The Heir (TV Series 'Reign') #2

The Prince Of Blood

3rd Person POV

The sound of heels pressing against the rough concrete echo into the walls of French Court. Guards and Servant ladies stop in their tracks, when the sound of the heels sound familiar to them.

"I remember you, too. Now close your mouth." She orders.

"Bow."

"Beg your pardon, truly." The servants said.

"Now go and tell Catherine her daughter's here. Tell everyone that Princess Claude is home."

~

Mary's POV

"Well, we can't seat the duke next to Lady Berwell because of..."

"Would you like for us to move so that you two can sit next to each other?" I say to Catherine.

"We seem to be getting our work done." Mary adds.

"There's no reason we can't do it separately." Catherine adds.

"Well, normally..."

"Normally Francis doesn't keep secrets from me or make decisions that I despise, like bowing to corrupt nobles or releasing murderers." Mary says.

"Your Majesty. A word. Please." Narcisse asks. I walked over to a quite place in the room.

"I know I'm rarely invited to these working breakfasts, but the nobles have asked me to present this to you. It's an edict. For your ratification." He says.

"May I read what you'll want me to ratify?"

"Of course. This would require every French subject to come forward and publicly declare their faith to the king."

"What?" I say.

"As you see, nobles from Saint-Germain, Provence, Orleans and the other regions have all signed in support."

"This would force our people to declare their faith, under penalty of death."I add.

"As long as they come forward, they have nothing to fear."

"Nothing to fear if they're Catholic, you mean. This law is simply an excuse to root out the Protestants. If they lie to save themselves, they'll be committing perjury in front of their king. They could be executed."

"Then they shouldn't lie to their king." He says.

"And why are you and... the nobles pushing this now?" I ask.

"Because France grows more vulnerable to the Protestant threat. I heard rumors that the Protestant English queen managed to turn your own guards against you."

"This is not about the English queen or her paid traitors. This edict will spill French blood. People will kill each other in the streets." I add.

"True. And I assume by "people," you mean peasants. Because they are the first to surrender to Protestantism."

"By the time it reaches the nobles, it's too late." I said.

~

Eliana's POV

"Now's not a good time." Catherine said, as I helped her arrange the reservations.

"Very well. But you should know... Claude is back." Francis says.

"Your little sister?" I say.

"We must greet her." I say.

"I'll join you shortly." Catherine says.