Quote of the chapter: "When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it-always." ― Mahatma Gandhi.
Kenna turned to Mary once the police left. Mary was fast asleep, bags under her eyes as she was curled up on the uncomfortable chair. It was past nine now and Mary showed no signs of leaving.
Just before she closed her eyes to fall asleep herself, the door opened and Francis entered, his eyes meeting hers. They froze, the door open as Francis's hand stilled on the handle and Kenna's throat suddenly becoming dry.
"I'm just here for Mary," he whispered. "Glad you see you're awake."
Kenna swallowed deeply. "No one's telling me about Bash. I'm starting to think he's fine and out there, finding out who did this because honestly, I wouldn't have got through this if he didn't save my life."
Francis bit his lip and avoided her gaze. "No, Kenna."
"What?" She asked, her heart leaping.
Francis sighed, bowing his head. "Uh, he-he had a bleed. On his brain. He wouldn't have shown any symptoms but well..."
Kenna started to laugh. "You're lying," she said, trying to shift but her leg was held in place by an immobiliser. "He woke me up in the car and h-he tied my scarf around my leg, we talked about children and-and he promised he wouldn't leave me but he had to get help." She then frowned in realisation. "He didn't come back."
"Kenna-"
"Everything was so peaceful. The birdsong, the serenity... Then it became dark and I woke up and I saw Mary," Kenna said quietly.
Francis entered the room and closed the door behind him. "Why were you together?"
Kenna gave him a look, her eyes casting down to her left hand but her rings were obviously gone. "We got married again. He said that he was stupid and that he wanted to be with me after all. We had a great day, stopped by our new home in Sweden. It's got seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms... Perfect..." She took a shaky breath. "How bad is he?"
"Unresponsive."
"Is there a chance of recovery? Brain damage or whatever?"
Francis frowned a little. "How do you know-"
"The right questions to ask? My eldest brother is a doctor. I used to do my homework when he was studying," Kenna said. "Brain trauma, he read that a few times over for his exam."
"Well, we'll just have to wait and see." He went over to Mary and gently shook her awake. "Let's go home, my love."
"Ken-"
"I'm fine," Kenna cut her off with a smile. "Go home. Look after Baby."
Mary rubbed her bump and nodded, accepting help from Francis as he used his other hand to collect her things. "You'll call me if anything happens, right?" She asked.
"If I pass out, I'll try and call you," Kenna said lightly.
Mary tutted, stretching. "Jesus, that chair isn't bloody half comfortable."
"No, it isn't, lass," Kenna replied, laughing a little. "Go on, sleep in a proper bed and let that baby get a good night's rest."
Mary gave her a soft smile and pressed a kiss on Kenna's head before leaving. She noted that Francis wasn't behind her and she turned to see him give Kenna a brief hug and an assuring message that Bash will be fine.
Mary smiled and turned to find Fabian waiting for them. "Are we going to Fontainebleau?"
"Versailles is closer and the King doesn't want to be disturbed," Fabian explained. "The young princes and princesses are coming to stay at Versailles."
"Understandable," Mary muttered, rubbing her bump. "I'll have Mr Jones settle the children in."
"Very well, Your Highness," Fabian said as Francis left the room and closed the door behind him.
He offered her his hand and she took it, feeling him press a kiss on the back of her hand. They began to follow Fabian outside and just before they reached the doors, Francis handed her a pair of sunglasses.
"Your eyes are-"
"Not queenly?" Mary asked, smiling as she put them on. "These bags under my eyes are the least of my worries... I never asked, how is Bash?"
Francis shook his head. "No change. Claude's there with Michel - she'll leave soon. I heard from Gautier that Father dismissed his security guards. Two weeks, no pay for the senior staff and intense training for the junior guards."
"Damn," Mary muttered. "It's not their fault."
"They should have been there," Francis said, shaking his head. "Anyway, let's go home."
They left the hospital and headed towards the car. Everything seemed like slow motion, the flashing camera lights reflecting off her glasses as she politely smiled and shielded her face from the questions being asked. The native reporters seemed to be respectful, probably because it was one of their own. The foreign news reporters screamed at and demanded answers from them and Mary rolled her eyes, glad for the glasses shielding her unimpressed reaction.
When they got into the car and drove off, she sighed in relief.
"Louis Bourbon was at the hospital," Mary stated.
Francis set his jaw. "Did he say why?"
"His brother's wife, Corrine or something like that fell and she's pregnant so they were concerned," Mary told him. "He had flowers and everything and I couldn't stop thinking why he was at the private wing even though his sister-in-law was a patient because Bash and Kenna's rooms are further away from the rest."
Francis scoffed, shaking his head. "Marcus divorced his wife five years ago. He's got a girlfriend and she is most certainly not pregnant."
Mary gaped. "What?"
"Shit," he muttered.
"What is it?"
"There's something Kenna and Bash not telling us," Francis said. "Otherwise, why would he ask for extra security?"
Mary decided to voice her fears. "I thought the same thing. There's something going on and it's eating me up inside. Perhaps it has something to do with the Bourbons?"
Francis nodded, rubbing her thigh. "We'll know soon enough. Let's just get some rest and rejuvenate to come back tomorrow morning."
...
Madeleine Van Houten, formerly Madeleine Bourbon. She was tall, thin, brunette, light brown-eyed, beautiful. She had just turned thirty in the previous year, the only girl in the family.
She wasn't close with her brothers nor was she surprised to be invited to Fontainebleau and currently sat in front of the King himself. She crossed one leg over the other.
"How is the Duke?" She asked softly.
Henry's blue-green eyes landed on her as he turned away from the window, the sky as dark as his heart right now. "I doubt any of your family members should be asking that considering it was you who..."
Madeleine frowned, her eyebrows creasing. "U-Uncle Henry, I do not understand-"
"How is your brother, Antoine, these days?"
She bowed her head. "Father wrote him out of his will, he doesn't stop by too often. Didn't take it too kindly after we shunned him following his divorce. He's the reason why we can't see my nephew and my father is dying and all he wants is to see his grandson one last time."
"But Jeanne will never allow it," Henry said knowingly. "She is well if you're wondering."
"I'm glad," Madeleine breathed out. "She never answers my calls." She sighed. "Uncle, if Antoine was behind what happened to Cousin Sébastien, then I can assure you that we had no part in that."
"I believe you," Henry told her. "You were unfortunate to be born into such a disastrous family. Surprisingly, you're probably the only woman they've not raped."
Madeleine flinched. "Marcus and that woman came to an agreement. As for Louis... Slander when it comes to him, his soul is too pure for that."
Henry chuckled wryly. "You don't even try and defend Antoine."
"I have seen what he did to all of those women, to Jeanne," Madeleine replied. "Now, she looks like a dishwasher ate her and threw her up. That is no life, scared of your husband, being branded and broken..." She held a hand to her mouth and closed her eyes. "I will never defend that monster. But I will help you try and locate him no matter what."
"Thank you, Baroness Van Houten," Henry said, heading to the door to open it as she stood and walked over. "Anything you have, send it to Gautier."
"Oui, Monsieur," Madeleine said before finally leaving.
Henry closed the door and went over to his desk, picking up his phone and calling Fabian.
"Fabian? Emergency family meeting right now. Only my older children."
"I will retrieve them for the video call right now," Fabian replied. "The usual channel, Monsieur?"
"Yes," Henry said. "Retrieve them quickly, I will be waiting."
...
Francis led his sisters to his cabinet where the TV was set up already. They watched as their father paced the room on his side and they took seats, gaining his attention.
"Have you eaten?" Was the first thing he asked.
Francis nodded but his sisters turned to him and shook their heads. "I'll eat before I sleep."
"I will call the kitchens to make sure you do," Henry told him. "Look after yourselves, this is a trying time but we can't fall unwell. We must show a united and strong front, for France and for your brother."
"Yes, Father," Francis mumbled, blushing slightly.
Henry nodded. "Good. Right, you all are old enough to know what is going on right now."
"Did you find out who did this?" Claude asked, eyes wide. "Tell us you did."
"I did."
They sighed in relief.
"Who?" Lissie demanded, standing up and crossing her arms. "Who do we throw in jail to rot forever?"
"Antoine."
Francis furrowed his brows. "But why? Why did he do this? He and Bash have never-"
"Since Christmas, Antoine has been stalking Kenna," Henry told them, lifting up photographs taken of the woman to show them. "Since the wedding. I had Gautier trace her steps to see where and when he encountered her. I have the evidence here, notes of threats and warnings. 'I will kill you's and 'I want your blood drained from your body's..."
"He must have thought she was an easy target since Bash was no longer in the picture," Margo said, cringing at the words the notes said. "But then Bash was back with her, and he got mad and drove them off the road."
Lissie rolled her eyes. "Antoine has always been jealous."
"Why did he stalk her if they've never even spoken to each other?" Claude asked her father.
Henry winced. "Actually, they met on the plane to Sweden. CCTV showed that they left the airport together and stayed at a hotel. She later left a few hours and made her way to a new hotel. I'm guessing they... slept together."
"He never did take rejection well," Francis said. "So that's why Bash asked for security measures. To keep Antoine away."
"What happens now? Where is he?" Margo asked.
Henry shook his head. "No one knows. I have his sister on the matter. It seems that he didn't leave Sweden so the police over there are looking for him."
"How does this work? Do we demand him to be extradited?" Lissie asked her father. "Or will the King of Sweden handle it?"
"We never let other people punish those who did us wrong, Elisabeth," Claude told her. "He has to pay. Do we do death sentences that involve actual death?"
Henry raised his eyebrows. "Peine de mort is banned, daughter."
"Can we have an exception?" Francis asked. "He did commit attempted murder of a prince. Hell, he even tried to kill a descendant of some Scottish royal if that wasn't enough and stalked her, threatened to kill her."
"I, for one, will agree with the decision," Lissie told their father. "Margo?"
Margo slowly nodded. "I agree."
"Well," Henry said firmly. "It is not up to discussion. Peine de mort is not an option."
"I wish this happened in America so it was an option," Lissie snapped angrily. "The people will see you as weak."
"No, they will see a man who abides by the law. I may be king but I will not ruin years of laws and amendments just because some disgruntled family member put my son in the hospital," Henry told his children. "We must go about this politically."
Francis sighed. "He's right."
"Oh, Francis!" His sisters cried out.
"What if he killed Papa?" Margo asked him. "Would you still be saying the same? That would be regicide."
Francis turned to his father. "Life sentence. Extra-secure prison somewhere in the middle of the sea or something... Bash wouldn't want him dead."
"You clearly don't know our brother as well as you thought you did," Claude muttered darkly. "Bash would be ordering for him to be shot on sight. Antoine is a threat to society. For years, he's terrorised women and we all know the women who said he raped them were telling the truth. His father can't sweep this story under the carpet! He targeted the King of France's son."
"Claude is right," Francis said quietly. "But the death sentence is not an option."
"You're thinking like a king," Henry said proudly. "Good. You have to choose the wiser option, even if both sound as good and reasonable as the other."
Lissie scoffed. "You're ridiculous-"
"Just a few months ago, you didn't even care about Bash!" Francis cried out, standing up. "None of you did, so how dare you tell me that I don't know him? If he heard you all right now, he'd be so disappointed. He's been there for you, show him the same courtesy and respect that we can't always get what we want. That we have to show people that we can forgive, just as the Bible tells us to do. We must set an example, be the hope this country needs. Not bloodthirsty spoilt brats!"
Henry closed his eyes. "You're dismissed. Go to bed, all of you."
Lissie was the first to leave, almost breaking the door as she yanked it open and stormed out. Margo followed after her, sending her father and brother an apologetic glance. Claude was last and she nervously walked up to the screen.
"There's something I need to tell you. It may not be the best time but I need to get it off my chest," she said, eyeing Francis as well.
"Well, spit it out," Henry said, going to his desk to sit down.
Claude released a deep breath before saying, "I'm gay."
Henry shrugged. "And?"
"I'm sorry?"
"What do you want me to do with that information?" Henry asked her.
"I... I don't know," Claude replied breathlessly.
Henry gave her a soft smile. "We knew. We were waiting for you to tell us but... now's not the time for celebrating, sweetheart."
"You're not mad?" Claude asked, her voice breaking.
"Why would I be mad?"
"Because we're... Catholic."
"C'est la vie," Henry said. "We are who we are. You're not the first person to come out in the family."
"No?"
Henry chuckled. "At least not on my side. Your mother's brother or thereabouts, he's married to a man. Well, he was disowned, but we can't pick our family."
Claude grinned. "Thanks, Papa."
"Now, go to bed. I need a moment with your brother."
Just as she was about to leave, she felt Francis take her hand and give it a squeeze. She beamed at him through her tears, feeling all the things he wanted to tell her in that one handhold. He loved her, he accepted her, he would do anything for her.
"Bonne nuit," he whispered.
"Et toi," Claude replied before leaving.
"Father, I still believe we should bring back peine de mort for certain cases," Francis said, turning to the screen.
"Bash is not dead."
"He's not alive either," Francis retorted. "Or how do you refer to a comatose person? I've read up on the condition, it could last years. And even if he wakes up, he'll never be the same again. Or if we're lucky, he'll be alright but things will still change for us all."
Henry sighed, rubbing his face hard. "If he had died or if he dies, then I will consider going to speak to Parliament myself and get the Prime Minister backing peine de mort for Antoine Bourbon. But I have faith, Francis. I have God on my side, telling me that everything will work out accordingly. Justice will be served and my son will be fine."
Francis looked away from the screen, his eyes watering. "I wish I was half as optimistic as you and Bash were. I don't know how you do it."
"It's hard but as I said, keep my faith. I have to go, I want to attend a midnight vigil with Diane," Henry said. "Keep love in your heart, Francis."
"I will, Papa. Bonne nuit."
"Bonne nuit."
The screen went black and Francis sighed when he felt arms wrap around his waist.
"Claude said you'd still be here," Mary whispered.
"Why aren't you sleeping?"
"I had an hour's nap at the hospital," Mary reminded him. "I missed your warmth."
Francis turned in her arms and kissed her hard. "I need you."
Mary nodded and started to undo the buttons on his shirt. "I'm here for you, Francis."
"I'm here for you too, Mary," he replied, cupping her cheeks before kissing her.
She felt her cheeks become wet and she stopped, pulling away to cup his cheeks as his hands fell. She used her thumbs to wipe his cheeks and gave him a watery smile.
"Don't cry, Francis," she told him. "Otherwise I'll cry and our baby will think we're both hot messes."
He laughed, wiping his nose as he leant his forehead against hers. "I feel like I'm alone."
"In what way?"
"In the way that before you were here for good, only Bash could bring my spirits up," Francis said with a sigh. "I mean, it was bad enough being the Dauphin of France but not being able to do something as much as step outside the chateau... We'd go everywhere and anywhere. He flew me to Florida once and had someone pretend to be me by saying I was sick and needed to stay at Avon to reduce contamination or some shit."
Mary laughed. "He sounded convincing!"
"He could lie, but no matter what, he told me the truth always."
"That's what brothers are for," Mary whispered, her eyes tearing up. "I wish James and I had half the relationship you and Bash have. He's my half-brother but we're so many miles apart. Yet, here you and your own half-brother are, kings of your world."
Francis sniffled, bowing his head. "Can we just cuddle and talk tonight?"
Mary nodded. "I'd love nothing more."
...
Come morning, Mary groaned when she felt something on her front and her back on the bed. She looked over her shoulder and saw Francis's youngest brother, Louis tucked into her back, the little boy's chest rising up and down as he slept.
"Oh, yeah," Francis mumbled, his eyes opening. "Louis had nightmares."
"I'll get out-"
"No, I will," Francis said, sliding out of the bed so she could settle down more comfortably.
Mary gave him a thankful smile as he collected a blanket and wrapped it around his bare chest, settling into the sofa. "How about you? I heard you mumbling in your sleep."
Francis ran his fingers through his damp hair and nodded. "I had a nightmare too," he admitted quietly. "It's stupid."
"Tell me," Mary said, turning to LouLou and brushing his hair with her fingers as he continued to sleep.
"Okay," Francis breathed out. "I was in the car with Bash and it went out of control. I woke up when the car launched into the air before landing upside down. My shirt was drenched, I'm half surprised I didn't wake you up with how soaked the bed was. That was when LouLou came in, saying he had a nightmare and another one after the governess settled him back to sleep."
Mary left the bed and made herself comfortable on Francis's lap, wrapping an arm around his neck as she ran her fingers up and down his chest. "You're safe, Francis."
"I know that."
"Bash will be fine."
"I know that too."
"I'm happy you trust me to talk to me about things like that," she told him.
Francis smiled softly. "It feels great having someone to talk to who is not a courtier or Bash. A woman who I can be vulnerable to."
Mary kissed him. "I love you."
"I love you too."
...
Mary ignored the questions. The next day of constant badgering about the Duke and Duchess of Orléans' conditions. She made her way to Kenna's room and sat down, sighing relief.
"Reporters?" Kenna asked, gesturing to the TV with the live footage.
"I can't stand them," Mary muttered bitterly.
Kenna smiled wryly. "They say that Henry's demanded a manhunt for an unrevealed suspect."
"Antoine Bourbon."
"Thought as much," Kenna mumbled. "I slept with him after the wedding. I was upset and he preyed on that because he filled me with alcohol on the plane journey to Sweden. I told him that we were a mistake and I left. Next thing I know, I'm receiving photos of myself, death threats and I'm terrified to leave my hotel rooms. Plural because I jumped from one to another to try and get away but he was relentless and ruthless and-"
"You're safe now," Mary quickly said, seeing her friend becoming distressed. She placed her hand on Kenna's. "Bash is improving. They're letting him remain comatose for now but he's showing signs of brain activity."
Kenna breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God. I don't know what I would do without him. He's my life."
"He must be if you didn't invite me to the wedding," Mary mumbled.
"Mary-"
"I'm messing with you," Mary quickly said with a smile. "I'm glad you worked things out. He was concerned about you."
Kenna sighed. "Now the tables have turned. Can I see him?"
"Not right now," Mary told her gently. "Just focus on your recovery first."
"How exactly?"
Mary reached into her handbag and retrieved a diary, placing it in Kenna's hands. "Miranda had your belongings. I don't know, I got curious and looked through it. What's this for?"
Kenna gave her a sad smile. "I think you know what it's for."
"I thought you stopped-"
"I did," Kenna quickly said. "But I was just skipping meals. That helped me."
Mary nodded slowly and crossed one leg over the other. "Does Bash know?"
"I didn't even know you knew," Kenna whispered.
"I didn't want to press you too hard," Mary said carefully. "Then you got better and then September happened then December..."
Kenna looked down at the diary. "Bash knows. He was supportive and understanding. He wanted to help. That's why he found me because he thought I'd do something stupid but I was just trying to get better in peace."
"You're going to be just fine, Kenna. Everything will be fine," Mary told her firmly. "Let's talk about something else."
Kenna nodded, smiling a little. "Please."
"So, Louis has nightmares," Mary announced.
"Oh."
"Yeah, he didn't take the news too well. Bash got him his first horse," Mary replied. "He snuck into our bed and Francis and I didn't complain. They're all upset." Her lips wavered. "Emone thinks that Antoine will come for her so she barricaded her and Hattie in their bedroom and refused to leave."
Kenna covered her face. "It's all my fault-"
"No-"
"If I had told Bash to stay away... If I had rejected Antoine... None of this would have happened."
"Well, you would have still been hurt if you rejected Antoine," Mary told her. "Bash in the picture or not. But I guess everyone would be less in mourning and more happier."
Kenna clicked her tongue. "So, I'm going to try physiotherapy soon. I just need to get out of this bed."
"That's good," Mary drawled out. "I'm just relieved that most of the blood came from superficial wounds and there's not going to be lasting damage. I know how much you like to run. Away mostly but..."
"Now, now, Mary dear," Kenna began lightly. "Let's not tease the bedridden girl."
Mary laughed. "I'm going to go. Lola and Greer are taking me to some film premiere to get our minds off this... I'll be back tonight."
"No," Kenna mumbled. "Stay home. I'm fine. My family are here and I think they're starting to get annoyed at you being here with me all the time."
Mary chuckled. "Practise for when Mum gets worse."
"Mary!"
"Dark humour is our thing, isn't it?" Mary asked her, getting up. "See you later."
Kenna gave her a smile. "See you."
...
A month later, Mary found herself slow sipping on some sparkling water. She watched as people conversed at the Valentine's themed party Henry and Catherine hosted. They couldn't cancel it this year, they never cancelled it. It was the one party the French nobility and fifteen lucky middle and lower class people could let loose and enjoy the day.
It began at five prompt and ended at ten.
With a sigh, Mary left her position and walked over to where Remy and Lola were. Everyone wore masquerade masks but Mary, Greer and Lola had conveniently gone with navy sequined masks to recognise each other easier.
"...I honestly don't feel like partying," Mary caught the last bit of Remy's sentence before he turned to look at her, bowing his head a little in acknowledgement. "Dauphine."
"Vicomte," she greeted formally.
Everyone was on edge in the family and friends department. Bash still hadn't woken up, Kenna had been flown to Scotland to recover more there and Francis was absent. Even when he was in the same room, his mind was always elsewhere, studying nightly the effects of comas and brain trauma, trying to understand everything the doctors said to the family. It got to the point that Mary had begged Kenna's brother who was a neurosurgeon to come to France to assure Francis.
Nothing worked.
"You look tired," Remy told her.
Mary scoffed lightly. "How can you tell, I have a bloody mask covering my face."
"Everyone who is close to the family looks like shit," Remy stated. "I'm surprised Catherine's playing her role perfectly. The bereft stepmother."
"At least she requested Italy's military aid in looking for Antoine," Lola said. "That was kind of her and her family."
"She is just doing this for the publicity," Leith said, joining their conversation with Greer. "She'd use any opportunity-"
"Leith," Greer said warningly. "Not now."
Mary rolled her eyes. "I don't know why they didn't cancel today."
"It's a 'pay to enter' event," Leith told them. "It's hosted every year and all proceeds go to charity or to the Church's missionary fund. This year, proceeds go to charities revolving brain shit and physiotherapy."
"That's... thoughtful," Mary said, strained. She sipped her drink, spotting Francis speaking to Lissie. Their conversation was tense and Mary knew what it was about.
Her eyes landed on Lissie's ex-boyfriend and she sighed. Elisabeth still kept her secret and each day it was taking a toll on Francis, Mary and Margo on keeping it. Fabian was fine, he was used to keeping things to the grave.
"Excuse me," Mary muttered, heading to the two blondes. "You both need to calm down. you're making a damn scene."
"I couldn't care less," Lissie snapped. "Why isn't this charade of a ball party cancelled?"
"I was thinking the same thing."
"And look at my parents, acting as if they're so in love and that Bash isn't in a coma," Lissie continued, the three of them watching Henry and Catherine waltz on the dancefloor as if there was nothing plaguing their minds. "Despicable."
Francis pinched the bridge of his nose before placing his hands on his hips impatiently. "I can't be here. I need to go and find that neurosurgeon-"
"Francis," Mary called him softly but he wasn't having none of it.
"He's the best. He's from Sweden but he works in England his opinion could make or break Bash's recovery," Francis continued. "If I could just get him to reply to my email otherwise I'll fly out tonight and get him myself."
Lissie scoffed. "Francis, get a hold of yourself."
Francis glared at her. "I am turning twenty-one in five days and he's still not awake. He's never missed my birthday. Louis was upset that he wasn't there for his ninth earlier this month. I won't let Louis suffer from another nightmare."
"And yours?" Lissie asked him tauntingly. "How are yours going?"
"Elisabeth-" Francis snapped before Mary placed a hand on his chest.
"Both of you, take a walk," Mary said calmly. "Return, grab a drink. Alcoholic or not, I don't care just stop making a scene." She planted a fake smile on her face and kissed Francis. "I need to find Margaret and see how she's doing. I will check on you both after."
Mary left them and searched the room, finding Margo on the dancefloor with the Duke of Basse-Navarre. She seemed happy and Mary smiled, about to disturb them but she was led away by Charles and Henri who took her outside.
"Can you give us an excuse to leave?" Charles asked her, leaning against the wall. "And no, homework won't be enough."
Mary smiled wryly, ruffling Henri's hair. "I will tell your parents I sent you on a mission."
"What kind of mission?" Henri asked curiously.
"To find something for my heartburn," she replied. "I'll say you offered graciously. Find Mr Jones and tell him I sent you to follow him and get a breather. He won't say anything to your parents, he works for me."
"He's cool," Henri agreed. "Thanks, Mary."
"You're welcome."
Watching them walk away, Mary felt a presence behind her and she turned to face the other Louis in her life. Sort of.
"You're everywhere I turn," she told him, sipping her drink.
"I heard that Bash still hasn't left the hospital."
"Where's Antoine, Louis?"
"W-What?"
Mary rolled her eyes. "I thought we were friends, family. So tell me, where is your brother?"
"I don't know," Louis said. "My sister asked the same thing a while back. She's never asked before."
"We just have a few enquiries," Mary explained. "He and Kenna were speaking after the wedding-"
"So, you think my brother did this?" Louis asked, scoffing.
Mary raised her eyebrows. "Isn't he the one who's raped and killed women?"
"My brother never killed any-"
"So, you admit that he raped women?"
"Dauphine-"
"Your brother," she began, swallowing deeply. She was going to say that they all knew he did it but she didn't want to help him, she didn't want to lose them their upper hand. "Has had a history for stalking, GBH, domestic violence and the list goes on. Can you see where my fear stems from when we see video evidence of him and Kenna talking?"
Louis sighed. "I wish I knew, I really do. I didn't know that my cousin's wellbeing hadn't improved. I would have pressed for information, found him myself."
"Louis?"
Louis froze and he turned to face a redhaired woman making her way to them. "Beth."
Beth linked her arm with his and gave Mary a bright smile. "Duchess de Anjou, God it's been so long since I last saw you."
"I'm sorry, who-"
"Come on, Cousin! Surely you know who I am?" Beth asked Mary, making the princess even more confused. "We share a bloody grandparent, Mary... It's Liza!"
Mary gasped, her eyes widening in recognition before she hugged the woman tightly. "Elizabeth?!"
"I know, I know," Beth said, chuckling. "We haven't seen each other since you were four and I was eight. I dropped 'Liza'. I go by 'Beth'."
Mary stood back to look at her paternal cousin in shock. "God, I can't believe it's you!"
"Me neither!" Beth giggled. "I missed you, Mary. Christ, how time has flown by... I heard about Mckenna. Shame." She rolled her eyes.
"Don't act too happy about it," Mary snapped tightly.
Beth raised an eyebrow. "It's not me who cut someone's hair off just for brushing a Barbie doll's hair incorrectly. She was a bitch then and she still is."
Mary clicked her tongue, ignoring the childhood petty family dispute. "Why are you here?"
"Louis and I..." Beth began, showing Mary her ring finger. "Are getting married!"
"No...!" Mary breathed out in shock.
"I know!" Beth cried out happily. "At least we're not blood relations. We're just related through you." She bopped Mary's nose and kissed Louis's. "We'll be family twice over, your paternal side linking with your maternal."
Mary scoffed a little in disbelief. As if their family couldn't be crazier. "I need a drink. A soft one, but a drink nonetheless. if you'll pardon me," she mumbled, leaving them. "What the fuck?"
