Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 276: Violet: What I Saw

"I saw you with Prince Leo in the storage room!" Violet hissed, putting all her disgust into her tone so that her sister would feel ashamed of herself.

Ilse reddened but to Violet’s shock, she didn’t look at all ashamed when confronted with the truth. Instead, her eyes gleamed and a dreamy little smile played upon on her lips. "Leo is...well, he’s wonderful. I care for him very much."

Violet clicked her tongue impatiently. "Don’t say ridiculous things! You hardly know him. And is that how you show a man you care for him? By spreading your legs and letting him touch you?"

Ilse frowned suspiciously. "Exactly how long were you watching us? And what made you think you had the right to watch such a private moment?"

"Long enough to see that you were acting the strumpet, sister." Violet replied, refusing to admit how long she’d stood there watching, both horrified and fascinated. "And be glad that someone was there to make sure no one else barged in on you. If you’d been discovered and word reached our parents, they would drag you home and beat you bloody."

Ilse crossed her arms, no remorse on her face. "Well if you’d stayed and watched us for long enough, you’d know I didn’t give Leo my virtue. I stopped everything before it went too far. I’m still a maiden."

"Your actions didn’t look very virtuous or maidenly to me!"

Ilse rolled her lovely eyes. "Oh, grow up, Vy."

"You’re telling me to grow up? Me, your twin?"

"Yes! Because you’re acting like a complete child about this!"

"I’m sorry, then." Violet said through gritted teeth. "I’m sorry I was taught that modestly and virtue are important. That they shouldn’t be handed over to just anyone."

"I know that too!" There was a tinge of anger in Ilse’s voice. "And I’m not handing them over to just anyone! Like I said before, I truly care for Leo and he cares for me. What you saw was an expression of our feelings towards each other."

"Since when? Since when does the prince care for you?" She couldn’t believe how naive Ilse was sounding. "Don’t you remember what Mother used to tell us? Men will treat well any woman they lust for, until they get what they want! He’ll probably never look your way again after this."

"Well, he didn’t get everything he wanted, did he? I told you, I’m still a maid." Ilse retorted. "And secondly, I know for a fact that Leo has feelings for me. Through his words and his actions."

It was Violet’s turn to fold her arms across her chest. "How can you possibly know that? What actions?"

Ilse’s little smile returned and her cheeks went pink again. "Because when a man cares for you, he takes great interest in your pleasure, even more than his own."

Violet sneered, though inwardly a sharp blade of jealousy stung in her chest. "So now you consider yourself an expert on the ways of men and pleasure?"

"Well, more than you at least, Vy." Ilse gave a short laugh. "Whenever I’m with Leo, I feel-"

"Prince Leo, you mean!" Violet finally shouted. "He’s not just any man. He’s the heir to the throne, so you need to stop acting like you know what you’re doing here!"

"Is that what’s bothering you, Vy? Not that I’ve found a man who treats me well, but that he’s a prince?"

"Isn’t that why you’re after him?"

"No!" Ilse shouted back, her pretty face flushing. "I’m with him because I care about the man! His title makes no difference at all-"

Violet burst out laughing, though there was nothing about the situation she found funny. "You truly believe that? You expect me to believe that? That you’re with the man, despite his royal rank?"

"Yes, because it’s true! Perhaps you’re incapable of understanding that, but that’s not my fault, Vy!"

Violet continued wheezing with laughter. "How stupid do you think I am, sister? You can’t separate the man from the crown! It’s impossible! You want him because he’s Crown Prince Leo of Islia, not because he’s a man named Leo who just happens to be the king’s eldest son. It’s not like you’d feel the same if he were a peasant! The sooner you just admit the truth and stop pretending you’re part of some grand love story, the easier this will all be!"

Tears began to glisten in Ilse’s eyes. "I can separate the man from the title, actually. I’m sorry that you’re unable to, that you’re just like Mother in that sense." Ilse wiped her eyes with the edge of her sleeve. "I pity you then, Violet, because you’ll probably never be happy. You’ll always measure people for what the can give you instead of who they can be to you. That’s what Mother has done all these years, and does she strike you as a woman who’s lived a life filled with joy?"

"Well, at least Mother and I know our worth as ladies of the Thierre family. We don’t just act the whore and then try and excuse our behaviour by talking about silly stories." Violet said in a poisonous voice.

Ilse shook her head - with anger, disappointment, sorrow? Violet wasn’t sure. Her eyes still watery, Ilse pushed past her and ran out of the room. Her footfalls echoed in the corridor for a few moments before they faded away.

Violet blew out a breath and stood there in their chamber, the small room crowded with their possessions. What had once been their safe little cocoon, where the twins had huddled against the world and giggled their secrets, now felt completely airless. The gold silk sash that Leo had gifted Ilse lay in a corner, another reminder of a relationship Violet couldn’t bear to think about.

In a burst of spite, she threw the ribbon into the fireplace, watching as the flames devoured the delicate fabric.

- - -

Violet figured her twin would come back shortly, once she’d calmed down and realised that Violet was right. This wasn’t some innocent springtime dalliance with a young man of no importance. Anyone in Ilse’s shoes needed to be acting with the ambition that the situation deserved, not batting her lashes as if she were part of some silly romantic ballad.

She sat on the narrow bed and waited, deciding she’d make Ilse work hard before her apology was accepted.

She waited.

To her shock, Ilse didn’t return to the room to get dressed before dinner, the first time that had happened since they’d been at court. Violet was forced to get ready alone and walk to the dining hall without her, alongside the queen’s other ladies-in-waiting.

Just as Violet was about to take her seat at the designated table, Ilse slipped into the empty seat next to her as if nothing had happened.

"Where were you?" Violet hissed.

"None of your business." Ilse replied, her whisper just as cold. She refused to even look at her sister, keeping her face staring straight ahead.

The two of them ended up eating dinner in icy silence. Every time Violet looked at her twin, she was completely ignored.

Ilse had never been able to hold a grudge in the past. When they’d argued as children, Ilse had always been the one to cave and apologise first. What had changed her, Violet wondered?

When the plates were cleared and the musicians began to play, Ilse made conversation with the lady to her other side. Other ladies at the table joined in and soon, half a dozen of them were giggling together.

None of them paid any attention to Violet.

No matter, Violet thought as she sat straight backed and with her head held high. Unlike my sister, I don’t need to surround myself with the company of nobodies.

A little voice inside her whispered that it did matter, though. Once again, everyone loved Ilse and sidelined Violet. She remembered having such hope that court would turn out to be different, that she’d be treated better for once in her life.

She wasn’t. And she no longer had a twin to lean on.

Suddenly, a chorus of breathy whispers rang out from the ladies at the table. Violet looked up to see what had caused the sudden excitement.

Prince Leo was striding towards their table, dressed in a rich blue tunic. Violet straightened her shoulders, hoping he’d notice her sitting as poised and elegant as a princess, not idly gossiping like the other women.

Leo glanced at her and smiled. But it was Ilse’s hand he reach for to kiss and to ask her for a dance. The glow on her face was unmissable as she let herself be led to the dance floor.

Violet managed to keep a brittle smile on her face. Even when she saw Leo and Ilse laughing together as they danced. Even when she noticed the other ladies at her table whispering behind their hands.

It was only a tap on the shoulder that managed to startle her.