On November 10, Henry and his family arrived at a manor outside Paris, where Charles VII was waiting.
From Charles VII's perspective, this was undoubtedly a pivotal moment in his life.
Thirty years earlier, Charles had fled to southern France and struggled to survive, then miraculously reclaimed the lands he had lost.
Now Charles had captured Henry VI and won a complete victory over England. Looking back, it all seemed like a dream.
Under his expectant gaze, the convoy stopped in front of the manor house, and a Frankish knight opened the carriage door.
A moment later, the knight pulled a bewildered Henry out of the carriage. Dressed simply in black from head to toe, he looked like an ordinary townsman.
Charles VII walked over to greet him.
"Henry, when you were ten years old, back in 1431, you came from London to Paris and were crowned King of France in a church. Now that you've returned, does the scenery look familiar?"
Henry showed no reaction to those deeply provocative words. He stared blankly at Charles VII, who wore a red velvet robe and a crown. His eyes held neither sorrow nor fear, only a numbness bordering on utter emptiness.
Just then, Queen Margaret stepped out of the carriage with her child in her arms. Still dressed as a queen, she reminded Charles VII:
"Your Majesty, Henry is a sick man who has lost his reason. He has no idea what you're saying. However much you say, you're only wasting everyone's time. If you truly hate us, have the executioner cut off our heads."
Margaret had spent nine years in England. Her husband's madness flared up from time to time, forcing her to handle affairs of state. On one side, she had to endure the people's resentment; on the other,