You know, we have all these fics about Treville saving Cardinal-in-distress Richelieu.
But you know what’s shamefully underrepresented in fic and what would be truly exciting and a bit scary? Richelieu using all of his power to save Treville.
“Richelieu’s death left a hole that threatened to swallow the palace, among other things. The nobles’ infighting was only the most visible symptom. Whoever took Richelieu’s seat on the council, and whoever was made First Minister in his place, Treville couldn’t help but feel that he would live a cursed existence.
He’d never imagined Louis would want him to be that person.
Treville would not be the man to ruin what Richelieu had sacrificed his health to build. He would not accept that role. Not on the day Richelieu had been buried.”
Meg's Mumbles 