A Queen Redestined

Chapter 4

Dinner was a quieter affair than Marie had expected. 

Although there had been five or six carriages in total, only Madam Belrac and her companion, Elizaveta Camrault, were of noble birth and thus were invited to a private dinner with the Vifort family. The rest of the carriages had apparently held nothing but some presents for Marie, and bridewealth from Marimiers with servants enough to take care of them. 

(Marie learnt later that this was merely a prelude- the real bridewealth the crown had paid to Lord Vifort was a piece of land that almost doubled their current holdings, and an elevation of title as well. So much for her supposition that she would not bring advantages to the family through this marriage. It made her happy that the Anguzons would likely be boiling over with rage at this though.)

Her parents kept Madam Belrac in polite conversation throughout, sparing Marie from having to speak to her. However she could feel Belrac’s eyes on her from time to time, as if she were intent on getting to work on her as soon as possible.

She focused instead on Elizaveta, who was the very model of propriety as she sat there and ate silently, prettily, speaking only when she was spoken to. 

Elizaveta seemed much more a model for a princess consort than Marie felt herself to be. 

But she was of little political advantage. Her father was a minor noble, and as clever and talented as she was, her rank was still only that of a lady-in-waiting. There were no lands, no advantages she could confer to the crown, and therefore she had not been in the consideration at all.

It felt rather ridiculous to Marie. 

”What do you do at court?” she asked, by way of conversation, and Elizaveta tilted her head at her.

”I’m a lady-in-waiting to Her Majesty the Queen.”

”Yes. I gathered as much. What does that entail?”

Elizaveta seemed amused by her forthrightness, rather than taken aback.

”I go where she goes, read to her when she’s bored, arrange for any number of amusements she might like, and take care of her, in a very general sense. But since you are coming to us, I suspect I will soon be lady-in-waiting to you instead.”

That wasn’t a bad idea. Marie could see herself getting along with this person, who didn’t seem to simper or hide behind overly complex social rituals, even though she lived at the one place in the kingdom that cherished it above all else. Who knew what the other ladies-in-waiting she would have to have would be like. At least one of them was going to be a sensible presence.

”It sounds like a busy life, running after someone else like that. I place myself in your capable hands then.” A glance up, to where Madam Belrac was still talking to Lady Violetta about taxes, of all things. ”And I suppose, the good Madam’s too.”

There was a spark in Elizaveta’s eyes that suggested she had more to say to that; in deference to propriety however, she simply lowered her eyes and nodded. 

Interesting. Marie would have to maneuver Elizaveta out of Madam Belrac’s way it seemed, if she wanted to get anything substantial out of her. The girl seemed to be very careful with her words and actions.

Fabian would tell her that she needed to learn this from Elizaveta. 

”Come riding with me tomorrow,” she suggested. Elizaveta looked surprised. 

”Oh, no, I couldn’t... I think Madam Belrac has a fairly strict agenda. Perhaps we might finish our inventory of your belongings earlier, and find a day before we move out for Marimiers?”

Of course, it figured that Belrac had an itemised list of things she needed to accomplish. She didn’t really seem the sort of woman to dilly dally, and Marie should have seen that coming. 

So what else could she do, but smile back an empty, courteous smile, agree and go back to her dinner?

She would have to weasel out Elizaveta’s private thoughts some other way.

—

Marie was usually up before the dawn, as all her siblings were. At least she was still afforded her morning practice; neither of her parents had said anything otherwise. Madam Belrac probably wanted to see her first thing in the morning, judging from what Elizaveta said she had planned, but Marie decided she could wait. 

There was nothing more important than keeping up her morning training. 

She supposed she would have to adjust that in Marimiers, but she refused to give it up entirely. That was one thing that was completely unnegotiable.

Madam Belrac and Elizaveta made an appearance near the end of her training, watching from the sheltered walkways lining the courtyard. 

Marie saw them coming from the corner of her eye, but did not pay them any attention, until training was well and truly over, and she finally made her way to their two of them.

”Good morning,” she said, deliberately giving an abbreviated curtsey. ”I hope your rooms were to your liking and that you slept well?”

They curtsied back, albeit in a likewise abbreviated version of that strange Marimiers curtsey. Marie was certain she could see Madam Belrac’s eye twitch at her almost-too-casual curtsey. 

”The rooms were fine. The hospitality of House Vifort is gracious indeed.” She watched as Belrac’s eyes travelled over her, taking in the messed braided bun, the sweat drenching her from head to toe and the dirty training clothes. ”Is this your regular morning routine, Lady Marie?”

”Up before dawn, training until it’s time for breakfast,” Marie summarised. ”All the Vifort children do it. Well, not yet for Hugo, he’s a bit young, but he’ll join us in a couple of years.”

Madam Belrac frowned slightly. ”The morning routines of Marimiers do not work the same way,” she warned, following as Marie began walking to strip off her armour and dry off. 

”I did read everything I could, of the books and letters I received. I’m aware of how it works at Marimiers.”

”Well, that’s good. Ideally, there would be a harmonious meshing of Vifort and Marimiers customs, and I would like to learn more so I can make that happen.”

Surprised, Marie turned. ”Is there room for me to retain some things I’m used to then?”

”The court is not a prison, my lady, and you are going there as the esteemed princess consort. Of course there will be accomodations made, where we can afford them. That is the main reason why I have come to stay for a week. To work out how we can give and take, to ensure a smooth transition of you from being a scion of Vifort to becoming the princess consort of Gadilida.”

Marie felt rather taken aback, and suddenly a little more contrite. Maybe she had too much of a bias against Marimiers, from the very beginning. If Madam Belrac’s real purpose here was to understand how she already lived, and to try and make it work for her, then she supposed it would be foolish not to contribute to the process.

”Very well,” she agreed. ”I’ve already thought it over- it seems that there isn’t any real time to myself until the afternoons. I would like to continue my swordfighting and horseriding practice in the afternoons then. Everyday, without fail.”

”The royal family enjoys their personal private time then, so I don’t think that will be a problem.”

Marie had to admit, Belrac had done her research well before she had even caught sight of Castle Vifort. All the things that Marie had read about, all the things she had been leery of... Madam Belrac corrected her impressions of Marimiers where necessary, and explained where rituals and customs were set in stone, and where one could finesse some leeway from the etiquettes written down. 

It dawned on Marie that this was essentially Madam Belrac’s job, even in Marimiers- to uphold the daily rituals that kept the palace ticking. And that was why she had been sent here. It wasn’t just to ensure that Marie was beaten down into a properly obedient bride, this was actually a whole and extremely thorough diplomatic process.

She didn’t even know how Madam Belrac seemed to be able to keep everything in her head, because just after discussing a few key points, Marie had to stop the older woman in order to ask her to the library for a quill and paper, so she could start writing down things that she needed to remember. 

By the time they had finished discussing the preliminary details, it was already well into dusk. Without knowing it, they had missed the time for dinner.

”I do apologise,” Marie said, stretching in her chair, noting the way that Madam Belrac’s eyes narrowed slightly. Probably not ladylike enough for her taste, but Marie didn’t think she wanted to change that habit until she was prodded to do so. ”I will have food sent to your rooms- or would you prefer to eat in the dining hall anyway?”

”The dining hall will be fine. And before we go for the day- Lady Marie?”

Marie looked back quizzically. Madam Belrac produced a locket from her skirts, an elegantly wrought little piece in silver. Marie took it silently and opened it. There was a portrait of a beautiful young man in there, she noted dispassionately.

”Is that the prince?”

”Yes. A token of his affection, and so you might know how your betrothed looks like.”

Marie had to keep from snorting. Was there any use to it? She was getting married, even if he looked like a troll. And who knew how accurate this portrait was anyway?

”Is this truly a token of his affections, as you say?”

They held gazes for a moment. Madam Belrac seemed to be considering something.

”No,” she said finally. ”Prince Alfons barely knows of the gifts that have been accorded to you. But I will only tell you this within the confines of Castle Vifort. You will never hear such bald truths again when we return to Marimiers.”

Marie nodded. ”I appreciate the honesty. Thank you, Madam Belrac.”

”We did not have the chance to present the gifts from the royal family to you today, so I hope we will be able to do that tomorrow.”

”And what gifts would those be?”

”Court clothes, mostly. Items that you will need to arrive at Marimiers in. Of course, there are more gifts than that, but it would have been foolish to transport those here and back again, when they can be given to you once you have arrived. I trust you know the custom that a bride to Marimiers must show that she has symbolically given up all connections to her birth home, and is willing to embrace wholeheartedly her new home?”

”Yes, I know it,” she said. Unfortunately, she thought.

”Good. And the day after, I hope we will be able to go through the belongings that you will be taking with you to Marimiers.”

Joy.

”I’m sure we will.”

—

As it turned out, she could not even bring her dogs with her to Marimiers. 

Marie had a lot of difficulty with that one.

The only things she were allowed in the end, were the heirloom jewellery that made up part of her dowry, a ceremonial sword and sabre pair to be presented to the king and queen as a sign of her fealty, and a notebook that functioned as her diary.

From head to toe, she was to be clad in court dress, starting from the day they left Vifort. So all her packing of her clothing had been for nothing. It explained too, why Madam Belrac had brought an entire chest of clothing for her, all the way from Marimiers, and why Marie could not just have turned up at Marimiers with a small party of Vifort retainers, as she had thought she could at first.

New weapons would be commissioned for her at Marimiers so she could continue her swordfighting as they had promised, Madam Belrac had assured her, but they would have to bear the royal insignia upon them. The same went for any other item she was used to- sword belts, armour, boots. She could have dogs again once she was there too, they simply had to be dogs that didn’t come from Vifort. 

She could have nearly anything, in fact, once she was settled into her apartments there. After all, the crown was all powerful and supremely rich. They could pamper their princess consort in any way she preferred. 

That is, except allow her any vestige or comfort of the home she had grown up in.

Feeling very tired, Marie sank to her knees once the door to her room was closed for the night, and she wept as she hadn’t done since she was a child.