lesecretdelamaisondubourbon: ⚜️XIV⚜️: I am Dieudonné (Ch. I/Pt. III)Two footmen opened the do

⚜️XIV⚜️: I am Dieudonné (Ch. I/Pt. III)
Two footmen opened the doors and father stepped out. Before anyone could stop him, Philippe jumped out, nearly falling on his face.
“Shall I put him down, Your Majesty,” our governess asked Papa as she stepped out of the carriage.
“If you will,” he answered. “Philippe has had quite a day.”
“No,” Philippe said.
I took my first steps out of the carriage and looked around as Papa tried to reason with Philippe. To my recollection, this little château did not impress me much. It was just another one of our many palaces.
“Come, Louis,” Papa said to me, offering his hand. I took his hand he led us into the château. Philippe talked every step of the way in the arms of our governess. Once inside, my father and I were parted and my brother and I were shown to our apartments.
“Philippe,” I asked, as he was put down on the bed while our governess left us alone. “What are you talking about?”
He stopped talking for a moment and thought about what I had asked him.
“I do not know,” he answered as he rolled over in laughter. Our governess returned as quickly as she had left.
“Your Highness,” she said to me. “You are to see your father immediately in his apartments. Straight through those doors.”
“No,” Philippe screamed. “I want Louis!”
She looked at me sternly. I gave her a weak smile as she left me to my brother.
“Philippe,” I began. “Go to sleep.”
“I do not want to,” he said, looking around. “Not here.”
“Please,” I begged. “I must go see Papa.”
“Will you come back,” he asked.
“Yes.”
Philippe yawned.
“I am not sleepy,” he said, as he fell asleep. When I was certain he would not wake up, I turned to leave the room to find Papa. Instead, he had found me.
“You are very good with your brother,” he said. “But you have always been.”
“I wish he were bigger,” I said. “He is still a baby.”
“He will not always be, Louis,” he said. “Just as you will not always be a child.”
Papa sat down in a chair beside the window. Though I was still young, he was not as I had once remembered him. I did not have the mind to ask what plagued him. I would have not understood what he might have told me. I went over to him to see what he was looking at through the window. He motioned for me to join him. I climbed upon his lap, and we sat together in silence for a time. The only sounds of nature came from Philippe’s restless sleep.
“Louis,” he finally said. “You will do as I say, yes?”
“Yes, Papa,” I answered.
“Watch after your brother for me,” he said. “Take care of Philippe.”
I nodded, thinking he was speaking about watching Philippe while we were staying the château. I looked over at my brother. He was sound asleep.
“There is no such thing as fearless, Louis,” I heard Papa say. “You must be afraid to do something so that you may find the courage to do anything.”
I turned back to him and nodded. He embraced me. I would not understand anything that happened that day for years but not long after he uttered those words to me, he would be dead and I would be king.
**** **** **** ****
Philippe was awakened shortly before dinner. He was unusually quiet, but nonetheless, took the time to let our governess know he did not like the food put before him. He would take a bite, scowl, then spit it out if the taste was not to his liking. To be fair, I had to admit I was not fond of it, either. I ate it out of obedience.
After dinner, we were put to bed. Getting there was always a chore when it came to Philippe. I am not sure when he learned to splash his bathwater on the servants for amusement, but he had turned it into an unholy ritual at every opportunity. Once we were dressed and in bed, I could hear the sighs of relief behind the doors of our room.
For some time that night, we slept peacefully without interruption. Then, I felt a jolt that woke me instantly. I felt the earth shaking but I knew better than to worry.
“Philippe, stop,” I said. I knew he was jumping on the bed. This was the one time I wish I had never taught him how to do it.
“I cannot sleep, Louis,” he said between each jump.
“Neither can I, Philippe,” I began. “Because you are keeping me awake.”
He stopped jumping, landing on his bottom near my feet.
“I am not a baby,” he said. That was the problem with Philippe. He could remember everything I said when I thought he was not listening.
“Yes, you are,” I said.
Philippe crawled back to his place beside me and lay down.
“Louis,” he began. “You will take care of me.”
“I have to,” I said. “You are my brother.”
“You are my brother,” he said. “I will take care of you, too.”
With that, he kissed my forehead, lay down and fell asleep. I did not understand what he meant until we were older but Philippe always knew and I was glad for it.
**** **** **** ****
When I woke up the next morning, Philippe was gone. I looked around and saw him standing on the chair where Papa and I were sitting the day before. He was looking out of the window. I climbed out of bed and went to join him. The floor was cool, but a servant was stoking the fire in the hearth.
“Look,” Philippe said excitedly, pointing out the window. I saw Papa on horseback, riding with several other men. “Papa is leaving us!”
I smiled to myself. Philippe was still too young to understand.
“Papa is going hunting,” I told him.
“Why,” he asked, looking at me, concerned.
“That is what kings do.”
“Why,” he asked again.
“I do not know, Philippe,” I answered.
“Why,” he asked.
If our governess had not come into the room, I was going smack my little brother. It was time to eat and Philippe had become distracted with something new. As our porridge was served, I wondered how long Papa would be gone. Philippe took an enormous spoonful of porridge and shoved it into his mouth. With his mouth full, our governess took this moment to scold him.
“Smaller bites, Petit Monsieur,” she said. “Your Highness, sit up straight.”
Immediately, I changed my posture. She was stern but kind. We would not have her much longer, but she would come back into my life when I would need her the most.–The Secret of the House of Bourbon–XIV by Jaynaé Marie Miller. 12-18-2021