❝ Tell me losing everything is what saved you,
Tell me you finally tasted freedom.
Can you even imagine yourself in paradise?
Even the daughter of gods must know loneliness, must sometimes want nothing more than to be trapped in a hell of forevers...
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Westminster Palace, London
In one of the council rooms, Lily and Henry were sitting in their thrones when a messenger walked over. He handed Henry a letter before he walked away.
Henry hesitated when he saw the seal on the letter, before he opened it.
Lily turned to Henry, watching as he sighed in defeat. "What is it?" She asked, a concerned look on her face.
"It's from Maximilian of Austria," Henry sighed. "He is inviting the Queen and I to his son's palace in Burgundy, where they are hosting Dowager Queen Charlotte and Prince William of York."
"She is more shameless than ever," Margaret complained, a horrified look on her face at how Charlotte had managed to get the Emperor's heir to write such a letter.
"You must refuse," Jasper said at once, taking Aimee's hand into his own.
"Must I?" Henry scoffed at his uncle, an amused look on his face. "And here I was thinking what a pleasant trip it would be."
"Prince William? The whole world knows he died years ago," Margaret stated, remembering Charlotte's and Edmund's reactions when the boy's things had been found after he ran off. "Charlotte is either mad or a fool."
"She's neither. It's Charlotte we speak of," Henry argued with his mother, "Of course she knows the boy is an imposter. Like the last one. What does it matter if she is able to convince people otherwise?"
"The people of England support you," Lily quickly spoke up as she squeezed Henry's arm in comfort. "Do not doubt that."
Henry grabbed her hand, holding it in his own as Lord Stanley cleared his throat.
"There are rumors, Your Grace, of..." he trailed off, causing the duo to turn to look at the man. "Nobles in the southern countries planning to flee to Burgundy."
"We shall close the ports," Margaret quickly spoke up and Lily rolled her eyes, knowing such a plan would never work.
"And stop all trade and legitimate travel because of a mere rumor?" Lily asked, letting out a scoff. "If we do such a thing, we weaken ourselves. People will see us as scared."
"Her Grace is right," Sir William Stanley spoke up, agreeing with Lily. "England would be up in arms in no time."
"I agree as well," Henry added in, much to Margaret's dismay. "It is too drastic. The world would think we acted out of fear."
"How will you respond?" Jasper asked, a concerned look on his face.
Henry and Lily turned to look at one another, before they stood up and walked off, not answering the question.
