CROWN PRINCE | LES MISÉRABLES

43.

September 1832

Enjolras POV

The sentence of the boys was over. I tried sending letters to my grandmother, but the request to send them out was denied all the time. The letters were read by the staff and sent back to me. I just wanted to know how Annelise was doing.

Maria had a paramour, whom she loved dearly. I didn't even know she could do something like loving someone besides herself. My father allowed her to have a paramour, with the exception that the child had to be mine.

She had many miscarriages, which made our marriage unhappy. I was excited for the child, she blamed me for the loss. But I knew I was capable of having healthy children.

Annelise wanted nothing more than a real family of her own. Now I couldn't even ask her how she was doing and when she was returning to France. It was almost like they tried to keep Annelise out of the country.

Delilah was returning this afternoon. Combeferre had written to her. Raphael had convinced him, after Combeferre thought, that Delilah would not want anything to do with him. But he was wrong: she was happy and cried tears of happiness once his letter arrived.

She had not seen Annelise for the last month and didn't know how she was doing. Maybe she had already forgotten about me, moved on with another man, who could give her love and support. Life wasn't worth living anymore. Without her, my life seemed to have no purpose.

My sweet Annelise... I would do anything to know how she was doing. To hold her in my arms and smell her hair. To just be in the same country as she would be enough. But without any allowance, I was now sitting here, becoming more lonely and more melancholic.

The doors were opened and my father stepped inside.

"Son, your house arrest is over. You may now leave, whenever you please.", he said with an orotund sound, leaving me alone once again. 

I had no social interactions for months. I had not shaved. My face was too hairy. It didn't fit me. I asked a maid to shave my face and she did as I commanded. When I was going to see Annelise, she didn't need to be afraid of me. The first person I would meet would be Raphael and Delilah.

Afterward, I'd make my way to England, London to be exact. My grandmother had settled there after my mother had married my father. Now with Annelise in the house, she thankfully felt less lonely.

"Your majesty, you look deep in thought."
"Because I am."
"Is there any way I can help?"
"No. I don't think so.", I said.

She grabbed my shoulder and her hands wandered down. I felt uncomfortable and stopped her. I got up and looked at her. She was merely a child, trying to support her parents. I let go of her hand. I apologized for hurting her. She apologized for the inappropriate behavior.

I rushed out of the palace into the Café. The bullet holes were still visible and the blood had stained the cobblestone.

"Bastien, mon Dieu, you're alive.", Raphael said.
"Yes, I am. How are you doing my friend?"
"Worried."
"About Annelise?", I asked.

He nodded. She was his favorite niece, the only one who understood him. She was the only daughter that was still missing in France.

"Is Delilah here?"
"Yes, she's upstairs. Waiting for you."
"How did she know?"
"She waits here every day."
"I thought she would arrive in the afternoon."
"She did, two days ago. And she has waited ever since.", he said.

I thanked him and walked up. The room that was once filled with words of motivation, were now empty, literally empty. Delilah sat in only one of the two chairs.

"My goodness, hello.", she said.
"How is she doing?"
"I do not know. I haven't heard anything from her for months now. She just stopped coming out of the room.", she explained.

"Is she still with my grandmother?"
"Yes. Your grandmother is the loveliest person I've ever met. She told us stories about your childhood and how she took you in once you ran away."
"She loves to tell stories."

"What will you do now?"
"Travel to England and see for Annelise. Make sure she is alright and bring her home."

"That would be amazing if you could bring her home. We're all afraid. My father has been running in circles. My siblings are just so distant from each other. Nothing's like it was before."
"I know. I promise, if I don't take her home, I will tell you everything about her."
"Thank you."

***

I packed my things up for the journey. My father had allowed my departure from France and now I was on my way. I remember when I told Annelise that I would never leave France voluntarily. I guess I should've not said that. I was never as happy to leave this place behind me, even if it was just for a few days.