"Why are you doing this?" Lola asked, slowly standing from the settee in the Dauphine's chambers and walking over to said Dauphine. Said Dauphine sat at her desk, slowly writing to Jacques Von Lorraine, apologising formally for Lola's rejection of his proposal three nights previous. Another piece of parchment sat near her, already addressed to another suite, the Lord Jasper Arianne.
"Doing what?" Mary asked, her voice monotone.
"This." Lola gestures to the both of them. "Helping me. Why?"
"I have my reasons, none of which concern you." Mary almost snapped, sending a quick glare to her lady, before starting to write again.
"I cant believe this." she said softly, after a few minutes of silence, broken by nothing put the crackling of the fire and the scratching of quill on parchment.
"What?" Mary said, voice dripping with irritation. Shed finished the first letter and went onto the other, elegant curvature starting to decorate the cream parchment.
"You're helping me." Lola answered, careful not to annoy her furthermore. Mary looked her straight into the eye.
"Why wouldn't I help you?" Mary asked. She seemed genuinely confused.
"Because of what I did." Lola replied, her eyes suddenly filling with tears. Mary blinked at her. She'd seemed almost desensitised by Lola's situation over the past few days. "Laying with Francis, getting pregnant, betraying you." Lola rambled, small tears falling down her cheeks.
"You are correct." Mary said, her voice was casual now. "You betrayed me. You betrayed my trust. You betrayed our friendship. You betrayed everything I stand for in this God forsaken world. Make no mistake, I have not forgiven you. I will not forgive you. Part of me wishes to kill you, take your head and drip your blood and forget you even existed at all." Mary shamelessly explained. Lola sobbed. "But, I cannot do that. I will not." Lola looked up at her. "I am a Queen, not a betrayed, angry girl. French Court has taught me to be a Queen, not to act on impulse. I will find you a husband, never let Francis find out and never let the world know of this." Mary paused. "You let me down, Lola. You made a bad choice, one with consiqenses larger than you will ever be able to fathom. You let me down!"
"Then why are you helping me?" Lola sobbed.
"Why?" Mary asked. "Because do you think that I care about you so little, that betraying me would have the slightest bit of difference to my love for you, you both?" Mary asked.
Lola's lips parted, sobs trickling over them. She placed her hands on her flat abdomen, holding it tight, gasping for breath as her Queen continued to write in silence. She did so until Lola spoke again, but her words were watery and choked.
"Mary, please. I cannot stand this compassion any longer. Get angry with me, exile me, attack me, strip me of my land and my title, ruin me! Anything but protect me!" Lola sobbed. "Your compassion is a worse punishment than anything else."
"That is exactly why I am doing this. You spending the rest of your life punishing yourself is a worse punishment than I could ever hand out. That's why I am doing this. Because your punishment is security."
"I-i-"
"I am the Queen of Scotland. You are my subject. I have a duty, a God given right to protect you and all those who are like you. And I will. I was chosen to, so I will. I will protect you from yourself and your foolish choices. I will find you a husband and let him claim that child, and I will make sure you are happy. Even if it kills me."
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Tampered Beauty
Historical Fiction~Reign AU~ It's been two years since the death of King Henry, a year after the death of King Francis. French court thrives, however, with empire, a powerful, resilient regent and a healthy, young king. However, is everything as it seems with the dea...
