Story timeline: Oscar has gone to the ball in a dress a short time ago

Characters: mainly Oscar and André : I don't own these characters

Fandom: Rose of Versailles

Original author: Peach

Where to find the original version: excessfanfiction, romance

My imaginary lover

Ever since the ball with Fersen, Oscar had become more and more distant and cold every day. Worried, Mrs. De Jarjayes decided to try to get her mind of things a little. The perfect solution came in the form of a little family reunion with all of her beloved daughters in Normandy, so her 6 children could meet each other again. Naturally, Oscar had been invited to be there, on this reunion, and Nanny and André would also be present. During the traveling, Oscar stayed silent and André suffered silently to see her in such a state. He would so much have wanted her to realize his love for her, but instead all she ever kept seeing was the beautiful Swedish count. Trying to distract her, he decided to talk to her about her sisters.

A: "Say, Oscar, all of your sister will be there?"

O: "I'm afraid so. It's a rare occasion to see each other again, and they'll all be there without a doubt. Angélique, Hortense, Marianne, Morgane and…"

A: "Amber?"

O: "Sadly, yes."

Oscar's face slightly darkened. In general, Oscar had fairly good relationships with all of her sisters, especially with the oldest one, Angélique. On the contrary, she didn't really like her fifth sister, Amber. They were only two years apart in age, and had been like cat and dog since their youngest years. Amber had been a pretentious and artificial young woman and always when she was near Oscar, she tried to humiliate her. It always ended up as a dead serious competition between them, one with destructive consequences.

When they arrived, Oscar and André were welcomed by Angélique, Hortense, Marianne and Morgane.

O: "Hello!"

H: "Oscar, you're finally here! It has been ages since we last saw each other!"

Ma: "You look good… and who is this young hunk?"

A: "Hello! It's me, André."

Mo: "André? Little André? Impossible!"

Ma: "It seems he has grown up quite a bit and has become a lot more, how to say this… manly."

Mo: "Yes indeed, an ideal 'sweet' for me."

O: "That's enough, you two! You're embarrassing André with your remarks. Must I remind you you are all married?" answered Oscar, seeing André's face was turning beet red.

Ma: "Oh! It's ok, Oscar! Don't be so shocked! It is quite normal to have a lover outside one's marriage these times. Maybe it would be good for you to get one too."

O: "I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Where's mother?"

Mo: "Mother and Nanny have arrived an hour ago."

O: "And Amber?"

Suddenly, a carriage approached.

An: "Ah! That will surely be Amber."

Amber stepped out. "Well, here I am!"

H: "Amber. It took you such a long time to get here!"

Am: "I know! But I must say, with all those receptions and trips, I'm so busy I didn't know if I would be able to come. Oh! Oscar?"

O: "Hello Amber."

Am: "What are you doing here? I thought this was a women-only reunion."

An: "Amber!"

Am: "What? I just asked her a question."

O: "I've been invited."

Am: "Oh really? Your hair has gotten longer since our previous meeting, but your clothing hasn't changed a bit I regret to say. You'll always be a tomboy, no matter how long you'll hair will grow."

André wanted to react, but Oscar stopped him.

Am: "Well, we'll see each other again at diner. Come girls, I've brought plenty of gifts with me."

Amber, Angélique, Hortense, Marianne and Morgane left.

A: "Why didn't you respond to those provocations?"

O: "She would like that way too much. She's always been that way."

A: "And you just let her do as she pleases?"

O: "At this moment, I can still control myself but that doesn't guarantee I won't lose my temper one of the next days.

Amber always attacks me on domains she knows I can't counter. She constantly needs to draw all attention to her and to be the middle point of all. She can't stand it that Father is more attached to my career than to her stories, so that's where she started seeing me as a rival."

A: "Are you sure you don't want to go back?"

O:"No! It will change my mind a bit to be here for a while, and by the way, we're not obligated to stay constantly with her."

The diner however, turned out to be a difficult challenge. Amber passed the time, telling about the last vacation trips she had made, and the most recent receptions she had gone to. Meanwhile, Oscar was bored stiff, to the point she faked a stomach ache to be able to leave the room.

André joined her in her room.

O: "Come in!"

A: "I'm here with your hot chocolate."

O: "Thanks. That's nice of you."

A: "So… the dinner?"

O: "Don't talk me about it. I thought I was going to die from boredom. I would have preferred eating in the kitchen with you and Granny."

A: "To that point?"

O: "You have no idea about it. If you wouldn't have to be here, I would have searched an excuse to not go to this place."

A long silence fell in the room. Oscar's words had left her mouth before she had really thought about them, and André, who certainly didn't expected them, was beet-red.

A: "….Well, I'll leave you alone now."

O: "Yes."

A: "Good night, Oscar!"

O: "Good night, André!"

When André had left, Oscar passed some water over her face to clear her thoughts a bit.

O: "Sometimes, I really should think better about things before talking." Oscar thought.

…

Do not comment about writing style or try to influence the story, because this is only a translation from someone else's story.

Comments to encourage my translation work are always welcome though.