CROWN PRINCE | LES MISÉRABLES

51.

I could not believe it. I was engaged. Like literally. I knew that his father would never give his blessing but we didn't need that. We were already blessed. We would grow as a family and maybe have another child in the future.

Yes, who can predict what the future will bring? I just kept staring at my ring. It a golden band, with a round stone, probably a ruby. A red stone, how fitting.

"Well, my love, what do you think?"
"It is absolutely beautiful. And the red ruby."
"How fitting.", he said.

"Feuilly made it. He offered me to make it. Jehan chose the ruby although he wanted a diamond.", he added.
"The ruby is perfect. It fits so much more to us than anyone else in this world."

"I asked your father and he gave me his blessing. Delilah cried when I asked."
"Delilah is pregnant."
"Combeferre told me. They would make great parents."
"Just like us.", I said.

"Just like us.", he agreed.

***

"Show me, show me, show me.", Delilah said, almost pulling my finger off.
"It is beautiful, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is very beautiful. Carrie would love it too. Yvonne would say it's a stone from the heart.", Delilah said, remembering the 11-year-old.

"Oh yes, she would."
"Timothy was a good boy."

"Oh, I am so glad he wasn't a bother."
"Of course not."

I lifted my little boy. He smiled at me and his huge blue eyes, stared at me. He was mesmerizing. My little boy had given us a purpose.

We went home to Bastien. He greeted us with a huge smile on his face. He took Timothy from my arms and carried him into the living space. He was looking lovingly at his son. A strong, healthy boy, who survived past the age of 1. It was rare, but not impossible.

Being a mother was hard. He would often cry during the night because he was hungry. Bastien could be no help since he couldn't feed him. So, I spent my nights in a small armchair, rocking Timothy back to sleep, while being half asleep.

He loved playing around and loved experiencing the beauty of nature. I was thankful that we lived close to my own home, so he still had lots of forests to explore. Just like me all those years ago.

Things had changed. Not only us but also fashion. When I was a child, we didn't wear panniers, which were side hoops. They were used to flare out our dresses. When I grew older, panniers grew more in style and so I wore it too. Now, they had flattened a bit, giving us women more curves instead of rectangular hips.

It was quite hard fitting through doors so walking in sideways was a thing. Now, it was obviously much easier.

"Annelise, how about we have a ball at this very house?"
"A ball? Bastien, I don't know."
"Balls were always fun. I quite enjoyed them sometimes. Especially when I met this young woman, who is now getting married to a handsome young man.", he said.

I laughed.

"Alright. You can have your ball. Just a few people. Not too many.", I said.
"Thank you.", he said, kissing my forehead.

A ball. A ball full of people.