AUTHOR'S NOTE: LAST FLASHBACK! Thank you for the reviews! Long chapter
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I OWN NOTHING!
Pierre stood up and offered a hand to Charlotte, she accepted his hand and when she stood up he kissed her hand, she blushed, 'Oh my, I've forgotten the feeling of his lips on my hand'. They turned from the river and began walking back in silence until Charlotte asked "Do you have or ever had a dream or ambition before?"
"well I … I" he hesitated at the question, no one had ever asked him that question.
"Oh gosh, I'm sorry that was insensitive of me to ask, I should've thought what I was going to say"
"It's alright, though no one has ever asked me that because since birth I've been assigned a job"
"A large one"
"yeah, though I have had thoughts about different occupations" Charlotte stopped abruptly and Pierre looked back her
"You aren't think of abdicating are you?"
"Charlotte" he said smiling
"I'm sorry, that's another question I shouldn't ask, it's your decision"
The funeral went well, Charlotte had her speech for it and there wasn't a dry eye in the church. In Charlotte's speech she thought she saw a silhouette of a man and a baby, 'Could it be' she thought but when she looked down at her paper and looked back up it was gone. Charlotte cried like a river but she felt better since she wasn't the only person crying for Katherine. Charlotte saw her parents and Katherine's parents and she said something she couldn't take back, "I said I would do anything for Kathy and if finding her daughter is something Kathy would want, I will"
One Sunday afternoon Her Majesty was very, very busy and so was Charlotte. Pierre knew she was busy but he really wanted to catch up on Church since she had to miss it and so he found her having a brief lunch, "Hello Charlotte", Charlotte looked up and smiled then she looked around the room for other people, no one.
"Hello Pierre!" Charlotte was much more cheerful since the funeral; it was therapeutic for her even though she had tasked herself for another difficult task, "How was church?"
"Oh it was wonderful, it was about being able to be a voice for God and joining the Church"
"Oh that sounds very interesting, a shame I couldn't come"
"mmm" he agreed then he was pensive for a moment then he asked "how did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Tear yourself from your dream?"
"I don't know actually, I just … knew that one thing was certain I made a promise to someone I love"
"Oh I wonder who that is?" He teased
"I can't say, I can't even tell him that I love him"
"I'm in the same situation, I can't tell the most amazing woman that I love her" they both laughed and then his face sober
"You are a strong woman, Charlotte. I don't know if I can be as strong as you"
"Pierre, whatever you do don't lock yourself and your heart up. I got this job even though it was quite the opposite of dream, I felt happier thinking I would still be in Genovia and with my friends and family and … you" She smiled at him lovingly "Though I do wonder what would've happened if I did go along with my dream … perhaps that could've made me happier" She looked pensive at her empty plate, then she sighed and smiled and looked up at Pierre. "well I've got to go, your mother is quite busy today" She stood up to leave and when she reached for her plate Pierre took her hand and kissed it
"Charlotte, I'll take care of your dishes. Go to my mother" She smiled at him gratefully
"Thank you, I wish I was allowed to tell you I love, love, love you"
A few weeks later Charlotte's heart broke in two. She was about to inform Her Majesty that the charity plans had been successful but when she was about to knock on His Majesty's study but she stopped herself when she overheard him yelling "ABDICATING?! PIERRE ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!?"
"Father, I don't think I'm best suited to reign and govern a country … I think Phillipe has much more courage to be King"
"You grew up with mind set on being the King and now you choose not to be King"
"Yes"
"What has gotten into your mind? What stopped you thinking that you want to be King!?"
"I found myself a dream … I want to be a priest"
"A PRIEST!? Nonsense boy, you are to be king"
"Now Rupert, it is his choice whether to reign or not" Clarisse stated calmly
"Clarisse" Rupert growled "Are you supporting this nonsense?"
"Mama?" Pierre pleaded. Clarisse sighed, she loved her son dearly but she wasn't given much choice, "I'm sorry Pierre but I must stand with your father and suggest to think twice about your decision"
"But I have been for the past few weeks … And I've made my decision" Pierre protested. His father made a gruff sound, then he slammed his hands onto his desk and stood up.
"Fine, Pierre if you choose to betray your family and Genovia I hereby banish you from Genovia and once your brother and the press have been informed you are to leave Genovia and as long as I live you are not to come back"
"Rupert no!" Clarisse cried.
On the side of the door Charlotte gasped and raised her hands to her mouth, her heart had just shattered. She ran to her suite and raced to the bathroom she stared at herself, running mascara staining her face, the man she loved was banished out her home and couldn't do anything. She took a deep breath then cleaned her face she had the rest of the day to pursue and she knew that she wasn't the only person aching from the news.
She hastened to the queen's study until she bumped into Joseph, "Charlotte, are you alright?". They kept each other's secrets, she knew that he had feelings for the queen and he knew that there was something between her and Pierre. She shook her head, "I don't think Her majesty is either, I saw on the screen she stormed out of His Majesty's study", he said
"You saw me overhearing didn't you?" he nodded, he knew the situation. "I'll go see Pierre, you go see Her Majesty … you are the only person who she could face at a moment like this" Charlotte stated, he nodded again "Pierre is in his suite"
Charlotte made her way to Pierre's suite, she knocked softly on her door but heard nothing so she opened the door (against her protocol) to find him on his couch with his hands covering his face. "Oh Pierre" she said softly, she closed the door behind her and rushed to sit next to him. She wrapped her arm around his shoulder and leaned her head on his other shoulder, "oh, my dear" she whispered. He brought his face from his hands and turned to her, his face was stained with tears and his cheeks were burning red, "Charlotte" he whimpered, she lifted her head and arm and cupped his face and kissed him lovingly, when she pulled away he whispered "did you hear?". She looked down and nodded she was trying to fight the tears but now she had to give in now. A tear fell from her face, "Pierre, I didn't mean to eavesdrop"
"I know you didn't" he said pulling her into his embrace, she rested her head on his chest but then a thought came into her mind and she pulled away to face him.
"Was it my fault?". Pierre was taken aback by this question and saw Charlotte's face that masked guilt, he then brushed her face with his hand, "No my love … I just couldn't see myself making Genovia happy or myself, so I saw no point and I found a dream … and I want to pursue it"
"Oh Pierre, what about your home? Where are you going to live now?" she asked, her voice quavering so he held her close again.
"I don't know but I'll have to find out soon" he kissed her on her head and at that moment the door opened slowly and Clarisse came in distraught, "Pierre? …" her voice faded off when she saw Charlotte and Pierre holding each other and soon behind her was Joseph looking guilty. Charlotte stood up and wiped her tears away, "Your Majesty?!" she said bowing her head and her voice was still shaky.
Clarisse was silent for the longest moment while Pierre slowly stood up next to Charlotte, then she finally spoke "is this why you abdicated?" she said staring at the couple
"Mother, no. Charlotte was the reason it was so hard to decide and I knew I wouldn't be able to see much of her since her job is very important to her". Clarisse was silent again. Charlotte looked down at her feet and began playing with her skirt, today was just as bad as the day she lost Katherine and as bad as the day she saw Pierre's heart break. Now her heart was breaking and everything and everyone around her was tearing apart her heart. Charlotte looked up slowly to see Joseph looking very guilty and she decided to speak, "Your Majesty, we haven't been together …. It was just we were trying to fight our feelings but … we found ourselves together again and we didn't know what to do next", Clarisse let out a small sigh
"Charlotte I know you've been fighting … well everything and I thought you've been getting better and it turned it was my son who helped you. I am happy that Pierre makes you happy and vice versa but now I do believe since none of us can do anything about my son's banishment we should find a way of hospitality for him before he must leave"
Later that night Charlotte and Pierre were left alone and they were staring at all the work and planning they had done, it was frightening for Pierre, that day he announced he was abdicating, he was banished, been caught by his mother and had to confess that he still loved Charlotte and now he had to plan his new life. 'A new life … what would I do in my new life without the love of my life who I can now be with' he thought. "Charlotte?" he whispered
"Yes"
"Would you come with me?"
"Pardon?" she was taken aback by this question
"Would you come with me and join my new life". Charlotte hesitated, she had so much here 'Oh gosh run with my love or continue all the duties here for me … to the Queen, my parents … Katherine, no! Katherine … I … I made promise' she thought. Pierre noticed her unsureness, "You don't have to decide tonight, I just had to ask, Charlotte"
A week went by and Pierre hadn't spoken to his father and his mother was much too busy once again, so Charlotte spent time with him most of the time with Clarisse's consent.
When Phillipe came home he expected to be welcomed by his family at least but his brother was missing and he was pulled into his father's study.
"KING?!" Phillipe shouted he did not expect his brother's duties be passed onto him, "no I can't be king"
"Phillipe, please you are the only heir to the throne with the Renaldi name left" Clarisse said standing next to Rupert's desk
"Unless you want those Von Trokens to take over the throne" Rupert said clasping his hands together on his desk
"Father you know I would never want them to ascend onto the throne" Phillipe began to hesitate "but" he paused
"But?" Clarisse asked, suddenly worried what was to come next, his tone didn't mean anything good.
"But I … I fell in love with a woman and now … now we're married" And before he could continue his sentence his parents interrupted
"Married?" Rupert took off his glasses
"And she's pregnant" Phillipe whispered
"Phillipe!" Clarisse said moving closer to her son "Pregnant?!"
"PIERRE" Phillipe shouted slamming the door to his brother's suite behind him. Pierre stood up, he knew his brother was going to be angry or at least confused but when Phillipe came in he stood there in shock. Next to Pierre was Charlotte, she slowly stood up next to him looking slightly scared and worried, she rested her hands on Pierre's arm and shoulder.
"Phillipe, I know you might be angry and I'm so sorry." Pierre said softly trying not to enrage his brother
"Charlotte? Is Charlotte why you … you"
"No, she isn't, she … she works as mother's assistant and we … we"
"Pierre, I fell in love too and she's pregnant and … and"
"Mother and Father"
"didn't approve"
"Oh Phillipe, I'm sorry" Pierre apologized moving towards his brother. Phillipe chuckled looking down "well aren't we just the most perfect royal sons"
Pierre chuckled and put his hand on Phillipe's shoulder, "the most" he smiled. Phillipe turned to Charlotte and smiled "So Charlotte, are you going to stay with Pierre?", Charlotte was startled at the question and she hesitated, she still didn't know her answer. Pierre saw Charlotte's surprised look
"Well she hasn't decided yet" Pierre turned to Charlotte "and I don't mind it's just that I've got to leave Genovia in a week" Charlotte looked at her feet and began to play with her skirt
"Leave Genovia?"
"Yes … father has banished me from Genovia"
"WHAT?!" Phillipe exclaimed
It was all over the newspaper – "Pierre Renaldi abdicates from his position as Crown Prince!". It was two days away from Pierre's flight out of Genovia and that night Charlotte was crying in her suite and was writing a letter.
There was a small knock on her door, she wiped her tears and sat up, "Come in". Pierre opened the door and came in, Charlotte's back was to the door and her face wasn't visible. He rubbed her back "Charlotte, I know it's a hard decision but it's my last day tomorrow and I know you could quickly pack if you ... you" Charlotte slowly turned around to face him. Her cheeks were red and the tears were now uncontrollable. "Pierre" She whimpered she stood up and threw her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear "I love you" then she turned back to the table and grabbed the letter and handed it to him "But I can't".
He wrapped his arms around her waist and she rested her head on his chest. He started to fight tears, she was the only thing he hoped would come with him. "I … I understand" he said almost whimpering, Charlotte continued to cry in his and hearing his voice made her hurt even more. "I'm sorry, you are the only person I love and … and this it kills me to make this decision but … but" more tears came forth.
"Charlotte, I know. You are the only person I love and … and if I truly love you I must let you free" he pulled back a bit to face Charlotte. Her face was like a canvas that conveyed the message of how heartbroken she felt. He pulled her in again, he couldn't bear to see her cry at that moment 'I have to be strong for her' he thought struggling to fight the tears, but the sound of her muffled cry from his chest pulled a tear from his eye. "I love you"
It was a sombre day at the airport but it was still flight worthy. Clarisse stayed close to her son, she had told Rupert she had a task to do. Phillipe also had come somehow escaping his father's grasp. Charlotte came with them, she was on the last strings before tears but she fought her tears, she didn't want to cry in front of her majesty.
He stood in front of the door to the plane, he let out a sigh, here he was about to take a flight to Florence, a very beautiful city but he dreaded the thought of leaving Genovia.
He hugged his younger brother, "I'll visit you as much as possible, Pierre", Pierre smiled at Phillipe, "Thank you, Phillipe".
He turned to his mother, who had to discreetly wipe a tear from her face, he gave her a loving hug and she was happy to comply, "Oh Pierre, I'll miss you so and take care of yourself. I love you". He forced a smile, saying goodbye to his mother was so difficult for him "I love you too, mother"
He slowly turned to Charlotte, she smiled ruefully at him, sadness colouring every feature of her face and he returned the smile. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her, she kissed him back and slowly wrapped her arms around his neck. They both wanted the moment to last forever, they broke the kiss when they need to breathe. "I love you Charlotte" he whispered looking deeply into her eyes. "And I love you Pierre" She whispered back, a tear dragging itself down her face. He reached from his pocket and gave her a letter and she held it close to her heart.
He separated himself from her and walked towards the door and before he entered he turned back to wave, they all waved back to him, all sombre but Charlotte was the most heart broken.