Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 271: Violet: A Worthy Challenge

10 July, 1348. Magdaline Castle, Islia

The two of then had been engaged in a battle of wits for days now. Prince Leo seemed terribly puzzled by Violet - a woman who dared to challenge him with word play instead of just offering to lay on her back for him with her legs open.

Such was the man’s conceit.

The two of them moved in the same circles at court, so it was expected for them to cross paths regularly. Violet would see the prince in the gardens, in the queen’s apartments and at the archery butts where the men liked to both train and impress the ladies with their skill.

She was always polite yet distant when Leo spoke to her. While the other ladies would crowd around him and hang off his every word, Violet would always stand a little distance away, the very picture of indifference. Whenever their eyes met, she’d give him a small, challenging smile and then look away again.

His few attempts at conversation usually consisted of boasts or a clumsy attempt at wit. These were deftly warded off with a riddle or an aloof comment before Violet walked away. She made sure she was always, always the one to walk away.

She could tell the prince was confounded by her and his frustration was a joy to see. It was driving his poor ego mad that Violet treated him like any other man and not like some young god. Clearly, no other lady had been brave enough to verbally spar with him before.

She wondered why no one had ever told her that stringing along a stupid man could be so much fun.

The only thing Violet found troubling was that Leo’s newfound interest in her didn’t seem to dampen his obvious attraction to her twin. Ilse was still the one he took for walks along the sunny galleries and danced with the most in the banquet hall.

The prince looked at Violet like a complex problem to be solved. But he looked at Ilse like a beautiful woman to be worshipped.

Violet didn’t like it. Not at all.

Leo of course would’ve considered it his right to bestow attention on as many women as he pleased.

Ilse was so caught up in her enjoyment of court life and basking in the glow of being the prince’s favourite lady, that she was blind to what was right under her nose. Because of her naïveté, it would never cross her mind that her own twin could be interested in the same man as her.

And that her twin was quite happy - not just happy but determined - to steal him from her.

- - -

That night, a secret card game was being held in Lord Sullivan’s rooms. Prince Leo had mentioned it while the courtiers had been picnicking at Belleview Pavilion. He’d kept his voice low to avoid his mother overhearing. But when he’d swept his gaze across several ladies to mention they should attend the game and watch, Violet was one of those his eyes skimmed.

She was invited. Of course she’d go.

Ilse was also invited, which was to be expected but still managed to irritate Violet.

And as she found herself with half a dozen other ladies in Lord Sullivan’s presence chamber late that night, Violet wondered if the effort was worth it. Her feet hurt from standing and her cheeks ached from holding her smile.

In truth, she was utterly bored. The ladies weren’t invited to play, of course. None of them even knew how to read the complicated symbols on the cards. They weren’t offered seats either, so they were expected to stand around in silent admiration.

Violet knew Ilse wasn’t feeling well, having been struggling with her painful monthly course all day. When Ilse politely asked if she could retire from the room due to her exhaustion, Leo nodded genially and flashed her a smile.

Violet watched her sister’s retreating form with envy. Then again, the opportunities when she was with the prince and without her sister around, were few and far between. She’d just have to stifle her discomfort and seize the chance.

She glanced back at the table as she heard Leo give a roar of triumphant laughter. He used his arm to sweep the pile of ducats in the centre of the table, over to his side and added them to his already considerable winnings. The pile of coins next to him could’ve fed the entire Thierre family for half a year.

It was staggering to her that the cluster of young men could wager such fortunes on cards, yet act as if it were nothing.

No wonder Leo hadn’t wanted his mother to overhear about the card game. Queen Celia loathed gambling, often calling it the devil’s game. She’d be distraught to see her beloved boy wagering enough gold to purchase a small kingdom, so carelessly.

Then again, it didn’t look like the prince was going to actually lose any of it. Leo seemed to be on a lucky streak, winning round after round and crowing to his grumbling friends about it. At some point - he’d waited until after Ilse had left, of course - he’d even pulled Maisie Setterten onto his lap. The girl had beamed with triumph at being selected and had remained on his lap ever since, even boldly taking sips from Leo’s wine goblet.

Whore, Violet thought as she watched Maisie squirming and giggling on the prince’s legs. Her own smile didn’t waver, however.

All of a sudden, Leo threw down his cards and leaned back from the table. "What was that sound?"

His friends peered at him in confusion. "What..? I didn’t hear-" one of them slurred, clearly feeling the effects of the wine.

With a speed that surprised Violet given he’d been drinking all evening, Leo stood up. He tossed Maisie aside so roughly that she almost tumbled to the floor. Only when he stalked over to the door did Violet notice that it was ajar. Leo pulled it open to reveal four young faces, all now frozen in shock.

"What the fuck are you all doing here?" the prince roared.

The children all looked terrified at being caught peeking into the room and could only stand in place like little statues. Violet immediately recognised one of them as Prince Thomas, Leo’s youngest brother. Next to him cowered Prince Johan’s son and two other boys whose names she didn’t know. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"Get inside, you spying little rogues! Now!" Leo bellowed at them and pulled two into the room by the scruffs of their necks. The other two followed helplessly.

"How long were you all standing there watching us? Don’t even think about lying or I’ll beat you all myself!" The prince’s face turned red from anger.

"Maybe half an hour." Thomas mumbled, looking at his shoes. "We didn’t mean any harm, brother. We just wanted to see-"

"I don’t fucking care what you want." Leo cut him off. "This is no place for children! Nothing that takes place here is any of your concern. What kind of men are you going to be if you spend your time sneaking around like rats?"

"Is this game a secret because the queen can’t know that you gamble?" William piped up, looking wide eyed at his cousin and at the ducats on the table.

Leo gave him a cutting glare. "You need to watch your mouth, Will, and think before you just ask questions. That curiosity of yours will get you into trouble if you’re not careful."

The tallest of the boys, a stocky lad with close set eyes that made Violet think of a snake, stepped forward and jutted out his chin stubbornly. "I don’t understand why us watching was such a terrible thing, Your Grace. We were being very quiet, we didn’t interrupt your game at all. We didn’t even say anything when that lady on your lap put her hand down your trousers."

At that comment, everyone turned to stare at Maisie, who looked like she wanted to hide from the embarrassment. A couple of Prince Leo’s friends started snickering openly.

Leo gave them a withering look before he stepped forward slowly and stopped only when he was toe to toe with the boy who’d spoken.

"Oh is that so? Is that what you think?" Leo replied to the boy, in a dangerously soft voice. "What’s your name, lad?"

"Richard."

"Richard what? Do you have a family name or are you some fatherless bastard?"

The boy’s face turned pink as some of the men started chuckling. Nevertheless, he replied, "Richard Bentworth, Your Grace. My father is the Earl of Rhie."

"Well, Richard Bentworth, I can tell you this." Leo continued in the same soft voice. "I don’t care one bit for your opinion on the matter. If I say you should leave, then you leave. I won’t be questioned and I won’t be spoken back to. Especially not by the fat little son of a minor nobleman. Are we clear on the matter?"