When Henri challenged Le Roi to wrestle.

Shifty eyes. Don’t tell anyone but he’s drinking a Belgian cidre.

⚜️ Roi François Ier ⚜️ Éléonore allowed herself to be ensnared, falling back onto his lap and close to his chest with little effort on his part. "What do you mean 'nOt yEt aNyWay?" She challenged with an edge to her tone that didn't match the amusement in her eyes. "What, now? What do you want?" She —

⚜️ Roi François Ier ⚜️ curled her fingers into fists to keep them from running through his hair. "Speak."

He grumbled something under his breath that sounded like Valois bovine eyes.

Merde. That woman just oozes Imperial regality. The smirk made him feel things he shouldn’t. “Did I offer a challenge that you are uncertain about tackling?” He shot back. “I never dreamt that you wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to showcase your impeccable taste.” He sniffed.

Irritated. Annoyed. I can command many things but I can’t control a chariot that breaks an axle and a deluge from a storm.

“It was an olive branch given with sincerity. May Day is an important celebration and if I wanted a cerebral reading session then I would ask Marguerite.” He rubbed his right brow. “I was the one doing the planning. What pray tell honour do you seek in order not to be invisible?”

Sacrè Bleu! Don’t speak his name. He might appear and that means Diane is in tow. Rather host Madame’s entire family then sup with those two.

I see... ( Carefully files this information away in case it's needed to torture him in the future. ) I take things have not improved between you two.

Blink blink blink. “When you put it like that, perhaps not.”

Things have never been better. We haven’t seen each other in several years so that means we are getting along perfectly.

Perhaps the top five?

I do too but there’s always the anchor aka Diane. I am really quite proud of him. I just don’t know how to reach him. Alas. The Dauphin, Charlie, Madeleine and Marguerite are well. Caterina struggles mightily poor thing.

“This sounds suspiciously like a trap.” He eyed her for a long beat, wondering if she had the princesses in mind. “Fine. As you wish but make sure this person knows the music must be extraordinary.”

#OTD 19th April 1558 Mary, Queen of Scots and François, the Dauphin of France, were formally betrothed In the Great Hall of Louvre Palace. #MaryQueenofScots #MaryStuart #QueenofScots #Stuarts #FrançoisDauphinofFrance #ValoisAngoulême #Scotland #France #History

“I understand Monsieur Henri is having a wretched month. We want to compound that with celebrations far exceeding his. Let’s make it far worse time for him. Therefore, the budget is unlimited.” Merde. Hope he doesn’t regret this. 😱

A look that was a combination of both smile and frown flashed across his face briefly. “Marguerite is sturdy as ever but I am concerned about Madeleine. She is always delicate but she really struggled this winter it seemed like with one ague after another. Doctors are vexed.”

Mood is melancholy.

Where’s the court jesters?