Our challenging Reign ~ Charles Valois

Chapter 15: Problems

I wake up with arms around me and I smile. I turn around in his arms and look at Charles. I take in all of his beauty and I gently lift my hand to caress his face. It has been so long since we've had a moment like this together.

His eyes open and focuses on me and we just stare at each other of a few minutes, soaking up the feeling. I bring my lips to his and give him a soft kiss that he reciprocates. Our moment is broken up when Catherine storms in our chambers. I quickly sit up and Charles helps cover my body with the blanket.

I look at Catherine angrily and groan, "What could you possibly want now, Catherine?"

She ignores me and focuses on her son and demands, "Tell me where she is Charles!"

I look at Charles in confusion. What is she on about? Who's Bianca?

"Who?" He says uninterested and tired.

Catherine then walks closer to the bed and sighs loudly and explains who she's on about. "The young noble girl, Bianca. She's gone missing. And she was last seen arriving at your chambers. What has become of her?"

"Who can say, really? Terrible things happen to people all the time." I look to him as he says this. And he gives me a look to tell me that he did not harm her girl, so I relax a little bit.

Catherine gets angry though, as he won't give a simple explanation.

"What is wrong with you? Did you harm her?"

"Leave me." He orders.

"I am your mother." She says back to him.

"And I am your king, and you will do as I say."

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Catherine has told me all about what happened with Bianca and Charles and now we and Narcisse are in mine and Charles' chambers as he sits on the bed, unresponsive.

"I'm trying to picture this, Charles. I really am. You and that sweet girl, Bianca, together in a field of weathered bones and putrid remains. Was that your idea of a romantic evening?" Catherine says to him.

"Well, aren't you a charmer." I raise my eyes brows up at Charles, with amusement. He doesn't find it as amusing as me though.

"Or am I wrong? Because this is the tale that she is telling, the reason that she fled from you in the dark and, in blind desperation, fell down a ravine. Do you even care?" She asks him. When he doesn't reply and just continues staring ahead, she turns to Stephan. "I told you, he's been like this for weeks. Sullen, unresponsive. Oh, just vanishes as he pleases, avoiding all responsibility."

Narcisse looks towards my husband and cautiously walks towards him, gaining the attention. "Your mother told me that... you have been traumatised by the Red Knights, that you saw your friend die horribly. But, my dear boy, this has to stop."

He surprisingly gets a reaction. But it isn't a nice one. "You are not my father. Stop speaking to me as though you are." He glares at Narcisse.

In rage, Catherine yells out, "No. He is the Lord Chancellor of France, and you are putting your entire rule in jeopardy. If your sister, the queen of Spain, gets wind of your exploits, she could declare you unfit to rule."

"And no doubt, petition the Vatican to remove not just you and your wife by the entire Valois line." Narcisse continues.

"A few would object. The Valois are not beloved. They say that Francis was frail and you, the next king, too young. And now there is talk of your mental state. You nearly eat. You look like the living dead. You are silent to the servants, to the nobles, to the privy council. You only talk to your wife sometimes. You rarely leave your chambers. And when you do, where do you go? You say that you're out hunting. What kind of hunting are you doing? When Bianca fled, were you giving chase? ANSWER ME! You do realise that this girl's story could rob us of all we possess."