He sighed heavily. He really could not refuse her anything.
"Okay. You win, Sweetheart." He said soothingly. "Rest assured; Daddy will try his best."
She hugged him and kissed his cheek.
"I know you can do it, Daddy." She said, utter confidence, adoration, and devotion shining in her liquid blue eyes.
After exiting his daughter's room, King Roland hurried down the hall. He was very troubled as he entered his study. What had he just done? How could he promise Rowena he would think of a way out for them all? A request from the Emperor was not a request. It was a command.
He burst into his study and flung himself into his chair. His head ached from the stress. He massaged his throbbing temples.
Queen Mathilde rushed to his side. "It did not go well, I take it."
"Of course, it didn't!" he snapped, and the Queen flinched at his harsh tone.
"I'm sorry, Darling." He said taking her hand and kissing it in repentance.
"I understand." She said soothingly as she poured him a glass of wine. He downed it in one gulp, so she poured another.
She began to massage his shoulders. "What can we do?"
"I don't know." He sighed heavily. "We cannot afford to anger the Emperor."
"We will not, My Lord. Rowena is a good girl. She will do what is right."
"Mhm." He muttered noncommittally.
She continued working the tension out of his shoulders as he ruminated on their dilemma.
"No one in the Emperor's castle has seen Rowena, right?" he mumbled softly to himself. His mind worked overtime trying to come up with a scenario that would work to everyone's advantage.
"What was that, My Lord?" she queried.
"Nothing, My Lady." He said waving his hand as if to dismiss her concerns.
He relaxed slightly under her ministrations. He poured himself another glass of wine. Then a fourth, then a fifth. She continued to massage his neck, shoulders, and temples as he continued to drink. He finished at least 3 full bottles.
"Being such a wise and dedicated ruler as you are, you must be exhausted. You bear all the troubles of your people on your strong shoulders. But even you need to take a rest from your heavy burdens, My Dear. All will work out in the end."
He nodded drunkenly, then stumbled to the couch. She removed his shoes and loosened his belt. She undid the top few buttons of his shirt. He grinned and pinched her buttocks.
She squealed in mock protest and playfully swatted his hand. "You must take it easy, My Dear."
He pouted. "You're disobeying me?"
"Never, My Lord." She maneuvered out of his drunken grasp and quickly curtsied low to him. "It is my duty and greatest pleasure to tend to all of your needs. But I believe sleep is what you need most at this moment."
He grumbled, but reluctantly agreed as his head was now swimming from the potent wine.
"I shall return in few hours with your dinner, My Lord." She said as she rose and walked to the door. His blurry lecherous eyes followed her.
She paused at the door and curtsied again as she said, "And your favorite dessert as well." To emphasize her point, she bowed in such a way as to reveal a generous amount of her cleavage.
He grinned and waved her off. "I eagerly await dinner… and dessert." He said winking suggestively.
She smiled seductively then left him to sleep off his drunken stupor.
Once she closed the door to his study. The smile immediately dropped off her face and was replaced with a look of disgust.
'Stupid fool!' she thought. 'How could he waste such a marvelous opportunity as to become the father-in-law of the Crown Prince of the Empire?'
She hurried down the hall to her daughter's room. She had to talk some sense into that foolish girl! Life was not a romance novel. And opportunities like this did not come about every day.
As an exceedingly small kingdom, her prospects for marrying into a more powerful kingdom were slim to none. But then, like a blessing from above, the decree had come from the Emperor himself! Her prayers were answered in the most amazing way possible.
Outside her daughter's room, she took a moment to gather her. She took a breath and steeled herself to maintain her composure then knocked on the door.
"Go away!" Rowena shouted.
"Honey, it's me. Please open the door and let me in."
"It's not locked" she said grumpily.
The Queen entered slowly, gingerly stepping over shattered glass and other objects that had been strewn haphazardly around during her daughter's fit of pique.
She warily approached her daughter with a look of concern on her face.
"Sweetheart…" she said but was cutoff by her daughter's quick action.
"Oh, Mother!" she wailed as she threw herself into her mother's embrace.
Startled, her mother nearly stumbled but managed to maneuver them both into a sitting position on the bed.
"There, there." Her mother cooed soothingly. "A political marriage is a wonderful opportunity for you. For us. For our entire kingdom."
"I don't want to be used as a tool to strengthen diplomatic ties." She said gloomily.
"The Crown Prince is sure to become Emperor soon. And, as his wife, you could rule the entire world."
"But I heard he is a hideous monster!" she protested.
"Powerful men are always the subject of baseless rumors. The Empire is greatly feared for its power. Fear spreads like a contagious disease until everyone is infected. I'm sure he's a fierce warrior, but that doesn't mean he can't be a gentle husband."
"But I heard that other bridal candidates did not survive long enough to have a wedding."
"Ridiculous! The Crown Prince was likely dissatisfied with their looks and/or skills. They were probably unworthy of him. In order to save face, their fathers claimed they were murdered."
"But why would the Empire allow such horrid rumors to exist?"
"The Empire keeps vassal states under control through fear. It is to their advantage that the smaller kingdoms continue to perpetuate the myth of their ruthlessness and ferocity."
"Then what happened to the princesses?"
"Those ugly princesses are probably living quiet lives as farmers' wives now." She said exasperated at Rowena's obtuseness, but she did not show it.
"But you, are a Queen." She said, stroking her daughter's gorgeous long hair. "Destined to be an Empress and rule the world."
"I've taught you everything you need to know to be a wife and to rule alongside him." She continued, trying to convince her shortsighted child to see the bigger picture.
"I don't want him to touch me." She pouted. "And I will not touch him."
"Now, Darling. It won't be so bad as you think. Women must put up with less-than-ideal husbands in order to gain power. Don't you see, My Precious?"
"But how can I love a man I've never met?" she asked miserably.
"Love" she scoffed, momentarily forgetting her loving wife act. "What aristocratic marriage is based on love?"
Rowena looked at her startled. "But you love Daddy, right?" It had never occurred to her that her parents' relationship was based on anything but love. Her father had no mistresses or concubines.
"Of course, Darling. But your father and I are the exception to the rule." She said hastily. She cursed herself inwardly for nearly ruining her image as a loyal and devoted wife.
"Oh." Rowena replied somewhat confused, but mollified. She once again laid her head on her mother's chest as she sobbed.
"Aristocrats can afford everything except love." She said so softly Rowena didn't quite hear.
"Did you say something?" she asked as she snuggled in her mother's embrace.
"No, Darling. I was just humming." The Queen replied stroking her daughter's hair and rocking her gently back and forth. She comforted her like she did when Rowena was a small child. Though a beautiful woman, in many ways, she was still very much a child. And an incredibly spoiled one at that.
They remained that way for quite some time.
"Now Darling, I will send for your maids so they can fix you up and bring your dinner."
"Okay" she said reluctantly.
"Good girl." She smiled and patted her head. "We will discuss this again later."
"After dinner?" Rowena asked hopefully.
"No. I'm dining privately with your father tonight." Mathilde managed to hide the disgust she felt at the thought of that old lecher pawing at her again.
"Tomorrow. After you've had a good night's rest." She kissed the top of her daughter's head and exited the room.