Unexpected Royal Love!

Chapter 6

“Miss Elly, you’re late for breakfast again.” The servant bangs on my door. I sigh out of frustration, still curled up under my blankets.

 “Please apologize for me. I think I have the flu coming up,” I answered from underneath my pillow. Prince Edward wants to meet after breakfast at the tower, and I have no ambition to get out of bed. I laid another half an hour before I dragged myself out of bed. I have no desire to go, but that will only invite him to come to my room, and the other girls are lurking through the palace to keep records of his moves. I stared at myself in the mirror after I curled my hair, and dressed in the most beautiful, elegant dress, handmade to fit into the Royal palace dress code. It’s pretty, but it’s still not me, but I have to follow the rules. My hands tuck at the fabric as I slide my fingers over the beads on the dress. The soft baby blue dress, showing every curve of my body. I crinkle the fabric as I tense with every second that passed.

After a long stare, I finally went to the tower. The steps to the top of the tower are tiring. With every step I take, I breathed harder. When I finally made it to the top, I notice prince Edward staring in front of him.

“I didn’t think you’ll come, my Lady?” I smiled nervously while he took my hand and kissed my palm.

“You look disturbed,” I ask, moving towards the brick wall.

 “Did you know, that my great grand Father built this brick wall in the civil war, to protect the palace and England?”

I glared at him as he goes into history.

“They built the original castle in the 11th century. The castle withstood the protracted siege during the first Baron’s war at the start of the 13th century. My great Grand Father built a luxurious royal palace within the castle during the middle of the century, and my grand Father went further, rebuilding the palace to make an even grander set of buildings in what became the most expensive secular building project of the entire Middle Age in England.” I never knew all this. The history of the palace holds. I knew Father used to speak about our great Grandfather that was part of the civil war, but I never really paid attention to the story. I guess I should’ve. At least I would’ve known what Prince Edward is talking about.

“Tell me about the war? Well, the parts you know.” I ask, paying attention to every detail. He looked at me, surprised that I’ve asked. Hope reflecting in his eyes. I hope he doesn’t think that I’m willing to stay. I just want to hear him talk about it, other than his feelings towards me, and mine for him.

“The first Baron’s war was a civil war in the Kingdom of England in which a group of rebellious major landowners led by Robert Fitzwalter waged war against King John of England. The conflict resulted from King John’s fatal wars against King Philip the second, which led to the fall of the first Angevin Empire and John’s subsequent refusal to accept and abide by the Magna Carta, which he had sealed. The document, was essentially a peace agreement between John and his barons, guaranteed that the king would respect feudal liberties and privileges, and uphold the freedom of the church, and maintain the nation’s laws.” he took a deep breath before he continued.

“The rebellious barons, faced with an uncompromising king, turned to King Philip’s son, Prince Louis, before they sailed to England with an army despite his father’s disapproval, as well as the Pope’s, who afterward excommunicated him. Louis captured Winchester and soon got control over half of the English kingdom. He got declared King of England in London by the barons, although he never actually got crowned.”

I must admit, this whole history lesson is actually impressive. I guess coming from a royal family that’s united with history makes it more interesting than what my father told us. Prince Edward still looks disturbed. There must be a reason for telling me the history of his forefathers.

“Why did the barons rebel against King John?.”

“John collected taxes, renovated the government, and wielded his power over the Church, Scotland, and Ireland. This made him unwanted with the barons. So they rallied and were helped by King Philip of France, the lords of Lusignan, a powerful alliance of French nobles, all who wage war against Prince John. Philip did not take part directly in these actions, but he allowed his vassals and knights to help carry them out.”

For the first time since I landed here, everything made sense. The Queen is waging war against France, by marrying off the Prince with a farm girl and not a Duchess. Everything is making sense now. I couldn’t understand why I got chosen, where I have no background for Royal or even attended school, and I bet none of the other girls have any background either. Prince Edward picked up with my mood and tried to seize my attention by taking my hand in his.

“My Lady?”

“I’m not a lady. Why is the Queen marrying you off to a farm girl? We both know that you can lose your rights to the crown if you don’t marry a Duchess.”

Prince Edward sigh, I can tell he knows.

“I’m not supposed to tell you.”

“Tell me? Or I’m leaving,” I demanded. His eyes turned vulnerable. I pulled my hand out of his, making him sigh.

“The Queen paid your Father, and the rest of the families to come to the castle. I’m not supposed to choose any of you. The Queen wants to break the seal France and the other countries made King John sealed and increase the taxes and shuffle the government to gain more control. The only way she can do that is to propose marriage to the daughter of France, therefore both countries can hold more power. “

“What does that mean?” I ask. I think I know, but I need him to admit it.

“We’re going to war against France to gain power. If we lose, I still have to marry the Duchess of France, and if we win, my Mother can use the victory to break the seal.” I gasp for air as the words fall into my ears. I and the other girls are just bargaining chips.

“Please tell me, my father didn’t know?”

My eyes screened with tears as I take in all the history and how history wants to repeat itself, only this time, myself and the other girls are being used to fulfill the desire of the Queen.

“Your Father knows, he agreed with the Queen’s plan. In return, when the war takes place and we win, the Queen will have full access and control to write off the debt your Father owes to the kingdom and she promised him full ownership of the farm. As well as the other girl’s Founders, and if so that the secret appeared before the war, she will kill your Father or any of the other girl’s Fathers if they tell the story.”

Prince Edward is staring towards the Lake while confessing. My heart pains for what my father did. He actually sold me to the Queen to gain land and be free of his dept.

“Why are you telling me?.”

“Because, I’m in love with you Miss Elly, and I don’t wish for you to be in the middle of this, additional than falling in love with you, I need you to stay put. If you wish to go home now, Mother will see that your family will suffer for as long as you live.” what is he trying to prove? Me knowing this only sets my family at greater risk, my Mother and Sister, I really hope Mother didn’t know about this. She couldn’t have. I try to convince myself as Prince Edward search my eyes.

“Miss Elly? Keep this a secret, for your own safety and your family. The war already started, and Mother will not hesitate to murder your entire family.” the words leaving Prince Edward’s mouth send a shiver down my spine. The people love the Queen. Why would she risk her love from the people for more power and more money?

“There are only a few that knows about this. The King of France knows about my Mother’s plot and agreed on a war. We formed an entire army behind these walls, to stand ready for them to match against France. The Queen promised them a lifetime of freedom and wealth, in return to fight for her. For as long as you are inside these walls no one can hurt you.”

“No one besides the Queen,” I muttered. My tears still seeping heavily down my cheeks.

“She won’t hurt you. Just go on as normal, soon my Lady you’ll be home.”

“Prince Edward?.” I called as he turned around to walk away.

“Yes, Miss Elly?”

“What would you do?” he looked stunned by my question.

“I mean, you said you’re in love with me. I know you didn’t plan on that, but what would you do? Either way, if the battle gets lost or win, you still have to marry the Duchess of France.” he lowered his head as I remind him of his obligations.

“Miss Elly, even though I’m in love with you, I want to see you safe and would give up my crown for your safety.” he turned around again to walk, but I grabbed his arm.

“I’m in love with you as well. I mean, I have feelings. I don’t really know what it means.” I admitted with my head lowered to the ground. He cupped my cheeks to look at him, an enormous smile playing on his face.

“I will protect you Miss Elly, but for now, we have to keep it safe, so that none of the other girls find out what’s going on here, and the Queen can never know that I’ve told you, you will forever be the unexpected love of my life.” he kissed me on the cheeks and turned on his boots to walk away. All the history and confessions still have me rattled. I cannot believe my father made a deal with the devil. The Queen is loved by so many people, the Queen who promised to never forsake her nation, and yet she wants to have more power, even if it means going to war with France and marry off her son to the enemy.