Earning the Love of a Princess

"Does Johan have to go alone?" Violet asked after a while. "Is there no way you can go with him as well and be part of the negotiations?" 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Her husband threw her a disbelieving look. "How exactly would that work, wife? You know very well it wouldn’t."

Even she had to admit it was impossible. The possibility of uncle and nephew coming to blows on the journey to Moraigth was despressingly high. Both men would be determined to lead. Hell, they’d likely be at each other’s throats before they’d even travelled together for a day.

"Besides," Leo grumbled. "Johan said he plans to take his own son along to the north."

"Why? What good will taking a child do?"

"Who knows? Father didn’t seem opposed to it though." he sighed. "He even said it would be good for Will to gain some exposure to treating with foreign courts. The silly lad won’t do anything, of course. He’ll only be expected to follow Johan in silence like a lapdog."

Leo eventually stopped pacing and sat down heavily on the bed. "What you said before...I should offer my father something Johan can’t, right?"

She nodded.

"Then I have an idea!" he snapped his fingers together after a few moments. "What is the most common way to create ties between two countries in conflict?"

"A marriage treaty, of course."

"Exactly." Leo grinned. "That’s what I can offer Kenneth that Johan can’t."

Violet frowned. "I’m not following you."

"Johan has no daughters, does he? Whereas we do. If Father sends me north, I can pledge Celia in a betrothal to a prince from the House of Stephenson."

Violet sat silently for a moment, sure she must’ve heard wrong. "You mean our Celia? Our little girl who’s barely four years old? To marry a Moraigthian?"

Leo’s grin faded as he saw his wife’s furious face. "You’re not fond of the idea?"

"Of course not!" she hollered. "Our daughter will never marry one of those horrid pagans! I can’t believe you thought of it in the first place!"

"Why not, Violet? Celia’s a valuable prize in the marriage market. As the daughter of Islia’s next monarch, she’ll need to marry into royalty."

"But not barbarian royalty! I’d rather die first. Even you refer to them as mongrel dogs!" Violet pictured her sweet faced little girl being pledged to a northerner and cringed. "Besides, King Kenneth has no sons. He has no children, actually. So who is Celia supposed to marry?"

"Well, I thought she could be pledged to Kenneth’s future eldest son, assuming his wife can give him a boy. Our daughter would be a queen." Leo grumbled. "And if Kenneth never gets a boy, then Celia stays here and you don’t have to worry about her marrying a pagan."

"I don’t care. I won’t risk my daughter and make her a sacrificial lamb. Think of something else to offer the king." Violet replied flatly. "What about if we look at the idea of a betrothal but from the opposite direction? Can we pledge an Islian prince to Kenneth’s future eldest daughter? Rufus is unmarried. So is Tom."

"It won’t work."

"Why not?"

"Because Rufus is almost eighteen years old, despite him still acting like a spoiled child." Leo said. "Even if Kenneth’s queen had a daughter tomorrow, Mother and Father won’t be happy for either of their sons to have to wait a dozen years before his betrothed is old enough to wed and bed."

Violet’s shoulders slumped as she saw the logic in his words.

"Besides, Kenneth would never see the value in any marriage being negotiated for a mere daughter of his. It doesn’t secure the line of his succession and it leaves him with a dowry to pay."

Violet chewed her lower lip as she racked her mind for other ideas. How to convince King Edward that this important diplomatic role should fall on Leo’s shoulders? Not just because he was the heir, but because someone - anyone - really needed to bring Prince Johan down a step or two.

She nursed a burning dislike in her heart for the king’s powerful brother. She’d never forgiven him for the heartless words he’d said to her about Ilse’s death. And that he’d said them on Violet’s wedding day, no less.

She’d rejoice at seeing Johan humbled a little.

- - -

Five days later, a distinguished royal delegation set out from Magdaline Castle and started the journey north. The group were expected to reach the Moraigthian royal court at Port Canfirth in four days’ time. Delicate negotiations between the two ruling houses would then follow.

Leo was not entrusted to lead the delegation. Johan was.

Violet watched from one of the second floor galleries as the procession of opulently dressed men cantered away from the castle on sleek horses. She could see the king’s brother riding proudly at the head, his golden hair catching the morning light.

Leo was beside himself with rage.

He’d argued his case with his father until the bitter end, the two men raising their voices at each other several times.

King Edward’s mind had proved impossible to change.

Johan on the other hand, hadn’t said a word in his own defence. He’d simply watched quietly as his brother and his nephew’s quarrels grew more explosive as the days wore on.

There was always a faint smile on his face, as if he was utterly sure his role was assured and that Leo’s resistance was futile. As if he knew his own success was in no doubt.

During one particularly heated shouting match in the king’s presence chamber, Johan had caught Violet glaring at him. He’d simply winked at her and smiled.

Violet had bristled with outrage. How dare he wink at her like that, as if he was so sure he was right?

Of course he was right. About the delegation and about a great many other things, that cruel bastard was always right, wasn’t he?

Lord knew, she hated him for that.

- - -

The July days kept languidly slipping by and the court was its usual frenzy of summertime picnics and outings. Violet didn’t take part in much though, preferring to spend as much time as possible with her children instead.

She spent her days picnicking and frolicking with them instead, watching their plump little legs as they ran through the gardens and as the two older ones splashed in one of the fountains.

She knew the courtiers were still happily chattering about the arguments between king and crown prince over the whole Moraigth debacle. Frankly, she didn’t feel the need to subject herself to their mocking stares or worse, to pitying ones. The innocent smiles of her children were all she needed to fill her days.

Violet was also steering well clear of her husband, who had been in a foul mood for days. She knew there was no point trying to talk him out of it. She just had to wait for his anger to gradually burn itself out. At least he hadn’t lost his temper in front of the children again.

It was only at dinners in the banquet hall that she was subjected to dozens of eyes following her every movement and expression. Her arm threaded through her husband’s, Violet made a point of holding her head very high, as if she’d already forgotten such a trifling setback.

Unfortunately, Leo’s face refused to cooperate.

"Dammit, husband. Smile!" she hissed under her breath one night, her own smile holding firm. "You walking around with a face like thunder at every dinner isn’t going to change things. It just creates gossip fodder."

Leo glowered. "What the fuck do you want me to do? Smile even though Father has made it abundantly clear to everyone that my brute of an uncle is his trusted right hand, instead of me?"

"Be patient. Your time will come."

"When? When I’m a bent old man, too grey and feeble to enjoy it?"

Even Violet had to roll her eyes. "Oh, stop it. Don’t act like your life is devoid of enjoyment and privilege. We both know that’s untrue."

Leo looked unconvinced and remained slumped in his seat at the high table. Crossing his arms like a pouting boy, Leo glared at Johan’s empty chair further down the table.

"Whatever your uncle has now, he’ll never have the title of the king’s eldest son. He’ll never be Crown Prince of Islia." She tried to soothe him. "Your chance will come, husband. And when it does and the crown is firmly on your head, you can banish your uncle to his most remote estate."

A hint of a smile appeared on Leo’s face when she mentioned banishment.

In the weeks and months ahead, Violet would often look back on that night and remember her husband’s brooding face with a wry smile of her own. Little did they know, Fortuna was about to deal their lives an unexpected twist.

Leo’s time at his father’s right hand would come far sooner than either of them expected.