CROWN PRINCE | LES MISÉRABLES

48.

A/N: this chapter will probably make you cry, just like me when I wrote it. Still hope you enjoy it. Please consider voting and/or commenting feedback if you liked this chapter .

August 1833

Living with Bastien was our best luck. We loved spending time together and raise Timothy to a strong healthy little boy. He could now hold up his head. And he loved smiling.

His laughter was contagious. His blue eyes were still strong in their color. I was worried though as Yvonne had gotten ill over the last month. Scarlet fever they said. She had a rash all over her body and constant fever.

Bastien and I had not visited her, as it was highly contagious. I wanted nothing more than be with my littlest sister. She often cries because she felt lonely. Her only visitor was her doctor.

"Annelise, there is a message for you. It's about Yvonne.", Bastien said, handing me the letter.

I scanned through the words, trying to make sense of the writing. Yvonne was gravely ill, with no chance of recovery. She was most likely to die within the next month. I gasped. My little sister, who had just turned ten, 7 months ago, was going to die.

I packed my things and said goodbye to both Bastien and Timothy. Bastien knew there was no way that he could stop me. I would try to keep a safe distance, but nothing would be guaranteed. I would stay 7 days, just to make sure that I didn't infect myself.

I rode faster than a man probably could. I jumped off and walked in the door. The door opened and my grandmother was in front of me. The bang against the head was definitely not worth it.

"Annie, you can't be here."
"Yes, I can, so if you excuse me."
"Annelise, stop this nonsense now."

My father rarely called me by my full name. Only if he was serious. I stopped in my tracks and turned around to face him. We both were in tears. We didn't have to speak to know what the other thought. I rushed back down into his arms to cry my heart out.

"Annie, I can't let you go to her unless the doctor wants us to. You have a baby, you cannot risk your life now."
"She's my sister. Yvonne is the last born of Mama. We fought so much for her, just for us to let her die in her own bed, all by herself.", I whispered.

"I think it's better if you go home."
"No, I stay with my family. My family needs me now."
"Who needs you now, is your son.", Combeferre said.

"What do you know about that? You don't even know my son! Yvonne is dying and I want to be here for her. I promised Mama I'd take care of her. I failed them both.", I yelled, before breaking out in tears by my last sentence.

"Lisl, don't cry. Mama wants her little angel back.", Caroline said, hugging me.

Mama wanted her little angel back. We waited for the doctor to come out of her room. His expression showed nothing but sadness and condolences.

"Can we see her a final time?", my father asked.
"Yes. But keep your distance. She's not contagious anymore, but still.", he said, before letting us in.

We all walked up the stairs and to her room. There she was: the sickly little child, that used to be full of life and happiness. She would not live to see the sunset.

"Annelise, you are here.", she said, coughing.
"Yes, I am. I told you I'd come back to you."
"Father, can we eat ice cream when I get better?", she asked.

My father laughed.

"Of course.", he said through tears.

My heart broke. She thought of ice cream.

"Can you sing me a song before I sleep?", she asked.

I believe she knew she would die and wanted to make us better.

"What would you like to hear?", I asked her.
"Mama's favorite song."

I took the guitar and began playing the first accords of the song.

"The hills are alive with the sound of music. With songs, they have sung for a thousand years. The hills fill my heart with the sound of music. My heart wants to sing every song it hears. My heart wants to beat like the wings of the birds. That rise from the lake to the trees. My heart wants to sigh like a chime that flies. From a church on a breeze. To laugh like a brook when it trips and falls over. Stones on their way. To sing through the night like a lark who is learning to pray", we sang.

By the time we finished, she had her eyes closed. The doctor checked for a pulse and shook his head. Heaven has gained another angel today. My siblings broke out crying. I let my tears fall silently, hoping to not draw any attention to myself.

My siblings needed support now. I pulled the doctor aside, asking if it was safe for a baby to be here. He gave his yes. I fully trusted him, as he was a doctor who had taken care of all of us before.

I quickly wrote a letter for Bastien to quickly come. I would need him now. My father had to plan a funeral now.

It is heartbreaking when a father has to watch his youngest daughter die and plan her funeral.