***“I’m not going to do it. » Caroline repeated, slamming her cup. “Think about it, Lulu.” Philip pleaded. “Why don’t you understand, Philippe? It might as well be his last wish, that I stay in my home country. » “You already have so many problems. They're looking for the gold thief! If you don't leave France, they will kill you. » “Just give me another drink, Philippe. » He let out a defeated sigh and turned to take the bottle. These were the days that Caroline loved the most. It was hot but gloomy, with fresh rain falling at short intervals. There weren't many people outside; only the occasional peddler or trader who couldn't afford to miss a day of work. She remembered being so poor once. But then she resorted to stealing. She felt no remorse. So she had stolen a few hundred... thousand dollars worth of merchandise and killed a few dozen guards. Does it really matter? It was kill or die on the streets of Strasbourg, especially when the Great Plague had arrived. She had been close to death more times than she cared to remember. Caroline unconsciously ran her fingers along the scar that ran almost directly across her left eyebrow. Caroline suddenly heard the faint sounds of hooves. Philippe heard them too. “Run, Caroline!” Philippe whistled. “I can’t leave you here, Philippe!” Caroline exclaimed. “If they know I’m here, they’ll kill you!” » She knew he would never dream of telling anyone about her. Philippe's black eyes shone. “You underestimate me, my dear.” Lulu smiled and stood up so quickly that she almost knocked over her stool. She couldn't run. If she could hear them, then they could hear her. At the moment when she was on a roof, she could hear Philippe's voice, soft and calm, ...... in the middle of a paper ......ro. The Archduke had the courage to say it. “If you hadn’t done all that, we wouldn’t have needed to find her.” “How can you do that?” Caroline mumbled. “She was your wife.” “Just tell us who dragged you into this, Caro.” » begged the archduke. “Tell us and we’ll let you go.” Caroline sighed. Then she started to laugh. Within moments, she doubled over and laughed. “What’s so funny?!” The Archduke bellowed. Caroline managed to pull herself together. She would never abandon Philippe. He was the father she never had. “I got into this myself, father.” » Caroline said kindly. “What are you going to do about it?” » The Archduke sighed – perhaps with a hint of real remorse for what he was doing – and turned to the guards. “Send her to the gallows.” As she was dragged away, Caroline smiled to herself. She would rather die than give up what little love she had.