Chapter Two: Fifteen Years Later...
Fifteen years later, daily life in the charming little village of Brocéliande seemed to be quite normal.
But all was not as it appeared.
Many years ago, an impoverished artist had arrived from Paris with a young child, but no wife, causing no end of gossip in the small town.
Now, as 21 year old Christine Daaé went about doing her chores, she found herself longing for a taste of adventure outside of her books.
"Good morning, Monsieur Armand!" she called out cheerfully to the village cobbler, who was currently standing outside his workshop, scratching his balding head in confusion.
"Have you lost something again?"
Monsieur Armand frowned distractedly.
"Why yes," he answered, "I do believe I have. Only problem is, I can't remember what!"
Shaking her head in fond amusement, Christine continued on her way, painfully aware, as she did so, of the other villagers' shameless gossip about her habits.
Rolling her eyes, she stepped into the small library owned by the local priest, Father Jean-Pierre Mansart.
"Good morning, Père!" she greeted the kindly priest warmly.
"Bonjour, Christine," the aging man smiled kindly.
"Have you come for a new book?"
Christine merely smiled in response, before going over to the shelves.
After a few minutes, she pulled out a small cloth-bound book.
"I'll take this one, please!" she said.
Father Mansart let out a loud, bellowing laugh.
"That one? But, my child, you've already read it five times!"
Christine looked offended.
"Well it's my favorite!" she protested.
"Two star-crossed lovers from feuding families, one is betrothed to another against her will..."
She broke off, sighing dreamily.
"Tres romantique!"
The priest chuckled.
"Well, if you like it all that much, it's yours!"
Christine stared at him in shock.
"But, Père..." she stammered in astonishment.
"I couldn't possibly..."
"I insist!" the priest said firmly, and Christine laughed in delight.
"Well, thank you! Thank you very much!"
Exiting the library, she entered the village square where she took a seat on the edge of a large fountain and opened her new book.
"Two households, both alike in dignity.
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene..."
Suddenly a large shadow fell over her and Christine looked up to see the arrogant smirk of 23 year old Raoul de Chagny.
Immediately, her heart sank.
Raoul was the son of the Comte Louis-Antoine de Chagny, who had moved to Brocéliande three years before, and ever since meeting Christine a mere two weeks after his arrival, had been hounding her relentlessly to marry him.
She shuddered internally in revulsion, but plastered a false smile on her face, flawlessly masking her emotions.
"Bonjour, Vicomte," she greeted him politely as she stood up and began walking back home.
"What a pleasant surprise..."
'Please go away!' she begged internally.
But it seemed that she was to be disappointed as Raoul began boasting about his family's wealth, and how he was due to inherit everything upon his father's death as the eldest son, seeing as how his elder brother, Philippe, had died from the Plague at the age of 13, and how he could therefore afford to buy her almost anything her heart desired, if only she would agree to marry him.
Finally she was home, and practically running up the front steps after Raoul tried to steal a kiss, she slammed the door behind her and made sure it was securely locked before breathing a sigh of relief.
Free at last...for now.
A/N: Please review to unlock Chapter Three...