CROWN PRINCE | LES MISÉRABLES

54.

November 1834

Delilah had given birth to a beautiful baby girl. Natalie Yvonne was her name. Combeferre was a happy father. Her pregnancy had taken a bit longer, which was crazy but she managed to deliver her baby and survive.

It was insane how dangerous childbirth could be. Timothy was now the cousin of the baby and loved talking to her. He explained how beautiful the world was and how amazing life is. He was a small poet. He got that from Jehan that had watched him oftentimes.

When I came home, I received a letter. Bastien and I were asked to an audience with the King. The King. He would never do it. I handed the letter to him and he just shook his head. He got mad and I had to calm him down.

"Listen, he didn't say anything about Timothy."
"Are you really this naive? He wants to see Timothy. This is the whole point of this letter."
"Then he should've stated so. There is no mention of him."

"Annelise, that's the whole reason for the goddamn letter! He doesn't care about me and even less about you. He wants Timothy."
"I don't like the way you speak to me. If we were to marry, then you'd have to deal with my naivety."
"If? God, I regret it. I do.", he said, storming out.

The door fell in the lock with a bang. I slid down the door, still trying to comprehend what happened. He regretted asking me to marry him. I made a fool out of myself. Well, if that's what he thought, then I won't be there when he comes back.

I rushed up to the bedroom and packed up two-weeks-worth of clothing. I did the same for Timothy's items. I put on my coat and rushed out of the house. I had not even left a letter. He did not need to come to find me.

I picked up Timothy and we made our way to the train station. I booked one-way tickets to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. We spent so much time there and I would probably hurt to see the places again. But we needed to go.

We sat on the train, waiting to reach our destination. I was a woman, not an object that you could yell at. I had feelings and even if my actions didn't reflect it, I was an adult. I had a baby and I could take care of him myself. Not Bastien, but for me.

He could wait until I felt better coming back.

"Papa?", Timothy asked.
"We will go see someone special my dear.", I whispered, holding back my tears.
"Papa.", he said, beginning to whimper.
"It's alright. I can see it's hard for you. We're on the same team.", I said, calming him down a little.

After an hour of crying, I had finally calmed him down. He slept a bit, which I understood. Today was overwhelming.

***

We arrived in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Timothy was in my arm as I carried out our bag. He could not toy around with me. I was a human being and I had feelings. Yes, I was naive and a little stupid. But I was merely 21. I had no idea how this life thing worked. I was just thrown into it.

I sometimes doubted myself. I sometimes felt like a disappointment to my family and an even bigger one to my son and Bastien. I was far from perfect but I was real. This is as real as it gets. I was not one of these bourgeois, with pampered hair and lavish lifestyles. I had lived a calm life, was far away from any luxury.

I had a loving and supportive family and that was all that mattered. Not even the biggest storm could tear us apart. Alone I felt like even the slightest wind could blow me over. My only hope was Timothy. He kept me going, he was the reason I was doing this all for.

I lived and learned from my mistakes. I have cried many tears but those for a man were useless. Crying after a man was useless. I was proud of being a Robillard and not even the Crown Prince of France could make me believe otherwise.