.

[AntonioG]

"I promise you will soon see that he is in fact only human. I know some secrets about him, so if he happens to find out the truth regarding us, and foolishly decides to spill it, his career will be over. I hate to stoop to those kinds of activities, but a Prince must do what a Prince must do. Come, my love, let us visit the Cardinal."

Pierre leads her to the carriage. He looks out over the capital city of France and sighs contentedly. Paris is truly a sight to see in the summer, and under his leadership, in the not too distant future, France will rise to a major player.

 

[astralkiss]

She smiles when he tells her he knows things about the Cardinal. She would die if someone found out about how things really happened.
But it was funny how things worked out, she thought, she began the day a few days ago sold as a slave, now she was to eventually be Queen of France.
She took his hand and squeezed lightly.

 

[AntonioG]

They arrived in the shadows of Notre Dame. Pierre helped Bella from the carriage and led her to the twin doors. Opening the doors he dipped his thumb in the holy water and crossed himself, motioning for Bella to do the same.

When they had finished he took her to the Cardinal's residence at the side of the Cathedral. He knocked once on Cardinal DeGaulle's door, waiting for the summons to enter.

"Enter"

Pierre opened the door and knelt before the man of God. He kissed the offered ring and said. "Your Emminence, may I present to you Isabella Der Gelt."

 

[astralkiss]

Her breath was taken away by the cathedral, but she managed to see Pierre's action with the holy water, reminding herself to do so, she mimicked his motion to a T.
She followed him, knowing both instinctually and in her head that society dictated her to stay behind him, being a woman, which sort of made her grimace in her head, but she did it anyways, not wanting to stir anything up.
She entered behind him, keeping her eyes to the floor and knelt to Pierre's side when he did so, letting Pierre introduce her and kiss his ring first. She heard him say her name.
"Your Eminence," she said, and he extended his hand, and offered his ring, and she kissed it.
What a strange little ritual we have just played out, she thought, and waited for permission to rise from the Cardinal. I hope he doesn't think I'm daft because I do not rise right away.

 

[AntonioG]

The Cardinal looked at them both, and bowed graciously. "Rise my children. Your Highness, I understand you and Isabella are to be wed tomorrow? Of course we will do a typical Royal Wedding. Are there any special requests."


Pierre looks at Cardinal DeGaulle, and nods. "Cardinal DeGaulle, if you would permit it, Isabella wishes her name to not be spoken until the end of the ceremony, her father will be in attendance and we have a surprise planned for him."


The Cardinal looks at Isabella, "Is this true my daughter?"

 

[astralkiss]

Bella rises when she hears the signal, keeping her eyes downcast a bit nervously. Pierre explains the situation, partially to the Cardinal, while Isabella listens. She keeps her ears open, but inside is dying with nerves. They then come to the topic of her name wishing not to be spoken.
Cardinal DeGaulle looks at Isabella, "Is this true my daughter?"

"Yes, Your Eminence, His Highness speaks the truth," she said, glancing briefly up with her violet eyes, a hidden sorrow deep inside them, merely nodding when she says that statement, Isabella's eyes return to the floor.

 

[AntonioG]

"It is an unusual request to be sure... for anyone else I'd probably say no. But your betrothed being who he is, I will grant this one."

Pierre bows graciously to the Cardinal, "Thank you your Eminence, with your permission, we take our leave."

 

[astralkiss]

With baited breath, Isabella waits until Pierre leaves, following his lead.

 

[AntonioG]

They leave the Cathedral of Notre Dame, coming again to their carriage. "Now my dear, we can go home. No one left to meet this night, I promise." He yawned a little as he urged the horses forward.

 

[astralkiss]

She smiled lightly, nodding at him. "I am so tired,"she muttered, falling into his arms as they ascended to the carriage. "We sleep apart tonight, correct?" she said, appearing pouty but knowing protocol.

 

[AntonioG]

He smiles at her, "Yes my love, tonight we will have to sleep apart. But tomorrow never again."

 

[astralkiss]

She grins at him, leaning over and burrowing into his chest, ignoring protocol for the spare moments that they have together alone.
"I hope we will be able to be alone and not always have to do royal duties....besides....what are the duties of a Princess, aka the wife of the Crown PRince? I can guess, but I am not really sure.."
She trails off, not knowing what it would be.

 

[AntonioG]

"Well, it's not so bad as you might think. As the Princess you pretty much hold court with various Princesses from other countries. As Queen your responsibilites will increase, but not by too much."

 

[astralkiss]

She sighs, grimacing. "Sounds bloody thrilling. I'd prefer to spend time with you and play in the woods, but I just pray that the other princesses aren't blathering twits that merely care about the colour of their next gown," Isabella said, then leaned against him again, closing her eyes, the sway eventually causing her to fall asleep.

 

[AntonioG]

Pierre held her close as he drove the carriage home. Finally arriving at home he woke her up again. "My love we are here. I'll have Michel show you to your room."

Just then Claude came to the Carriage. "M'lord, the young ladies father said he will be here within the next hour. How shall he be disposed?"


"Claude, there are plenty of Taverns in Paris, he can stay at one of them, make sure tomorrow he has a good seat for his surprise."

 

[astralkiss]

Pouting and sleepy she allows herself to be shown to her room, grumpily mumbling about being alone yet again, hating the fact that she has to sleep alone that night.
Michel takes her to the room, and she undresses to her shift, crawls into bed and falls asleep, extremely exhausted.

 

[AntonioG]

Pierre makes it to his room and undress collapsing on his bed, not even pulling covers over himself. It's been a long tiring day.

*Several Hours Later*

As far as he's concerned morning came way too early, but it was an important day today. Bella's father was going to get what he deserved and she was going to become the Princess of France. An exciting day to say the least.

 

[astralkiss]

Bella woke up cranky, in a vase-throwing mood. She got up, with the help of the silent ladies' maid she got dressed in her morning gown for morning services and breakfast, a simple affair of green velvet. She sighs and goes to begin the motions of the day, worrying about what she will do at hte ceremony.

 

[AntonioG]

After morning services Pierre was ravenous, he hoped Marie made something wonderfully tasty, of course she did, she always did.

"My love, did you sleep well last night?"

 

[astralkiss]

She shook her head crankily, head downcast, her hair done up in an elaborate fashion under a circlet, looking irritated.

 

[AntonioG]

"What is wrong my dear? Why so glum? Did someone at services give you a hard time today?"

 

[astralkiss]

She shook her head. "I don't know, I am just not up to par as far as mood goes today. I am upset about nothing, just not my usual self," she said, sighing.

 

[AntonioG]

"Ah Bella, you are perhaps nervous because you will become a Princess? Or you will see your father for the first time since he sold you?"

Pierre felt badly for her, this was certainly a trying day for one who has had so much thrust at her in the last 48 hours, but she's strong and she will survive.

 

[astralkiss]

"The two," she said, picking at her food, having a sudden urge to throw it at the wall. She lowers her voice "I was lonely, lastnight," and turns a bit red. "Yes, I am nervous abotu both things, love," she says, tapping lightly on the table.

 

[AntonioG]

He smiles softly at her, "Tonight I will make it up to you, neither of us will be lonely tonight. Don't fret Bella, your father will not be able to say a word to you, because by the time he figures it out, he will be your Royal Subject."