The Rightful Queen

Chapter 19 – His Reasoning

Looking at the mirror, she’s sure to have bruises in the morning. After they finally let her go, she stumbled into her room and just sat there. It’s been half an hour already but she was just staring at herself.

What has become of her life? And where is it going?

Hasn’t she already lived her future? Or was that just a dream?

Everything was different tonight. Was it because she tried to change something? By mere hiding herself tonight, such stark differences occurred? 

Let’s digest this one by one, she told herself with a sigh. She reached for the towel in the basin, brought by another maid to her. She paused upon touching the wet towel. Why does she keep referring to herself as a maid? Well, it’s been four years since you’ve been treated as one, Laura. She shook her head and started dabbing the wet towel on her face. How many times did they slap her? She lost count. Cristina, her aunt and her uncle all slapped her. The ladies even pulled on her hair. It was quite painful. Her head is still throbbing from it.

If she pretends to be sick tomorrow… would they even care?

Tonight, she hid herself so as not to attract the prince’s attention. That backfired quickly, didn’t it? The prince was so insistent on making her his queen. He’d given his word, but… does she want him to keep his word? Or is she hoping he would forget about it?

She started doubting her actions. How did it go in that direction? She hid but his decision was miles away from her expectations. He’s not supposed to notice her and yet he did.

Wait, she was forgetting something. It was that ribbon. And the fact that they met days ago in the market. Is it because of that? He wanted her to be his queen because of their encounter. How does that even make sense?

She winced when she dabbed a little too much on her cheek. This internal dialogue and analysis of hers is confusing her.

Did he choose his queen based on that ribbon? Then, in that other life… was the case the same? She closed her eyes as she tried to remember.

Back then, the ribbon was with Cristina. She frowned. How is it that in that time there was no commotion? He chose Cristina as his queen and her as one of his consorts. He’s going to make his announcement two days from now.

Well, she’s surely not going to the celebrations tomorrow and the day after. She doubts the house of Thistle would. 

But would things continue to be different? He said he wants her to be his queen and he would cater to her condition. She couldn’t help smacking her already aching head on the vanity table. Why did you say you would agree? Would you really agree if he doesn’t have consorts? She didn’t think he would take it seriously and actually say he’s going to try. She said it because she thought there’s no way it would change now. He would give up and choose someone else. Who knew he could be very persistent? She doesn’t know much about the prince and she learned new things about him tonight.

Would he really be able to, though? She knew it would be difficult for him to change things, even if he’s a member of the royal family. She understands the role of the elders and the votes cast by the heads of the noble houses. His uncle would have one vote and he could try to influence the others. It’s all about eloquence, persuasion… how convincing you speak when you make your case, when you share your perspective…

She lightly shook her head as she sat up straight and resumed dabbing on her skin.

What does she want to happen now? Everything that happened tonight was not what she wanted to happen.

She misses her mom. She misses her dad. Thinking how her life would be different if only they didn’t die… Her parents loved her so much. They cared for her. Treated her like a princess. Given her all her needs. Not everything she wanted but she’s grateful for that. They taught her a lot of good things and made her who she is now.

If only they could see her now, would they be proud? 

Thinking of them made her want to cry. Things are so different now. She let the tears pool at her eyes and then cascade down her face. She knew her situation is not as pitiful as others, one reason why she endured everything, but still… it is pitiful. She silently cried in the beginning. Then, remembering her relatives won’t hear her anyway, she let herself go and cried her heart out.

There’s just so much she can take. Tonight, her emotions spilled over.

The following morning, she’s surprised to see them all still preparing for the celebrations. When her aunt saw her surprised expression, she sneered at Laura.

“Why are you staring like that? We ought to go and appease the prince. Make sure he didn’t misunderstand the situation. My daughter did not steal anything.”

Laura kept her mouth shut as she helped them with their dresses. She knew Cristina didn’t steal anything, but didn’t she take the ribbon from her again? She wonders where the item could be now. She didn’t dare ask about it.

Seeing the bruises on her face, their anger towards her has lessened. Did they think they went overboard? Why does she even wonder about that? Well, it would be nice to know if they have conscience or not.

Laura remained in the house, helping the other servants with chores. Early in the afternoon, their carriage left for the second day of celebrations.

Would the prince ask them where she is? She entertained vengeful scenarios in her head. The prince being displeased for not seeing her and when they tell him she’s not with them, he gets angrier than yesterday. Wait, she couldn’t remember seeing him angry last night, though. Did he really get angry? He was very calm when they talked, though he has that air of confidence and a little bit of arrogance around him. That kind of deflated when she refused him. She didn’t think he would look unsure of himself.

She would admit that she expected him to make demands instead. That was how he was before, when he chose her as one of his consorts. 

She feels that authorities have that kind of attitude most of the time, disregarding the plight of their constituents when making decisions. They only think about the benefits that they could get, without regard to the consequences, how it would affect the lives of others. It’s kind of selfish on their part, but hey, they have the money, they have the power, they have the authority…

She sighed, wondering how she would escape her fate. She’d been wondering about a lot of things since she returned. 

That night, Prince Samuel didn’t attend the festivities. He’s too busy racking his brains, needing to convince the council. They can’t just tell them that they asked a Seer about his future and it would be prosperous if this particular lady becomes his queen. Now, this lady wants him to have no consorts…

If they hear it, they would probably think he has lost his mind. 

He consulted with his father, the king, and the man was perplexed by the request as well. 

When he finally asked how the current king treated his queen and his consorts, Samuel felt a kind of relief. His father loved his mother and he rarely visited the consorts residences. When he was younger, he often did, but since he was born, his relationship with the queen improved so much and they've gotten much closer raising him. King Harold is a responsible father. He didn't simply leave the care of his son and heir to maids and servants. He personally monitored his growth, together with the Queen.

"So, it's not exactly absurd to abolish the tradition of having consorts, is it?" Samuel directly asked. 

The king sighed. “Something that has been done in decades, even centuries, I doubt you would be able to do it without giving them enough reasons. Reasons that would benefit them or the kingdom as a whole.”

And so, here he is. Trying to come up with a slew of reasons to convince the others. 

Truth be told, keeping consorts takes resources. Financial support to them comes from the royal treasuries, not from the budget of their respective houses. He asked his aide to get information on how much the royals are spending annually for them. They could save that much in a year and divert such funds to other funds. It’s both a loss and a gain to them, depending on how they’re diverted. To others whose family do not have a member within the ranks of consorts, they would be easier to convince.

Now, where to put those funds? Projects that could improve the kingdom. He needs to think this through. Remembering Laura’s words, the commoners would need them the most. What could be done for them, though?

Most nobles treat commoners as nothing of importance. They’re just servants. But this is clearly an incorrect way of thinking.