"Your Highness," a near Lord interrupted my deep thoughts "are you sure it is in the nation's interest? Olivia was promised to Your Majesty six years ago, that union with her would bring silver mines to our treasury and her bloodline is -"
"Inbred." I jumped in and put the goblet back to the table "Her parents are cousins and she held the intelligence of a snail. I refuse to entrust the queen's duties to her hands, that's a stupid decision."
Another noble member of the council stirred and the atmosphere set heavier. Of course, they had to pick the last month's sitting. I swore in my honor that nothing said on this date would affect their status or health. Or number of limbs.
I remember quite well how my father's advisors stopped trying to talk about any topic other than praising his own ideas.
"Marriage with Lady Valleria might be an ill decision if we take into account her parentage and -" another one said loud enough to be heard, yet he averted his gaze.
"Her mother was a Duchess and her father belonged to one of the best knights this land has ever seen. She is strong, healthy, and has more wit than any other noblewoman I have ever met." I let out an angry growl. I was sure what was coming next.
"...widows can't be married to a ruler of this land."
"Yes. Your Majesty should look for a young noblewoman, who has not yet -"
"A mother to a king's heir must be a virgin."
A louder and louder mutter resounded through the council.
"I said I will hear your proposals and ideas without any penalty today. But this, this is just smearing her name and mine too." I said quietly, waiting for them to finally shut up "I don't need to annul her marriage, as her first husband never proceeded to perform his duties. Her wedding is not valid, she is a virgin and a daughter of a noble family, too. If I hear a single one of you bitching about this decision of mine again, I'll take it as an offense directed to the crown." I growled and leaned forward, waiting for anyone to dispute my statement.
The truth was, her last marriage could be a problem, but I decided to deal with it by personally bribing the pope with a new abbey and I already got his approval, so there was nothing else preventing me from taking her as my wife.
And she really was a virgin, technically, up to the point when I lost my temper and decided to try to force three fingers as far as possible.
She hasn't allowed me to touch her like that since the first morning. Two weeks passed by and I was surviving only on stolen moments in dark hallways and cuddling with her in the garden, whispering sweet nothings into her ear.
"This meeting is over. It's late, anyway." I stood up and left the room closely followed by the royal guard.
Peter was in his usual spot, leaning by the door to make sure no one would pass through without his knowledge.