December 25th, 1804

I could hardly focus on the book I was reading. It didn't help that I couldn't read without sounding the words out.

Napoleon climbed the ladders, putting books away and taking new ones out.

The door to the study opened minutes after the clock struck four. A servant stood there.

"Mr. Henri Baudin is here to see you, sir," he said.

"Delightful," Napoleon said. "Send him to the dining room. Sophie and I will be right along. Get a lady's maid for Sophie and tell my butler that I will be up there soon."

"Yes, sir," the servant said. He left.

"I thought you might like to freshen up a bit," Napoleon said. He said it like he was doing me a great favor. 

"Thank you," I said. I headed towards the doors, Napoleon following me. He lead me through yet another maze of hallways until he left me inside a bedroom, alone with a silent lady's maid.

She did my hair up and washed the dirt of the city off my face. 

She was less gentle than Diana.

I sat and let her scrub me until I was her idea of perfect.

She lead me down to the grand dining room. Napoleon and Henri were already there, conversing quietly.

They both stood up, upon my entrance.

Napoleon looked giddy and Henri looked a mix of relief and disappointment.

"Oh, good, you're both here!" Napoleon sang. "Sit! Sit!"

He sat me across from Henri, with himself at the head of the table. Servants immediately brought out a soup.

Napoleon ate eagerly while Henri and I ate much slower and cautiously.

"So do enthrall me about how you met," Napoleon said. "Nobility and seemingly a peasant girl. It must be interesting."

Henri snapped out of his trance.

"I found myself in her bakery one day," Henri said. "I invited her to a ball. And the rest is history."

"How long have you known one another?"

"It hasn't been very long," Henri said. "I knew she was the one."

His words hurt. He said lies with such sincerity.

"That is adorable," the emperor sighed. He snapped his fingers and a new dish was brought out. It was a tough and chewy meat in a sauce that tasted like dirt. "So when is the wedding?"

"A date has not been set," Henri said.

"How long have you been engaged?"

Henri looked over at the clock on the wall.

"9 hours," Henri said.

"Oh. I picked the wrong night to invite you to dinner. But Christmas is so lonely without any guests," Napoleon giggled. Henri remained stern faced but glanced at me. The relief had disappeared and only disappointment remained. I closed my eyes.

Napoleon made small talk the rest of the night to Henri. He even offered Henri a job as a personal advisor. Henri respectfully declined.

"I suppose you can go now," Napoleon said, as the second dessert dishes had been taken away.

"Thank you for dinner," Henri said. I stood up.

"You're quite welcome," Napoleon said. "It appears Miss Sophie is ready to go though. So be off."

"Thank you," Henri said, standing. He bowed. I did not.

Henri made it to the door before I did. Napoleon caught my arm.

"Such a pleasant boy," he whispered, pulling me close. "I would hate to have to kill him."

I shook his grip off. I hurried out of the room.

Henri was waiting at the end of the hall. I ran to him and he embraced me. I let out a sob into his shirt. He pulled me into the nearest room. I allowed myself to be taken. He didn't let go of me. I tried to keep my cries silent.

I had never been more afraid.

"Sophie," Henri whispered. I could hear the strain in his voice. He was trying to be kind but he was angry. I brought myself to look up at him. He was biting his lip. He took my hands in his.

"Why did you leave?" he asked.

"I didn't want to be a problem," I said. His hands squeezed mine painfully tight..

"Why did you think you were a problem?"

"I heard your conversation with your uncle," I said. 

"My uncle does not control my feelings for you," he hissed.

"I'm sorry," I cried. He pulled my head into his chest. I was shaking from head to toe.

"Sophie, Sophie, it's okay," Henri assured. His fingers were tangled in my hair.

I pulled my head away from his chest and put a hand on his face. I tried to steady my fingers so he wouldn't realize how scared I truly was.

Henri's eyes gazed down at mine.

"Don't run away ever again," Henri said. He kissed me. "I love you, Sophie."

"I don't want you getting hurt," I said.

"I'll be fine," he said.

He obviously didn't know Napoleon.