12

Gustave thought he was dreaming. The young woman stood straight like an I, visibly somewhat uncomfortable. Indeed Adelie was not used to having so many pairs of eyes fixed on her. No one dared to move, all awaited the reaction of their Sovereign.

Gustave seemed paralyzed, no muscle in his body wanted to move, his eyes were fixed on those of the young woman.

Adelie slowly looked around the room, garlands of lilies falling from the ceiling and beautiful floral arrangements adorning the tables. She remained captivated by the aura emanating from the room.

The King's heart cried out to him to run to his beloved to take her in his arms but all these people around him prevented him from doing so and this plunged him to the brink of madness. He slowly raised his head towards the balcony where his adviser was frowning at him, but who did he think he was? No one could forbid anything to the King.

Gustave waved his hand in the direction of the musicians and the music resumed immediately. He held out a hand to Adelie. She felt her heart beating so hard in her chest that she thought it would explode.

She moved piously towards her Sovereign and placed her soft, small hand in the hollow of his. The King pulled her to him so that their bodies were almost glued together. The whispers that rose in the crowd proved that this kind of behavior was indecent in public but Gustave did only his head.

They started their waltz as if no one was watching them, as if there was no ball, as if Adélie were not the daughter of a gardener, as if Gustave were not the King of Vésan. Nothing mattered to them except their dance.

Adélie had danced very little in her life but luckily the King guided her well. Her dress twirled to the rhythm of their steps.

The two lovers wouldn't have traded this moment for anything in the world when Gustave looked towards the balcony. His mother watched him with a closed face.

He didn't want to dance with another young lady than the one he was holding in his arms at that moment, he no longer wanted to pretend to smile but really do it next to Adelie.

The dance ended, they bowed to each other and the King went in search of the Queen Mother. Leaving the poor young woman destitute in the middle of all these suitors.

Adélie came back to earth hard. The glares of the other young girls and the whispers made her so uncomfortable that she began to count the beats of her heart so as not to collapse.

At the turn of a hallway, Gustave finally caught sight of his mother.

" -Mother ! he cried to catch up with her

-What are you playing!? She scolded him

- Precisely mother, I no longer want to play this grotesque comedy, laugh and smile at all these young women who think they have a chance to be the future Queen of Vésan, I no longer want to pretend, I do not want a life like this ! »

The Queen Mother stopped walking to turn to her son. A naughty smile on the corner of the lips.

"My son, Your Highness, you are King and this is what your life will be made of now know it and the sooner you accept it, the better it will be for the people and ourselves, she approached to caress his cheek , get away from this miserable young woman who makes your head spin andchoose a party that will strengthen our alliances”

Gustave pulled away, grimacing

“You are a monster mother, soon I will get married and you will be permanently removed from the crown”

He turned around

The Queen Mother had to control her hands which were shaking with rage. How dare he, the flesh of his flesh, the blood of his blood wished to turn his back on him like this. She will do everything to prevent this union.

Even if the blood must flow...