Armand de Gramont

Armand de Gramont is a casual love interest in the book Vying for Versailles.

About Armand[]

Armand de Gramont is the Count of Guiche and part of Prince Philippe's retinue. Renée meets him in a small village before she joins the Sun Court.

Similar to others in the Prince's household, Armand has more than one lover. He cares a lot about his sister Catherine and confides in Renée that he's worried about Catherine making too many enemies and being made into a pawn by Henrietta of England. Armand comes across as reserved and is describes by Renée as "an oyster on the outside but tender and gleaming inside". He is also shown to be very loyal not only to his king but to his friends and lovers as well.

After Henrietta is discovered to be a traitor and gets exiled back to England, Armand misses his former lover and starts writing her secret letters, wondering about her wellbeing. One of the letters gets intercepted by Renées informant on the way out from Versailles and she confronts him about it. Armand admits that while he doesn’t like what Henrietta did, he doesn’t blame her. He then asks Renée to keep the letters a secret, assuring her that he had no treasonous intent in mind.

Later, Armand starts courting Louise de la Valliere, Louis' ex-lover who got sent away after becoming pregnant. Armand calls her a sweet and kind woman that deserves better than what she got and brings toys for her eldest child. As it turns out, he's trying to convince her to reconnect with the King and claim her title as his Official Mistress.

Relationships[]

Renée de Noailles: Friend or casual Love Interest
Catherine de Gramont: Sister
Prince Philippe: Friend, lover
Chevalier Philippe: Friend, possibly lover
Henrietta: Friend, lover
Louise de la Valliere: Friend

Quotes[]

"Let me only say that my pleasure is in pleasing others." (S1, Ep3)
"I like that I can be quiet with you." (S1, Ep9)
"You are as wise as you are beautiful." (S2, Ep5)
"I could never feel for Louise what I feel for you. You have a brilliance to you, a clever brightness. It's hard to explain, but it's scintillating." (S2, Ep9)

Trivia[]

He likes to play a card game called Ambigu.
If the player agrees to help Henrietta and sends Catherine to talk to the King, Armand challenges Louis to a duel because he wants to protect his sister and feels like an affair with the King would put her in danger. Depending on your choices, the duel will either be averted, or Armand loses to the Louis and gets his cheek cut.
The author has stated that Armand's astrological sign would be Capricorn ♑.^[1]
The author has stated that if Armand was an animal, he would be a hedgehog.^[1]

Romance path[]

Armand is a casual Love Interest and won't end up with the player at the end of the story. However, it is possible to date him while persuing one of the end-game Love Interests. If you choose to have a fling with him, you can't date his sister Catherine at the same time.

Some options will only be available to you if you have chosen previous romantic scenes with Armand or if your relationship with him is good enough. To get all of Armand's scenes until the end of the story, it is recommended to romance Prince Philippe. Relationship choices leading to an intimate scene are marked with a 💖 symbol.

Season 1:

Ep 1 · Valuables of Versailles

(Settle the horse and save the man.) (💎18) [❗ Your relationships with Catherine, Armand, and Alexandre improved.]
(I’ll laugh like I know who they mean.) [❗ Catherine and Armand appreciate your willingness to laugh.]

Ep 2 · Glory to the Sun King

Prince Philippe de France's retinue 🧡

Ep 3 · Curtsy for the King

(Help Armand and Catherine bring the Prince home.) (💎50)
(I’ll walk Armand to his room.) [❗ Your relationship with Armand has improved.]
- 💖 (Yes, please.)
Prince Philippe 🧡
- (Discuss philosophy.) (💎10) [❗ Your relationships with Prince Philippe and his retinue grow stronger.]

Ep 4 · Sweetly Scented Nights

(Armand.) (💎29)
- 💖 (Kiss Armand.)

Ep 6 · Spearing the White Elephant

(Look for a fling.) (💎27)
- Armand.
  - 💖 ...go to bed with me? (Sex scene)

Ep 7 · Bite of the Dog

I like it. OR It seems important. OR It feels smart. [❗ Your friendship improves.]

Ep 9 · A Bird in the Bush

(Go boating.) (💎156)
- (Armand.) [❗Your relationship with Armand improves.]
- Climb rigging with Armand [❗Armand appreciates your acceptance.]
- 💖 Sneak a kiss
  - (Armand.)

Ep 10 · Beneath the Velvet Cloak

If Prince Philippe is your LI: (Confess love.)/(Confess feelings.)/(Focus on physical attraction.)
- (Ask to be open.)
- 💖 (Be intimate, stay together.) (💎28)
- (Invite a lover.) (💎23)
  - (Armand.)
[❗Your strongest friendship at court is with Armand.]

Season 2:

Ep 1 · The Infanta and the Dauphin

(Armand.) [❗Your relationship with Armand strengthens.]
(Ride with someone.) (💎22)
- Armand [❗Your relationship with Armand strengthens.]

Ep 3 · Silencing the Evening

Armand [❗Your relationship with Armand strengthens.]

Ep 4 · Tears to the River God

Yes. (You only see this choice if you're talking to Armand in your room.)
Armand
- (Ask him.)

Ep 6 · Needles under the Nail

(Attend Prince Philippe's party.) [+1 Hedonism 🍷]
(Linger...)
- 💖 (Armand.) (💎33) [Sex scene] OR (Armand and Prince Philippe.) (💎53) [Sex scene] [CG unlocked]

Ep 7 · Embracing a Whisper

(Confront Armand directly.) (💎20) [❗Your relationship with Armand strengthens.]

Ep 8 · A Turn in the Darkness

(Catherine and Armand's.) [❗Catherine and Armand are happy to see you.]

Ep 9 · Behind the Mask

(Help him.) (💎10) [❗Your relationship with Armand strengthens.] OR (Bid him good luck.) [❗Your relationship with Armand strengthens.] (Only available if you are not romancing Louis XIV)
(Ask Louise to return.)
[❗Your friendship is strongest with Armand.]
💖 (Sneak a kiss with Armand.) [❗Your relationship with Armand intensifies.]

Season 3:

Ep 1 · Loose the Hawks

❗ Your friendship is strongest with Armand.

Ep 3 · Baying of the Hounds

(Advocate for the Prince.)
💖 (Stay.) (💎100) (CG unlocked) (Sex scene with Philippe, Armand and the Chevalier.)

Ep 10 · The Blessing of the Sun King

💖 I know where we'll be, five years from now... (💎50)
- Didn't you say Armand is visiting this afternoon? (CG unlocked) (Sex scene including Armand)

Possible endings[]

Armand and his sister Catherine still split their time between the court and Monaco, causing just the right amount of scandal, mischief, and mirth. If Renée ends up with Prince Philippe and they agreed on an open relationship, the couple will invite Armand to join their intimate moments from time to time.