Maiden of Versailles

The Maiden of Versailles (ヴェルサイユの聖女), also called the Holy Woman of Versailles and the Femme Fatale (傾国の女), is a character introduced late in the Toaru Majusu no Index series. She is the true power behind France, and is the twin sister of Elizalina. She allied herself and her country with the Roman Catholic Church and met in battle with the Anglicans in the frozen waters of Dover Strait.

She is one of the most powerful magicians in Europe and has been secretly ruling France but had supposedly been placed under house arrest by the French government and lost all political power. After the end of the World War III, she regained some influence again.

Appearance
Being twins, she shares the same appearance as Elizalina, skin that looks unhealthily pale and sunken eyes. She has long, pale blonde hair, worn back with a headband and with part of the front plaited and tied round the back of her head. She wears a splendid dress mostly made of loose white cloth that is a contrast to her physique.

Background
The Maiden of Versailles is said to be a recent example of women with a special disposition who have repeatedly appeared throughout France's history and greatly affect the course of the nation's history with their mere presence, whether they were good or evil, with historical examples including Joan of Arc and.

British Royal Family Arc
Her existence is first alluded to during this arc, as tensions between the United Kingdom and France grows. As the British Halloween takes place, Second Princess Carissa orders the Knight Leader to have the Knights of England force the military to send a destroyer to Strait of Dover, and from there threaten Versailles, as the woman who possesses the greatest intellect among the group of strategists secretly controlling France from the shadows is hiding there. Later, at the height of the English Civil War, the French president contacts Carissa, stating that they should cooperate regarding the Eurotunnel terrorist attack. Carissa dismisses his desperate attempts at negotiation by revealing she knows of his involvement, ending the call by suggesting that he asks counsel from the Maiden of Versailles.

World War III Arc
In the Battle of the Dover Strait, it is revealed that her house arrest was in fact a ruse to fool her enemies and that she is still in power. She takes advantage of this to invade England, where she fights against the Second Princess Carissa from the United Kingdom.

She later works together with Carissa and Knight Leader to try to defeat Misha Kreutzev. Despite the best efforts of both the Maiden and Carissa, their weapons prove to be incapable of harming the angel, nor can they keep up with the creature's sheer strength and speed. When Misha begins targeting the vulnerable troops of the Russian Army and Academy City, both women move to protect them as English and French troops help evacuate the wounded.

GREMLIN invasion of Tokyo
The Maiden of Versailles is the first representative to arrive for the conference called upon by Roberto Katze in the United Nations Building.

Most of the time, the Maiden sits quietly by herself sipping her tea. When Roberto Katze still doesn't understand the dangers of GREMLIN and the lance of Gungnir, the Maiden takes over Pietro Yogdis' explanation, borrowing the concepts he used in his speech. Here, she says that with the world under the heel of the magic god Othinus, that if she strays from the proper path, no one can tell her that she is doing something wrong.

Later, after Roseline inquires about the origins of the information, Elizard says that she is correct and that the information comes from a spy in GREMLIN. She then says that what matter most is the creation of the lance at Sargasso as it is very dangerous. Roberto doesn't understand and compares it to a nuclear weapon. After the other state heads take turns explaining the danger of the lance of Gungnir, Elizard says that it must be stop before it is finished. Roberto then asks how they will find it, noting the extremely difficulty of such a task in such a short timeframe. Elizard says that it is not impossible, surprising Roseline. Elizard not only gives an example but confides to them that England had a secret transportation network that allowed them to fill the entire world with their magicians. Elizard comments on the Roman Catholic Church and its countless followers, assuming that the Church may have a large scale magic to utilize each member of the Church who is wearing a symbol of their Church. Pietro Yogdis says that he can think of a few but has shut them all down since the dissolution of God's Right and shall never see the light of day so long as he is around. And thus it is revealed that already know the location of Sargasso, apparently waiting for a proper deliberation from all the members of the conference before making a decision. Elizard suggests the use of standard forces comprising of America, Russia, England, and France, while the magical forces however, will be led by England, Rome, Russia, and France, though requiring other countries to double duty. Hearing this, Russia and France readily agreed, with the latter saying that she does not recall having a weak country.

Elizard then asks President Roberto Katze on how much firepower they could use. Roberto answers that since the House of Representatives is still itching for revenge over the invasion of Hawaii, he can get immediate approval from them for an attack on Sargasso. Roberto states that he can officially use the military stationed at four overseas bases in allied nations and if Sargasso is in international waters or the territorial waters of America, the European Union, or any other allied nation, he can have ballistic missiles fired in the name of having a test launch. And though he cannot use any nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons, he can at least have them fill the warhead with bunker clusters. Concerns over straining of the relationships between the countries later arise after Roberto's politically dangerous suggestion, to which he concludes by saying that he'd rather have countries gaining grudges with each other for what they will do than have the world destroyed today. Krans R. Tsarskiy then asks where the Sargasso might be, to which Elizard states may be in the North Sea or the sea near Iceland. And thus begins the Anti-GREMLIN Alliance attack on the North Sea Sargasso. After receiving word of the disastrous mission, the members do not have time to grief over their failure as immediately after they are forced to counter GREMLIN who has begun their move, an invasion of Tokyo.

The alliance have their work cut out for them as GREMLIN puts pressure on their enemies, distributing what people desired to gain in order to prevent their enemies to unite and defeat just like what happened against Fiamma of the Right during World War III. With this, the alliance could not launch a counteroffensive against GREMLIN quickly enough. Roberto chastises a Japanese representative over the phone, asking why they have yet to make a move against GREMLIN, demanding consent that the United States should intervene. After the representative doesn't give a satisfactory response, Roberto ends the call. Elizard says that he should've asked what Academy City intends to do, though Roberto doubts that they would've known anyway. Roseline says that the Japanese government is divided on the issue, and Academy City has made no announcement. She is amazed at GREMLIN for intentionally created this current balance of power. With the clock ticking and with the Japanese government neutered into focusing in moving their government elsewhere before taking action, Roberto deliberates on his choices. Pietro then says that Academy City will make their move soon, though he has doubts if Academy City will bother distinguishing between friend or foe. The Maiden of Versailles then says that she doubts that Academy City even completely trust them, conjecturing that they may think another magical group will try to attack them within the confusion caused by GREMLIN, something that is only favorable to GREMLIN itself. The Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Krans reminds them that doubts and constraints are all part of GREMLIN's attempt to buy time, and that they need to have as many people they can at least trust. However, no one agrees with his assessment as there was no time. Roberto then asks Elizard if the Anglican Church have a hotline with Academy City, as they have joined forces during World War III. Elizard points out that it was the Anglican Church's doing and the British Royal Family was barely involved. Elizard then sates that the Church as well wasn't able to contact Aleister since the end of the War. Out of allies, out of options, and out of time, Roberto contemplates what they should do. His stupor is later broken by Roseline, and there Roberto gave a small smile. He says that what they should do hasn't changed, and tells them that they should make a vote. One of the people there asks if they are using democratic decision to distribute responsibility, to which Roberto says that only those who go along with their plan will become responsible. Thus the alliance finally makes their move against GREMLIN.

VS The World
The Maiden of Versailles is not seen again until after their move against GREMLIN fail and Othinus restores the world after changing for Touma's sake.

Immediately after stopping the international coalition's magic attack on Othinus and declaring his intention on saving her even at the cost of making the world his enemy, Touma and Othinus spirits away from the group and vanish.

President Roberto Katze, Queen Elizard, Pope Pietro Yogdis, Patriarch Krans R. Tsarskiy, and the Maiden of Versailles are still in the UN Headquarters when they hear the news. Roberto receives the information through the soldiers gathered there, UAVs, and military satellites, and is shown to be worried. Krans says upon hearing the news says that Touma's actions does not fit with his previous behavior. Roberto replies that Touma has had contact with GREMLIN a few times before. Krans references the events of Hawaii, Baggage City, as well as that in Academy City, and wonders that there may be a reason on how Othinus allowed Touma to live back in Baggage City even though she has absolute power. The Maiden of Versailles cuts in the conversation, saying that it not the issue as of the moment. Elizard adds that saying Touma is innocent because they know him isn't enough now as the doubts have begun adding up, and reiterates that the only way to stop the chaos surrounding the world is to attack and eliminate the source. Elizard explains that if they don't do it, human society will soon boil over with fear of Othinus. Despite Elizard's position, she, seeing Touma's power in action many time before, knows how painful it is to know that Touma is now their enemy.

Thus, the international coalition begins mobilizing for the manhunt for Othinus and Kamijou Touma, with the three major churches releasing the restrictions on specially sealed spells. As Elizard watches as her fellow representatives begin their preparations, she thinks that it might be better to leave the matter to "official" groups like the SAS and MI6, as she thinks extreme irregulars using supernatural power might actually give him a way out. Roberto sighs as the events unfold before his very eyes. Without much of a choice, he says that they can only continue as normal. He says that they will find the "Othinus faction" and destroy them as it is the only way to prevent society from growing any more unstable.

With that, the coalition later somehow find that Touma and Othinus are in Denmark and direct their forces there. The Pope and Roman Catholic Church relieves Agnese Sanctis, Lucia, and Angelene of their positions as security for the meeting of the international coalition and have them and the rest of the Agnese Forces sent to Denmark. They are transported there by their ally the United States of America through the use of their stealth bombers, and are further bulked up by the inclusion of elites from the Russian and Anglican Church. The Patriarch and the Russian Orthodox Church relieves Vasilisa and Sasha Kreutzev of their bodyguard duties for Krans and are sent to Denmark through unknown means, though it is likely they arrived with the Agnese Forces.

The Queen despite her thinking that it would be better to use soldiers, later with the Anglican Church relieves Kanzaki Kaori of her bodyguard duty and has her rendezvous with Princess Carissa, William Orwell, and the Knight Leader on the Hotel Ariel just off their recent mission. Likely with her blessing, she allows Index, Leivinia Birdway, and Lessar to go to Denmark as well, with Lessar in communication with their forces. France also plans to mobilize their own forces as well.

Finally, the President and the United States of America, not having any magicians with them, send out commandos to Denmark for Operation Norse Wind. There, the coalition monitor the actions of their units from the New York.

Despite her intentions, France is never able to send someone to hunt Touma and Othinus down. Later, she and the other representatives later stare at Roberto after he willingly let both Touma and Othinus go, where he later apologizes to them and says that he is their enemy now. Apparently, Roberto meets no reprisal for this.

After Roberto decides to declassify the footage of Touma's efforts to save Othinus and ask the world for forgiveness, he tells them that he will be holding an emergency press conference, asking the others what they will do. Elizard says that she will leave that to people who want to stand out in public and says she'd rather handle the internal announcement. She says that she is worried that she won't easily calm her military obsessed daughter, who was eager to be deployed, and had her mobile fortress destroyed. Roberto is amazed and asks if she isn't dead set on killing Touma and Othinus anymore. The Patriarch cuts in and asks not to tease the Queen Regnant too much. With a sigh, he then says that he will focus on reaching those people in places America's voice cannot reach. The Pope also says that he can provide assistance as well. They then turn to the representative of France, the Maiden of Versailles. She says that France never sent anyone in the first place, and as such they have no reason to struggle as well. The Queen then says that it seems one of the world's problems is how the clever have a way of going unnoticed. This later leads to a small fight between them.

It is not likely that the Maiden of Versailles gave her own speech to her chosen people as well.

Abilities
She has in her possession the artifact Durandal, which has similarities to Curtana Original but differs enough to be stopped by a fragment of Curtana. The power and theory behind this sword are related to the Royal Families of both France and England, thus it meets the rule of Knight Leader's "Thororm's Defense Formula."

She also has good combat skills which she performs at faster than the speed of the sound and as a magician is also shown to have used a long-distance lightning strike to attack Carissa at Dover Strait, but was blocked by the Knight Leader.

In the fight against Misha Kreutzev, the Maiden of Versailles displays a similar level of speed and strength to her erstwhile foe Carissa. The two work together to thwart the archangel's murderous rampage, protecting the exposed Academy City and Russian troops.

Design Evolution
Her design remains static throughout her appearances. Like her sister, she was designed by Haimura to look like supermodels with an odd sense of style, but had a sense of being unhealthy, as such, Haimura made her look gaunt, and had her eyes deep set.