Well, a little drama down below. Let me clarify, in the show, there was a forced marriage. Well, in the twenty-first century, people can say 'no'. I'll say no more regarding that. More Frary moments down below and we say 'goodbye' to one character.


Kenna curled up on the sofa, sipping her hot chocolate. She'd made it from scratch, her tongue savouring the taste as Olenna settled herself into Kenna's side. It was late, past two in the morning and Bash hadn't returned from his outing with the guys. Francis declined their offer, being the perfect husband and future father he was so Bash had to accept to make up for his brother's lack of presence in their friends' lives.

She sighed, rolling her eyes when she heard Leith whisper-yelling in the foyer, telling everyone to be quiet. She got up from her seat, disturbing the dog and headed to the kitchen to start prepping paracetamols and water for the hangovers they most certainly would have.

Like moths to light, the men stumbled into the kitchen except for Bash who waltzed in, unfazed by the alcohol in his system. His eyes met Kenna's and she looked away, lifting two cups and placing them in front of the Varga brothers before collecting the last one for Leith.

"You didn't have to," Bash said softly.

"No, she didn't," Leith began. "But thank you, Kenna. You're a star!" He blew her a kiss and a cheeky wink with it.

The brothers mumbled their thanks and accepted the pills from her as Leith fell asleep, his head landing on the counter island and he started to snore.

Kenna turned her gaze to Bash and noted the blood on the cuff of his wrist. "You're bleeding," she stated, heading towards the cabinet to get a first aid kit.

"It's not my blood," Bash said.

"Then, one of you-"

"It's neither of ours," Bash mumbled, heading out of the kitchen.

Kenna sighed and replaced the kit before turning to the three men. "Miranda will show you to your rooms," she told them, gesturing for the security guard to enter the kitchen. "If they give you any trouble, let me know."

"We'll be on our good behaviour, Kenna," Julien promised her, giving her a wink. "We'll sleep it off."

"Hmm," she huffed. "If you plan to spend the seven days until my wedding drunk, then you have another thing coming."

Remy pulled a face. "I don't think I have it in me to drink until then. In fact-" He got up and rushed to the sink to throw up.

Kenna shook her head and left the kitchen, heading upstairs to Bash's bedroom. It was his insistence that they keep separate rooms. He put it down to his snoring and she put it down to him being annoyed at her for the situation at Avon when she and his mother transformed the townhouse.

It was still their room but not until they were married.

She found him taking his shirt off.

"Whose blood was it?"

"I got into a fight. It was dealt with by my team," he said, coming over to peck her cheek as he passed to enter the bathroom.

"From the lack of bruises and cuts on you, I'd say he didn't fight back," she said.

"I'm disciplined in Martial Arts," he said. "I saw him coming."

"Tell me you didn't find the guy who groped my arse," she said, running her fingers through her hair.

Bash peeked out the window. "Not everything's about you."

"So, that text after it happened didn't mean anything?"

"I texted Max to bring the car around," he said.

Kenna nodded. "Riiiight," she drawled out. The car did arrive five minutes after. "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

"No," he replied, turning the shower on.

She entered the bathroom in time to see him step into the shower. "But I need to talk to you."

"About what?"

"What we were talking about after I was groped," she replied.

Bash paused. "Give me five minutes."

By the time he was done and dressed into his boxers, he found Kenna cross-legged on his bed. He sat beside her and turned to her, offering her his hand. She took it and he kissed it.

"You're right," she mumbled with a shrug. "I guess I'll be the first princess that's bulimic."

"Shit," Bash mumbled.

"Yeah," she whispered. "I was fourteen and I went shopping with my mum. I saw her try on this pretty dress. It hugged her in all the right places and I remember feeling like I would never be that. Beautiful. Or perfectly shaped. The first time I did it, it was strange like it was wrong but I had to do it. So I started buying smaller sizes so I could have a goal and when I'd reach that goal, I'd want my body to be something else like some celebrities own bodies. Curvy, thin, thick, whatever... It was a vicious cycle that I've stopped. I've not done that since two years ago. I guess I just can't stop buying dresses that are small for me though."

"D-Do you need help or...?"

"No," she breathed out, closing her eyes. "I don't, I guess? I eat when I want to nowadays, it's not like I'm throwing it back up. I keep it down, I just don't find the time in my schedule to eat. This wedding doesn't help things. I've seen other brides, Mary even, and they're beautiful and spectacular and I'm... I'll be ugly."

Bash laughed. "God, you must be so blind."

"What?"

"Come," he said, getting up and pulling her up with him. He led her into the wardrobe and positioned her in front of the mirror. He looked at her face and noticed that her eyes were closed. "Kenna..."

Kenna opened her eyes and sighed, giving him a look through the mirror. "What?"

"Do you see what I see?"

"No...?"

"I see perfection," he whispered into her ear, his fingers untying the laces of her pyjama shorts. "We may not have known each other for very long, but I know that beauty is inside and not based on looks or popularity. You're exquisite. You're perfect to me, shouldn't that count?"

Kenna shrugged. "I guess. But shouldn't it count to me?"

"You're right," he said, taking a seat on one of the pouffes. "Go on."

"What?" She said.

"Strip."

Kenna laughed in disbelief. "You're joking."

"Do I look like I am?" He asked. "What are you waiting for? It's not like I haven't seen it all already."

"Sebastian!"

"Mckenna," he replied coyly. "Please?"

Kenna smirked. "I like it when you beg."

"How about this?" He asked, getting back up. "For every item of clothing you take off, I take off one too."

Kenna eyed his body. "You're only wearing your boxers."

"Exactly," he whispered, capturing her lips in a quick kiss. "I'll even let you take them off."

Kenna blushed. "Fine."

...

Mary rubbed her bump lovingly and turned to face Francis who watched her with a smile on his face. She grinned at him and turned back to the mirror, moving side to side to inspect her small bump from all angles.

"It's so surreal," she breathed out.

"It's so beautiful," her husband said. "I'm sorry you couldn't be Kenna's maid of honour."

Mary shrugged. "Well, Kenna and Bash wanted to be modern since she couldn't have me as maid of honour, so they decided to cut the whole bridal party thing out. So, I'm sorry you couldn't be Bash's best man."

Francis chuckled. "Let me guess, next they'll want a hippy tent in their garden so we can all join hands and tell each other what we love about each other and sing 'Kumbaya'?"

Mary pulled a face. "I love Kenna but sometimes I questioned her 'bohemian' ways. At least she wears shoes more now."

"She never wore shoes?"

Mary frowned before giggling. "No, I mean, she loves shoes. Obsessed with Louboutins but sometimes when she's in the mood, she kicks them off and let's loose. It's actually quite exhilarating. Running around the countryside fields, barefoot and screaming to release all of those pent up feelings."

"Were there many pent up feelings in Scotland?" Francis asked her.

Mary sighed, taking a seat on the bed by his feet. "Scotland was great, don't get me wrong but it was boring being just Mum and me. Now, I regret saying that because it will be just me."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Mary shrugged. "As I said before, I was with my head down, working hard. My social circle was limited to the girls and I rarely went places. I'm a bit of an ordinary girl. Boring, plain..."

"After we have this baby in our arms, I will whisk you off to do exciting things," Francis promised her, kissing her neck. "Trust me, life in France will be anything but boring."

"I'll hold you to that," Mary said, crawling onto the bed and pushing him down against their pillows.

"Oh," Francis said coyly.

Mary pressed a finger against his lips. "Hush," she said, leaning down and pressing a soft kiss on the side of his neck. He shivered under her touch and she whispered into his ear, "You're so good to me..."

Francis shifted his head so their lips met but she pulled away. "Why did you pull-"

Mary kissed his jawline and then his neck. Her fingers worked on lifting his shirt up and over his head as she pressed kisses on his collarbone. "Just... be patient."

"I'm never patient," he said lightly, his eyes closing as her lips trailed down lower. "Not when it comes to you..."

Mary giggled against his skin and he let out a moan, her nails caressing his chest. "Patience, my love... Patience-"

"Can go fu-"

There was a knock on the door and Francis cursed, leaving the bed where Mary covered her nightie with her robe and waited patiently. Francis opened the door and found Jones standing outside.

"King's orders, Your Highness," he said, holding a tray of some liquid in a glass cup. "For the Dauphine."

"What is it?" Mary asked, joining them at the door.

Jones bowed his head, moving the tray closer to her. "Vitamin juice. To be taken nightly at promptly 2 AM - the Queen swears by it. King Henry thought it was fitting as it's a family recipe which helped the Queen have nine successful births."

Mary gave her husband a look before accepting the glass and drinking it whole. "It won't kill me?" She asked lightly, staring at the last few drops.

"Too late to ask," Francis replied, kissing the side of her head. "Thank you, Jones."

"Yes," Mary said, placing the glass on the tray. "Thank you, Mr Jones."

Jones bowed low before leaving the couple to their peace.

Closing the door, Francis turned around and was shoved against it, his wife's lips attacking his skin. He laughed, moving his arms around her waist as she sucked and nipped at him.

"Too horny," he teased her.

"Yeah, well, yesterday was spent mostly apart, me dealing with household shit and showing off our baby bump to the world. After the announcement, I couldn't wait to take you to our bed," Mary breathed out, kissing him hard. "Damn, maroon looked good on you."

"I'm glad you thought so," Francis said, laughing.

"Everything looks good on you."

Francis raised his eyebrows. "Even baby vomit?"

Mary playfully swooned. "Oh, even hotter."

She yelped when he lifted her into his arms and deposited her on the bed, this time ravaging her body. She sighed wistfully, closing her eyes as his lips trailed down low.

Impatiently, she took her robe and nightie off and kicked her underwear off just as Francis shed his own trousers and boxers. She felt his lips on her skin and she looked down at him when his lips lingered on her womb.

Smiling, she entwined her fingers through his blonde curls and sighed happily, laying her head back down. "I'm scared."

"I'm scared too," he said, against her skin. "But we'll get through this. We'll be the best parents in the world. I'll keep reminding you that."

Mary nodded. "Thank you, Francis."

"You're welcome, Mary," Francis replied before resuming kissing her skin.

...

The day before Kenna and Bash's wedding, Kenna was hit with the French media attacking her. Greer sat down beside Kenna and began reading out the articles one by one, scandalous title after scandalous title.

"'Sex-Obsessed Scottish Comtessa'," she began nervously, watching Kenna cover her face. "'Former sexual partners of the Comtessa de Barton and future Duchess of Orléans, Mckenna Beaton have come out to say that she is very vain and demanding. She does not care for other people as she works to get what she wants. She is manipulative and could very well ruin the French Royal Family with her promiscuous ways. Text messages between her and her lovers on the love app, 'ForeignHeart' are filled with disgusting, degrading and sexual content. Is this really who we want in our Royal Family?'"

Kenna shook her head in shock. "They must have hacked my app! But I deleted it."

"Well, now those men you slept with know who you really are," Mary said, sighing as she rubbed her bump. "Even the women who you had threesomes with."

"Oh my God," Kenna whined. "What is wrong with me?"

Lola winced when she saw the next one. " 'Drugs, Sex & Alcohol, Inside the Dauphine's Promiscuous Lady's Ways'."

"Dear God, what have they found now?" Kenna asked, grabbing the tablet for herself. "'The Scots may have won the hearts of the French, but not this one. This one will never be a true Princess of France. Sources from Scotland inform us that the Comtessa de Barton is a hedonistic, vain siren who preys on men and women of every class and breaks them. Mckenna Beaton now has her eyes set on our recently revealed Baron of Avon and Duke of Orléans, Sébastien, the son of King Henry VI and his first queen, the Archduchess of Avon, Diane de Poitiers. If Mckenna can't have a king, she will settle for a prince. She is nothing but a gold-digging whore who deserves to be cast out of the royal chateau right this minute. Many of the people say that if this marriage comes to pass, she will destroy our beacon of happiness, the Royal Family. She will damn them to hell and nothing will ever be the same again. Do we really need a cocaine addictive harlot in the family? Or a woman obsessed with the taste of alcohol, drank from the bellybuttons of random men? Lord only knows what other things she has hidden in her closet full of skeletons. We for one, do not care nor want that closet to reside in France. She has got to go!'"

Mary took the tablet for herself, shaking her head. "You've never taken drugs in your whole life. Have you?"

"Mary, you know me!" Kenna snapped. "I haven't. I don't do that to my body. Sex, well... And the alcohol part? That was Aylee's ex-boyfriend's birthday party and she convinced us all to drink from his disgusting bellybutton. Not my finest moment and I don't know how on Earth they could have got that story and photo."

"They probably paid him a lot," Greer muttered. "Oh, this title's lovely - 'Many People of the Public Believe Scottish Slut Will Destroy the Royal Family!'"

"How is that lovely?" Kenna asked angrily.

"It's not," Greer replied with a smirk. "But it's funny." She giggled. "This one's my favourite - 'Scottish Bitch Really Does Prefer THIS Sex Position!'. Ooh, I want to know what sex position you prefer! Let's read on-"

"Greer!" Mary cried out before taking the tablet and snorting at one. " 'Who Let This Woman into the Chateau?'. Simple and straight to the point."

Lola laughed. "It's true!"

Greer continued with, "'Scottish Slut Strikes Again! Photos Taken From University Days Show Alarming Scenes!'" She clicked her tongue. "And... it goes on for quite a while."

Kenna's eyes watered. "What a coincidence that it's the day before my wedding..." She whispered. "It's got to be Catherine."

Mary winced. "Catherine's been on her good behaviour since we told everyone the baby news," she admitted softly. "Who else have you wronged?"

Kenna rolled her eyes. "Well, Olivia couldn't steal your husband so she forced herself onto my future one!"

"It can't have been Olivia," Lola said, checking Olivia's social media profile. "Olivia has been in Malaguf for four weeks now."

"Then one of the Evil Sisters? Elisabeth or Claude?" Kenna asked, exasperated.

"Francis said they don't care about Bash," Mary said. "Why would they bother discrediting his fiancée? They gain nothing from that."

Kenna let out a frustrated scream before she sat down and covered her face. "I should have just gone back to Scotland."

"Don't say that-"

"No," Kenna whispered, turning to Mary. "I thought I could be like you and dive right into royal life but that's not the case. You've been trained since you were born and I... I was meant for some millionaire with no spare time on his hands. I was meant for the life of a dog mother!"

"A what?"

Lola chuckled a little. "A woman who has pets as children, not human babies."

"I don't want canine babies," Kenna said, crying. "I want a great man, someone who will be there for me and look after me and raise children with... I never thought I'd get that until I met Bash. He's... He's the best thing to ever happen to me. Even if he hasn't said he loved me yet."

The women gasped, turning to Kenna. Even Marie peeked up from her magazine where Kenna's face was plastered on with horrible yellow lettering above it.

"Bash hasn't said that he loves you?" Greer asked her. "But why?"

"We thought you guys were getting along," Lola said. "That it was love at first sight! More or less..."

Kenna sighed. "He wanted to wait, to get to know each other better," she said. "If it were up to him, we wouldn't get married this soon. Or at all because I may not be the one for him."

Mary frowned, taking Kenna's hands in hers. "I know how much you wanted that fairytale love life."

Kenna smiled wryly. "At least he's gorgeous."

Mary smiled back, brushing Kenna's hair away from her eyes. "But it won't feel right. That's just settling for someone."

"It's my fault. None of this would have happened if I hadn't slept with Henry, making Bash reveal himself to the world as my fiancé..." Kenna sighed heavily. "I know I'm not like most girls, I'm stupid when it comes to relationships but I know what's inside my heart. It flutters, jumps and leaps when he's around me. The little looks, smiles and touches... Bash just makes everything better. Food, water, wine, TV, movies, whatever... Everything is just perfect."

"Maybe, he'll grow to love you," Marie piped up, coming closer to sit on Kenna's other side. "I'll be honest, James and I did love each other but we weren't in love when we got married."

Mary gasped. "What?"

"We fell in love along the way. It was out of the blue," Marie began, beaming happily as she stared off into the distance. "One day, he returned home from work with a bunch of blue orchids and he kissed me. I felt everything he wanted to say in that kiss and when he pulled away, he said 'I love you'. Mind you, I'd heard it many times before but there was something different about that one."

Mary's eyes watered as she smiled. "What was different?"

"He saw me," Marie whispered, turning back to the girls. "He. Saw. Me. He could read my mind after that. He didn't even have to ask if I wanted tea before he made it. Hell, sometimes I didn't know I needed something before he was there with it. I'd be thinking, my feet hurt from my heels and he'll already be rubbing them. He'd have a cigar in his mouth and the radio on... He'd look at me and tell Jaques to grab me a bunch of sunflower seeds to munch on. Then Jaques will hug me and James would take photos and we'd all be listening to Mary in my stomach..."

...

Almost Twenty-One Years Ago

"Mama Marie, what do you want?" James Jr asked sweetly.

Marie chuckled. "I am fine, Jaques-"

"Get your stepmother that lemonade," James told his son, pressing a quick kiss to the boy's head before they watched him rush to the kitchen. "You look parched, my love."

Marie blushed furiously. "I don't want to be any trouble."

"Not at all!" James said, pressing a kiss to her feet as he continued to rub them. "You're carrying our child, Maria."

"Marie," Marie said firmly.

"Has anyone ever told your family that you have too many Maries? I hope to God our child has a different variation if she's a girl."

Marie chuckled. "James! I could say the same for you!"

James blushed. "Well, it's different."

"No, it's not!"

James's eyes sparkled. "I love you."

Marie scoffed. "You're saying that to get me to drop this," she said knowingly.

James grinned. "Did it work?"

Marie shrugged a little. "Maybe."

"I love you, Marie of Guise."

"So old-fashioned!" Marie cried out, laughing.

"Go on, do the same."

"I love you too, James of Clan Stuart," she replied with her thick but lighter accent. "Would you want more?"

James frowned. "More what?"

"Children."

James laughed. "I want five children with you, Marie. And they will play with Junior in the garden. Although, I did say that I'd want a football team full of my children..."

"Don't you dare think about that," Marie said, giggling. "Two is enough. A boy, Jaques and a girl, Marie."

"How do you know she's a girl?"

"Because she's already her father's world," Marie whispered, kissing him. "Deep down you know that too, mon amour."

...

Present Day

"A month later, he died," Marie whispered, her cheeks stained with falling tears but a smile on her face. "The pain lessens but it never leaves."

Kenna smiled warmly. "I hope to have a beautiful love like yours."

"Just give it time," Marie told her. "He'll get there. It's always the men."

The door opened and Francis entered with Bash behind him, his phone on his ear.

"They're everywhere," Francis said with a wince. "It's like Kennagate has gone off!"

"They've given it a name," Kenna whispered in shock. "Make it stop!"

"My mother has insisted that it isn't palace matters. It's personal," Francis admitted. "She likened you to a socialite who can solve her own problems."

Lola turned to Kenna. "You should probably get your parents to call the family lawyers."

"They're flying in tonight!" Kenna cried out. "This is the last thing I want them to arrive in France and see. My brothers and sisters will be here as well and... everything's ruined."

Bash ended his call. "Not exactly," he said. "I've just spoken to my aide, he had my team correspond with Fontainebleau's behind Catherine's back."

"And?" Mary demanded.

"We know who sold the stories," Bash said, pausing after.

Everyone gave him a look and he smirked.

"I like dramatic pauses," he said.

"Bash, if you want to marry me tomorrow, you better start talking otherwise I'll be marrying a ghost," Kenna warned him, getting up and crossing her arms.

Bash winked at her. "It was Claude."

"Wait, Claude?" Francis asked. "But why?"

"Yes, why?" Mary asked as well.

Bash sighed. "I don't have that answer but I believe it has something to do with Lissie."

"Of course," Kenna muttered. "This has nothing to do with Bash but me."

"Don't flatter yourself-"

"For once, it's not about you," Francis teased his brother before turning to Kenna. "Go on, Comtessa."

Kenna released a breath. "Elisabeth has always been in Mary's case since we arrived. The dead rat on the pillow, the blood everywhere and the little mishaps like ruining her dress at that dinner party with the family... I may have not stopped at dying her hair before the wedding..."

Mary glared at her. "What. Did. You. Do?"

"I paid her boyfriend to dump her?" Kenna squeaked out.

"Kenna!" Mary cried out.

"Please, tell me you are joking," Marie told her niece.

Kenna shook her head with a wince. "I overheard her at the wedding, she wasn't saying very flattering things about Mary and me to the guests," she began, fiddling with her nails. "And her boyfriend was right there, talking to that French Instagram model, LoLo Jouer. I may have encouraged him with some money to get with LoLo and dump Elisabeth. I mean, his family aren't that wealthy anyway so I did her a favour!"

"You can't be playing with people's lives, Kenna," Greer said. "You said you'd stop that when we were sixteen!"

"This isn't the first time?" Bash asked, alarmed.

Kenna raised her hands up in defence. "Money is power," she said. "I use it to do good. For me mostly, but still."

"Jesus," Francis muttered. "I will speak to her and try and find her new boyfriend to play around with before she gets bored and dumps that one herself."

"I'm sorry," Kenna said, not really meaning it.

"Kenna..." Bash said warningly.

"Well, she shouldn't really go around bad mouthing the future Queen of France, should she? Honestly, the women in your family are psychopaths! I fear for Henrietta and Emone's futures."

Lola coughed. "You should stop talking."

"Yes," Bash said to his fiancée. "Less talking and more trying to figure out how to save our public image. Well, mine considering I'm marrying a..." He took the tablet from Greer's hands. "Hedonistic, vain siren." He scrolled down some more. "And a gold-digging whore."

"You should really stop there, love."

"You too, darling."

"Awh," Kenna tutted before turning away from him. "Just let's get this all sorted out before my family arrive."

...

Mary walked around Kenna, admiring the dress from every angle. She took her time these days, studying things and remembering them. Every little moment, every little memory in preparation of her baby. She'll remember everything, all the nights and days and the moments she spent with her loved ones.

"Beautiful," she said. "Right, ladies?"

Lola and Greer nodded with smiles of their own.

"It will be one of us next," Greer said. "Dear Lord, we're dropping like flies."

"It's not so bad!" Mary laughed. "Being married is wonderful. Like Heaven but on Earth."

Lola grinned. "Somebody took too many happy pills this morning," she said. "Or is it that nightly vitamin drink Catherine has you on?"

"How do you know about that?"

"We were coming to see you at two in the morning about today but saw your little butler running about with the drink," Greer told her.

"He's a majordomo," Mary corrected them. "Anyway, I'm striving to always be happy from now on. I'm going to be a mother, I want my child to grow up in a happy environment."

"That's nice," Kenna said. "We should all strive to be happier these days."

Mary nodded. "Especially with my mother..." She took a shaky breath, her eyes watering. "I'm sorry-"

"No," Kenna said, hugging her as Lola and Greer joined them. "Don't be. At least you'll have Christmas with her tomorrow."

Mary swallowed deeply, fanning her eyes. "I will," she said, sniffling. "I promised myself no tears."

"Do you need to cry it all out?" Kenna asked, already gesturing for the girls to encircle their arms around the Dauphine.

"Before I know it, my mother will be gone and I'll be a mother myself," Mary said, using a tissue to dab at her eyes. She was glad for waterproof mascara. "I'm proud of all of us."

Greer grinned. "We're proud of us too!"

They laughed, tightening their grip before letting go so Kenna's dress didn't get ruined. They helped the bride fix it and stood back to admire their job well done at helping the bride. Not that the make up artist and hairstylist didn't do their bit but as the best friends of the bride, their job was the most important of them all.

"Time for the First Look," Mary said. "Are you ready?"

Kenna shrugged. "I don't know," she mumbled. "I'm anxious."

"That's perfectly normal," Lola said. "I'm sure your family assured you earlier?"

"They did."

"Then, the only thing left is to bring married life on," Greer told her.

...

"Can I turn around?" Bash asked nervously.

Kenna grinned and nodded before realising that he couldn't see her. That was the whole point. She walked up to him and placed her hands gently onto his shoulders, pressing a soft kiss on the back of his neck that smelt of her favourite cologne on him. It made him shiver and she giggled.

Stepping back, she said, "Take a look."

Bash took a moment before he slowly turned to face her. "It's very you."

Kenna sighed, crossing her arms. "Is that all you've got?"

Bash smirked. "Of course not," he told her, keeping his distance. "If I touched you, we might not even make it inside the chapel."

Kenna blushed. "Oh?"

"You're breathtaking, Kenna," he said. "You make a beautiful bride."

Kenna's eyes left his own and she blinked her tears away. "Really?"

"Today's not the time for insecurities, Mckenna," Bash said, coming over to lift her chin up so their eyes met again. "Remember last week?"

Kenna shakily nodded. "I do."

"Just remember that," he said, ghosting his lips over hers.

She needed him, needed to close the gap but he looked away just as the door opened and Narcisse stepped inside. Kenna mentally cursed the man but she guessed she'd rather save that kiss for when they were Man and Wife.

Bash cleared his throat and stepped back, letting Narcisse fix his honours on his suit. "I guess we should be glad that this is shorter than Francis and Mary's wedding."

Kenna nodded with a small smile. "Still a long arse ceremony."

"Yeah," he said, meeting her eyes before Kenna's father entered the room. "I guess I should go inside."

Kenna gave him a wink. "See you soon, lover."

...

Francis took Mary's hand and kissed the back of it. She had been feeling better lately, the second trimester coming underway. But that meant her appetite had returned and now, she craved food. And a lot of it.

"Why does this wedding have to be so long?" Mary muttered. "No offence to my best friend and your brother, but-"

"Baby wants to eat every single minute?" Francis asked, amused.

Mary nodded. "Baby and Mama." She rubbed her bump. "Kenna asked for a chocolate wedding cake. She knows how I feel about chocolate cake."

"You hate it?"

"No," Mary whined. "I love it and I really want it. All of it."

"I don't think the bride and groom would appreciate that," her husband said, laughing quietly.

Mary shrugged. "They love me, they'll get over it."

The couple stood with everyone else when Henry and Catherine entered. They took their time before they finally sat down on their thrones and waited for the proceedings to begin.

Before they sat down, Francis and Mary rose again out of respect for Diane who wore the largest evening hat of them all. It was French blue with diamonds and it covered half of her face. Henry stood up to offer her his arm which she took begrudgingly and allowed him to lead her to her seat beside him. She ignored Catherine's terse smile and Francis and Mary shared a wary look.

They sat down and watched as Narcisse led Bash down the aisle, positioning him on the right side in front of the Archbishop where the groom and Archbishop shook hands and engaged in small talk.

Mary looked around and her eyes landed on Francis's youngest sibling, Louis. He pulled a face and she returned the gesture, making him laugh much to his older sisters' annoyance. He scowled at Lissie and Claude and was calmed down by Margo.

"I wonder if our child will be as cheeky as your brother, Louis," Mary whispered to Francis.

Francis grinned. "Loulou is a blast," he replied. "If they are, we'll have them straightened out."

She chuckled. "I hope not. Brings joy to the home."

Finally, the Bridal March score began and everyone stood, except the King and his Queen. Diane tutted and stood up, smiling widely as she watched her future daughter-in-law being escorted down the aisle by her father.

She looked over at Bash and willed him to turn and watch his wife, but then remembered that they'd already done that. Perhaps, he was getting ready to face it all.

By the time Kenna reached the front, everyone took their seats again. Her father kissed her cheek and she handed her bouquet over to Greer. Using Bash's hand for support, she knelt onto the Prie-Dieu as Bash knelt down on his.

The Archbishop prayed over them and all Mary could think about was her and Francis's wedding. She smiled, turning to her husband who squeezed her hand in reply. As he wasn't the next in line, no one else had to kneel and pray but they watched the couple and closed their eyes when needed to.

Mary watched as the Archbishop retrieved three rings, just as he did at her wedding. The thinnest band for now which Bash slipped onto Kenna's manicured finger. She smiled to herself when she caught Kenna staring at the ring longer than needed before shaking herself out of her reverie and smiling at the Archbishop.

"You have a low attention span," Francis said under his breath, making her grin.

"I don't. I'm living in the moment," Mary replied.

"Yeah, right," Francis muttered back.

The Archbishop retrieved the registers, directed the couple to sign under their names, Sébastien Laurent Daniel & Mckenna Marie Rachel of Houses Valois-Angoulême and de Poitiers & Beaton respectively before Henry and Kenna's father signed the registers too. It made sense for the fathers of the couple to sign it as something told Mary that Catherine would have an uproar if Diane signed her name anywhere beside Henry's no matter what it was. Mary wondered how school was like for Bash. If he had to have his parents sign things off or just a royal aide to reduce the conflict between his father and stepmother.

"Crisis averted," Francis whispered, making Mary nod in agreement as both snuck glances at Catherine's steely posture. It seemed she couldn't wait to get out of here.

"Thank God this isn't being televised," Mary mumbled.

"Why's that?"

Mary smiled. "Because your mother keeps checking her watch."

Francis discreetly turned to her direction and he winced before turning back to the ceremony. "A part of me says that she didn't have to come but another part doesn't want the media to be all over this. Kenna's had enough bad press to last a lifetime."

"Mhm," Mary hummed. "The last thing she needs is to be called 'conniving' and 'difficult' for uninviting the Queen of France."

"You two talk too much," Leith cut in quietly, a smirk on his face after. "Now you know how the rest of us felt as you two made googly eyes at your wedding."

Mary giggled and stopped, keeping a straight face when some people turned to the three. "Shut up, Leith."

"As you wish, Your Highness," was the blonde's cheeky reply.

"Dear, God, Leith," Francis mumbled, chuckling.

Mary sat up straighter when the vows had begun. "Both of you, hush now!" She said to the men, making them look at her in amusement.

"Sébastien, do you take Mckenna to be your wife? Do you promise to be faithful to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and to honour her all the days of your life?" The Archbishop asked. As Kenna's relatives were mostly UK citizens, he had opted to speak in English for most parts, vows included.

"Doesn't sound as romantic," Mary mumbled. "I think they should have gone for French."

Francis grinned. "I agree with whatever you say."

She placed her hand on his knee and waited for Bash's response as Francis placed his own hand on top of hers.

"He's taking his time, isn't he?" Greer muttered. "I'm all for dramatic pauses-"

"But he's just standing there like a fish out of water," Lola finished.

Francis gave his brother a look and mouthed, "I do."

Kenna frowned a little but the smile never left her face as she mouthed nervously, "This is when you say 'I do'."

Bash turned to the Archbishop. "Je suis désolé. Can you repeat that again, s'il vous plaît?"

"Oui," the Archbishop said. "Sébastien, do you take Mckenna to be your wife? Do you promise to be faithful to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and to honour her all the days of your life?"

Again, he froze and Diane shared a nervous look with Henry. They were both as confused as the other, wondering what was wrong. Perhaps they pushed the idea of marriage on their son too hard. Even Catherine was intrigued as she sat forward on her seat.

Bash turned back to Kenna and shook his head, watching her face fall. "I-I'm sorry. I-I can't. I don't."

He let go of her hands and walked down the aisle, leaving Kenna stunned in her position. Everyone gasped and looked around, even Kenna's parents turned to the King and his ex-wife in mortification. Their son had left their precious daughter at the altar in front of everyone.

"I really want to swear-" Greer began.

"But we're in a House of God," Mary finished, getting up with her friends to quickly lead their shocked friend out. "We've got you, Kenna."

...

"I need a moment to myself-"

"Kenna-"

"Mary, please," Kenna begged her softly, turning away from the women. "Just five minutes." She placed her hands on her hips and bowed her head with a heavy sigh.

Mary shakily nodded and led Lola and Greer outside, almost bumping into some female relatives of Kenna. "She needs a moment," she told her aunt. "If she needs us, call for us."

"I will," Duchess Joanna replied, kissing their cheeks before waiting outside the room with her other relatives.

Mary, Lola and Greer headed upstairs to the King's State Apartments where the groom had been staying in one of the seven rooms. They found the men in Francis's cabinet where Henry was pacing the room with Narcisse nervously writing down something. Mary believed it to be a speech. Anything could have happened, rodent infestation, a guest falling ill, cutting it too fine to Jesus's birthday... So many choices. Never the one about the groom jilting his bride at the altar.

"Why?" Henry asked, flabbergasted.

"I told you why," Bash began, sighing heavily. "I just don't want to get married."

Henry took a sharp intake of breath before he planted a smile on his face. "Is it the venue? I noticed that the ambience was very hot. Perhaps, you'd be suited for a colder room to prevent perspiration."

"It wasn't the venue," Bash mumbled. "I don't sweat either."

"Fine, the date then!" Henry snapped. "How about we postpone it for after Christmas?"

Bash glared at his father. "Changing the venue and the date won't do anything to change my mind. I do not want to get married. Not now, not then, not ever."

"The only way I'd allow you to be unmarried is if you were widowed," Henry told him. "Now, I have to apologise to a life-long friend of mine whose daughter my son embarrassed in front of people representing more than three countries!"

"So your public image is more important than my feelings?" Bash asked, standing up. "It's nice to know that you're on my side only when you feel like it."

"Bash..." Francis said gently.

Bash shrugged indifferently. "Honest to God, I woke up this morning thinking that I'd have a wife by the end of the day. But standing in that chapel, listening to those vows..." He shook his head. "I realised that I always give up something for the sake of other people. Willingly or not. When is someone going to do something for me?"

Mary felt bad. Here she was, coming to berate him for doing that to her cousin but she found the words weren't there anymore. It was true. He had sacrificed so much and this was the one chance he had a decision for himself and not his father or some woman he barely knew.

Henry swallowed deeply. "Well, when you put it like that...," he mumbled, scratching the back of his neck. "I can't argue with that."

"What are you going to do?" Mary asked Bash.

"Apologise to Kenna properly and wish her all the best," he said. "I will get right onto an annulment."

Mary mentally cursed. They did sign the papers before the vows. They'd take the blessings and reject the rest of the wedding ceremony.

"Right," she whispered. "We'll leave you, men, to speak and sort this debacle out in peace."

She left with Greer and Lola, slipping her phone out of her purse to see that she had a voicemail from Kenna.

Frowning, she answered the voicemail and listened to it.

"Hey, Mary. Uh, I just need to get out of here for a while. I-I think I'll head back home to Scotland or somewhere new, like Sweden. It had been my plan to leave since the beginning, honestly... Now, there's nothing for me in France. You have Francis, Lola and Greer are onto pastures new... Being not only your cousin and confidante but your best friend has been a dream come true and I'm sorry to say that I'll have to resign from my position effective immediately. It's a win-win situation, you're no longer linked to a 'Scottish Slut' anymore and I get a new start. I love you, Mary Stuart, I always will. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance and promise me, you'll always be happy. Even when Francis makes you mad, just hit him from me to make him see your way. Oh, and give your baby a kiss from their aunt, will you? Mar sin leat."

Mary gasped in shock and quickly headed back downstairs where Diane was speaking to Robert and Joanna. From the looks on their faces, the voicemail was true. She turned to Lola and Greer in surprise as tears threatened to fall, but she didn't let them.

"She's gone?" Lola asked in shock.

Diane nodded sadly. "She's gone."

...

Kenna rested her forehead against the wall of the little First Class cocoon that she had on the plane. There was no need to go private when there were many spaces left on the plane to Sweden. It would be adventurous, a breath of fresh air.

She frowned when she heard tapping and turned to see a man give her a small smile, offering her his hand. Frowning, she shook it anyway.

"Antoine Bourbon," he introduced himself.

"Rachel," Kenna replied, using the name she first gave to Bash the night they met up for sex.

Antoine chuckled wryly. "Not Kenna, the Comtessa of whoring and drinking?"

Kenna scowled and she retrieved her hand, letting it fall onto her stomach. "What do you want?"

"Oh, you don't need to worry," he said. "I don't believe a lot of what the French media says - it's a waste of my time and good energy. Weren't you getting married today?"

Kenna frowned, even more, studying him closely. "You... You were there."

Antoine nodded, taking a sip from his drink. "Cousin to the groom," he said. "Distant, mind you. Surprisingly, I'm also related to the Queen as well."

"Well, that's royal families for you," Kenna muttered.

Antoine smiled. "I'm sorry my cousin left you in front of all those people. He never did have class."

"You say that as if you know him intimately."

"We served in the Army together. Humanitarian Aids."

Kenna nodded. "I see."

"For the longest of time, he's always wanted to be normal. He'd often try and sneak off for the more exciting stuff, but his temper didn't help things whenever he was caught. Anyway," Antoine said, finishing his drink. "One man's loss is another man's gain."

Kenna turned away from him but looked back when he pressed something against her hand. "What's this for?"

"You look like you need it more than me," he said, pouring her a glass of the wine he had with him. "Drink up."

Kenna downed the glass and gestured for him to pour her some more. "Fuck it, give me the whole damn bottle."

...

Mary chucked her phone onto the bed, pacing the room. "She still isn't answering."

"You did call her literally seconds before you tried her again. And before that," Francis replied, undoing his tie. "Come and rest-"

"It's only four o'clock," Mary said. "I need to look for Kenna and make sure she's alright."

"Kenna's a big girl-"

"Who was dumped at an altar in front of a thousand-odd people!" Mary cried out, stopping to stare at her husband incredulously. "If you ever did that to me, I'd kill you."

Francis laughed. "Spoiler alert, I'm wearing the ring and have the woman in my bed every night."

Mary blushed furiously. "Shut up."

Francis got up when a knock sounded on the door and he opened it to reveal Jones with a newspaper on a tray. He took the newspaper and read the headline, sighing heavily.

"How the fuck did they get this story already?"

Mary stood behind her husband and studied the article herself. "Claude or Lissie probably."

"So much for going with the rodent infestation," Francis muttered. "Thank you, Monsieur."

Jones left, leaving the couple with the newspaper.

Mary sighed, starting to read it. "'Scottish Slut Dumped At Altar'," she paused, rolling her eyes. "'The King's eldest son saw sense and dumped the Scottish harlot. Many guests were not surprised at the scene which saw the bridegroom deny his vows to the Archbishop and bride in front of God and his father, King Henry VI. Princess Elisabeth of Valois said that it was quite the spectacle, watching the bride standing there in "complete and utter shock at being rejected for the first time in her life". We, for one, would have paid to see that picture of the Comtessa's dreams of destroying a great dynasty shattered.'" Mary scoffed bitterly. "Dramatic, aren't they?"

Francis threw the newspaper into the bin. "This will all blow over and it will be a distant memory."

"We'll see," she mumbled, sitting down on the sofa and bringing her feet up. "I don't know... Her voicemail was so not her."

"She's been dumped on her wedding day, I'm sure she's not feeling herself at this moment," Francis replied.

"This is the first time we're spending a long time apart," Mary said. "You know how I am with my separation anxiety."

Francis sat down beside her and brought her feet to his lap. "You didn't have that with me."

"That's different."

"How?"

"You and I are forever, friends come and go but not my friends," Mary said gently. "Kenna and I have been together since I was born, we're practically sisters at this point. Lola and Greer have also been with me throughout everything too. We all got through Aylee's death together, we all mourned Greer's mother's death together, we even had a friendship prom and crowned ourselves all queens."

Francis began to massage her feet. "I'm sorry my brother's stupid."

Mary laughed. "We do not hold you or the rest of your family accountable for Bash's actions. At least, Julien, Remy and Leith got their wish and drank the bar dry."

"Shame the cake's gone to waste," Francis said.

"Or has it?"

Just then, there was a knock on the door and Francis got up to answer it. A butler wheeled in the bottom tier of the wedding cake before he bowed and left the couple to it with two forks and no plates.

"Mary!"

Mary grinned. "What baby wants, baby gets."

"Or what Mama wants, Mama gets," Francis replied. "But I'm not complaining!"

She laughed when he got up and grabbed a fork, quickly taking a bite of the cake. She playfully rolled her eyes and dug in herself, closing her eyes to savour the taste.

"I feel kind of bad."

"Why?" Francis asked.

"We wouldn't have got this if not for the wedding being cancelled," she said.

"Aaand the moment's ruined with that sad reminder," Francis muttered lightly.

Mary sighed. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine," Francis said, chuckling softly. "Fine, if you're really worried about her, try her phone again."

Mary grinned, pressing a long kiss against his lips. "I think I'll leave it for now. Because I have an idea for the cake."

"And what may that be?" Francis asked, watching as she leant closer to undo his shirt buttons.

Mary shrugged. "You'll see."

...

Diane sat down on the bed beside Bash and handed him a glass of Scotch. "Has she answered yet?"

"No," he said, taking a sip. "She's disappeared off into thin air and neither of the girls will tell me where."

"No one knows," Diane replied. "She asked for some privacy for herself and by the time we had the door opened, she was gone. Her wedding rings, her dress and shoes were all that were left behind. She sent Mary a voicemail, she quit Versailles. And France overall."

Diane slipped her mother's ring off her right ring finger and showed it to Bash with a sad shrug before putting it back on and wrapping an arm around his shoulders, pressing her cheek on his forearm.

Bash sighed, bowing his head and resting his elbows on his thighs. "I... just couldn't go through with it."

"Do you love her?" His mother asked.

"I told her that I will come to love her one day, but if I'm honest, I can't see beyond a month with her, let alone anyone," Bash replied. "I put it down to cold feet but no, this was a whole case of hypothermia."

Diane smiled wryly. "Not all marriages start off with romance and the works," she said. "But I genuinely thought you'd found the one at least."

"Did you know she slept with Father?"

Diane raised her eyebrows. "Haven't we all?" She replied lightly. "Granted, she is not like most girls but I saw myself in her. Young, spirited but with a sad background."

"You knew about her situation?"

Diane nodded. "I spoke to her about it. I told her to tell you. Insecurity is so overwhelming but it is a thing and it happens to the strongest of us. We're not all Barbie dolls meant to parade about in plastic smiles and fake ingenuity. Such is life."

She got up and pressed a kiss on the top of his head. He closed his eyes and gripped onto her arm gently, biting his lip to stop the tears. She hugged him and stayed like that for ten minutes before letting go and wiping his cheeks for him.

"It's my fault that you believe love doesn't exist in your world," she whispered. "Your father and I should never influence your future. Should never stop you from falling for someone, because it isn't all the time your heart gets broken and you fear to put yourself through that again. Love is a learning experience. So learn from it."

With that, she left him with that food for thought and Bash laid back on the bed, bringing his phone up to his eyesight.

On his phone's wallpaper, there was Kenna and their dog, Olenna. The poor thing was given treats before Kenna left with some of her things, leaving a message to Miranda that she'll have people pack up her clothes, shoes and anything else she owned from all of their residences.

He sent her a simple text.

{To Kenna: Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead - Oscar Wilde. Bonne chance, Mckenna.}

He gasped when he received a reply back, sitting up to read it more clearly.

{From Kenna: Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much - Oscar Wilde. Bonne chance, Sebastian.}

Bash smiled sadly. He let out a little laugh, raising his eyebrows.

{To Kenna: I'm your enemy now? I'm truly sorry. But as our favourite poet, Oscar Wilde, said: To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance. I hope you do accept yourself one day.}

{From Kenna: The heart was made to be broken. The truth is rarely pure and never simple - Oscar Wilde. Adieu, Sebastian.}

Bash knew that she wouldn't reply anymore. He had his assurance that she would be okay down the line. So he left it with one last text.

{To Kenna: The very essence of romance is uncertainty. Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic - Oscar Wilde. Au revoir, Mckenna.}

...

Kenna stared at the last text he sent over and over again. Her fingers found the wine glass she was sipping from and she lifted it, taking a long gulp of the red wine inside.

She didn't know what the first part meant. If they'd find their way back to each other again or if they'd find other people and see each other down the line as good friends.

The last bit sent a chill down her spine. She placed her glass down, noticing that she was shaking and she sighed, rubbing her tired face.

Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic - Oscar Wilde.

Bash had called her exquisite once.

Deep down, she was ugly.

She stood up and went to the bathroom. She was staying at a five-star hotel somewhere in the middle of Sweden. No questions asked, no one bothering her or noticing her for being the jilted bride of France.

She sniffled, wiping her nose as she stared at the messages she wrote for herself on the glass. 'Slut'. 'Whore'. 'Ugly'. They went on, red bold and staring at her in the face.

Crossing her arms, she bit her lip and took a shaky breath before grabbing a face towel and beginning to wipe the words off. Damn Bash for influencing her life, even a whole damn country away.

By the time she was done, the mirror was clean and the wounds had started to heal.

But not her heart.

Because he had it.

And she never wanted it back.