Isabelle's POV
Isabelle had a much more relaxed days than before. Knowing that Cassian was away, she was less worried about being punished for any misstep.
She found Jane and walked with her in the gardens. The winter made them mostly barren but the sculptures and fountains were still glorious.
"I think you'll find the gardens rather gorgeous in summer." Jane spoked to her excitedly, speaking of flowers that grow there, pointing out where the tulips will grow and the roses.
Isabelle nodded, daydreaming of what she were to see if she were there in the summer. But it was unlikely. She barely lasted days in the castle and she infuriated her husband on number of occasions. "A fair is coming to the city of Ariadna." Jane changed the subject. "I wondered if you'd like to accompany me."
"A fair?" Isabelle looked at Jane in confusion.
"Indeed. There will be games and many stalls with foods and trinkets. It is rather spectacular."
"I don't think I should."
"You certainly should, Adeline. We can go together. It will be fun! And we may invite someone else to accompany us."
"Do you, perhaps, want to invite Rupert or Gilbert along?" Isabelle asked teasingly.
"Perhaps." Jane turned red but she still smiled happily. "Although, blacksmith's son in the city is rather pleasant to look at too. Maybe we could have a peek?"
"And what excuse should a married princess use to go to the blacksmith?"
"You're very smart, Adeline. I'm sure that you can come up with an excuse for us to go to the blacksmith's so that I can increase my chances of marrying one day. I don't want to be a spinster."
"What's wrong with being the spinster?" Isabelle asked as she tilted her head. "You have the freedom of being able to go where you wish, act as you wish, be who you wish. I think it sounds rather splendid."
"Being married to the prince sounds like a more of a splendid idea." Jane answered with tease. "Although, I may not be able to marry a prince, I would like to have a certain future with someone by my side."
Jane didn't realise just how much she struck a note with Isabelle.
Isabelle's future wasn't certain and it definitely didn't feel like she had anyone on her side. She felt like it was always her against the world.
"If it means so much to you." Isabelle agreed with a sigh. "When is the fair?"
"In three days."
They soon changed the topic as Jane spoke of something else that excited her.
The next day, Isabelle spend quite a long time following Jane and Matilda around, doing odd chores around the castle. She took a particular pleasure in dusting the many marble sculptures.
It was the second day of Cassian's absence that she was bothered by Samuel again. Maybe bothered wasn't the right word. She found that she was most likely herself around him even if she was irritated by him.
Isabelle wandered into the room with a piano in the corner. She contemplated it for a while but as no one was near, she sat down and started playing on it. She hasn't played in years. Not since her grandfather died. Yet her fingers seemed to remember the melodies that she used to play hours on end.
The slow clapping echoed through the room. Isabelle looked around nervously to find Samuel slowly walking towards her from the doorway. He had a wide smile on his face.
"Good morning, princess." Samuel stopped a few feet away away from her. "By the way, I clapped because it's finished, not because I liked it."
Isabelle bit her cheek and scoffed. "Now, I believe in annoyed at first sight."
Samuel laughed cheerfully. His eyes were glittering with excitement.
"This dress… whose funeral is it?" He asked as he looked down at the deep grey dress that Isabelle wore.
"I haven't decided yet." Isabelle closed the lid of the piano and stood up, readying to leave.
"Your husband thinks that you fancy me." Samuel said in an almost challenging tone. He wanted a reaction and he was getting one.
"Then he must be blind." Isabelle decided but she stopped in her tracks. "What kind of havoc did you cause that you weren't allowed to go to the summit?" She asked curiously.
"I'll tell you if you join me for the afternoon tea. I could use some company. And I suppose, you could too. I doubt your maid's gossip and your books can provide you with enough intellectual stimulation. It'll be rather unfortunate to have princess consort of Ariadna go crazy in the castle."
Isabelle flinched at his words. It was the first time someone used her new title since the marriage. It's sounded wrong. It sounded like it shouldn't belong to her, like it wasn't her. Samuel calling her a princess sounded condescending, not like a title. She could bear it. But Princess Consort of Ariadna sounded like it bore weight that she was unable to carry.
"And I suppose you think that you can provide me with sufficient intellectual stimulation?" Isabelle tilted her head as she asked.
"I am the first royal advisor for a reason. If you doubt my capabilities, you can see for yourself when we entertain a proper conversation."
"Do you think we have that much in common to be able to maintain a conversation?"
"You've just played one of my favourite composers. I am sure that we can find enough middle ground to speak of."
"I can't think of any benefit it would bring me." Isabelle noted.
"Besides entertainment, I suppose my knowledge could be beneficial." Samuel walked beside her as she slowly paced towards the door. "I am aware of all of the political affairs between kingdoms, our long history, our friends and foes, of his highness's friends and foes." The last one spiked Isabelle's interest. "Besides, I know his highness like a back of my hand. I can let you know all of his secrets. The good and the bad."
"What secrets?"
"All of them. Come over to my quarters for a tea and you'll find out." Samuel's smile was radiant, like a person who just made a winning move.
"My maid will accompany me." Isabelle said sharply.
"If you think you need to be supervised to remain decent with me, so be it." Samuel teased her again.
"I need to be supervised so I do not make it your funeral." Isabelle grumbled.
"It's okay if you don't like me, princess. Not everyone has a good taste." Samuel said behind her as she turned the opposite side of the corridor to him.
Isabelle still felt uneasy after seeing Samuel, as if his intentions towards her were unclear. It was challenging. On one side, she did feel at ease enough to let her sharp tongue do the work. But on the other side, she felt that being close to any other male aside of her husband was going to bring misfortune. And that was without even knowing about the disagreement between Samuel and Cassian.
She quickly went towards servant's quarters where she found Jane.
"Adeline." Jane smiled as Isabelle appeared in the room.
"Jane, I have a favour to ask of you."
"Go on, my lady. What is it?"
"I need you to accompany me to the royal advisor's quarters."
"Sir Asselin?"
Isabelle stopped and realised that she didn't even know his name.
"Samuel?" She said quietly, remembering the name that Cassian used when referring to someone giving him advice.
"Yes, that's Sir Asselin." Jane smiled. "The very person that you've won a sword fight with."
"Indeed. That's him." Isabelle nodded.
"Is anything a matter?" Jane asked as she folded a clean bedsheet.
"I have been invited for a tea and I only think it proper if I am chaperoned."
"That's nice of him." Jane's eyes twinkled. It was surely going to be her new favourite bit of gossip.
"I am not so certain. But I wanted to learn a bit more about Ariadna's politics and I think he might be a good pick."
"Politics? Why would you concern with yourself with such a matter?"
"I am curious and I want to understand better the influences on the kingdom."
"I rather think that it's because Sir Asselin is easy to an eye."
"Jane, I am not concerned about one's looks. I need to know as much as I can about Ariadna."
"Perhaps being married to the Prince is enough of a reason to not be concerned with handsome men." Jane sighed in slight dissatisfaction.
"I don't think I ever was concerned about handsome men, or men at all."
"Really?" Jane asked in disbelief.
"Well, not in that way. I had few men dear in my life, like my grandfather."
"And that's it?"
"I once had a male friend who was dear to me but it wasn't because he was handsome, Jane. But rather because he was funny and charming."
"More funny and charming than Sir Asselin?"
"I'd say so."
"What happened to that friend of yours?"
"He passed away during the plague."
"That's so sad! Do you think you would have married him if he were alive?"
"Jane!" Isabelle was offended by the question. And more so, she was afraid to admit that yes, she would have given up her marriage to Cassian in a heartbeat to be near Atlas.
"I'm just asking." Jane shrugged. "How did you meet him?"
"Our grandfathers were friends. He came over one summer with his grandfather and stayed with us for a few weeks. I saw him once again the following summer. But even when we didn't see each other we wrote letters to each other."
"That's so romantic." Jane sighed.
"Hardly. We had many sword fights and always competed. Our letters were often references to books, poetry, and arithmetic. It was hardly anything romantic."
"Life is cruel, Adeline." Jane sighed again, her young face turning serious. "You poor little thing." She placed her hands on Isabelle's shoulders. "At least now you have his highness."
Isabelle wasn't sure whether Jane was trying to be reassuring or if she wanted to remind her of how her life turned out - in some twisted tale where she married her step-sister's promised hero.
"Jane." Isabelle snapped her back. "The tea?"
"Yeah, I'll accompany you. As long as we still can go to the fair tomorrow."
"If you wish." Isabelle rolled her eyes impatiently. She took the next bedsheet and folded it, probably more skilfully than Jane.