Page 21 of The Darkest Oath

Her hot whispers fell in the space between her knees and lips. “I survived in my ignorance. Living here with Gabin was bearable and predictable. But these two weeks have been miserable thinking of the possibility of Rollant, and now, all those possibilities have been confirmed.” Her breath hitched in her throat. “Why? Why do this to me?” She turned to her stomach and buried her head in the pillow, ashamed she had talked to an empty room. “Why do this to myself?”

At least her belly was full, fuller than it had ever been. For a small moment in her life, Rollant had shown her what it was like in a world where kindness was not born out of favor and power was not wielded with savagery. The glimpse of life in that world was a crueler torment than Gabin’s fists.

Her thumb caressed her fingers, remembering Rollant’s touch. Just as she hoped for freedom, equality, and food for all, Rollant would be a part of that hope shining out of her dark life. She brought her finger to her lips and pressed a soft kiss at all the ideals he could be.

“I will remember you too, Rollant.”

CHAPTER9

The Shadow of Regret

PALACE OF VERSAILLES, MARCH 1788

King Louis pacedthe King’s Cabinet and fidgeted with a small mechanical lock. Theclackandthunkof the lock opening and closing echoed through the otherwise silent room. The hearth blazed, heating the room to the point of sweat beads gathering on Rollant’s brow.

He had given his report and stared beyond Louis to the mirrored wall. Though short in duration, the ride back to Versailles had been long. He should never have stopped again in Faubourg Saint-Antoine. It had done nothing but depress both Élise and himself. More so Élise—her life wasn’t guaranteed. He would live on.

Louis muttered about the lies spreading about the Queen, his movements erratic as he crossed the room.

“It’s far worse than I imagined,” Louis yelled, collapsing into his high-backed dark oak chair.

His body slumped, and the well-fed belly protruded beneath his royal attire. “What do I do?” He turned his eyes, full of disbelief and fear, to Rollant.

“As I have said, Your Majesty.” Rollant took a deep breath. “Be the absolute monarch, institute the reforms, and enforce them with military backing. The people will see you on their side and make their voices heard.”

“I have not raised taxes to keep their burdens light,” Louis muttered, shaking his head.

“My king, I saw poverty in the Parisian streets, and anger fuels their survival.” Rollant ignored Louis’ impatient sigh. “They don’t care that you haven’t raised taxes—they want you to hear their concerns and take action. They are crying out because the tax burden is already too heavy, and they are hungry. They think the nobility hoards bread and cattle, unaware that famine, drought, and overseas rebellions contribute to their suffering. They blame you for failing to provide relief. They see their hard-earned wages going to you, with little returned besides the lamplighters and street cleaners, which they hardly care about.”

Louis scoffed. “Don’t they see I’m trying to make their lives easier? I even gave them the legal right to practice their faith of choice.”

“No, they don’t because they are starving and sick.” Rollant shook his head and said against his better judgment. “You want to be a king of the people, then listen to them. Be their king. Engage with them directly. Show them you will act on their behalf. Tax the nobility and clergy, and use the military to enforce it.”

“That is enough, Rollant,” Louis snapped. “I will not use the French military to enforce a tax on the nobility and clergy like a reckless tyrant.”

“You are king; be a king,” Rollant urged, holding his voice steady, knowing this conversation would not have happened even three hundred years prior.

“Leave me,” Louis said and hunkered down in his chair.

A rising surge of frustration pressed against his tight chest. He was vested after his day with Élise. The people’s struggles and Élise’s circumstances had sliced through his indifferent façade. With a deep breath, he settled himself and gathered his thoughts as he walked to the door. This was not him. He was the silent relic, the king’s bodyguard. He never wanted to be an advisor. He spun on his heels. “My apologies, Your Majesty. My tone was uncalled for. I beg your royal pardon. I shall keep my silence as I always have.”

Louis leaned forward on the table and dropped his head into his hands. “Chevalier Rollant de Montvieux,” he said after a sweeping breath. “You will never need to ask my pardon.”

Rollant approached the table. His golden rapier bounced at his hip in stride. “The people grow restless, Your Majesty. There is truth in their whispers, but you are not beyond saving.”

Louis chuckled. “My passions are in locksmithing, not in governance.”

He uncovered his face and massaged his temple with two fingers. “Minister Brienne has already failed again at instituting his universal land tax. He insists on calling the Estates-General.”

Rollant shook his head. “My King, if I may,” he said, pausing to wait for permission, which came through a small wave of Louis’ hand. “Do not call an Estates-General. Instead, engage directly with the Third Estate. Hear their concerns, establish goodwill, and soften their demands. Given the political and environmental conditions, let them see you are trying. Releasing a small amount of power now may prevent an outright revolt and solidify the crown.”

Louis’ brow furrowed. “If memory serves,” he softly bounced a closed fist on his forehead, “You had told me to rule with absolute authority.”

“Yes,” Rollant said, with eyes lighting up. The king had heard him. “I did, and I still urge the same.”

“But engaging directly with the Third Estate would be ceding authority, as you said, ‘releasing power’?”

Rollant dipped his head in acknowledgment of the king’s hesitation. Had the king done what he had said to do ten years ago, perhaps their predicament would have been nonexistent. “Your authority remains absolute, but power, your power, is influence. By engaging directly with the kingdom’s people, they will feel a part of it and respect your authority again.”

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