mad queen » reign cw

iii.

( fact three! )

catherine de medici's secret
favorite child is isabelle because
of their tight-knit bond.

— — —

isabelle and sebastian walked down the halls of french court. sebastian lead isabelle into the ball room, where her mother was instructing the servants.

"everything has to be perfect!" catherine instructed. isabelle stepped forward, watching her mother.

"for whom, mother?" isabelle questioned, causing catherine to jump slightly.
catherine turned around, smiling at her daughter.

"for you, my dear." catherine lied, causing isabelle to roll her eyes.
"mother, do not lie to me. i am your queen, and i suggest you tell me the truth." isabelle stood her ground.

catherine sighed.
"well, i may have approved all of your travel plans, and alessandra is on her way to french court as we speak. i am preparing the ball for her." catherine revealed.

isabelle inhaled sharply and she looked at her mother.
"from what i understand, you went behind my back, approved arrival plans that i did not want, and you surely must have forged my signature too, mother because my signature is needed for all approvals. i could call that treason." isabelle observed.

sebastian raised an eyebrow. he didn't think that isabelle would go as far as treason, especially with her mother.

catherine eyes widened as isabelle said treason.
"isabelle, my dear, you know that i would never mean to threaten your reign. however, you were moving slow and the medicis need an answer." catherine stated.

"have you ever given the thought that i do not want alessandra here?" isabelle questioned, looking at her mother.

bash began to recall alessandra de medici. in his mind, she was definitely a promiscuous, exuberant lady. he was thirteen years of age when he first met her. at the time, she was fourteen—the same age as isabelle at the time.

sebastian had his first kiss with alessandra, and he'd never forget it. he knew that the lady of florence loved to experiment with both women and men.

he knew why isabelle wasn't fond of alessandra. when the two girls were fifteen, catherine and henry arranged isabelle to be wed to charles II of austria. when charles arrived to french court, he fell in love with alessandra, leaving princess isabelle without a marriage.

"are you still upset about charles from austria?" catherine looked at isabelle.
"it's not about that, mother! alessandra is a bad influence for everyone in this castle. i do not want her near my family, near my throne, nor near my castle." isabelle exclaimed.

catherine stepped forward to her daughter.
"grow up, isabelle. alessandra is coming to french court and you will make her feel welcomed." catherine instructed.

isabelle's face grew red with anger, resulting in her storming out of the ballroom.

|||

"and she instructs me! i am her queen!" isabelle yelled at james.
"she is your mother." james commented, resulting in isabelle glaring at him.

"i do not want alessandra near my daughter." isabelle stated.
"our daughter, and i don't see a problem with it, my love." james shrugged.

the king consort looked over towards eden as she played in the gardens. isabelle groaned, upset that james wouldn't stand behind her.

"good morning, my favorite royals." arthur greeted as he entered the gardens.
"good morning, arthur." isabelle responded.

james looked towards isabelle's advisor in disgust.
"come to whisk my wife away again, eh?" james looked towards arthur.

"james, you silly lad. by now you must know that i wouldn't have to whisk isabelle away. she'd just walk away from you." arthur teased with his thick scottish accent.

james scoffed. it was no secret that the king consort and the royal advisor hated each other. afterall, james was one of the causes of arthur's divorce.
"what is it, arthur?" isabelle asked, walking over towards her advisor.

"first, sebastian informed me that a botanist from the village is coming to discuss flower arrangements for eden's new garden, he says that he has that covered. i granted francis the engagement that he requested. however, i still need your approval for the ball that is being held for a.....alessandra de medici? is she an italian?" arthur glanced at belle.

she sighed, but nodded.
"yes. alessandra is, unfortunately, my cousin. i'm sure she will introduce herself to you when she arrives to court." isabelle looked at her companion.

"she sounds lovely." arthur stated sarcastically.