Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 333: Violet: Power Trumps Love

"Oh I’m sorry, aren’t we?" Violet asked coolly. "Contrary to what you might think, I’m not expecting my daughters to marry for love. I’d be foolish to expect them both to enjoy the perfect bliss and fidelity we’ve had, wouldn’t I?"

Leo glared at her sarcasm.

The king tried to use his hand to muffle a very unusual sounding cough.

"But I want them to have at least some chance of contentment. How can Celia expect anything but disappointment with that kind of husband? When his own legs can barely support him?" Violet crossed her arms. "She’ll end up stuck as his nursemaid instead of his wife."

Leo’s face took on the expression he always used when he was trying to placate her. "The fat little f-, uh...I mean Prince Tobin is only seven summers old. No wedding can take place until he reaches at least his fifteenth year or so. Celia won’t be going anywhere until then. We still have years with her under our care."

The king chuckled. "And if the lad eats himself to death before then, she may not have to marry him at all. But for all the years the betrothal stands, our countries will be bound together in peace."

"And what happens if despite the odds, the Tralhamir boy manages to survive until he reaches fifteen? Celia will be stuck having to marry him. What then?"

Father and son exchanged conspiratorial smiles. "If that happens, Celia becomes a king, doesn’t she?"

Violet shook her head impatiently. "Queen, you mean?"

"Officially, yes. She’d be queen." Leo’s smile was smug. "But Tobin is known to be a weak, lazy sort. Both in body and mind. It wouldn’t be hard at all for an intelligent wife to assert her dominance over him. Imagine that, Violet. Our girl would be the true power on the throne. Havietten would be all hers. Tobin would merely be a crown wearing puppet for her to move as she pleases."

Violet stared at him in shock, letting his words sink in.

A woman as king? As something more than just a hollow decorative piece?

Leo was describing something impossible.

Or could a wife truly hold the power over her husband for once?

If Leo was speaking the truth, it sounded like Celia would reign as both queen and king. The fat lad would sit on the throne but she’d be the one pulling on his puppet strings.

So that was what Leo wished to offer their daughter. A marriage that gave her every opportunity to find not love, but power.

To find a level of freedom and authority never granted to women.

He must’ve thought it was the greatest gift he could give a child he genuinely loved. And perhaps it was.

Violet swallowed thickly, her thoughts duelling. Was it enough, though?

One side of her asked if it was fair to send her daughter into a marriage where love would likely be impossible. If the boy Tobin was as useless and lazy as everyone seemed to think, a clever girl like Celia would never respect him.

And what woman could love a man she didn’t respect?

Oh stop it. Since when is love so important to you, Violet, the other side of her asked? Ilse once loved a prince and look where that got her. A man can turn his face and his heart away from you in an instant, and where does that leave a woman?

No, it’s better to be secure in your own strength and ability than have to rely solely upon the love of a fickle man.

She then very slowly nodded. "So be it, then. It hurts my heart to think of my little girl marrying, but I must face the inevitable. So long as you’re sure this union will give Celia power in her own right and let her succeed on her own merits."

"It will. I know it." The king smiled at her, a calculating smile.

He was actually quite the affectionate grandfather. But when it came to the future of Islia, he was all ruthless efficiency. He’d gladly sacrifice his grandchildren’s happiness to achieve his own greedy goals, just as he’d done for his own children’s marriages.

Leo’s union of course, had been the one exception he’d been forced to make.

"But until her betrothed is of age, my daughter stays in Islia." Violet warned. "I won’t have her sent to Havietten a day before then."

King Edward nodded. "You have my word, Princess. Our little Celia remains here until that day."

She eyed the cunning older man. "Now what, Sire? You’ll announce the betrothal publicly?"

"Actually, no. All the documents and records will be signed between the two countries and the dowry will be negotiated. But it will be kept secret for another few months."

"Why?" Violet’s pride now rankled at the thought of her daughter being hidden like some shameful secret, when the little prince should be honoured in having a bride like her.

Leo hooted with laughter at her expression. "Quite a change of heart you seem to have had, wife. You’ve just gone from opposing the union to wanting it declared by all the heralds."

Violet eyed him coldly, wiping the grin off his face.

"King Aron is currently fighting an uprising of his northern lords. He has been dangling the promise of marrying Prince Tobin to one of the lords’ daughters to try and quell the rebellion. He wants to defer announcing the Islian betrothal until the uprising is crushed."

Violet narrowed her eyes, quick to sense any potential slight to her daughter. "What’s to stop him choosing one of those girls for his son’s bride and spurning my girl?"

Worse than Celia having to marry a useless boy would be her being publicly rejected by that boy. Violet would fight and claw to the death to avoid that.

Leo shook his head, irritated. She knew he’d still be smarting from the glare she’d given him earlier. "That won’t happen, wife. All Aron is asking is for the announcement to be held back until the autumn months."

"How can you be so sure it won’t happen?"

"Because an alliance with Islia is far more valuable to Havietten, not to mention the greater dowry we can provide." King Edward said, sounding very reasonable. "Aron wants our gold. Crushing uprisings is expensive."

Violet was more inclined to believe him than his hot headed son standing next to him.

"Alright then." she finally conceded.

Both men smiled at each other again, then at her.

Violet offered a silent prayer that she was doing the right thing by her daughter. "What about the other betrothal? Are you going to bind William to King Aron’s daughter also?"

The king nodded. "Yes, I think so. Aron’s less concerned about that, of course. He far prioritises signing and sealing a match for his son over his daughter. Still, we could certainly benefit from having Sarai’s dowry lands falling under our authority."

"Like Will needs even more land within his grasp." Leo frowned, voice thick with envy.

King Edward snorted with laughter. "You’d do well to embrace your cousin and make him your most faithful ally. Islia is strongest when her brothers unite, not challenge each other."

A heavy silence filled the room. Everyone knew the king was thinking about his own beloved brother. Beloved by him at least, if no one else.

Clearing his throat, King Edward finally said, "I’ll continue negotiating for a marriage between William and Princess Sarai. But until her father brings his lords to heel, he’ll have trouble pledging her dowry."

"Does William show any enthusiasm for the match?" Violet asked innocently. She’d seen the way the young man visibly shuddered every time the Haviettenese girl sidled up to him. It was delightful entertainment to watch.

The king frowned. "None whatsoever. But it doesn’t matter. He’ll marry to suit his kingdom, not his own pleasure."

"Will spends so much time dallying with every pretty face that crosses his path that he’s probably never once stopped to think about his future." Leo sniggered. "And right now, his every moment is spent thinking about laying-"

Violet turned to stare at him at the same time as his father did. Leo abruptly shut up the moment he caught her iron stare.

In barely her first year of marriage, she’d learned a very important lesson: Never ever give up any more information that you absolutely had to, when dealing with the king. Always keep back whatever knowledge you can, and use it when you’re facing him the next time.

How was it her husband was over three decades old but still hadn’t learned that lesson?

King Edward hadn’t said a word about Prince William’s latest obsession with the Moraigthian chit. Perhaps he hadn’t even noticed it yet.

So why would Leo babble like an idiot and offer up that information voluntarily?

The king gave Leo a thoughtful look, then turned to Violet. "Was there anything else you wanted to discuss?"

"No, Sire. I think I have all the information I need." she said. She briskly stood from her chair and bowed, knowing the king would be eager to see her leave.

"Are you joining me, husband?" Violet asked mildly as she made her way towards the doors. "Or will you stay here?"

After a moment of hesitation, Leo followed her out into the corridor.

"I hope we’re doing the right thing by our daughter." she whispered as soon as the king’s doors were shut behind them. "This isn’t a decision I want to look back on with regrets."