Character design: Lady Oscar
First of all, I want to clarify that this is not my fanfic; it belongs to @mk8-fic-writer .I just wanted to create this illustration because I'm loving the story so much! Personally, this is one of my favorite RoV fanfics, so I highly recommend it👌✨️
Now, let’s talk about the design! I wanted to draw an entire scene (which is still a work in progress, btw 👀), but I decided to create this concept art first. It was actually pretty hard to choose a style; I love drawing in a semi-realistic style, but anime and manga are easier for me, so I decided to combine both! ✏️
In this story, one of the things I love most is that both André and Oscar have military careers at the same time. In the canon, André only joins the military because the General asks him to in order to protect Oscar. But in this story, they are married! So, while Oscar is the Commander of the Royal Guard, André is the Commander of the French Guard.
Technically, this means Oscar’s uniform is red while André’s is blue. But honestly, I prefer the design of Oscar’s blue uniform, so I combined them once again! hahaha 👀💖
I don't want to give away too many spoilers, BUT... after chapter 12, Oscar is in no condition to wear a uniform. She has to wear dresses instead, and I think that was the most difficult yet fun part to draw! I love designing dresses, but it was a challenge because the design had to be easy to wear (since Oscar is injured at this point).
Since she can’t wear a tight corset, the dress still needs to reflect her noble status without looking like sleepwear. I decided to create two different designs.
The middle one (which is the one I’ll be using for the scene illustrations) is a romantic dress. I tried my best to design it exactly as described in Chapter 13 focuses on a more relaxed silhouette, using flowing fabrics that allow her to move comfortably despite her injuries:
"The gown is white and flowing, soft as a breath, made of fine silk that falls easily around her. Light frills skim her shape, and a single silk ribbon ties just under her bust, letting the dress drape gently without pressing on her bandages"
As I mentioned, she is injured, so she needs something lightweight, easy to move in, and elegant. The same goes for her shoes! I couldn't imagine Oscar wearing heels in this state, so flat shoes were the best option.
When she walks in this dress, the fabric has so much fluidity that it almost looks angelic, fitting André's description when he saw her (after leaving her because he thought Fersen was better than him... WHAT IN THE WORLD 🫠):
“Oscar?” he whispers to himself. The name cracks the silence like a gunshot. For a heartbeat, he honestly wonders if he’s finally died of a broken heart and this is just the welcoming committee in heaven.
Now, talking about the second option: I wanted to create another interpretation of the dress but with less movement. The problem is, I don't think this design really feels like Oscar; she looks more like Rosalie in it.
Also, the fabric around the waist might be uncomfortable for her injuries. I tried moving the waistline up to just above the chest, but... ugh, I wasn't convinced! However, I really love the skirt; I think it fits the original description of her clothes in this chapter perfectly, even if the fabric doesn't have as much movement as the first one.
I'm so excited to create more illustrations for this story! Next, I’m going to work on André's concept art, featuring both his everyday clothes and his uniform. I have some ideas for the uniform inspired by Alain's design in 'The Glory of Napoleon' — I love that aesthetic! ✏️✨
Compared to Oscar’s uniform, this design is much simpler. Even though André is married to Oscar in this fic, he is still not a nobleman and doesn't change his status after the wedding. So, it makes sense that his uniform isn't as decorated as Oscar’s.
I even drew them in these outfits! This is just a concept that I still need to clean up, so stay tuned! 👀✏️
Finally, I want to thank @mk8-fic-writer for letting me draw them! Even though Oscar and André are free for anyone to draw, these versions belong to your fic. I took the descriptions from your chapters and tried to bring them to life; I'm having more fun than you can imagine! Thank you for this wonderful story! 🥹💖
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! What do you think of the designs? Do you like them? 👀
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