Frollo x Oc

Part 17: An Invitation

Some time has passed since then, and still, the Gypsy King continues to escape Frollo's men. He always taunted them, leaving them in the gutters, or humiliating them in front of the people. This enrages the minister more, who is annoyed with the young gypsy's ticks.

Of course, he continues to tell the people lies and that King Marco of the Gypsies was nothing more than the devil himself. The people mutter among themselves since Marco's magic frightened them, yet he never harmed them. He even rescued some people with his giant wolf, and the big creature showed affection toward children.

Frollo could see the hesitation in the people's faces and sneered at them for being tempted.

The old minister stomps away and gets on his horse before yelling at his men to search harder. The men followed their orders with Frollo scowling.

"I won't let that brat win! I'll find him and burn him in front of all of Paris! And I won't let him take Thalia back . . ."

~~~

Thalia remains at the Palace of Justice, trapped by her savior's men and walls. She hasn't tried to seduce Frollo again, at least, nothing as much as before. Only quick kisses in the morning and evening, before and after Frollo's work. Thalia also needed to calm down and work more discreetly.

She decides to sneak out of the palace quietly since she wants to visit Quasimodo. Thalia hadn't seen him in a while and hoped he was okay. She also wanted to ask him about Frollo and how Quasi met him.

Thalia walks the streets of Paris with a cloak wrapped around her and her hood up. She goes straight to the cathedral when a certain funny gypsy man stops her.

"Dear princess! You have returned!" greeted Clopin happily.

"Huh?! Oh, um, I-I'm sorry, but I don't have time for games," said Thalia, who tried to circle around Clopin, but he playfully took her hand and spun her around.

"But princess! We have been so worried for you! Your brother especially!" said Clopin.

"Brother? I don't have a brother. At least, I-I don't think so," said Thalia, confused. "Please excuse me."

Thalia cleverly walks past Clopin, but the colorful clown cartwheels to her. He stands up and faces her with a serious expression. "I beg of you, princess! If you just come with me, I can prove you belong with us. Don't trust the minister! He is fooling you better than I ever could!"

Thalia raises a brow and asks, "Are you saying Master Frollo has lied to me? Why should I believe you?"

"Think about it, princess," said Clopin, whispering. "Where did Judge Claude Frollo hid you all this time? What happened to your clothes when you met him, your family necklace? Has he . . . forbid you from going outside at all?"

"I-I don't know," said Thalia as she touched her head. "I don't remember . . ."

Clopin bows his head and stands on his knee, holding his hat to his chest. "You've lost your memories, dear princess. You've forgotten all about us. Your people, your family. Your parents."

"My parents . . ?" Thalia repeats while her head starts hurting a little.

Blurry images of colorful people appear in her mind. Many smiling faces and colors everywhere with two wearing gold trinkets on their heads.

"Thalia . . . Come here, Thalia . . ." Voices ring in Thalia's mind but she is unaware of who they belong to.

She shakes her head and rids the thoughts from her mind, trying to focus. "I-I'm trying to do something else and you're distracting me! Please leave me alone!"

Clopin responds, "I would never disobey you, princess, but this is an emergency. Please, come back with me. Your people are waiting for you."

Thalia stares at Clopin before turning her attention towards the cathedral. She takes a deep breath in, exhales, and then faces Clopin.

"I'm not going, and you can't make me." Thalia turns away from Clopin and heads for the entrance.

However, before she enters, Clopin stops her one last time and hands her a beaded necklace. "Here. Take this. When you wear this woven band, you hold the city in your hand. It'll guide you to us."

Thalia blinks at the jester, dumbfounded, and hesitantly accepts the necklace. She didn't know why she accepted it, but before she could say or do anything, they both heard guards close by.

"Adieu, princess! We wait for you!" Clopin bows his head and uses a smokescreen to disappear.

Thalia pulls her hood more and quickly enters the cathedral before the guards come near.

(Sorry for the lateness! This WILL continue, and hopefully, it'll be better than this chapter!)