Victor

I think the title's quiet easy for you to figure out who's the main character of this fic. I just realized we know nothing about Girodelle, and since he's one of my favorites, I want to create a life for him. I've done some research about French history, but I haven't found all the things I need, then I'm really sorry if there's any mistake in this fic. If you found one or more, please help me correct.

I've to say, I'm both an André fan and a Girodelle fan, and I'm also a fan of tragic stories, so sometimes I can be a bit evil to the characters. Sorry in advance, but you have to accept my crazy ideas :twisted:

Chapter 1

All his life, he had to hear how great, how strong, how wonderful that boy was although he had lived only 12 years. But that boy was 8 years old, eight! And his father said the boy would become a great warriors soon! Why couldn't he say anything like that about him? About his own son? Why did all his compliments belong to that boy? The son of General de Jarjayes?

- Ah! – his brother shouted as his sword flying away from his hand – you're getting better, Victor!

- Not enough! – Victor gruffly threw his sword on the ground and sat again the tree

- What's wrong? – he came near and sat next to the angry boy – did father say something?

- Yes, he did!

- So what is it?

- You don't want to know!

- No, I want!

- Really, you don't want to know! – Victor yelled

- Is it about de Jarjayes?

No answer. He wanted to laugh at his brother humoured face, but he knew the boy had suffered enough from all his jealousness.

- Ok, you know what Victor, tonight I'll going to a party with father – he looked at his younger brother, smiling

- A ball?- said Victor inattentively

- Not a ball! Some kind of a meeting between Generals…

- Then?

- You can come along…

- Why do I want to come? – he lifted an eyebrow

- I said it's a meeting between Generals – his brother stood up – and they usually bring their sons to show off...

- I'll come! – Victor sprang up

- Easy, you're not going to be a true gentleman with that behavior! – his brother said laughingly

- You're only one years older than me, Vincent!

- Yes, I'm older! – he said and then ran

- Don't mess with me, Vincent! – Victor began chasing him, after a few minutes, he jumped on Vincent and they both twined together then rolled on the ground… - Are you going to apply for military school next month? – Victor asked after he dropped down

- I'm supposed to do that, I believe…

- I wish I had been born before you! – Victor sighed

Vincent didn't reply. Although he was 9 years old, he knew very well this fighting thing didn't fit him. He remembered all the practice days were a nightmare: father taught new posture, he tried to capture, father attacked, he fell, father shouted and screamed and was angry and he ended up with a lot of black and blue…

"I feel ashamed of you!"

Father usually said that.

- Me too, Victor…- finally, he whispered. Father had never practiced with Victor, but Vincent had. And he wasn't a good fighter himself but he was good enough to realize his brother's talent.

- Anyway…- Victor lifted his head and used his arm as a support to look at his brother – I heard that uncle would come here tomorrow!

- Really?

- Yes, maybe he will bring you some book…

- And a new sword for you! – Vincent winked then the two boys laughed happily. Their uncle Franck, a not-famous-doctor, a kind of man that their father thought was a loser. Franck was good with his job, but he had no intend in getting any advance. He had a small house in a small village, he was the only doctor of that village, and the villagers usually give him pork, chickens….instead of money. He said the annual income was enough; he was not a wretch that sponged on other wretches.

Vincent couldn't understand that clearly, but he understood that he wanted to be a "loser" like Franck. He hated the noisy sound at the court, he hated the sweaty smell at the barracks... Every time his father took him there, Vincent always hid behind his back "like a lost mama monkey"- his father said and after two or three times, he stopped bringing him there. Father didn't understand! Vincent didn't want those scary people throw a lot of weapon in front of him and teach him about their functions: this one has a very light and crisp trigger pull, making for more accurate target shooting, very helpful in a duel if you want your enemy dies. Whereas that one can be use to shoot accurately over long ranges with high-powered cartridges, help you a lot while chasing criminals but you have to be well trained if you don't want to blow away their head…Vincent didn't want to learn how to kill people! He wanted to learn how to save them, like Franck...He would prefer to visit Franck's home, sit in the kitchen and enjoy a cup of tea with some cookies while listen to him telling a story…

But in their father's opinions, a man had to fight, to create his own destiny, not just be satisfy with having dinner near the fireplace with wife and children…

- I'll miss you, Vincent! – Victor broke the silent

- What?

- When you go to military academy, I'll miss you!

- Oh, don't worry, you'll go to the seminary soon.

- I don't want to! – Victor shouted

Victor just started to learn fencing this year, and his skills improved quite fast. But father hadn't noticed, he was busy with his duty and with the envy of general de Jarjayes…

- You know, Victor, after I've gone, father won't have anyone to train…

- You mean he will fence with me? – his eyes lit up

- Maybe, if you ask him…

- Then, go right now, Vincent! – he pushed his brother

- Hey, who said would miss me? – Vincent fought back, and they struggled on the grassplot like two little puppies…

Finally, after hours persuaded, their father accepted taking Victor to the party, only if he behaved himself.

- So, you are General de Girodelle second son? – a kid nudged Victor lightly when his father was introducing Vincent with someone…Lightly, but that was not a gesture that a gentleman should do.

- Yes, and you are…? – he answered in an unwelcome manner

- I'm Edgard Quesnel de Balzac! – he smiled with a narrowed eye. Marquis de Balzac, one of the richest and highest noble men. Was it advantageous if Victor made friends with his son? Victor's father would be very proud…

- It's an honor to meet you…- Victor said courteously

- Hey, who's your new friend? – another kid joined them

- I'm Victor Clement de Girodelle, nice to meet you!

- Clemence? – he said laughingly

- Excuse me? – Victor glared at him

- Watch your mouth, Gérard! – Edgard said, but he was laughing himself – forgive my younger brother, he's always act like the black sheep of our family.

- I see…, please excuse me…- Victor decided not to made friends with them, there was other ways to please his father, better than hanging with those were not deserved their high rank at all.

He walked to the balcony to look at the garden, usually, he would like the noisy atmosphere of the party, especially a party for generals. But de Balzac brothers made him felt so stuffy…

The night breeze was comfy… Victor closed his eyes, breathed in so deep then opened his eyes again... And he nearly fell out as he saw a little girl in the garden!

Some one brought a girl here? Girls are allowed to be here?

Obviously, she wasn't a maid since she was too young, at least 2 years younger than him, he bet! Victor immediately ran out…

- Hey, why are you running? – Edgard caught him at the door

- I think I saw a young girl in the garden – he answered without thinking.

- Are you, or your eyes ok, Clemence? – Gérard said – oh, I mean Clement…

Blood rushed to Victor head, but he was more interested in finding the girl than arguing with those supercilious boys. He ran to the garden, to the direction where he just saw a blond girl in a white dress…

There she is!

Standing behind the bush and talking with some one…

- Come on, go!

- You know I can't go in there!

- It's ok for a servant comes to the party with his master!

- But… Please, don't get me into trouble again!

Victor silently approached them, then a loudly voice:

- De Jarjayes? – it was Gérard. Victor turned back and saw the two boy had caught up with him

…but wait a minute, de Jarjayes?

He turned his head again and looked at the little boy just stepping out of the bush. How could he think this was a girl? Because of his blond burnished hair or because of the entire white costume he was wearing?

- This is your girl? – Gérard asked mockingly

- What girl? – the little boy wanted to know

- This short sighted guy thought you were a girl!

- Oh, I haven't seen you before! – the little boy ignored him and talked to Victor politely, perhaps too much polite for a young boy like him – I'm Oscar Francois de Jarjayes, and you are…?

- His name is Victor Clemence de Girodelle! – Gérard said hastily before Victor could answer himself

- Victor Clemence? – Oscar asked innocently with wide eyes

If there was any reason to stop Victor from become insane, it had flew away right after he hear that. That boy, the boy father always talked about, the sort of son father always want…that boy now was saying that Victor was a girl! He was jeering that Victor was not a true gentleman, therefore father had never rubbed his head and said he was proud of him! Victor wanted to cry, but a true gentleman would never cry! So the more he wanted, the harder he struck at that boy…

Of course the boy didn't bear that frenzy in silent. He fought back with all the skills he had and left some scrape on Victor's face. But he was only 8 years old, so Victor wrestled him on the ground…

- What do you think you are doing? – a strong angry voice fell on Victor's head and a strong big hand pulled him away

- Father…

Father was extremely angry. His face was as red as a tomato. Victor knew he was in big trouble, but that wasn't his fault! That deserved to death boy had started first!

- He said that I'm a girl! – Victor shouted discontentedly

- Is it true, Oscar? – General de Jarjayes asked, Victor didn't recognize he was here before…he was a little nervous. What would the general say? He surely would protect his son since the boy was that excellent…

- No, father! – Oscar shook his head and said firmly

- You called me Victor Clemence! – Victor spited out right at the moment the reasonable nervousness disappeared

- Is he telling the true? - General de Jarjayes looked at his son calmly

Why didn't he punish him? If it was Victor, father would slap him and make him stay in his room for a night without dinner…

-… - the boy didn't answer and stared at the ground

He as such a chicken!

- Oscar! - General de Jarjayes lowered his voice in a way made Victor feel creepy

- Yes…but…- the boy said with a tiny voice, and his voice stopped suddenly as his father gave him a hard blow which made him fell and slid on the grass…

Which also made Victor unintendedly hold his father's coat tails

- General de Jarjayes, there's nothing necessary to…

- Forgive me Count de Girodelle, I'm truly apologize for the uncivil behaviour of my child…

- It's really ok, de Jarjayes. But…- Count de Girodelle looked at Oscar, now was trying to stand up with a large red area on his face…

- Don't worry about that naughty kid, a gentleman should learn not to make fun at other people, especially at a venerable noble!

Victor felt a little guilty as seeing Oscar was still unnerved by that punishment. After all, it wasn't that boy's fault either! It was de Balzac brothers, more accurately it was Gérard who called Victor Clemence…The boy raised his face and met Victor eyes. Victor saw no reproach in his eyes but the steady blue made him felt unable to open his mouth and say "father, I lied, it wasn't his fault!"

Note: First, Edgard Quesnel de Balzac, his brother Gérard and Marquis de Balzac are fictional.

Second, I don't know if there was some kind of "Generals party" that children were allowed to join with their fathers. And I've tried to find but seem likes talking about party, people always think of women, I couldn't find any clue about a party for men only ( actually I did, but those were political parties…). I remember Charlotte was 11 when she went to the balls with her mother, so I think it's ok for Victor and his brother come to the "Generals party".

And last: Clemence is a name for girls. :lol: