Here is Koishi Magna's entry. Thanks for getting it in on time!! ^_^
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NAME: Monique de Champlain
Snow was unusual for a November evening in France, but 1622 had not been a usual year, at least Monique de Champlain felt that way. This year, not yet eighteen years of age, she had become the fiancée of the celebrated sea captain Rodrigo Oliveiro de Sousa. Despite the gloomy weather outside, her father’s home tonight was warmed by a bright fire in the hearth and convivial company in the salon. She and the captain conversed with her father and brother, French and Portuguese flowing effortlessly among them.
The salon at Maison de Champlain was like an art gallery with chairs upholstered in the finest leathers arranged to view clocks and Venetian vases and candelabra and, particularly, the virginal: a rare and magnificent keyboard instrument imported from Antwerp. A dozen paintings hung on the clean plaster walls.
Monique’s father had earned his fortune in Lisbon, living there with his young family until Monique was eight, establishing himself as a spice broker with Portuguese traders for the sale of pepper, cloves, nutmeg and more throughout France. The pre-eminence of Le Courtage de Champlain had stood for more than twenty years without a close rival. Today, however, times were not as good for Champlain: abroad, the Dutch were beginning to poke holes in the Portuguese monopolies.
As always, since her mother’s death four years ago, Monique acted as the hostess. Since the age of thirteen she had been the mistress of the keys, in charge of the pantry, the servants and the budget. She managed every detail that made her father’s life pleasant. Preoccupied with his own quest to experience artistic beauty, her elder brother, Luc-Henri, was merely glad that someone capable was seeing to it that the table was set with fine food and his bed was made with fine linens and he always had a clean shirt to wear.
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To read more, please visit this link, I STRONGLY URGE YOU ALL TO READ IT, IT IS AN EXCELLENT STORY, WELL
WRITTEN AND BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED!
BEAUTIFUL JOB!
AND TO THOSE OF YOU STILL NEEDING TO GET ENTRIES IN, GET THOSE BLODDY ARTWORKS IN!!!!!!!!!
Feature: 03/07/09 | Posted By: Mad Hatter Belia | 0 comments | Original Anime and Manga
