I haven't closed an eye the entire night. This is horrible, this entire situation, everything. I should’ve just resisted the wine and my King. I've come to a few conclusions this night: 1- Avoid Isaac at all costs. It is quite unrealistic to not pass him at all, but I mean that I will avoid the nice talking and just get straight to the point. 2- Leave court and marry Edward. This is probably one that will really happen. Edward is certainly horrible in every way but most ladies of my age end up even worse so I should be grateful that I get to help my family and even marry someone who is my age, who is rich and leaves for the war a lot. My maids are whispering to each other and sadly I can't hear a word they're saying. I heard my name which intrigues my attention and I also heard the Queen's name, which will lead to problems with those two names combined.
"Tell me what you are whispering about." They both turn at me in shock and I raise my eyebrows at their reactions. Just tell me what might happen to me when I walk out those doors. They should also keep in mind that I can cut them off this same second if they don’t do what I order them.
"Well, My Lady, there is a rumor going around the castle that you spend the night at the King's chambers. A few guards confirmed that this morning." The youngest, Rosemary, of them said. They both seemed so nervous that they could tremble to death. I was mentally prepared for these rumors, at court gossip spread like fire, and not to forget to mention I ran out of the King's chambers with the King shouting and running after me through the castle. It would be suspicious if no one would’ve noticed.
"What do you wanna hear from me? The truth or the lie?" They looked at each other before the other girl, Penelope, hesitated.
"That choice isn't up to us or you, My Lady," Penelope said anxiously. My brows furrowed at her statement. What does this mean? Something is wrong, very wrong, I can sense it from the girls. Do they mean that my word doesn’t have any power but the King's word does, if that’s the case I have nothing to worry about. I knew that my opinion is everything but powerful.
"So it's all up to the King then?" I said, my brows furrowing in defense. Their eyes widened at my reaction and immediately set a few steps back. I have a short temper, I'm aware, but this I really can't tolerate, I understand that he's the King but why can't I just tell my perspective before they begin to judge me.
"No, not the King, The Queen." They said in union.
"What?" I almost shouted. This is ridiculous. Is the Queen suddenly more powerful than the King? When did this happen?
"Yes, the King is unavailable today, he went out early in the morning to Duchess Rebbeca of Nantes. Which makes the Queen decide what the truth is as she is the next most powerful royal available at court." No words left my mouth, of two things. One, my fate is written in stone if the Queen really decides the truth. Two, what is Isaac doing with the Duchess of Nantes so early in the morning?
"We're sorry, My Lady, but you have no power in this castle."
"I should've already guessed that. There will be nothing to do but wait till my punishment. Will a ceremony take place?" I whisper, they're right I have no power, and words of mine will mean nothing. A ceremony is close to a ritual where the ‘criminal’ will be judged by the King, in this case Queen, if it’s guilty or not. If the King decides that the criminal isn’t guilty everything will be over and the criminal will be released, if the King decides that the criminal is guilty there will be a punishment chosen, a horrible one, from stripping of your title to a death sentence.
"There will be a ceremony, it will take place at sunset. But lady if it brings you any comfort, the servants talked with a few guards who sent out a letter to the King informing him about the situation. The letter will be received around noon, and the ceremony will be held at sunset, if the King chooses to return he will be back by then. But if he chooces to leave it up to Queen-"
"There is nothing I can do anymore." I finished. I pray to the lord that some miracle will happen which will save me from this awful destiny.
To be anxious is an understatement. I have faith that Isaac will come but I also have doubts, what if he blames me? What if he wants revenge because I left that awfully? My mind is racing with these kinds of thoughts. I worry a lot and for multiple reasons. Edward is still here, still in the castle. I try to avoid him at all cost, scared that he'll hit me or do something even worse when he will find out about the evening I shared with the King. If Charlotte will blame me, I can't marry anymore, my reputation will be ruined, my brother will have to dismiss me. I really pray that some miracle will happen. It feels horrible to know that your faith lies in the hands of someone else, a King or Queen specifically.
"My lady, the prince invites you for an outdoor meeting." My lady said as she stepped into my room. Arthur? What did he want? It has been a while since I saw him.
"Tell him that I accept his offer and will meet him in a few moments." I spoke. The lady gave me a nod before she retrieved it from my chambers. I wrapped my coat around my shoulders and left to meet Arthur. My curiosity was killing me. I knew that he would want to talk about the entire Isaac situation and that he wants to find out the truth. As soon as I stepped out those castle gates I was met with an Arthur that was hugging a little girl. I smiled at the picture. Arthur soon catched my eye, I gave him a smile.
"Victoria," He spoke as he gave me a nod.
"Arthur, thank you for your invitation." I said as I looked down I saw the small girl staring at me with her big eyes. I bowed down to her level and smiled at her.
"And who might this be?" I asked her, she bowed before she answered my question.
"I'm Cornillia, my lady." Cornillia? I turned my head towards Arthur and gave him a look.
"Is this your-"
"Sister? Yes." He spoke.
"I thought she was staying at The DeMorox, your aunt's family." I've heard a lot about this little girl, she was known to be mischievous and a little thief that would steal apples from the kitchens. I narrowed my eyes at her, she immediately trembled under my watch.
"She was, she just came home last night, but I suppose you were too busy to know." Giving me a smirk. I raised my eyebrows at his statement, I knew what he was referring to, but I can't let him know that it's true before I will have anyone at my side.
"So I suppose you also heard the rumors." I said standing back up to my normal height. His gaze at me immediately changed, like he did something wrong.
"I'm sorry, I should've known that those were lies." He apologized. I didn't say anything, that way he can't blame me when I say that they were true, because I never rejected them.
"I'm sorry my lady, your brother seems to be quite the..."
"Trouble?" She finished my sentence for me. I let out a laugh at her answer.
"Lia!" Arthur shouted beside me. It made me laugh even more, the little girl next to me joined into my laughter. After a while of laughing and giggling with The Princess it was already time for her to meet her mother so she left me and Arthur alone.
"I suppose there was another reason than that you wanted me to meet the Princess." He looked at me and let out a sigh before we started strolling around the castle gardens.
"You're right," He started.
"I don't know what happened between you and my brother and as to your reaction earlier I suppose they are not true. Though there are somethings you should be worried about -"
"I know," I interjected. "I know that the Queen has planned an awful ceremony for me. I'm watching from all sides, guards are following us right now. I know that the only person who can help me with this is Isaac and as it is looking right now for me, it isn't well. I don't care if I lose my title or my dowry, I just don't wanna lose me, everything that I've achieved, all the troubles I went through to come where I am now, I don't wanna lose that."
"I understand, Victoria, and I will do whatever in my power to save you from that, I was, well am, planning to ride to my brother in case he won't come." Arthur looked at me worried.
"Thank you for your offer, but the servants sent a letter to Isaac which would describe the situation, it's up to him, if he wants to save me or not."
Time is ticking and Isaac isn't here yet. My aunt warned me that these situations will come to light here at the French court. She told me very clearly, "The first lesson I've ever learned is to never wait for a man's rescue." And look at me now, waiting desperately for Isaac.
Why should I wait, when I can run by myself?
My aunt is right, I made this mistake and I will fix it.
I stood up and gathered my letters and stamps and put them in a small shoulder bag. I can't leave any trace of my personal matters. I put on fur clothes to keep me warm. This feels like an impulsive decision but if no one will come to rescue me then I will have to do something by myself. The most important question was how to leave, guards will follow everywhere I go and I need to find a way to get rid of them. They won't suspect something if I just leave with this small bag, the fur clothing will be for the cold. I walk out of my door and see four men standing guarding me from leaving.
"My Lady, you can't leave the castle. Queen's orders." One said, he was the scariest of the bunch, his face was covered in scars and he lost a few teeth.
"I'm going for a horse ride, I'm staying close." I said, they both looked at each other before the scary one turned his gaze to me.
"We will join our lady then." He said. I gave him my permission. It would be very suspicious if I would reject the statement.
"That sounds fair."
Soon I found myself on my horse, two of the guards were in front of me and two were back. There was no way I could possibly leave, I needed something to happen. I can’t start running because I’m surrounded, I can’t pretend I want a rest because they would still be there, I can’t pretend to be hurt because I would be sent back to the castle. I am running out of ideas! I stared at the road and saw at the side of a hill a bunch of stacked tree stumps. And right here and then an idea crossed my head.
“Could we go a bit faster please?" I asked, they all stared at each other before we all started riding faster. The plan is that the vibration of the galloping horses would make the stacked tree stumps unstable which would lead to them rolling off the hill and when they do the first two will be knocked out and I will try to jump over it and if it happens unexpectedly then the two in the back will be defeated as well. Then I’m free.
Closer...
Closer...
Closer...
The trees rolled down and the first two guards fell with their horses. I jumped over the wood and went as fast as I could. I heard one of the guards screaming in pain or frustration. Probably both.
Faster!
Faster!
Faster!
A few seconds later I didn't hear anything. No gallops, no horses, just the wind.
I lost them. Thank the lord.