Empire of Dreams

*38*

The church chosen by Edward was beautiful and big. It boasted royalty and everyone congratulated him on his cousin's wedding. But as usual, rumours always do spread. People whispered in each other's ears how the elder sister, Jane, was still unmarried. She spent the whole time in the castle, working with Edward. Then someone said the forbidden- Edward was in love with his cousin and had married her in secret. Was his illness just a ruse for his illegal affair? But then again, he was the King of England, of course, he would have mistresses, he was his father's son.

 Kathyrn waited outside the church gate, her hands looped through Father and Mother's. I sat in the front seat with my sister Mary, Elizabeth, Edward and Mary. It was quite confusing to have both the Marys on the same seat as whenever I called their name, both answered. Cursing our parents for identically naming their children, I resorted to calling my sister Mary and my cousin Princess Mary. Edward waited for the ceremony to begin patiently while Elizabeth, who was sitting beside him, tried t criticize every human in sight. "He has a large nose" "She looks like a child! Why does she have a son who looks older than her in age?!" Elizabeth's comments entertained them. Aunt Catherine had arrived too but was sitting with Lady Irem. 

Finally, the groom arrived with his father and the ceremony began. After they had said their vows, some 'gifts' were exchanged and Edward gave his blessings to the couple, the feast officially began on the grounds. The sun was glaring at everyone just like Kathyrn was. Now that she was finally wed, she didn't see a point in pretending to be happy. Almost everyone was outside, but the sun made my head ache so I decided to back into the church for a while. The church was cool and dark. The people who worked there walked in and out, busy with something or the other. I wandered through the well-lit corridors until I found a dark passage. I assumed it led to the chapel so I walked through it. 

I felt something moving but before I could do anything, I was pinned to the wall by an iron grip. The parts of my shoulder held by those hands were starting to numb and before panic could overcome me, I pulled off the man's mask with some struggle. It was Dudley, the Duke of Northumberland's son. 

"Wow, the little not-so-much-of-a-princess thinks she can fight me?" He said maliciously.

I glared at him and he clearly noticed that because his expression turned sour promptly. 

"Don't give me that look. Who do you think you are? You rejected me as if you were some great beauty. My father and I took pity on you. He wanted me to marry you so you would have some value in this country and the court. What do you think is going to happen once the king dies? Rebellion. You could've gotten the throne if only you were humble and ladylike."

With every word Dudley uttered, I lost some patience. I was really close to stabbing him with the dagger I always had on me, but I did not want to ruin Kathyrn's wedding if I could help it. My hands were free and I had a light grip on my dagger already, but Dudley being the idiot he was, did not notice. 

"You think you are powerful, but women like you often forget that the only time you own property is when your husband dies. So basically, women are scavengers. You are a scavenger and I am going to teach you a lesson. You dare to reject the Duke of Northumberland!"

Dudley was a huge man, he was tall, heavy and his muscles were toned. He pressed his whole body weight on me and then tried to kiss me but before he could, I kicked him in the stomach and he while he backed away in surprise, I kicked the back of his knees which made him kneel. Putting my dagger near his throat, I turned his head painfully so he would face me partially. 

"You are worthless Dudley and you should know that. Men are stupid and blind. Women may be scavengers, but you men are beasts from hell. You have no use on this planet, living off your father's reputation and tending to a non-deservingly inflated ego. Remember this. You are just Dudley, you are yet to have any title. I am the heir to the house of Grey and the third in line to the throne and it would be better for me to never sit on the throne than to get a crown with someone as useless and devilish as you by my side. You dared to touch me, now you will regret being born."

Dudley began screaming aggressively, "The pointless cousin of the half-dead king, that's what you are. You will never get to rule England, because you are a woman and surely God will not make the mistake of handing his precious golden kingdom to someone as incompetent and unwanted as you women!"

With a lot of effort, I dragged Dudley through the passageway. It led us outside where the feast was and his screams attracted the attention. The palace guards immediately rushed to me, as did my father, Edward and Aunt Catherine. 

"What happened, Jane?" Edward asked.

"Dudley here tried to threaten me as an attempt to punish me for rejecting him. He tried to harm ne and dared to lay his filthy hands on me, which is why he is being dragged around in broad daylight by a meek, pointless weakling like me. Am I correct?" I mocked Dudley. 

"Guards, lock him up and punish him severely," Edward ordered but the Duke of Northumberland reached us by then. 

"My poor son! What has this girl done?" He accusingly pointed at me.

"Your son has demonstrated the behaviour of an animal and I am not afraid to treat him accordingly" I replied scornfully. 

As the guards held Dudley tight, after freeing him from my grip, Edward stepped in front of me protectively, as did Aunt Catherine.

"Stop defending this excuse of a son, Duke. He disrespected the royal family. He is barbaric and thus will be treated like a barbarian" Aunt Catherine said, her arm still protectively around me. 

"You will regret this Edward. Protecting this cousin of yours today will lead to your end. Nobody treats you like a king anyway. You are a weak, dying boy and she is a weak, foolish girl. I will turn the whole court against you Edward and believe me, it wouldn't take much effort  anyway."

Edward walked up to the Duke, so close that their faces were almost touching. 

"Whether I live or die is none of your concern, but remember, I can execute the whole court but you won't be able to harm me, because I AM THE KING. THE KING OF ENGLAND" he bellowed.

The duke glared at him but wisely kept his mouth shut. Shoving him, Edward said, "The next time you dare to address your king without the proper titles, you will find yourself hanging in the village square among peasants while my guards slowly spill your guts out and sew your mouth shut while you breathe."

The guards dragged Dudley away, the Duke stomped off, and the people began whispering amongst themselves. My father muttered, "Foolish girl, picking up dangerous fights like this" Under his breath, Edward whispered something in his ears in reply which made his face lose its colour, Kathyrn, Mary, Princess Mary and Elizabeth hugged me tight.