Disclaimer: I do not own nor will I ever own Gankutsuou the Count of Monte Cristo
Author's Note: This chapter is unbeta'd so all mistakes you find are all mine . Sorry that this hasn't been updated for so long , I hope everyone enjoys reading this chapter.
It was only days after young Albert D Moncerf had found out the truth of his parentage from his mother Mercedes and he felt lost and confused. He had consulted with the Count of Monte Cristo about the matter but he still couldn't seem to wrap his head around the very idea. He wanted to try and find out who his father Edmond Dantes really was and what horrible crime the man could have possibly committed to get himself sent to prison for .
"I don't know what to do" , Albert muttered outloud to himself.
Maybe he could ask his best friend Frans to help him, Albert thought. . Because with Albert just by himself he truly had absolutely no idea how to go about finding out more information about his biological father .
He decided to himself that the next time he saw Frans he would ask for some help .
The next day Frans visited and once Albert had explained the situation to him his friend was staring widely at him with shocked eyes .
Frans was a young aristocratic youth around the same age as Albert , he had blue eyes , shoulder length blonde hair and wore clothes that very much suited his status .
"Wow Albert..." Frans spoke . "Yes, of course I'll help you but what are you going to do once you know ?"
Albert looked at his blonde haired friend , an frustrated and worried expression on his young face , "I don't ….I don't know Frans …. If he's still alive maybe visit him in prison."
Frans was silent and frowned , appearing to be not sure of the idea , Albert was such an innocent and naive teen. Of course he wouldn't let his friend visit the prison alone but still prison was a terrible place even if it was just for a visit , Frans had never set foot in one himself but he wasn't ignorant .
"If you go Albert …I'll go with you" Frans said in a serious tone,worry for his friend showing on his face .
Albert looked relieved , he hugged his childhood friend , "Thank you Frans!" He said , a grateful look in his eyes .
Frans gave a sigh , and returned the hug .
Hours later Albert and Frans left Albert's family home , setting off for the city library to start their research on Edmond Dantes .
Meanwhile elsewhere the Count of Monte Cristo sat at a desk in his study with his hands clasped together , deep in thought . He was still trying to wrap his head around this new information that he had received from his young aristocratic friend .
For the past couple of days the Count of Monte Cristo had put a pause to his plans , the discovery of young Albert's relation to him had given him much to think about . He was distracted and was finding himself thinking back to his younger days , back to when he was still oh so innocent and naive …..his head full of hope and dreams that now had died long ago .
The Count couldn't help but wonder if he would've been a good father. Not that it mattered though , this kind of sentimental thought didn't matter at all , the Count was still determined to have his revenge against those men who wronged him .
Still maybe he could put this information to some use ….possibly use it against the man who raised young Albert …
Haydee was concerned about him , the girl had noticed that he hadn't seemed himself the past couple of days . He was fine though , just in very deep thought ….thinking just how to go about this change of circumstances and just how they might affect his plans for revenge .
The day that came after was a pleasant sunny day and it was only morning when the Count was just dressing when he heard a gentle but firm knocking on the front door .
At the end of the day yesterday he had temporarily dismissed all his loyal and trusted servants apart from Haydee who he was certain still lay sleeping in her bedroom so the Count went to get the door himself.
Much to his surprise when he opened up the door , there stood Mercedes in front of him …..looking abit forlorn but still as beautiful as ever .
The Count , dismissed any feelings of worry or concern he had for this woman and looked at her with a quite emotionless expression on his face , his face a mask .
"Ah Mademoiselle Mercedes , what brings you here on this fine day? "
The woman looked at him with a sad gaze , she bowed her head. "I have something I wish to confess to you"
The Count looked at her with a knowing look in his eyes . Since Albert's recent visit he knew what she wanted to say .
The Count allowed a slight smile on his face , "Please come in Mademoiselle , how is young Albert? He was quite distressed when he visited most recently"
Mercedes thanked the Count and took his offered hand as she entered and the door was shut behind her .
Mercedes was silent for a moment , as though she was gathering her thoughts before she spoke with a sad tone . "Yes…I had to confess something of importance with him . Thank you for comforting Albert when he came to you ….he is quite attached to you Edmond . "
The Count let go of the woman's hand , he turned his gaze away from her , "I thought I told you not to call me that" he said quietly ."I am not that man anymore , the man you once knew as Edmond Dantes is dead ."
The woman cast a sad gaze downwards to the ground , after a moment giving a nod of sad understanding . She gave a sad sigh and soon looked back up to the man , "Count , I am here not just to talk about my son but also to confess something to you ."
The Count of Monte Cristo looked at Mercedes , there was a certain knowing gleam in his eyes …..he already knew what she wanted to tell him . Though hearing it wouldn't change anything … the Count could not have his family returned to him and he had very little interest in pursuing a relationship with Mercedes again.
"You may tell me what you have come to say but I apologize it won't change anything between us or the man who I have become"
Mercedes stared at the Count , a miserable expression on her face but yet she seemed determined . She inhaled a deep breath in an futile attempt to get rid of her nerves before speaking to the Count .
"Albert is your son…Count . I have always known this and have been wanting to tell you for the longest time."
"Why tell me now? Why did you not tell me this the moment you discovered that I was alive?" the Count questioned the woman , and despite having already known what she had wanted to tell him he couldn't control the anger in his voice.
The Count stared at Mercedes as fresh tears gathered in her eyes , he found himself filled with a righteous anger at the woman . It wasn't just that Mercedes had not waited for him she could have told him this information at any moment since they had reunited however she had not , she had not until now even made the slightest attempt .
"I….please forgive me! I had wanted to tell you! Really! Please believe me Edmond!"
The Count of Monte Cristo was silent , his furious gaze unrelenting despite hearing the woman's pleas.
"I apologize Mercedes but I cannot forgive you , it is far too late for that when you not only did not wait for me to return but gave the role of my child's father to another man."
Tears fell down the woman's face , an anguished and miserable sob escaped her lips .
The Count would not forgive Mercedes , he could not , not when the man that the woman had married had been the man who had betrayed him .
"Have you told Albert of who I am?" the Count asked .
"No..Only that his real father's name is Edmond Dantes ."
The Count was quiet again for a moment before he spoke "Good , he mustn't know . I cannot be his father"
Mercedes directed tear filled eyes at the Count , "But…You are!"
The man shook his head , and when he spoke his voice was full of anger again . "No! This information that you have given me does not change anything Mercedes . Albert's father still is the man who has raised him all these years , it is not I ."
The Count gave a pause , "However I do thank you for telling me , and you do not need to worry too much about Albert . I will continue to allow him to visit and confide in me whenever he needs to , that will not change. The child is completely blameless in all of this"
Mercedes gave a nod . She then was quiet before speaking to the Count , looking him in his mismatched eyes while tears still were streaming down quietly upon her beautiful face . "My husband doesn't know and….I don't ever plan on telling him. He doesn't need to know"
The Count of Monte Cristo gave a nod of his own , acknowledging and agreeing to the woman's words . "That is a wise decision" he said quietly .
Mercedes soon then left the home of her former lover , leaving the man to dwell on his own thoughts and his own feelings of what had been discussed during the woman's visit .