At the main gates of the Palace of Versailles, a carriage pulled up, catching the attention of the Elite Consular Guards stationed outside. They walked towards the carriage and questioned the coachman.
"What's the purpose of stopping in front of the palace?" one of the guards asked.
"I just came here to drop off a passenger from Paris," the coachman replied simply.
The elite guards exchanged glances, a bit intrigued by the unexpected arrival. One of them motioned to another to check on the passenger.
Approaching the carriage, one of the guards knocked on the window. "Open the window," he commanded, and the passenger inside complied.
The elite guard saw a woman in her twenties with a fair complexion, light yellow-green eyes, and shoulder-length, braided, light brown hair.
"Who are you? And why have you come to the Palace of Versailles?" the guard inquired, eyeing the woman cautiously.
The woman smiled politely and replied, "I am Audrey, and I've come here to apply for a position as a personal caretaker for the First Consul's children. I have an appointment with him today."
The elite guard nodded, recognizing the importance of such an appointment.
"Very well, Mademoiselle Audrey. Please step out of the carriage and hand over any documents or credentials you have for verification."
Audrey complied, stepping out of the carriage and retrieving an envelope from her handbag. She handed it over to the elite guard, who quickly examined its contents. Inside was a neatly written letter of recommendation and references, along with Audrey's identification papers.
"Everything seems to be in order," the guard said, returning the envelope to Audrey. "Please wait here, I'll inform someone inside of your attendance."
With that, the elite guard hurried back to the main gate, signaling his fellow guard stationed in the guardhouse. He picked up a telephone and made a call to inform someone inside about Audrey's arrival.
Meanwhile, Audrey took in the sight of the grand Palace of Versailles, knowing that it could be her workplace should the First Consul accept her application. The thought of working as a personal caretaker for the First Consul's children excited her. After all, she was one of Napoleon Bonaparte's admirers, appreciating how he had led France to a series of victories and saved it from the invaders.
As she waited for the palace's guards to grant her entry, Audrey began to imagine herself conversing with the First Consul. She wondered what questions he might ask and diligently prepared clear answers in her mind. These thoughts made her heart race with nervous excitement.
Minutes later, the palace guards received confirmation from the First Consul's office about Audrey's scheduled appointment. The guard who had inspected her documents returned with a nod and a friendly smile.
"Mademoiselle Audrey, the First Consul is expecting you. Please follow me," he said, leading the way through the main door of the Palace of Versailles.
Audrey followed closely, gulping nervously as she stepped through the grand main door of the Palace of Versailles. As she entered, the opulence and splendor of the palace overwhelmed her senses. The ornate decorations, magnificent chandeliers, and vast halls left her in awe.
In the foyer, she saw a middle-aged man wearing a butler's suit. She recognized the person; it was Beaumont, the butler of Napoleon Bonaparte who ran the day-to-day affairs of the palace. The reason she recognized him was simple; he had been her family's butler twelve years ago.
"Welcome, Mademoiselle Audrey," Beaumont said in a composed tone as his eyes scanned her appearance. "You have grown a lot if you do not mind me saying."
"Thank you, Beaumont," Audrey replied with a faint smile, acknowledging the butler's observation. Memories of her childhood flooded back, reminding her of the time she spent in the grand estate under Beaumont's diligent care. It was a stark contrast to her current situation.
Beaumont gestured for Audrey to follow him, and she complied, keeping her composure despite the mixture of nerves and nostalgia that churned inside her.
As they approached a set of ornate double doors, Beaumont paused and turned to Audrey.
"Wait here for a moment, Mademoiselle. I will announce your arrival to the First Consul," he said.
Audrey nodded, feeling a surge of anxiety, this is it, her talking to the most powerful man in France, adored by all.
A few moments later, the doors opened, and Beaumont returned with a nod, signaling Audrey to enter. Taking a deep breath, she walked through the doors, revealing a lavishly decorated room, adorned with elegant furniture and rich fabrics. And there, standing by a large desk, was the man she had admired from afar - Napoleon Bonaparte, the First Consul of France.
Napoleon looked up as Audrey entered, his piercing gaze meeting hers. "Ah, Mademoiselle Audrey," he said in a firm yet welcoming voice. "Please, come closer."
Audrey approached the desk, her heart pounding with nervous excitement. She curtsied respectfully and spoke.
"It is a great honor to meet you, Your Excellency," Audrey said with a slight tremor in her voice, trying to steady herself in the presence of the esteemed leader.
Napoleon regarded her with a keen gaze, nodding in acknowledgment. "The pleasure is mine, Mademoiselle Audrey," he replied before glancing at Beaumont, who was standing by the door. "Leave us for a moment, Beaumont."
Beaumont nodded and exited the room, leaving Audrey alone with Napoleon. After that, Napoleon gestured for her to take a seat across from him, and she obliged with a graceful movement.
"Mademoiselle Audrey," Napoleon began, leaning back in his chair. "I took a quick glance again at your file, and I learned that you were born from a noble family and that your former butler was Beaumont, is that correct?"
"That's correct, Your Excellency," Audrey replied, her nerves settling as she focused on the conversation at hand. "My family held a noble status, and Beaumont served as our loyal and esteemed butler when I was younger."
Napoleon leaned forward, his expression curious. "Interesting. I wasn't aware until two weeks ago that Beaumont served in another house prior to us. Well, that's simply because my wife was the one who hired him. When it comes to household personnel, I usually don't question her choices. Still, I can't help but feel curious about your upbringing, you were a noblewoman, what happened?"
The moment Napoleon asked that Audrey's face turned pale, her eyes trembling as the memories of her past life played before her. Naturally, Napoleon knew what had happened to her, as it was recorded in her file. Twelve years ago, a fire had struck their estate. She survived the fire along with her only family, her father. However, her father saw that her left arm was burned and decided to disown her. The reason was outrageous – he couldn't use her as a political tool. Before the revolution, noble families made connections by arranging marriages, and Audrey's father saw her disfigurement as a hindrance to their plans. It was a cold and heartless decision that shattered Audrey's world.
Of course, Napoleon doesn't need her to answer that question, he just wanted to see her genuine reaction to the question, and seeing her conflicted face revealed the pain and sorrow that still lingered within Audrey's heart. He could see the weight of her past on her shoulders, and it intrigued him to know how she had overcome such adversity, which was, according to her file, she worked in various jobs such as a seamstress, a clerk in a salon, and many more. She is not the stereotypical noblewoman but someone who had experienced the hardships of life outside the privileged world of nobility.
"Your Excellency, it was—"
"You don't have to answer that question, mademoiselle," Napoleon interrupted. "Instead, I'm going to ask you another, how did you learn that I was looking for a caretaker to oversee my children?"
"Uhm—Your Excellency," Audrey replied, slightly taken aback by the interruption but quickly regaining her composure. "Beaumont mentioned that you were seeking a personal caretaker for your children in his letter, and he thought I might be suitable for the role."
Napoleon nodded, seemingly satisfied with her response. "Beaumont has been with my family for quite some time, and I trust his judgment. If he believes you have the qualities needed to care for my children, then I'm inclined to believe him as well. I want my children, especially my daughter Aveline, to receive the finest care and education, and to be groomed with the refinement and elegance expected of noble individuals. Do you still have it in you?"
"Of course, Your Excellency," Audrey replied confidently.
"Last question, since you were a former noble, I assume you have negative views towards the revolution. After all, it abolished the old order and replaced it with a new, enlightened, and radical one. Do you hate me for being the symbol of the republic?"
Audrey shook her head. "No, Your Excellency, in fact, I admire you. I too hated the old order. My father…was a symbol of that old order, that only cares about hierarchy and political games. It was precisely that rigid system that caused him to disown me when I no longer fit his vision of a perfect noble daughter. The revolution brought about change, and while it may have been a tumultuous period, it also shattered the chains of oppression and offered hope for a better future. You, Your Excellency, rose from humble beginnings to become a leader who fought for the people, and that's something I deeply respect."
Napoleon's smile widened at the praise. "Thank you for your kind words, Mademoiselle Audrey. I've made up my mind. You will start tomorrow. My children are still in session with their private tutors, so you'll have the opportunity to meet them later. As for the salary and benefits, my wife and I will discuss that with you this evening."
Audrey bowed reverently. "Thank you, Your Excellency. I promise to serve you with all of my best."
Napoleon checked the timepiece from his pocket. At any moment, Talleyrand will arrive soon.
"That will be all for now, Mademoiselle Audrey. Beaumont will show you to your quarters, and you can familiarize yourself with your duties starting tomorrow."
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