Empire of Dreams

*36*

The wedding preparations were at their peak now that there was only a night left before the ceremony. The church had been decked up, the dresses for everyone was back, half of the guests had arrived and the rooms had been prepared for those who were still to come.

Kathyrn and I were in the library as she practised the vows her fiance had sent her.

"Is it not weird that he would not even let you write your vows?" I asked while sipping the tea Sia had brought us a few minutes ago.

"I have stopped caring at this point. I do not care about this marriage anyways so it does not matter to me whether he thinks I am a well-read woman or a cow"

Kathyrn got easily worked up, but something about this did not seem right to me. The vows were usually written by the father of the bride or the bride herself, but what was happening was as atrocious as a buyer deciding the price for the goods they are buying. A lot of gossip already surrounded the wedding as it was almost a custom at this point to marry the eldest daughter first.

Kathyrn was walking around trying to imprint the words of the vow in her mind when the library doors flew open to reveal Mary, Elizabeth, Edward and Libitina.

They immediately wrapped me in a hug quickly before moving over to Kathryn and raining compliments and well wishes on her. They promised to show her the gifts before the wedding tomorrow morning and that she should focus on the preparations until then.

Weddings weren't a big affair, to be honest, but Edward was set on making Kathyrn's grand. He said it was because she was the first of his sisters to marry and I could feel that it was intended as an insult to Mary.

Mary had been awfully quiet since her arrival too. Edward looked perfectly happy and Elizabeth awkwardly tried to fill in the pauses. We were all discussing whether balls were better than hunts when my father entered the library. Immediately everyone fell silent. Edward turned to face him and he bowed deeply.

He then gestured for me and Kathyrn to come outside. I didn't know why but in that moment I felt like dropping on the ground and crying. I did not want to talk to him, not before I was confident about the case of the Archduke's murder.

He wrapped a loving arm around Kathyrn and told her that an artist would come to paint her wedding portrait. She gave a tight smile to our father before going back inside. I set to follow her but Father called me back.

"I know you have questions Jane-" he began but I couldn't help but interrupt.

"Please, Father, you know there are a lot of things between us to sort out before I can look you in the eye," I said, hoping he would stop. I wanted closure, but I didn't want to ruin Kathyrn's wedding. This was her thing and it was my priority right now. 

"I said talk. So talk Jane. I do not want anything to be unclear for you." My father ordered.

"Very well, I'll talk then. I loved a man. I wanted to marry him. You ruined all of it just because you had already chosen someone without consulting me. That much is clear to me. Now I simply want to know whether you were involved in the Archduke's murder or not. "

A silence ensued as he looked at me with an offended look on his face as if I didn't know that he was perfectly capable of murdering someone if they were too much of a bother.

"I cannot fathom a reason for which you'd think I would murder your love but it is true Jane that I was unsatisfied with this match. I know he had a higher social status but you do know that the Duke of Northumberland is way more influential. He can play a key role in offering you the throne. The same throne for which you wasted your childhood amongst those scheming snakes who are the so-called princesses and the king. That boy Edward hasn't even grown up properly and already has a foot in the grave. Did he really trick himself and his court into thinking that he would survive for long? Everyone knows that he's done and soon a new monarch would reign England. Mary has grown old now and she still doesn't have a husband. Elizabeth is still young and if you don't get a move on, she could very well leave you behind in this race. You will fail, just like Mary and Edward. That monarch, which is to rule England, that could be you, if only you could plan it all out better. You're a girl Jane. It doesn't matter whether you're well-read or wise, all that matters is that you're beautiful and capable of finding a good husband who would rule over England for you. The Duke's son could've given you all that!"

Listening to my father's words, I wished I was never born. Not only did he just admit to ruining my childhood intentionally due to his greed for the throne, but he also insulted the King! He was committing treachery in broad daylight. I walked up to him. We were so close that I could feel his cold breath on my forehead.

In the most menacing way possible, I said, "Father, listen to me once and for all. I am the third in the line of succession married or unmarried. None of my cousins are failures. Mary may not be married yet, but she is the mother of this country. Every child in this country looks up to her. She is the mother figure for England, just like Queen Katherine was. Elizabeth is worth more than just a man. She is the best explorer to ever exist in England and if only she was given a chance to show her true potential, she would prove that she was better than any man to ever exist. Edward, for your information, is the king. He tries his best and even at this young age, is wise enough to keep this country running when he could've let the evil, scheming ministers rule with him as their puppet. I do not care what you think Father and neither does England or the world. You can go and sulk somewhere if you don't get the throne for all I care. I am enough. I am wise, brave and diligent enough to be a worthy queen, but I will rejoice if Edward chooses Mary or Elizabeth as his successor because all that matters to me is England's prosperity and development. "

I left before he could say anything. The moment I entered the library, Edward, Mary, Kathyrn and Elizabeth jumped to hug me. I understood at that moment that they had overheard the whole conversation.