Philippe Dupont

Philippe Dupont, a character in the Ship of Dreams series, is a nobleman and one of your prospective suitors. He is first seen in Chapter 3.

Appearance
Philippe has short wavy brown hair, light skin, and hazel eyes. He wears an olive stripped suit with a matching vest, and a white shirt with a brown-patterned tie and a matching handkerchief.

Personality
Philippe first appears to be genial, well-mannered, and somewhat easygoing, although you don't think his smiles seem entirely genuine. However, he quickly proves himself to be extremely elitist, as he thinks all "servant types" look the same, and he shows disdain for rich people who earned their money rather than inheriting it. He also takes almost every opportunity to brag about his wealth, noble status, and talents, real or imagined. It isn't long before you begin to think of him as smug, self-aggrandizing, and devoid of intelligent thought.

Background
Philippe is a French lord a few years older than yourself. He makes frequent mention of his family's wealth and noble status, and he seems to be idle rich given his stated preference for billiards games over business boardrooms.

Ship of Dreams

 * Chapter 2: Courted
 * Chapter 3: Afternoon Delight
 * Chapter 6: A Delicate Dance (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 7: Beneath the Surface
 * Chapter 9: Festival of Hearts
 * Chapter 10: Heart's Desire
 * Chapter 11: To Each Their Part
 * Chapter 12: Acts of Charity (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 13: O Captain! My Captain!
 * Chapter 14: Gratitude
 * Chapter 15: May I Have This Dance?

Your Character
You meet Philippe in Chapter 2 when Adele introduces you to your first batch of prospective suitors. You feel no romantic inclinations towards him, but he seems pleasant and isn't bothered if you choose to speak your mind. He's more proactive than the other suitors in seeking your company, which you find merely irritating at first, and then alarming once you realize how serious his attentions are becoming. In Chapter 9, Philippe requests and receives permission from Adele to begin formally courting you. You never encouraged his interest, so you and Theo suspect Philippe is only pursuing you for your family money. You're frustrated that you can't get rid of him by simply revealing you no longer have any money, since doing so would put your family's social standing at risk.

In Chapter 14, Philippe drops his pleasant attitude. He angrily confronts you for not giving him enough respect and attention, and he demands obedience and proper behavior from you going forward. If you dispute his right to tell you what to do, he condescends that he's simply setting the expectation your "tantrums" won't be tolerated once the two of you are married.

Trivia

 * His character model resembles Comte Renard D'Ouleur from Desire & Decorum, Book 3.
 * The surname Dupont is of French origin and means "of the bridge".
 * He shares the same last name as Serafine Dupont from Bloodbound, and Stephanie Dupont from The Princess Swap.
 * In Chapter 7, Philippe claims that his family estate overlooks the Loire River. Considering his noble status, he's likely referring to one of the few-hundred Loire Valley chateaux. These manor houses were mostly built during the Renaissance to showcase architectural ideals of the day, and they are widely considered the finest homes in France.
 * It is revealed in Chapter 11 that Philippe is allergic to molasses.
 * Also in Chapter 11, he mentions his family's private box at the famed Palais Garnier. This Parisian opera house is the setting for The Phantom of the Opera.