#sim: raphael

Isabella: Thank you all for being here, on time

Silence

Isabella: First of all, I want to apologise. On behalf of your parents, and grandparents. In spite of all our preaching and nagging, we let you down and we let this country down. I can see how you've all been affected, it's written on all your faces. Some more than others...

Isabella: What happened with Liliana was a mistake, and it will not happen again

Francine: So it's true then?

Jacqueline: All of it?

Isabella: What matter is that it will not happen again

Isabella: I'm sure you've seen that we've been working tirelessly to remedy the situation especially to the public. And with the help of the power-holding Duchies it's been going well. But what is to come next might not

Francine: I've seen that you and uncle Matt have been trying to fix things. But where are our parents in all of this?

Isabella: ...With the miscarriage, your mother has retreated to recuperate. And your father... is struggling. We're giving them time to heal right now

Juliette: So what's this next part?

Isabella: The decision has been made, and finalised, for a change in the order of succession

Isabella: First of all, Raphael will be included in the lince of succession, as he should have been from the moment he was born. However, he is now also the next Duke of Vitali. He no longer lives in Angiers palace and has relocated to the Vitali estate where he will receive successorship training from Lady Magdalena

Isabella: Secondly, as of last week, I have been appointed as heir to the Salician throne. This means that Juliette, instead of Jacqueline, will succeed the throne after me.

All: What?

Juliette: Mother-

Jacqueline: ...Aunt Bella

Isabella: As such, Maxime will be third-in-line until Juliette has children

Maxime (excited): Are you serious?

Francine: Hold on a minute Aunt Bella. How did this happen? What caused this?

Isabella: (sighs) It was not the scandal if that's what you're thinking. At least, not entirely. I hate to say this but your grand-mere has been planning this for a long time. Over the past few years, your mother has been neglecting her duties more and more

Matthew: It got to the point where we were doing most of it for her. The power-holding Duchies were fed up, and frankly so were we. And then all this happened and... well... she was no longer found worthy-

Isabella: -Capable

Matthew: -Of remaining the heir apparent.

Raphael: How was she when she found out?

Isabella: Shocked, devastates, as expected.

Matthew: Heartbroken... but she didn't fight it. I think she'd given up on the crown a long time ago. You should call her sometime, she'd want to hear from you.

Isabella: I'm sorry. I know this is a shock to you all. It's still a shock to me too, but the decision is final.

Isabella: All we can for now is adapt. But please, come and talk to me if you have any questions. Don't keep anything to yourself.

Silence

Isabella: I'll give you all some time to digest this... Juliette, please come with me

Matthew: And Maxi, with me please

Maria Aisha: Who would've thought the evil bitc- I mean witch was actually your cousin. I knew I sensed some of her personality in you

Raphael: Very funny

Maria Aisha: Are you going to be okay?

Raphael: Of course, you're leaving after all

Maria Aisha: Butthole

Raphael: Has Saliceau finally censored your potty mouth?

Maria Aisha: Sh*t face

Raphael: I guess not

Maria Aisha: Well, for what it's worth, I'm sorry to hear that you're related to her

Raphael: How kind of you, I'll let you know if anything changes, since you're still so obsessed with her

Maria Aisha: So you mean you'll keep in touch?

Raphael: Only because I feel like my life would be at risk if I didn't

Maria Aisha: Oh, and one more thing. There's this kid at some primary school that I promised you'd go visit.

Raphael: What?

Maria Aisha: His name's Sam, don't forget! Aunt Bells will tell you what school he goes to. And when you see him just let him know I sent you

Raphael: And who gave you permission to use my name however you like?

Maria Aisha: I really think you'll like him

Raphael: You're not answering my question

Maria Aisha: You're moving into the Vitali estate soon right?

Raphael: Against my will

Maria Aisha: Don't ever let them turn you into one of them

Raphael: Who do you think I am?

Raphael: Take care of yourself MA

Maria Aisha: You too Raph

Maxime: You’ve got to be f****ign kidding me

Maxime: Hey!

Maxime: You f***ing attention wh*re!

Maria Aisha: Whoa! Language!

Maxime: I f***ing hate you!

Maria Aisha: What did I do?

Maxime: Don’t act like you’re not relishing the fact that your face is plastered on the front page of every newspaper and magazine in the country

Maria Aisha: Why is that my fault?

Maxime: Your little publicity stunt? How convenient that the little boy fell and you just so happened to carry him all the way to the nurse’s office when there were other teachers there who could’ve done it

Maria Aisha: I didn’t do it for the press. I did it only to help the kid. Would you have preferred it if I just left him there?

Maxime: That would be more like you

Maria Aisha: You talk as if you know me

Maxime: I know your type

Maria Aisha: This “type” you think I am, sounds a lot more like you than me

Raphael: (groans) Why does this always happen when I’m around?

Raphael: Maxi-

Maxime: Stay out of this and leave me alone Raph. 

Maria Aisha: No please, by all means join us. Maybe you can make sense of what she’s saying

Raphael: Okay, cool it you two

Maxime: Don’t!

Raphael: MA, I think you have to be the bigger person now

Maxime: Where do you think you’re going? I’m not done talking to you!

Raphael: Calm down Maxi

Maxime: I knew you were on her side! So she got you too huh? Tell me, did she sneak into your room in the middle of the night and f-

Raphael: You’re upset Maxi and I understand that you’re jealous-

Maxime: I’m not jealous

Raphael: But there’s a line, and you’re pretty f***ing close to crossing it. 

Raphael sighs

Her Majesty, Queen Francesca I and her grandchildren: TRH Princess Jacqueline, Princess Juliette, Princess Maxime, Prince Raphael, and Princess Francine.

Author's message under the cut

Raphael: Did he die already?

Isabella: Be quiet Raphael

Magdalena: Your royal highnesses

Magdalena: I apologise for our rudeness in not receiving you properly

Isabella: Has something happened Magdalena?

Magdalena: His Grace passed away 

Isabella: Oh dear, we were too late 

Magdalena: And... we were informed that someone had come to see his Grace before he passed away

Isabella: Who?

Magdalena: Liliana

Maria: You look nice, are you going somewhere?

Liliana: Your royal highness I have something to tell you

Maria: Oh dear, it sounds serious, have a seat

Liliana: I think it’s for the best if I remain standing

Maria: Okay...

Liliana: Princess Isabella and Simon have been lying to you

Maria: What do you mean by that? And what audacity do you have to refer to my husband without his proper title?

Liliana: The audacity of a family member.

Maria: Family member?

Liliana: Over 20 years ago before your marriage to Simon, while you were still engaged to Ferdinand, a ploy was devised and you were the centre of it. 

Maria: What are you talking about?

Liliana: Your meeting Simon, his advances towards you, your affair with him. None of those things were coincidence. It was all a setup between Ferdinand and Simon to get you to free Ferdinand from the arranged marriage.

Maria: How do you know all of this?

Liliana: Ferdinand told me himself

Maria: Ferdinand is-

Liliana: Alive. And we both know it. He and his wife are living happily in Dessous with their two daughters, all thanks to you being played for a fool by their plot. And poor Princess Isabella has been busting her a** to protect you since the beginning but you’ve been so busy focusing on yourself that for the past 20 years you’ve simply been ignorant to everything around you.

Maria: What does Bella have to do with anything? She doesn’t know

Liliana: Are you sure about that?

Maria: ...What do you mean?

Liliana: She should be coming here to see you soon, why don’t you ask her?

Liliana: Farewell, your royal highness

Isabella: Ready Raph?

Raphael: Remind me where we’re going again?

Isabella: To see your great grandfather

Raphael: And remind me why we’re going to see him again?

Isabella: He’s taken a turn for the worst and the doctors say he doesn’t have much time left

Raphael: About time-

Isabella: -And as the future heir, he has a few things he’d like to discuss with you

Raphael (sighs): Okay

Butler: Who are you?

???: I’m here to visit the Duke, my great-grandfather

Butler: Oh, excuse me your highness. Right this way

???: ...Thank you

Duke Vitali: Who’s there?

???: It’s me great grandfather

Duke Vitali: Oh? Which one of my princesses is this?

Liliana: Oh please, you’re not so important that those royals would come all the way here to see you

Duke Vitali: ...L-Liliana

Liliana: Please don’t try to move. I’d hate for you to croak before I finish what I have to say.

Duke Vitali: Why have you come?

Liliana: Straight to the point huh? Okay then, I’ll speak, you listen. How does that sound?

Liliana: You know, it breaks my heart seeing you like this. It breaks my heart that you’re going to die before you watch me get my revenge on you and that bloody royal family you envy so much. I was hoping you’d die of shock after watching the news but it looks like that won’t happen

Liliana: But then I realised, if you just died before I got my revenge, there would be a hole left in my heart. So I decided to come and kill you myself.

Duke Vitali: Is someone-!

Liliana: Shh... I know the truth. I know that the reason Uncle Ferdinand married Princess Maria was because you forced him to. You threatened to get rid of Hannah the way you got rid of my mother. You were so happy when they got married but then he died.

Liliana: Well here’s some fun information for you; Ferdinand is alive. He’s living in Dessous right now with his wife, Hannah and their two daughters. But you didn’t know that. And your Plan B was to use Simon as your safety net to power but guess what? I’m going to get rid of him too. You’ll have no one left to grasp on to. 

Liliana: The Vitali family will crash and burn and it’ll be all your fault

Duke Vitali: My biggest regret in this life is allowing you to live the moment I found out your whore of a mother had given birth to you. You’re a demon. 

Liliana: And I’ve come to steal, kill and destroy. It’s sad that you won’t be alive to witness my masterpiece but you’ll get a front row seat from hell