CHAPTER 2
~Somewhere off in Paris~
Lola came to her brother's own defense when he was caught in the middle of hideous fight in the wickedly famous L'amour Brothel. He was only 15 years old but had caused so many misdeeds that their father lay him off on his own to build his name in the world. Thus, his brother, Edward, has no one to turn to when a hardship arises except his older sister. She's been in Paris for a fortnight now trying to get him settle down here when she was told of the bad news by the messenger.
"I believe our matter is finish here. I would take Edward and leave this God-Awful place in no time", Lola's anguish against the owner of the brothel were uncontainable. She wanted to leave the place dreadfully that she's accidentally bumped to another and knock him off down to the floor. "Oh my God, forgive me for being so rash. Here, let me help you. Are you hu...Francis?! Why are you here?" Lola was shocked that she had Francis knocked off to the ground, given to the new circumstances of bad lucks he's been facing lately. She definitely didn't want to give him anymore misfortunes.
"I am fine, if you may care. And I'm here for the pleasure that these companies brings," Francis were in no state of sober and deep in drunken state, stumbling with a mid-height chair that was on his way. Francis was asked to step down from his title as the Dauphine of France after the uproar caused by Mary, the legitimization of Bash, the betrayal of his father and thus he fled the castle ground the next morning and not been seen for 2 months, until now. "No, you're not okay, here, Edward, please help me with this man. We need to get him to bed," Lola, a good friend she is helped the poor man with the aid from his brother. Best not to draw the attention of the public of the bad state their Dauphine was in, reeking with the wine no less!
...
As Mary stared across the field between them, studying Bash from afar, she'd never realised how well built Bash now. She never quite know him, even before, when she was a girl, brought to the French Court to play with Francis, she never were well acquainted with him. She remembered once, she asked Francis, why'd she never been allowed to play him when they were children. He's shrugged his head, saying "It's because he's my brother". When she tried to counter it back, he saw the grim look that Francis gave her, "I don't even understand why he couldn't play with us, and brothers should play together, shouldn't we? But Mother will give me a hard time if I did. So I never try anymore," and he walks away. And she never pushed it again. And truthfully, she likes that Francis didn't play with Bash, because he will have more time with her. Even though sometimes, when Mary and Francis thought they were alone, Mary always feels that something or someone lurking behind the castle walls, or curtains in the court room, and giggling along when both of them making jokes to one another. Deep down, she's grateful he did that. At least, in some ways, Bash did have friends to play with.
"Are you alright, Mary?"
The sudden question jolted her from reminiscing the past. "Oh yes, I am alright, thank you for catching me. I hope I am not that heavy to catch. Why are you here anyway? Are you going hunting in this weather?" Mary couldn't help notice he's hunting gear on his side.
"Well, I need to clear my head from suffocating to death with the affairs that blooming in the castle. And I have you to thank for it," Bash glanced towards Mary when he said this. Mary did catch the annoyance that comes together with it, that she subsequently turned the other way, as she does feels an awful lot to Bash. Bash catching this, release a heavy sigh, "I'm sorry Mary, but you need to realise what grave situation you've meddle me with. I was never going for the crown, I never wish to. And here I thought the person you loved is Francis, what happened to that? Did you have a change of heart?"
The accusation Bash is throwing in her face was insufferable, and she succumbs to defend herself. "It's because I'm in love with him! It's because I need to protect him from the bloody fate that will cost me his life if it's him I'm married to! I will not live for that!"
"What did you mean by that?"
...
Lola's soft pleading could be heard through the corners of the rented rooms in Fouquet's Barriere l'hotel in Paris, where she's currently staying before she would left for Château de Blois, the castle after making sure her brother in decent state. She thought it would be best for Francis to sober up here rather than that congested brothel.
"Francis, you can't be like this. France might need you someday, and you're their leader. You need to keep it together. Please don't let these ruin the man I know in my heart will be a great King. You will survive this, you just need to..."
"Need to what? Huh? I am nothing! I am heartbroken! Betrayed for a crown, for power and for greed! By none other than dearest Father and my own blood! Not to mention the woman I love is playing games with my heart! Confessing her love in the morning and leave me at night! Claiming she doesn't even dared to be with me! How could a person do something like that? After I confess..." Francis choking down his words with tears relentlessly streaming down his face. He doesn't deserve this, he love her with all his heart!
"I'm sorry Francis, I'm so sorry, I couldn't offer you anything except tonight. What do you want me to do?" Being a humane is what Lola do best, as she's a compassionate companion when it's comes to the persons around her.
"Please be with me tonight. I need to forget. Even for just one night."
...
