Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 250: Violet: No Room for Error

18 March, 1348. Magdaline Castle, Islia.

Violet’s jaw dropped as the imposing structure that was Magdaline Castle, came into view. Her back ached from riding for hours inside a bumpy carriage and her neck was sore from peeping out from behind the dusty velvet curtain periodically. But they were finally - finally! - able to feast their eyes upon the magnificent castle.

It looked more like a small city than a castle, with its numerous towers and spires built from a rosy hued stone.

"Oh my lord, Vy!" Ilse whispered in awe. "Could you ever have imagined something so enormous? How will we feel at home in such a castle? How will we even find our room without getting lost?"

The girls squeezed hands in terror and excitement as their carriage rattled towards the main entry gates. As the massive gates slowly swung open for them, they found themselves within a vast courtyard. Swarms of people moved around them in all directions, some dressed in servants’ tunics, others in opulent fabrics decorated with gems.

Violet’s attention was caught by two young women who swept by them, both wearing gowns with pearl encrusted bodices. Violet wondered who they were, where they got the money for such stunning clothes. Were they the daughters of dukes too? Had they also been sent to court by ambitious families because they knew there was a prince looking for a bride?

Ilse stumbled out of the carriage after Violet and smoothed down the front of her travelling dress self consciously as she looked around. Like Violet, she was dusty and tired after the long journey. The gowns that had seemed so pretty when they’d donned them, were now creased and looked rather plain in comparison to what the other ladies wore.

"What if they all laugh at us, Vy? Everyone else here looks so grand." Ilse whispered nervously.

"Well, we won’t let them!" was Violet’s stout reply. "We’re nobility too, daughters from an ancient duchy. And we have each other. If no one separates us, we can endure anything."

Ilse smiled softly and linked her arm through her sister’s.

A few moments later they were approached by a pair of maids, who introduced themselves politely and indicated the twins should follow them into the castle.

Still arm in arm, the sisters followed them through a number of corridors, halls and galleries. Violet quickly forgot the direction of the entry. After what felt like a very long time, the maids indicated a door.

"This is the bedchamber the two of you will share, my ladies." said the elder maid, whose name was Mary. "We’re in the west wing, where the court’s unwed ladies-in-waiting have their rooms. Most of Her Majesty’s ladies share a large dormitory just down the corridor, but a separate room has been provided for the two of you, as daughters of the Duke of Orravalo."

Violet gave Ilse a little grin as they stepped into the room to look around. It wasn’t a large room and somewhat dark, having only a single high window. But it looked comfortable enough and was definitely an improvement over their room at Thierre Manor.

"We’ll show you where the nearest privies are and where you can fetch buckets of water for washing." Mary continued. "Your trunks will be delivered to your room shortly and when they are, you’ll need to tidy up and make yourselves presentable. You’ll be meeting Her Majesty this afternoon. She insists on being presented to all her new ladies. Given your noble rank, she has invited you to take sweets and refreshments with her in the Belleview Pavilion."

The sisters nodded quickly, knowing they had to make sure they looked impeccable for meeting their queen. When they were shown the nearest well to draw water from, they lugged full buckets back to their room and used the water to scrub every speck of dust off themselves. They then pored over what dresses to wear, pulling them out of the trunks and laying them out on the bed.

Once dressed, the twins took turns combing and braiding each other’s hair. Violet couldn’t resist shifting her weight impatiently from foot to foot as a laughing Ilse finished her braids. Her sister then placed a gauze veil over her braids and fixed it in place with a circlet made from stiffened silver lace. "All done, Vy. You’re ready, despite all your nonstop squirming!"

Violet stepped back and looked over Ilse with a careful eye. There was no mirror in their room so they could only rely on each other’s opinions.

"You look like a proper lady, Ilse." she said honestly.

"So do you, Vy. Your dress matches your eyes perfectly. Let’s go and impress the queen."

- - -

Mary returned to show the sisters the way to where the queen was. According to the maid, Her Majesty was taking in the early spring air in the gardens, surrounded by her children.

How odd odd, Violet thought. Lord and Lady Thierre had never sought much time with their children. Maybe the queen was eccentric.

The sisters were lead to a pretty, vine covered pavilion where there was a daybed, various armchairs and a table covered in bowls full of succulent fruit. On the daybed, lounged a plump cheeked woman of perhaps forty summers, in a tawny coloured gown. Her dress was magnificent and so were her jewels, but to Violet’s critical eyes, Queen Celia of Islia was a very ordinary looking woman. Then again, her gaze seemed kind enough.

Rising from the day bed, the queen extended her hand for each sister to bow over and kiss in a show of fealty and servitude. "I’m pleased to welcome you both into my service. I hope you’ll enjoy your roles and learn from my established ladies." Her voice was low and warm.

Both girls nodded obediently and bowed again as the queen began introducing the young men around her.

"This is Leo, my eldest." she said proudly, moving to stand behind a chair where a richly dressed young man was sprawled, long legs stretched out. The prince quickly scanned the sisters with a shrewd glance, gave them both a disinterested nod and continued snacking on a bunch of grapes.