Chapter 16
Joseph stormed along the corridor to his son's room, opening doors too loudly and letting them smack into walls, not caring if there were people around who could be sleeping or not.
It was his palace and he could do as he damn well pleased.
His sour mood was due to the fact that he had something of a bone to pick with his son, whose door he could just make out around the corner from where he currently was. And he wasn't going to stop and waste time over things that didn't matter when he could be getting there.
Whenever Niles went away on any sort of official business, or even for a hunt or to go to a particularly far-off brothel, he would always come back to his father and be welcomed back, the night he got to the palace! But, this time, he hadn't turned up!
It had been hours now, and Joseph had been up all that time waiting! He'd even put off taking Marie for a third time, just in case his son happened to arrive! But the boy hadn't come, even when the stewards announced that he was definitely back in the palace. And he wasn't sick or injured, either, because that would have been announced, too!
He was going to demand some answers from the boy, he could say that much!
He got to the door, and he burst through it without knocking...
Only to halt in his steps, as he looked up and saw just what was going on in that room. Niles was asleep in his bed. But he wasn't alone. There, pressed flush against him in his arms, was Lady Babcock.
Joseph's mouth twitched into a smirk.
So, the boy had done his manly duty at last! No wonder the boy hadn't arrived (not in that sense, anyway). He'd probably been pounding that prime piece of venison so many times, the butcher wouldn't have to prepare her to make any steaks!
Not that Niles would be tasting her, though. That was a treat for wives (they were lucky if their husbands did it all the time – he only did on rare occasions, when he felt like it), and a right and a privilege that men should always have, when they got the sluts on their knees to enjoy some sausage.
Well, whether they enjoyed it or not, he didn't care. Not as long as they put it in their mouths and didn't take it out again until he told them to.
But he was falling into a daydream. He had to think about what was going on in front of him! His boy was going to ditch the whore sooner or later, and then he wouldn't have to keep to all the terms of his agreement with Marie!
He enjoyed being able to take her like a slut when he wanted, though. Perhaps he wouldn't tell her for now, and let the agreement be broken by what Niles was doing, whilst still reaping the benefits?
He could go back to doing exactly what he wanted. In this case, that meant who he wanted, and who he was going to get now that Niles would do the hard part for him. He was hopeful that, maybe, there would just be enough meat left on the Babcock slut for him to enjoy a hearty meal himself...
There was actually just one part of the image that made no sense with his thought process, and it clashed until it started to bother him.
It was the fact that, beyond them clearly both being in nightwear and not naked, they were...cuddled, with his arms around her and her head on his chest, one arm over his middle. It was almost as though they were lovers instead of a man and his whore.
Joseph wanted to scoff and roll his eyes. It was almost as though the boy had forgotten everything he'd ever taught him!
Whores did not get to sleep in the bed with the man who took them there! They were there as long as the man said and then he told them when to go! And there was no point to either being in nightwear, either. A man needed to get quick access to every hole a woman had, and the fabric just got in the way!
That was why he'd been making Marie sleep naked, ever since the agreement began. He wasn't going to fumble with her nightdresses in the dark if he decided he'd come in and start taking her while she slept.
It was fun, having her wake up and realise what was going on, and then knowing she couldn't do a thing about it. He didn't actually enter her while she was asleep (that was a little bit too much, even for him) – he just started touching her until she roused and, as per their agreement, she had no other choice but to open her legs for him. He always paid special attention to the pleasure points he knew were hidden all over his wife's body.
She might have been older now, but Marie was still a fine, beautiful thing. Joseph remembered just how proud of himself he'd been when Marie had first arrived at Court. Back in the day, she used to be called the Flower of Europe and was considered to be one of the most beautiful princesses on the entire continent. He'd paid a fortune in order to marry her and had even relinquished his right to receive a dowry from the King of France. She had finally been sent with what the French Court had considered a "minor" sum of money and "a few" possessions. In reality she'd been sent with more than enough money to pay for her life at court for an entire year and over one hundred chests filled with clothes and jewellery, as well as trinkets, books and fine furniture from Paris.
He'd organised countless parties and paraded her around so that every man and woman could take a good look at the gorgeous specimen that was to be his wife and mother his children. He was certain he'd been the envy of an entire country (and probably other countries as well). Bedding her had initially proven…fun, but not as thrilling as he'd hoped. Then again, sex with royal wives rarely was the stuff of legends. That was what lovers and whores were there for. For years he'd refrained from fucking her like he would have liked (again, royal wives were supposed to be treated with more respect than whores were), but now he was finally getting to bed her like he'd always wanted.
It was the ultimate thrill – fucking his queen like he would have a slut.
His son could carry on with his own little slut for as long as he liked, but the queen wouldn't hear it from him. He'd milk their agreement for all it was worth or until he got bored. Whatever happened first.
But just as he turned on his heel to return to his chambers, the king came face-to-face with an obviously livid Queen Maire. She'd followed him to their son's room.
The self-satisfied smirk of a man who had a plan disappeared the moment he saw.
It was instead replaced with a look of fear and dread. And he knew that he was right to feel the way he did, even if he would never admit it to anybody. He knew he was right from the moment he saw the fires of Hell blazing back out in his wife's eyes, ready to turn the whole room to ashes in order to incinerate the one person who'd displeased her.
When Marie was annoyed, upset or angry, he could handle it. When she was like this – namely, ready to rip a man's throat with her bare hands – he preferred to be somewhere else. Scotland, for instance.
There was only a small amount of relief in guessing that he was not the cause of her ire tonight. She would have caught him before now, if that were the case.
And the next words out of her mouth proved his theory to be correct.
"Your son eez a disgrace, and a shame upon zhis country! I 'ope you are pleased wizh yourself–"
Part of Joseph wanted to reply that he was, but the rest thought better of it for the time being. He'd tell her that he was later.
Besides, he did also have to kick himself over the fact that his plan to keep the terms of the agreement being broken a secret hadn't worked. But he'd pick himself back up from that, somehow. Probably with a glass of wine in one hand and an actual whore's arse cheek in the other.
"Because you leave me no choice but to see to your mess myself!"
In the back, there was a rustling of sheets as Niles started to stir.
"Hm...?"
He must have been woken by the sound of his mother's irate tone, even if his companion didn't appear to be bothered by what was going on around her. He shifted and turned, before wiping and opening his eyes and squinting up at them in the dim light of the candle on his bedside table, which was almost out.
He was soon wide-eyed.
"Mother...Father...?!"
Joseph shook his head, "Not me, boy. I'll talk to you at breakfast."
With that he turned, and hurried away from the chaotic anger that he knew would rain down on the boy from his wife at any moment. He slammed the doors behind him for good measure and went to remove his things from Marie's chamber. He'd been sleeping there most of the nights ever since their agreement had begun, but now that it was officially over, he knew he wouldn't be welcome.
At least not for a long time.
He could live in hope she'd let him inside (her room and her body) again at some point in the future. Still, at the present moment, the safe place for him (anyone, really) to be, was as far away from her as humanly possible.
Speaking of Queen, Marie was still glaring at her son and carefully considering whether or not she was about to commit filicide, all while an anger such as she'd never felt before burned in her heart.
He'd done it. He'd swept back in after his trip, seen a helpless woman on the way to her room for much-needed rest, and he'd taken advantage.
How dare that...that...not even a boy, that pig, do such a thing as to go back on his word and betray not only his mother's trust, but that girl's as well?! Whilst she was sick and had already been sent off to go to her own bed no less, and so weak that she couldn't say her mind on the matter, or try to fight him off?
She'd thought that he'd been truly enjoying himself just getting to know her! If Marie had realised he was just doing it to either manipulate her into getting into his bed, or as the case stood (and was so much worse, in Marie's opinion), waiting for an opportunity to seize what he wanted, then she would never have left them alone in the same room together! She certainly wouldn't have, if she'd known that he'd just force himself on her like some kind of an animal!
He was just like his father.
And that was what hurt the most.
The prince must have known he was in hot water, for he quickly jumped out of bed and rushed to his mother, arms outstretched almost as if to soothe her.
Fat chance.
"Mother, this is not what it looks li–"
Niles never got to finish, for Marie interrupted him by delivering a swift (and painfully hard) slap to his cheek.
It actually made Niles stumble backwards a few paces, his cheek smarting and throbbing from the delivery. He tenderly felt the area and winced. He still hadn't fully recovered from the one C.C. had given him earlier, so he was more than certain that there would be a bruise there in the morning...
No wonder they liked each other so much! They could tutor young ladies in grand households about the fine art of slapping rakes and cads!
Before he'd even managed to stand upright again, his mother had rounded on him once more, hissing to keep her voice lower than had been. She could see that C.C. was still heavily asleep. It was best that she stayed that way. When she realised what had happened, she was going to be distressed enough – she didn't need a one-sided screaming match (and it would be one-sided, because if Niles knew what was good for him he wouldn't try to argue back) waking her up and adding to her stress.
Marie thrust a finger in the direction of his bed.
"What on Earzh do you zhink you are playing at, boy?!" she demanded to know. "Do you have no shame whatsoever?! Zhat girl eez not well, and you waltz back into zhe palace, and zhink zhat you can just take advantage of zhe first woman you see by 'erself?!"
"Mother I did not–"
Again, another slap cut the prince off. It was just as painful as the other three he'd already sustained and it briefly made him wonder if this was why his father seemed to vanish into thin air whenever Marie was in a rage. Niles almost smiled at the idea of his father running away from his mother with a smarting cheek and his tail between his legs, but given the fact Marie was still probably about to kill him he refrained from doing so.
Survival had to come first and foremost, if he wanted to see the day when he and C.C. would finally tie the knot, and to ensure it he had to make his mother see that he hadn't slighted C.C. – show her that he loved her and intended to marry her.
He had his own questions for his mother, but he'd ask them in due time.
"Mother, please, listen to me!" Niles pleaded with her, managing to grab at Marie's hand when she once again swung at him.
But his mother had no interest in whatever he had to say. She tried to use her other hand to slap her boy silly, but again Niles grabbed at it before it was able to make contact with the tender skin of his cheeks.
He'd gotten enough slaps to last him a lifetime, as it was.
"Let my 'and go right zhis instant!" she demanded, struggling to wrench her hands free. "You 'ave no right to be 'eard! You crossed a line when you decided to force yourself on an innocent woman!"
"I did no such thing!" Niles replied, trying to keep his voice level so as not to disturb C.C.'s sleep. "Mother, I found Lady Babcock outside; she was out cold and I brought her inside and had her checked by Dr Potts. She has pneumonia, so I thought it best for her to stay here, especially after I'd…oh, I don't know… asked for her bloody hand in marriage!"
Marie staggered as though she'd been slapped after that.
Had...had he just said marriage?!
She couldn't have heard it right, could she?! Her boy wasn't the type; not yet, anyway! Even if he had been getting better than he had been for the longest time, surely there was a long way still to go before he actually thought about that...!
It must have been something else! It must have!
"You asked 'er for what now?!"
Silently, Niles pointed at C.C.'s hand, which had slipped free of the bedcovers in her sleep and clearly displayed the half of the gimmel ring he had put on her finger mere hours ago. To make a point, he then ripped his own hand from his mother's grasp and showed her his own, too.
"Is this enough proof that my intentions are honourable?" his voice kept a hard edge to it, ironically having to describe the happiest moment of his life so far. "I love her, Maman, and I want to marry her. I won't lose her, either - even if Father is trying to find a way around it."
But Marie wasn't fully listening to that. Her head had pushed aside everything the moment her boy had told her that he was in love with C.C.. He wasn't like his father after all! He had found his true love and had grown out of the disgusting behaviour that she'd once feared would be his whole life! He was getting married! Her little boy was going to be married and he was so adamant, so she knew he would be happy...!
Completely ignoring the look on her son's face, she rushed forward and embraced him with a cry of delight.
"Oh, my boy...! Oh, you are going to look so 'andsome on your wedding day! C.C. will make zhe perfect bride, eet was obvious to me from zhe moment I realised zhat you were–"
"Maman."
Niles' interruption was designed to get her to stop, before she went completely over the top with excitement. He was trying to discuss something important with her that could affect everything about his wedding, and she was just completely in her own world at the news in the first place!
She didn't even notice that he'd spoken.
"And of course, you will 'ave to choose a new stately 'ome – zhat lodge of yours eez not suitable for a growing family! I–"
"Mother!"
He only spoke just a little bit louder than previously, but the edge of sharpness was enough to get Marie to start. That, in turn, was enough to bring her back to the real world with a jolt, blinking and looking a little flustered.
"Oh...! Niles, please, do forgive my outburst. Zhe very zhought of you marrying your sweet'eart ran away wizh me!"
Niles could only agree that the image did the same thing to him, but he wasn't trying to have a further discussion. He quickly moved onto what he really wanted to know.
"What is this about Father trying to procure an engagement for me? Why is he doing it? What purpose does it serve to have a marriage arranged for me yet? And why did no one tell me?!"
His mother nearly took a step backwards, apparently bewildered and shaken at his words.
"'Ow do you know about zhat?" she asked, quick but quiet, practically hissing. "Which person told you? I was going to do eet myself!"
She sounded in two minds over the whole thing; like she was afraid they would be caught even having this conversation on the one hand, and like she could violently explode at the person who'd told him on the other.
Not that it currently mattered who had told him. What mattered was why his own mother had apparently failed to do it first, when she knew how vital time would be!
"Then why didn't you do it?!" he argued back at her.
"Because of zhe fire!" Marie explained, getting frustrated at his own agitated state. "I was going to tell you, but zhe fire kept you and C.C. away at your lodge! I wanted you bozh to enjoy yourselves, and not 'ave to worry about anyzhing 'ere...!"
Niles felt his insides soften a little. His mother had only been thinking of them, when she'd held off telling him the truth. It had been disastrous, yes, but she couldn't have had much - if any - idea that it would lead to this. She'd given them time; time he'd spent with C.C..
"But why is he doing this? Why now?" he asked, not as hard or harsh as before.
His mother looked like she didn't want to tell him anything more at first, perhaps because she was worried of what would happen when the king found out that she had told. It was surprising, considering he'd bolted the moment she'd gotten enraged, but Niles knew that she wouldn't be going into any confrontation over this enraged.
Joseph would have the upper hand if that happened.
Eventually, she sighed in resignation and told him.
"Your fazher was...not pleased, about your budding friendship wizh C.C.."
Niles felt like he could have told her that, but he let her continue without interruption.
"'E came up wizh zhe notion zhat per'aps you needed a bride. A true princess, or a noblewoman of standing, to match your own position and to keep you from C.C.. So, 'e decided to arrange a match for you, to 'appen before your next birzhday."
Niles' jaw dropped. His father didn't like the fact that he and C.C. had become friends (he already knew it would be at least partially because of her standing), so he had decided to arrange an entire wedding to make sure they were kept apart?!
What kind of an insane notion was that?!
But his mother wasn't even finished, though she sounded sadder than before as she went on.
"I did not agree wizh his views. I felt zhat eef you and C.C. were 'appy togezher, zhen I was more zhan 'appy as well. I wanted you to 'ave your chance, so I struck a deal wizh your fazher."
Niles' face shifted into one of curiosity, and then horror, as Marie described the terms of their agreement to him. No detail was left out, either; it wouldn't be fair to him to not let him have the whole picture.
All Niles could think about fairness was that none of this had turned out fair for his mother. She had basically made herself a sacrifice, so that he and C.C. could have a chance at love!
He didn't understand how his father could just...just... use his mother like that, to humiliate and make a toy of her, all selfishly and to make her feel humiliated! Just because he didn't like the fact that he and C.C. were spending time together! Did the man really hate them together so deeply that he'd hurt and shame his own wife, because she'd let herself become their substitute for punishment?
Niles had never felt a greater appreciation for his mother than right then. She'd protected them for all this time, and hadn't said a word about it!
And as she finished what she was saying, it was Niles' turn to put his arms around her.
"You shouldn't have," he whispered into her ear as he rubbed her back, all in an attempt to wash some of her pain away, even if he knew it wasn't that easy. It never was. "You shouldn't have let him do that to you…"
"Nonsense," Marie replied, giving her son a wan smile. "You know I'd do anyzhing for you and C.C.'s 'apiness. Zhis was just a small price to pay."
Again, Niles felt a wave of love for his mother washing over him. He couldn't understand how he'd ever favoured his father over her, but he knew better now. Much better. He was also certain that it hadn't been a small price to pay – it had been a crushing weight hanging over her shoulders. And yet, she'd put up with it, all for his and C.C.'s happiness.
From now on, she would want for nothing. If his father wasn't going to honour his promise to love her and protect her, then Niles would. He would make sure she never spilled a tear. Never again.
"Still, both C.C. and I are in debt to you, Maman," he insisted.
The Frenchwoman smiled devilishly at her son and patted his chest, "As long as you give me grandchildren, zhen I shall consider our debt paid in full."
Both mother and son shared a light laugh. Of course she would want grandchildren! Marie had always dreamed of a big, happy family, but his father had shot her dreams down and managed to trap her in a loveless union and a broken little family. He'd even tried to harness Niles to his side by making him into a little copy of himself.
But not anymore. The last thing Niles wanted was to end up like his father. He would be a faithful husband, a kind and loving father and a generous monarch. He'd learned from his mistakes – Joseph was the last person Niles wanted to be like.
"I'll try my best, Maman," he said, still laughing. "I'll have to see what C.C. says about this, though. I'm not the one who'll have to do the carrying, am I?"
"I should 'ope so! Ozherwise I zhink I'll be worried about your 'ealzh."
Again, mother and son shared a quiet laugh, but Maire soon turned serious.
Despite the happiness that the news of his engagement had brought on, Marie was well aware that they were now walking on thin ice. She knew what her husband could be like – he was a cold-hearted bastard who had no qualms about hurting people who'd defied him, and even if Niles and herself were his family, they were still in danger of suffering the consequences of his wrath. Naturally, out of them all C.C. was the one in the most danger, given her position.
It was dawning on her Niles and C.C's wedding wouldn't be a grand affair. It couldn't be. If Joseph got wind of it, not even Marie offering her body and soul to him would stop his rage. He'd do everything in his power to stop their nuptials, and considering he was the king, he would simply have to say the words for his servants to do his bidding.
There was, however, a loophole that they could exploit. Should Niles and C.C. get married and produce an heir before the king was made aware of their plans, Joseph would have no standing to oppose their marriage. Once they were wedded in the eyes of God, not even mighty King Joseph would be able to object. Since Niles was his only heir, he wouldn't lose his title or position (Marie knew just how worried Joseph was about preserving his lineage), especially if the couple produced a child to succeed him.
They'd have to be smart about it. A secret wedding was probably the way to go, and then ensure C.C. got pregnant as soon as possible. They'd have to hide her somewhere until it was deemed safe for her to return to court, but she'd only do so after Joseph had…gotten used to the idea.
He'd probably never fully accept it, but he'd have no choice but to tolerate it.
And Marie had certainly had enough practice of sitting down and thinking about it. Joseph thought he was so clever, even though he valued it less that other things, like battles taken part in and women had over the course of the years. He hadn't thought about it much, even if she had.
It was the perfect plan to explain to her son, though. Simple, straightforward, and it would involve him having an excellent wedding night and honeymoon.
His eyes definitely lit up as she explained her reasoning behind everything.
He looked like he'd never considered the possibilities before. Perhaps he hadn't, given that until only recently, he most likely hadn't thought that being together would even be possible.
A warm home. A loving family. Children playing happily around them...
All things she would happily leave them, before the opportunities were gone and so was she.
It had come like a bolt from the blue, but it was undeniable at this point. It had all started a few weeks ago, when she'd noticed a few sores in her... lady parts. She hadn't given it much importance and eventually it had healed on its own. But then had come the rash – it had appeared when Niles had first gone away, and the doctor had confirmed the awful, awful news she'd already suspected: she had syphilis.
In other words, a death sentence.
And it was all thanks to her bastard of a husband's inability to keep that filthy thing between his legs in his breeches.
She knew it could be years before the disease finally took her, but she was living on borrowed time. Potts had told her there was a small chance the symptoms might never return, but if they did, her body would simply start to break down – in the late stages, the disease was known to affect the brain, the eyes, her bones...
The list was depressingly long, but she'd already started to learn to accept it.
She wasn't surprised by Joseph's betrayal; it was something she'd always feared would happen, given his track record. What did pain her, however, was the possibility of having to leave her children behind earlier than she would have liked. Her Niles and her C.C.. It could be years before the disease took its toll, but she had no idea how many they would be. It could be a decade.
It could be a year.
Either way, she'd have to leave…
Explaining that to Niles and C.C. was probably going to be the hardest part. It needed a build-up. She couldn't just leave it as a surprise – that simply wouldn't be fair. They needed to know now, as painful and shameful as it made her to have to tell. It was the only way they'd get used to the information.
"And zhat should mean zhat your family's future shall be safe and secured," she finished, taking in a breath before she felt that she could start. "Even...even after I am gone."
Niles blinked, suddenly uncomfortable. Why was his mother talking about her...well, demise?! They had been on such a happy subject – why did it need to be brought up?
He'd take her away from it. It was only fair that he pulled her out of those thoughts, otherwise it could actually end her life!
"Maman, there are plenty of years left between then and now," he reassured.
Marie shook her head before he could say anything else.
It was sweet of him to try and be optimistic, but there was no sense in it. There was no need for any sugar coating on what she already knew was coming. It was better, again, that he knew in full, even if it made him uncomfortable.
"But I do not 'ave all of zhose years, mon petit bonbon," she sighed sadly, using his childhood nickname – she always did when she had to break bad news to him. "You see, I also have a confession to make…"
"What…what do you mean?" Niles said.
He couldn't stand the cryptic messages, especially when she seemed to have something important to say! Right then wasn't the time to be anything less than straightforward!
She had to just...get it out. It had all seemed so simple, back when she'd been planning...?
It wasn't simple. How did anybody manage this, even when deciding to just blurt it out?
It still came out as a frightened whisper when she did, "I... I 'ave syphilis, Niles. Your fazher gave eet to me. I found out a few weeks ago."
Niles knew she was speaking after that because her mouth was moving – probably talking about symptoms and what would happen as time went by. But that was the only way he could tell, owing to the fact that the rest of the world was crashing down around his ears and drowning out all other sounds.
His mother. Syphilis. Given by his father.
No. No, no, no - he had to have heard her wrong; it couldn't be happening how she'd said! Life couldn't be unfolding like this!
She couldn't have such a terrible disease - she was his mother! His Maman! Mamans didn't get syphilis, they lived long, full, happy lives where they got to smile and laugh and meet and play with their grandchildren! They didn't wither and waste away before their time; in the best cases, they got to outlive all of the bad things that happened in life.
That was what he had wanted for his own mother; a full, happy life not cut short by a horrible, evil disease...
Each word and thought was like its own individual stab in the heart, and it made him weaker, like he was bleeding out and would be dry inside by the time the conversation ended, until he nearly collapsed on the floor.
He didn't care if his despair killed him. He just didn't want this to take his Maman away.
He'd demand to know that it wasn't true – he'd scream and shout and beg and plead until he heard what he wanted. But he knew that he'd vomit in the floor if he even tried to start, and if he made it through that, it still wouldn't change a thing.
The main thing being that he knew it was the truth.
How could it not be true?! His father didn't care what happened to a woman he slept with, from pregnancies to diseases galore – it was, in his mind, simply not his problem!
And it burned Niles up inside as much as it devastated him, to know that his mother's life was so unimportant to Joseph. It didn't matter to him that she was his wife and the mother of his children – he was basically murdering her slowly, subjecting her to a lonely and frightening death, all because he had decided to sleep with other women until he'd caught something!
He hated him. He'd stated it, for the first time ever, and up until that moment, he'd never realised before just how much he would mean it.
And he meant it. Even if Marie didn't hate the man who was going to see her die, all because of his own need to get pleasure, then Niles would gladly hate him for her! The anger and the rage he felt towards his father took up two people anyway!
It might give him some extra room to love his mother. His mother, who only wanted to see her grandchildren before she was snatched away...
He felt his heart crack, and tried to hold in the tears that burned with hatred for his father and the terror of what would happen when he lost his mother. But it didn't work. Marie tried to come forward and hold her boy. Just as she had done when he was little, and something bad had happened then. Granted, it was never anything like this, but a loss or a hurt was still a loss or a hurt. Especially when he was so small...
"No…! It… it can't be!" the prince said, voice cracking mid-sentence. "There must be something that we can do – new treatments for us to try and––"
"Niles, there is nothing else to be done. I 'ave come to terms wizh what will 'appen and so should you. Zhere eez no need for you to worry on my be'alf," she cupped his cheeks, almost seeing him as the round-faced, golden-haired little cherub she had – and still – adored with all her heart. "Eet eez alri–"
"No, it is not alright!" Niles protested back, the tears freely falling with no regard for who saw or didn't anymore. It didn't matter – none of it did. "He's given you a death sentence, Maman! Slow and painful, when you shouldn't have to even have this foul thing in the first place!"
Marie shook her head, wiping away his tears and trying to shush him, "Zhere was no way of knowing until eet was too late. We 'ave to just accept zhese zhings as zhey come, sometimes."
Niles couldn't believe how she sounded over this! She was speaking about her own death as though it were a minor broken bone! She had to have understood the urgency, didn't she? He tried, desperately, to protest. But another voice in the room told him that his attempts might not be the best idea.
"Niles...Your Majesty...?"
C.C. had woken up and she'd spotted them immediately. It was truly hard not to, even in her weakened state. The two people argue-whispering across the floor while one of them held the other to cry was only further proof.
And they both looked at each other when she did, Marie with a look of acceptance and readiness on her face. Niles, on the other hand, looked terrified. Did they really have to tell C.C. now, while she was still unwell?! They could always wait; it wouldn't be much longer before she could take the news...
But Marie had already started to go over.
"'ello, ma chérie," Marie said, cupping the young girl's cheek in one hand and using the other to reach for C.C.'s newly bejewelled hand. "Niles told me about zhe engagement…"
C.C., completely (almost upsettingly) unaware of what was coming, beamed back as much as she was able to in her current state.
"Isn't it wonderful...?" she murmured, loosely gripping Marie's hand in return. "We're going to be married...! We finally get to start the rest of our lives, together..."
Marie opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught as her heart surged with both love and overwhelming sorrow.
Yes. C.C. and Niles would be starting the rest of their lives. But Marie wouldn't be joining them for all of it (not even a lot of it, in the best case scenario), and it tore at the queen to see her future daughter-in-law looking so happy even as she was wracked with fever, at the idea of a future that wasn't going to happen the way she was imagining.
It was mostly a future Marie wasn't going to get to see. Twenty years or more of it at best, only a year at very worst...
"You do, chérie...you do," the queen agreed, biting the inside of her lip as she got ready to just say it. Just like she did with Niles. They were strong; they'd look after each other, no after how long it all took. "But I am afraid zhat I cannot be zhere for all of eet."
C.C. blinked, her smile fading away. It made Marie feel even worse, knowing what she was about to say and that there was no other way to say it.
"I...I 'ave some news, you see, chérie."
She seated herself on the bed, next to C.C., and as they held onto each other's hands (and after Marie had taken a deep breath), she told her everything that she had told Niles.
It was just as horrifying to hear a second time around.
But C.C., as the blood boiled in her brain from the fever and her heart shattered into pieces at the news, she didn't collapse, which had been the worry.
Even still, the tears leaking from her eyes told of the pain she was feeling inside.
Her mentor. The woman who had taken her in and under her wing. Her friend...! She was going somewhere nobody could follow and she wasn't coming back!
She didn't care when Marie tried to calm her by saying they could have the best case scenario; they could have decades still, before they had to worry. C.C. couldn't see that. How was it fair?! None...none of it was...
Even thinking about it was making her head feel awful, and the tears that were coming were hotter than fire on her face...
She couldn't believe it! She wouldn't believe it! Marie couldn't be going anywhere, at all – she had to stay there, always! She had to stay with them. To be there for their wedding, and to see their children be born and grow up...
The future – no matter how many years ahead – had seemed so bright up until hours ago. So promising...
And yet, here she was, facing the possible death of the only mother figure she had left in her life and the fact that her future father-in-law would rather Niles fucked her and pushed along rather than make her his wife. In the next few months she'd have to marry and birth a child in secrecy. She'd have to go into hiding until it had been deemed safe for her to return, whenever that was...
Still, she wasn't backing out of this. Not when everything she wanted was at hand's reach. She wanted a family – she wanted a family with him, and if this was the price to pay, then so be it.
She simply wished it didn't have to be this way...
She wished Marie hadn't had to sacrifice herself (quite literally) at some point in time so that they could be together. C.C. didn't think she'd felt this guilty in her entire life!
"Nonsense, my dear," the queen said when her future daughter-in-law begged for her forgiveness. "Zhere eez nozhing to forgive. I made my choice, and I don't regret it one bit. As I said, Dr Potts said eet could take years for zhe disease to end my life, so een zhe meantime. let's focus on getting you two married."
C.C. didn't think it was quite as simple as that, but Marie refused to budge. So, not wanting to upset things when it was clear that the queen wasn't about to change her position, she decided to just accept it.
That seemed to satisfy Marie, at any rate. But what happened next sent her back into a frown. She had put a hand on her future daughter-in-law's cheek again to cup it affectionately, when she realised it was warm. Too warm.
She immediately transferred her hand to her forehead, which seemed hot enough to cook a meal on if you laid her flat!
"But you are burning up, chérie," she told her. That was when her true mothering instinct kicked in, and she clapped her hands at the couple in quick succession. "Come on, eet eez time you were bozh getting some rest. And I mean zhe bozh of you because you need your sleep after your trip, Niles."
Trying not to share a chuckle with C.C. at the fact that she was addressing them like children and taking it completely seriously, Niles did as she said. They couldn't help the little laugh too much; she was just so being so motherly it was endearing, and they were enjoying it (as best they could). He would have gone, even if she hadn't come up and stood behind him, ushering him along until he had to climb in next to his beloved.
But he wanted to give Marie this, and they were both extremely tired...
C.C. couldn't help beaming broadly through the discomfort of her fever to watch as Marie – the queen she was supposed to serve! – tucked her in more, securing the sheets around her and making sure that her cold compress was wetter again before placing it on her forehead.
Niles then snuggled in beside her, taking care not to disturb his mother's handiwork as he did. She wouldn't thank him for it and C.C. wouldn't get better as quickly if it went too wrong, so he had incentives.
And his fiancée, although not completely comfortable, seemed to appreciate it.
"Hm, it'll be hard to go back to my room and my work, after being treated like this...!" she chuckled, closing her eyes.
Ah, now that was something Niles had forgotten to mention. It was probably going to come as a bit of a surprise now, but hopefully it would be a nice one.
"You are not going back."
C.C.'s eyes immediately popped open again, directed straight at him.
"What are you talking about?"
Of course she had to go back! That was her work! What else would she do?! It wasn't like she'd get into trouble, considering the fact that Marie was busy tucking her son's covers in and didn't seem bothered in the slightest that her son was basically saying that one of her ladies-in-waiting was no longer working for her, but still! She needed her job to earn money, didn't she?!
Niles slipped his hand into hers and squeezed it, "You are a full part of the court now, my dear. A lady in every sense of the word. And as both your prince and your fiancé, it is my duty to take care of your needs. I shall be sustaining you financially."
C.C., after having been tired and prepared to go to sleep, suddenly couldn't feel any more awake if she'd tried.
She...she was a part of the court now?! In full, with her title and position restored and a stipend of her own?!
It all seemed too good to be true! Well, of course it came with the condition of her going into hiding attached, but that was more than worth it! For the family she wanted to have, and for the kind of life she had only ever dreamed of, she would gladly go through it.
And it was all thanks to the man she was now about to fall asleep next to. The man who had rescued her from a life of servitude and had turned her fortunes around.
Feeling a rush of love come over her, she pulled him into a tight hug, murmuring into his shoulder.
"How did I suddenly get so lucky...?"
She felt Niles chuckle into her shoulder.
"I think you'll find that I'm the one who got the better end of this bargain," he pulled away to look at her. "I get to call you my queen one day."
C.C. smiled. She didn't care about the title, or anything that came attached to it. She'd never wanted power, or prestige – she'd have thrown herself at Niles the moment she'd known he was interested, if that were the case!
She'd just wanted a man who would love her as much as she loved him.
And she'd found him. Her prince. Her Niles.
Placing one last, chaste kiss on his lips, she cuddled up next to him again and allowed herself to fall asleep. Just as Niles was about to join her, his mother's voice brought him back to the waking world.
"Do not forget, Niles – you must remove zhe ring eef you are to go anywhere in zhe palace. Your fazher cannot 'ear any word zhat you are engaged; not even a rumour."
That made the prince jolt a little, and he made to get up, nodding. His mother was right – he couldn't be seen wearing the ring outside, if he wanted to keep C.C. safe! He could jeopardise their whole relationship if he just wore it anywhere he wanted!
His father would spot the ring right away, he just knew it. He couldn't let that happen! He had to have something around; a small drawstring bag, or silk purse, that he could keep the ring in and on his person!
"You make a fair point, Maman. Help me – I must have something I can keep the ring in..."
As soon as he was about to leave the bed, Marie stopped him.
"Do not worry about eet for now, petit bonbon. I can bring you a chain to put eet around your neck in zhe morning," she told him gently, indicating to C.C.. "Enjoy your rest right now, an' look after your intended."
Niles eyes followed her gesture, his heart softening. Again, Marie was right; the ring could wait until the morning. He could wear it for now, in the safety and privacy of his own chambers, without any worry. The priority was seeing that C.C. got better, which was going to involve a full night's sleep.
Quietly thanking his mother, he snuggled back down next to his fiancée, soon joining her in sleep.
Marie left her son's chambers feeling over the moon despite everything she'd gone in there feeling enraged about. Her son was getting married to the girl he belonged with. Her husband's plan had failed.
And, despite her condition and knowing how much pain had been caused to get where they were, Marie now knew that – both that night in sleep and one day in the far future in a longer, much more permanent sleep – she would be able to rest easy.