Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 306: Violet: My Generosity

Leo groaned audibly, tipping his head back to face the ceiling.

"Without delay? But husband! We’re not talking about the marriage of some minor princeling. We’re talking about the future King of Islia!" Queen Celia wailed, her face both angry and panicked. "How will we ever be able to organise a suitably grand event?"

"A simple ceremony will do, won’t it?" The king flicked a dismissive hand. "I doubt the bride and groom care much. It’s not exactly a love match, is it?"

"No!" bellowed his wife, temper finally getting the better of her. "I won’t have some insignificant little ceremony rushed through! My son will be married with all the pomp and ceremony that everyone expects. Not just our subjects but also the foreign courts! We can’t have other countries doubting the wealth and might of Islia, can we?"

King Edward snorted. "And how long do you expect all that to take to arrange?"

"Perhaps by the end of winter-"

"Impossible." The king’s rejection was as sudden as it was harsh. "If we’re trying to avoid scandal then we should avoid sending the bride down the aisle with a visible belly, don’t you think?"

The queen looked like she was about to weep again. The king sighed when he looked at her. "One month, then. They can be married in one month exactly. That should give you enough time to arrange something appropriate, correct?"

Queen Celia gave a tiny nod, partly mollified. "It will still need an enormous amount of work. But I think it can be done."

"Very well then, it’s agreed. The wedding will be on the sixth day of December. It can be announced to the court at dinner tonight and I’ll have one of my clerks start drafting up the records."

"That shouldn’t take him long at all. It’s not like we have a grand dowry to negotiate. The girl comes to us with only the cheap clothes on her back." the queen muttered.

Violet had no choice but to swallow the insult in silence.

Next to her, she saw her parents all but leap from their seats with joy. Lord Thierre bowed deeply to the king and queen.

"Your Majesties, my wife and I are most grateful for your mercy and your wise decision to help our daughter-"

"I’m not doing this to help her, my dear Duke." King Edward snapped. "Let me make that very clear. I’m only doing it to secure my dynasty’s future and protect my careless son’s image."

Lord Thierre quickly stepped back, looking more subdued.

Violet hoped that would be the end of her parents’ overexcited, embarrassing behaviour but it wasn’t. To her dismay, Lady Theire stepped forward in her shabby, fur trimmed gown.

"Your Majesties, it’s an honour to know our families will be united in this way. While we remain at court until the wedding, I’d like to send for our son to join us here, if you please. Abel is the best of young men and he’d benefit so much-"

"What?" The king stared at the duchess as if she’d suggested gutting an animal and painting her own face with its entrails. "You’ll do no such thing. You and your husband will leave today and be summoned to court the day before the wedding. Until then, you’re to remain in Orravalo."

Lady Thierre gaped with shock. "But Your Majesty! My daughter will need me at her side for guidance during the next few weeks of preparation here! In fact, it’s customary for the bride’s family-"

"Do you presume to tell your king what the customs of his own country are, Lady Thierre?"

"Oh no, Sire!" Lady Thierre backtracked hastily.

"I thought not. Because we’ve already agreed to welcome your daughter into our family. Your unchaste, impure daughter that brings us neither prestige nor a dowry." King Edward’s voice dropped to a quiet yet terrifying growl. "Yet we will still take her. That is a generous offer, Lady Thierre. I suggest you accept it and don’t push the limits of my generosity any further."

Lady Thierre gulped audibly. There were clearly no more gains to be made from the king.

"Let us make arrangements then." King Edward turned his shrewd gaze back to Violet. "Given there’s only weeks until the wedding, you’ll stay here with us until then. There’s no point sending you back to that godforsaken home of yours when you have so much to learn. You alone will remain at court, understood?"

Violet quickly nodded. It was a mercy to know she wouldn’t be forced to spend another day in her childhood home with her parents.

"We’ll arrange a suite of rooms for you, befitting your new status of royal bride and our beloved daughter." the king said with a smirk. "Of course, these rooms will be separate from Leo’s apartments until you’re wed. We must maintain the charade of chastity and decency to the outside world, even though we here all know you possess neither."

Violet managed not to flinch at his words.

"All eyes will be on you at the wedding, of course. We can’t have you dishonouring the position of Crown Princess of Islia with uncouth behaviour." King Edward smiled blandly as he continued. "Fortunately for you, there’s nothing about being royal lady that my queen can’t teach you. She’ll provide all the guidance you’ll need."

Queen Celia’s face was locked into a stern mask. "Indeed. We can’t afford our reputation to be soiled by coarse country manners."

Violet could vividly remember the queen once praising Ilse’s dainty manners. Why did those same manners suddenly became coarse when displayed by the other Thierre girl?

"I’ll teach you everything I can." the queen continued. "If you’re a wise girl, which I already know you’re not, you’ll observe me and learn in penitent silence." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Penitent silence? Oh, lord.

Violet’s stomach sank at realising she wouldn’t necessarily be better off at Westerhaven than at Orravalo. She’d simply be fed another type of poison by another woman who cared nothing for her.