#saliceau

Juliette: ...Well?

Isabella: Well... what?

Juliette: What do you think?

Isabella: About?

Juliette: Maman, I mean about Ted

Isabella: ...

Juliette: I really like him maman

Isabella: Juliette-

Juliette: I love him.

Isabella: ...I think this relationship is highly inappropriate. He is your teacher and he abused his position to seduce you

Juliette: Maman, if anything, I'm the one who seduced him

Isabella: Juliette, You're a grown woman and you can make your own decisions but I will not risk adding more fuel to the fire the media is currently burning

Juliette: I understand

Isabella: I don't think you do. Whatever is going on between you and Thaddeus must not see the light of day. No one must know besides the four people in this room right now.

Juliette: Okay

Isabella: We will be making the announcement in two weeks and as soon as this is done, you will be the centre of attention. Press will be following you everywhere. Everything you do will be under more scrutiny than ever before

Isabella: That means the two of you must not be seen alone in public together, at all! Whatever this is must be done in secret.

Juliette: For how long?

Isabella: Until I say so

Juliette: Maman!

Isabella: Be grateful I'm not asking you to end it immediately. You are asking a lot from me right now Juliette.

Juliette: (surprised) ...I-I understand. I'm sorry...

Isabella: All the privileges of privacy you've enjoyed until now will be gone in two weeks. So make the most of it.

Juliette: ...Okay

Isabella: But no sex. ever. I mean it

Juliette: Don't worry, that won't happen... no matter how hard I try

Isabella: Excuse me?

Juliette: Nothing

Isabella: I'm starting to dislike him a little less already

Good morning

It is such a joy to be back at Palais de Saliceau after a brief period in the hospital. The palace does not seem to have changed much while I have been away, I'm glad

(Laughter)

I wish to thank all of you gathered here, and all of you watching and listening from across Saliceau, and beyond. Thank you for your patience and support for the monarchy and all its constituents over the recent events of the past few months.

This recent period has been an extremely trying and difficult time for the country and the monarchy. And I suspect that there are very few people or institutions unaffected by these last months of uncertainty and controversy

No section of the community has all the virtues, neither does any have all the vices. I am quite sure that most people try to do their jobs as best as they can, even if the result is not always entirely successful

There can be no doubt, of course, that criticism is good for people and institutions that are part of public life. No institution should expect to be free from the scrutiny of those who give it their loyalty and support, not to mention those who don't

But we are all part of the same fabric of our national society and that scrutiny, by one part of another, can be just as effective if it is made with a touch of gentleness, good humour and understanding

This sort of questioning can also act, and it should do so, as an effective engine for change. As the famous was hero of Warborough, Winston Templeton once said "to improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often". This is true of everything, including the monarchy

In light of such reflections, the power-holding Duchies of Vitali, Casiraghi, Berger and Evannesce, along with the monarchy have come together in agreement to a change in the order of succession

Therefore, from this moment, I create Princess Isabella, Duchess of Marseille and Saint-Lyon, heir apparent to the throne.

With Prince Matthew beside her, our new Duchess and Duke of Marseille and Saint-Lyon will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our international conversations and bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given...

Good morning...

Next | Previous

Camie: Your majesty, your royal highness

Queen Francesca: Yes? What is it?

Camie: Um... your royal highness

Isabella: What is it Camie?

Camie: The Duke of Marseille is here

Queen Francesca: Simon? He's finally returned?

Isabella: ...I'll take care of this

Isabella: Simon-

Simon: Where's Maria?

Isabella: Where have you been? We've been looking for you for weeks!

Simon: Where is Maria?

Isabella: Simon-

Simon: I was in Aila, waiting for Maria, only she never showed up when we'd planned and when I went to find out why, I heard she was in the hospital. I'm back now, so where is Maria?

Isabella: Have you not seen anything on the news?

Simon: I didn't ask you about the news, I asked you where my wife is!

Isabella: Everything on the news is the reason your wife is gone

Simon: What do you mean gone?

Isabella: She's no longer in Saliceau, Simon

Simon: Then where the hell is she?

Isabella: Gone

Simon: Isabella-

Isabella: She lost the baby...

Simon: What?

Isabella: She also found out about your little scheme with Ferdinand

Simon: How?

Isabella: How else?

Simon: ...Liliana that b***!

Isabella: You never listened to me, now you have to pay for it... we all do

Simon: Okay well then where is she? She's probably upset and confused and stressed by all this, I need to be with her

Isabella: I can't tell you

Simon: What do you mean you can't tell me?

Isabella: Maria doesn't want to see you. So I can't tell you where she is

Simon: I'm warning you Isabella

Isabella: I'm not afraid of you

Simon: You should be. All these years I've kept my cool and tolerated you because of Maria. I only played along with your stupid games because I didn't want her to find out the truth

Simon: But now that everything is out in the open, I have nothing more to lose. Without Maria there's nothing keeping me from burning this family to the ground, starting with you

Isabella: Are you sure about that? There's still another truth Maria doesn't know about you. Now, that would truly ruin you

Simon: And what's that?

Isabella: The reason her husband no longer answers to the name Alessandro. Would you like me to tell her?

Simon: You wouldn't dare

Isabella: Like you said, she already knows the truth, so what more do I have to lose?

Isabella: You on the other hand, can still lose everything if I choose to disclose the whole truth. So do something Simon, I dare you

Camie: Your royal high- (gasps) Oh my goodness!

Isabella: Now there's a witness. If you don't want to be arrested and spend the rest of your life behind bars and away from your wife and children, I suggest you walk away

Isabella: Maria will come back, so don't give me a reason to stop her. Right now, she's not the one you need to worry about, it's me.

Simon: You b***

Camie: Your royal highness! Are you alright?

Isabella: I'm fine

Camie: Should I report this to Robyn? We no longer have a reason to keep Simon around, we can get rid of him-

Isabella: -No. Maria can't live without him. Getting rid of him would be like getting rid of her... she's already going through so much, I can't do that to her...

Olivier (over the phone): He should be arriving soon

Francine: Thanks Ollie. I owe you one

Olivier: If you're grateful, get him out of my apartment

Francine: Hey...

KB: Ollie told me you weren't here

Francine: He lied... I asked him to

KB: (sighs) I'm leaving

Francine: Wait! I need to talk to you

KB: Well I don't want to talk

Francine: KB, please

Francine: I'm sorry... and you're right... You know that I'm not used to affection because I never got much of it growing up since Jackie was always the favorite

Francine: It was hard at first but I got used to not having anyone to confide in and learned to cope. And I was fine until you came along and somehow you knew how to handle my emotions.

Francine: I know I have Jackie and Jules, but Jules can come off as a bit patronising sometimes and with Jackie... it feels like I'm talking to a child... but you get me. And I guess I became dependent on that. On you.

Francine: And then I noticed you had feelings for me and it scared me because I was afraid of changing what we already had and putting our friendship at risk.

Francine: Then I realised my feelings towards you were changing too and it freaked me out because I had to try even harder to avoid what was becoming inevitable.

Francine: So I started drinking and drinking more. I tried hooking up with other guys to get you out of my head but every time I closed my eyes you were all I could think of. I tried so hard, I ended up in the hospital with alcohol poisoning.

Francine: I needed a constant in my life and it was always you so the fear of you not being there anymore, for any reason, terrified me. But I can't fight it now because I love you and I know I can't deny it anymore.

Francine: I don't know when it started but somehow I've reached a point where I know I can't live without you-

KB: I love you Frankie. And my feelings will never change. I'll remind you every day if you need me to.

Frankie: I'll hold you to that. Every day.

Isabella: What do you want with my daughter?

Thaddeus: Ma'am?

Isabella: Be honest. Is it popularity? Money? Do you like her because she's young and makes you feel 'alive'?

Thaddeus: I'm an Evannesce ma'am, I assure you I have no need for popularity or money. And I don't need her to feel 'young and alive'. I'm 31, not 60.

Isabella: I cannot accept this until I know your motive

Thaddeus: I thought Robyn would have vouched for my character

Isabella: ...What?

Thaddeus: Robyn assured me she had spoken with you and vouched for my character

Thaddeus: Ma'am?

Isabella: No

Thaddeus: What?

Isabella: No!

Isabella: You're a part of the institution?

Thaddeus: An... affiliate of sorts

Isabella: And you want me to give my daughter to you?

Thaddeus: Ma'am-

Isabella: Robyn called me alright. She told me my daughter was dating an intelligent man from an honest background with a successful career. That's it!

Thaddeus: Ma'am-

Isabella: Not only are you too old for her but you were planted by the Institution! They sent you to keep an eye on her and the best way you could do that was to toy with her and use her as a hostage against me?

Thaddeus: Of course not

Isabella: What is it then? You expect me to believe all this was a coincidence!?

Thaddeus: Your highness, I do confess to being planted by the institution as a professor at SNU to watch over the princesses, not to spy on them. But what happened between myself and Juliette was something even I didn't see coming

Isabella: I still can't accept this

Thaddeus: (sighs) With all due resepect ma'am, I have to ask you to to think about this objectively and rationally.

Isabella: Excuse me?

Thaddeus: Unless your intention was to marry Juliette off to a royal from a different nation, you will find no better candidate for her partner in Saliceau besides me

Thaddeus: I am an Evannesce. Being Juliette's partner would give the royal family full support from Evannesce and by extension, most of the public. I am older than Juliette, so you need not worry about immaturity. I have three degrees and a professional career, so my competence is of no concern. I am accustomed to this lifestyle so my adaptability will not be an issue.

Thaddeus: And above all these things-

Isabella: -You work for the institution

Thaddeus: Above all these things, I love her! And I will continue to do so. So you need not be concerned for her happiness or her safety as long as she is with me.

Silence

Isabella: If anything happens to my daughter, I will make you regret your entire existence

Thaddeus: I will not betray your trust ma'am

Isabella: Trust? Make no mistake, I do not trust you. Nor do I trust Robyn or the institution, not anymore.

Isabella: For now, I will simply keep an eye on things from afar

Juliette: Are you nervous?

Thaddeus: No, should I be?

Juliette: Is it bad if I say yes?

Thaddeus: (laughs) I mean... I've never met your mother but I know she's a scary woman

Juliette: What? My mother is the sweetest person you'll ever meet

Thaddeus: Maybe to her daughter, but not to everyone else

Juliette: You're overreacting Ted

Thaddeus: I'm not too sure about that...

Matthew: Are you ready?

Isabella: Yes, why?

Matthew: Because I'm going to kill that sonofab*** who thinks he can have my girl

Isabella: She's a grown woman Matty

Matthew: Not to me

Isabella: Besides, they've only been seeing each other for a few months. This is hardly taking her away

Matthew: Exactly, so why do we have to meet him? Do we even know anything about him?

Isabella: (sighs) No

Matthew: Robyn didn't mention anything? Not even his name?

Isabella: Not even that

Footman: They have arrived your royal highness

Isabella: Look alive Matty! You're about to meet your future son-in-law

Matthew: Not funny!

Juliette: Hello maman

Isabella: My dear. You look beautiful

Thaddeus: Your royal highness, it's an honour to meet you

Isabella: Lovely to meet you...

Thaddeus: Thaddeus ma'am

Matthew: Thaddeus...what a nice Salician name

Thaddeus: From Eversen, sir

Matthew: Eversen! I had the pleasure of visiting shortly after we got married

Thaddeus: I'm sure Eversen United would be thrilled to have you back soon sir

Matthew: Haha! Good man!

Isabella: Men and their football

Matthew: You know, you look familiar, might I have met your parents?

Thaddeus: Actually-

Juliette: Can this wait until after dinner? I'm starving

Isabella: Of course, let's go

Matthew: Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Isabella: He looks awfully similar to...

Isabella: It can't be

Matthew: Right?

Isabella: But the resemblance is uncanny

Matthew: What are the odds?

Isabella: So, Thaddeus

Thaddeus: You can just call me Ted ma'am

Isabella: Ted... lovely

Matthew: So Ted, what is your last name if you don't mind my asking

Thaddeus: It's Evannesce sir

Matthew chokes

Thaddues: Are you alright-

Matthew: Yes, I'm fine

Isabella: Evannesce... as in you're the son of Toussaint Evannesce?

Thaddeus: Yes ma'am

Matthew: Interesting...

Isabella: I didn't know the Duke had any children still in university

Thaddeus: I'm not in university ma'am

Isabella: Oh? Juliette told me you met on the university campus

Thaddeus: Yes ma'am, I teach at the university

Matthew: You're a professor... at SNU?

Thaddeus: Yes sir

Isabella: A professor, not a student

Thaddeus: That is correct ma'am

Isabella: Thaddeus, how old are you?

Juliette: Maman! That's rude

Thaddeus: It's alright, I'm 31 ma'am

Isabella: 31! And you don't think you're too old to be dating a 22-year old?

Juliette: Maman!

Thaddeus: I did, but Juliette didn't. And I told her I would be alright with it as long as she was

Isabella: So you coerced her into dating you

Juliette: Actually I asked him out first

Isabella: -Juliette

Juliette: I don't see what the big deal is

Isabella: The big deal is that he is a teacher at your school. This relationship is inappropriate and, to some extent, illegal

Juliette: Ted has not been fully hired by the university yet and no one knows about our relationship but us four so it's neither inappropriate nor illegal

Isabella: Juliette!

Juliette: Maman!