Her Rightful Place

51: The Homecoming

The sun has barely begun to peek over the horizon as the Vyrunian royal progress approaches the gates of the Palace of Roses. Nevertheless, thanks to the black-clad heralds on black steeds sent ahead of the main group of travelers, the palace guards are ready to receive them. Queen Généviève and her household are present in the courtyard to greet them, although it is abundantly clear from their sleep-blurred eyes and sluggish movements that most of them would prefer to be in bed.

As the King and Mireille had decided while they made ready to depart from Estral, he is dressed to befit his station, while Mireille remains disguised as a servant. The servant who has been her decoy is also dressed as a servant; they wish to create as much confusion as possible among any potential spies as to where Mireille has been for the past week and which of the three black-haired, green-eyed young women who have been called Princess Mireille is the actual Princess. Mireille, for her part, is grateful for the few additional hours of freedom that this arrangement has allowed her—including the ability to spend her time with Christelle, playing with the tiny dog they procured as a pet for Queen Généviève while in Estral.

This acquisition was not a planned part of the progress; however, Christelle was absolutely enchanted by the dogs they saw playing throughout the town of Estral, and King Christophe and Mireille were completely willing to entertain Christelle's whims, in light of her heroic and unconventional actions involving the bandits at Ghyslain's Bridge. Christelle flatly refused a multitude of offers to obtain a dog for herself—she is holding out for the gift of a dog from Jerôme, although she will not admit as much to Mireille's knowing glances and smirks. However, when they met Bijou in the cottage of a farmer who specializes in dog breeding, all of them quickly came to the conclusion that this dog was meant for Queen Généviève. She is fluffy and adorable, the size of a child's doll, but possesses an unmistakably royal attitude; she has demanded multiple times, in the journey from Estral to the Palace of Roses, to be let outside to answer nature's call by whining, barking, and stamping her feet. Aside from these demands, she flatly refused to ride anywhere except in someone's lap—a requirement Christelle has been all too happy to meet. She is also bright-eyed, inquisitive, and her attention is completely captured by the presence of anything resembling food. Christelle has found her to be quite a comfort in their travels, even forgetting her former carriage-sickness and not seeming to mind in the least that they have travelled through the night with very little sleep.

In spite of Bijou's comforting and entertaining presence, however, all of the travelers are immeasurably relieved when the gates of the Palace of Roses swing open to admit their procession of black carriages, and even more relieved when the gates crash shut behind them. King Christophe emerges majestically from his conveyance, and all the servants and courtiers present bow and applaud to show their joy that their monarch has returned to them. Queen Généviève immediately rushes to her husband and embraces him.

"I am so glad you have returned!" she exclaims, barely restraining herself from sobbing.

"And I am overjoyed to have returned to you, my love," King Christophe replies in a rare public show of affection. "The people send their greetings and prayers and affection to you, and were disappointed that you could not travel with us to see them."

"Our Lord and Meávée be praised for their loyalty and devotion, and we lift our prayers of gratitude for your safe return to your rightful place. So much has happened in your absence—"

"You must tell me all about it behind closed doors, away from prying eyes and ears, and preferably after we have all had some rest. We travelled through the night to come home, and have not slept."

"What prompted such haste? Until your heralds came, we were not expecting you until this afternoon."

"There was an incident at Ghyslain's Bridge. Bandits and ruffians still make their homes there and harass innocent travelers and passersby, an issue we must address with our Royal Ministers as soon as possible...which, again, must be after a repose."