Empire of Dreams

*12*

"Bring me my best dress, Sia" I ordered.

Today was an important day. For me, for my sisters, for my brother and my country.

So in came my best dress, a beautiful velvet gown as black as the darkest corners along with pearls the light blue of the morning sky. Sia styled my reddish brown locks in a dignified bun and fitted a headdress on it.

"Good morning dear" Catherine greeted me in her comparatively simple gown. She was not aiming to make a mark as I was.

"Good morning, Catherine" I replied equally happy, if not more, that we were back to normal.

Settling in the carriage with Catherine and Little Mary, I took out a book I had taken from my personal collection for a read.

"Come on now, you will get time to read the book later. Talk to me" Aunt Catherine requested and I put the book down.

"Tell me something about the Queens. The Queens before you"

"Which one should I talk about?"

"Tell me something about Queen Anne of Cleves. You know I went to meet her with Elizabeth and Mary"

"Yes, she is one of the Queens I know a lot about. Anne is actually younger than me. Still, she preceded me in marriage to King Henry"

"I guessed that when I met Queen Anne"

"Well, one thing about us wives was that we respected our predecessors but we didn't really know them. Catherine was a mere child when she married Henry and was beheaded but even though my deepest sympathies and condolences are there with her and her families, no one exactly knew what was happening behind the strong doors of the castles and palaces.

Men, Jane, are always more powerful than women and not because women lack skills or knowledge. It is because they have the one ability we don't - people believe them. Since ages, the kings have ruled England, but that's what we were told. Most of the times, the queen's advice or wisdom is presented in the name of her husband. Want to know why? Because women don't matter and nor does their opinion. They have always been the weaker gender in all aspects but one. We always strived for equality and peace while they always strived for control and dominance. Slowly, we thought were maintaining the peace when our rights were taken from us and then we were declared a fool and vain and pretentious.

So never believe men Jane and above all, never trust history, for it was written by these cruel men"

The pain in her voice made it clear that she spoke from experience and after Uncle Thomas's joke last night, I don't think I could trust men anymore. Because if he is abusing a child's right to be the king, he can sure misuse my position as a queen as well.

We reached the Greenwich palace just in time for lunch. I was greeted by Elizabeth and Mary first and recieved a welcome kiss on cheek by King Edward after courtseying to him. Only those closest to the royal family attended, so most of the courtiers were not present.

We settled down for lunch and I was seated between Elizabeth and Edward, being the fourth highest ranked in the family.

"Well, the Duke of Galicia is here, so you ready?" She asked after making sure nobody would overhear them.

"Yes I am. Let us just get this done with and if Mary still wants to marry him, then that is her choice"

So just as decided, once we went to the gardens for games before tea, the Duke gathered everyone around for the proposal.

"I, the Duke of Galicia want to share my life with you. Mary, will you marry me?"

Before the teary eyed Mary could agree, Elizabeth interrupted.

"Princess. She is England's princess. I thought being a duke would've taught you that"

"I apologise. Princess Mary, will-"

"I am not done speaking, dear duke. Perhaps you would like to tell us all something"

"I am telling you that I intend to marry Mary"

"Yes you are, but don't have something else to say. Maybe a secret you no longer want to keep?" I asked and Elizabeth nodded at the display of support. It wasn't a shock considering mostly the succession line is at each other's throats.

"What do you mean, my lady?"

"Yes Jane, what is this? Elizabeth?" Mary questioned in annoyance.

"Trust us Mary, you need to know this" I assured and Elizabeth continued.

"If you won't tell, then let me do the honours. The Duke here already has 2 children but no wife and he only wants to marry Mary to gain profit and privelege when she becomes the queen"

"How dare you say something like that?" The Duke growled in anger, his lovable facade vanishing in moments. He unsheathed his sword and aimed for Elizabeth's abdomen, but she moved back, taking the blow on her side instead. I immediately picked up a knife laid out to cut the fruits and held it close to the Duke's throat.

"Never ever will you or any Man threaten my sisters. You will not come near her, let alone slice through her skin without a thought and live. You will NOT" I screamed in anger but Mary pulled me back while Edward ordered the guards to immediately arrest him and execute him the next day.

"No one shall marry you, Princess Mary" he mocked as he was dragged, "for you are old now. Youth has left you behind but your pretty little face still had some potential. It would be a shame if that too would be taken away"

The threat was left hanging in the quiet as the guards disappeared with the Duke while Mary and I rushed to take Elizabeth to her room. Edward ordered for immediate medical attention. As we laid Elizabeth on her bed she squeezed my hand and while squirming through the pain, she said,
"Thank you Jane. Thank you for not betraying me"

She might have expected me to support the duke and disgrace her in people's minds while shipping Mary off to Galicia to clear my way to the throne, but I would never do that. I know a lot of ways to betray someone, but I never would, unless really necessary. After all, you can only be called peaceful if you have the ability to harm others. Seems like I have that ability but I aim to use it well.