[A curtsy. Quick, head down, before you hear his derisive snort.]
"Our decision on this matter was final, Mademoiselle Lia. What did we leave unclear?"
"Nothing, Your Majesty. I simply wondered if you would have your half sister bear a bastard in your Court."
[It is a gamble. Not the proper way to tell His Majesty, of course. You do not want this. Deep down it is crushing you. But you might as well get something you want out of it.]
"If Maximilien were to remain in France, I could marry him. My name need not be tarnished. My family name need not suffer a blow."
[He is furious. You have mentioned your parentage. You have mentioned your lover. You have gone against his orders. And you are with child. For a moment he looks as though he will strike you, but he simply turns his back. You hear your heart pounding in your chest.]
"Marry him, then. We have no more objection but we request you retire to your home and join us in Court only after this...issue has been resolved. He will go to Russia as we decreed."
[It is more than you hoped for, but you must question.]
"Resolved how, Your Majesty?"
[His gaze is cold. You are his Knight. You are his loyal subject. Surely he wouldn't punish you for something so trivial. He is threatened by this pregnancy; that's clear enough. But you're a bastard. You will never claim the King's bloodline. Your child could never rule and the father of it is a foreigner.]
"We are not one to consult on such matters. Tell no one of your condition and do not bring your bastard to our Court if it is born. If you were to be able to travel in the time of two months, we may have an assignment for you to take you close to Maximilien Robespierre. Think on it. You are dismissed, Lady Lia."
[You rise and curtsy gracefully. You've been given much to consider, and you need to say your prayers for the afternoon.]