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Tag to S1E1
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"Adele! Adele!" Aramis stared up at the second-floor window, hoping that she would appear, but she didn't. Why did he expect her to? The servant said that she was gone.
Aramis looked down at the pistol in his hand. It had clearly been fired, hence the reason for his sudden panic. Who had fired it, and why? Aramis stuck it in his belt and went back to the door, quickly knocking.
The same servant opened it. "Yes?" she said.
"Did Adele hand this to you herself?" he asked.
She shook her head. "It was left on her dresser with a note on it to give to you when next you came calling."
"Did you hear anyone fire it?" Aramis asked.
"Fire it? No."
Aramis sighed. What did it mean? "Did you see her leave?"
"Yes, with the cardinal."
Aramis was relieved at that…Adele couldn't have been involved in its firing then. He had no idea that Richelieu'd had it snuck back in hours later.
"Anything else, monsieur?"
Aramis looked at the girl again and shook his head. "No, thank you."
She nodded and shut the door, and Aramis stood there for a moment, trying to wrap his mind around the fact that Adele had left. She chose him over me. She chose Richelieu.
Aramis barely realized that he'd started walking again until he was far away from her door. When it really, truly hit him, he found himself sinking down to sit on the steps of a bakery.
Adele left. She chose Richelieu. But I love her! I thought that she loved me!
"Aramis?"
Porthos was suddenly crouched in front of him, shaking him by the arms. Aramis realized that he'd called his name more than once.
"She's gone," Aramis told him.
"What?" Porthos asked.
"Adele left Paris with the cardinal." He sounded dazed.
Porthos sighed, before wondering how long his friend had been sitting there. "Of course she did, Aramis. She used you all this time and then ultimately chose money."
Aramis gave him a crestfallen look. "But I love her."
"Loved," Porthos said. He pulled his friend to his feet and wrapped an arm around his back as he led him towards the garrison. "You foolishly loved the woman who belonged to the cardinal, but now it's over and it's time to move on."
Aramis said nothing.
Porthos felt sorry for him but was glad that he was finally free from the danger of cavorting with Adele right under Richelieu's nose. He gave Aramis a squeeze, hoping that his friend would find love with an average peasant now and stay away from untouchable women in the future.
THE END
