In July 1724, on the 10-year anniversary of the curse, Addie walks through the streets of Paris dressed in men’s clothing. She has not seen Luc since the dinner they shared at the nobles’ house. Rather than expect his arrival, Addie will spend this anniversary by having a picnic of meat, cheese, and honey, alone at the top of Notre Dame cathedral.

A young man runs into her, causing her to drop and break the jar of honey. Though Addie is initially furious, her tone softens when she sees the man is fair and gentle. Having seen through her ruse, the man invites her to a café. As Addie tries coffee for the first time, the man introduces himself as Remy Laurent. Suddenly, Remy chokes on his coffee, his face flushed. He is startled because the famous French author Voltaire has entered the café.

When Remy says this is what he loves about Paris, he reveals that like Addie he hails from a small village in the French countryside. Unlike Addie, however, Remy is a man and therefore was not expected to marry and settle down for the good of his village. Moreover, he was afforded the privilege of education, while Addie still cannot read.