CROWN PRINCE | LES MISÉRABLES

13.

Delilah finished tying up my bodice. I chose a cream-colored dress, which I felt very comfortable in. The door opened and my father peaked inside.

"Annelise, the guests arrive shortly. I want you to greet them."
"I didn't even want this party. Why do I need to greet them?"
"So I can choose the perfect match for you.", he said.
"Fine.", I said.

He left. Delilah and I walked to the next rooms, helping to finish up our siblings.

"You should go downstairs. We will be there shortly.", Delilah said, ushering me out of the room.

I walked downstairs when there was a knock on the door. Papa opened the door and the guests walked in. I stood beside my father, greeting our guests.

"Annelise, may I introduce? The Duke of Loiselle."
"Mademoiselle. It is my pleasure meeting you.", he said, kissing my hand.
"Bonsoir Monsieur. The pleasure is all mine."

"Annelise, this is Monsieur Pontmercy and his grandfather, Monsieur Gillenormand."
"Mademoiselle, my grandson, and I are delighted to meet you."
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.", I said.

"Annelise, this is the last one.", my father whispered,
"This is Monsieur Defoix."
"Mademoiselle."
"It's nice to meet you."
"May I add that you look beautiful tonight?"
"Thank you."

When Papa gave me the nod to leave, I searched for Delilah. She was standing in the kitchen, talking to a young man, perhaps the one she talked about earlier. She looked happy and in love. Those sparks in her eyes were exposing her.

"Hey, Lisl, come here.", my brother, Martin whispered.
"What?"
"Have you met the men yet?"
"Yes."
"Do they look good?"
"Only one of them, unfortunately."
"If you choose, you need to introduce him to me. I need to tell him to take good care of you.", he said.

I smiled.

"Of course I will. Don't worry."
"Annie, he's here.", Delilah said, rushing towards me.
"I saw. I hope that one day I will find love, just like you."
"You will. But this party is for you and I might have-"
"You might have what? Delilah what have you done?", I asked.
"I have invited the prince."
"You did what?"

She pulled me away from the party. I was shocked and my heart began to beat really fast.

"Look, I know and saw how heartbroken you were. I didn't want to see you like this."
"Do you have any idea how I feel now?", I said with a shaky voice and tears, that threatened to fall any second.
"I didn't mean to hurt you."
"How could you?", I asked, leaving her all by herself.

The tears have begun rolling down my cheeks. It hurt, alright? I liked him a lot. He was a charming man and he understood me. He treated me like a human being instead of an object. I tried so hard to get him off my mind. All my efforts have been torn apart, now that he was here.

This was one of the days I wish I could've talked to my mother. She would've known what to do. She could've given me good advice on how to handle a love that could never be requited.

"Are you alright?"

I looked up. It was him. I quickly wiped the tears out of my eyes and put on a smile.

"Yeah. I just got something in my eye."
"Well, I'm glad that it wasn't tears of frustration."

If he just knew...

"Well, I guess I could cry for the loss of my freedom and my hope for a life that I actually want to lead."
"You just need to find the right one."
"Yeah. I suppose.", I said.

"You will find him. Who wouldn't love to have a beautiful girl like you?"
"You think I am beautiful?"
"Yes. Very beautiful.", he said.

We stood in the moonlight. His blue eyes glowed in the light. He had beautiful eyes, those you could get lost in, which I did. My heart began beating really fast. He came closer to me.

"I think you are the most beautiful girl I've ever met.", he whispered.

He leaned in and kissed me. To me, it felt like the world has stopped spinning and time has stopped in its tracks. The sparks in my veins and the butterflies in my stomach made me realize that I might have actually started to fall for him. We parted as we needed to breathe.

"I'm sorry.", he whispered.
"Don't be."

His cheeks turned bright red. I began to laugh.

"Why are you laughing?"
"Because you're blushing."
"I'm not."
"Yes, you are.", I said, laughing even harder.

He pulled me closer, only inches away from my face.

"I can't do this. I'm sorry."
"What can't you do?"
"This. I'm sorry.", he said, leaving me all by myself on the balcony.

A wave of sadness and disappointment washed over me. Why did he kiss me? I rushed back inside, walking past all my possible suitors, up to my room. I locked it up and slid down the door. Was this a beautiful dream or a bad nightmare?

"Hey, open the door! Annelise, what happened?", Delilah asked.

I was furious at her. She knew that I liked him, she knew all the efforts I took to get him off my mind, yet she still invited him here and he broke my heart.

"Go away. You have done enough damage for one night, don't you think?"
"Damage? What do you mean?"
"Just leave me alone.", I said sobbing.

"Annelise, it's Madame Louisa, will you please let me in?", she asked.

I opened the door and let her in.

"Are you alright?"
"Of course. I am doing better than ever.", I sobbed sarcastically.
"Delilah told me."
"Oh. Did she tell you how she the reason why I am like this now? I don't think so."
"You can't be mad at her."
"Of course I am. She did something completely irresponsible and it's making me angry.", I said.

"I understand. Still, you should go and say goodbye to the guests. Once they are gone, we will talk about it."
"There's nothing to talk about. I don't want to talk to her at all."
"I see. At least say goodbye to the guests.", she said before leaving.

Was I behaving immaturely? Was I just overdramatic? Maybe. She had no right to do something like this. Especially after knowing what I did.

I fixed my face and took some deep breaths. My face was red from crying and my eyes stung. I put on some makeup to conceal the fact that I was weak and immature. When I finished it, I walked down the stairs, standing on the left side of my father once again.

"Are you feeling better now?"
"I have to. Don't I?"
"We will talk after this. Now put a smile on.", he said.

He was annoyed and I didn't blame him. This night was to show how well behaved we were and I ruined it with my immaturity.

"Mademoiselle, we were informed you didn't feel well. We hope you're doing better now.", Monsieur Gillenormand said.
"Much better. Thank you."

And behind many other, wealthy men, there he was.

Man after man came to say their goodbyes until the last one stepped out of our property.

"Annelise, follow me.", Papa said.

A/N: thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Question time: do you think it was right what Delilah did and Annelises reaction wrong? Let me know what you think