Author's Note: This side-story takes place when Oscar is 17 years old before she meets Fersen or Rosalie. It's about Oscar and her friendship with an OC. I wrote this for fun and it's my first fan-fiction. Please be gentle. Thanks!
Just before dawn on a chilly Spring morning, Oscar and Andre set off to Paris to run an errand for Oscar's father. They let their horses walk at a leisurely pace. There's plenty of time to get the task done and arrive back at Versailles before their daily duties at court begin.
"The sun isn't even up yet." Andre yawns.
"Stop complaining." Oscar says curtly. "I didn't ask you to come with me."
"It's not like I had a choice." Andre sighs. "Your father insisted."
Oscar presses her lips together. Despite being Commander of the Royal Guards, her father still didn't trust her to do anything on her own.
The horses suddenly seem nervous, hesitating as they approach a bend in the road. Oscar sits up straighter and urges her horse onward. Andre follows closely. "What is it?" He asks.
"I'm not sure…" Oscar replies. "Ah, over there." She points to the side of the road where a luxurious carriage lays overturned in the ditch.
They dismount and approach the carriage cautiously.
"Was it an accident?" Andre looks around as Oscar gets closer. "The horses are gone."
Oscar lets out a small gasp. "I don't think it was an accident." She says.
Andre joins Oscar beside the carriage and makes an unpleasant sound in his throat when he sees what she has found. Two men, presumably the drivers of the carriage, lay brutally murdered in the dirt. Oscar goes to look inside the carriage. It's empty, but there are signs of a struggle. Oscar finds a scrap of torn cloth that looks like it came from a woman's dress and a trail of blood leading from the carriage into the surrounding trees.
Oscar draws her sword. "Stay alert, Andre." She says. "The assailants might still be close by. Keep watch while I take a look around."
"Right." Andre looks nervous, but does as he's told.
Oscar slowly moves into the trees, following the trail of blood. She doesn't need to go far before she sees someone laying on their back on the ground. It's a girl around the same age as Oscar. She is richly dressed, but the once opulent gown is soaked with blood. Oscar quickly sheaths her sword and kneels beside the girl. She appears to be dead, her eyes closed and her mouth slightly parted.
"What kind of monsters did this…" Oscar gently brushes the girl's cheek with her fingertips.
A small sigh escapes the girl's lips and she opens her eyes. Oscar draws her hand back in surprise.
"An angel." The girl whispers, her dim eyes resting reverently on Oscar. "You've come for me."
Oscar hastens to undo her jacket while shouting, "Andre! Andre, get help!" She lays her jacket over the girl who has slipped into unconsciousness again.
"What happened?" Andre comes running. He sees the injured girl on the ground, immediately understands, and rushes back to the horses.
"Quickly!" Oscar cries as Andre leaves, galloping toward Jarjayes Manor.
The entire day has passed since Oscar and Andre discovered the terribly wounded girl. With help, they had carefully moved her to the manor and fetched the family surgeon. Oscar, Andre, and Granny have all gathered in a guest room where the surgeon has just finished his work.
"How is she?"
The doctor turns to Oscar. His eyes are exhausted and grave. "Her wounds are grievous. It's a wonder she's still alive."
"Will she survive?" Oscar asks. She glances at the girl who, if it weren't for her pallor, could simply be sleeping.
"It's hard to say." The doctor begins to wash his bloodied hands in a basin on the dresser. "The knife wound to her chest missed her heart, but she has lost a considerable amount of blood. If she wakes up, she might have a chance." The doctor gathers his instruments. "I've done all I can. It's in God's hands now."
Oscar nods, "I understand. Thank you for your help, doctor."
The doctor bids them good night and takes his leave.
"Oh the poor girl…" Granny groans, tears glazing her eyes. "She's so young. Who would do such a thing?"
"We don't know, Granny." Andre says gently, putting an arm around her. "Come on, it's getting late. Let's get some rest."
"Yes…" Granny allows Andre to steer her towards the door.
"Are you coming, Oscar?" Andre asks.
"You go on. I'm going to stay for awhile."
Andre smiles at her and leaves with Granny. Oscar pulls a chair up beside the bed and sits down, studying the frail girl with her sapphire eyes. "You fought back, didn't you?" she says quietly. Bandages cover the girl's hands and forearms where the knife had struck her several times before finding it's final mark. She gently lays her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Keep fighting."
Morning sunshine pours cheerfully through the windows of the guest room, slowly reaching out to caress the injured girl's face. She opens her eyes, squinting against the growing light. She doesn't recognize the drapes of the bed canopy above her. She turns her head and sees Oscar seemingly asleep in the chair beside the bed, the sunlight setting her hair aglow like a golden halo.
"My angel." The girl sighs quietly.
Oscar opens her eyes and smiles softly. "I'm not an angel, but it is a miracle that you're alive." She had been awake for awhile, but hadn't dared open her eyes yet. Relief settles over her. The small, brave girl had survived the night.
"A-Alive." The girl gasps as pain shoots through her body. "Yes, I suppose I am." She smiles weakly. "Where am I?"
"Jarjayes Manor. We found you on the road to Paris. Your men… They…" Oscar wonders if it's too soon to tell her that her companions didn't make it.
"They're dead." The girl says flatly. "Yes, I know." She looks away.
"My name is Oscar Francois de Jarjayes, Commander of the Royal Guards." Oscar doesn't know what else to say.
The girl looks back at Oscar, her eyes large and clear. "Emilie." She says.
"Ah, that's my Mother's name."* Oscar smiles. "What is your family name?"
Emilie hesitates. "It doesn't matter. I'm nothing more than a commoner."
Oscar looks surprised. "But your dress… And that carriage?"
Emilie looks up at the bed canopy, studying the patten of the fabric. "Decoys." She finally replies. "My Madame's family had been threatened by a dangerous man who wished them harm. She and her family decided to flee the country to a distant relative's home rather than stay and risk their lives. I was sent as a decoy… I wasn't… I'm not supposed to be alive."
"What do you mean?" Oscar looks horrified. "You… You were sent to die in your Madame's place?"
"Yes, so her family would be safe." Emilie explains. "If the Count believes she is dead, he won't look for her."
"But to sacrifice your servants in such a way…" Oscar balls her hands into fists. "Disgraceful."
"No. You misunderstand… I volunteered. We all did." Emilie says firmly, looking at Oscar.
Oscar relaxes her hands and stares at Emilie.
"I couldn't sit idly by while my Madame's family was in danger. I would gladly lay down my life for the people I love." Emilie's voice wavers.
"Why didn't your Madame seek formal help? To uproot your entire family over the threats of one man… It just seems-" Oscar is interrupted by a quiet groan.
Emilie shuts her eyes as another wave of pain crashes over her. She winces then goes limp, slipping back into unconsciousness.
"Forgive me." Oscar says quietly. "Rest now. There will be more time for talk later."
Oscar reluctantly sets off for Versailles with Andre, leaving Emilie in the capable care of Granny and the other maids. Oscar and Andre agree not to speak of the girl to anyone at court until they know more about her.
*Note: I named Emilie before I looked into this, but the real historical figure who Oscar's father is based on had a wife named Louise Marguerite Henriette Emilie Quetpee Laborde (phew! what name!). Oscar's mother isn't named in the anime or manga as far as I know, but I thought the coincidence was super cute so I went with it.
Thank you for reading!