-May I come in?- the voice suddenly followed two light blows given on the large door of the room, almost with a degree of importance and diplomacy.
The young Rudolph Whiteblossom slightly turned his tired and bored gaze towards the source where that noise came from, it was closed, separating him from the person that not even he at that moment wanted to meet.
On the other hand it was his fault, the fault of that man alone for the dramatic conditions in which he found himself, for his legs, severely burned and inability to walk except with crutches, of his horse, who stepped on an underground mine and was dead, exploded and its thousand pieces and internal organs were perhaps still lying on the battlefield, together with those of many other men and animals who died unjustly.
Yes, the young lord hated Henry, he couldn't forgive him for what he had done, for the fact that he was stuck in bed and that the same stupid prince had once tried to break his neck.
Now, in his fifteen years of age Rudolph could do nothing of what he liked, he could not ride, reunite with the other lords of his age, walk, be independent, so much so that for the period of time of recovery the young lord had started receiving tutoring in his studies from his bedroom.
Yes, Henry Hanover was a person he just didn't like and couldn't stand, but Rudolph felt it would be selfish not to give him a second chance to make everything better again.
The boy put his disheveled and numerous red hairs on the heavy and majestic headboard of the bed and looked out of the large window at the landscape: the mountains whose distant and high peaks were still covered with cold snow, autumn was approaching and this meant even the rainy season.
It was raining outside in fact, that weather reflected a little bit the boy's soul, he had failed his father, now Juniper did nothing but feel compassion for him, but no honour or respect for his actions.
Rudolph watched with his big grey eyes out of the window, watched silently, while his eyes were slowly reddened and moistened by traces of tears.
-If you don't want to meet me I understand, I'll just ask you to send me a letter as soon as possible...- the prince sadly admitted outside the door, he hopelessly thought what the boy might have believed about him.
On the other hand, Henry was Juniper's cousin, and being Rudolph the baron's adoptive son they too were relatives and had to respect and love each other after all.
So a faint sigh came from the thin lips of the young lord, now reddened by the cold, he closed his eyes for a few seconds: just a few moments, he would have heard with what excuses the prince would have introduced himself, just a few moments.
On the other hand, Rudolph was the master of the house and it was he who decided who could stay or not.
- Come in...- the boy admitted in spite of himself, slowly and with a bored look, reopening his big grey eyes, which by now from the cold and calm of his spirit had freed themselves of tears, he could not cry, not now.
He kept looking out the window, the valley, the mountains, everything reminded him of Michael, that man, he had been kind to him, he had had compassion, he had saved his life.
Rudolph wanted to meet him again, no matter if his father agreed or not, he would look for him inside the Hayes mansion, in every synagogue, in every noble centre that could interest him, everywhere he would look for him to see him again and thank him a second time.
Meanwhile Rudolph perceived how the guest's body made space in the large and bright room, as if he tried to be delicate, kind, he read it from his cautious movements, from his embarrassed smile, from the fact that that handsome man brought gifts for him.
The young lord observed with great interest what Henry was carrying: flowers in a large and showy bouquet, a small bag full of chocolate sweets and a box, quite smaller, but with an ancient and interesting look, which certainly hid something interesting and important in it.
-Do you like some chocolates by chance? You know, I have a son almost your age, so I based on his tastes, I hope you don't mind...- the prince admitted placing the small package on the boy's bedside table, as his long blond hair fell, perhaps due to of the rain, up to his shoulders.
Rudolph looked at the man in his big grey eyes, looked away again, he didn't know why, but the presence of the prince made him nervous and not completely at ease.
-What do you want from me Henry? Have you come this far to try to kill me again?- asked the boy with an air of cold sarcasm in his voice -look, I can't walk, my legs are burned and red and this is all your fault! If only you had been there to lead the French...-.
-I know, I am sorry- the prince interrupted him, placing his tall slender body slightly on the lower end of the bed, Henry had the advantage that having a son of more or less age than the young baron he was better able to understand his feelings and make everything right again.
-...forgive me Rudolph, I know it's my fault that we didn't won this battle, mainly, but even if I had been there with you I couldn't have avoided the burn in your legs- Henry admitted that as, slowly he put down the mysterious package on his own legs.
Rudolph did not understand, why Henry had come back to him, to apologise and hope that everything would return to normal again? No, that wasn't how it worked, he had been selfish in that case, he had put his own needs before those of others without scruples.
Juniper hadn't seen his wife for years, yet he was always able to fight to see her again one day, Henry instead had decimated not only their battalions but also the chances of winning.
-In any case, there will no longer be any need to crave revenge, Isabelle, my sister died, murdered, the day before yesterday- the prince admitted slowly lowering his gaze to the ground, he had at least to pretend to be sad, by etiquette but in his heart he knew there was no need, how well he was aware of the abuse and mistreatment he had received from her.
It had been like this even when his father died, despite the rules of the royal house dictating the wearing of black clothes for about a week until after the death of the king, Henry in his heart felt lightness, even when his father was dead, because on the one hand he felt he had finally received his revenge for the death of his mother, on the other because he knew that with the death of Karlheinz Hanover the world had rid itself of a bad person.
-Who was it?- asked the boy returning to rest his gaze again on the outside, the window and the magnificent mountains that covered the landscape -who killed your sister?-.
Henry slowly lowered his gaze, he did not know if it was appropriate to inform a boy at the beginning of his adolescence, when what he could do was still mostly driven by his hormones, but he felt indebted to him and hoped that hearing it would have cheered him in the least.
-Your biological aunt: Diane Stanley, the sister of your biological father Gilbert, I gathered some information about her from a trusted friend down in the centre: girl, thirty-one years old, bisexual, has two young children who live in Man with her family, the thing that worries me a lot is that in England there are still supporters of Isabelle and the monarchy, I suspect and it scares me that they may want to take revenge on her or on her family...- admitted the man finally returning to exchange a glance at the boy's big, cold and disinterested eyes.
Wow, how he looked like Juniper in his movements when he was his own age, it was almost unbelievable that this kid wasn't actually his cousin's biological son.
When Henry was still a little boy, in his adolescence, he used to spend time with John, his cousin and peer and although the young Juniper already lived within the castle walls, being the youngest of the boys he was often ignored by his cousins.
While Henry and John used to have fun activities among the lords such as horseback riding, bird hunting, drinking alcohol, and often and cunningly go spying on girls while they changed at evening time, Juniper was still too young to be interested in things of this kind and therefore considered by the older ones to be quite boring.
But in all those little everyday things, when they ate at the same table or gathered at court parties, it was almost impossible for the prince not to notice the behaviour of his cousin, as he thought, watched and observed wittily.
-The extremists have always been in this world, the important thing is not to reveal her identity to anyone- Rudolph admitted lately, taking a look at the package that his guest still held on his legs.
-This is what a good king is for: to keep secrets, plan, care deeply about their actions, just like you do, Rudolph- the prince smiled weakly, leaving a faint smile coming out of his thin but soft lips.
What did he mean? He couldn't speak seriously, he wouldn't believe it until he himself: that stupid selfish prince would admit he wanted to abdicate his throne, for which he fought for so long.
-I realised that I do not have all these qualities, Rudolph, for this reason it is impossible for me to become sovereign, but you, on the other hand, boy are the son of a brave general and of a man who in life has made himself honour, even as prince regent, albeit briefly, for this very purpose I wanted to give you this...- Henry admitted, thus letting his cold hands touch for one last time the mysterious box, which he was still holding to himself, which he was not yet willing to leave.
The prince passed the small package to the boy with slow nostalgia, left it one last time from his hands and noticed how the young lord was so enthusiastic and curious to receive it that he impatiently began ticking his fingers on the cold and ancient box.
Rudolph opened it slowly and carefully, he noticed its contents, a beautiful brooch of pure gold, which on its surface showed the shape of the lily of France, a characteristic sign of the French nobility.
Rudolph knew he could not make use of that title, not like that, not especially when that very beautiful and precious brooch was not his and it seemed to matter so much to another person.
-This brooch belonged to my mother, she gave it to me, just before my father sentenced her to death- Henry admitted smiling faintly and slowly placing one of his hands on the shoulders of the bedridden boy -she was sure that I would have been a great king, but I'm sure you'll be a better one-.
King? What did he mean? That war? Those fights? Was he leaving his place to such a quick-tempered boy with so many things yet to learn? Could he ever have been a ruler? Never, at least ...
-I'm sorry Henry, but I can't accept this gift, it's too important for you...- the boy admitted putting the magnificent and precious artifact in its place.
-Let it, Rudolph! My mother wanted the throne to end up under the control of a reliable person and finally it seems that I have found one...- the man smiled.