The next morning I woke up early. I could barely sleep, my eyes were tired but my mind was replaying the moment when I was almost asleep in the King's embrace. It is so wrong, but at the same time... I know that Queen Charlotte of France will come after me, but I am not frightened, I know I should be, but I'm not. King Isaac didn't give her any power, she fools the society into believing that he sighed it over to her, it’s the contract that makes the rule of the Royals equal; Contrat également. I know this because I am a specialist in the history and laws of France, it's part of the job actually.
I open my curtains and think back of the moment I stepped out of the carriage when I first arrived here, so much has happened since then, even though I haven’t even been here for a week. So much. I know what I feel for the King is wrong, and I acknowledge that, but I don't want to sit here and let my feelings get the best of me, I need to learn how to control them. I change into one of my most comfortable dresses and the maids help me take them on.
"I heard that the King fought with the Queen last night." One of the maids said to the others. I allow them to talk, because I receive much information, like this. My ears are wide as I want to hear every single letter of this conversation.
"I was preparing the bath for His Majesty and almost heard the entire conversation, luckily the Queen didn't notice me, or she would've had me hanged." Another maid said who was cleaning the windows. I need to know what she heard, I need to know what they talked about.
"What did they say, Elisabeth?" Another asked. Exactly, what did they say?
"You have to promise me all that you won't tell anybody else, including you, your Grace." The Elisabeth-named-maid said. I turned my head to look at her.
"I promise, and if I tell anyone, I won't mention your name." I say calmly to her, she smiles at me and lets out a relieved breath. The other girls promise the same thing and we all stare atElisabeth.
"Well, The Queen asked if The King went to Calais with Lady Victoria," I knew it was about me, the Queen will never let me go to him, never. Not that I want to or anything… All the maids turned nervously to me, I told them that nothing had happened between me and The King and that I didn't go to Calais with him. "The King said the same thing, Your Grace, he told The Queen that you didn't go together." She says as encouragement to my words. "The Queen asked why Lady Victoria arrived with The King by her side, he told her that you two ran into each other at...uh... Lake Aront? If I recall correctly,"
I nod at her. "Yes."
She continued "The Queen also asked why the King let you stay at a Royal mansion." I wouldn't call it a Royal mansion, it looked more of a palace than a mansion. "The King said that it was pouring outside and that Lady Victoria was drenched, and exhausted. The Queen asked the King if he truly believed that and... That's all I heard."
So basically they fought over me. I let the maids leave me and think about it. The Queen will certainly pay me a visit today, I need to make sure that I'm not in my room till late so that I can avoid her. As I leave my chamber, I greet the guards and make my way to my horse, this time I will stay close to the castle so I won't dwarl off, like last time, yesterday actually.
I make my way to the stables and still everyone is whispering about me,I'm sure word has come out that I returned with the King at night. If the people will get an idea in their head that I have something going on with the King I could be executed by the nobles if they notice a change in the King's behavior, it also is against the Vatican, but he is male King, so he can do whatever he wants as he has the most power.
I am starting to kill myself slowly with these thoughts, my brother could've done this problem alone, he didn't need me to come here, it would have spared me a lot.
I sit on my horse and immediately take off, I don't need to be accompanied by guards otherwise they would tell the Queen my every move. I enjoy the wind that makes my hair fly in every direction, I love the smell of fresh rain and fallen leaves mixed with mud and coolness.
I stop at a beautiful lake, there is a waterfall, the castle is visible from afar, the water is crystal clear making fish visible underwater, my horse is resting near me and I try to wash the bottom of my white dress in the water. I will be spending the entire day here, I might as well go for a swim.
So I do just that.
I take my dress off and let it hang on a branch, I untie my corset and remove my undergarments. I stepped into the cold water and shivers ran over my entire body. I jump in, otherwise I won't come in. It's cold, very cold. But I like it. I can see my toes underwater and splash around with water.
Luckily no one is near or they would see not only my naked body but also my silliness. I can't act like this when I'm here, I can't be free, I can't do the things I'm used to. I'm only being controlled and if you know me that is one thing I hate next to men, but now that is questionable.
I float on the water as my body gets used to the temperature of it. I feel calm and relaxed.
Edward sent me a letter about the engagement. I don't want to marry or be tied down to any man, I want to be loved and respected but I can not be tied to someone, I feel like I would be suffocating and I need to breathe. Most people have a different opinion about it, but I can't find peace with the words marriage and engagement, which is why I'm always running to a comfortable place, with my brother.
I didn't respond to the letter, I burned it and tried to forget, impossible. I know that he will be here soon.
I also think that the Queen might have something to do with it. But I can't put the pieces together. The letter arrived that same moment I came, and Charlotte could never know that I was with the King, perhaps she had guards who sent immediate word to her, or perhaps the letter was forged. I will see when I meet him once more. I dread that day which is why I'm trying to enjoy the calmness as long as possible.
I left the water after a while. I tried catching a fish but that didn't work out. I also searched for mermaids from children's stories, but didn't find them. Very disappointed now.
I changed into my clothes and sat down on my horse. I read my book which I took with me. I hear gallops of a horse, I turn my head around and see someone coming near me.
It's a man, a young one, brown hair and green eyes.
"Hello there!" He shouts at me, I raise a hand and he steps on his horse.
"What is such a pretty lady doing alone here?" He flirts with me, I let out a laugh. I'm not impressed, I've heard better.
"Nothing much, I need to escape." I tell him, I better not tell him that I'm from the castle or he'll capture me or something. You never know.
"From the castle? I'm doing the same thing, I come here almost everyday, it seems that you found my secret spot." He says. I laugh once again and rise to my feet to greet him properly.
"Victoria." I introduce myself, he smiles at me. He is handsome, very, but not my type, he's so much shorter then The King and so much less muscular than him.
Why am I comparing them together?
"Arthur." He says.
Wait, Arthur, as in Arthur Jones Valois? Isaac's brother? I mean The King's brother?
He sees the confusion in my eyes and lets out a laugh. "Yes, I'm Arthur, as in Arthur Valois, the second prince." He says. I blink my eyes multiple times. Now that I look at his facial features I can see some resemblance, the eyes are the same shape except different color, the noses are the same.
"Do I need to bow?" I ask, this will only make it more awkward if I have to. But he laughs, and it sounds completely different from The King's laugh. It doesn't warm my heart the same way. Still, I enjoy that I have company.
"No, no, if anyone should bow I think it should be me." Arthur tells me, I frown at his words.
"How so?" I ask him. He looks at me clustered.
"Because you are Victoria Bordeaux. One of the most amazing advisors. I heard so many stories about you, I'm honored to meet you." He says and gives a bow. I don't know what to say, he is certainly flirting with me, but I don't mind.
"You're flattering me."
"Is that wrong?" He asks, I laugh and shake my head in a 'no'.
We stayed together at the lake for a few hours till it was late. The sun hasn't set yet but it has become quite chilly outside. We talked about royal affairs and politics. In my opinion in most aspects, he is wonderful, a great friend. I even mentioned my engagement to him, he is so understanding and is exactly what I needed at this moment.
"Shall we return to the castle?" He proposes, I nod my head and soon we are already making our way to the castle.
I go faster, as fast as my horse can, I hear his gallops and his steps make mud fly around. My white dress is ruined once more in the bottom, but I don't mind, I love nature.
Arthur is trying to catch my speed but soon I lose the sound of his horse. I turn around.
"Ah!" I scream. Nevermind, I hate nature. My horse tripped and I fell forwards off it. I see the material of my dress turn slowly red. What happened? Why do these things always happen?
"Victoria!" Arthur screams, he jumps off his horse and runs to my side.
I look around and see that I ripped a sleeve of my dress and my skin. My upper arm is bleeding with my shoulder, it doesn't hurt but the blood is covering my dress. Arthur rips the bottom of my dress which is ruined and wraps it around the wound to prevent it from bleeding.
"Are you alright, does it hurt very badly?" Arthur asks me, I shake my head and swallow a lump in my throat. The wound starts to hurt a bit more and my leg is also bleeding slightly.
I catch off guard when Arthur takes me in his arms and tells me to hold on to him as he jumps with me on his horse. I hold him as tight as possible, he rides fast, very fast.
"Keep on holding me, Victoria, keep on holding me." He says as he goes even faster if that's possible. I see that the wound is still bleeding, very badly.
I notice that we are on castle grounds, a feast is going on, there are multiple boathouses on the water and there are many people dancing in the castle gardens.
"Help her!" Arthur shouts and immediately a dozen people are surrounding us. I feel that I'm being lifted off the horse and see that Arthur is still carrying me, he is running towards the castle.
"Call for a physician!" Arthur screams again and maids are running off, he is carrying me up the first stairs, we are still in the gardens and I see someone running behind Arthur as we walk in the castle.
"Victoria!" The person shouts.
"Arthur, I'm starting to lose consciousness." I barely whisper. I pray that he hears my words. I lost too much blood.
"Victoria!" The person screams again, suddenly I realize who it is.
Edward.
As we turn around a corner, I see two men following Arthur, not only Edward but also someone else, someone familiar. His fur coat is dragging over the floor, his golden crown will almost fly off. He is fast, he is close to me and I can see his face clearly now.
"Isaac." I whisper before I lose it all.