CROWN PRINCE | LES MISÉRABLES

36.

Enjolras POV

I stopped the wedding. I really did it. I wasn't going to do it. It would've been better to marry him. He had a good income, a title, he could provide her with a life she always dreamt of. But then I thought of everything that could be.

I could be the one to make her life wonderful, even if mine was terrible and going downhill. I love how my girl gave him the final word and told him to leave. She looked so beautiful in her wedding dress. Like a princess or even a queen.

I spent my nights planning for the Revolution. From now on, women weren't allowed in the backroom. They would be a distraction. I knew it first hand. When Annelise was around, she would be all I think about and with Combeferre being married to Annelise's older sister Delilah, it was even worse.

We had new members. Bahorel, a young boy named Gavroche, and two English men, one called Charlie and Benedict.

They were sons of rich men who had influence. Influence was the most important thing. Charlie's father was making Paper, so we would order pamphlets to hand out or even posters to hand onto walls and trees.

One thing was clear, things will never be the same. I was now in charge. I was pretending to be a stone-cold person, but deep down I was still doubting, fearing losing everything that I held dear.

Don't let them know the real you, is what I went by. Fighting for the right and making my people proud was my goal. I wouldn't back down until I reached that goal or died. I will sign the document as soon as we are winning. My father will have no other chance than accept our conditions.

I would've signed it earlier if things weren't depending on it.  My plan consisted of having General Lamarque on my side. He would play a key factor in our success. He knew every strategy and could help us win. But he asked for a plan: a worked through plan with every possibility noted down.

He was a close advisor of my father, but his family obviously requested for him to stay at home and withdraw from the court. I mean I don't blame them, the palace is just a fancier prison.

Words were no longer counted, but actions. I prepared my men with training. We would hold rallies, to gain supporters or even new members. Courfeyrac would train the men mentally and Combeferre would train some boys to help out medically.

My role in this was to lead and give orders. I am probably the best for this job. I have a fire in my soul, a fire that could burn everything down. It's passion and I want to change. But change won't come just like that. You need to provoke the change.

In a few days, I have a speech from my balcony. A speech was already written but I was gonna write my own speech.

"What are you doing?", Courf asked.
"Writing my speech."
"How are you? Not the leader or the prince, how is the person behind all this doing?"

"Honestly, I feel empty. I miss Annelise but I feel like I don't deserve her. I crashed her wedding, ruined her chances of a good life. I feel lonely like my life doesn't have any purpose. This Revolution gives me a purpose."

"Is there any way I can help you? Support you?"
"You are the center. I need your mind and courage. I need you to keep this all together when I fall.", I said.

"I am not a doctor but you sound sad."
"I wish I was happier. My life is going downhill. Which is why I prefer my alias. Enjolras. It means to terrify."
"Suits you. You for sure can be terrifying.", Courf said.

I chuckled.

"Enjolras it is then. Welcome to the normal world."
"Thank you."
"You know, I am sometimes afraid."
"Of what?", I asked.

"Their mother, my sister, asked me to be their guardian. I would take care of them once their father passed. What if I die now? Who will take care of them when I am not here? I gave her the promise on her deathbed.", he whispered.

He was close to tears. All I knew is that Annelise's mother passed when she gave birth to their last daughter. But I had no idea that Courf gave her a promise on her deathbed. How terrible this all must have been.

"Now you have to make me a promise: when I die, I want to be buried with my sister.", he said.

"You have my word on that. What was she like, if you don't mind me asking?"

"She was beautiful. Raven hair, just like me but straight. Pale skin and rosy cheeks."

That description fell on Annelise.

"Her green eyes shone like millions of stars whenever she saw her children or her husband. She was a loving mother. She would sing with them, sing them to sleep. When she passed, Caroline was unable to sleep for months. She would only sleep in someone's presence. As soon as they left, she would be wide awake.", he explained.

"Delilah would sit and wait for her to come to stitch with her. But she obviously never came. Finley began having anger issues and would lock himself in his bedroom. Annelise would not talk for months. Yvonne would cry every day and would never stop.", he continued.

A poor family. Delilah and Annelise were the oldest and took care of their younger siblings. I had no siblings, so therefore I would never know what that feels like.

Courf suffered a lot as well. He missed his older sister who had only been 35 years old at the time of her death. Delilah was born when she was only 15. It has been 8 years since, which made Courf 15 years old at the time of her death.

"What was her name?"
"Mayjah. Our father loved extraordinary names. Except for mine. Mine was his legacy.", he explained.

"Beautiful name. She must have been a wonderful person."
"She was. She really was a special person."