CROWN PRINCE | LES MISÉRABLES

47.

A few months later

I moved with Timothy to Bastiens small house. It was about 15 minutes away from where we lived but we needed space. Bastien wanted to leave the palace anyway and said he would love for us to be together.

He had a few servants with him. I told him that I would do the most anyways, to which he said no. He said he'd rather have my rest and raise our little boy while enjoying life with him.

Timothy had begun smiling. He was now smiling at everything and everyone.

"He was smiling at me.", he said, all proud.
"He loves you."
"I love him. And I love you. You gave me my most desired wish: a baby. And now we have him."

"Your majesty, the King's here."
"Your father?", I asked, taking Timothy out of his hands.
"What does he want?"
"See his grandchild."

"No. He's forbidden to enter.", he said.
"Wait, he has the right to meet his grandchild. Think about it."
"After all he did?"
"It is your decision and I will support you, whatever decision you make.", I said.

"I-I-I can't. He's not allowed. Today at least.", he stammered.

I stood by his side. I understood his decision. His father had caused him pain since he was a young boy. He wanted to protect Timothy from all the harm in this world.

"It's alright. You are the father and you decide.", I whispered.
"I can't let him see Timothy. I can't. He will want to mark him as royal. He would need to move to the palace, he would be taken away from us. We would have no sayings in how he is raised. My father will destroy him.", he explained.

"We will not let that happen."
"Unfortunately, it will. My father will do everything in his power to take him. Now that he knows we have a son, he will do anything to take him under his care. He will try to ruin your reputation, calling you a whore."

"Well, I guess I have to withstand it. I will not leave you or Timothy and I will not hand him over. Only over my dead body."

I didn't know I could be this serious. The thought of the King claiming me as a whore was frightening. My entire family would be repudiated. And Timothy would be declared the bastard of the century. People would never look the same upon us.

"Deep in thought?"
"The thought scares me. I mean, my family has built a reputation and I would be the one to destroy it. On one hand, I do not care, I want the best for my son but on the other, I cannot let him live as a bastard."

"I have a plan. Do you trust me?"
"Always."