War of Hearts || Reign || REWRITE

13- Banishment I

July 17th , 1562

When the guard opened the door of the king's study, I cautiously stepped inside and made a deep curtsy. "Your Majesty," I said, the tremor could be heard in my voice.

The king sat behind his large wooden desk. He had a calm, menacing expression on his face and I was immediately intimidated.

"Bianca" he said calmly, looking straight at me "when Francis asked me to accept the marriage between the two of you I clearly told him that wouldn't happen and that if I saw you together again there would be dire consequences. "

I didn't say anything back and just looked at him.

"But he still disobeyed me" he picked up a stack of letters from the table and unfolded them. "he wrote several letters to you" he held out a letter to me.

"Here he writes about his unending love for you, and in this one he writes that he would do anything to be with you" he laughed falsely "and in this one he writes how he will not consummate the marriage between him and mary so that he, when he is king, can cancel the marriage. These words are treason, you know that?"

I nodded slowly "I know" I said softly.

He got up and walked towards me. "Tomorrow you and I will watch Francis and Mary consummate the marriage. You will see that you and my son will never marry, and you better accept that. Then you will be banned from France. I don't want to see you here anymore and if I do see you I'll have to kill you" he gripped my face tight "It's a pity that a beauty like you can't become queen, is it?"

I drew back but he held me too tight "My son will make Scotland finally come into my power and you won't ruin it" he roughly let go of my face causing me to lose my balance briefly "You may leave" he snapped as he left the room before me, followed by his guards who were waiting in the hallway.

I almost ran to my room and sat breathless on my bed. A maid came in to get me ready for the night. "Will you be able to pack all my things in my travel boxes. Everything has to go in there" I said.

The girl looked up in surprise but obeyed and started at my closet as I lay down in my bed and silently wiped my tears. no one was allowed to see that I was broken, not even a maid

~

The next morning I woke up with a splitting headache. Knowing that this was my last day here.

All my things were packed last night and it felt weird to be in a bare room now.

I slipped out of my bed and packed the last of the things that hung around my room in my chests and closed them. The dress I was going to wear today I left in the closet, along with my shoes and cape for my trip.

A maid came into the room and started to help me get ready. She filled the tub with warm water and, at my request, added another pitcher of boiling hot water.

Then I dried myself and she started with my hair. She braided it into several braids and pinned it into a low chignon.

I had chosen to wear a dark blue dress for the wedding. The dress was so dark it almost looked black.

Not a happy color for a wedding.

When the maid had finished, I thanked her and headed for the full driveway. We would travel to a cathedral near paris for the wedding ceremony after which the festivities would continue in a nearby chateau.

It was grandly planned and dozens of guests had traveled to France from all over Europe to attend the wedding. One person was dressed even more beautifully than the next and they spoke admiringly about how everything was organized.

This could have been my wedding, Francis's and mine, but the king had to ruin everything.

And he wasn't going to get away with that.

I was awakened from my thoughts by Maximilian "We must leave Bianca." he said as he pulled me to an empty carriage and helped me get in.

I was silent the entire ride and Maximilian noticed that something was not right.

"Are you mad because Francis is getting married to Mary?" he asked carefully. I shrugged and looked out the window.

"Bianca, I can clearly see that something is bothering you. Tell me, we trusted each other, didn't we?" He looked at me concerned this time.

I sighed, "The king has banished me from France. I must watch Francis and Mary consummate their marriage before I leave. If he ever sees me again he will have me killed." Maximilian looked startled, "did he say that himself?" I nodded "nothing should come between him and Scotland, not even me"

"And does Francis know about this?" "No, and I don't think I want him to know this. Let him think I've left on my own, I don't want him to accuse your father of anything, that will be too dangerous for him. And also for you. Promise me you won't ask your father about this. You are already a bastard so you better be careful"

Maximilian looked offended. "I may be a bastard, but that doesn't mean I'm in danger from my own father, even if it's the king. And besides, he has decided to ennoble me to the nobility. I will be the Duke of Anjou and will also have a few palaces and castles. I will no longer be known as the bastard but as the duke."

I smiled happily "I'm really happy for you, I really didn't mean to offend you but I just want you to stay safe."

Looks like some bastard made it in life. Unfortunately, the other has to leave the country and her love.