Trouver Cendrillon – IV – The Search

Ever since that event two of the most hardworking members of Salon de Marie, Charles Henri Sanson, and Le Chevalier D'Eon, have acted very strangely lately, something that the rest have noticed.

Charles Henri Sanson would glance and stare at all the women in the Salon for a short period and mutter; 'No, it's not her…' while D'Eon would make look at Charles and quickly look away while her ears went partly red and for every time the two would lock eyes she would end up getting flustered confusing the Executioner, and then every once in a while she would be in a daze but then snap back into reality and blush.

These strange behaviors have caught the attention of the rest of the staff of Salon de Marie. Even more so was Marie Antoinette who arrived late at the ball.

"A word please." Marie said as she placed a hand on D'Eon's shoulder.

"You've been acting pretty out of it lately," Marie told her as they went to have tea in a separate table, D'Eon can clearly hear the worry within her tone. "You're usually more focused when working here."

"I'm sorry Marie," D'Eon replied as she took a sip of her tea. "There's something on my mind so I wasn't able to focus."

That was somewhat true, she was constantly wondering if Charles will figure out on her identity from the ball, and she does not know how to face him.

Speak of the Devil. D'Eon thought as from the corner of her eye she spotted Charles getting into his position in the Bar while engaging in a small discussion with Abigail, his now adopted daughter, as a small smile graced his usually stoic face that was another problem for her, ever since she saw his gentleman side she herself growing more attracted to him as if she was affected by Charm.

"D'Eon!" Marie spoke raising her tone. "You were spacing out again."

"A-Ah I'm sorry," D'Eon said getting flustered as she realized what she was doing. "Marie…there's something I should tell you…in private if it's alright…"

Marie shot her a confused look but eventually nodded. The two left the Salon and went to discuss in a dead end in a corridor, afterward D'Eon finally explained to her what had happened. Everything, how she masqueraded as Elise and ended up dancing with Charles which resulted in her developing feelings for the Executioner and since then she is unable to face him much like before. And while she explained all of this to Marie her face lightened up and a smile grew into her face.

"I'm happy for both of you D'Eon," Marie smiled as she imagined the two acting like a couple. "To think your feelings for one another would awaken after a fated dance in the ball, Sanson asked me a while ago if I knew someone named Elise and to think you were the mysterious woman he spoke off, you should have seen it, he kept on saying how mysterious and beautiful you looked despite the fact that you wore Amadeus' mask."

"Marie please t-that's enough!" D'Eon said as she was becoming more and more flustered at how love struck both her and Sanson towards one another.

"Why not tell him the truth?"

"I-I can't," She replied. "I'm scared that he might be the same man that wanted your head long ago at Orleans."

"He's a changed man D'Eon," Marie said making a small smile. "A lot of things that had happened that changed him. Please have faith in him."

Days went by and Charles continues to search for the woman in hopes perhaps he can see her again and properly court her.

"You really are determined father." Abigail smiled as she ate the parfait that Charles made for her while he worked. "Given the population of New Chaldea, it's a no surprise that it'll be hard for you to find her."

"I have a feeling Elise is not her name Abi." Charles smiled as he affectionately patted her hair. "She may have been a servant, as I detected a servant's signature when we danced."

"That may be easier then," Abi replied as she ate. "Have you asked for help or anyone that might know?"

"None of them seem to know about her," Charles shook his head. "Even Amadeus of all people don't know about her when she was the one using his mask."

"What about Jeanne?"

"I'll ask her later, she seems to be familiar with that woman."

"Nope, I'm not telling." Jeanne teased Charles as he went to visit them in the Cathedral area, due to many Servants have an affinity to separate religions one of the newest features of New Chaldea was the construction of various temples and churches and shrines on various gods and deities.

Ever since Salem, Charles and Abigail would frequently visit the Cathedral where they would pray every Sunday. But in this Sunday afternoon, Charles had approached Jeanne who had just finished doing her daily prayers alongside Martha and Amakusa.

"So you do know?" Charles narrowed his eyes and pressed further.

"That's right," Jeanne smiled at him. "But you'll have to find out her true identity for yourself if you wish to know."

"Can you at least give me a hint on her true identity?" Charles asked. "It will be a lot less difficult once I have a hint on who she is."

"Hmm…" Jeanne said placing a finger on her chin and paused for a moment. "D'Eon knows her…"

"…That's it?" Charles asked.

"Yes, you'll just have to figure that one out for yourself."

"Right like that will be easy." Charles rolled his eyes and quietly walked off with Abigail going after him.

"You think he'll figure it out?" D'Eon said walking towards Jeanne who saw the whole thing unfold.

"That depends," Jeanne told her. "If you wish to tell him or just wait for him to learn."

"You want to help me in finding her?" Charles asked in surprise, D'Eon out of nowhere decided to approach him.

"That's right," D'Eon said. "I told her a-and decided to wish to meet you for dinner tonight."

"Really? Thank you so much!" Charles said his eyes brightened up, placing both of his hands on D'Eon, seeing the moment of happiness in his eyes D'Eon couldn't help but blush at the smile that grew in his face.

"I—She'll meet up with you at," D'Eon paused for a moment, and saw a private booth in the corner and pointed towards it. "There she had a table reservation for two there tonight, she couldn't tell you all this cause she's a bit shy…"

"Alright I'll look forward to tonight," Charles smiled excitedly, and with that, he walked away. As soon as he was gone D'Eon sat on a nearby chair and felt her face grew warm as she realized what she had done.

"I think I'll need help for this." She muttered, she then turned to Marie and Jeanne, who was observing the whole thing. "Can you two help me prepare for tonight."

"Of course," Jeanne smiled at her.

"Provided we get to watch from a distance." Marie giggled at the idea.

Charles Henri Sanson gave himself one more look at himself at the mirror, he wore a formal white dress shirt under a waistcoat and black slacks. He was certainly prepared and excited for tonight.

"Are you ready for tonight father?" Abigail looked at him as she sat and read a book.

"Yes I'm actually excited in meeting this woman," Charles pressed a hand on his chest and felt his heart beating fast. "I'm nervous as well in how this would result."

"You'll do fine father," Abigail smiled at him and handed him a small rose. "For good luck."

Charles smiled as he saw the flower, he then placed it in his pocket and affectionately ruffled Abigail's hair. "Thank you."

Charles then made his way into Salon de Marie, and immediately made a beeline towards the aforementioned table, and saw a woman already sitting there, the her blond hair fell gracefully down her shoulders once more, on her hands was Amadeus' mask. This prompted Charles to walk closer towards her, but as soon as he approached the table he slightly froze.

The woman before him was yes familiar, her blond hair had started losing the curls from the other night and was slightly straighter than before, she wore simple white and blue dress that reached up to her ankles her meek smile and the gentle blush in her cheeks made her more angelic in his eyes.

"D'Eon…" Charles muttered in a mild shock as they two locked eyes with one another.

"Hello Charles," D'Eon said as her blush deepened. "My name is Charles-Geneviève-Louis-Auguste-André-Timothée d'Éon de Beaumont or simply Le Chevalier d'Eon, you also know me as Elise…"

"I knew you were somewhat familiar from that night." Charles, now recovering his composure, approached her with a smile. "To think you wore his mask that night, I can imagine you being more beautiful if you didn't wore the mask."

Charles chuckled and shook his head. "But where are my manners my name is Charles Henri Sanson, it is an honor to meet such a beautiful woman such as you."

He walked towards her and kissed her hand and went to his seat while he slowly let go of her hand and took his seat.

"To think the one I've been looking for the whole time was just right next to me," Charles mused for a moment as the two gazed at one another.

"A little cliché yes but it's sweet in its own little way don't you think?" D'Eon spoke back.