the small features of their daughter for the first time.

She had many of her mother's features, Louis noted with a soft smile as he watched the child for a few moments. However, almost an hour later, the child had not settled. Jacques was up by this hour, and had come after his breakfast to see hi Maman and Papa. Upon finding his Maman not awake, Jacques had simply entertained himself with the toys he'd brought with him, talking to his Papa about them until Lady Lynnette Clement showed her face in the room.

"Louis, the child has not stopped crying for hours!" She told him, moving to the bed where she took up the baby without asking, and took to trying to soothe her. Her words turned to the Nanny, finding out what had and what had not been done, before she turned to her son with a worried look on her face. "Let me look after her, you have enough to do." She said, and Louis could only nod, there was too much to think about, Vanessa hadn't woken, his attention would not move from the witch, and everyone in the house knew it.

His Maman kept talking for a few moments more, but Louis only registered a few moments later.

Louis hadn't thought about anything else, truthfully, than the well being of his wife. He'd offered nothing to his Maman in respect of the daughter that had come in to the world. It had been something Vanessa and he had been sure of. That their child, their child would be another boy. A son, whose name they'd picked out without a thought to the idea of having a girl.

And Louis hadn't thought it necessary to give one to the child in that moment.

Not without Vanessa's input.

***

The three weeks was a slow process. Louis had almost confined himself to Vanessa's quarters. Appearing only when prompted to act like the Lord of the Clement family. Louis barely knew what day it was, but he was relentless in trying to get Vanessa to come back around to him.

He sat talking to Vanessa on his own, or he sat talking with Jacques who seemed to understand the situation in some basic manner. Not once had the boy pulled at his Maman, not once had he shook her to wake her. The boy had fallen asleep on the bed beside his Maman once or twice when Louis had been too tired to send for the servants to take him away. Some days, Jacques didn't come to see them, but Louis would make sure to read the boy the stories his Maman had always read to him.

The new routine had fallen in to place easily, but with every day that passed, Louis worried more and more.

What if Vanessa didn't wake up?

This question haunted Louis most when the hour grew later, as he sat and begged Vanessa to please wake up. If not for him, then for their children. Their children needed their mother. He needed her, yes, but he could put his children's need for their mother before his own need, if only to tempt her back.

January rolled in to being, Louis had spent the final minutes of 2006 praying to every deity that he was aware of to please, please bring his wife back to them. Safely, healthily, so that their lives could continue on. He promised them never to put her through such things ever again, just that they deliver her back safely to him.

***

Louis was laid out on the chaise lounger once again, Jacques curled in to his side, fast asleep as he napped in the early afternoon. Louis sat reading a report that had come through from the sales team, the product was flying off the shelf, but it would all be for nothing if he couldn't bring the woman who'd brought it to the shelves back to the world.

Slipping carefully off of the chaise lounger, leaving Jacques curled up, Louis moved to sit with his wife once more.

"Voulez-vous vous réveiller pour moi aujourd'hui, ma chérie?" Louis asked softly, bringing her hand up to his lips to place soft kisses on her knuckles. "S'il vous plaît?" He added, his lips leaving her hand to press a soft kiss instead on her forehead. Closing his eyes, Louis simply took a moment to let out a slow breath, his forehead against his wife's.

"S'il vous plaît..."

Voulez-vous vous réveiller pour moi aujourd'hui, ma chérie? -- Will you wake up for me today, my darling?

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~ Lord Clement ~ Profile ~ 55 ~

Thank you to the amazing Ruby for the signatures! <3

Subject: Re: The Palace of Versailles, 2006 (Louis) Sun Dec 12, 2021 1:11 pm

Life in the palace continued as Lady Clement slept, life that rang with the constant crying of the new addition to the palace. Unfortunately for the new baby, the celebrations were all edged with worry, with sorrow and markedly, the absence of the baby’s sire as he sat by her mother, lost in thoughts that resembled nothing of celebration. The Christmas Gala had to be cancelled, wet nurses arranged for the little Miss Clement, Vanessa’s usual correspondences kept up with, the continuing overseeing of Lady Lissette’s aides and the management of the palace. It was Lady Lynnette Clement who rose to the challenge, trying to redeem herself for a life of wrongdoing. The tragedy that struck the main family turned into an opportunity for her to mend fences she had long given up on.

Not only did the former Lady Clement rose beautifully to the challenge but she seemed to go above and beyond, checking in on the baby every few hours until she ordered the child’s crib moved to her own chambers, registering the baby’s name with the family lawyers and historians since it didn’t look like her parents were about to do it. It was Elenore’s grandmere who gave the little girl her name, along with all the attention and warmth the baby needed in the aftermath of her birth. Elenore’s mother lay still in her bed, unable to care for the baby but Lady Lynnette ensured little Elenore never felt like she lacked a watchful figure.

Of course, now and then little Elenore was brought to her mother and father, but the child fussed and cried, unable to stay still or quite like her brother and in the end, it was determined that her wailing would make Lady Clement’s condition worse. So the child was taken away once more to her Grandmere where she could cry to her heart’s content without anyone being made uncomfortable.

Jacques found his new baby sister odd from the very first time he met her. She was small, smaller than some of the toys he could hold in his hands. And she made a lot of noise. She also smelled bad in some instances and was always dripping, from the eyes, the nsoe, the mouth. Altogether a highly undignified affair. Still he remembered his parents words, that the child would be small and would need looking after. No one had told him Elenore was his responsibility but he could see that Maman while asleep needed help. Papa was looking after her so Jacques would help look after Elenore. In the short periods where Elenore was allowed to be at her Maman’s bedside, Jacques would attempt to distract her by offering her toys or trying to strike up a conversation, only to be confused when the baby made no attempt to reciprocate his interest.

Already looking after one child, Lynnette offered to take Jacques off her son’s hands too, insisting that she could look after both children with the help of their nannies but it was the two and a half year old who turned the invitation down with a slight shake of his head. “Non merci, Grandmere,” he spoke from his place by his father, his own little chair the exact miniature replica of the one his father sat on. Jacques had stated he preferred staying with his Maman and his Grandmere had agreed, sweeping out of the room with only the youngest Clement.

A week after Elenore’s birth, the news of a daughter gracing the family finally arrived to Lissette Clement’s withdrawing room, the monarch now all but confined to her bed. Lady Lissette spent more days asleep now than she did awake and the maesters had tentatively given her a few days to live., outlining the possibility that she may pass on before the Lady Clement would wake up – if she woke up.

Yet the news of a child made the old matriarch open her eyes, a new shine behind the cobwebs of cataract that now clouded her vision. Her wrinkled face contorted in a sigh of peace after what seemed like a lifetime, before she eased herself into a peaceful sleep.

***

Over the weeks, Vanessa grew stronger even as her Grandmere grew weaker, the colour returning to the younger witch’s face as all pigment drained from Lissette’s. The measter who oversaw the daily testing of both witches could see a pattern, as Vanessa returned to health, her grandmother continued to decline, and yet something kept the older witch alive. Lady Lissette had only been given days and yet the matriarch’s strength had always been unparalleled. It certainly did not lessen now as Lissette Clement clung to life by a hairbreadth, waiting for something no one could comprehend.

It was well into January when Vanessa finally returned, returned to the world with the only words on her lips that would ever matter, Louis’ name spoken to softly it was barely louder than the softest of sighs, and would have gone unheard were he already not leaning into her, as if ready to hear a secret whispered only for him. The moment his dry, cracked lips touched her, Lady Clement’s grey eyes opened to the world, opened to her home.

Opened to the beautiful boy who sat ever vigilant by his mother’s bed, afraid to touch her in case he hurt her. So much like his father, she realized as a single tear rolled down her cheek. The next hour was a flurry of maesters and nurses performing their duty, certifying that she was indeed awake and in possession of all her senses save her sense of physical balance which would only return with time. It was made clear to her that there was a long period ahead when she would not be able to leave her bedchamber but after that, she would be fine.

The maester also took a moment to deliver the news that devastated Vanessa. He explained how during the impromptu delivery, they hadn’t had a choice but to remove integral parts of her body that enabled the formation of a child. In simple words, Lord and Lady Clement would never be parents again. They would have to make do with the two they already had for the rest of their lives.

***

A month passed and Vanessa’s condition improved remarkably, the witch was now able to sit up, eat an almost full meal and speak freely without tiring herself too much. She was well enough to read stories and hold conversations, even well enough to write notes of polite gratitude to those who had wished her well during her illness. Though she was informed no one deserved her gratitude more than Maman who had taken on Elenore as the herculean task the little girl was.

Vanessa and officially seen her daughter three days after regaining consciousness and resolving herself to never having any more children, and had fallen in love with the unexpected daughter immediately. It was just like it had been with Jacques, the fierce intensity with which she had wanted to love and protect the child, the proof of love shared between her and Louis.

Elenore sadly had not felt the same, the child had cried throughout their encounter and try as she might, Vanessa had not been able to comfort her. In the end, she had simply asked for the nanny to take the child to her wet nurse. Vanessa had been strictly forbidden from nursing the child and this time, she was too weak to argue. The baby had already gotten used to another woman’s milk while Vanessa was unconscious and now it seemed that woman could have to stay on longer.

But it wasn’t simply a matter of nursing, Elenore had gotten used to the way her Grandmere rocked her, the way her Grandmere sang to her and the way her Grandmere guided her to sleep. Being separated from Lady Lynnette caused the child enough distress that Vanessa had to simply admit defeat, at least until she was strong enough to stay up with the crying baby for as many nights as it took. But for that to happen, Lady Clement would need her own strength first, so until then, Elenore remained largely the responsibility of her grandmother.

As time passed, Lady Lissette grew weaker, now said to be slipping in and out of unconsciousness. Vanessa heard one of the maids say that the monarch had ben awake that morning, mumbling something about her wedding dress not cinched tight enough around the waist. Something about Lord Loras’ high preference for slender waistlines despite the fashion o the century in which Grandmere had gotten married. the woman’s reality was slipping, it wouldn’t be long now.

That evening, as Louis came in from work (Vanessa and insisted he carry on once she was awake and well enough to make a point) , the witch laid out a simple request, the wish to visit Gradnmere. Vanessa was not able to walk yet but they could get a wheelchair or make other arrangements to transport the Lady Clement to her Gradnmere’s wing of the palace.

“Si ce sont ses derniers jours ... ils ne devraient pas être seuls. Je dois lui parler,” she murmured softly, the sadness in her eyes profound. Grandmere had not always been the best parent, but she was the only Parent Vanessa had ever truly had. Unlike Aunt Lynnette and Uncle Thomas, Grandmere had paid attention to her, taken an active role in Vanessa’s upbringing. Even if that role had hurt the younger witch more than once. “S'il vous plait.”

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Come Plot With Me <3

Subject: Re: The Palace of Versailles, 2006 (Louis) Sun Dec 12, 2021 1:12 pm

The smile on Louis' lips as Vanessa broke through, managing his name ever so softly in that moment, was enough to bring the tears of relief flooding through his system. A world without his wife was one that Louis could never fathom. As selfish as that might be, it would be Louis' downfall, he'd been told many times, but the man did not listen to the voice of reason.

Instead, Louis' lips met his wife's in the most gentle of kisses as she woke, and watched as her eyes slowly opened and took in the scene. For a few moments, Louis simply sat quietly, giving Vanessa time to take everything in. The errant tear that slid across her cheek was softly wiped away by the pad of Louis' thumb. A few moments, and then Louis leaned across to call for the servants, who came in to busy themselves with getting Vanessa everything she needed. Food, water, the maesters ran their own tests and checks, the nurses checked the wound they'd so insensitively caused the woman, explaining what had happened and that their baby -- a daughter -- was doing just fine.

Jacques was given a moment with his Maman, Louis watching the maester who looked less than comfortable for the few moments Jacques took to gently give his Maman a kiss on the cheek, and convey his happiness for her being awake. After that, Louis had handed him back to his Nanny, asking her to keep him occupied until the evening, at which point, if Vanessa was awake, they would read together before bed.

Louis' actions had been well served, too, for only a few moments after the future Clement Lord had left his Maman's bedchambers, the news that no more children would ever be possible for the two of them was relayed to them. Louis had not been told before this moment, and he could have murdered the aging man for dropping the news now. In this manner.

Louis had dismissed all of the staff with one cold mention of the word 'out', which left Vanessa and himself alone.

The relief of Vanessa pulling through the ordeal was overshadowed by the news they could never have more children of their own. The thought of another bringing children in to the world was not even a consideration, and Louis simply sat and told Vanessa that it was okay. That Jacques was perfectly healthy, perfectly made to take on the responsibility of the house, when the time came.

***

The arrival of their daughter three days after Vanessa had pulled through from the medically induced coma was a cacophony of disaster. The small child would not settle, and simply cried at the top of her lungs for the whole time she had been there. Jacques had tried to hush his little sister when he saw his Maman could not manage to do so on her own, but the youngest Clement did not listen to any of them, instead, they had called the wet nurse in to relieve them of the squeals, and they had returned to the family time they were having with just the three of them.

The days passed, and when they had found Vanessa to be out of the woods with her health (she still had a lot to do to regain her strength, but the maesters insisted there was nothing left for Louis to worry about), his wife insisted he return to their work, that sitting by her side day in, day out, was no longer necessary. With one more reassurance that Vanessa would be okay, Louis had nodded his agreement that evening, and the next day he was back in to the work he'd had to abandon over a month ago.

All of it, however, was structured so that, by the end of the day, Louis would be back at the Palace with his wife and children. Louis had made time to visit Elenore -- his Maman had picked the child's name -- each evening, and slowly his daughter was warming to his presence. If only a little.

Then, it came to visiting his wife and Jacques, both of whom could usually be found together. Jacques waiting for his story, which Vanessa read to him as Louis sat listening fondly, eyes meeting Vanessa's from time to time where they would share a knowing smile, before her eyes returned to the page before her.

***

It had been one such evenings, when Jacques had been ushered off to his room for the evening, that the request from Vanessa had come. Louis had hesitated for a moment, his Grandmere was not well, that much he knew, but to deny Vanessa would be the most unthinkable thing in the world. The Lord Clement had nodded, excusing himself for a moment before he went to make the arrangements for Vanessa to be moved to the other wing of the house. Louis returned shortly after with the necessities, a wheelchair to transport the Lady Clement to their Grandmere's wing, and her ladies maid to dress her appropriately.

It took a while to get Vanessa ready, but once she was ready, Louis aided his wife in to the chair, ever so careful not to cause her discomfort as they moved. The wound on her stomach was all but healed, but Louis was so very careful not to move her in a manner that might cause any harm. Once she was comfortable, Louis took the wheelchair in his own hands, dismissed the staff, and took Vanessa across the Palace -- taking the longer route so that Vanessa could enjoy the sights of the Palace that she would not have seen for months now -- before emerging at their Grandmere's door.

A soft knock on the door announced them, before Louis pushed the door open and then brought Vanessa's chair in. Yes, he knew he should have had a servant do such things, but Louis would never be the perfect image of a Clement, his Grandmere had come to accept that a very long time ago, in her own little way

"Grandmere." Louis acknowledged the elderly matriarch softly. Her frailty was showing very much now, but Louis was not surprised by this knowledge. The woman was quite old by now, and the maesters had said for quite some time now, that she did not have long left.

"Devrais-je aller?" Louis asked Vanessa softly, because he did not wish to intrude on the time Vanessa had requested with their Grandmere.

Devrais-je aller? -- Should I go?

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~ Lord Clement ~ Profile ~ 55 ~

Thank you to the amazing Ruby for the signatures! <3

Subject: Re: The Palace of Versailles, 2006 (Louis) Sun Dec 12, 2021 1:13 pm

Even as Louis wheeled her into Grandmere’s withdrawing room, Vanessa knew this would happen only between the two Clement witches. It had never occurred to her how similar she and Grandmere really were, not until now when the older Clement counted her final breaths. They had both been married into responsibility rather than born into it, they’d both only managed a few children and they were both unflinching in their own way. Another world, another time, she would have been Grandmere’s staunches supporter. Even now, Vanessa preferred Lissette Clement’s company to her daughter in law’s.

And yet when Grandmere had failed to see the relationship between her youngest grandson and the outsider, fate had been drastically veered off course. Vanessa would have obeyed almost anything her Grandmere asked of her, except keeping away from her Louis. Grandmere saw it as a weakness when Vanessa knew it was her greatest strength. Yet the young Lady Clement could not fault her elder for not knowing this. Love like such hadn’t simply not existed in her Grandmere’s time, it had never existed period. What she and Louis had – it was beyond sense or reason, and so some people would never quite grasp its power.

As Louis asked if he should leave, once more proving that they were on the same track, she simply nodded. Grandmere would be in bed, and the last thing she would want would be to be seen as weak and frail, especially by Louis. A man had no place by a woman’s sickbed, Vanessa had been taught. Much to the chagrins of all traditional teaching, the current Lord Clement lived to defy all these lessons passed down through the eras. And while the brunette appreciated it, she doubted Grandmere would be of the same outlook.

Vanessa merely nodded, whispering a soft “Merci” to her husband before wheeling herself the few feet required to enter Grandmere’s bedchambers. The smell of death lingered thick inside, made all the more ominous as she heard the door close behind Louis. The staff would have worked to keep the place as clean as possible but even they couldn’t rid the large room of the aura of disease that now permeated the very air here. It was hard to search for Grandmere through the invisible fog and for a moment, Vanessa’s grey eyes widened. Perhaps this was all a ruse and Grandmere was siting somewhere in the corner, an account record in her hand and the customary frown on her face. But no, upon closer examination, the witch found what she was looking for.

Never had Vanessa seen her grandmother look as small as she did in that moment, almost lost underneath the starchy sheets, her frail form only slightly bigger than the lump a pillow would make placed under the covers. As she moved slowly towards Grandmere, Vanessa couldn’t’ help but notice how the woman had shrank, whether from the affects or aging or a lifetime of almost singular responsibility, she couldn’t say. Reaching out, she grasped Lissette Clement’s pale hand carefully, comparing the papery texture of the older woman’s skin to her own healthy glow. “Grandmere… Es-tu réveillé?”

“Lynnette Giselle,” the answer came softly, sluggishly. Whatever medicines they were giving Grandemre, it was keeping her in a daze, a strong one Vanessa hoped. the pain of dying was not something easily combated.

“Non,” Vanessa shook her head softly but it made no difference, Grandmere continued, lost in her own world.

“Bring the girls.. Vexford knows nothing, the house needs a girl, swallow your pride Lynnette Giselle, for it is not bigger than the Clement dynasty.”

The words came out in English, more testament to the fact that the old woman was delirious. Grandmere liked English even lesser than Vanessa did and later, the Lady Clement would reflect on the notion that perhaps the some language had been once used to intimidate Louis’ mother at some point. For now, Vanessa simply continued holding her grandmother’s hand, waiting for the hallucination to pass. A few more murmurs and the young witch felt guilty for peeking into such a private moment in her Grandemre’s life.

Fortunately it did not last long, Grandmere opened her eyes soon and despite their age, they were now focused on her face as if trying to bore a hole into her forehead. “Vanessa Jhalak, you had a child?”

The brunette nodded. “A girl Grandmere,” she breathed, unable to deliver the news with appropriate contrition. Try as she might, the young mother could not bring herself to acknowledge little Elenore as a failure, though she knew that was what Grandmere would see her as. “She has your eyes,” the witch attempted, trying to placate a dying woman. It was not beyond Lissette Clement to rebuke someone from her deathbed, it was nearly a certainty.

Instead, her Grandmere simply let out a soft sigh, seeming to sink further into her bed. Her deep chocolate eyes closed and, for the first time in her life, Vanessa saw a thin, cracked smile part her grandmother’s features. “Finally>” the older witch looked so serene, Vanessa was almost certain the medicines had taken over once more. What other explanation could there be for Lady Lissette’s pure bliss? Her confusion must have been obvious on some level as Grandmere opened her eyes again, this time, slightly more focused than before.

“I heard whispers… rumors across the palace… but everyone was too busy. I refused to believe until I heard from a reliable source… Or saw the child myself.”

“Mais grandmère, n'est-ce pas faché?” She finally asked, unable to make sense of this reaction. The Clement name continued with sons, not daughters. Every Lady Clement that came before her was asked for sons, sons to keep the house and the name going, sons to carry them into the future, sons to be kings. Then why the sudden serenity and peace at the thought of a daughter gracing the family? “N'as-tu pas aimé un autre fils?”

“What good are multiple sons?” Her grandmother spoke, the derision in her tone clear. Had she possessed the strength to, Vanessa was sure she would have shook her head in disgust too. “One is enough, two just end up killing each other,” the older witch added, almost as if speaking to herself. “Three are worse than two, the third barely justifies the pain it took his mother to bring him into this world.” As the silver haired matriarch continued to speak, Vanessa’s face began to betray more surprise than she was comfortable with. Schooling her features into quite politeness, she waited.

“Now daughter, they are worth investing in,” Lissette Clement was past the point of noticing her audience, speaking just to feel herself speak freely after all these years. Growing up in a more male worshipful society than Vanessa had, the younger witch could only imagine how much Grandmere was holding inside. “All men are good for are sitting on a throne or dying at the edge of a blade. Now women, they run this House. They cultivate the name, they make the King.”

An annoyed note entered her voice now. “Look at your sons, useless as could be,” the words were not primarily meant to hurt, they were simply fact. The fact that they did hurt was just an added bonus for Lissette as she regarded what she saw as a younger version of her daughter in law siting by her bed. “One sickly, could die if a strong enough gust of wind hit him, and the other running after that girl as if he needs her like blood running through his vein. If you’d had the wisdom to pray for a daughter, Lynnette Giselle, we would never have had to take in Vexford’s girl.”

“La fille de Vexford n'est pas si terrible maintenant, n'est-ce pas?”

“She has potential,” Grandmere answered seriously, quite unaware of the double meaning in Vanessa’s words. “But she isn’t ours. It was a blessing really that we took her in young, there was not much damage to undo. But we must raise her as a Clement, do not let pride get in the way of molding our asset you foolish girl. She will make a good wife for Dominic one day.”

The words sent a shudder shown Vanessa’s spine. Even after all these years, Dominic’s name transported her back to her teen years, back to the bath chamber where she’d lost an irretrievable part of her being. To hear Grandmere speak of him so casually, despite her deliriousness, it made the Lady Clement’s breath hitch.

“Why did you let him do that to me?” she asked softly, her grey eyes full of sorrow as she regarded the dying woman. Vanessa knew Maman knew, and Maman was so blinded by love that she could justify anything her darling Dominic did. But why Grandmere? The last person in the world to overlook someone’s flaws out of love was Lissette Clement. “You took me into your home… You shaped me to be like you, you took care of me Grandmaman.. So why did you stand by while he hurt me? Hurt Louis?”

“It filled him with vigor afterword’s,” Lissette replied matter of factly, suddenly very much in the present and aware of her surrounding. “When he returned from the Islands, he was a changed man. everyone said he was doing better… His spite gave him strength, and no one wants the heir to lose his unexpected health and fervor.” So that was it, the family would have done anything to see Dominic grow stronger, even if it meant hurting a thousand girls in the process. “You have a son, reflect on that when he comes home after an adventurous night followed by weeks of hearty spirits.”

“Vous êtes un hypocrite, Grandmere,” Vanessa accused softly as a tear ran down her cheek, the anger and sorrow spilling from her eyes. Grandmere would never see her grief, so it was safe to expel it all here. If she cried in front of Louis, he would think it was his fault, and that was more than Vanessa could bear.

“Does it matter?” the older witch asked, exhaustion leaking into her voice now. “I have lived my life the way I was taught to live it. In our times, woman were made to be broken, they were strong enough to be broken many times and still do what needed to be done, Vanessa Jhalak. They didn’t sit and cry, they moved on. they had the strength girls like you can only dream of.” A moment of silence followed, Grandmere giving her he time to compose herself. Vanessa id it in two quick motions, clearing the wetness from her cheeks and replacing erh sorrow with the same indifferent politeness she had been raised with.

“You have to make your daughter – this Elenore – strong too,” Grandmere continued. “She is the House’s greatest weapon, the burden of our name is too heavy to be carried by a man alone. Teach her, teach her from an early age the power she wields, the difference she can make… Teach her to think of the family before herself and we may live to see another era dawn in favor of House Clement…” The matriarch didn’t sound too hopeful in Vanessa’s ability to follow through with the instructions but she labored on, giving it her best regardless.

“I have lived well passed my life, I draw breath now only to see her, to see the future of my house before I can join your Grandpere in the stars. He will be drunk as usual.” Anyone else might have thought Grandmere was joking but Vanessa knew the older witch never joked. Making up her mind, Vanessa reached for the bell by her grandmother’s bedside, ringing it softly. The sound made Lissette shudder under the covers. It seemed her grandmother had learned to associate the bell with more drugs coming her way.

Soon enough, a servant appeared and was quietly instructed to bring Lady Elenore and her nanny to the room. The servant hesitated only a second before rushing to obey. In the few minutes that followed, Grandmere appeared to have gone back to sleep, her milky eyes closed to the world and her breathing even. But her eyes opened when the baby was brought in, opened and gazed in wonder, taking in the tiny, sleeping infant in her pink blanket, almost as if making sure it was indeed a girl. The same soft, contented sigh from earlier escaped the woman.

“Grandmere, Puis-je présenter Elenore Lissette de Maison Clement.”

There was no reply from Lady Lissette, there was no need for one.

Lady Lissette Clement the Third died in her sleep that night, a few short hours after the visit from the Lady Clement. Her passing was described as peaceful, painless and overdue, and while Vanessa couldn’t vouch for the first two she knew the third to be true. Grandmere had kept herself alive just long enough to see Elenore, and now she was in the stars, watching over the child from her new place within the universe.

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Come Plot With Me <3

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