Oh, love the parallels with old France! I kept on thinking, Marie Antoinette and cake!

Can't wait to see Noire's elusive lover--actually, just can't wait until next Monday! You're so evil, putting out something so good on the most evil day of the week. >\

Oh, yes. Can't forget about meeting Andre, or seeing Ivan and his men's reaction to the fussy nobles and vice versa. I imagine you were going "BWAHAHAHAHA!" while writing it. ^_^