Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 331: Violet: Reputation

30 March, 1359. Magdaline Castle, Islia

Violet’s feet were aching from wandering the corridors of the castle that flanked the northern garden, looking for Leo. She was growing more irate by the minute as she failed to find him.

He’d told her there was a cockfight scheduled in the garden that afternoon and he’d be attending with a group of nobles.

Violet had refused to attend. She loathed cockfighting and any messy, violent blood sports. It mystified her that Leo and the other princes seemed to enjoy them.

Her husband had promised he’d return to their apartments after the cockfight ended. She needed to discuss a financial matter with him. Nothing pleasant of course, but it couldn’t be ignored.

Violet’s father had recently pleaded with her to provide him with funds. She’d ignored his desperate letters for years but the situation had recently turned very grave. The Duchy of Orravalo might actually cease to exist, crushed to nothing under the weight of its debts.

Her spendthrift parents just never seemed to learn their lesson. Even after the Sancia disaster a few years ago, they’d kept asking Violet for help.

What Lord and Lady Thierre never seemed to understand, despite Violet’s repeated efforts to explain, was that it wasn’t actually her gold to share with them as she pleased. It was Leo’s.

No woman in the land, no matter how powerful, controlled her own wealth. Everything she had was in the hands of her husband. She only had the legal authority that her husband allowed her to have.

And Leo had no interest in throwing gold at a problem that would never be solved, as he’d described the Thierre’s past struggles.

It was a fair point. She couldn’t blame him for not wanting to help an aging couple with reckless habits and illusions of grandeur.

But now, her parents had come to her begging, truly begging for relief from their creditors. Violet had finally relented and agreed to speak with Leo.

Her argument to her husband was going to be that it did no one’s prestige any good - not the duchy’s and not the crown’s - if one of Islia’s most ancient duchies in ceased to exist because of a lack of funds. All Leo needed to do was provide just enough relief to allow her parents to stave off the worst of their debts, nothing more.

Violet thought her viewpoint was very sensible.

Now she just needed to find Leo, so she could explain it all to him and make him see reason.

Where the hell had he gone? She kept walking the corridors, ignoring the courtiers who scurried past her like insignificant mice.

She hoped she wouldn’t find him pressing up against some young girl in a dim corridor. It was always embarrassing to confront him in that position.

Violet wasn’t stupid - she knew Leo still enjoyed his dalliances, like all men did, and she’d be silly to pretend otherwise. She’d learned from her own mother years ago, how to project a perfect, dignified blind eye.

It was just that she hated the looks of pity she received whenever rumours of her husband’s latest conquest made their way around the court. If there was anything she truly hated, it was those sad looks aimed at her. She was the second ranking lady in the entire kingdom and a future queen, she was definitely no object of pity.

It was some consolation at least that none of Leo’s affairs lasted long at all, before he’d grow bored and discard the women.

That’s because, my dear Violet, there was only ever one woman that could hold Leo’s attention for longer than a few heartbeats, the cruel little voice inside her head replied. But she’s long dead, isn’t she?

She shook her head as she walked, trying to silence the horrid little voice. Suddenly, she heard a tiny murmur of sound coming from around the corner. Violet stopped, immediately alert.

Then she began moving again, slowly and stealthily.

She was almost willing to bet her future crown that she was about to turn the corner and encounter a clandestine couple.

If it’s Leo, I’m going to let him have it, she thought grimly. And I’ll reduce his silly slut to tears. She silently peered around the stone wall.

It wasn’t the first time she’d encountered a couple snatching a stolen moment together. It was a debauched court after all, from the highest ranks of royalty right down to the stable lads and dairy maids.

This particular couple were pressed up against each other in a heated embrace, the kind that happened before time and familiarity dimmed the excitement of passion. She could hear their twin breaths as they kissed, fast and flustered.

To her immense relief, the man wasn’t Leo. She couldn’t see the man’s face, but he was tall and broad shouldered-

Why, it had to be Prince William, Violet realised with a start. The height, the bright golden hair that sat against his collar in that scruffy yet endlessly appealing way. It was definitely William.

She smirked. It would make sense, after all. The lad was an utter rake for the women. Even amongst the hot blooded Devon princes, William’s reputation was notorious. His looks certainly made it easy for him - even the haughtiest young ladies would be glad to throw themselves at his feet when he walked by. And judging by the arrogance of his smile, he was well aware of the effect he had on them all.

But who’s the silly wench he’s currently sneaking around with, Violet wondered? She could only see a curtain of dark hair from where she stood, small pale hands around William’s neck, as well as the fabric of the woman’s skirt. The gleam of lilac coloured silk immediately told her this was no mere chambermaid or kitchen wench.

Curiosity piqued, Violet inched forward ever so slowly.

From what Leo had told her, William’s preferences ran to dallying with lower class women - commoners and minor gentry at the very most. Allegedly, the debacle with Sancia years ago had made him steer clear of the noble blooded ladies, for fear another might try to entrap him. Violet couldn’t really blame him.

And yet, judging by the expensive silk skirt she could see, he was grinding up against a noblewoman that very moment.

Who’s making you break your own rules, my dear William? And how can I use this knowledge for my own benefit?

William tilted his head to one side as he broke the kiss and started speaking quietly to the girl in his arms. And when he did, Violet saw.

And almost gasped out loud in shock. She immediately pressed her knuckles to her lips and managed to stay silent.

It was the Moraigthian princess. Pressed up against the wall, with the prince’s leg pushed between hers. Cheeks pink, eyes burning, in the flush of pure desire.

So much for her reputation for purity, Violet thought with a sneer.

Since her arrival, Camilla had acted like she was too good for everyone, keeping her distance from all the men at court. But her behaviour now showed she was clearly no better than all the loose northern women Lady Thierre had preached endlessly about. The pagan girl had simply managed to fool everyone with that doe eyed stare.

Well, I’m not fooled. I knew she was a little harlot from her first day here!

The couple were still clinging together, still whispering. William sounded like he was trying to make a convincing argument and Camilla was shaking her head, a dazed little smile on her lips. Though Violet couldn’t hear the actual words, it didn’t take much for her to guess what the conversation would be.

Just lie with me and I’ll give you everything you want. I’ll be yours forever. You’re the only lady I can even think about...Violet could practically hear the lies spilling from William’s lips.

She rolled her eyes. If the foreign girl was smart, she wouldn’t listen to whatever drivel William was feeding her. Violet didn’t think her to be very smart, however.

"Let’s see how long his devotion lasts once he’s tumbled you in his bed a couple of times." she whispered ever so quietly. "A man’s only yours until he gets bored."

Violet then froze. She heard someone shuffling down the corridor, coming closer. In a panic, she managed to duck into a tiny alcove in the wall, behind the edge of a large tapestry. It was dusty and dark in the alcove but she had no choice. Whoever had been approaching, continued shuffling past her at a ridiculously slow pace.

Oh, for the love of the angels, Violet raged inwardly. Could this person move any slower?

It was only when she peeked out from behind the tapestry edge that she saw Tession, the king’s healer. The old man was in for a rude surprise when he turned the corner and found the young royals pawing at each other.

Violet slipped out from her hiding spot and began hurrying away quietly in the opposite direction. She was confident Tession would consider himself duty bound to report what he saw to King Edward.

William would probably earn himself a rebuke from the king, but not much else. After all, no one could expect anything too different from a lusty young man.

The princess would be far less lucky. As soon as word got out, Princess Camilla would be considered sullied goods for letting the prince place his hands on her.

Oh, such a pity to watch the mighty fall, wasn’t it?