Josephine

𝓔𝓹𝓲𝓼𝓸𝓭𝓮 19: 𝓒𝓵𝓸𝓾𝓭𝓼 𝓸𝓯 𝓓𝓸𝓸𝓶 𝓗𝓪𝓷𝓰 𝓞𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓭

April 26, 1970

Dear Journal,

A week has passed since the wedding and my attempted assassination. The palace had been relatively peaceful since then and Vittorio was steadily settling into his role as Emperor. The guards and nobles love my husband, possibly as much as I do. I have noticed however many noblewomen eyeing him and making flirtatious advances, though Vittorio has been actively rejecting them which helps soothe my anxiety. My greatest fear is that he'll be unfaithful but as of now, it seems like this fear is unrequited.

"Josephine?" Vittorio asked.

I must go now, but I promise to write more soon.

I closed my book and put the feather pen back in the pot of boiling ink. I turned to my husband whose arms were outstretched goofily and whose mouth was wide in a yawn.

"Good morning Vittorio," I said and stood up from my desk.

He climbed out of bed and made his way over to me. We embraced quickly.

"How did you sleep, darling?" He asked.

"Very good, and you?" I replied.

"Excellent, what were you doing up so early?"

"Just writing a little, now... hurry up and get dressed so we can go down for breakfast! I'm absolutely starving!"

I playfully shoved him towards his wardrobe. I had already dressed for the day, a little casual, a jean jacket with khaki pants and a white shirt. I was not really much to care what these stuffy noblemen think of me. If I was cruel enough, they look at me wrong, and it's off with their head, but I'm not cruel. He threw on his usual attire, which was a black suit with a white undertone. He turned around and I smiled.

"How is it that you can pull literally anything off?" I asked.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and whispered in my ear.

"Someone has to look presentable in this palace,"

How offensive! I shoved him off my shoulder and he stumbled back.

"I can't believe you!"

He became worried and apologetic.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean it!" He cried out as he fell into my trap.

He kissed my shoulder and rested his head there.

I looked at him with a devious smirk.

"I know, thanks for apologizing," I said.

He gasped.

"You tricked me!"

"You're goddamn right, now... I'm hungry,"

He pouted.

"Fine, let's go then,"

He followed me out into the hallway, past the massive paintings, and to the stairwell. We rapidly moved down the flight of stairs and our footsteps echoed throughout the palace. We soon took a separate hallway which branched off, illuminated by lanterns. The hallway opened up into the dining room, where guards, servants, and others rushed about quickly setting the table. One of the servers saw me and rushed over.

"Your majesty! You are here earlier than expected!" She said hurriedly and curtsied awkwardly.

"Is breakfast not ready? Should we come back-" I asked but I was interrupted.

"No, no!" She replied, "It is, we were not expecting you to be awake this early!"

"I'm sorry your majesty but your breakfast will have to wait," A new voice interjected.

I turned to see General Cochrane with two Imperial soldiers.

"General Cochrane! It is good to see you! How may I help you?" I asked.

The look in Cochrane's eyes sent a grave message. Something was seriously wrong. I motioned for Vittorio to go to the large table and for the server to begin bringing out food.

"I need to speak to General Cochrane quickly okay?" I said to my husband.

He nodded and went towards the table. I followed General Cochrane out into the hallway that I had used to arrive at the dining hall.

"What is going on General?" I asked.

Then he said a sentence that made my heart stop.

"The Canadians your majesty..." He paused, "They're in open rebellion,"