Josephine

𝓔𝓹𝓲𝓼𝓸𝓭𝓮 98: 𝓐 𝓖𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓖𝓲𝓻𝓵 𝓕𝓸𝓻 𝓜𝔂 𝓢𝓸𝓷

September 18, 2015

It was Mattéo and I's anniversary, but generally, our anniversary was always a splendid day. Our marriage was fine, better than fine actually, but every year on our anniversary we were still reminded of the Salvation Insurgency, which had also happened just a few days before.

Our anniversary was the day our family was nearly torn apart. We would spend the morning in the cemetery, mourning the immense loss of life taken on that day. Besides the drab, depressing morning, most of our time together was spent happily.

Romantic candlelit dinners, long dramatic films or even just sitting together on our balcony, wine glasses in hand, just watching the stars glimmer in the night sky. Call us boring, but that is how we enjoy each other's company now. We're not the wild, passionate lovers we were in our thirties and even mid-forties. By now we're both tired...

Tonight we had planned a family dinner, with Junior visiting. She spent most of her time with Fabien and Lucas at their estate in Tejas. So it was few and far between that I saw my daughter anymore. But that was fine, she enjoyed her life with her husband and son. I think Victoria's father is coming as well, though I am not too sure about that. Sophie was also going to be here, but Lily was too busy in Ireland to attend. 

"Guards, are you sure the palace is secured?" I asked one of the guards by the door that led to one of the many exits.

"Yes your majesty, we have checked every nook and cranny four times already. Trust us, nobody is getting in tonight,"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, your majesty. No unwanted guests tonight,"

I sighed in relief. Since the Insurgency, I was always far more paranoid than normal. I guess it was because those rebels breached our defenses and slain the guards in such spectacular and speedy fashion that caused me to break into a nervous sweat when looking at the doors.

"Josey please don't bother the guards!" Mattéo said as he approached from behind me.

"Mattéo I can't help it if I get more scared on this day!" I protested.

"I know darling, but they have a job to do. How can they patrol and keep guard if you keep pestering them?" Mattéo stated knowingly.

Oh gosh, he's right!

"You're right as usual!"

"Wait... what was that? Did the empress herself just say that 'I was right'? Josephine, are you alright?" He asked with this joking attitude.

"Haha you are so funny mister," I snapped back.

Mattéo snickered and I swear I saw a sly smile crack on one of the guard's stone-cold faces. Speaking of the guards, one of their radios crackled and he responded.

"Yes? Very good,"

He hung up.

"Your majesty, the princess, the Marchioness of Tejas, and Earl of Corpus have all arrived,"

"Perfect!" I clapped my hands together, "Send them in as soon as possible!"

The guard nodded to his companion who slung his M1 rifle over his shoulder and he marched off. Mattéo and I watched the guard go off to greet Junior, Fabien, and Lucas.

"Those men never cease to amaze me," Mattéo said.

"I know, they are chosen from the best of the best!" I replied.

"Hey mom," John Charles said as he approached us.

He was dressed in a gray suit and tie and looked very regal and royal. In fact, he reminded me of myself in my younger years when I insisted on breaking those gender roles and norms and wearing traditional masculine apparel. That was just a teenage fad. I had grown up and worn a dress pretty much every single day for the past forty-three years.