AN: This chapter, which I intended to go out on JAS' birthday, was put in the Discord Yearbook and is now officially being posted! I'm sorry for the delay!
Chapter 27
Saturday, November 9th
Louis walks up to the door heading into his father's study. The photos of past kings protrude from the walls, staring into it. Their pale skin and bright eyes and cookie cutter royal outfits stare soulessly. Louis walks past all of them; his mind is racing with thoughts about him and his father and his ancestors. Were they all out of control? Were they all like his father? Did they all eventually get out of touch and angry? Were they not understanding; were they controlling; were they livid at their successor?
It's been a week since the attack. A week since the interrogations. A week since he saw his sister on the screen. A week since he last spoke with his father. A week since Louis looked at his family: they were in shambles and grasping at straws without Charlie. It's been a week since everything went down and they still don't have Charlie.
Charlie held everything together. Charlie made sure they always had something else to focus on. Whether it was the next royal visit or her behaviour, the focus wasn't on each other and that's what kept them together. It's what stabilized the Schreave family. Even if nobody realized it, Charlie kept the Schreave family up and running.
Louis holds in a laugh: its bittersweet on his tongue but turns sour not long after. Charlie got on his nerves all of his life, but even when they hated each other, they had each other's backs. She was there when Gwen left. She was there when mom slowly starting playing a mom instead of actually being one. She was there when dad would get onto him. She was there when Athena left and 35 new girls came into the palace. She was there through thick and thin and now she's gone. She's gone and Louis has done nothing about it.
Loius takes in a deep breath and finally knocks on the door. He can't remember a time he's actually wanted to come here. Louis couldn't even say he wanted to come in now, if he was honest; but, he knew he had to. This was important to him and this was important to the country.
His father stands on the other end. Louis looks him square in the eye and asks, "Can I speak with you?"
Wordlessly, his father extends the door open, letting Louis in. He sits in the chair across from his father's desk; files are in neat piles, piles and piles of files stand at attention. At the top of one, he reads Cora Holland. That's one of his selected. Well, not to be one soon, but she was fighting for his hand. Louis has already decided on his elite. It took him all week, but he's decided. However, that's one of his selected on top of a pile of files. Files that are no doubt about the rebellion brewing and the kidnapping of his little sister.
"Louis, what do you want?" King Jonothan looks up at his son from his chair. His eyes have bags under them and he looks pale. In other words, he doesn't look good.
"What are the files for?" Louis diverts the attention away from him.
Jonothan sighs, "I'm cracking down on the rebels who took Charlie and who must've been the inside people to do the job."
"I can help tomorrow." Louis suggests, "I'll stop by tomorrow after breakfast."
"What'd help would be getting rid of some of these blasted girls; too many of them are risks and through interrogations alone many of them would not be able to handle royal life." Jonothan mutters whilst regrouping the files, "and even the ones who could handle royal life and aren't rebels aren't usually public favorites. There is no winning with the girls you all picked in my absence. I should've done all of them."
"That's actually what I came to talk to you about." Louis tells him, ignoring the insult to his decisions, but keeping on the topic at hand, "I wanted to let you know that I'm announcing the Elite tonight."
Jonothan stares at him. Louis looks into the unblinking, icy blue eyes. Louis looks into the eyes he may have one day, when he's in his father's position. Jonothan's face shows no emotion. No shock, no joy, no anger. The face is devoid of any indicator of his feelings about Louis' statement prior. He looks tired, but that's not an emotion related to Louis and his small announcement.
"And," Louis pauses for a second, clearing his throat and stopping his feet from shuffling, "you can't change my mind, I've already made arrangements for all of the eliminated selected to get flights back home. Gwen helped me."
"Well then," Jonothan says, "it seems like you're capable of making big decisions. Let's hope they're good ones."
"I manage just fine." Louis stands and heads to the door, his anger getting suppressed as he speaks. He will not lash out. He will not become like his father. He will not let his feelings become the better of him.
"Take these files." Jonothan passes him the pile with Cora's name at the top, "I hope this doesn't affect your decision. It seems like you are dead set in your opinions. That's a trait riding on a thin white line for a king."
Louis brushes off the King comment, preoccupied with getting his hands on the files, "I doubt they will."
Louis heads towards the door, barely able to hold it, but makes it out anyways. He descends the stairs and refuses to look the former Kings in the eyes. Louis isn't like them; he'll be better. Starting with getting Charlie back home and finding his home a suitable Queen. Louis will do right no matter what it takes.
Five girls got notes outside their door when they woke up. Marie was one of them.
She was heading on her morning walk, her bible in hand and rosary around her neck when she noticed it. It's small and still sealed; she's yet to open it. She wouldn't let it deter her from the Lord.
But she has finished praying hours ago and she has yet to open it. The letter, wax sealed with the unmistakable seal of Illéa's royal crest, it easy to hold but hard to open.
"You should open the letter," one of the courtyard guards notes. She's young and pretty, no doubt she would've caught Louis' eye if she was in his selection, "It could be important."
"Oh uh," Even though it's been two months that Marie has been here, she hasn't talked to the palace staff. Outside of her maids, she keeps out of their way. Marie replies, "Yeah I should."
Marie heads by the California Irises. Louis helped her plant those. She sits on the sidewalk as she opens the letter, destroying the seal.
Dear Lady Maria,
Can you please accompany me to our movie room this afternoon? I have an announcement to make. Don't make it as hassle to dress up. Come as you are.
Sincerely,
His Royal Highness, Louis Schreave, Crown Prince of Illéa
Marie grabs her things and heads to the theater. She has a prince to meet.
The halls are long and seem endless at points. Banisters with portraits and priceless decorations line the halls. Marie dreams of herself on those walls. Louis on her side and a kid in her arms. Her family may have not wanted her here, but she wouldn't trade it for the world.
Outside of the palace she has joined a great church, one that lets her occasionally sing with it's choir. Inside the palace she has a small garden, friends, and the opportunity a man she'd never dream of meeting. Certainly, Angeles has been treating herself better than Paloma ever has.
The thought crosses her mind, "Do I actually want to stay here if I'm eliminated?"
The note, which is short and originally looks sweet, could lead to her elimination.
Before she can debate staying in Angeles or going back home, Marie makes it to the doors of the theater.
"Hey!" Madi wraps her in a hug. As one of her best friends, Madi and Marie have gotten close. 'If only Navi was here…' Marie thinks.
Louis soon turns the corner. Marie looks at whose here: Briar, Mare, Anna, Madi, and herself. All five of them couldn't be eliminated at once. Louis has never done a group elimination.
"Does anyone have any objections to watching a movie?" Louis asks. No murmurs arise as Louis unlocks the palace's personal theater.
Marie sits between Louis and Madi. The theater darkens as butlers give them popcorn and soda.
The movie is of a fictional selection. Marie doesn't really pay attention to it. She's nervous of the large gathering. It's been two months and Louis hasn't held a single group activity. It's suspicious.
The lights soon come on as the redhead princess proposes to her selected and the screen fades to the credits.
"I had fun today. I really needed the break," Louis stand and turns to look at all five girls, "but before we all leave, I have a confession to make."
The girls go silent and you could practically hear each individual heartbeat.
"Ladies, Anna, Briar, Madison, Marie, and Mare," Louis says, "I'd like to officially invite you to join my elite."