CROWN PRINCE | LES MISÉRABLES

37.

"Red suits you well."
"Thank you."

We spend some time together once again. It's been too long since he stopped the wedding. Like a day or two.

"What does red make me look like?"
"A passionate leader, whose mission is to free the people of France out of their misery.", I said.

"God, Annelise, you made this sound like I wanted to overthrow the government."
"Of course, I was a bit too enthusiastic."

After the wedding, I had felt ready to give myself to him. This made me love him even more. He wouldn't even stop looking at me now. Every man that looked at me, got a death glare in return. In the public's eye, we were good friends, but in reality, we were so much more.

"I am nervous."
"Of what?"
"My speech. My ideas will lay open in front of thousands of people."
"You will do amazing. Prime Minister Leonardo can kiss his wonderful and lavish life goodbye.", I said.

"You are wonderful with words, Mademoiselle Robillard."
"Learned from the best tutors France had to offer."
"And your mother."
"What do you know about her?"
"Everything. Courf- uh Raphael told me all about her.", he said.

I gulped. He took me in his arms, embracing me in a tight hug. It was that familiar warmth that I had grown to love. This was much more than just love, this was deeper than any love could be. This understanding between us was something extraordinary.

I never had an understanding like that with someone like him.

"You wear your ring.", he said, as his fingers clasped together with mine.
"Yes, I always do. It is usually a bit closer to my heart, but now I don't have to worry about any man.", I said.

"It looks much better on your finger than on that necklace."
"I know. But my father, he's even more cautious than before."
"We will do something against that, I promise. I must get going now."

He gave me a quick kiss and then he went on his way. Delilah and I would walk by on "accident", just to see my prince give his speech and inspire thousands of people. It was known in all of France, that the Crown Prince was popular.

Everyone did what he said and his birthday ball many years ago, many people requested to play for him. But he chose our family instead.

I got on my horse and rode home.

***

Enjolras POV

I was nervous and scared. This was important. I couldn't screw this one up. All the members of Les Amis were present and wanted me to speak about the issues in our country.

I was sure that Annelise would also be present. She was my biggest supporter.

"Your majesty, it is time.", Prime Minister Leonardo said.
"Thank you."

I followed him to the balcony. Thousands of people were waiting to hear what I had to say. My ideas would spread far and maybe infect many other people to stand up.

The people were cheering.

"There a things that need change. Why are we staying in the past, when we can have a glorious future, that is just waiting for us? Is it worth angering our next generation for not taking this massive step?", I said.

"On the steps of tomorrow, there's a wide-open door with designs and inventions never dreamed of before. And the future is waiting there for everyone till everyone can see from the steps of tomorrow all the way to what could be.", I added.

The people were cheering.

"Let an ocean of light illuminate the night as if it were the sun. On the steps of tomorrow, there's room enough for everyone."

"On the steps of tomorrow", people repeated.

"Leave the past behind."
"On the steps of tomorrow.", even more people said.
"Seek and you shall find all the plans and schemes lead us to the dreams of all mankind."

"On the steps of tomorrow.", now the entire crowd repeated.

The prime minister was staring holes in my back and his spies disappeared from his side. Annelise was there. She was proud.

"Reach for something more."
"Lead us on and we'll be halfway there.", the crowd wanted.
"Walk through the wide-open door."

They wanted me to lead them into their future.

"From the steps of tomorrow, you can lead us anywhere.", the people encouraged.
"Be as bold as the dreams you dare to dream of."

"There's a world that is waiting for the wonders to see with ideas celebrating what a world ought to be, where a man's free to reach a little higher than he did the day before.
Yes, a new world is waiting, sure of what it's waiting for."

"Looking straight ahead. Superstitions shed. Moving to where only dreams and angels choose to tread."

"We will all recall the words to say, each for anything. Let every man be a king"
"From the steps of tomorrow, you can lead us anywhere.", the people begged.
"Be as bold as the dreams you dare to dream of."

"Let us move to the future with our heads held up high, where there's a century waiting with a gleam in its eye and a new sense of freedom never seen before that's sweeping 'cross the land.", I said.

"On the steps of tomorrow.", people cheered.
"It's wonderful and grand."
"On the steps of tomorrow.", they continued.
"Yesterday be damned."
"On the steps of tomorrow."
"It's time that everyone began a fate fit for the common man."

People cheered. I had infected people with my ideas. They were going to rise when we stepped onto our barricades.

The Prime Minister was absolutely not happy about it. When I walked inside, he stopped me.

"I hope this was just a joke."
"In fact, it wasn't. France needs new reforms, people do not enjoy living here."
"Who are you to say that?"
"The Crown Prince.", I said.

I kept walking away from him until he stopped following me. I made myself an enemy, but so be it.

A change had to happen, and the time was now.