Lola's Reign

Prologue 🍁

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Spring was Lady Lola's favorite time of the year, she loved how the trees looked red during this time. It's also reminded her of her first love, Michael. He always visited her town in the spring because his father and mother were divorced and he only can see his mother in this time of year. He was a handsome red haired boy of seventeen, but Lola was only thirteen at the time and she was madly infatuated with the older boy who never took her seriously. After some years Michael stopped coming to the town due to his mother's death, Lola felt deeply sorry for him but she was heartbroken because she never saw him again. Lola herself left the town at the age of nineteen, to come here to France to be with her Queen and dear friend, Mary who's to marry the French Crown Prince, Francis who she was betrothed to since the age of ten. Lola accompanied Mary since the age of five, when they were in Scotland, and went with her to France when they were nine years old and Prince Francis was only seven years old. All of them have changed through the years, Prince Francis was no longer a little boy but a dashing young man. Her, Kenna and Greer loved to daydream about the handsome Prince, they are only weak girls they can't contain their lust.
Lola hated living in France though. It's true, she loved spending time with her friends Mary, Greer, Kenna and Aylee. But she missed her hometown in Scotland, she missed the time when her biggest worries where the red haired boy she fantasized about as a child never coming back. Yes, the French court as glamorous as it seemed to her at the first sight, was cruel. Mary Lola and the other ladies In Waiting just came her a couple of months ago and there was already a numerous attack attempts on Queen Mary and therefore her Ladies In Waiting including Lola.
Still, she couldn't do anything about it, she couldn't just leave her Queen and duty and simply go back to Scotland her home, their home.

She lifted her brown curls away from her eyes so she can probably catch the beautiful red leave. She liked to collect red leaves in spring it brought her a strange amount of joy. She was doing that alone away from any sight, fearing unwanted attention. Truthfully, she didn't tell anyone even her friends about this weird habit of hers, scared of them mocking her for it. A Lady like her doesn't engage in such childish activities, Lola knew that.
She finally got hold of the leave and decided to go back to the castle. She usually hides the leaves she collects in her clothes, her coat this time.
"Lady Lola?" Her body froze in the spot. Oh no, someone saw her. It can't be, what's Mary gonna think of her, oh no.
The worst is, she recognized the voice. He was behind her but she was too embarrassed to face him. She loosen her hold of her coat and the red leaves drubbed with it. She then decided to face him; she must. He's the Prince after all. She slowly moved her body to his direction lowering her head "ah! I thought it was you" he said excitedly, then his tone changed to that of curiosity "but what are you doing here in garden all alone? It's strange to see here without any of the ladies with you? Wait, are you collecting tree leaves". Oh no! He asked! She could hear the mockery in his voice which made it ten times worse. Lola didn't know what to answer him, she felt unbelievably embarrassed. Why was it him from all people that caught her? Why wasn't it Mary? Or even Greer who would call her childish and give her a long speech about being a prober Lady? Or hell! Even Kenna who would endlessly make fun of her until her dying day? Even his bastard friend  would've been better, he's a bastard after all he can't judge her! It had to be the Prince of France. Lola cursed her bad luck.

She finally looked at him in shame and said anxiously "I..I'm.. Mmm I.. I was just walking around. I mean I was just-" he suddenly held his hand gesturing her to stop. His eyes closed and a knowing smile graced his face.
"It's alright my lady, it's none of my business anyway. I obviously caught you off guard, please accept my deepest apologies" he said.
"Thank you your highness," she said shyly her head's down "and no need to apologize".
"Glad we sorted this out. Now I have business to go back to, I will see you later?" he said and then walked away. He didn't wait for her to answer, that annoyed her a little.
"Alright" she said after she was sure he was gone, and smiled to herself. Prince Francis was a good man. Even as silly as her fear was, she was grateful that he found it in his heart to respect her privacy. And she was grateful that her Mary was going to marry him, he would become her King soon too.

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