The nearly a dozen letters Celia wrote and personally delivered to each ambassador at the Haviettenese court, were warmly received. She made a point to speak at length with each nobleman individually, being her most charming self.
There was an unspoken understanding about who the letters had truly been written by. And it also became an unspoken understanding that the Crown Princess of Havietten was a very different creature to her prince, with very different priorities.
As the summer drifted by languidly, Celia found several ambassadors starting to seek direct audiences with her. At first, it was to propose ideas and present missives for her to pass on to Tobin for his consideration.
Soon however, the ambassadors started approaching her directly for her views. Celia grew to very much enjoy these conversations. She could gladly spend hours discussing policy and trades with the different foreign representatives, debating good naturedly and learning about their kingdoms. Several of them even loaned her books and all of them praised her intellect.
She eventually began reviewing and signing documents herself on Tobin's behalf and the ambassadors were visibly pleased. They all knew if they had to rely on Tobin taking the time to review and sign them, they could be waiting a very long time.
And at night, when she'd finished servicing Tobin's needs and he was sprawled snoring in their bed, Celia would curl up in an armchair by the light of a single taper, reading until she felt herself nodding off.
Celia tried to raise the topic with her husband a couple of times. She told him that she'd been reviewing foreign reports and signing missives on his behalf, to help lighten his workload.
Tobin seemed completely uninterested in the topic. Not once did he ask what she was reading or doing when he saw her surrounded in documents.
She gave up and stopped trying to explain her actions. He obviously didn't care enough about what she was doing to see anything wrong with it.
It was a late summer afternoon when her efforts finally caught up with her. Celia was slumped on the bed, trying to read a complicated report from Lord Da'ar about a recent instance of the Angelos River breaching its banks, damaging hamlets on both sides of the river. The ambassador was suggesting a coordinated relief effort from both crowns would be more effective than individual missions.
Celia didn't disagree with his suggestion. It's just that she suddenly realised how exhausted she was from weeks of rising early and going to sleep late. She could feel her eyelids growing heavier as the words in the report before her blurred.
Her mind felt like it had doubled in size in only a season. It was both exhilarating and exhausting. Still, she felt like she had a purpose for the first time since her marriage. She was relieving Tobin of some responsibilities that held no interest for him, while expanding the breadth of her own knowledge.
I am capable and useful, she'd tell herself. But damn, am I also tired.
Who would've thought having to be quick witted and charming and intelligent all the time could be so draining, she asked herself drowsily as she let her sleepy eyes close?
It was the last conscious thought Celia had for a while.
Until she could suddenly feel the sensation of hands squeezing and touching her. She awoke with a jolt and a gasp, blinking rapidly.
Swivelling her head as she tried to get her bearings, Celia could see she was still on their shared bed, in their bedchamber. The sun was low in the sky and would sink into dusk soon.
Tobin was next to her on the bed, fumbling with her bodice laces.
Both shocked and revolted, she tried to slither away but Tobin clamped his thick fingers around her wrist. With his free hand, he unlaced his trousers. "Open your legs. I've got an appetite for you."
"Let me be, husband." she replied tersely as she batted his grasping hand away. She still felt terribly groggy and disoriented. "I'm tired and my head is aching."
Tobin gaped down at her and gave her wrist a hard squeeze. "Well, fuck. I must've heard wrong. It sounded like you were denying me my rights as a husband, but surely that can't be right."
Celia stifled the urge to roll her eyes as his theatrics. "I'm asking for some consideration, given I feel unwell. I'll lie with you tomorrow if you wish."
"Are you saying you're too lazy to do your duties?"
"Lazy?" she choked out. Was that a serious question he was asking her? And he dared ask her when for the past several weeks, she'd been shouldering some of his duties?
"You dare accuse me of laziness, husband?" her voice rising as her frustration threatened to gush forward. "I'm tired from trying to help you! But if you can think of a better way I can serve this country, please do tell me. Because you always make me feel like everything I do is the wrong thing!"
"You're trying to help, you say?" He stared back, pale eyes narrowed. "And what is it you think you do for me, my precious one? You seem so terribly busy these days with lord knows what. So I'm very interested to know how you've been spending your time."
"I've tried to tell you, Tobin. You just have no interest in ever listening, so I gave up!"
He smiled the slow smile Celia had learned to dread. "Well you have my full attention now. So tell me about this help you've been giving me."
"I review the missives prepared by the ambassadors from several countries. I also read the reports sent back by our ambassadors in other kingdoms. I've welcomed and briefed the last two foreign diplomats that have taken up posts in our court!" she hissed. "Hell, I was approached by your financial comptroller a few days ago, asking me if I could review and sign off last quarter's accounts for your heirloom estates. Because last quarter, you took an age to even bother looking at your accounts!"
"Is that all?"