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In the gilded cage of Versailles, a young Marie Antoinette, felt imprisoned by the strict etiquette, yearning for intellectual comfort amidst a populace burdened by famine and economic woes that fueled the embers of revolution. Along with an arranged marriage to the indifferent Louis XVI, finds an unexpected relief in the charismatic Marquis de Lafayette, a prominent figure of Enlightenment ideals, and emboldened by the American Revolution, returned to France, bringing with him notions of liberty and equality that resonated with the growing unrest. Their forbidden affair blossoms amidst escalating public discontent, fueled by the profound unfairness of the Estates General, where the vast majority of the French population, the Third Estate, bore the brunt of taxation while the privileged First and Second Estates controlled most of the land and paid virtually nothing. At a glittering court ball, Marie Antoinette and Lafayette found an unexpected connection, which was mainly Lafayette blabbering about a new government and Marie nodding and admiring him, igniting a passionate, secret affair that defied the watchful eyes of the court. Initially focused on politics, their conversations soon deepened into a forbidden romance, complicated by Marie Antoinette's devotion to her "royal duties" and Lafayette's commitment to the blooming revolutionary movement. As their secret adventures intensified, the rising risk of exposure loomed, threatening to shatter the fragile monarchy and endanger their lives. Meanwhile, aggravated by economic hardship, the formation of the National Assembly, an assembly advocating for representation based on population, was created, which the other estates opposed due to their hunger for power. When the doors to their meeting hall were locked, the Third Estate, in a pivotal act of defiance, took the Tennis Court Oath, vowing not to dissolve until a constitution was established, a move that King Louis XVI met with an arrest attempt, further intensifying the rise in revolutionary ideals. Whispers of the queen's infidelity also begin to ripple through the court. The act culminates with Lafayette's departure to aid the American colonists, leaving a pregnant Marie Antoinette to face the daunting task of concealing her condition from the public.

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As the queen struggled with finding a way to hide her impending pregnancy. The people of the Third Estate were starting to get restless. After the Tennis Court Oath, King Louis XVI placed military troops outside the Palace of Versailles in order to prevent the potential rise of the third estate. Lafayette was still out in the "New World", and Marie only had so much time before people, especially King Louis XVI, got suspicious. Her belly had begun getting bigger, and she almost plotted on killing the forsaken child, but her heart couldn't bring her to. Meanwhile, outside the palace walls, rumors spread like a fire in a field of dead grass. People were spreading that Marie Antoinette was hiding all the bread for herself, leaving them with the leftover sawdust bread. This enraged the women; they began plotting a way to bring an end to this. They picked up their weapons and enlisted on a march to the Palace of Versailles, heading for Marie Antoinette. When they arrived, they yelled for a consultation with the queen herself, who was barely able to get out of bed; her best friend Duchess of Polignac, was the only other one who knew of the pregnancy, having looked at her and noticed something was off. As Marie waddled slowly around, no clue that people outside wanted her head, the men had plans for themselves as well. After the tennis court oath, under extreme pressure from the Third Estate, King Louis XVI cracked. He established the wanted legislative government, where he was to work with his people instead of against them. They soon found the flaw in Louis XVI; he was weak not only in leadership but in ruling overall. The nobles couldn't handle not being in power for once, so they did what any selfish person would and tried to overthrow them, resulting in the announcement of the execution of King Louis XVI and, of course, his wife. Marquis Lafayette had heard of the news and started worrying for the sake of Marie and his new offspring; he marked the end of winter for his return. Hoping that was enough time for things to settle down in France.

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Marquis had been too late. When he arrived, his assistant excitedly delivered the news of the execution of both King Louis XVI and... Marie Antoinette. His face paled. Maximilien Robespierre had figured out his relation with her and paid him a well-earned visit. He toyed with Lafayette's emotions, playing him for a fool, as he was still in disbelief. Robespierre had deliberately thought out a plan for his new reign, detailing everything he'd do to correct the broken economy of France, restore the people's rights to liberty, equality, and fraternity, his way. "You're going to rule in terror.." spat Lafayette as he stood tall in front of him. "We'll see about that..." With that, Robespierre left with a sinister smirk on his face. Millions, if not billions, died. Lafayette was now in complete denial. Still suffering from the loss, he tried escaping stuck in Austria with the memory of her. Her smile, her flowery, powdered perfume. Marquis remembered it all, but there was nothing he could do but watch. Soon, just like all good and bad things, he watched Robespierre's execution with a smile on his face, as Lafayette saw the same thing Robespierre created, destroy him. "For Marie..." he thought, proudly satisfied. Then came another man, Napoleon Bonaparte. By now, Marquis de Lafayette was in America, helping out again to rid his mind of the past. Napoleon defeated the Directory, two houses, lower, which proposed legislation for the government, and upper, which accepted or vetoed ideas proposed by the lower house, due to a lack of confidence from the people of France in their own government. He saw Napoleon create and destroy many of the things he once associated with France. Napoleon created the Napoleonic code, which simplified French laws, where all male citizens were also granted equal rights under the law, etc. He eliminated the renowned estate system, but also allowed freedom of religion, and restored the centralized old government of France. Napoleon, a big advocate for many strategies, also established better relations with the Pope, sold American territory to fix the debt of France, and increased education. As Napoleon's legacy of dominating Europe, and installing his own rulers in conquered territories. Marquis de Lafayette finally felt at peace with his past decisions, letting it all collect dust in the back of his brain. But never in his heart.

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"Madame Déficit": His Eyes Tell the Whole Story - New York Times

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"Madame Déficit": His Eyes Tell the Whole Story - New York Times