CROWN PRINCE | LES MISÉRABLES

26.

Enjolras POV

"Feuilly, I need you to do something for me."
"What is it?"
"A ring. With engravement."
"Of course. What should it say?"
"United in love, until death.", I whispered.

No one around me had to know what I wanted him to engrave.

"Who's this ring for, may I ask?"
"A special someone.", I said, thinking of Annelise.
"Is that someone special that Annelise girl?"
"Well, yes indeed she is, Grantaire. Why are you asking?"
"She's a child."
"A young woman.", I corrected.
"Have you, you know, gotten her into your bed?"

"I respect her wishes. She wants to wait and I respect that. Besides, she's not an adult yet.", I said.

"Your majesty."
"It's Enjolras for you, Madame."
"Oh pardon me, a young lady is requesting to come upstairs."
"Who's that young lady?"
"She told me not to tell her name.", Madame said.

"Very well. If she's my wife, the answer is no. If she's not, then send her up."

"What does Annelise even look like?", Grantaire asked.
"Beautiful raven hair and skin like a porcelain doll."
"That isn't helping. Like at all.", he said, taking a swing out of his bottle.

"Go get drunk."
"Your wish is my command."

"Annelise. What are you doing here?"
"Visiting my favorite uncle."
"You mean, your only uncle?", he asked.
"Like I said."
"Why all that dressed up?"
"I was supposed to meet with a young man. But I wasn't interested.", she said.

"Let her in.", I said.

My heart began beating fast. How beautiful you must have been today.

"Mademoiselle.", Combeferre greeted, "let me show you to your seat."

She was sat down beside me.

"You look beautiful today."
"Thank you. You like it?"
"You could wear rags and I'd still think you're beautiful.", I said.

She chuckled.

"What are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to meet my father?"
"Oh, Monsieur Tebun wanted me to have his blessing. But it can wait. My grandmother saw us when we went ice skating. She loves you."

I chuckled.

"Well, I love you more.", she said.
"I would love to see you tonight. At the hidden house."
"Alright. I'll be there. Just not as dressed up."
"That's alright with me."

Then she left to talk with her uncle. It's crazy how Courfeyrac, the immature man who was a known womanizer,  had a niece, that he treated with the most respect. Not that ever doesn't, but still. He loves women and they love him.

"The ring will be done in three days. That's alright?", Feuilly said, taking me out of my thoughts.
"Yes Feuilly, thank you."

I got out of my seat and walked to the door.

"Aw, the prince is in love."
"Shut up, Grantaire."
"Make me princey."
"I have a fully loaded gun, wanna make acquaintance?", I asked.

"No thank you. As you were saying?"
"Boys, my duty as the lost prince calls yet again. Tomorrow, 4 pm sharp. Anyone late will be in trouble."

"Can I bring someone?"
"Depends who that person is."
"His name is Marius. Marius Pontmercy. A foolish man loved Bonaparte but a nice person."

"Seriously?"
"He lives with me okay?"
"I thought you lived with your mother?", Bossuet asked.
"No, I'm 22.", Courfeyrac sighed.

"Very well. Then take him with you. As long as he doesn't bow to me, like Joly."
"That was one time, okay?", Joly defended.

"I gotta go, see you all tomorrow. Please don't kill each other in my absence.", I said, before leaving.

I was going home to pack some clothes, to spend the night in my small house. But when I arrived home, Maria was already waiting for me.

"So, where have you been?"
"Not in your presence, as you may have noticed."
"With that little mistress of yours?"
"I don't have one."

"No? You are a liar. As per usual, you only continue to think about yourself. I am the woman you have married."
"Yes, and I regret that one too."

She grabbed me by my shoulder and tore me back beside her.

"I will always be the Crown Princess and the next in line to the throne. Your way is predetermined. For you, there is no return, no matter how hard you struggle. I am wedded to you, I will remain your wife. You no longer avoid your destiny.", she screamed.

I sighed and rolled my eyes.

"Here, I'll stay the woman on the throne and I have equal grandeur. Europe's nobility will honor me as Queen. I'll stay the woman with the claim for crown and kingdom. Since I swear to you by everything that I hold sacred, you will stay with me.", she swore.

It sounded like a threat to me.

"Just have the whores over, that may be as common practice. But listen, you do not go any further! Save you the self-deception, you know it is well enough. You're a prince, obey to duty!"

"For god's sake, shut up, will you?", I yelled.

She stood there, all proud. She had no intention of stopping.

"I'm going to be the woman in power, even if we do not share a bed. They will lie me down in your grave onto your skeleton. Since I swear to you by everything that I hold sacred, you will stay with me. Before the Almighty, I swear
you will stay with me!", she finished, before stomping out.

I rang for a maid and asked her for some brandy. That was too much to handle. She wouldn't stop until she had what she wanted. And she wanted the power and the crown that came with it.

I took the bottle and locked the door. I slid down the door and took a swing of the bottle. My small booklet fell to the ground. I picked it up and opened it.

"My life here as a prince is just agony to me, I'd give it up if only I were free like any other man. So I can live like any other man!", I whispered.

I then took the booklet and threw it across the room. You didn't anger me, especially not like this. I will never belong to Maria, nor will I ever be king.

Then I made myself a promise:

France will be a Republic and if I have to die for it.