The trips back and forth between Orlais and Skyhold were beginning to tire Jacquelyn a bit. She loved Orlais, and she wished that she could simply stay in Val Royeaux, but she also recognised her duty as Inquisitor. That didn't mean to say that she wasn't going to miss the long journeys between the two once the business with the House of Repose and raising the Du Paraquettes to nobility was over with. Jacquelyn hoped that their goal was almost achieved as she stepped towards the residence of Minister Bellise, leaving behind her entourage at the gate. Josephine had done well to secure an invitation to the party that the another Orlesian noble, the Marquis Wiscotte, was holding, though Jacquelyn knew she wouldn't be attending for long. She could only afford to be there for long enough to speak with Bellise and organise the paperwork for the Du Paraquettes, and then she would have to return to Skyhold and her duties as Inquisitor once more.
Bellise descended the steps from her abode to greet Jacquelyn, leaving the festivities behind her. At least, Jacquelyn assumed it was her. She wore the same mask and similar dress to what almost every other Orlesian noble was wearing. But she was the only one who stepped forward to greet Jacquelyn, a couple of guards standing behind her. Jacquelyn assumed someone had been sent to find Bellise as soon as she arrived.
"Thank you for seeing me in Private, Minister Bellise," Jacquelyn greeted, bowing to the Orlesian noble.
"I'd chastise you for taking me from the party, Inquisitor, but the Marquis throws such dull affairs, it's hardly worth it."
A small smile tugged at the corner of Jacquelyn's mouth, finding herself slightly amused by the Minister. Minister Bellise continued towards Jacquelyn, setting herself straight to business.
"I assume you wish to discuss your petition to elevate the Du Paraquettes to a minor lordship. Tell me: why should I allow you to pollute the Orlesian nobility any further than it's already been muddled?"
"It would hardly be polluting the Orlesian nobility further than it is, as you put it," Jacquelyn answered. "The Du Paraquettes today may have fallen from their position among nobility, but they were once a noble family. You would be restoring an old house of Orlais."
Bellise scoffed, shaking her head slightly. Jacquelyn could hear contempt in her voice when she spoke.
"Restoring it far too late. What are the Du Paraquettes now, traders? Farmers? Really, it is too much. The very thought causes me pain."
Jacquelyn didn't quite agree with Bellise on this point. She didn't see much point in keeping nobility as 'pure' as some would have it. There were enough affairs going on as it was, there was no guarantee that any child born into a noble family was from two noble parents. So why bother to make a big deal of it? But she also understood that there was no reasoning with some people about a matter such as this one. Not with logic such as that, anyway.
"What can you possibly provide that will make your petition worth my effort?" Bellise asked.
"Diplomatic connections that extend far beyond the boundaries of Val Royeaux, perhaps?" Jacquelyn suggested. Josephine was the one who wanted to deal with the contract on her head by raising the Du Paraquettes to nobility, so she figured that the ambassador could be the one to deal with Bellise further.
The idea seemed to amuse Bellise.
"Hmm. I might make use of your ambassador. The Montilyets aren't what they were, but at least they are from proper stock," she made eye contact with Jacquelyn, her chin raised slightly. "Arrange for me to be introduced to the court of Antiva. I hear winter is most pleasant by their sea."
"Consider it done," Jacquelyn agreed, taking a mental note to discuss it with Josephine.
"Very well, Inquisitor. Should you fulfil your bargain, I shall…" Bellise heaved a heavy, somewhat reluctant sigh, "raise the Du Paraquettes into lordship."
"Thank you, Minister, "Jacquelyn bowed, receiving a small nod in return, and the two women went their separate ways.
Thankfully, Josephine could arrange everything she needed to from Val Royeaux, sending letters to her contacts in Antiva so Bellise would be satisfied and sort the paperwork for the Du Paraquettes to once more be a noble house of Orlais. Jacquelyn enjoyed a few days of comparative peace around the city while she waited to be notified that everything was sorted, though she stayed close to Josephine in case the ambassador needed protection from the House of Repose.
Josephine was waiting by the docks not too long after Jacquelyn's meeting with Bellise. Jacquelyn calmly walked over to her, leaning on the railing next to her.
"I received a letter from the House of Repose, your Worship," Josephine said. Jacquelyn was beginning to put together that the woman wasn't the biggest fan of greetings if there were more important matters to discuss.
"And?" Jacquelyn prompted. "Is it good news?"
"They acknowledge their contract is null and void. There is no longer a price on my life."
"I am glad," Jacquelyn smiled at Josephine, noticing the relief on the woman's face and in her voice. "I am pleased you no longer have to live your life looking over your shoulder."
"I regret that we had to deal with them. That you were endangered by my part in the Game."
"I have always been a part of the game, Josephine. I may not be Orlesian, but I do have some Orlesian roots. I was more concerned for your safety. I was not the target this time."
"Even so," Josephine frowned slightly, pausing for a moment. "Did I ever mention I used to be a bard?"
"Like Leliana?" Jacquelyn seemed surprised. "You do not seem the type."
"I'm not," Josephine agreed. "I was attending university in Val Royeaux when I first learned about bards. There was such an air of romance about them! Stories of secrets, trysts, and fascinating people. A group of us, young gentry from Antiva, decided this exciting life was for us."
"I cannot imagine that many first born heirs join those ranks."
"No," Josephine admitted, hanging her head. "I was a rather foolish exception."
"What happened?" Jacquelyn asked gently, realising that something bad must have happened for Josephine to go from being a bard to becoming an ambassador.
"During one particular intrigue," Josephine started, looking at Jacquelyn and folding her arms across her chest, "I encountered a bard sent to kill my patron. We fought. Or perhaps scrapped is the better word. Both of us terrified. We were at the top of a steep flight of stairs. The other bard drew a knife, and I pushed him away from me… you can imagine the result."
Josephine was once again looking away, a quietly upset look on her face. Jacquelyn leaned her head to the side slightly, regarding her ambassador closely.
"You were only defending yourself. If you had not, then you would not be here today."
"But it was such a waste, Inquisitor! When I took off his mask, I knew him. We'd attended parties together. If It'd stopped to reason, if I'd used my voice instead of scuffling like a common thug… I'll always wonder who that young man would have grown into."
"Regrets will get you nowhere, Josephine. It is in the past. There is no guarantee that he would have listened if you had used your words," Jacquelyn tried to point out as gently as she could. "It sounds as though he was willing enough to murder you as a part of the game."
"Perhaps," Josephine agreed. "I feel I'm the last to judge whether or not he would have actually used the blade. In all the commotion… forgive me. I do not believe I ever thanked you for helping me with this."
"You do not need to thank me, Josephine. What matters now is that you are safe. And now your family is safe, too."
"House Montilyet will always be grateful to you," Josephine told her. Jacquelyn bowed her head slightly, knowing there was nothing she could say to assure Josephine they didn't need to thank her any further.