As I took a walk, I aimed to clear my mind. Unfortunately, Marguerite de Valois encountered me, and I was not inclined to indulge her fanciful whims, particularly when she mentioned marriage. The Catholic League was already threatening to skin my brother, the cardinal, and burn him alive if I refused to wed her, and now she sought to pressure me as well?

I suppose a man in my position must endure such dilemmas. It’s akin to a rite of passage, and just like the battles I have faced on the front lines, I will prevail in this matter. Just as I do with everything else.

“You need to dismiss that thought immediately. Do you understand?" I caution her with a serious whisper as I step in front of her. My gaze is unwavering, clearly making her uneasy. "It’s not safe for you to be this close to me."

“Of course it is," Margot's voice quivers as she attempts to reassure herself more than me. She even reaches out to touch me, as if I would provide her with some form of comfort.

“You have no idea who I am, do you?" I inquire as I gently remove her hands from me. I could see the illusion she had created for us begin to shatter in her eyes. "You see, little girl, I initiated all of this." I confess as we teeter on the brink of a civil war between Catholics and Protestants. "I set that church ablaze to ignite all of France, and it succeeded, because that’s the kind of man I am. Do you comprehend?"

I observe as Margot starts to grasp the weight of my words, her eyes welling with tears. "You deceived me," she whispers, affirming her confusion.

“Of course I deceived you." I feel no remorse. Not a shred of pity for her. "I enjoyed your fantasy of me, so I chose to indulge it, but now your innocence is dangerously close to foolishness to be endearing. So do us both a favor and keep the fuck away from me. Do you understand, little girl?" As I walk away, I faintly hear her sobbing plea, 'Please don’t call me that.'