“Thank you all for celebrating my sister’s birthday. You may feast till midnight!” The King shouted towards the crowd. Music soon started playing and the room was filled with people in a matter of seconds. I stood in the corner drinking my wine while I studied everyone in front of me. Some were dancing, some were drinking, some were eating, and some were discussing things with each other. People came to me to say their condolences about Edward, I tried to keep my sad expression while I talked about how I found him in his bath already dead, and how I want the person who did that to come to justice. They all seemed to believe it. It’s so easy to fool people who don’t know any better.
I noticed Hortensia staring at me once in a while. She always stood next to the King's throne, except today she stood next to Charlotte’s throne, is there something going on here?
“May I have this dance, Your Grace?” A person came up to me, it’s him, the guest that arrived. Verdinand was his name?
Why not? “You may.” I spoke as he led me to the crowded dance floor and the new music started. I have heard once of Verdinand of Maia, he was known for his lifestyle, he had married thrice and all of those women died before an heir was born, he is very desperate for a fourth wife. Rumor says that he killed all of his wifes but none can confirm. Strange man he is, this Verdinand, good thing is that he is quite handsome now that I see him upclose. His brown hair was slicked back, he had icy brown eyes, his face had a strange and cold expression even though he had a big smile on his face that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
We moved in sync, I felt my brother's eyes on me as we danced in the crowd. He expects to see me leave this evening, I am still rethinking everything that The mother Queen said, James has no power next to her, so I think more about her than him. He just wants to see me leave this place, and I don’t know if it is to protect me or him. I retrieve my attention back towards the King of Portugal in front of me.
“Pleasure to finally meet you, Your Grace, I have heard a lot about you.” He spoke with the same fake smile plastered on his face. Shivers ran up my spine as his hand touched my bare neck. I moved away and his smile immediately vanished. I smiled in reaction.
“You don’t seem interested in knowing who told me about you.” I shake my head. I want to keep this conversation as short as possible. I have a bad feeling about this man and I trust my gut in this one.
“Why?” Why do you insist on talking with me? I take a deep breath before I answer.
“A lot of people know of me, so I do not wonder from who you heard of me, Your Majesty.” I say, my voice is short and strict. There is a slight tone of mockery in it. He still doesn’t seem to notice my discomfort so he just continues the conversation.
“Interesting.” Yes, indeed.
The music came to an end and I excused myself from Verdinand as I walked away towards Arthur and Cornelia. I still hadn’t congratulated the young princess. Arthur and I were still in some sort of fight, even though we didn’t exactly fight, there was still some kind of bad air hanging around us.
“I came to congratulate you, Your Highness.” I spoke towards the Princess who sat on her brother’s shoulders.
“I remember you. You are the one from the garden.” She smiled and pointed towards me.
“I am.”
“I turned six, I now need a second hand to show everyone my age.” She said while she pointed six fingers up with her little hands.
“Impressive, Your Majesty.” I said while letting out a laugh. Arthur smirked as well as our eyes connected. He seemed different from the last time we saw each other. His hair has grown out a bit, it seemed messier than before. He hasn’t shaved his beard, his eyes seem exhausted.
“Arthur.” I didn’t say my greetings yet to him. He bowed his head and I did too. He picked the little lady off his shoulders before she ran off towards Isaac who was talking with a bunch of Ambassadors. He picked her up and threw her in the air before retrieving her to the ground slowly.
“How are you Victoria? Truly.” Arthur said. I turned towards him and somehow the distraught feeling that had played between us was over. I smiled and he seemed to understand.
“Shall we dance?” I nodded and he brought me to the dance floor. The music suddenly changed into an intimate waltz and Arthur pushed me close to him.
“I saw you with Verdinand.”
“That is possible.” I say, trying to keep my reactions neutral.
“He is a mystery Victoria, don’t get any ideas in that head of yours.” I put a frown on my face as I searched for an answer from his words in his eyes.
“What does that mean?” I spoke confused, Arthur let out a laugh.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I meant that you don’t need to stir up dust that has been flying around for years. We indeed do not know what he did or what he will do but we can’t accuse him for a crime he may have done or may not have committed.” Arthur spoke. He is right, as much as I find him a strange man I can’t just go around and accuse all the bad things that happened in Portugal on him. And now I realise how good Arthur actually knows me.
“I know that. Do you know why he is here?” I asked.Arthur picked me up and twirled me before he answered.
“He is our cousin, he is welcome whenever he wants. He told us that he was ensuring the peace between Portugal and France, but we all realised that he is here for a wife.” We both turned towards Verdinand’s direction. A French wife?
“Cousin? So you want to tell me that the King of Portugal and France are related to each other?”
“Yes, if something would happen to me, Isaac and Cornelia, Verdinand would be crowned King of France as well.” Interesting. This could be a motive for why he is here. I don’t know what this man's intentions are, but we are sure that he isn’t telling the truth to anyone.
“Have you talked with Isaac after everything?” Arthur suddenly started.
“No, and I intend on keeping it that way. I plan on leaving tonight or tomorrow morning.”
“If you want to leave you will still have to talk with Isaac,” I know that, but I am smarter than doing that. “And I know that you are the last person that my brother will release.”
“I know that, but I won’t ask The King, I will ask Charlotte.”
“Of course.” He muttered.
“Do you want to leave?” Arthur asked in shock. I nodded sadly. The music slowly came to an end and as everyone parted Arthur and I still stood in each other’s embrace.
“I don’t really have a choice.”
“May I have your attention please?” The Queen shouted through the hall. Everything grew quiet. What is happening? Isaac walked back to his throne and had a frown plastered on his face as he sat down. He whispered something to his mother before looking back at his wife who was standing and talking towards the crowd.
“I am very very happy to announce that after a year of marriage with The King of France, We are finally…”
Divorcing? Renewing our vows? Separating? What is it?
“Expecting a child!”