Esme Adalacia Kinnaird

leanúint

Three Days Later.

No one knew who Esme was, except for Atalia, Anja, Theodore, Dominik, Asher, Reagan, and The King and Queen.

Esme sat on the window ledge, quietly humming as she embroidered Atalia a pair of gloves. The other women nearest to her were whispering.

“Did you see the woman Atalia stomped out with?” Lady Agnete of Willbrook whispers as she was skimming a slim romance novel. On the cover, a woman was displaying her overly voluptuous breasts squeezed in an overly stifling corset.

“Yes, she seems quite the woman,” Lady Nora nodded along, working on a heavily embroidered piece of blue cloth. She put it down and curled her toes.

“What do you think, by the window? What's your name and who d’you think was that woman?” Agnete raised her voice in the slightest, making Esme jump. She hid a small smile.

“My name is Esme,” Esme continued on with her stitches, paying little attention to the stares both women were giving her. The truth was she secretly enjoyed the attention, in her own country everyone looked down on her.

“You are the Princess of Caldonya!” Nora hissed, her breath making a whistling sound through the small gap between her two front teeth. Esme grinned, her joy displaying itself.

“Crown, and congratulations, you figured it out,” Esme sarcastically drawled her words, miming Agnete’s terrible eastern accent. In Agnete’s dark eyes brewed something troublesome.

“Well, I was wondering, Your Majesty, if you’d like to join Agnete and I for a walk amongst the gardens later?” Nora set down the opulent cloth, it making a slight thud. Esme shook her head with contempt. Ilsyrans were known for a far more grandeur culture and fashion.

“That would be wonderful, but Crown Princess Reagan Linford-Dover and I are going for a ride later today. Perhaps I’ll walk with you when we all go out tomorrow,” Esme reached for the books she had laid by her cozy cranny, longing to smell their comforting musk that reminded Esme of her mother. The way she and her mother would stay up all night reading tales from far off lands like America, Thailand, and the Egyptians. Esme particularly favored the tales of schooling and the ancient ruling systems.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Nora returned to her piece of embroidered cloth that was now more stitches than cloth. The three resumed their activities, the two ladies covertly glancing at the princess, thinking she never noticed. An hour passed before Reagan walked towards Esme.

“Lady Esme, would you like to join me for a ride?” Reagan curtseyed. Esme looked over the pages at Asher’s wife. She was not a brainless mumbling ninny that the rest of the women in the palace were. Esme appreciated that.

“That would be most wonderful, thank you,” Esme grabbed her stitches and books then followed Reagan out of the stuffy drawing room. The two walked in silence for a minute before Esme breached the gap.

“I’m not here for Asher, you’ve got to know that,” Esme’s eyebrows moved to the skies. Reagan stopped, looked around and sighed.

“I know, I don’t think that It's just…” Reagan trailed off, looking at me straight, her blue eyes implying sincerity.

“Its Theodore isn’t it? I’m not here to hurt him or anyone, I’m here because…” Esme ashamed looked at the wall sconces. They were made of beautiful copper, shaped into large lotus blossoms.

“You can trust me, I won’t tell a single soul,” Reagan dragged Emse to a hallway chair and sat her down, putting her hands on Esme’s shoulders.

“My father has threatened to have the entire Ilsyran royal family assassinated,” Esme replied without breaking a sweat. She saw a maid peeking in the corner and quickly switched to French. Reagan noticed the change and straightened her back.

“What will the weather be like on our ride?” Esme crossed her legs and arms, the perfect impression of a dainty debutante.

“Well, it’s still a bit chilly so bring a small cloak. There is also… Is she gone?” Reagan asked. She nodded.

“What do you mean your father threatened?” Reagan asked, her eyebrows knitting with concern.

“He also threatened to wage a war, allying my country with Andalusia, who you aren’t on the best terms with,” Esme said, her eyes never betraying emotion. Emotion was a dangerous thing to have when you are a Princess.

“What?” Reagan’s voice went cold. Caldonya was dangerous alone, they controlled the mountains to the north and were famous for their war strategy and their ability to fight in any conditions. All men were required to serve in the military for a three year period and the training was rigorous. Caldonya’s navy was their only weakness but since their capital located in the middle of a large, treacherous mountain chain, they’d outlast any siege.

“That is as simply put as I can explain it,” Esme feigned a yawn, stretching her shoulders and wrists behind her head.

“I’ve got to tell Asher!” Reagan barely stepped a foot before Esme grabbed her wrist and jerked it back sharply.

“I have already told him,” Esme hissed. “You must not tell Theodore. My father has many spies and he’d know quicker than we could warn King Kendrick.”

“What am I to do then? Am I to watch my future brother-in-law have his heart broken in front of him?” Reagan’s cheeks flushed crimson.

“You know the saying, “If you love something let it go”? If you must tell him anything to tell him that Caldonya would never marry into the Ilsyran Line!” Esme jerked away, fear coloring her voice.

“What is it your father has against Ilsyra?” Reagan’s frown lightened.

“My father used to be engaged to Queen Kamryn and blames King Kendrick for the loss of the De Havilland estates. Her Majesty's estates are between Ilsyra and the southern Caldonyan border. These lands, if joined, to either nation would give the other a distinct advantage. My grandfather, may he rest in peace, Cináed, knew that the constant skirmishes were weakening both of us. When Her Majesty, Queen Kamryn, married King Kendrick my father nearly blew a gasket. My grandad married my father off to my mother, who was a relative of the Andalusian Crown Prince. I don’t hate Ilsyra, I love the rolling green hills, the endless fields of wheat. I fear, given enough reason my father would marry me off to an Andalusian and then use my husband to crush Ilsyra like a grape between two strong fingers,” Esme spoke evenly, never letting how much she truly worried about her father’s motives, she had no idea why he had let her come to this season.

“That is quite the dilemma,” Reagan nodded, she knew the question of morality and saving someone you cared for. When she was first announced as one of Asher’s favorites the Queen had barraged her with difficult questions. Kamryn became outraged when Reagan had said she’d sacrifice Asher for the sake of the entire country.