Disclaimer: The characters of Le Chevalier D'Eon do not belong to me. May contain spoilers for the anime.

This is a series of one-shots on the relationships between the characters of the anime. To start off, some Max-Lia fluff. Wonder where the Secret du Roi hangs out at Versailles?

Library Minuet

Durand was not around. It was only him, and Lia de Beaumont. Maximilien Robespierre stepped into the library. He was a knight of King Louis XV. A member of the Secret du Roi, like Durand and Lia. They were colleagues, fellow knights… He allowed his eyes to fall on the slender ankle exposed under the voluminous red skirts as Lia sat on the couch and read some novel. She must have reported the outcome of her little trip to Orleans to the Duc d'Broglie, or perhaps to His Majesty. Or perhaps Durand had been sent with her to Orleans and was now reporting to the duke. In a few minutes he would be back in the library.

"Durand is out paying court to Mademoiselle Fleur de Lyons, do take a seat, Robespierre," Lia peered over the top of her book. "He will not be back, at least till tomorrow, unless Monsieur de Lyons sees him off." A smile danced on her lips when she saw the flicker of his eyes before he averted them. Lia was a handsome woman, and she knew how to use her womanly charms to their greatest advantage if need be. Now she was bemused by Maximilien's reaction to catching a glimpse of her stocking-clad ankle. She tucked her feet modestly under her skirts. Don't men have ankles too? One would be hard pressed to find anyone blushing at the sight of D'Eon's ankles and he went about in stockings and leather shoes as was the current fashion for young men.

"Mademoiselle, I beg your pardon for intruding…" Maximilien stiffly strolled over to the bookcase. Why was he acting like that? They had worked together before. He had seen her dressed as a boy. He had glimpsed her in a gown at the King's ball, speaking with the Queen. Why should now be different? She was witty and charming, with courage and skill with a sword more than enough to put most men to shame.

Could this be? Maximilien reached out for a book. Lia's fingertips brushed against his as she reached out for the very same book. His breath caught when he became aware of her skirt hem ghosting a few inches from his feet. Were they that close? Their eyes met. Violet blue orbs gazing into emerald green. There was no denying it. He was in love with his fellow knight, Lia de Beaumont. And he felt as inadequate as a schoolboy. Lia batted her eyelashes.

"After you, Mademoiselle…" Maximilien smiled and stepped back awkwardly.

What did he know of starting a casual conversation? That was Durand's forte. Their colleague could strike up a conversation with almost anyone. Durand was a favourite of many young ladies in the city of Paris, coaxed into bestowing their favours on him by his honeyed tongue. But not Lia de Beaumont. She was too used to his sweet talk to fall for it.

Unlike his more extroverted colleagues, Maximilien was more sedate. He disliked balls, noisy taverns and social gatherings, settings in which Lia and Durand thrived. He preferred to hide in the shadows and observe and, if need be, strike swiftly with his sword for the good of France. The library was his sanctuary when he wanted to hide from the social demands in the palace, until now…

Pale winter sunlight beamed into the library, catching the gold of Lia's immaculately dressed hair so that she seemed to be wearing a halo. She was beautiful. She took the book from the shelf and opened it.

"Tristan and Iseult, I never thought of you as a romantic, Monsieur…" Lia smiled. Maximilien smiled back awkwardly. He had been looking for a tome on medicine.

"We could read it together, if you wish…" she added, taking his smile for one of regret.

Maximilien hesitated. Should he agree? If he did, would she laugh and make some witty comment, firmly but gently rebuffing him, the same way she often parried verbally with Durand?

"Or if you wish, Shakespeare's Anthony and Cleopatra is on the third shelf," Lia teased.

"Mademoiselle, I will be honoured to read Tristan and Iseult with you," Maximilien decided then. To his relief and joy, she sat down on the couch and beckoned him to join her. He was going to court this angel before him. The medical tome can wait.

Author's Notes:

The minuet is a ballroom dance popular in the French royal court during the 17-18th century. Some mild flirtation in the library.

In case anyone is wondering, Tristan and Iseult is a romance legend very popular in Europe during the Middle Ages. It is a bit like the King Arthur, Guinerve, Sir Lancelot love triangle. The legend runs lthat a knight Tristan was assigned to fetch the bride (Princess Iseult) on behalf of his uncle King Mark. En route to Mark's castle, the young couple ingest a love potion and end up falling passionately in love.