CARDIGAN, K.G

fifteen

FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS juniper had felt ill. constantly vomiting and refusing to eat breakfast which made brimsley even more worried for her. she was tired. not of dealing with a child because she loved the idea that she was growing life inside of her.

but she was tired of feeling alone, unseen.. unwanted. at first she hesitated but she wrote to her cousin, asking him to come "visit." but what he didn't know was that she'd go home with him. she was very much so upset that she had heard nothing from george so maybe it would be better to leave.

she sat in her bedchambers as brimsley gave the door a brief knock. ever since princess augusta had moved in a few days ago she liked to stay in her bedroom for most of the day. she couldn't deal with the poking and prodding of her body and her life.

"come in." she says lowly as brimsley walks in, bowing to her. "juniper, your cousin is here." brimsley says in a whisper, remembering juniper hated being call your majesty. "i shall be out in a mere minute." she says as she stands up.

her back ached almost as much as her heart, but she brushed it off as she placed a fake smile on her face, going to where her cousin was. "your majesty." emmanuel says with a smile. "manuel." juniper says happily as she hugs her cousin.

"you seem happy to see me." he says smiling. "we are happy to see you." juniper says, placing a light hand on her stomach. "oh my, congratulations cousin! i shall be an uncle?" emmanuel says happily. "you shall." juniper says with a smile that slowly saddened.

"what ever is bothering you?" he asks. "cousin, i shall like to be honest with you. i-." she begins as brimsley walks in. "your majesty, prince emmanuel, dinner is ready." he says bowing as he leaves.

"we can continue later?" he asks as she nods slightly. as they sit for dinner juniper stares off into the distance as emmanuel speaks up. "will his majesty, the king be joining us soon?" he asks which makes junipers head turn.

she doesn't say anything as she takes a bite of salmon. if george were here he'd riot about the fact they served fish but juniper didn't mind it. she smiled to herself, remembering when they met and he mentioned his dislike for the food.

"his majesty is off attending to business in kew. juniper has been such a big support." augusta lies. "tu me connais, un énorme soutien!" juniper says sarcastically as emmanuel lets out a quick snicker to which he covers up.

"thank you for dinner, i shall head to bed." juniper says, thanking her the chefs and staff. "goodnight cousin, princess augusta." she says as she lifts up her slightly heavy gown and makes her way to the bedroom.

as juniper changed herself into her sleep clothes, due to her request of requiring alone time, she thought of a plan. she wanted to leave, but she needed a place to stay first, she'd go to agatha. she smiled to herself as she lay in bed, drifting to sleep.

in the morning she had a brief word with brimsley before leaving to lady danbury's. the journey was quick as she was now pacing back and forth. it wasn't until the door opened when she stopped in place.

agatha walked in, bowing to her as she held her arm up. "please agatha. i really need a friend right now." she says softly, her voice wavering. "what has happened?" she asks. juniper took the time to explain, leaving out some details— especially about george as lady danbury mourned for her.

"juniper, i know it is hard. but there are reasons i tell you to stay, to endure. because it will get better. those dark days, will turn to happy ones. and it will happen in due time as long as you let it." she says as juniper nods.

"thank you. for everything.." juniper says as they walk to the door together. as she opens the door she finds her cousin along with brimsley standing outside. the carriage ride home was awkward as her cousin tried to scold her.

but as she walked up the steps she had enough. "brimsley, hold my carriage." she insists. "where are you going?" emmanuel asks. "tu m'as vendue pour être la reine, alors maintenant je vais être la reine." she says as she turns her heavy gown and gets in the carriage, preparing herself to go to kew.

n,
hey 🙈🙈