The Love in your Eyes

II | Everything in time

MISAEL

"Your Majesty?!" The shock was more than just evident in Evangeline's voice.
Surprise all over her face.

Evangeline immediately rose to her feet, bowed her head down, delicately placed both her hands over her chest, and did a curtsy. For a moment I was surprised by the curtsy, but then quickly remembered that I outranked her, and currently quite immensely so. Evangeline was in this moment holding the official title of Princess Consort Evageline –soon to be crowned Queen Consort of Bayareau– which was a title that had been bestowed on her, by marriage with me, the King. Before and during our engagement she had held the title of Princess Evangeline, Duchesse de Sakeé, which was a title that had been given to her by her father, the King of Benineé. Evangeline's coronation had not taken place yet, but was planned –as the tradition demanded– on the second day of the new calendar year, which was in less than three months.

Philip my son, and first in line to the throne, held the official title of royal Prince that had been given to him, upon his birth, by me. Philip would immediately, after Evangeline's coronation, be bestowed the official title of Crown Prince, thereafter he would –after finishing his secondar studies at the secondary royal academy Gutenhausen– be given the title of Crown Prince, Duke de Renatenburg. I had already made that decision in my previous life and would do it again in this one as well, as it functioned to especially solidify his position as the oldest heir to the throne, and Crown Prince. If Philip were then to get engaged, and, more particularly, marry one day –which was expected from him as future king– his title would then be the Crown Prince de Giselamon, until he was crowned King. And I prayed in that very moment to Baya that in this life, I would have the honour of bestowing on my son his rightful title as Crown Prince de Giselamon.

My son was helplessly standing next to Evangeline, looking at his Mama, then at me, obviously confused with the situation he found himself in. All I wanted to do, was walk towards my son and take him into my arms.
"I was not expecting you to come here, your Majesty..." Evangeline's soft voice trailed off, as she noticed my intense stare directed towards my son, who was very much still confused, but now searching for his Mama's hand to hold onto. She immediately grabbed Philip's small hand while giving him a reassuring smile, whereupon her eyes found mine again. The uncertainty written all over her dainty face.

Philip, who was hesitant at first, then quickly bowed his head down from the neck, as a sign of respect, and looked up again into my eyes, as if to make sure he had done good. Immediately I gave him a reassuring smile. While doing so, I slightly bowed my head as well towards him then my wife, still I could feel the sting it gave my heart to see my own son seem so overwhelmed and confused with my presence.
"Good morning, father." Philip's childish voice sounded unsure, fragile even. Not fitting the formal words that had just left his mouth. Standing in the middle of the chambre, wearing his black and white uniform, with small traditional, golden pattern embroidered onto it –an indication of his high position within the royal family– his tiny frame lost in Evangeline's grand chambre. His expression was still unsure, he had now also started to play with the hem of his white dress shirt, rubbing the material between his fingers. I let out a small sigh, as walked towards the two most important people in my life. Right in front of the two I came to a stop.
"Good morning to you both."

First, I looked at my wife, who was –as I expected from her– holding her ground. Shoulders back, head straight up, her facial expression graceful, while she did not look away from me. A soft smile graced my face, a sense of pride filling me, knowing I had a partner such as Evangeline by my side. A confident, proud, and dignified woman whom I know had always been meant for the role of a leader.
A ruler. A Queen.
Then I Looked down to my son again, who seemed to be still overwhelmed by the presence of his, up until this point, absent father.
It hurt.
More than any blade that had ever wounded my body, or any poison I had ever been forced to intake. Knowing how much I have hurt my child, my vulnerable child. The irony, as I had so desperately tried to not end up like the previous kings. But here we were, and wallowing in my past mistakes would not help me, nor my child, nor Evangeline. No, I had to acknowledge these mistakes, and learn from them as best as I could.