Hello everyone,

After a long period of thinking, I have decided to leave the management of Versailles today. My partner Ethelred Brougham will join me in this decision. In a time when I am being called not committed enough to the project of Versailles in SL, I must draw a line. I have always been most devoted to Versailles, even when occasionally assisting my darling partner Ethelred with his own project, the Villa Farnese. Although I do not feel as if I should defend myself, I think I am fair in saying I have always been most committed.. I have always done the event schedule, set up for events, helped you with your roles, managed the gossip group, just to name a few examples. However, when being constantly plotted against, conspired against, insulted, and hated by others, for example because of playing Marie-Antoinette, what am I still doing it for? And especially, if such actions are accepted by certain members of our community through petition, then why do I serve this community, which I hold so close to my heart? Do I wish to be a subject of hatred, and to accept meaningless apologies every few months? Or shall I keep my dignity, and walk away? I choose the latter. Therefore, I feel no longer in a state to further serve the Versailles in SL community, and step down from my position in the management.

It has been fun the long period I have been active as manager, but also stressful, and sometimes has driven me absolutely crazy. Nonetheless, I have put a lot of time, love and patience in this project and gotten a lot of satisfaction back from it. I know I will never be able to entirely to forget Versailles in Second Life, the time I have spent here on the sims, the time I have put into the organization of events, discussing roles, the amazing people I have met here (naturally, most particularly my darling partner, Ethelred Brougham) etc. I have had a pleasure helping you all, have always been more than willing to answer your questions, solve your problems and to make sure everyone was having fun! I can guarantee you I have never wished any of you any harm, my best interests have always been with the Versailles in Second Life project. If I have ever, during my period of management, given you the impression I cherish resentment against you as an individual, then let me reassure you I have no such feelings. I have always come to Second Life not with the intention of being involved in drama, or making enemies. On the contrary, I thought it would be a fun way to meet people from all walks of life, from different countries and from different ages! And I think I succeeded in this, I feel as if my friends list has become full with fun friends! As a manager I had the opportunity to meet and speak with many fun people, often being the first to welcome them into our community! I am sorry there must have been moments where things got heated, but after all, I am only human and my first interests have always been with the project. And let me just assure you one more time, if it up to me we are all friends.

Looking back, we have had some fun times! I had the pleasure of organizing many fun things for you. Take for example the modern rococo event, Marie-Antoinette's toilette, couverts, the themed masquerade balls, the King's birthday, Bastille Day, the Christmas ball, the photography competitions, the Artois wedding, the 18th century quiz, various funerals, weddings and many other fun things. Though, my all time favorite was the Halloween, with the maze, the amazing party and the ghost-bots of Palatine and Pompadour! I had a lot of fun working out some roleplay scenario's for you, some more dramatic than others! Ranging from small court intrigues as affairs, to large murder plots. In my defense, there have actually only been two murders and caused by the same person, but there was a larger storyline behind it that was why it might have appeared these might have been more,! Haha, though I admit I might be slightly homicidal :P I admit, there were large pools of blood for dramatic effect, haha. (and often also rain to add to the atmosphere). There's been so much gossip and scandal I can only remember a small part of it!

I still feel setting up 'Les Nouvelles de la Cour' was one of the best ideas I ever had, even though it unfortunately rained a bit less gossip the past period. Furthermore, I set up and executed the concept of the event schedule, which realized that we have an event every day in the week, which are organized by our own, amazing role-players. Before that, we never had so many fun things to go to! I can tell you, despite the occasional stress sometimes, it has always been great fun, and I enjoyed working with all of you on these things. Since it is not just me as an individual who made this fun, it is the fact we all did it together.

The effect of me resigning from my position as manager of Versailles in Second Life is that I shall no longer represent Versailles in Second Life as a manager, and cannot help you any further with questions regarding the roleplay, events, applications, the management, or anything else related to Versailles in Second Life if I as an individual am not directly involved. Of course, I am always more than willing to chat with you, about whatever! I am of course always willing to share some of the knowledge I have gained over the past years with you, and feel free to come to me if you think I might be able to help you out with something. Even though I am no longer a manager, I will still be here for you! I think it is important that roleplayers share the knowledge they have gained with one another.

I thank everyone for the great times, the support and all the opportunities I have had being a manager at Versailles in SL. I have always considered it a special privilege to have spent a large portion of my second life in the service of our community and in fulfilling the tasks that came with that responsibility.

Friendly greetings,
MarieLouise Harcourt & Ethelred Brougham