Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 72: The Hatred is Mutual

15 April, 1359. Magdaline Castle, Islia

William escorted Princess Sarai to dinner, clenching his jaw at the possessive way he held onto his arm. She flashed a demure smile to the king and queen but as soon as she took her seat, Sarai started making her usual critical remarks to William about everything, from the wine to the music to the quality of the ladies’ jewellery.

He had very quickly discovered that conversation with this princess was incredibly boring. There was no lively talk about ancient poetry or mathematics, nothing about history or good books. Instead, Sarai talked about her gowns and jewels, as well as whatever tidbits of vicious gossip were doing the rounds at court.

In the past, William hadn’t much cared what women talked about. It wasn’t as if he sought them out for conversation. But now he realised there was something to be said for cleverness and quick wit. This woman lacked both.

William pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling like a caged animal. He felt a hand wrap around his forearm. When he looked down, Sarai was smiling and clinging to him. She cooed that she’d like him to introduce her to various prominent people within the hall. William smiled back at the princess and nodded, hoping the smile passed for genuine.

He duly led Sarai around the hall, making polite introductions. He wanted to retch every time she pressed herself against his side. He though his night couldn’t get more difficult when he saw Princess Camilla on one side of the hall, in quiet conversation with a pair of Leo’s knights.

She was dressed in a violet silk gown, which made her skin glow like the gold tinged pearls she always made him think of. Her hair was swept up, drawing his eyes to her slender neck and the little freckle that fascinated him.

Was she deliberately trying to mock him by dressing that way, while deliberately staying just out of his reach? William clenched his jaw, wondering what excuse he could use to leave early and hide in his rooms.

Looking around the vast room in desperation, he locked eyes with King Edward. The iron in the king’s stare told William everything he needed to know. There would be no leaving the banquet early.

- - -

The night dragged on. William stood apathetically next to Sarai as she mingled with the crowd, silently watching Camilla from the corner of his eye. She didn’t seem to notice him at all, seemingly content making conversation with the knights who were both all but drooling in her presence.

Suddenly, one of them said something that made her tip her head back in laughter. William heard her musical laugh and clenched his fists.

His tether snapped.

He whispered to Sarai that he had to seek the queen’s advice on a matter. To his surprise, Sarai simply nodded and continued her heated conversation with a haughty looking noblewoman, allowing William to slip away.

He strode over to where Camilla stood. "I need a word with you." He didn’t bother with formalities.

"Impossible right now, I’m afraid. We can speak tomorrow, my lord." Her polite voice made him want to punch a wall. She barely even flicked him a glance before turning her back on him. The two knights gave him puzzled looks.

"It can’t wait until then." William wrapped a hand around her wrist and pulled her along behind him.

"What do you think you’re doing? Have you lost your mind?" Camilla’s voice was an angry whisper as she trailed slightly behind him. She tried to yank her hand from his grip but couldn’t.

William’s long legs forced her to almost run to keep up with him, as he pulled her through the banquet hall doors and down one of the corridors.

"Where are we going? And can you please slow down? It’s hard running in heels!"

William refused to say where they were headed, though he slowed his pace down slightly. He finally stopped outside a small door along a side corridor, opened the door and gave Camilla a little push inside.

She looked around the space as William shut the door behind him, realising they were in a small storeroom. The only light source was the full moon spilling through a single window, casting an eerie silvery glow through the room.

"What are we doing here?" She eyed him warily.

"You need to stop doing what you’re doing." He warned her.

"Oh? And what am I doing?"

"Don’t act coy! You’ve been acting the coquette all night with those men!" He was surprised at the fire in his voice.

Camilla gave a little scream of outrage. "I did no such thing! They struck up a conversation. What was I supposed to do? Just walk away because you have a problem with me talking to people?"

"Stop pretending you weren’t doing it to get a rise out of me!"

"I beg your pardon? So it’s perfectly acceptable you having Princess Sarai wrapped around you like a vine every night but if I so much as talk to another man, I’m a coquette. Thank you for clarifying."

She noticed, William was shocked to realise. She noticed me with Sarai and it did actually bother her, even though she acted like she didn’t care. He felt a little thrill of joy at discovering the truth.

"I’m only paying attention to Sarai because my uncle commanded me." William snapped. "She’s representing her kingdom as an ambassador and His Majesty is in the middle of important negotiations with Havietten. They plan to seal an important alliance soon."

"An alliance...like a marriage alliance?"

"Possibly." William murmured as he stared despondently at the cobwebs on the ceiling. "I know my uncle thinks my marrying Sarai would be useful to Islia."

"Is that so? Then what are you doing here? Go back and find your future betrothed and leave me alone. Especially if your taste in women runs to spiteful little cats like Sarai." Camilla crossed her arms over her chest defensively. "I’m sure the two of you will be very happy together."

"It isn’t like that! She doesn’t mean a fucking thing to me! You know you’re the one I want." William tried to calm his voice somewhat. "But I can’t go against the king’s orders. If he tells me I have to dance and pay attention to that bitch, then I have to do it!"

William could feel himself fighting a losing battle with his frustration. Partly from the argument and partly because when Camilla had crossed her arms, she had inadvertently pushed the tops of her breasts against the low neckline of her dress. Her naïveté was driving him wild. So he snarled at her instead.

"Do you think my situation is easy? My uncle is practically throwing that woman at me and I’m not allowed to say no!"

"You always knew that would happen." Camilla pointed out. "The king was bound to marry you off eventually and you wouldn’t have a say in it. You said so yourself! You told me you’d just send any wife of yours away to the countryside. So why is any of this a surprise to you now?"

"I know I said that. But...I don’t know. Now that it’s actually happening, I didn’t realise it would make me feel so..."

"So what?"

"So fucking trapped!" William took a deep breath and ran his hands through his hair. "This is all your fault."

She looked at him as if his words were in a foreign language. "What? How is this my fault?"

"Because I am a fucking mess and you’re the cause!" His words were spilling out beyond any control. "I can barely eat. Or sleep. I can’t get you out out of my goddamn mind and it’s killing me!"

"You said we should stay away from each other and I’ve kept my side of the bargain. I’m not the one dragging you into empty rooms!"

William tipped his head back and groaned, well aware he should’ve just left Camilla alone in the banquet hall. "I know. It would just be so much easier if I could wipe you from my memory, but I can’t."

"What would you like me to do then, William? Disappear?" Camilla moved towards the door.

William stubbornly blocked her path.

"Get out of my way." She slowly, deliberately pronounced each word.

He refused to let her pass. "No. This conversation isn’t over." William had no idea what to say, only that he didn’t want to let her out of his sight.

"It is to me!" Camilla finally yelled at him. Her eyes burned with temper, her cheeks were flushed and her chest heaved.

Looking at her, William felt his anger subside, replaced by a different but equally hot emotion. Taking slow steps towards her, he wondered why he had been trying to resist the inevitable. Wouldn’t it just be easier to fall into temptation?

Her eyes widened with understanding as he moved closer to her.