Chapter Text
-Ten Years Later-
Corinne sat on a blanket on the manor lawn, enjoying the cool breeze. Summer was in full swing making staying indoors on days such as these impossible and picnic luncheons a common endeavor. She watched with eyes like a hawk as Louis and their daughter stood several feet in front of her, both with swords in their hands.
"Be careful!" She called out. "Not too rough!"
Louis nodded and the two slowly began to fence.
At age nine, Cécile was the spitting image of her father, from the chestnut curls to the crooked muscles in her cheek. Louis had agonized for weeks after her birth for passing on even a small part of his deformity, claiming he had ruined their sweet little girl. Corinne had been to exhausted to deal with his tantrum and took the time to bond with her daughter. It was only after she found his study destroyed that she sat him down and placed Cécile in his arms, stating fiercely that she was perfect. One smile was all it took and Louis was wrapped around her little finger. He couldn't deny her anything. When she'd heard the story of how her parents met, slightly edited of course, she begged Louis to teach her how to fight too. Corinne agreed so long as he promised to be patient and gentle, and so her lessons began. Cécile was a gifted fenced and talked often about joining the musketeers when she was old enough, just like her aunt Aramina.
"Give up, papa. You cannot defeat me, for I am a musketeer!"
"Ahh, but you forget, ma petit, I have defeated several musketeers," he teased.
Cécile giggled. "I know. But not like this!" She dropped her sword and ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck. Louis stumbled back and they fell into the grass.
"All right," he laughed. "You win."
"Me too, papa! Me too!" Alexandre climbed off Corinne's lap and toddled towards his sister and father.
With his golden locks and bright blue eyes, Alexandre looked more like his mother than Cécile did. A small patch of pale, twisted skin behind his ear assured he inherited something from Louis other than his wild temper. He had just turned three the previous month and already decided he was going to be exactly like his papa. Corinne would often find him seated on Louis' lap trying to read a book upside down while her husband worked.
It warmed her heart to see Louis interact so lovingly with their children. Right from the start he had been convinced that any child, even his own, would be terrified of him and hate him. But with plenty of coaxing and Corinne's rule that his mask wasn't to be worn in their home, Cécile and Alexandre saw nothing wrong with their papa and were actually more afraid of the unfamiliar mask he donned whenever they traveled into the city for council meetings.
The Paris Council consisted of five members who met on a monthly basis to decide the future of all France. Each of the men were handpicked by the king himself. Louis tried several times to resign his seat on the council, but the king wouldn't allow it. He had to see his grandchildren somehow, he would say and then laugh. Corinne was glad that Louis was accepted back at the palace with such ease. Of course, there was some talk, but that was to be expected. She simply didn't let it bother her.
"Ma chére," Louis' voice pulled her from that thoughts. "Join us." He lay back in the grass, Cécile and Alexandre snuggled up to either side of him. Corinne smiled and walked over to them. Alexandre climbed onto his papa's chest to make room for his mama, and she tucked herself into Louis' side. Every once in a while, she wondered what her life would be like if she had accepted the king's offer to make her a musketeer. It wasn't often she thought that way. Sometimes it would creep up on a sleepless night or maybe if she was angry at Louis.
His arm wrapped around her shoulders and her mind quieted. If being a musketeer meant giving this moment up, she would refuse it again in a heartbeat. She loved her little family more than anything. Louis captured her lips in a slow kiss. No, she wouldn't trade this for anything. This was perfect.