On that cold and wet day Prince Henry took a long and relaxing walk inside the royal gardens.
He walked quietly, as if no problem in the world touched him and at the same time he breathed deeply the sweet scent of red roses, whose bushes covered a large part of the huge garden.
All those red flowers had been planted by his ancestors generations before him, how could he not love them?
They were tall, huge bushes, taller then three meters and they spread their fragrant perfume in the air.
It was October.
Dramatic events had happened but a month after the death of the young Thomas Cross, hardly anyone except the boy's mother and brother seemed to remember.
What the tragedy had changed at that time was the character of Francis.
Henry was five years older than him and sometimes in his teenage years he remembered having seen young Francis happily play with other young boys. But since the lieutenant had returned from war he had met him a couple of times in that long time and noticed that he no longer smiled and that his optimistic character had become full of anger and hatred.
Francis no longer spoke to anyone but his mother and it seemed that he could not give himself peace for what had happened to his younger brother.
Henry knew how long it took himself to get over a family loss.
The prince remembered the year he lost his mother: he was still a child at the time, but it had taken him years to process the loss.
And still at the moment he felt hatred and bitterness towards his late father.
But on the other hand, the prince could not do anything else but stay there and wait patiently for what his fate would have brought him.
Dying in the guillotine like his own mother, becoming king of England, nothing mattered that much at the moment...
That life was a splendid and beautiful illusion in the eyes of all young nobles, to remove from them the thought that they were living in a nightmare.
Quick steps reached him and unexpectedly he found himself holding a conversation in spite of himself.
-Good day brother dear- he heard from his right -Isn't this an enchanting day to go for a walk?-.
The prince knew perfectly well who had reached him, he recognised her from her very long golden hair, from her small stature, from her sweet doll face.
-Good day sister- Henry answered slowly placing both hands on the pommel of his walking stick and turning towards her -what do you want to tell me?-.
Isabelle smiled at him placing one of her little hands on her soft pink lips -don't think I need a favour to spend time with my dear brother...-.
Henry was not convinced by all this forced kindness at all, but out of politeness he wanted to hear where his sister's speech would lead.
-Please, let's continue walking while we chat- she begged him.
And as the two walked and the humid warmth of the surroundings took them, Isabelle finally began to speak: -in a few months there will be my wedding- the girl said -to admit the truth, I really had come to you for a special request- Isabelle admitted adjusting on her shoulders a lock of her long blond hair.
-What request? - Henry asked turning his gaze to his sister.
-I would like to ask you, together with our cousin Juniper, to be the witnesses to my wedding- she admitted placing one of her small and soft hands on the man's arm -it is not something that is ask every day, so as my older half-brother, I would be immensely pleased if you were by my side-.
At those words Henry was greatly surprised.
Usually he and his sister were at war, they were foes, yet at that moment Isabelle seemed to want to grant him a time of peace.
But Henry, although positively influenced by her request, wanted to clarify some things, such as some of the girl's behaviours before accepting.
-Your request, sister, I am very pleased...- the prince added continuing to walk arm in arm with her -but before accepting I would like to reproach you, as your older brother for what happened last month...-.
Isabelle looked away with a bored look, almost as if the prince's words did not touch her in any way, but despite her she admitted - it was an act of political sacrifice-.
The prince was almost struck by the girl's emotionless words, almost as if she didn't realised what she had done.
-Thomas was our brother, our father's son...don't you feel any remorse for taking the life of a twelve-year-old boy?-.
Isabelle stopped her walk and looked critically at her brother.
-I have already told you that all this was an act of political sacrifice- commented the princess -and in addition I do not understand why everyone is mourning the death of an illegitimate child whose life at court did not mattered that much ...-.
At those words Henry was sadly struck by the girl's wrong behaviour, so much that he shook his head in resignation.
-If one day you will be queen, you will have to show your figure to the people as a symbol of justice. Do you think that the killing of an innocent person can help you in your campaign?-.
Isabelle squeezed her older brother's arm even tighter, almost as if someone had done her irreparable offence.
-I will become queen of England, brother, and I do not need peace to convince my people to follow me- she admitted -whether you like it or not, the battle campaign against France will continue under my reign and then no leniency will be shown for anyone, not even for you...-.
At those words something snapped in Henry's head, so much so that the prince left a strong and determined slap on one of his sister's cheeks.
A long silence followed.
Isabelle's face was not easily visible, as she covered with both hands the place where her brother had beaten her, but one thing was certain, that the prince saw anger and frustration in her younger sister's eyes.
-How dare you?!- asked the girl briefly, turning her gaze aggressively against her half-brother -how dare you slap me...I'm your queen!-.
Henry did not speak, he did not comment, he was still and motionless.
-I am your older half-brother, and as my task, there is also that of educating you, since neither our father nor your numerous servants did not, Isabelle- the prince commented in the end responding in his own tone to the girl's offences.
Isabelle didn't want to let go of him just now, she wanted to show her power, her strength and partly her courage.
-You don't have any value Henry- the princess added at the end of the speech -if you had meant something to our father, do you think he would have killed your mother in front of your eyes or that he would have disinherited you on his deathbed?!-.
Isabelle continued uninhibitedly talking and spitting out of her mouth all the anger she was feeling at that moment - do you think that after all that has happened your mother's family in France is willing to help you? Naive brother... -.
The girl in every way resumed her calm and composed regal attitude, no longer showing any sign of anger or hatred.
- Anyway I take your response to my request as positive - Isabelle elegantly left two light pats on the prince's arm - regards brother, I hope to see you soon at the dress rehearsal-.
Henry stood still, motionless and wistfully troubled by what the princess had told him.
Could it be true? Could his maternal family possibly refuse to help him if necessary? Then he would have been lost.