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

…

Chapter 10

Oscar and Angélique arrived at the castle and met Granny in the hallway.

An: "Granny, do you perhaps know if Amber's back already?"

G: "Yes she is! She came home about half an hour ago."

O: "And where is she now?"

G: "In her room."

Oscar went to knock on Amber's door and entered.

Am: "Oh, look! The tomboy of the family is coming to pay me a visit."

O: "Could we talk alone for a few minutes?"

Am: "Of course! Take a seat!"

They sat down at one of the little tables in the room.

Am: "So what did you wanted to say to me?"

O: "…I'm giving up!"

Am: "What?"

O: "I'm not faking anymore! I've had enough of this competition between us. You were right all along: André and me, we've never been lovers to begin with. I've only said so because you had pushed me too much and I've told you and the others it was him, so it would be more credible. I've asked André to play along afterwards. But now that's all over! I can't fake it anymore. You've won."

Am: "…It's not like you to declare so openly you've lost. What happening here?"

O: "I've played with fire, and I've burnt myself. I've fallen in love with André for real, and I can no longer act as if our relationship is nothing more than a pure fairytale."

Am: "You love him?"

O: "More than anything else on this world. I've never felt this way before for someone. He's the only one that matters to me. You understand? No, of course you don't! You, who always has all the men at your feet…"

Am: "I understand better than anyone else! I know how it feels to love someone by a pure, absolute love." Amber admitted.

O: "What do you mean?"

Am: "I had fallen deeply in love with someone when I was 18 years old. I was already married by then. He was my first love, and the cousin of my husband. We have passionately loved each other during 3 long years."

O: "What happened?"

Am: "…He left me for someone else. He used me, and then just threw me away. He had made so much beautiful promises to me, but they were nothing but lies. Since that day, I've sworn to myself that I would never fall in love again, and I've started collecting lovers. I use them and then abandon them, just as I have been abandoned. Up until now, no man has ever resisted me, except for André."

O: "…"

Am: "Maybe I should excuse myself. We've never been very close as sisters, but I do feel some respect towards you, even if I've hated you for a long time."

O: "Why?"

Am: "When you were born, I was only 2 years old and since you were there, it was decided I would be raised by a nanny in one of the other mansions in our possession, to prevent me from having a female influence on you. Father has never thought about anything else than your career, and has never had eyes for me. He never paid attention to me, and I was wanted to have what you had. That longing had transformed into jealousy and hatred… You can't imagine how lucky you were compared to us, your sisters."

O: "…"

Am: "You may have had to behave as a man, but you had a 100 times more freedom than we have… I've never had the life I wished for: when I was little, I wanted to travel. And in the end, the only thing I got was a marriage at age 15, with a man aged 50. I received my first kiss at the altar. My first time had place during my honeymoon, and it was more a rape than an unforgettable, magical moment. Once he had gotten me pregnant, and I had given him an heir, he left me alone. Now he's stealing the virginity of girls younger than me. I don't even see my children anymore. I'm not able to raise them myself, because I can't stand it they resemble their father so much. I'm wasting money on jewelry and elegant dresses. I seduce men and sleep with them as a whore would. They don't pay me, but give me loads of expensive presents, and to finish it all, Father absolutely despises me since he heard about my adventures outside marriage. I'm the shame of my family. I know it very well, but I don't care about it. Angélique and Hortense have been lucky to have fallen in love with their husbands, and Marianne and Morgane have been more discreet then I've been. And you, you are the little favorite. Father loves you, and has only eyes for you. I know that's not your fault, but it's stronger than me, I wanted to take my revenge. I wanted you to suffer as much as I did. Please forgive me!"

Amber had confessed everything and had started crying. In the meantime, Oscar, she was completely petrified to hear such a sad story.

O: "I didn't had any idea."

Am: "…I'm sorry to have hurt you."

O: "I'm sorry as well."

Am: "Why? I'm the evil one here."

O: "But I'm so sorry I didn't see to what point you were suffering."

Oscar took Amber in her arms. Finally, after so many years of rivalry, they had made up.

Am: "Good. Now, go talk to André."

O: "Why are you so sure I haven't done that already?"

Am: "You're still my little sister, aren't you? So, even if we don't like each other very much, I still know you. Maybe not by heart, as André does, but I do know you."

O: "…"

Am: "Now go! Don't waste any time anymore!"

O: "Yes, you're right."

Oscar wanted to leave, but Amber stopped her.

Am: "Oscar!"

O: "Yes?"

Am: "You should know, the first time is always impressive, but don't let fear take over. André will know how to lead."

O: "How do you know th…"

Am: "Female intuition. And don't forget, the morning after you have two choices: you'll wake up extremely disgusted, or you're feel as if you've reached heaven. Make sure it will be the second option for you."

O: "I will!"

Oscar left, and went to search for André.

…

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.