14

Footsteps sounded at the end of the corridor, a silhouette approached.

"She's not a servant my dear!" »

Adélie couldn't get over it, the Queen Mother in person came to her defense.

"Release there and go to sleep, your fatigue does not help you to see clearly, you reprimanded the King's favourite. »

The old woman instantly released Adelie's wrist. The young woman stammered a brief thank you to her savior and ran to her room.

Adelie was exhausted. Why had the Queen Mother helped her? And above all, was she really the King's favourite?

She fell asleep with questions in her head.

The hubbub of the young women in the throne room did not help Adelie's headache to subside. All awaited the King for his verdict.

A small brunette came in visibly late, she was out of breath. Her big green and pink meringue dress did not enhance her curves.

The other young women looked at her haughtily. Hundreds even giggled as he passed.

How dare they, Adelie wondered, these women are only poor peasant girls and they will start working the land again tomorrow, far from the superficial problems of the yard.

The petite brunette walked over to Adelie and let herself fall against the wall to catch her breath.

"Don't listen to them, the air of the race goes to their heads" Adélie whispered to her.

The young woman smiled at him, her cheeks flushed with effort. A hand on her chest she addressed her

"- Oh you know, it's not little peasant princesses for a night that will scare me, I've seen others, she laughed

-You're right, Adelie smiled at her.

"Oh, I didn't introduce myself, I'm Marietta, the King's first cousin"

At these words Adélie hurried to bow to the young woman.

“- Forgive me your Majesty, I did not know your rank, Adelie hastened to apologize.

-Oh not in a good way with me, it's been a long time since the runner forgot about me »

Gustave entered the room cutting off their conversation. His mother and his sister Isadora followed him closely. He walked in front of the assembly that had formed.

The King scanned the room in search of a look, the one that made his heart beat. He had found her, at the bottom next to her cousin.

He looked to his advisors. They all frowned at him hoping he made the best choice for the country.

Finally Gustave looked at all his young suitors batting their eyelashes while waiting for his choice.

At that moment he knew what choice he had to make for him and for his country. He cleared his throat

“Ladies, it is so important for me to announce which of you will not leave the palace but will stay with me to become my wife. Know above all that the one who will not be chosen will be offered a bag of wheat to thank you for coming here. »

Gustave paused, was he making the right choice?

“You all showed your best qualities yesterday but one of you stood out”

It was necessary for the good of all

“Choosing just one young woman was not easy for me, and last night was a bit hectic for me”

Yes, he made the right choice!

"The young woman I keep to ascend the throne with me is..."

Everyone was holding their breath, no one was moving.

Adélie looked at the Queen Mother, her hands clenched in anxiety and Isadora was trembling with impatience. The advisers had beads of sweat beading on their foreheads. The King was going to make the choice of a lifetime, a choice that could change the fate of the kingdom.

Suddenly the young woman also began to stress, she realized that by getting married, her place at court would be called into question, she herself did not understand her presence here but it was no longer her will that were at stake but the money she could bring to her family andthat of Flora.

If everything went back to how it was then she would go back to her modest servants' room with the only salary being three small crowns that she sent to her mother every Monday.

Only the King could decide whether he would keep her at court or not.

“I have decided to take Adélie Bauduin as my wife”