Barthelemy Beaumont

Barthelemy, a character in The Royal Romance and The Royal Heir series, is Bertrand and Maxwell Beaumont's father. Although he is first mentioned in The Royal Romance, Book 1, Chapter 15, he is first seen in The Royal Heir, Book 1, Chapter 10.

Appearance
Barthelemy has gray eyes, gray-brown short hair, and tan skin. He is clean-shaven and wears a gray dress shirt, dark gray tie, camel brown sweater vest, and dark blue blazer.

Personality
Barthelemy appears cordial but aloof. According to Bertrand, Barthelemy has a habit of taking over wherever he goes. He is a private individual, wary of others prying into his business, yet savvy and shrewd. Glen (the groundskeeper at his hidden lodge) says Barthelemy is clever, composed under pressure, and driven with a dark side under his facade. He is a man who will stop at nothing to reach his goals, ruthless in his tenacity, and capable of sacrificing anything or anyone to achieve his ends. He is also manipulative, plays on people's fears, and makes empty promises. He values power over loyalty and ambition over family.

He is afraid of crows. He believes crows are the harbingers of death and destruction, bringing plague and ruin wherever they go.

Background
Throughout The Royal Romance series, it was alluded that Barthelemy had passed away. Bertrand and Maxwell spoke about him in the past tense, and since Bertrand had to take over as the Duke of Ramsford, everyone assumed that Barthelemy had died. In The Royal Heir, Book 1, it is discovered that he did not die but was in a coma for a very long time, which drained Ramsford's resources. According to Maxwell, eventually the doctors couldn't do much for him except keep him breathing.

In The Royal Heir, Book 3, it is revealed that Barthelemy faked his illness. He had been staying in a hunting lodge, purchased by a shell corporation decades ago, found a physician (out of many who declined to take part in the deceit) who would corroborate his "illness", and traveled under different aliases to meet with others privately. Although Godfrey had visited in the past and had a key to the private room in the lodge, he had left Cordonia shortly after Queen Eleanor's death, leaving Barthelemy to continue their plans without him.

Book 1

 * Chapter 15: The Brothers Beaumont (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 19: Long Live the King (Mentioned; Determinant)

Book 2

 * Chapter 3: Return to Applewood (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 4: Flirting with Disaster (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 5: International Impressions (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 8: City of Lights (Mentioned; Determinant)

Book 3

 * Chapter 8: Artistic License (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 10: A Matter of Honor (Mentioned; Determinant)

Book 1

 * Chapter 10: The Beaumont Bachelor Bash
 * Chapter 11: The Prodigal Father
 * Chapter 12: To Love and to Cherish
 * Chapter 13: Spreading the Word
 * Chapter 14: The Announcement
 * Chapter 15: Apple in the Oven
 * Chapter 16: Great Expectations
 * Chapter 17: Hot Off the Press
 * Chapter 18: The Last Apple Ball
 * Chapter 19: Truth and Lies

Book 2

 * Chapter 3: Welcome to the World
 * Chapter 4: The Royal Tour
 * Chapter 5: Her Royal Highness
 * Chapter 11: Escape to LA (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 12: The Show Must Go On
 * Chapter 13: How Do You Like Them Apples?
 * Chapter 14: Battle Lines
 * Chapter 18: The Beginning of the End
 * Chapter 19: To Betroth, or Not To Betroth
 * Chapter 20: Freeze This Moment

Book 3

 * Chapter 1: Changes
 * Chapter 2: Making Waves
 * Chapter 3: Forever Hold Your Peace
 * Chapter 4: Seeds of Conflict (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 5: Crossing the Finish Line (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 6: The Princess and the Plea (Mentioned; Physical Appearance Determinant)
 * Chapter 7: Ill Will Hunting (Mentioned; Physical Appearance Determinant)
 * Chapter 8: Snow and Stone
 * Chapter 9: The Barthelemy Beaumont Bash
 * Chapter 10: A Fox in the Henhouse
 * Chapter 11: The Apparent Trap
 * Chapter 12: The Deciding Vote
 * Chapter 13: The Way Out
 * Chapter 14: Upping the Ante
 * Chapter 15: The Enemy of My Enemy
 * Chapter 16: Devil in the Details (Mentioned; Physical Appearance Determinant)

Bertrand Beaumont
Bertrand is Barthelemy's older son. According to Drake Walker, Barthelemy was used to winning, and instilled the sense of pride, duty, and reputation mostly to his heir, Bertrand. It made Drake feel almost-sorry for what Bertrand went through.

In The Royal Heir, Book 1, when Barthelemy arrives at the Walker Ranch for Bertrand and Savannah's wedding, Bertrand is surprised. He tells you and his friends that he doesn't know how he feels and that things are more complicated than they seem. He remembers his father differently than Maxwell because Maxwell was much younger when Barthelemy was around, and Maxwell was not as perceptive to the situations around him. While Maxwell thought Barthelemy gave them freedom to do what they wanted, Bertrand believes their father didn't care much what they did after their mother passed away. Barthelemy only showed up to tell them when they did something wrong. Bertrand says Barthelemy may have been serious about House Beaumont's reputation but he was not always a paragon of responsibility himself; Barthelemy wanted his sons to be perfect but he was not the perfect father. Barthelemy expected more from his sons than he was willing to do himself.

In The Royal Heir, Book 2, Barthelemy keeps volunteering to help Bertrand and Maxwell suggests that Bertrand take their father's help. Bertrand first argues that Barthelemy is the reason that House Beaumont's finances are in such a mess to begin with. Eventually though, Bertrand concedes and accepts Barthelemy's help in order to spend more time with Savannah and Bartie. In Chapter 13, Bertrand says that he successfully handed over management of Ramsford's finances to Barthelemy.

Savannah Walker Beaumont
Savannah becomes Barthelemy's daughter-in-law in The Royal Heir, Book 1, Chapter 12. In Chapter 11, he tries to insert himself into her life, insisting on walking her down the aisle and taking over the menu at the rehearsal dinner. It takes Bertrand to put his foot down on her behalf to make his father step back.

Bartie Beaumont
Bartie is Barthelemy's grandson. Savannah named him after Barthelemy and her own father, the late Jackson Walker.

Maxwell Beaumont
Maxwell is Barthelemy's younger son. It is mentioned they didn't have a close relationship. Barthelemy always criticized Maxwell for being overweight as a child. When Barthelemy arrives at the Walker Ranch for Bertrand and Savannah's wedding, Maxwell is ecstatic. He knows he was a screw-up when he was a child and now he wants his father to see how much he has grown and to be proud of him.

Despite the time spent apart, Barthelemy still remembers Maxwell's idiosyncrasies. He knows Maxwell is only quiet when he has too many words to get out at once.

Your Character
No matter whether you become his daughter-in-law by marrying Maxwell, Duchess of Valtoria, and/or Queen of Cordonia, he prides himself on the fact that his sons sponsored you and that you've proven yourself. If you do not choose to welcome him with open arms, he is taken aback. In Chapter 14, after you and your spouse make an announcement of your pregnancy to the press in Cordonia, he makes his appearance to the surprise of the reporters and takes their attention away from you.

If Maxwell is your spouse, in Chapter 16, he offers you the chance to purchase a premium mobile for your nursery.

In Book 2, Chapter 20, he revives the Great Houses through the Conventus Nobilis, claiming that he must for the security of the realm. He cites the alliance and near-war with Auvernal as the downfall of King "Liam"'s reign and asks that the Great Houses vote to remove "Liam" from power and that you and your spouse resign custody of the heir to him. In Book 3, Chapter 1, "Liam" tells him that because he is missing House Nevrakis's vote, the motion fails and he cannot claim the right to be Regent nor can he claim custody of your daughter. Barthelemy counters that another vote will take place in a few months where only a majority vote is needed.

Annabelle
Annabelle was Barthelemy's wife who passed away when Maxwell was a child. If asked for marriage advice in The Royal Romance, Book 3, Chapter 18, if Maxwell is not your fiance, Maxwell will say that his mother could make Barthelemy laugh until he cried.

Constantine
In the past, Barthelemy was one of Constantine Rys's trusted friends and vassals.

Godfrey
Godfrey and Barthelemy used to be best friends and worked together to help Constantine's reign. They used to go hunting together, although Madeleine doesn't remember her father bringing home much game. In the past, Barthelemy conferred with Godfrey about convincing King Constantine of their plans. Bertrand remembers Godfrey being around all the time, spending hours with Barthelemy in the study. Bertrand had overheard them speaking about having King Constantine sign papers but they were unsuccessful because Queen Eleanor persuaded the king to take more time to 'consider the risks'. After Queen Eleanor's death, the two had a falling out when Godfrey left for England indefinitely and Barthelemy felt the other had abandoned him.

"What good is power if we're dead?"

- Godfrey to Barthelemy

According to Godfrey's journals, Barthelemy tried to convince him to stay in Cordonia, saying that if he leaves, he'll be throwing away the opportunity of a lifetime. However, Godfrey did not want to risk his life to anger Constantine further. If you have the key to Barthelemy's private room in his lodge, Glen tells you that no one has had a copy of the key for a long time, inferring that Godfrey may have been the last to hold it.

Olivia Nevrakis
Because Barthelemy can't win Olivia's vote in the Conventus Nobilis, he tries to undermine her leadership in Lythikos by stirring the Lythikans against the Crown and Cordonia. He promises to give them independence and sovereignty, something that no other leader has promised them before. However, King "Liam" says that Lythikos relies on the subsidized food imports from the rest of the kingdom, and it would be too expensive for them to be self-sufficient and independent. Olivia takes offense to that, but "Liam" points out that "strength" does not equal food. You have the chance to prove to Olivia that Barthelemy is wrong and she will stand with you in front of her people. If you are unsuccessful though, the Lythikans are unimpressed by you.

Kiara Theron
Before the vote in the Conventus Nobilis, Barthelemy promises Kiara that if she votes for him, he will only be your daughter's guardian in name only, that he will leave your daughter in your and your spouse's custody, and that he only wants to be the Crown Regent to guide Cordonia to a better, more prosperous future and to be a better leader than King "Liam" (and you, if you are Queen).

In Book 3, Chapter 9, if you decide to snoop around Barthelemy's office with your spouse, you discover that he had re-scheduled Hidar's Auto Expo to take place on the same day as House Theron's Flower Festival. As Kiara originally believed, the Auto Expo was scheduled for the following day, but he purposely changed the day to cause commotion in an effort to undermine your attempts to win Kiara's vote.

Trivia

 * The surname Beaumont is of French origin and means "beautiful mountain".
 * In Book 3, Chapter 9, if you snoop around his office with your spouse, you discover that Barthelemy is afraid of crows.
 * In Book 3, Chapter 14, it is revealed that he is the one who planned and ordered Queen Eleanor's murder.
 * His crimes include murder, treason, blackmail and kidnapping.