Born to blue collar workers, Marie’s young life was filled with happiness. Despite living in a one room flat, her parents shielded her from the horrors of being poor in Paris and made sure both her, and her sister’s lives were full of laughter and love. When her parents died from the plague, she and her sister were orphaned and homeless at the young ages of 10 and 8, respectively. Found sleeping on the streets, the sisters were brought to live at a convent and Marie’s rose coloured glasses were shattered as she got a real glimpse of the underbelly of Paris. Despite the struggles, she had her sister Colette and together they could accomplish anything. However, Colette died from consumption 3 years into their lives at the convent, leaving Marie completely alone and angry with God. Having only known death in her young life, she may be rough around the edges, but she knows what she wants out of this life. Which is why, when Marguerite Bourgeoys informs her of the opportunity provided by the King to journey to the New World, she takes the chance, hoping that perhaps this is the path God had planned for her and perhaps He will finally allow her some happiness in this life.

Second born of eight siblings, and the eldest daughter, at 16 years of age, Anne is in prime courting territory. Hailing from a long line of farmers, her home was always full of love, however her family struggled financially, weighed down by taxes, too many mouths to feed and many looming dowries. Following a conversation with her father, Anne bravely chooses to move to New France, despite his protestations. Being the strong, and eldest, daughter, she knows that she can help her family more by leaving not only by taking the burden of her dowry off their shoulders, but also using the funds granted by the King to help her family catch up on their taxes, and, in time, by sending money back home to France, once she is more settled. Her father accepts her choice, and together they make plans for her to travel on to her new home. Anne had always dreamed of becoming a wife and mother, not because society demands it of her, but because it’s what she feels she was called to do by God. This becomes her main focus as she enters this new adventure, unfortunately for Anne, her body doesn't necessarily agree with her desires.

As a member of the French Court her life is filled with luxuries and opulence, or it would seem as such to an outside observer. Genevieve feels as though her life is not of her choosing, she is a bird stuck within a gilded age, forced to do as her family wishes, with no regard paid to her own wishes and desires. Despite her protestations, she is betrothed to Pierre the Marquis du Chambor, a man of a higher stature than her own, thus raising not just her rank, but that of her family’s. It would be a formidable match, except for the fact that the man is a certified capital R, Rake, with little concern for his future wife. Genevieve is convinced he does not regard her as a human with any worth, but in fact a prize or chattel, an item in which he owns and will use however he sees fit. After Pierre despoils her, Genevieve raises her concerns about the match, and the man, to her mother but she is met with not just resistance but apathy. It is then that Genevieve decides she can no longer live this life, she escapes her gilded cage in the hopes that whatever is out there, is better than what she left behind.

As the King, Louis lives for opulence, for beautiful things, beautiful women and especially beautiful clothes. He lives for the arts and is himself, a talented dancer, specifically ballet. He demands much of his court, first and foremost, that they always have the interest of France (and him) at the forefront of everything they do, and look good while doing it, which isn’t too difficult, if you ask him. Always one to speak his mind, don’t cross him, he won’t let you forget it.

Marguerite Bourgeoys was born on April 17 1620 in Troyes, France. The daughter of Abraham and Guillemette, she was the seventh of thirteen children.

Wanting to live a life in service, she became part of a sodality, ministering to the poor from outside her local convent when she was just 15 years old. In 1652 she was recruited to lead a school in Ville-Marie, New France, which she accepted. She set sail for the New World in 1653, first landing on Quebec’s shores before settling in in Ville-Marie she set up a congregation and a Mission, where she focused on educating young girls, the poor and children of the local Indigenous.

When the King calls for young women to move to France to help colonize the land, she and her congregation help to both find these women and support them upon their arrival in New France.

Born Marie Guyart in 1599 in Tours, France to a silk merchant. Despite wanting to join the religious life from a young age, she instead was married and had a son. She was widowed fairly young and after continued personal revelations to join the religious order, she entered the Ursuline Convent in 1631, which is when she received her religious name, of which she is now known. Her lifelong goal was to travel to the New World and help with spreading the Christian Creed. Her goals were attained in 1639 when she set sail from Dieppe to Quebec. Upon arrival she established a convent and founded the first school in New France.

As one of the earliest settlers of New France, she is instrumental in helping les filles du roi settle in the New World. Working alongside Marguerite Bourgeouys to help the women find a foothold in their new home before they wed and begin their new lives.

Born in Langres, France in 1606 to a bourgeois family, her father was a prosecutor for the King.

With the support of Anne of France, Queen consort to Louis XII, and the Jesuits she traveled to Quebec in 1641. Along with Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, she continued traveling in New France until they arrived on the island of Montreal in the spring of 1642. Together they founded the new city of Ville-Marie on May 17 of that year.

A nurse by trade, she established the first hospital in the new colony, Hotel-Dieu in 1645. Along with other early settlers, she has helped shape and grow the colony of New France in Ville-Marie. Her friendship with Marguerite Bourgeoys is an essential part of the settling of les filles du roi in Ville-Marie as her hospital serves as some of their first homes in the city.

Born in 1619 in Reims, France, to a family of merchants, Colbert spent his early youth at a Jesuit college before moving on to work for his father. By the time he turned 20, Colbert had a post in the war office, as an inspector of troops before becoming the personal secretary of Le Tellier, the Secretary of War. He worked his way up the ranks within the political world, becoming a member of King Louis’ trusted court. The King appointed Colbert as the intendant of Finances in 1661 and it was within this role that he was responsible for gaining wealth and resources from New France.

Jean Talon was born in Châlons-en-Champagne to Philippe Talon and Anne Marie de Bury, where he was. After studying at the Jesuits' College of Clermont, Talon was employed in a commissariat. His abilities soon became apparent, and when he was 30, he was promoted to the position of Intendant for New France. When an Intendant was needed for the task of bringing the dying New France back to life, Colbert, an administrator of France, thought immediately of Talon and recommended him to the king. Talon's commission is dated March 23, 1665