CROWN PRINCE | LES MISÉRABLES

03.

I spent most of the night up. I couldn't stop thinking. Also, Raphael was snoring very loud.

I got up and ready for the day. On today's agenda, we were going to church. My family was strictly religious so we had to. And that meant, wearing an uncomfortable dress, and it was pretty ugly too.

The dress was cream-colored, with pink and red roses and the red was standing out a lot. If you looked at me, you'd probably only notice the red. It made me feel uncomfortable because I didn't like attention.

Delilah was still asleep, so I made my way down to the Café.

"Good morning Annie. How did you sleep?"
"Well, thank you. I'm still very tired though."
"Let me guess, Raphael was snoring again? Yeah, that boy won't stop", she said chuckling.

"Good morning."
"Oh good morning Clayton."
"Annie, what are you doing awake?"
"I couldn't sleep anymore. Can I go outside? For fresh air?"
"Of course.", Papa said.

I practically darted out of the door into the fresh morning air of Paris. People were already outside, starting their day off with work. The people looked miserable.

People were dragged away from the streets and I assumed they were dead. They didn't even try to stop them, their eyes just stayed closed and their limbs hung down from their bodies.

It scared me. Was this normal here? And why was nobody saying something? Were they scared like me?

***

The church was over and we sat back in our carriages. I was mad and still shocked by my sight earlier.

"Annie, what's the matter? Usually, you're so talkative."
"I saw dead bodies being dragged away. And people didn't even say something."
"Annie, I think it's best that we leave to go back home. She's traumatized."

"Why did that happen?", I asked my silent grandmother.
"The King has taken everything from them. Their only chance was to die."
"That is not okay."
"I know. But you shouldn't say that out loud."
"Why not?"
"Because everyone who hears that can become a threat to you.", she explained.

We arrived at the Café. I didn't feel very hungry, I just wanted to sleep and be by myself.

"Are you alright?", Raphael asked.
"I will be."
"I agree with you."

I sat up from my lying position. I looked at him with a shocked expression, not knowing what to say next.

"You do?"
"Yes. I really hope that one day, the royal family will suffer the same fate. They should rot in their own prison.", Raphael said full of enthusiasm.

These were powerful words for a 13-year-old boy. I didn't share his opinion to the fullest, I didn't want them to rot. I just wanted them to feel the same pain their people had to.

I knew that saying things like that could eventually betray you. But he was my family, and family wouldn't betray you. No matter what happened.

***

We really left Paris that night. But not because of me, it was because of Caroline, my 6-year-old sister had caught a fever. She was terribly weak and we would talk to the doctor after we came home. A place that I felt more comfortable at.

Our house was located in an area in the forest with a beautiful lake in the backyard. It was a quiet place and we didn't have any neighbors.

***

We got home and greeted our grandmother. She stayed there all by herself with our dogs Cécile and Lucile.

"Clayton, what are you doing home already?"
"Madame, Caroline has caught a fever. She feels terrible.", our governess and music teacher Madame Louisa said.
"Oh, I will inform Doctor Laurent to come to see her."
"Thank you."
"Papa, I'm not feeling well.", Caroline said, with tear streaks on her face.

"I will take her to bed.", Delilah said and lifted Caroline up.

The little girl immediately buried her face in the older one's neck. Delilah slowly made her way up to Caroline's room and would stay until the doctor arrived.

***

"Doctor Laurent, it is good to see you."
"I hope you feeling well. So, where is Caroline?"
"Please follow me.", Madame Louisa said.

He followed her upstairs and now we had to wait until she felt better or he knew what she had. It wasn't long until he came back downstairs.

His face showed no sign of a positive or negative answer.

"How is Caroline?"
"She is doing much better now. She needs plenty of rest. Some soup may be helpful for a speedy recovery."
"Thank you, doctor."
"Of course."

My father opened the door and the doctor left. I could tell that the words the doctor spoke earlier, lifted off weight on his shoulders.

Before Mama died, she started having a fever. Without any cause and explanation. She gradually got worse and worse. The birth of Yvonne was too much and she died in the same bed just a few days later.

We were all there and sang to her before she passed. Now the house was quiet and without music. But things had to change.

We needed the help of music.