Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 312: Violet: Rise or Sink

25 June, 1353. Magdaline Castle, Islia.

Violet couldn’t stop laughing. She’d spent most of her afternoon in the nursery, reveling in the antics of her children. She’d sung silly rhyming songs with Celia and arranged her hair in braids with pretty ribbons.

She’d helped little Edward stack wooden blocks into towers, only for his knight and horse figurines to then triumphantly storm the castle and knock them all down.

She’d walked around the nursery slowly, bent forward until her back ached, so that Augustin could toddle unsteadily around while clutching her fingers.

All in all, it had been a day of simple happiness for her. Those kinds of days were a luxury in a court full of sycophants and backstabbers.

Violet wished she could spend every afternoon in the nursery instead of at the various engagements she was forced to attend. There were so few places where she could lower the shield she constantly maintained around her soul, and just be herself. The refuge of her children was one of them.

Even the nursemaids treated her with relaxed courtesy now. At first, they had been too scared to so much as look her in the eye, carrying out their duties caring for baby Celia in petrified silence. Everyone seemed to fear the formidable Princess Violet. It was only as time passed that the maids were able to see a different side of her. Far from a sharp tempered monster, they realised she was an ordinary mother who doted on her babies, much like any other woman.

Violet now sat in an armchair, the two littlest ones on her lap as she hummed a lullaby. When the nursery door was thrown open with such force that it slammed back against the wall, she jolted from the noise.

She looked up and saw Leo standing in the doorway. Though he was a doting father, he very rarely had time to visit the nursery unless early in the morning or just before dinner. She greeted him warmly, knowing the children would be happy to see him.

"Papa!" Celia shrieked with excitement and ran over to hug Leo’s legs.

Instead of scooping his daughter up in his arms for kisses like he always did, Leo just patted her head briefly, distractedly.

Violet frowned in apprehension. "What’s wrong?"

"You haven’t heard about my father’s latest wise decision?"

"No, I’ve been in here most of the day. Tell me what happened." Violet had hoped the fiery relationship between the king and his eldest son would mellow as the years went by, but it was yet to happen. Though both would refuse to admit it, the two men were too similar in character - stubborn, short tempered and always wanting to have the final word.

Except how could Leo ever expect to have the final word against his king?

"There’s to be a diplomatic delegation sent to Moraigth in a few days. Father says the alliance between our countries is at a delicate point and it’s of the utmost importance to keep it stable. And guess who Father has decided should lead this important event?" Leo’s face was rapidly turning crimson with anger.

I’m guessing it wasn’t you, Violet wanted to ask? She stayed quiet.

"Johan! He chose his goddamn brother to represent the Crown of Islia, again! Not his actual son!" Leo roared.

Violet glanced at the children. Both her sons were cowering against her chest. Celia was staring at her father in wide eyed fear.

"Leo, husband." she murmured, trying to soothe his temper.

But he was too enraged to listen. "Is Johan the next king or am I? Why doesn’t Father just jam his fucking crown on his precious brother’s head like he wants and be done with it?" Leo turned and kicked the door with such force that Violet heard the cracking sound of splintering wood.

Celia scrunched her eyes shut and covered her ears with her little hands. The two boys burst into frightened tears.

"Husband!" Violet snapped loudly. "Get a hold of yourself! You’re scaring the children!"

Leo frowned when he saw his sobbing children but the sight at least seemed to calm him down. "Sorry." he muttered.

"We should continue this conversation somewhere else." Violet gave him a pointed look, then handed each of the children to their nursemaids. Kissing each one on the forehead, she promised to return the following day, when their Papa was in a happier mood.

She then stepped out of the nursery, beckoning for Leo to follow her. She stalked into their apartments and shooed away the maids tidying the presence chamber, so the two of them could talk in private.

Once the door to their bedchamber was firmly closed, Violet sat down on the bed and looked up expectantly. "Now, tell me everything that’s happened."

Leo began to stomp around the room as his angry words tumbled out, peppered with curses. He was a pacer by nature.

From what Violet could gather, there was a general feeling that King Kenneth of Moraigth was cooling on the treaty that had been in place with Islia for a few years now. The fact there was still a shaky peace between the two sides was a miracle in itself, given their shared history was one of never ending conflict and skirmishes.

"Extending this peace is critical to both countries, but especially Islia. Any conflict leaves our northern border vulnerable at a time when we don’t have the funds to further strengthen its defences." Leo blustered. "It’s the worst of luck that the poorest region of our country is right across the border from the richest part of Moraigth!"

"Arlington, you mean?"

"Of course I mean Arlington! Kenneth’s cunning fox of a brother has made his duchy a wealthy place! A generation ago, it was as poor as the rest of that godforsaken country, but not anymore."

The handsome and debonair Duke of Arlington sprang to Violet’s mind. He had to be a clever man if his efforts to enrich his duchy had Leo practically foaming at the mouth.

Leo rubbed at his forehead. "These negotiations are critical. I can’t be relegated to the sidelines."

"So why does Johan get to lead them and not you?"

"I don’t know!" Leo yelled. "Why does that son of a bitch get given all the privileges he does? Why does Father insist on treating him more like his heir than his actual heir?"

Violet was quiet for a while. She knew the answer, deep down, and suspected Leo did as well.

Despite his heartless character and his explosive temper - or perhaps because of it - Johan was rightfully famed for his extraordinary negotiating skills. King Edward had said more times than she could count, that his brother was his most valuable diplomat.

Leo was no diplomat. His temper ran equally hot as his uncle’s but he hadn’t yet learned to control it and make it work in his favour. Bluster and bully tactics alone did not a good negotiator make.

Of course, Violet would never speak the truth out loud. Leo was flawed but he was her husband. If he didn’t succeed, she was stuck sinking with him.

It was her role to ensure that he rose, like a good wife should.

And a man wasn’t ever going to get any better at foreign diplomacy if he was never given a chance to hone his skills, was he?

"Can your mother put in a good word for you to your father, to try and convince him to send you instead?" Violet suggested.

"I’m not going to have my mother plead my case! How’s that supposed to convince Father to take me seriously as a grown man? Think for a moment, wife!" Leo gave her a pained look. "Besides, aren’t you the one who’s always saying I need to cut the cord from my mama?"

"Well, I thought her input might be helpful for once." she muttered in irritation. "But if not, we’ll have to think of something else. Something you can offer as a negotiator that Johan can’t."

Violet was determined to see Leo leading the delegation instead of his uncle. Apart from the prestige of such an important mission, Violet would be required to accompany him and help with diplomacy by hopefully forming a friendly bond with the Queen of Moraigth.

She couldn’t deny she was intrigued at the thought of visiting Moraigth. Any excuse to escape the Islian court for a week or two was a good one, wasn’t it?

Violet could remember her mother had often described the people of the northern kingdoms as no better than savage dogs.

But then, her mother had been proven wrong about a great many things. Perhaps she was wrong about this too, she wondered.

Besides, she’d once met a prince of that kingdom and he’d been far removed from being a feral beast.

Duke Robert was also a widower now. Violet couldn’t help wondering if he was still as handsome as when she’d met him a few years ago.