Libérée Délivrée -(Phantom of the Opera fanfiction)

Chapter Sixteen

"Meg?" A soft voice squeaked through the doors outside of the bedroom. "Can I come in? There's something I must tell you."

The princess' maid opened the door. "Milady, you may come in," she gestured for Christine walk inside the simple yet the most elegant bedroom in the castle. The luscious dark blue and silver linings in the room was perfect for the royal couple.

"Would you mind giving us a moment?"

The maid glanced at her mistress, who nodded for her to leave. She hurried out the door and left the two women alone.

Meg gave Christine a strange look, lifting her eyebrows inquisitively. Christine rolled her eyes. Princess Marguerite was still the same Meg at Daae Manor.

"Meg, you know how Mother was... somewhat harsh to me after Father died?" Christine wondered aloud as if this was leading to something.

"Yes... And?" 

"Meg, you are going to despise me for saying this, but..." Christine did not know if she could find the words to say it. "I really did somewhat love her." She waited for a moment for her best friend to say something, but Meg didn't say a word. "She was my mother, or so I was led to believe." 

"What do you mean, Christine?" Meg asked with a twofold question.

"Well, I found out not too long ago that she isn't my mother. Nadir, or 'the Foreigner' he calls himself- a former acquaintance of my husband..." Christine took a breath, and continued, "somehow he knew that Grendel was not my birth mother, which does make sense to me. However, I think there might be something my father kept hidden from me as a child."

"Quite odd indeed. But you are acting strangely. Why would you believe the words of one man? Has he given you proof? If not, there is no point in believing him." 

"No, I suppose not. This is all so silly- forget about it. I knew you would find a reason to disbelieve him, since I'm much too be led astray by my emotions at times." Christine hugged her friend. "I hope you're not angry at me telling you this.

"Of course not, though I absolutely do not see how you could love such a beast. She was positively horrid to you!" Meg took Christine's hands in her own. "You don't have to worry, Christine. Madame Daae and Carlotta have fled from the manor since they spent too much money on parties. Thank goodness they're gone! Does your husband know?"

"No, he doesn't and  I'm dreading the day he does. Well, I suppose you do have a point. I just thought I should tell you after all these years of trying to keep it a secret. I can't believe she could possibly be my stepmother. Then, of course, we never saw eye to eye." Christine applied some of Meg's rose petal perfume on herself. "We should go to the parlor until dinner is ready." She suggested and Meg nodded.

When they came to the parlor where their husbands were talking, Meg suddenly in surprise announced,

"Why don't we all visit the coast? Raoul, what do you think?" She gave her husband  the look that implied he should agree with her.  "It would be nice to go on a holiday without this snow everywhere."

"Meg, you know it will still be cold at the coast. Also, we have only been here for a few hours," Raoul replied to his wife.

"True, darling. But I haven't been to the ocean before." Meg explained. Her blond hair glimmered in the light of the room.

Erik and Christine glanced at each other. If they left Winterford than the threat of Erik's enemy would follow them there. What if they attacked Winterford while they were gone? Erik was thinking through all the possibilities that could happen in his absence then he finally declared,

"I'd rather not. We have too many obligations here."

"Perhaps another time then," Christine said in agreement with him,  though Erik could see her disappointment. Maybe he would talk about it with her later. 

"Well, think about it, you two." Meg suggested or more likely stated.