My darling Charlotte,

I hope you read this and don't just throw it away, although you have every right to after the despicable way I have treated you. However, I hope that after reading this you will at least understand why I made the decisions I made, even if you can't forgive me for them.

Ever since I was born, I was been told by everyone around me that one day I would be king. That I was going to rule the wonderful country that is Genovia. Unfortunately, from a very young age I realised that that was just about my worst nightmare. I love Genovia, my family and my life, but I do not want to be king. I never did. I also realised that my true calling lay with the church. I never said anything, of course, knowing that the time must be right before I announced my intentions.

Then I met you and you turned my life upside down. From the moment we met I have been in love with you. The first night we were together, you asked me why I hadn't said anything sooner. It was not because I was ashamed by you or our relationship, it was because I still had every intention of leaving the palace. The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you, so I kept my feelings to hidden for all those years so that when I finally left, I would not have to leave you behind.

But that night I could no longer hide the way I felt about you and so II convinced myself that I could stay on, that I could become king. And for the three wonderful months we were together I told myself that I would be able to do it. You must believe me when I say that the time we spent together, was the happiest time of my life.

However, my father called me to his office today and started talking about me taking on more responsibility and arrangements in case anything terrible were to happen to him. Suddenly, I knew I could not pretend for ever and I had to tell him how I felt. He wanted me gone and I felt that the sooner I left, the sooner you could get on with the rest of your life.

The ring I enclose is the ring with which I intended to propose to you. I bought it in Paris to match the rest of the set (I went to get it early in the morning while you were still asleep, in case you were wondering).I know it means nothing now, but I still want you to have it.

I think it will take my father a long time to forgive me, so do not worry about us meeting by chance.

Everything I ever told you about my feelings for you was the absolute truth. I love you and, had things been different, I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. Please don't look back on our relationship with sadness or anger. It was truly special.

All my love,

Pierre