You Are My Light Part II

328 - Equality

"But that's not fair!" Princess Anne shrieks as she pulls at her pink and purple taffeta skirts, scowling up at her parents, cheeks flushed with the rage a six year old child could only feel when they feel slighted. "That is not fair!"

"Anneliese, quiet down!" Catherine hisses as she takes the wrist of the little girl. A perfect blend of her parents, but despite the golden curls and bright blue eyes, she is every inch Mary's daughter as she scowls up at her grandmother. "Today is an important day for your brother. You must not ruin it with your theatrics!"

"I don't care about his day! Why does he get a day, anyway! It's not fair, Grandmama!" She jerks to try and free herself, to get back into the cathedral to protest against the injustice she feels. But, just like she had when Catherine had removed the child from her brothers naming ceremony, she doesn't let her go. In fact, Catherine marches her away from the large doors, away from her parents and siblings and into the hallway until the sound of trumpets couldn't be heard, and Catherine could sit in front of the child to get to the bottom of her fury.

"What's gotten you like this, my spitfire? You were so happy and proud at your birthday celebrations two weeks past, and now you're not listening to your parents, ignoring your brother and his betrothed, throwing things at your governesses and making a spectacle at your brothers celebrations. Why?"

"Because it isn't fair, Grandmama! It isn't fair that James gets a birthday ball, a naming ceremony, and an engagement party! I only get a birthday! So does Francis, both of the twins, and the new baby! It isn't fair he gets so much more than us!" Anne cries out, her cheeks beginning to get wet from her tears of anguish.

"My darling, you need to take a breath. Calm yourself." Catherine waits until the girls breathing is calm, before she carries on. "James gets his celebrations because he's the heir. He's going to be King one day, so that's why he gets his naming ceremony, his little crown and to sit by your Mama and Papa on their thrones. It's because he's the eldest boy they have."

"Grandmama, you're lying to me! James isn't the oldest, Jean-Philippe is! And he doesn't get all the celebrations and parties, it's James! James only gets everything 'cause he's Mama and Papa's favourite!" Anne cries out, beginning to weep anew as she sits down on the floor in front of Catherine, her knees bending to either side as she settles on the plush carpet, still crying.

"My darling, you're wrong. Your Mama and Papa don't have favourites. They love you all so much, and it's all equal." Catherine runs her hands through Anne's soft curls, unkempt and wild since the girl had thrown off her tiara in fury when James' celebration had become too much for her little heart. "I'm not lying to you, little Princess. The only reason why James has all of the celebrations you do not is because he's the heir. He's the one who's going to be King. Although you're right, Jean-Philippe is the oldest son of your father, he isn't your mother's child, so he can't be King. You're your mother's child, and your fathers child, they're married, so that's why you're a Princess and get lovely things."

Anne had thankfully stopped crying in her grandmother's speech, looking up at her with big eyes as Catherine began to speak again.

"You get a lovely big party on your birthday, you get lots of presents at Christmastide and all throughout the year. Jean doesn't get even half of that, so you don't have a bad life at all, little one." Catherine helps her up and pulls the child to sit on her lap. "I don't think you're telling me the truth here, little one. I don't think you're so upset just because James gets more parties and presents than you. It's been this way since you were born, and it's never bothered you before."

Anne sniffles silently, licking her lips.

"I dont think you're jealous of your brother because of his parties and presents. You get to go to these parties, you get to dance and eat cake and lovely foods-"