War of Hearts || Reign || REWRITE

Chapter 19

Warning: Spicy Chapter!

September 8th, 1562, Château de Blois

Francis was avoiding me.

He had been doing so for four days.

Whenever I passed him in the halls, he turned away. During meals, he refused to meet my eyes. He hadn't come to my room—not once. Not even a single flower left on my bed like he used to in Angoulême.

His silence only confirmed what I had feared.

He and Mary were going to marry.

She hadn't said it directly, but her behavior said enough. She was cheerful, almost glowing. She gifted her ladies with silks, perfumes, jewels. There was music and dancing in her chambers all day, laughter and wine.

And when the music stopped, it was because we were visiting the queen. Catherine and Mary would retreat into the corner of the salon—just the two of them, speaking in hushed tones for hours.

Queen Catherine would never spend that much time with Mary unless something had changed. Unless Mary was to remain in her life. Unless she was going to marry her son.

And now Catherine needed Mary's trust. The same trust she once sent me to earn. But I wasn't enough anymore.

Mary would be caught in the hands of two Medici women.

~

From my seat at the ladies' table, I watched Mary and Catherine closely during supper. They leaned toward each other in deep conversation, the king occasionally joining in with a laugh.

I couldn't hear what they were saying from here—and it infuriated me.

Everything was irritating me these days. Mostly because Francis was avoiding me.

Even Maximilian had taken notice, despite being the one who told us to be careful. I turned to look at Francis again. As expected, he didn't meet my gaze. He stared at his plate, only glancing up when Charles spoke to him.

Across from me sat Maximilian. I locked eyes with him, silently gesturing toward Francis.

What's wrong with him?

Max glanced between the two of us and shrugged, his expression unreadable.

I sighed in frustration and stabbed at my food, though I hadn't touched much in days. My nerves made it impossible to eat.

We had to talk. I needed to know what would happen to us.

~

After supper, I returned to Mary's chambers to help her prepare for bed. Then I went to my own, where Claudine helped me undress and changed me into a simple white silk nightgown, embroidered with pale gold along the neckline and cuffs. She braided my hair loosely and pulled the covers over me.

I dismissed her.

Since my return to court, I no longer let a maid sleep in my room. Just in case Francis came.

But he didn't.

I waited until the halls were quiet, then slipped on my robe and satin slippers and stepped into the corridor. I had watched the guards closely these past days—when they changed shifts, where they stood. I knew the corridor to his chambers would be momentarily empty.

I had two minutes, maybe less.

I rushed through the hallway and reached his door. I opened it without knocking.