'Sometimes we have to sacrifice our youths in order to let people live.'
Tulia Byrne has been a Queen for longer than she could remember. Her story begins so carefree and so full of love and yet by the end of it you'll be wondering if you even know...
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2nd June 1566
Three days. It had been three days of complete silence from the King and Queen. Nobody knew how she was, hell, they didn't even know if she was still alive. Charles had not left her side since the day she was brought in. He had expected to fight for the spot with his brother, but the other man had not stepped foot inside the room since he had laid her there.
The people of French Court were getting nervous, many of them liked Queen Tulia and were distraught when they saw her being carried into the infirmary with not even a spark of life in her eyes. None feared for her like her friends and family.
The ladies had visited her regularly whilst she had been confined to the infirmary, Aidan and the Leon siblings had been respectful in their visits, only coming when Charles was on his own. Tulia's sons came to see her often but they did not quite understand what was happening, the Leon's feared that they boys may think the worst if their mother was crowded in what could be her final days.
The three of them were with her now. The day had barely begun but the boys had been there all night. Tulia was laid in the middle of the large bed with her sons at either side of her. Charles was asleep in the chair next to the bed, his hand wrapped around Harry's small one. The youngest Valois had cried when his mother would not wake up and so Charles had done his best to hold him even though he could not be dragged away from his mothers resting body.
When the boys were asleep Charles allowed his own tears to fall. He thought he was protecting her by doing this but it seemed that his actions had only made things worse. God how he loathed himself.
The sound of the door opening awoke Charles from his light sleep, he had come accustomed to waking up in the middle of the night at any sort of movement that was made in the room. Every time he opened his eyes he prayed that it was her, that she was awake.
The solemn and tired face of Catherine de 'Medici came into view as she closed the door lightly, her eyes softening at the scene in front of her. Oh how she wished they had stayed like this. Stayed so in love. Stayed as a family.
"Mother?" Charles whispered as he gently removed his hand from Harry's and walked over to his mother who had a troubled expression. "What is it?"
"You are aware of your sister Leeza's return, yes?" Catherine asked, looking at her eldest son tiredly.
"Of course," Charles nodded, his eyes could not seem to stop flickering back to Tulia, just checking that she was still breathing.
"She confessed to me that she is trying to put your brother onto the throne." Catherine explained. She may not like the way that Charles ruled but she would not have her son dethroned and possibly killed.
"What evidence do you have of this." Charles asked his mother, hoping that her words had nothing to back them up.
"A letter from Leeza to Henri." Catherine spoke, handing him a letter that she had taken from her other son's chambers.
