Vincent de Boule

Vincent de Boule (ヴァンサン・ド・ブール, Vansan do Būru) is a character in Suikoden and Suikoden II who also makes a cameo in Genso Suikogaiden Vol.2. Vincent is an aristocrat prone to fanciful claims although his noble standing is called into question by some.

Appearance
Vincent de Boule is a pale, slender man clad in an elaborate outfit befitting his nobility. In Suikoden, he wears a green vest, embroidered with gold, with white underclothes. He also wears a red cape, white ruffle and knee-high green, gold embroidered boots.

In Suikoden II, his outfit is even more extravagant. His green outfit now consisting of puff shoulders, green and silver striped pantaloons, a large red ribbon around the waist and golden ribbons and bows tied around his white leggings and green shoes. He also wore a half-cape, emblazoned with a rose, over his right arm.

The white elements of his clothing were said to offset the more ostentatious offerings of his outfit while the coordination of green across all elements of his outfit were said to speak to his eye for coordination.

Personality
"The 'Rose Brooch' is just a trinket but our friendship is what is truly precious, non?"

- Vincent de Boule Vincent always carried himself with poise and was rarely seen without a rose in his hand. His eccentric tone gave him a generally elusive air.

Some of his actions during the Gate Rune War, such as his running out on bills and imprisonment led some to believe he was a fraudulent or self-proclaimed noble but both his inheritance and the investigations of Richmond would confirm that prior to the collapse of the Scarlet Moon Empire, he was indeed a nobleman of the state.

Trust was something valued very highly by Vincent, as he felt that true friendship could not blossom from mistrust. He was deeply hurt by accusations that his sentiments and actions were not motivated by honesty. In his mind, the reason why he asked the hero to pay for his lodging in Antei was to make the young master reflect on the foolishness of not trusting others.

As a nobleman of the Scarlet Moon Empire, he was very much a soul mate of other aristocratic-inclined individuals such as Simone Verdricci, Milich Oppenheimer and Esmeralda and often took tea and chatted with them. However, it was not only people similar in manners to him who Vincent could consider a soul mate.

As well as declaring McDohl a dear friend for rescuing him during the Gate Rune War, he would later consider the leader of the New State Army his bosom friend, for aiding Simone during the Dunan Unification War. He would also remind Simone that their friendship was a beautiful bond that could not be weakened by the losing of trinkets.

Although it may seem like Vincent dispensed this title freely, he did not, in fact, devote himself lightly. He merely had several close friends whom he held a sincere respect for. His faith in such true friends, therefore, is not shaken easily and he is sure not to betray such friendships.

During the Gate Rune War, he would spend much of his time with Milich and Esmeralda, the atmosphere for their time together completely removed from the stresses of war. During the Dunan Unification War, he would spend his time with Simone in similar surroundings.

History
"Just think of the honor. I, Vincent de Boule, a pure-blooded aristocratic, will be indebted to you. You should be overjoyed."

- Vincent de Boule Vincent de Boule was a member of the Scarlet Moon Empire aristocracy. He was very much a natural noble, enjoying poetic conversations, hosting elegant tea parties and always making sure to be at the cutting edge of aristocratic fashion.

As a child, he used to sneak through a hidden entrance to visit the Dragon Knight's Domain. During these times, Vincent would often see Joshua Levenheit riding his dragon. Although the two did not seem to interact, for Vincent, a nobleman of the Empire, Joshua, the leader of the Knights of the Dragon's Den, honored by the Empire, was a natural "dear friend".

During the Gate Rune War, he first encountered the Toran Liberation Army in Antei, where he skipped out on a meal due to a claimed lack of money. He would encounter the group again at the entrance to the Dragon's Den, where he showed them his secret entrance to the guarded cave.

He would later be imprisoned in Moravia and when rescued he would immediately join the Toran Liberation Army, discarding his noble status and joyfully embracing its leader as a true friend.

Although a noble, he lost his title after the Gate Rune War, when the new Toran Republic abolished the Scarlet Moon nobility. Vincent was still entitled to return home and receive his inheritance, however. After that, he would use his funds to study abroad, travelling around the world. A month before arriving in the City-State of Jowston, he would meet and become swift friends with Simone Verdricci.

As the Dunan Unification War raged, he would join the New State Army after hearing how its leader had helped Simone recover the Rose Brooch Vincent had given him, although he would gently admonish Simone for thinking their friendship could be broken so easily by a lost trinket.

Following the war, he intended to continue his studies in the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia. At some point, he would stop to enjoy himself with his aristocratic friends in the Toran Republic. Nash Latkje would find himself in the middle of one of these tea parties unexpectedly, thanks to a mishap from Viki, although the intrusion did little to upset the civilized atmosphere.

Sometime later, around the year 469, Vincent would hold a beauty contest at that Toran location, where like-mind narcissist-types would socialize and compete with one another. Vincent would claim that his worldly travels over the years were to ensure this event was a success. He himself did not contribute a single potch to the event's funding. It was his dear friends, such as Milich and Simone, who provided the money.

At the event, Vincent would award Augustine Nabor with a Rose Brooch with the two gentlemen becoming "dear friends" in the process.

Name and Weapon
Vincent is a male name derived from Vincentius (from the present participle of the Latin verb vincere, "to conquer or win"). His Japanese name does not use the standard katakana for Vincent (ヴィンセント, Vuinsento) instead using Vansan (ヴァンサン). This is presumably to emphasize the French accented nature of his name.

Boule, meanwhile, is the French word for ball or bowl, and as a surname would have historically been used by people involved in the manufacturing of the same. Finally, "de" is a particle preceding a nom de terre in many French noble families.

In battle, Vincent wields a rapier named "Enchante" (アンシャンテ, Anshante), a French term meaning "nice to meet you" or more literally, "enchanted". The correct transcription would be enchanté, with an accent on the last e.

This upgrades to "Savat" (サ・ヴァ, Sa Vua), an erroneous localization of the French word "Ça va", meaning "it goes", usually used as "(Comment) ça va", meaning "How's it going/How are you?" and as a response meaning "I'm ok.". Its final upgrade is "Felicitation" (フェリシタシオン, Ferishitashion), a form of congratulations and expression of good wishes.

Music
Vincent's theme in Suikoden is the song "The Narcissists". He shares this theme with Milich Oppenheimer and Esmeralda. The song is heard when first encountering Vincent in Antei, again when interacting with him at the Dragon's Den, and finally when recruiting him in Moravia.

Following recruitment, the song will play whenever the player speaks to Vincent at Toran Castle and will continue playing until the player either returns to the center of the castle or speaks with Kasios. It is song 28 on disc 1 of the official Genso Suikoden Original Game Soundtrack.

In Suikoden II, the song is remixed as "The Narcissists (theme), Once Again". He shares this theme with fellow narcissist Simone Verdricci. It is song 4 on disc 2 of box 1 of the Genso Suikoden II Original Game Soundtrack.

Trivia

 * Vincent's best performance in the annual Gensosenkyo fan poll is a tie for 51st in 2018. He did not place at all in 2017 or 2019.