I arrived home and walked in the door. I had hardly been able to wait this long. It had been two years since I had lost all my family, and the final part of my father's will was to be read. At thirteen, I, Louis XVI, had taken the throne, after my elder brother and father were lost to sickness, my mother to grief. My father had left instructions for me to follow on this day, and so I would. I went to his room, opened his desk drawer, unsealed the envelope, and read the instructions. I read them again. And again. I could hardly believe my eyes. My father had requested that in light of the anniversary of his treaty with Austria, I was to marry Marie Antionette.
I was stunned. Austria was miles away on horse back or carriage which meant days or even weeks of travel. I didn't know what to do. I did want to leave home, it was all I had left of my family, but I couldn't desecrate the memory of my dear father by denying his wishes! Quickly, I wrote to the royal family of Austria, and sent my messenger off with as much haste as possible. A fortnight later, he returned with the reply. Marie Antoinette was to come to France, instead. She became liked by my people, but they tired of her, and bad choices on both our parts led to our capture and execution during the Reign of Terror.
I was stunned. Austria was miles away on horse back or carriage which meant days or even weeks of travel. I didn't know what to do. I did want to leave home, it was all I had left of my family, but I couldn't desecrate the memory of my dear father by denying his wishes! Quickly, I wrote to the royal family of Austria, and sent my messenger off with as much haste as possible. A fortnight later, he returned with the reply. Marie Antoinette was to come to France, instead. She became liked by my people, but they tired of her, and bad choices on both our parts led to our capture and execution during the Reign of Terror.
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