Our challenging Reign ~ Charles Valois

Chapter 10: Theatre

A few weeks later, Catherine and I go to greet Mary as she has just come back from Rome.

"Mary. Welcome back." I say happily to her as I pull her in a hug. She is my best friend, so of course I missed her.

Catherine embraces her after we release each other. "Oh, we're sorry we were not there to greet you. We were planning my tour of the provinces for the spring."

Mary looks at her, "Oh the regency suits you she compliments.

"I did see you arriving from my window. I couldn't help but notice you talking with the English ambassador at some length." She tells her, knowingly.

"I was lying to him, telling him my mission to Rome was a failure. The Vatican was steadfastly behind me. They've agreed to help me gather any forces I need." I smirk. I know she cares for him slightly but I am glad she is putting the needs of her country before everything.

Catherine catches on, "Oh, you're playing possum while building a catholic army."

"My enemies in England and Scotland can't stop me if they don't know my plans." She replies smartly.

"The element of surprise will help when you arrive. You do have many Protestants against you; that zealot John Knox, not to mention the Highland tribes, with disregard for any monarchy."

Mary turns to us. "Elizabeth cannot know, either. So Gideon must be kept in the dark." I feel the need to speak up. "Is that difficult for you- to lie to him?" Mary then looks at me questionably.

"No. It's not difficult at all." She states.

I continue, "Before you left for Rome I couldn't help but notice you were spending a lot of time together. There seems to be... a connection between you."

Mary stops walking and turns to me in disbelief. "Are you encouraging me to take an English spy as my lover?"

Catherine butts in, "As Francis' mother and your friend," she looks towards me. "If you want permission, we give it to you. Take some comfort. Just remember: enjoy him but never trust him. If forced to take a side, Gideon will always choose Elizabeth." She then walks off.

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Charles calls me over as I walk through the halls. I sway towards him and kiss him on the cheek as he wraps his arms around me. "Mother wants to meet us." He states and I groan as he ushers me towards Catherine. As she sees us, she calls us both over. "Ah, Charles, Isabella. This is Arturo. He's an old family friend and a leader of the finest theatre troupe in Italy. You met him when you were just a child." She tells him as Arturo walks over to us.

He joins in the conversation, "And now I meet you as King of France. And you must be Queen Isabella." I smile and nod at him respectfully. "It is a great honour to perform for your court." He greets us both. My husband just smiles at him politely and does not say anything.

I sigh and grow impatient. I hit him quite hard in the stomach and he tries not to double over. I grin to myself. He looks at me in confusion and I drag my eyes over to Arturo, silently telling him to speak to the man. He then finally catches on. "Mother tells me your troupe performs all over Europe."

"Thanks to the generous patronage of the Medici family. But tonight's performance will be unlike everything you have ever seen. It is Italian comedy." Me and Charles try to look enthusiastic.

Catherine claps her hands. "Wonderful. We could use a happy ending. What better way to celebrate your rule and mine, huh?" She looks at me and my husband. "And I expect you and your sister, to be there Charles." Charles just nods back.

Someone then comes and tells Catherine that Mary wants to speak to her.

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A few hours later, we are sitting down getting ready to watch theatre. The room is fairly packed and I feel a bit uneasy. Most of Charles and I's conversations are about the baby, and it is getting me excited. As we are waiting, Claude sighs with sheer boredom. "What's the play about anyway?" She rolls her eyes and grumbles. I smile at her.

"It's a comedy about the love lives of royals." Bash answers his sister.

I feel Charles glance at me before he slyly states, "I hear the princess is worth looking at." And I turn to him and glare, "Say that again, I dare you." Especially with these pregnancy hormones, I get overly emotional. My husband just chuckled with the rest of his family and kisses my cheek.

"You're lucky." I mutter to him. Catherine quickly shushes us when the curtains open. "Shhh it's starting." And we all clap.

The person on stage starts speaking, "Welcome, all, to the Kingdom of Glory, where the summers are cool and the winters fair. The king..." he gestures to a new person in stage, "...and his queen share a dance on a midsummer night, not a worry on their minds, except who their daughter will marry." As he says this I feel Charles place his hand upon my stomach and I grab his hand, kiss it and then place it back on my stomach as I feel tears well up in my eyes from the small action.

It's been a few minutes and now they are dancing on stage, "Finally, our daughter is happy, and all is as it should be." As they go to dance again, something or should I say someone cuts them off. It is a dark male figure who is wearing a weird mask. "Behold this king and queen in a new light, for they have built this kingdom on the blood of their own subjects." He practically yells as he points to them. They look frightened and I don't think this is apart of the show. He continues, "Years ago, 13 red knights valiantly served the royals only to be falsely accused of worshiping a demon, the Baphomet." As he talks about the "13 Red knights" I see Catherine get uncomfortable. "And all were executed by you... there wicked queen. Let the kingdom heed my warning: The 13 knights shall rise again. The debt shall be paid!" He screams and walks off and I hear Catherine whisper shout to stop him.

As the curtain drops down, we all sit there in confusion and worry. Catherine quickly walks off and the rest of us just sit and clap.

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The rest of the day passes quickly and now Charles and I are retiring to our chambers. So much has changed since I've met him. I'm no longer the scared little girl that needs protecting. I'm a queen of two nations Germany and France. I have found love and comfort in my lover. As we get ready to sleep, I can't help that but gaze at Charles, which I have done so many nights before. He turns to me and catches me staring. He slowly walks towards me and he attached his lips to mine and our breath mingle together. He reaches up and places his hand on my cheek, softly caressing the side of my face. After that I state into his eyes and he grabs a hold of me and drags me towards the bed.

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I'm so sorry for not updating. I've been so down with everything. My mental health hasn't been very great these past few days :(

Put I promise I will start frequently updating 💓