Deja Vu

~Year 1840~

(Flashback)

"Leur palais semble magnifique! Wouldn't you agree, Louis?" Madame Adélaïde spoke while their carriage took them through the night.

But as Adélaïde heard no respond from her son, she broke her glance away from the carriage's window and looked over at him.

"Louis!" She called.

"Pardon?" Louis raised his head, finally paying attention.

Madame Adélaïde shook her head. "I said, that their palace looks magnificent."

"Oui, ça l'est." Louis agreed, dropping his gaze again, and losing himself in his thoughts.

She shook her head again. "I care not if you're king or not! But I shall remain your mother until death do us apart! You ought to pay attention when you're spoken to."

Louis sighed, yet said nothing.

As the carriage passed the gates, the horses stopped. Madame Adélaïde softened her dress before the concierge opened the door.

"My queen." He bowed his head and raised his hand. Adélaïde smiled and took it, getting out of the carriage.

"Merci." She thanked the man with a bright smile.

Louis as well exited the carriage, and after he did so, he finally looked up at the Palace.

It was indeed magnificent.

He walked alongside his mother, being bowed to by every person who they passed, while they made their way through the large yard.

When they neared the entrance gates to the palace, the music caught their ears already. The sound of cello and violin were running the place wild, the enormous chandeliers were brightening every floor they put a foot on, and the guardsman was calling the names of the guests who entered.

"Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany!" He called as Adélaïde and Louis stood in the line of the guests. "Princess Alice, the Grand Duchess of Hesse!"

And then it came their turn.

"King Louis Philippe The First, The king of France! Louise Marie Adélaïde de Bourbon, Duchess of Orléans!

Everyone bowed when they walked through the hall.

It was 10th of February, Louis's twenty-second birthday. It seemed only yesterday that his father had bid his farewell to the world and had left France for him to reign.

Too young yet too powerful, was not what Louis sought throughout his life; but it was given to him anyway. And who's not to accept it?

That night, a great event was happening in England. The wedding bells rang for Queen Victoria in St. James's Palace, and the guests floated in one by one, all dukes and princes from around the world.

They all came forward to present their honor to the king of France and his mother. Madame Adélaïde's greetings were just as polite as the others, but Louis did not answer any of them, for his attention was now stuck somewhere else.

Or rather, on someone else.

With golden hair presenting the sun and a pair of large green eyes, a woman was slowly and gently walking down the stairs.

Louis's eyes were fixed on her pallid feature that went beautifully with her pale blue dress.

He was sure that he had never seen a woman as beautiful as her. Not even fairytales were enough to describe her.

So, completely ignoring one of the duke's salute, Louis walked toward the stairs, as if he were in some sort of a trance.

By the time he had reached it, the woman as well was on the last stair.

Louis laced his hands together behind his back and then bowed slightly.

"My king." The woman said in a soft voice, bowing down completely.

Louis couldn't erase the smile that was tucking on his lips. So he ignored it and raised his right hand for the woman to take.

When she placed her hand in his, Louis carried it toward his lips, and placed the most caressing kiss on her knuckle.

"Puis-je avoir votre nom?" Said Louis after letting go of her hand.

"I'm sorry, my king. But I do not speak French."

Louis smiled brightly before saying, "I said, may I have you name?"

The woman giggled lightly and bowed again before saying,

"Please, my lord. Call me Irene."