Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 40: Unhappy Endings
1 October, 1358. Westerhaven Palace, Islia
Camilla stood restlessly in the middle of her apartments in the palace as an army of servants unpacked her belongings. She had no idea where anything was or where to find it. She’d even had to ask a harried looking servant to point her in the direction of the guarderobe to relieve herself. Just when she had been starting to feel familiar with the warren-like layout of Magdaline Castle, she’d been uprooted and relocated to a new palace.
Westerhaven was the official royal residence of Islia during the colder months. It was a dramatic structure of tall, pointed spires and surrounded by marshes and mangrove forests. Camilla couldn’t understand why anyone would want to build a palace here but she had been told Queen Celia in particular loved it. It was also within a day’s ride of the ocean.
Camilla gazed out the large window in her new bedchamber at the courtyard below, watching the servants sweep the cobblestones and rake the fallen leaves. If travelling on horseback for six days as part of the autumn progress had been tiring for her, it would’ve been far harder on the servants who had accompanied them.
The concept of a progress was alien to her, having spent most of her life in the warm luxury of Arlen Castle. During her summers she’d been forced to travel to wherever the King of Moraigth had been holding court that year, usually Port Canfirth Palace but occasionally Astiul or Riordan Castle. Even then though, she and her brothers had only travelled with a small group of servants and escorts. To be part of an entire court on the move was something very different.
The journey hadn’t been unpleasant though. Her ladies-in-waiting had ridden alongside her, chatting and pointing out castles and natural features in the landscape to Camilla. One night, they had camped alongside a river surrounded in sugar maple trees. There had been so many lanterns strung between the court’s tents that the riverbanks had glowed like a small city. Camilla had been mesmerised by the fiery gold and red tones of the changing leaves.
On other nights, the court had called upon the homes of nearby country lords and requested their hospitality. It was considered a great honour for a noble to be given the opportunity to bestow a night of hospitality to the travelling court, though also financially ruinous. At every house they had stayed, the servants and household members had stared at her with a mixture of curiosity and hostility, as if she were some potentially dangerous creature. At one estate, she’d even heard an overly excited small child watch her and then whisper to his mother, "But she doesn’t look like a witch!" before being shushed. Camilla bitten her lip to stop herself laughing out loud.
Westerhaven would be her home until at least early March. Looking down at the courtyard again, she spotted Tession and her face brightened. The old man was sitting on a stone bench with his face tipped up towards the weak sun. Camilla decided to go talk to him instead of remaining cooped up in her unfamiliar rooms. Grabbing the hem of her long skirt, she hurried out.
Tession gave her a gentle smile when she approached him and moved aside to give her space on the bench to sit down. "Good afternoon, Your Highness. You look radiant today. Perhaps the southern climate suits you well."
Camilla smiled back. "I’m not used to this humid air, but I’ll adjust. If I got used to Magdaline I’ll get used to this as well."
"Their Majesties are fond of Westerhaven because of the good memories held here. This is the palace the king first brought his young bride to. It was here that they first found love."
"This hardly looks like a place for falling in love." Camilla muttered and Tession laughed.
"Do you really find it so hard to believe, Princess?"
She shrugged. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. But either way, that love is gone now, isn’t it? The king has mistresses and the poor queen is forced to smile as she turns a blind eye. What’s the point of remembering a love story if it has an unhappy ending?" She wondered if that was how all marriages, no matter how promising, ended. Would her parents have turned out the same way if they hadn’t both died young? The thought filled Camilla with sadness.
Tession have her a long, steady look. "Ah, Princess. When you have lived a long life, as I have, you realise the importance of good memories. They are what carry you through the difficult times."
Camilla nodded quietly, as if she understood despite her young age. She was about to respond when she saw Prince William approaching them from across the courtyard.
William bowed to the princess and watched as she and the old healer stood up to bow back. He’d never understood what common ground existed between the two but he had seen them in animated conversation many times. Jealousy surged at the thought of Tession seemingly never running out of things to discuss with Camilla while he was always so tongue tied and on edge around her.
I really am a miserable son of a bitch if I’m jealous of a bent old man who could be my grandfather, William told himself.
"What do you think of the palace so far, Your Grace?" William turned to face the delicate beauty near his side. Her cheeks were rosy from the brisk wind and her skin glowed like gold tinged pearls.
"Do you like it here?" she asked cautiously.
"Not at all."
"Oh good. Because Tession was just telling me of some great love story associated with this palace and I’m struggling to believe it. This looks more like the location for a haunting instead of a romance."
William grinned at her. "Don’t let the queen overhear you."
Camilla gestured off to the side. "I think some of your men wish to speak with you, Your Grace."
William turned to see three of his knights off to the side, avidly watching them. One of the men stood slightly in front while his two companions seemed to be pushing him forward.
"What is it?" William snapped, irritated to be interrupted when he had finally made the princess smile.
The knight in the centre bowed nervously. "My deepest apologies for troubling you, my lord. I was actually hoping for a word with Her Highness."
Camilla stood up, confused. She was sure she’d never seen these men before in her life. Her mouth fell open when the knight stepped forward and dropped to one knee before her.
"My lady, I wish to request a favour from you. Tomorrow there will be a grand archery competition, as is the tradition for when the court moves to Westerhaven. I humbly request to be able to take part as your champion."
Camilla shot the young man a dubious look before turning to Tession and William. "Is this true?"
"Oh yes. The grand autumn tournament is one of King Edward’s favourite events. The king himself takes part. He’s still very skilled with the bow." Tession replied cheerfully. William said nothing, watching the conversation unfold with his lips pressed together in a line of displeasure.
Camilla slowly turned to face the kneeling knight again. "I am happy to have you as my champion but I’m afraid I have nothing to give you as a favour right now." She looked down at her dress but it had no ribbons or scarves that she could detach and hand over. Her eyes scanning the courtyard, she noticed there were no flowers in bloom for her to pluck either and even if there were, they would be wilted by tomorrow.
Feeling rather embarrassed, Camilla asked him quietly, "Could we speak again tomorrow before the tournament when I actually have something I can give you?"
The knight’s face turned beet red. "Ah, my lady. If I don’t receive a favour from you now, my friends will never let me live it down. We made a wager, you see. They both bet that I wouldn’t have the courage to approach you and gain your approval. If I don’t walk away with a favour now, what proof would I have that I’m indeed your champion? I’m afraid my honour as a knight is at stake here, Your Grace."
Camilla frowned. It sounded overly dramatic to her. Then again, she knew enough about knights to know how seriously they took any alleged affronts to their honour. Suddenly struck with an idea, she hastily pulled the ribbon holding her hair up.
"Will this serve as a favour? It’s the best I can do right now." She gave the knight an apologetic smile and she offered him the ribbon.
- - -
A sigh of pure longing escaped William’s lips as he saw the princess untie her hair. The long gleaming waves cascaded over her shoulders and down her back. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦
He saw the three knights stare at her with blank adoration on their faces. The fool on the ground accepted the ribbon as if he was being handed the keys to an entire kingdom. "Your Highness," he heard the fool say, "It will be a pleasure to fight with the ribbon belonging to the most beautiful lady I’ve ever seen, tucked close to my heart."
Part of William wanted to retch. The other, bigger part of him wanted to grab the fucking ribbon out of the knight’s hand and tell him to never think of approaching the princess again. Unfortunately, he could do neither without looking petty.
So instead, he walked away and out of the courtyard in disgust.
