James was a rebel once, a drunken boy who loved spending money on whores. I always thought that that was in the past but lately when I see him I am not so sure if it truly is in the past. He has a woman he is courting and it seems that she has him wrapped around her finger and can play him any way. I am worried that if I leave something could happen to him where I won’t have any control over. I need to talk with him about all this but the problem is that I can’t find my brother. I told him that I would come to his chambers, but he didn’t listen and now I am searching every room till I find him. My carriage is leaving tomorrow and I want to be sure and save that everything will be alright. I have no other eyes than James in this castle and if he doesn’t do anything I will lose those too.
This isn’t smart. I am standing in front of the King’s chambers, where I once so willingly walked into a huge mistake, I have no other choice. My brother is missing, and if anyone could help me out it would be the King. I also need to talk with him about the fact that I am leaving. Isaac, The King, knows nothing about that so I need to come up with a couple good arguments..I knocked once, no answer.
I knocked twice, no answer. It’s not too late to leave. I turn around on my heels to run out of the hall, but I’m too late. I feel his eyes staring at my back. I turn around hoping the world swallows me up.
“Victoria.” His green eyes stare at mine. He isn’t wearing any of his fancy clothing, no crown, less rings, no sword hanging. He looks quite normal, this is the first time I see him like this.
“What are you doing here?” We never really talked normally since that night and the ceremony. This feels strange.
“Excuse me, Your Majesty, for barging in this late in evening, but I am desperately searching for my brother, I can’t seem to find him-”
“James is here.” Surprise takes over me. Why would James be here this late in the evening? Did something happen? The King stepped aside to let me into his room. I quickly scan the empty halls just in case someone is seeing this and I walk into the room. I walk into the grand chamber and scan across the furniture to see if I spot James somewhere. My eyes ran along the couch placed in front of the fireplace where The King and I sat that night, and where the trouble started.
"I don't know how to do this so excuse me already."
I close my eyes at the memory. I quickly shake my head and my eyes start roaming again through the room. I don’t notice him until I see him lying on the bed. I immediately knew. He passed out. Anger washes over me as I walk towards him. James lays peacefully on the satin sheets and drools all over them. His hair is relatable to a bird's nest, some of his discarded clothes are neatly stacked on one of the chairs. How dare he? He is passed out in the King’s chambers. There is no way I will leave now, he is stupid, absolutely stupid and ridiculous. I feel like I want to hit him, but I will do that later.
“Thank you for taking him in, Your Majesty.” I appreciate The King’s troubles. “I will make sure it never happens again.” I apologise to him. I look at my brother who is laying restless on the soft bed without any trace of worry on his face. The King was on his way to leave me and my brother alone in his room.
“Victoria, are you planning to leave the French court?” He suddenly asked. I turned to face him. How in the world does he know? I was planning to talk with him about it this week.
“Yes, yes I am.” I start rambling, “I think that is best for all of us.” The King studies my facial expressions for a while before his eyes become somehow colder. He straightens his posture and adjusts his crown. “But my brother will stay here and finish our business.” I try to add,in hope of comfort and that we are not abandoning our duty, we’re just going to handle it slightly differently.
“What makes you think that I will let your brother stay?” Somehow his answer came as a surprise, but I should’ve realised that The King’s generosity will only last that long. Now I definitely don’t know what I will do. My brother will be sent home, god knows what he will do there, I will have to stay here to finish our work, which will most likely lead to more problems.
“Of course I understand.” I replied. I should be happy that he helped us for this long, that he kept me here even though of the rumours and even the ceremony.
“Why aren’t you begging me to let your brother stay?”
“Because my brother needs to realise that his actions have consequences.” I answer my King with the truth. All his life James has done what he wanted without any consequence, now he needs to start to understand that life doesn't work that way.
“When are you planning to leave?” He suddenly asks after a few seconds of silence. I look up to him before trying to strategically tell him an answer.
“I was originally planning to leave tomorrow morning, but after this,” I gesture to my passed out brother, “I am not so sure anymore.” I finish in a sigh.
“You are released, if you still wish to leave with your brother.” He speaks before leaving the room.
My brother still hasn’t woken up. I am sitting on a chair by him while I am reading through some documents about the possible upcoming war with Germany. I might as well try to do the best I can before I leave. I still think that leaving would be the best decision for the time coming. I can come back after a few months when my name is nothing more than a rumour that once spreaded through the old castle halls.
The King hasn’t returned since we last talked a while ago, and I think that’s for the best before new rumours will start. It’s already bad enough that my brother is in this state and I don’t want any more unholy stories between me and the King.
After a while of sitting and writing I am planning to take a walk through the castle gardens for probably one last time.
The gardens are empty and the sun is starting to set. It's beautiful scenery, the lake is calm and the wind lightly blows with my hair, the sky is spread with colours from blue to pink. I’ve always loved this view, my room is located on the other side so I don’t see this pretty scenery every day.
I walk closer towards the water and sit down on a rock while I collect rocks. I think about James and Isaac somehow curses my mind as well, it’s been a long time since I called him Isaac. The word makes me smile unconsciously.
And at that moment when I am reminded of the man, my heart starts beating faster, my cheeks are turning pink and my eyes start to see the colours clearer, I realise that I, Victoria Bordeaux, am damned.
I am falling in love with The King of France.