I ran as fast as I could, determined to catch him before he arrived at school. It was one of the few times I could actually talk to him without being chased away by his parents' disapproving looks. Spotting him, I called out for him. He turned to look at me and waited, permitting me to catch up.
"Ciao, Liberty. How have you been?"
"Stop being so formal, Napoleon. We are friends, not adults."
"I am of a higher class than you, or have you forgotten?"
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, do forgive me for forgetting your high status, Napoleon Bourbon."
He playfully swatted at me with his books. I took a couple steps back to avoid contact with the books. After failing to hit me, he turned and proceeded to school.
"Don't you have school, Liberty?" he asked me, as I followed him.
"Perhaps," I said, "But Mum homeschools me. I'm in no hurry."
He shrugs. "Suit yourself. Don't blame me if you are late and she gets mad at you."
I smiled at him. "Grazie for the idea, my friend. I shall tell her that you held me back because you made me carry your books for you up to the priest's place."
Napoleon pouted. "Why must I always be your scapegoat? Very well. Just invent something else if she doesn't believe you."
"Fine," I responded.
"I have to go," he said. "I don't wish to be late."
As he left, I called out to him. "Tonight at the same time, same place?"
He didn't turn around to respond but I saw him nod. I hurried home, hoping to not give Mum an excuse to check on me during the nighttime.
"You are going where?" Napoleon demanded, sounding irritated. He was usually quickly irritated when he hadn't eaten. His mother must not have given him supper again.*
"To England, with my uncle," I replied.
"Commoner?"
"No, he is a duke."
"British?"
"Napoleon, you know I am British."
He shook his head. "No, you are American. You came from America, therefore making you American."
My friend had always insisted that I had no such thing as British roots and I had learned to not argue with him on the subject. He always insisted on what he believed in, and it wasn't easy to change his mind.
He went on. "You should come be educated with me in France. Father is planning to secure me a spot in one of the colleges there. I'll ask him to secure you one."
"Mum said Uncle Arthur would provide me with the best education England has to offer to boys my age," I began. Once more he cut me off.
"You are coming to France with me," he said firmly.
I never understood why he insisted on the impossible. Sure, he didn't like giving in to ideas he disliked but he had to understand that there was no way we could be educated in France at the same colleges.
His parents disliked me. Carlo disliked me because I was a commoner and he didn't want his son mixing with my lot. Letizia believed that I would soften her son up. Silly reasons, but they were the reasons our friendship was in secret.
That was also the reason why our lives would take different courses once we turned 11.
AN: The chapters are so short, no? I do apologize for that. They are much shorter in my notebook (trust me on that).
* = Apparently to teach her children discipline and strength, Madame Bonaparte would not feed them every now and then. I had to include it (add some facts here and there).
Napoleon was educated by a priest (always forget his name). He received the rest of his education in France, as shall be explained in the next chapter. Lots of weird stuff for now. I am (sort of) taking you all through Napoleon's life. I am straying away from what is normally taught about him so hopefully you'll learn something new as this story progresses.
In this story, Arthur is Liberty's(Alfred's) uncle, but Arthur married into the family, so he isn't related to him by blood. Arthur will be showing up in the story as time goes on.
Do remember that Liberty is Alfred. I'll post the reminder for every chapter, just in case.
Let me know what you think!
