CROWN PRINCE | LES MISÉRABLES

75.

A/N: hello, this is very sad. But please continue reading until the last chapter. I promise it will end on a high note.
Yes, I cried writing and editing this. You're not alone.
I wrote this in one go btw bc I can't bring myself to edit another day. Sorry

February 1839

I was not prepared for what fate had in store for us. It was a normal day. Bastien went to the Café as usual and I took care of the house and Timothy. But Bastien never returned. I figured he forgot the time as he did so often. I thought he may have started to talk about his ideas and was caught up in his passionate conversation.

I began to worry at night. He had not returned. Had left no letter, nothing. I didn't want to sleep without knowing what happened. I couldn't sleep. I cried out of fear. I was restless. Timothy had fallen asleep. He told me to tell Bastien that he loved him and wished him a good night.

When Bastien came home, I would be angry. I would be really mad because he just left and said nothing. I could not leave Timothy all alone. I waited and waited.

Eventually, the night came to an end, and no sight of my dear husband. Timothy woke up and I had grabbed him and went to the Café Musain.

I saw carriages, tons of them. I ran to the door.

"Annelise, go home."
"My husband is here. Now let me through."
"Annelise."
"No, get out of my sight Raphael.", I yelled.

"Annelise, calm down, please. Your baby."
"Don't tell me what to do. I don't want to hear it. Where is he?", I asked.

"Bastien was shot."

Tears shot in my eyes. I could not form a proper sentence.

"Is-is he-he—?"

Raphael nodded. I gasped and fell to the ground. I screamed and begged Raphael to tell me that this was just a sick joke. But he just began to cry. His wife had taken Timothy away.

The men carried out his body.

I saw it and collapsed at his side. He was pale, his lips blue. I screamed and cried. I begged for him to wake up and tell me that he's alright. But he did not budge. He had a bullet hole below his left ribcage. The men carried him away.

I was left a widow. We were married for 5 days. And Timothys 6th birthday would be in 2 days. How did I tell him that someone had killed his father? How would his baby grow up without a father? I was alone.

"Annelise, this is for you. He wrote this, shortly before he died.", Raphael said, handing me the letter.

I unfolded the piece of paper. His beautiful handwriting told me how he feared that this day would come. He told me he loved me and our children. He would be playing with Yvonne up there. He had written all properties in my name. He would guide and watch me from above.

I began to break down. The man I had loved, was now gone forever.

His last words to me were 'I love you, Annelise.'