Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 277: Violet: Nobody

Violet whirled around to look behind her, frowning when she saw two young boys. She quickly recognised them as the two youngest Devon princes: William and Thomas.

"What do you seek, my little lords?" She tried not to make her voice sound snappish but she had no interest in entertaining children either.

"My cousin Tom here would like to ask you to dance, my lady." Prince William explained. "He’s a bit shy though, so I said I’d keep him company while he asked you."

"Really. And why would you want to dance with me instead of being off somewhere playing with your toys and making mischief?" Violet looked at Prince Thomas in the face.

The boy’s cheeks turned pink and he looked down at his feet. "Will and I promised our fathers we’d be on our very best behaviour tonight and not cause any trouble." he mumbled.

"Father beats me hard when he doesn’t like my behaviour." Prince William added matter-of-factly, as if they were talking about something quite mundane. "I need to avoid a beating tonight as His Majesty is taking all us lads fishing tomorrow morning."

"And Mother’s always saying I need to practice my courtly manners more, by dancing with the ladies. So may I have a dance with you, Lady Violet?" Thomas finished, looking at Violet self consciously.

Violet stared coldly at both boys, her eyes lingering on Thomas. Having inherited his mother’s brown hair and somewhat dumpy frame, he stood out against his tall, fair brothers and not in a good way. She tried to imagine herself dancing with the boy. Even though he was tall for his age, he still wouldn’t even reach her chin.

Ridiculous.

Even more ridiculous would be to waste her time on a fourth son.

"Run along back to the nursery now, children." Violet emphasised the last word. "I’m afraid you have no business asking me to dance."

Thomas turned even redder and hung his head. Violet though that would be the end of it, except that William just stood there looking at her.

"Why are you being so mean to Tom?" he asked.

She frowned at the boy’s impertinence. "I’m not being mean, I simply don’t want to dance with him."

"Why not? It’s not like you already have a partner." William replied. She could tell by his face that he wasn’t trying to be malicious, he was simply speaking with a child’s candour.

His words still stung. "Because I don’t want to dance with a nobody!" she whispered nastily, sure that those words would send the boys scattering.

It almost worked. Thomas pushed out his lower lip and looked like he might cry at the insult. But William just continued gazing at her stubbornly.

"That’s not true. Tom’s my friend and he’s lots of fun. Besides, he’s the king’s son."

"He’s the fourth son. That’s essentially a nobody. He’s also a child and I’m the grown daughter of a duke."

William paused and blinked at her for a moment, looking confused. He then tucked a lock of hair behind his ear. "But I heard Father talking about your family yesterday. He said your parents are nearly bankrupt and all of you aren’t far off from becoming beggars. So doesn’t that make you a nobody too?"

Hearing the ugly truth, from the mouth of a child no less, hit Violet like being struck across her cheek. Young William wasn’t even trying to insult her. He was just repeating what everyone else was saying.

She had to get out of there. She couldn’t stay in the banquet hall a minute longer. Leaping up from her seat, Violet approached the queen and with a bow, requested being allowed to retire early to her room. She said she had taken ill, which wasn’t far from the truth. Her head was pounding terribly.

Queen Celia barely spared her a glance before waving a hand in agreement. Violet’s presence wouldn’t be missed. It’s not like she was one of the queen’s favourite ladies, so why would anyone care if she was in the hall or not?

Keeping her chin high, Violet walked quickly towards the doors, not before she caught a glimpse of a laughing Ilse in Prince Leo’s arms, surrounded by a cluster of merry dancing couples. It was the final insult.

Violet managed to bite back her tears until she was in the privacy of her bedchamber. Only then did she allow them to fall, letting them escape in loud sobs that left her throat feeling raw. Stepping out of her dress, she crawled into bed in her chemise and pulled the blanket over her head.

Why did things always have to be like this? They weren’t supposed to be. Becoming a lady-in-waiting was supposed to have been her chance to finally step out of her twin’s shadow. Why could no one simply like Violet for being Violet, instead of just tolerate her for being Ilse’s sister?

The storm of her sobs finally turned quiet, leaving her exhausted. Rubbing her aching eyes, Violet faced the wall and allowed drowsiness to pull her under.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when she was suddenly awakened by a muffled noise. Violet rolled over in the bed and batted her eyes in the semi darkness, trying to focus. Only two small candles remained lit but they were enough to cast light on Ilse quietly closing the door behind her and beginning to undress.

"Where the hell have you been all this time?" Violet whispered. Through the single high window, she could see the sky was still black.

Ilse cast her sister the briefest glance over her shoulder before continuing to unlace her gown. "Nowhere that should concern you." She pressed her lips together and stepped out of her dress, clearly not planning to reply any further.

Violet sat up and watched her, resentment smouldering in her belly. "Let me guess. Were you with him all this time?" There was no need to say his name.

"I told you, it’s not your concern. That part of my life has absolutely nothing to do with you."

"Of course it does! I’m your sister!"

"Are you? A true sister would be glad for me, glad to know that I’ve found a good man. I don’t know what to call someone who seems to prefer seeing me unhappy." Wearing only her chemise, Ilse leant down to blow out the two candles.

Violet was about to argue that wasn’t true, even though deep down, she knew it actually was. She hated seeing her twin so happy and basking in good fortune, when she couldn’t have the same. The hollow words died in her mouth however, when something caught her eye. Ilse drawing her face close to the candles allowed her earrings to gleam in the light of the flames.

Jewel studded earrings that she definitely hadn’t been wearing earlier that day.

"Where are the earrings from, Ilse? Are they a gift, or payment for services rendered?" The words tumbled from Violet’s lips before she could stop them.

"Good night." Ilse said quietly, though her eyes looked wounded. "I hope your dreams are less bitter than your days." Deliberately rolling over so that her back faced Violet, Ilse rested her head on the pillow. Soon, her breathing turned slow and even.

- - -

At dawn, both girls rose at their usual early hour and began their usual preparations for the day. But the invisible wall between them had now only risen higher and more insurmountable.

The two washed, dressed and ate breakfast in icy silence, only exchanging the bare minimum of words when needed. At one point, Ilse’s gaze scanned the room as if hunting for something. Violet wondered if she was looking for her golden sash, that was now ash in their fireplace.

Ilse shrugged slightly and said nothing more, concentrating on her breakfast.

As she chewed her own bread and ham, Violet was able to get a better look at her sister’s new earrings. They were finely crafted gold hoops, studded with what looked like amethysts.

They were beautiful and flattered Ilse’s fair colouring. Violet hated them with a passion.

Once she’d finished her breakfast rations and sipped a little sweet ale, Ilse adjusted her gauzy white veil and made her way to their bedchamber’s door. "I’m heading off to Her Majesty’s rooms now. Are you joining me?" she asked in a flat tone.

Violet nodded. The two of them stepped out into the corridor and walked side by side in silence. When they entered Queen Celia’s presence chamber, several other ladies were already there, a large tapestry spread out on the floor between them as they stitched and gossiped.

The ladies duly made room for the Thierre sisters to take their seats. Violet took her place next to Ilse and grabbed her corresponding coloured embroidery threads. Head bowed over her stitching, she focused on the repeated punch of her needle as she listened to the lively chatter that filled the room.