***
Philippe bowed after entering the chamber. Both Jason and Philippe had moved into the palace shortly after the royal wedding.
‘You wished to see me your majesty?’ His tousled hair and drowsy expression suggested that he had been sleeping. ‘Has Prince Jason returned from Switzerland?’ Philippe’s expression brightened slightly.
‘Tomorrow, I think,’ said the king.
The boy’s face fell.
‘You have come to think of the Prince as your father?’
‘Oh yes,’ he replied immediately. He considered the king carefully for a moment or two. ‘I have come to think of you all as family, your majesty. Renate and Ruan...I mean their highnesses treat me like a younger brother.’
‘Good.’ The king cleared his throat, paused for a few moments. ‘Do you often think of your father?’
Philippe’s visage darkened. He looked downwards and began to fidget with his belt.
‘Less than before.’ The boy’s voice faltered.
‘You have yet to forgive me I suppose?’
The response was immediate:
‘I did blame you once,’ Philippe said, and he restored direct eye contact. ‘But Jason explained why you had no choice.’ The boy managed an awkward smile.
‘So I am to be forgiven then?’
‘Yes, your majesty.’ The boy’s smile widened a little.
‘What do you know of your father’s fate?’
‘The Commander who led the recent French invasion is still in our jail. It’s that Du Pont. I asked Jason to let me speak to him,’ Philippe’s jaw tightened. ‘He said no. But Jason went to see him in Jail…’
‘I know about that,’ the king interrupted. ‘Du Pont said your father was tried and executed in his hometown of Lyon.’
‘I am not sure I believe him, your majesty,’ Philippe said.
‘Do you know that Du Pont and the French prisoners were released today?’ asked the king. ‘They sailed for France an hour or so ago aboard French warships.’
‘No, your majesty.’ The boy’s eyebrows rose. ‘Why did you let them go your majesty?’
‘The release of the prisoners was part of a treaty which Prince Jason negotiated in Geneva.’
‘I did not realise that the treaty was already concluded.’
‘I decided not to publicise the treaty in Montuga until we knew which of the French nobles we surrendered to France earlier this year were alive. You see, we offered France the return of their troops in exchange for all the survivors….’ The king smiled as he watched the boy’s eyes widen.
‘My father….did your majesty find anything out about him? Is he coming to Montuga?’ The questions were fired in quick succession.
‘He is alive and well. He arrived a short while ago…’ The king interrupted himself as the Marquis appeared in the open doorway to the chamber. ‘You may wish to turn around…’
Father and son rushed towards each other with open arms.
‘Together again. What a joy to behold’ said the king. ‘And what a difference from the last time we were all here. Who would then have dared to dream that it could ever end like this?’