mad queen » reign cw

xx.

( fact twenty! )
james never thought that he
would marry, but now he is certain
that he wants to spend the rest of his
life with isabelle de valois.

—

two months had past, and the french castle only managed to get gloomier.

"i want to abdicate my throne." isabelle said, causing everyone to look up. she said nothing else, leaving everyone curious. arthur went back to scotland temporarily to get his mind off of the death of his son.

"why....why would you do that?" james asked, looking at isabelle. james seemed to be the only sane one in the castle after that night.

isabelle was growing more mad by the second, her sanity vanishing. catherine was in a depression because of her daughter, relapsing her emotions that she felt when she lost her twins of her own. sebastian still had nightmares of seeing the dead three week old prince in his bassinet. arthur cried every night for a week straight before realizing that he needed to go back home.

"the french citizens never see me anymore. i do not believe that i can handle this job anymore." isabelle said. james burried his face in his hands, letting out a deep sigh.

"belle, you are not thinking this through. france needs you. we all need you to be the leader that everyone knows you to be." james looked upon his wife.

isabelle's face began to twist in anger.
"everyone out. i shall speak with james alone." isabelle ordered, resulting in everyone leaving the room in a rush.

the queen turned her attention towards her husband.
"james, my hei—my son died! he was only three weeks old, so i do not wish to hear about what france needs me to be. my soul is crushed, arthur is gone. you are in no position to tell me how to cope with my loss." isabelle's voice boomed throughout the room.

james's eyes gazed at her, not daring to speak when she was so angry.

"i shall take a visit to scotland. i need to get away from this horrid castle." isabelle said, calming her tone, knowing that she scared james.

the queen departed from the room, leaving her husband speechless.

|||

"i will explain to eden why you are going away." james said, watching isabelle button her overcoat as she stood in fromt of the carriage.

"i hope she understands. i just—i hope that she will not despise me." isabelle frowned, looking at james.

as the king consort looked at his wife, he could see the toll that the loss had taken on her. the queen had growing dark circles under her eyes, and her face grew paler. as a result of not having much of an appetite anymore, the queen had lost weight, on a path to looking ghostly. he knew that she needed a break, most importantly, she needed to grieve.

"she would never despise nor resent you." james stated. isabelle's blue eyes stared into james's eyes. as she stood in front of her first love, she couldn't help but to feel guilt for everything that she had put him through.

the queen stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him. for the first time in months, isabelle felt the warmth of james's body against her's.

"thank you, james." she whispered softly. the king consort said nothing in response, just hugged her tighter.

when the two let go of each other, james rested his hand against isabelle's cheek.

"give arthur my regards." james stated, and isabelle nodded in response.