A young woman who sold apples in Prague was branded as a thief and scorned by many locals. However, her neighbors in the poorer areas regarded her as an angel. The stigma arose when she stole an egg to feed an ill orphan under her care, who later died while she was imprisoned for the crime. Afterward, she continued to look after other orphans and took on various odd jobs to support them. If others were hungry, she willingly gave away her own food without complaint. Despite being devoutly religious, she faced disdainful looks at church due to her evident poverty.
After encountering Bái Jīn and Bái Yín in Prague, she fell in love with and married Yín. Shortly afterward, Jīn kidnapped her, and after a long journey, they settled in a small village in France. When Francine became ill, fearful villagers locked her up in a hut to prevent disease spread, where she remained for several years.
Nine years after their wedding day, she reunited with Bái Yín. She pleaded with him not to resent the villagers, who acted to protect their families, nor his brother, whom she still pitied despite not returning his feelings. Bái Yín promised to cure her illness and free her from captivity. Upon returning with the newly created Soft Stone, he found the hut ablaze. Francine had chosen to end her life rather than live an artificially extended one, believing she was unworthy of living with Yín after spending nine years with Jīn. Before dying, she thanked her husband for loving her and asked him to meet her again someday.
She left behind the hair she cut off before setting the fire. Bái Yín gave this hair to his brother before leaving the village, and Jīn placed it inside a doll resembling Francine.
Almendra later disclosed to Lucille that, according to overheard conversations in the Midnight Circus, Francine was born in Krohg Village and was indeed the older sister of Lucille’s mother. Due to a poor harvest, many families in the village were forced to sell their children into slavery, and Francine was the only child old enough to be sold. She eventually escaped after being taken to Prague.
Owing to their genetic connection, Lucille’s daughter Angelina began to resemble her great-aunt. By the time she turned sixteen, she was the exact image of Doll Francine, a resemblance the Shirogane exploited in battle.
