Princess?

Chapter 56

Camilla's P. O. V.

"Where have you been all day?"

Louis looks at me with a solemn expression and grabs my hands in his, "I was with the doctor. Cami, I'm sick. "

I smile, "Okay. Let's get you into bed so you can rest. "

Louis shakes his head, "No, Camilla, you don't understand. I'm dying. "

I feel as though I can't breath. I look at him in panic, "What are you sick with?"

He sighs, "I have pancreatic cancer. "

I take a deep breath as I cry, "How long do you have?"

Louis says in a shaky breath, "At the most? 1 year. "

I collapse, crying. Louis pulls me into a hug as he sits down next to me.

"It'll be okay, Camilla"

I laugh through my tears, "You're the one dying but you're telling me it'll be okay. "

Louis wipes my tears and grabs my face between his hands, "Camilla, even though I'm dying, we can still have a good life, okay? We've had our ups and downs in our marriage, but we've loved each other the whole time. And Camilla, I am so thankful and blessed to have known you and call you my wife. "

I kiss him then pull away, "How do you feel? Do you feel sick?"

He shrugs, "I feel okay but I just always feel tired. "

I'm about to say something but Louis says something first, "Before I die, can you do something for me?"

I nod, "Anything!"

Louis presses his forehead against mine and says, "Bear my child."

I laugh and kiss him, "Of course. "

***

I knock on the door, not going inside until I'm told to come in.

I walk in and shut the door behind me. Julian turns around and looks at me in surprise, "Camilla?"

I walk over to him, sitting down next to him, "I thought about what you said. And I want to be with you. But listen, Louis is sick. He's dying. And I think I owe it to him to be faithful until the end. Don't you think?"

Julian nods, "I heard about Louis. I was wondering how long it would take for you to come to me. "

I look at him, "I'm not telling you I want to be with you because Louis is dying. Or because you're next in line for the throne. Julian, it's because I love you. And I don't want to be miserable anymore. I want to be happy, with you. I love you. "

Julian smiles, kissing my hand, "I know that's not why, my love. I know you're not that selfish. And I love you too. I completely understand that you want to remain faithful to Louis. It's okay. I'll wait. "

I smile, "Thank you. But there's one more thing. Louis wants 1 thing from me before he dies. He wants me to bear his child. "

Julian looks down at his hands, "As much as I hate it, I understand that as well. I'm sure it's been hard for Louis to see you with John. "

I nod in silence before saying, "I love you, you know. I always have. "

He looks up at me, smiling, "I know. And I love you too. From the moment I laid eyes on you. "

He leans forward and lightly kisses me then says, "Go. Make my cousin happy. I'll be here when it's our time to be together. "

I nod, "Sadly, it'll mean the loss of Louis. "

Julian frowns, "I know. But let's just try and enjoy the time we have with him now, okay?"

I give him a small smile, "Okay"