CROWN PRINCE | LES MISÉRABLES

06.

The next few days were spend with singing practice. Madame Louisa has prepared something called a set list. Apparently it had all our songs written on it.

"Annelise, are you listening?"
"Yes. I'm sorry."
"What is up with you today? Are you still not feeling better?", Delilah asked.
"No, I am. Don't worry about me."

"This is important for us. The royal family gathers together to celebrate and we want to show that what we have to offer.", Madame Louisa explained.
"Have you ever met the crown prince?", I asked.
"No, no one ever has. All I know is that he was locked up by his father.", she said.

Locked up by the own father? He must've had a sad childhood. I could not imagine being locked in. Throughout my childhood, I was allowed to go outside and go into the forest to collect berries, whenever I wanted.

It almost seemed surreal to me.

I looked around and all my siblings weren't here anymore. But Madame Louisa sat beside me.

"You are daydreaming. What about?"
"About the crown prince. I just really want to meet him."
"Oh, Annelise. You will meet him. But you need to focus now."
"Okay. I'm sorry."
"Don't be. You are curious which is okay for your age."

***

"Where is Annelise?", Papa asked.
"I'm here. I'm late, I know."
"Where were you?"
"At the meadow. I was walking through the forest.", I explained.
"Good. Some fresh air does do you well."

We began eating in silence.

"What were you doing at the meadow?", Delilah asked.
"I was talking a walk. Like I said."
"I don't believe you.", Delilah said, dropping her fork.
"Delilah!"
"Where were you? Really?"
"At the meadow. Like I said."

"Stop it now!", Papa scolded.

"When are we going to Paris?", Yvonne asked.
"We're leaving tomorrow. Very early, before sunrise."
"I don't understand why our clothes aren't good enough.", I said.
"This is the royal court, and I will not have you all run around in dirty clothes. They need to be fresh, new, fitting for the occasion.", he explained.

"And have you thought about what the clothes should look like?", Delilah asked.
"No, but they will be enough for the court. Have you already decided on what to sing?", Papa asked.
"Yes, we have Baron. We were deciding on The Lonely Goatherd and Edelweiss."

Papa looked up.

"Edelweiss?"
"Yes. The children want you to sing it with them."
"I don't think that is possible."
"Why not? You and Mama always sang Edelweiss together.", I said.
"I know.", he said, putting down his fork.
"If you excuse me."

"Did I say something wrong?"
"No. It's just the grief."

Caroline began to cry.

"I miss Mama.", Caroline cried.
"Me too.", Delilah said with tears in her eyes.

***

"Where are you going?"
"Carrie and I want to pick some flowers."
"Good. Take care of her.", Madame Louisa said.
"I will."

I took Carries hand and walked into the garden.

"What flowers do you want to pick?"
"Edelweiss."
"That's not allowed. How about daisies?"
"Yes, that's a good idea. Do you think he will like them?"
"Who?"
"The crown prince."
"Don't you want to pick them when we go to Paris?"

She nodded. Carrie continued picking daisies and putting them down in her little basket.

"Can you teach me how to braid a flower crown?"
"I can try."
"What are you both doing?", father asked, walking towards us.
"Lisl teaches me how to braid a flower crown.", Carrie said cheerfully.

He sat down between us and watched me make a flower crown for Carrie.

"There you go. You look like a princess.", I said.

Carrie and I began to laugh.

"Thank you.", she said getting up and hugging me.
"Of course. You look really pretty."
"Does any of you know where Delilah is?"
"She went to a bookshop in Paris after lunch.", I answered.
"Of course. How could I forget?"
"And Fin is playing with Gusta.", Carrie added.
"Do you know where?"
"By the lake."
"Great. Thank you.", he said, standing up and leaving us.

***

"Mademoiselle.", Gerald, our stable boy, opened the front door.
"Thank you Gerald.", Delilah said.

It was clear. Gerald had a crush on Delilah. They were the same age. And everyone knew that he fancied her. Except for Delilah, who was too blind to see it.

"I'm sorry that I'm late."
"It's alright. I'm glad you could join us for dinner."

Delilah sat down next to me and smiled.

"My dear children, we're leaving to Paris in the morning. We are going to the dressmaker tomorrow to get your clothes for the prince's birthday ball. I want you to go to sleep right after dinner, so we can leave very early.", he said, reminding us for tomorrow.

He sat down and we all began eating. We ate in silence. The younger children already began rubbing their eyes. Yvonne was already halfway asleep.

"I'm taking Yvonne to bed.", Madame Louisa said.

Our father nodded and looked at the remaining seven of us and shot us a smile.

We finished dinner and father got up.

"I bid you all a goodnight.", he said, before retiring to bed himself.

Carrie and Finley were already fast asleep. Delilah and I grabbed the little ones and carried them upstairs to their rooms. Albert, Augusta and Martin also retired to bed.

And so did Delilah and I.