CROWN PRINCE | LES MISÉRABLES

35.

A/N: because my last chapter confused me, I thought I'd clear it up. The song (which the dialogue is based on) is about how women have weapons to get a man (therefore the line 'arm yourself for victory with only your cleavage', which is a line from a musical that takes places around 50 years later than les mis) idk if that makes sense, just felt like I should explain it.

March 29th, 1831. The wedding of Annelise and the Duke of Tebun. It was in every newspaper. I had was in terrible pain. I was crying all morning. I was married off to a man that I didn't love.

Bastien and I would no longer be together. I haven't seen him since the Café Musain incident. I left him all by himself. He would sign the document and run away from France and settle down somewhere unknown. It was his plan for after my wedding.

Delilah, Caroline, and Madame Louisa had come to my room, calming me down and helping me dress for the wedding. Delilah had married in secret, just two days ago. She was happily married and I was happy for them. I just wanted to be happy too.

"Are you nervous?"
"Yes. My stomach has been turning since I got out of bed."
"Oh, the jitters. It will be over once you're married."
"Can I back out now?"
"No. It's too late for that.", Madame Louisa said, tying me in my corset.

My eyes watered once more. I let my tears run freely, silently. I would be unhappy for the rest of my life.

Delilah saw it but chose to not say anything. She helped me with the final touches. I put Bastiens earrings on. It would be all I have left besides the memories.

"Annelise, are you ready?", my father asked. He held his hand stretched out for me to take.

I took it and walked down the stairs. My siblings were all dressed up for the special occasion. I was helped in the carriage and Raphael sat across from me.

"Nervous?"
"Yes. A bit melancholic."
"Don't be. It will be a nice day."

"Just let it be, Raphael.", Delilah said.

It's crazy to think that Raphael was our uncle, but Delilah was 4 years older than him. Not that it bothered us, but it still was crazy.

"Your mother would love to see you happy."
"She would love to see me in the arms of the person who truly loves me. Not a man who saved me.", I said.

"Maybe he's not that bad."
"No, he will restrict her life even more than it already is. And the worst part, she will live in court and will see Bastien every single day. It will break her heart.", Delilah chimed in.

"You are not helping.", Raphael whispered.
"Well, more than you.", she whispered back.

The bells were ringing, letting us know that he has arrived. My stomach turned and I felt getting sick. This corset made things so much harder.

"We're almost there. Then it's over."

We soon arrived at church and I went inside to pray. I prayed for myself and my family. It was all I could do.

After praying I made myself ready. Ready to walk that last meter to my future. The doors opened. I looked around, no King and no Bastien. I was sad, not gonna lie.

I was walking down the aisle, to a man I didn't love. The man I loved was married and had a daughter. He was a Duke and I was just a commoner.

I just had to let him go. Maybe I'm supposed to leave, so he can become the man his wife needs.

I almost reached the Duke of Tebun. He looked annoyed and I didn't blame him. I was pretty annoyed by his face too.

I finally came to a hold. My siblings were standing behind me. They were happy for me. My heart was ripping apart each second of standing here. While others cried out of happiness, I cried for myself.

"Do you take Annelise Robillard to your lawful wife?"
"Yes. I do.", he said annoyingly.
"And you, Annelise, do you take Alexandre, Duke of Tebun as your lawful husband?"

I hesitated. I took a breath when the door was harshly opened.

"STOP THE WEDDING."
"Your majesty.", the priest bowed.

Gasping was heard in the church. I turned around and saw Bastien standing there. He looked frantic and completely beside himself.

"Don't marry him. You deserve so much better than him. Please, don't do it.", he begged me with tears in his eyes.

My eyes filled with tears too. My father looked at him, then his eyes wandered to me. I assume he wanted to see a reaction to it.

"Can we now please move on? I have important matters to attend to today."
"Then leave. It seems to me that I'm not important enough for you."

I could hear my siblings cheering on me in the background. Also, Bastien was silently cheering.

"You are a woman. What do you know?"
"A lot more than you. I don't need you to keep me safe. I can take care of myself."

He scoffed and left the church.

"So there will be no wedding?"
"No. But thank you for your service Monsieur."
"May God bless you, my child. And you will find your way. You have a loving family and that's all that matters.", the priest said.

"Thank you."

***

We were back home. I was in my room, thinking. What happened today was different. I wasn't expecting him to show up at all. I knew he didn't want me to marry but sometimes he said that it would be better to marry him.

I was shocked but also moved. He really did it.