6 November, MD Anno Domini

Anne wept with tears of joy as she heard the child cry for the first time. She grabbed the statuette of Margaret of Antioch that had been placed next to her and kissed it gently.

“Your Majesty, it is a boy,” the midwife proclaimed as she raised the baby slightly so that Anne and Louis may view him.

Louis grasped Anne’s hand tightly as they smiled at each other. An heir, a Dauphin of France. A successor to both Louis and Anne in their perspective realms. Anne had felt confident about this pregnancy, and it went smoothly. Anne suffered no ill health before or during the birth and was truly relieved about the circumstances.

“The succession is safe, you are safe,” Louis comforted Anne.

“Louis, our son is going to be a great man. I can feel it. God is telling me this. He will be King after you and he will lead France to do great things.”

“I think you are right, my love,” Louis said as he bent down to kiss Anne’s forehead, caressing her head gently.

“What shall we name him?” Anne inquired of her husband.

Louis, without seemingly hesitating for one second, said “Philippe. He is Philippe.”

Anne nodded. “Philippe.”

The midwife handed Anne the babe, who she cradled carefully in her arms. Louis petted the infant’s forehead, feeling the warmth of life and the soul emanating from the babe’s body. Philippe was now home.