Marie Philippe

It was dawn. She stood by a majestic window and breathed the sweet morning air spraying onto her ivory face. Reality began to grab her when she observed the awe-inspiring room she was in. Shaken, she couldn’t know what surreal event led her into such an opulent place.

“1Je ne comprends pas . . .!” she cursed under her breath with a slap on her forehead. She can’t remember what happened last night; she wondered. She sat on the velvet sapphire bed once again with her clothes that weren’t the same as last night. “Where am I?”

“2Bonjour mademoiselle,” greeted a housekeeper upon entering the room. “Monsieur Gavrloire wants to see you.” Hearing those words humiliated her. Everything was now clear to her: she clearly slept with the Duke of Versailles.

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Marie Philippe looked first-class. It was neither her dress nor her stance that made her look so; it is her beauty and gracefulness that defined her glamour and sparkle. She seemed to be a very bright lady, but little did everyone know what her life really was; she was a poor lady.

Marie was striding the streets of Versailles. It was a very beautiful autumn morning.

Dominique was on his way to Université de Versailles. He was with his friends chatting while threading a hallway. Realizing it was still early before their class begins, the group paused and chatted a little more while still on the corridor.

Marie was on the way to school too. Coincidentally, she was treading the same hallway Dominique and his friends were standing by. As she strode pass the group, Dominique was caught by the enthusing scent Marie had equipped with her.

“3L’odeur, l’odeur!” said Dominique. The aroma was so powerful and enchanting; the fragrance seemed to have imprinted on his mind.

Dominique decided to follow Marie. He didn’t see her face, but he wants to know the girl who took his senses away. He decided to find her scent. Dominique risked for her. Then finally, Dominique got noticed.

“4Exucez-moi?” said Marie as she turned to face Dominique.

Dominique came to realize that he wasn’t only following a comely scent, but also a fair lady as well. He was dumbfounded when he saw a captivating mademoiselle before him.

“5Je suis… uh, Ca va?” asked Dominique with utter uneasiness.

“Why are you following me?” Marie annoyingly asked back. Her cobalt eyes met his. Marie herself was stunned. Dominique didn’t answer; the two held gaze for a minute.

“Pardon me, for I will be late in my class.” Marie concluded and walked away hastily. Since then, both Dominique and Marie played the same scene in their heads.

Dominique tried following her all over the University but, kept on missing the chance. Who is this girl? Why hasn’t he felt this way before on other girls? He’s desperate to know her. That was the first time Dominique worked hard over knowing a girl. He’s not used to put so much effort on girls. He always finds it easy to mingle with some aristocrat daughters, but he never finds them interesting.

At the Gavrloire Manor, Monsieur Pierre was eating his breakfast. He observed his son with an odd great delight as he rapidly raced downstairs.

“Bonjour, 6le père!” His son greeted as he sipped his readied Chamomile tea.

“Not excited, are you?” Monsieur Pierre asked gleefully.

“7Oui. I met this girl…”

“8Je vois. Can I meet her as well?” asked his Duke-father.

“I’m trying to please her. She’s different.” Dominique proudly said. “9Au revior. I’m going to school now.” He bid goodbye.

Monsieur Pierre felt happy for his son. Monsieur Pierre and Dominique were like best friends; Dominique is the only family he had now. He loves his son so much.

Days had passed; Dominique was still trying to know her name, the name of that girl with those brilliant eyes, that intense beauty and that lovely scent.

On the other hand, Marie knew that Dominique kept on following her, so she had decided to keep distance and move away. She worries a lot about her life from being known by Dominique, which is ironic to him, who is simply enjoying of what’s to come. They are two different persons with different views in life.

But one night, a soiree was held in the Université de Versailles. Destiny took Dominique into great chance into meeting Marie in the most proper manner.

“10Bonsoir,” greeted Dominique upon catching her, serving the long-awaited girl a nice cocktail.

“May I help you?” Marie looked at him: he’s handsome features framed her sweet ones.

“Hi, I’m Dominique. Dominique Gavrloire.” He held out his hand with the seemingly nice drink, waiting for her to tell her name as well. However, Marie didn’t even bother to reach out to receive the offered drink; instead, she faced away and answered,

“Marie.”

Dominique tried to get her attention, he kept talking, and Marie didn’t give even the slightest interest into what he was saying, but she was secretly listening.

After the soiree, Dominique didn’t give up. He followed Marie and offered her a ride home, but she declined.

“I can manage myself, thanks.” she said.

“But I really want to be with you.” Dominique said softly. Marie stopped walking. He thought that she’d glance but she didn’t. Marie continued walking her way home after that brief pause.

Marie was in deep thought. “What is up with him?” thought she. She buried her head to her palms and cried in complete shame. “Does he know to whom he’s talking to? He’s an aristocrat. And I’m… I’m nothing but a girl who…” she paused for a while; she felt someone was following her. In an instant, she felt fear. There is only one person who would stalk her: Dominique.

She took strange directions to stray him. But Dominique followed. She decided to catch him in one corner.

“What do you want?!” she asked, almost angrily, with a hint of a plea to end this folly once and for all.

“I just wanted to know you better.” said Dominique. He searched for her eyes: they were nothing but a strong blue; the kind of eyes that seemed to portray nothing but sorrow.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Marie plainly said.

“Look, I’m sorry if I scared you. I didn’t mean to…”

“Follow me around? Ask things about me? Offer me a lift?”

“No, I’m…11Je regrette. I like you…” Dominique tried to hold her hand, but Marie still refused. Marie was stunned by the words of the handsome young man. This is not her first time to meet a guy who liked her, but this was the first time a guy followed her and became nearly obsessed with her. And she just can’t give in still.

Marie ran away. Dominique was left wondering; his sight still followed the girl’s way. He never felt that way before. He’s clearly in love with the cold Marie.

Dominique was weakened, for it was the first time that he had been left by someone he admired. In Marie’s case, she was used to it – being left was neither her desire nor her choice. It is fate that made her alone in her entire life.

As Marie reached her small living quarters, she looked around; her impoverish life is relevant to her home. She pities herself for being destitute.

The clock struck eleven o’clock

“It’s time.” She said to herself. She got dressed; she wore a soft pink evening dress and powdered her angelic face. She took out a pair of pink velvet pumps which she had bought from her small earnings. She walked through her small mirror and decided to go.

She garbed herself with a pale rose coat and a lady hat as she walked. She strolled as fast as possible.

As she reached a club, she threw her coat away and went to the VIP’s table.

There were rich businessmen and politicians sat round that table: they gamble, they drink and they even take a grizette home. Marie sat down beside an old man playing poker. She entertained him, and the man just realized that he had a grizette beside him. But despite Marie’s alluring charm, the old man didn’t take advantage of her. He seemed to feel that the only need of the girl was a good living.

After a few hours, Marie got impatient; she decided to negotiate with the old man.

“Sir, please sleep with me. I’m begging you.” She pleaded.

“Why would I do that? You’re too young and, I only came here just for fun. Not to become unfaithful with my family.” said the rather terribly surprised old man.

“But I need to earn money… Please, sir. I have no family… And I send myself to school. “Marie was already crying.

“I will give you money, if money is what you need.” said the kind old man.

“I will only get paid if someone will take me out. They will see through my things to check if I earned something out of this club, and they won’t permit us to accept money if I wasn’t taken home…” she explained.

The old man felt sympathetic to the young girl’s situation: she sells her soul just for a living. These thoughts simply saddened him.

“Don’t cry. I’ll take you home.” he said. Marie quickly hugged the old man. He felt nothing but pity to the poor girl.

“Thank you. Thank you so much…” Marie wept. Should the man didn’t agree, she will have nothing to eat for the next day. She felt both distaste and sorrow for begging, but then, that is the only way for her to survive.

Marie drank too much alcohol that night to help rid her consciousness.

Marie and the old man rode on a carriage; after some turns and through opulent streets and luxurious avenues, the old man halted the coach in front of a big mansion.

“You are a…” asked the passing-out Marie.

“A duke,” said the old man. He helped the dizzy Marie out of the carriage and started walking into the luxurious house.

“Bonsoir, Monsieur Pierre.” The housekeeper greeted as she opened the gates for them. It was a marvelous house – everything was elegant as everything seemed made from ivory and gold.

The night was deep. Marie was already snoring silently as she was being held by the Duke.

“Hurry, bring her upstairs, to the guest suite.” ordered Monsieur Pierre. Two housekeepers rushed and carried the now-asleep Marie upstairs; just then unexpectedly, Dominique went out of his room.

“Marie?” Dominique gasped. He was surprised to see her. “What happened to her?”

“You know her, son?”

“She’s the girl I’m telling you about...” Dominique stared at her – she looked wasted yet beautiful still. Puzzled, he looked to his father.

Monsieur Pierre was astonished. He never knew that his son fell in love with the grizette he met at the club.

“Son, she is merciful.” he said. “Take good care of her. She’s a good girl.” He patted Dominique’s shoulder and walked into his quarters.

When Marie was laid on the bed, Dominique ordered for a basin of cool water and a couple of clean face towels. He cleaned her face and commanded the servants to change her clothes.

“I’ll take care of you… Whatever you are, it doesn’t matter. 12Je t’aime…” He kissed her hands and walked out of the room.

It was dawn. She stood by a majestic window and breathed the sweet morning air spraying onto her ivory face. Reality began to grab her when she observed the awe-inspiring room she was in. Shaken, she couldn’t know what surreal event led her into such an opulent place.

“Je ne comprends pas . . .!” she cursed under her breath with a slap on her forehead. She can’t remember what happened last night; she wondered. She sat on the velvet sapphire bed once again with her clothes weren’t the same as last night “Where am I?”

“Bonjour mademoiselle,” greeted a housekeeper upon entering the room. “Monsieur Gavrloire wants to see you.” Hearing those words humiliated her. Everything was now clear to her: she clearly slept in the house of the Duke of Versailles.

1 “I can’t understand!”

2 “Good morning madam.”

3 “The scent, the scent!”

4 “Excuse me?”

5 “I am…. How are you?”

6 Father.

7 Yes.

8 I see.

9 Goodbye.

10 “Good evening,”

11 I’m sorry.

12 “I love you…”