The Princess Choice

Chapter 9

"Hello, how is king Richard?" Annalise whispered into the phone.

"He is well my queen sends many regards and love your way." The young man she had grown accustomed to hearing over the phone answered.

Analise stayed another second on the phone and then hung up. Richard and she had been having a hard time she was not able to let go of Francis and it was eating her alive and destroying Richard. She feared he had given up, and it had been 3 months since he left on a journey with no word on when he would be back. He rarely answered her phone calls and never spoke for too long before saying he had to go. She hated to admit that maybe he was over her and had found someone new to share his life with but as royals, they could never formally end things. She took a deep breath and dialed again.

"Majesty..." the boy on the phone said.

"I know you said he is busy but can you please just ask him to come to the phone quickly." She whispered.

"I shall try, my queen; please hold."

After what felt like an eternity, she heard his tired voice. "Annalise, is everything okay?"

"Yes, I just wanted to hear your voice..."

"I am swamped right now. Can I call back..."

"Too busy for your queen... and you have said that before and never call back..." she whispered, feeling tears wanting to come.

"Annalise I love you, but I know now there is no point to it, so I am trying to let you go... I am trying to get you out of my mind and let you have what you need because clearly, it is not me." He took a deep breath "I must go they are waiting for me... goodbye." Richard hung the phone up with pain in his heart but knew this was for the best he could no longer offer her his whole heart because she kept ripping it to pieces.

"Majesty..." the ladies smiled at her walking in quietly.

"Yes?" she looked up with a smile instantly hiding all her emotions.

"King Francis is in the throne room..." they bowed, looking awkward, and walked out.

She made her way slowly a part of her told her to stop and call Richard, but it had been so long since she last saw him that she could not fight the urge to see him and maybe get her feelings in order.

She walked in and her breath caught, and she found herself surprised that the butterflies she had always had around him did not take flight and the urge to run to him had calmed.

"How can I help you?" she stood as he bowed.

"I came to inform you and King Richard that my father has passed, and I am now the reigning monarch."

"Francis I am so sorry..."

"It is King Francis, and you will address me as such..." he said in the coldest voice she had ever heard.

"Of course, King Francis all the same I am so sorry for your loss..." she smiled awkwardly and sat on her thrown.

"Thank you I was hoping to speak to His Majesty, but I hear he is not in and has not been in for a while."

"Yes, King Richard is on an important journey and is not home." She smiled, looking at the empty throne next to her.

"Three months and not take you..." she looked up and caught sight of the boy she had fallen in love with. "Why did you leave me for him? I loved you so much, and all I wanted was to be with you forever, and you went with him. I had to watch you marry him, laugh with him and let him hold you, so this is your fault! You did this!" his eyes were angry and hurt. "I am dying, and you're in the arms of another!"

"I did this! How can you sit there and say I did this when you repeatedly hurt me and paraded women in front of me? What did you expect?" she felt so frustrated.

"I am not married that is the difference... what does that tell you!" he slammed his fist into the wall and left an indent.

"That so many mistakes were made, and I am so sorry!" she whispered.

He felt the guilt was too much, and before anyone told her, he whispered, "My father killed himself after killing yours." He saw the pain overtake her features as she went down, and he caught her. "I am so sorry, Izzie..."

She felt so much pain, but if there was one thing her father taught her was hold your head high and blame where the blame goes and nowhere else. "I forgive you because there is nothing to forgive..." she whispered as she cried out if only for a second, to allow all the pain in. Francis hugged her, feeling pain and regret at not being a stronger man for her.

She stepped back "I am married Richard deserves the respect of a man not touching me... Goodbye, King Francis." She took a deep breath.