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Louis slammed the papers down onto the table.
“Bontemps, what is the meaning of this!? Why does is there an order of thirty thousand francs for cake!?”
“Sire, I believe this would be best discussed with your brother.” Bontemps replied, perfectly calm despite the anger of the man in front of him.
“And why is that!?” his Majesty demanded, glaring at his ever-faithful valet.
“Because he ordered it, sire.”
Promptly, the brother in question woke with a start as the furious King stormed into his chambers.
“Well this is an unexpected wake-up call.” muttered Philippe as he slowly sat up.
“Well I had an unexpected bill of thirty thousand francs!” Louis raged. “Why brother, in the name of all that is holy, have you spent so much? And on cake, no less!”
“Because I have a wedding to plan” Monsieur replied matter-of-factly. “And brother, you simply have not seen the cake.”
“As you said before when you spent fifty thousand on shoes!” the King sighed deeply, pinching his forehead between his fingers. “Would you, for once, exercise just one shred of control with what is still my money?”
The duke only laughed lightly, shaking his head. “The money is mine once I receive it, and I can spend it however I wish.” he argued. “Did you not spend extravagantly when you were getting married?”
“Yes, I did,” began Louis “but, brother - and this is where we differ greatly - I did not wear a dress, nor did I spend almost two hundred thousand francs on it!”
“You have said it yourself, brother, perception is everything.” Philippe reasoned. “How can I expect to be taken seriously at my wedding if I do not have the perfect dress?”
“It may have escaped your notice” threatened Louis, now looking directly at his brother as he stood by the bed. “But I still have control over your allowance. Just one word to Bontemps would ensure that you have nothing at all to finance this wedding, or anything else you may desire.”
“You would not dare” the Duke replied as he rose, shocked and enraged in equal measure.
“Oh, would I not?” asked Louis with a smirk, as he turned and left the room.
The Chevalier returned within an hour to find half their possessions on the floor, and his lover in hysterical tears in the middle of the chaos.
"Louis again?" he sighed, as he scooped Philippe into his arms.
The small nod made the Chevalier very determined to set things right.