War of Hearts || Reign || REWRITE

Chapter 6

May 8th 1562, Château de Louvre, Paris

Two days after the wedding of Elisabeth and King Philip of Spain, the day arrived when the princess—now queen—would bid farewell to the parents she loved so dearly, and the siblings with whom she had shared so many memories. She was to leave for Spain, where she would fulfill her duties as Queen of Spain and embrace her role as a wife.

At the same time, the French court was preparing to leave for Château de Fontainebleau, where they would settle in preparation for the next royal wedding. Though the exact date of Francis and Mary's marriage had not yet been set, many courtiers already believed it would not be long before they were wed before God and the court. Once the union was sealed, Francis would become King of Scotland, and Mary the Dauphine of France.

Bianca stood in the courtyard of Château de Louvre, searching for Maximilian. She and Max were supposed to share a carriage on their journey back to Fontainebleau.

Further along the courtyard, she spotted Queen Mary stepping into her carriage, surrounded by her Scottish ladies-in-waiting. Not far from her, Queen Catherine entered her own carriage, followed closely by her three youngest children—Princesses Claude and Margaret, and Prince Charles.

Catherine had remained composed when bidding farewell to her daughter, but Bianca knew the Queen must be heartbroken to see her eldest—and perhaps her favorite—child leave. Bianca had seen the unshed tears in her eyes when she kissed Elisabeth goodbye, and even the king had struggled to hide his emotions.

King Henri was not traveling with Catherine. Instead, to the great annoyance of Bianca's aunt, he had entered a separate carriage with Diane de Poitiers.

Turning her attention back to the courtyard, Bianca finally spotted Maximilian and Francis standing near the royal carriage. She took a deep breath before walking toward them.

"Ah, there she is," Francis said as soon as he saw her approaching. "We were already looking for you. Hurry inside, hopefully, we'll arrive before nightfall."

Bianca rolled her eyes. "What's the rush, Your Highness? Can't you wait to spend time with your future wife?" she teased as she climbed into the carriage and took her seat by the window. The two young men sat opposite her, and Maximilian knocked on the roof, signaling the coachman to begin their journey.

"You should not joke about your new mistress," Maximilian said in a mock-stern tone. "After all, you are to become her lady-in-waiting."

"I'm not officially in her service until we arrive in Fontainebleau," Bianca retorted, rolling her eyes. "Until then, I am free to say whatever I wish about our Scottish queen."

"You'll spend your days with her, from morning until night," Francis said with exaggerated sorrow. "You won't have time for us anymore."

"I'm sure you'll manage just fine without me," Bianca said with a smirk. "After all, you both have plenty of work to do with your father, the King. You, especially, Francis—you are, after all, the heir to France."

Francis shrugged, a playful smirk forming on his lips. "Ah, yes, my duty as heir—always present, always demanding," he said with feigned nonchalance. Then his gaze turned to Bianca, his tone more teasing. "But admit it, Bianca, you're going to miss us."

Bianca raised an eyebrow. "I think I'll appreciate the peace," she replied, amused. "You two are like dogs constantly fighting over a bone."

Maximilian laughed loudly. "And you're the wise old shepherd who keeps us apart."

Bianca kicked him lightly with her foot. "Old? I take that back, Max."

The carriage rocked slightly as they left the cobbled streets of Paris, heading toward Fontainebleau. Through the window, Bianca watched as the final glimpses of the city faded away, the narrow alleys and bustling markets vanishing into the morning mist.

Inside the carriage, however, the atmosphere was warm and familiar. The journey would take hours, and they all knew that this moment of relaxation was temporary. Once they arrived in Fontainebleau, the weight of courtly duties would once again settle upon them.

Francis turned his gaze to the window, drumming his fingers lightly on his knee. "Do you think Mary... will adapt to court life?" he asked, his tone for the first time genuinely curious.

Bianca sighed, considering her response. "I don't know," she admitted. "She is Queen of Scotland, but she grew up in a convent. A royal court is nothing like a quiet country convent. Everything here is more complex, full of subtleties and intrigues she has never had to face before. But I will do my best to help her."

Maximilian studied Bianca closely. "And what if she doesn't trust you?"

Bianca kept her expression neutral, though her fingers tightened slightly in the fabric of her dress. "That is always a possibility," she said softly. "But that is the risk of court life. I have learned to adapt."

Francis looked at her for a long moment as if he wanted to say something. But instead, he turned his gaze back to the passing scenery.

After four months, I finally have a new chapter for you all! Unfortunately, I've been very busy with school and personal matters. From now on, I'll try to post one chapter per week!