A cold shiver runs through me as the entire room shouts and screams in happiness. I stand frozen in my spot and stare at Charlotte who is beaming with joy. Never had I expected this news. Wasn’t Isaac very clear that he had no attraction towards Charlotte and never wanted anything to do with her? As I continue to stare at Charlotte who is now holding her invisible baby bump my eyes glance at Hortensia who is looking at me with a glance that makes my hairs stand up. After the applause fades, I find my way out of the room.
I need to leave.
I really need to leave.
As I walk out I see Isaac, sipping wine and staring out of the window. I try to walk out quietly, but one of the many torture devices that women have to wear make his attention snap towards me, stupid heels.
“Lady Victoria?” His gentle voice whispers in disbelief or confusion. I turn around in defeat and see his eyes glitter in the dark candle light.
“Your Majesty.” I greet as I plan to turn around once more to leave but realise that this is probably the last time in my life that I will see this man ever again, so the least I can do is try to be polite and go away without any more scandals or conflicts.
“Congratulations, Your Highness, I’m wishing you both the best.” The words tasted like venom as I said them, a lie swiftly told. His face was still expressionless, it somehow reminded me of the night we were wasted. His eyes were almost closed and the emotion behind them was unreadable.
“You’re the first one who said that to me.” I ignore his saddened tone and try to keep my head up high and remember that I am leaving this behind.
“If I may ask, how far along is the Queen?” The question is probably not as uncommon as it feels to say it out loud. Isaac seems to think for a few seconds before he answers.
“Six days.”
Six days? That was the night that we were together. Does he not remember that? Perhaps he made a mistake in telling me, or counting the days. Isn’t six days a little bit fast to know that you are with child? So many things could still go wrong.
“Six days ago, we were…” I tried to hint to him. I have no interest in anyone hearing these words and telling them that I lied to the Royals. Isaac still seems as confused as ever. His brows furrowed and his lips parted in question.
“What do you mean?” Does he really not remember?
“Don’t you remember?” I ask in complete shock.
“I woke up that morning and I couldn’t recall the night before.” Oh wow, he was really wasted.
“Victoria, what happened that night?” He demands me, his posture changed and his eyes are big now awaiting my answer. Where should I start?
“Come to my chamber, we can talk there.”
“No no no, I am not making the same mistake again.” The look on his face tells me that he really doesn’t remember anything, but that means that he believed me truly when I returned to court and told him that nothing happened between us. I thought that he was trying to save me! If he hears this now it means I lied to him, he perhaps trusted me, I can’t believe this.
“Then tell me now. What. Happened. That. Night?” Lie or tell the truth. Lie or tell the truth. Lying will lead to more lying but it will lead to me still being alive. Telling the truth will lead to the possibility of me being executed or perhaps Isaac will understand. No, he won’t but lying feels dreadful in this situation.
“Late at night you asked me to look at your strategies of the possible invasion of Germany, I came, we talked, than wine came into the picture and more wine-”
“What happened between us?” He demanded. He towered over me when he came closer. He was angry, his jaw was clenched and his frown furrowed deeper.
“We kissed.”
His facial expressions changed as quickly as lighting. He looked at me and somehow it was more intense than that night. I could feel his breath on my cheek as he bowed down to be somewhere around my height. This is wrong, so wrong. I push him off me. He doesn’t stir, he still stands there as some kind of statue of stone.
“Couldn’t you have told me this earlier?” He shouts in desperation. Why is he angry at me? How could I have known that he wouldn’t remember any of it?
“I thought you knew!” I shout. It’s my turn to be angry now.
“You lied to me, in front of everyone.” He says disappointed. His head hangs low and his eyes look full of sorrow. I realised that this would be his reaction, still, he doesn’t seem as angry as I expected him to be, he seems more disappointed in me. I try to avoid eye contact with him, I don’t exactly feel ashamed but more like I was caught in a criminal event.
“I am aware, but I thought you were helping me. I am sorry for my selfish thoughts, Your Majesty.” His eyes don’t leave mine as I try to speak out the most sincere apology I have ever told. He doesn’t say anything, just simply stares at me.
“If I would’ve known the truth I probably still would’ve helped you. So there is no need to apologise, I know what the situation would’ve been if you stated that the rumours are true.” He comments politely. This is an unexpected move. I never thought that he would be this understanding about all of this.
“But, wait, doesn’t this mean that Charlotte is lying? That the child she is carrying isn’t yours?” His face immediately changes and turns away from me to walk into the crowded room that is celebrating a child that isn’t even part of the Royal bloodline.
I don’t stop him, I follow him. The crowd immediately made a free path towards his throne. Hortensia and Charlotte were still parading around, showing the baby bump and telling all kinds of futures that it will have. The room grows quiet as Isaac comes towards the throne and stands in front of everyone.
“There will be a very entertaining event coming up, it will be filled with people, food, wine, and I invite you all to come to The French Queen’s execution!” Wow, that is bold. The whole room has grown quiet and Charlotte stands in the corner staring at Isaac with an indescribable expression. She cries but also screams, she asks him ‘why? Why? ’She tells him that this is really his child and that it is stupid that he is doubting paternity of it.
“My child you say?”
“Yes, it is your child. I have never ever been with anyone else!”
“But I have never ever been with You!”