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The author of this story has read and accepted the rules for posting stories. They guarantee that the following story depicts none of the themes listed in the Forbidden Content section of the rules.
The following story is a work of fiction meant for entertainment purposes only. It depicts nonconsensual sexual acts between adults. It is in no way meant to be understood as an endorsement of nonconsensual sex in real life. Any similarities of the characters in the story to real people are purely coincidental.
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Title: Scandalous
Author: AdmiralPiet
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This story participates in the June/July-Community Contest
A bit of alternate history, taking place in France in 1748. Some people are real, by name at least.
I had the idea late and had to scramble to make the deadline.
I consider it rather rough around teh edges
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Scandalous
„Unbelievable!“
Anne Louise de Nargonne, the Marquise de Danglars exclaimed.
“People are still talking about it in the Salons, but every day it is less. It seems like the storm has passed. Is not that as scandalous as the whole affair in the first place?”
“You tell me.” Her friend Marie Laurine de Burbon, Duchesse de Villefort answered. The Duchesse stood by the tall windows and looked out over the parks of Versailles. “A commoner at court, and a prostitute at that! And I had thought that upstart de Pompadour was bad!”
The whole court of Versailles was up in arms, almost literally, for weeks. A king having a mistress was nothing to bat an eye at. Not even if he had more than one. Mostly the clerics and conservatives spoke up but were happily ignored. More outrageous was a mistress not of noble blood. And this time the king went several steps further when he fell for a common maid. Juliette Leroux, with fiery red hair, and a freckled face. And a dubious past.
“Sacre bleu!” she muttered unladylike “I really thought I had put an end to it when it was revealed that she had worked in a brothel.”
“Well, it didn’t work” Anne Loise said “I feel your frustration. The court has lost its edge. All talk and no bite. They will let him get away with anything at this point.”
“But he is the king” young Pauline de Saint-Meran, Comtesse de Mondego piped up.
“He can get away with anything, can he not?” She had listened to the conversation with growing unease. Talking about Louis XV, King of France by Gods Grace in such an irreverent manner did not sit right with her.
“Oh, shush, naïve girl!” Marie Laurine scolded her dismissively. The younger woman was always around the other two. But she was regularly reminded that she was not as close to them as they were to each other. She was more of an accomplice in their intrigues than a friend.
“Even the king’s power has limits. Wasn’t there talk about him building a chateau for her? A “Chateau de Petite Lys”. Making her a Baronne? That… that common…whore!”
Pauline flinched at the sudden outburst.
“Why do you think there is no more talk about that? Even a king can afford only so many scandals at once.”
“That may be true. But it is in his hands now to decide” Anne Louise said. “This is a battle we have soundly lost. We should consider this war lost as well”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I mean” Anne Louise said while rising gracefully from her chair. “That many of your attempts at bettering your position at court have backfired”
She held up a hand before her friend hat time for another outburst “Listen to me!” she said very seriously. At most times she was Marie Laurines loyal lieutenant. Rarely did she speak like this to her.
“Every day you wake up and think about intrigues, plots, and scandals. And what did you accomplish really? Your little war against Madame de Pompadour last year antagonised her, by extension the king and several of his friends. Not to mention quite a lot of lower noble houses. Because you do not know when to quit”
She had now joined her friend at the window.
“And the king knows very well who unearthed those dirty little secrets. If anything, you only emboldened those commoners. Look at that dress Madame de Pompadour wore at the last ball.”
“If her neckline plunged any deeper one could ask why she even bothered with a corset” Pauline blurted out.
“Exactly! And with de Pompadour holding her hand over her you can guess who will be testing limits next. Your position is good. Despite everything I still share the king’s bed and he has an open ear for me. Give me time and Pauline will share his bed too” Anne Louise stepped in really close to her friend “If you want, I can get you there as well” she purred.
“Perhaps you are right” she said after a long time. But the words sounded very unconvincing. Sharing the kings bed seemed a small price compared to getting rid of the whore.
“Your obsession will get all of us in trouble, I hope you are aware of that?”
+++
Weeks later the sun was setting on the king’s late summer ball. A small army of servants was moving through the sprawling parks of Versailles to light thousands of lamps, torches, and candles. Louis XV was taking a break from the festivities by going for a walk through the park. As much of a break as a King of France could have anyway. As long as he did not order all of them away a large entourage of courtiers was following him wherever he went.
It was an awe-inspiring sight. All the splendour of French nobility assembled at this most beautiful of palaces.
The walk was suddenly interrupted. A woman was screaming:
“Oh mon dieu!” followed by the sound of breaking glass and a man following up with: “He is getting away! After him, go, go!”
King Louis had instantly moved to investigate before his honour guard could stop him. The source of the commotion was a small pavilion nearby, hidden by artfully cut hedges. It was a lightly build structure, with large windows. One of which seemed to have broken as evidenced by the shards to the right side and the earlier crash.
One of the senior valets was standing in front of the slightly open doors, and Louis could catch a glimpse of more servants disappearing between hedges. Chasing after someone.
“Explain yourself!” the king ordered as he marched in and the valets face went pale when he regarded the mass of people flowing into the garden around the pavilion.
“Your majesty!” He quickly took of his head and bowed down. “We were lighting the candles when we came across, a … ehm…”
“Have you swallowed your tongue? Out with it!”
“I am at a loss for words, Sire.” He stammered out “We…”
The king held up a hand to make the flustered man shut up and walked past him to see for himself. Without hesitation he threw open the pavilions doors and walked in. The courtiers, curious tried to stay close or moved to the windows to see. Always so noble, until the smallest thing made them behave like common folk.
The madames de Villefort, Danglars and Mondego seemed very eager to stay close to the king. What he found inside was indeed not easy to explain. At least not from a servant to his king. Strewn about the otherwise immaculately kept room where ropes, a riding crop, and toys of a debauched nature. And in the middle of it was standing a young woman, with fiery red hair.
The green of her dress complimented that beautifully. But the cut of that dress… No petticoat or stomacher, the flowing gown open in front and back to reveal pale oiled skin glowing red in the setting sun. The light reflecting of the generously applied oil brutally highlighted the curves on the woman, drawing the gaze away from the few bits of fabric she still wore. Drawing it instead to the swell of her shapely breasts and pointed nipples, and the strip of hair above her bared pussy.
The woman looked around, shocked and pannicked as more people streamed in. Tears welled in her big green eyes as more and more shocked gasps and whispers rose up. And malicious laughter. For the shameful outfit was not the worst: Her arms were bound behind her back. A cloth gag stopped her from speaking and the choker around her slim neck was nothing beautiful like the ladies of the court wore, but reminiscent of a dogs collar.
The king held op his hand, and when he was ignored for more than a moment, he shouted: “Silence!”
There was such power in his voice that everyone followed the order in a heartbeat.
Slowly he stepped forward. The young woman had bowed down, looking at the floor. As the king was walking slowly around her she shivered slightly. Burning with shame. Feeling every gaze.
Madame de Villefort and her two companions watched the scene unfold with barely contained pleasure.
It was so obvious what happened here. A young, perverted woman thought to play some debauched games with a man in here. And when they were discovered, he had the sense to flee, leaving her behind to be caught. Surely the girl would plead innocence. Tell of blackmail and coercion. But who would believe such a tall tale when it was so conveniently not provable either way?
They were watching intently as the king inspected her. His mouth but a thin line, his eyes burning smoldering fury. Any moment now he would bring the hammer down on the little whore and it would be the end of her time at court.
“I approve” he said.
What?!
Juliette flinched when his majesty spoke, unable to comprehend. Gently he placed two fingers under her chin and raised her head up. When she looked at him, his face of anger had given way to an unbelievably warm smile. Her back straightened a bit.
“You wear it well, mademoiselle. But may I suggest: A little less of the scented oils.”
He leaned in and whispered something into her ear.
No one could catch what he had said, but it was like a magic charm had driven the shame out of her. Still teary eyed, but smiling as much as the gag allowed, she now wore her exposed skin like the most beautiful ball gown.
Bewildered glances were exchanged among the observers. The king was talking to his mistress as if nothing were out of the ordinary. Every man and woman unsure of what to say…or even think of this. Everyone, except the kings more personal companions.
„Jean-Baptiste“ Louis called out and Jean-Baptiste de La Tour d'Auvergne, duc de Bouillon, the Grand Chamberlain of France came forward. He too seemed uncannily unfazed by the display in front of him.
“Your Majesty?”
“The Madame de Lys seems a bit tired.”
The casual announcement that the King went through with his plans of making her a baronne shocked the court once more and a certain restlessness filled the air. But no one dared speaking his mind. Madame de Villefort was simply stunned. This was not unfolding according to plan at all.
“I would advise her to rest for a while in her chambers and await my arrival. Would it please you to escort her there in my stead?”
“It would please me greatly, Sire!”
Monsieur de Bouillon snapped his fingers at two soldiers of the kings honour guard. The men seemed to have a hard time keeping their eyes off of the young Madame de Lys but they complied and took position to either side. De Bouillon did lead the way. With her hands still bound behind her back he couldn’t offer her his arm. With her head held high she walked beside him. The Nobleman and the half-naked, bound, gagged girl left the pavilion with a grace that put most of the fuming courtiers to shame.
The king and the court kept looking at her bared and gleaming cheeks until the moment they disappeared behind hedges.
A stunned silence followed. The king looked around, seemingly bewildered why everyone was standing around, mouth agape.
“Well, go on then!”
Like in a trance the courtiers started to disperse. Soon furious arguments would break out all over the parks and palace. But the outraged would come to realize that their indignation was of no concern.
Madame de Villefort and her two friends however had little time to vent their frustration as the king summoned them within minutes. After the usual exchange of pleasantries Louis extended an invitation.
“Madames. It would please us greatly if you would join us at Château de Fontainebleau, in two weeks time”
The fact that he switched to the Royal We underlined the fact that this was an order, not a request. Slightly wary de Villefort said:
“May I ask your majesty: What is the occasion?”
“You may” the king answered with a wryly smile on his face. “Your chastisement”
“Cha.. chastisement. Sire?” the young comtesse stammered, her voice laden with guilt. De Villefort cursed her in that moment.
“Well yes. We think you are aware of what you have done. Best you order three more of those dresses for the event.”
Louis XV watched the three women in front of him very intently with a cruel smile on his lips. Madame de Mondego’s face flushed beet red, her guilt and shame out in the open. De Villefort bristled with righteous fury. And the Marquise de Danglars had that smug look of someone who was just proven right. She even seemed to look forward to what was in store for her. Well, there was a reason she was, and probably would be for some time on of the kings’ mistresses.
“You have no right to ask this.” Marie Laurine de Burbon, Duchesse de Villefort shouted, barely able to keep her countenance “You cannot do this!”
“I cannot?” The king shot back, his voice now tinted with anger, leaving the formality behind.
“Who is to say that I cannot?”
He stepped closer and the duchesse shrank visibly.
“Only God may tell me what I can and cannot do! Overly Ambitious as you are that is beyond your reach, Madame la Duchesse! And if you want to retain that title, you will arrive at Château de Fontainebleau in two weeks’ time!”
Duchesse de Villefort swallowed hard. The heat in the room seemed to rise, her face flushed red too. She did not know what the king had planned for her. Only that she would hate every second of it. Thinking of that shameful dress made her intestines turn into a knot. She felt like throwing up.
Frantically she searched for a way out. He surely would not do this to a member of the nobility! It had to be an empty threat. There was a way to placate him. Other people, powerful people, would speak on her behalf. He could only have so many scandals at a time. Noblemen and Clerics would protest. His power wasn’t absolute!
But as she coyly looked up to meet his steely gaze all her reasoning fell apart. He was King by Gods Grace, and would do as he wished. As he had just demonstrated in that pavillion.
A tear rolled down her cheek and she said the only thing left to say:
“As you wish Sire”
End of chapter 1
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I shamelessly stole the antagonists names, or rather titles from "The Count of Monte Cristo" (without having read it) There also being three main bad guys was too good to pass up. Thanks @Lucius
As always: Comments and critique welcome
