The Dollar Princess of Mexico

A Journey

After the plans were established, I was informed I would be wed in a month's time. And as soon as the next morning arrived, my family and I would take the journey to Mexico to get established at court.  To my relief, I learned that my interactions with my fiancé would be restricted to a minimum until the wedding day, closely monitored to prevent any possibility of bearing illegitimate children. I couldn't help but mockingly snicker and scoff at my mother's concern that this would pose difficulty. As if I would hop into bed with a man I had just met and already felt disdain for.

That night, with the weight of the impending wedding printed in my mind, I lay in bed next to my youngest sister, knowing that I may never see her again. The moon peered through the window, casting a light into the still darkness of the room and onto the two of us. Through the light, I could see the wonder on my sister's face, as thoughts of her own future marriage danced in her mind. As she stared at the ceiling, a mischievous smirk occasionally gracing her innocent face, she turned to me with excitement. Quick moments of silence would be broken as she whispered to me questions about the man I would marry.

"I know nothing of him." I would respond plainly, wishing she could just appreciate our time together. But she was just thirteen, and to her, marriage was still something of fairytales. I wished I could share in her blissful ignorance, but honesty prevailed.

"He is quite handsome," she replied with excitement. In her mind, the vision of romance and a bright future danced vividly. "You will have your fairytale one day, Anne," I wrongly assured, forcing a smile despite my own doubts. I knew that likely her fate would likely be similar to mine but I couldn't bare to ruin her fairytales with my harsh reality.

I longed for time to stand still, to hold onto the moments of innocence and freedom before my life was forever changed. But time marched on relentlessly as I tossed and turned throughout the night, and my journey to the court loomed closer with every passing second.

When morning arrived, my things were packed with haste by the Mexican guards, the reality of my departure leaving an aching pit in my stomach. Yet, I couldn't deny the relief of not having to carry my possessions through the long, winding walkways. That morning, I vowed to cherish the memory of my last night in my childhood home with Anne. If I cannot stay strong for myself, I must stay strong for my family.

In a blink of an eye, I was on a ship to the unknown. The ocean felt as if it stretched endlessly. I prayed that it truly was endless. In only what seemed like a second's time, I could no longer see New York. I wondered if I ever would see it again- the wideness of the ocean mirrored the enormous unknown of marriage and court life in Mexico that I was being jousted into.

For most of the trip, I stood at the railing pondering if I could just jump. For a moment, I wished I had been born a fish and not a woman, able to escape within the waves. The only thing keeping me sane was the familiarity of the ocean's smell. The mingling of salt and fresh air triggered memories of carefree summers spent in Newport with my family when I was just a young and naive girl, unburdened by the responsibilities of an engaged woman. Oh, how I longed for another carefree summer.

During the latter part of my journey, I immersed myself in reading. Before setting off to New York, I cunningly slipped into the Seminary's library, seeking an escape. I managed to liberate three books to provide companionship throughout the trip. I vowed to forever keep them in my possession, as a reminder of the freedom I once had.

As we sailed nearer and nearer to the coast, my nerves surged, yet I made every effort to conceal this anxiety. We had ventured hundreds of miles away from New York and my cherished seminary. Most agonizing of all, I found myself distanced by hundreds of miles from my former life, a life I desperately clung to, but with each passing mile and every rolling wave, it slipped further and further from my grasp.

"We are here, my dear." My mother wrapped her arms around me in an embrace, but this time it felt genuine and warm. "You will do just fine." She assured.

Before I stepped off the ship to step into my fate, I glared at the land that soon would be mine. The high mountain tops surrounded my point of view. Their beauty gave me hope; hope that I could find some beauty in my time here. The weight of my responsibility lay heavy on my shoulders, but I would no longer let it crush my spirits.

I stepped off the ship and was instantly informed that we had only a mere thirty-minute carriage ride to court. As I nodded in acknowledgment, I kept my head held high, determined not to show any signs of fear or uncertainty. With a deep breath, I stepped into the carriage, reminding myself that I was not a passive figure in my own life; I must grasp onto the small ounce of control I possessed. Above all, I needed to display strength, for anything less could lead to my demise. Pitying myself was no longer an option; self-inflicted misery must be abandoned. Having dealt with my fair share of spoiled men, I understood that, as a woman, I could wield power if I played my cards right.

As we arrived at Chapultepec Castle, I took in its grand size, although it was a mere cottage in comparison with European castles. The simplicity of the castle appealed to me, I never understood the excess of palaces such as Versailles or Windsor Castle. Despite the Castle's modesty, it did boast a beautiful terrace that peered over Mexico City, and the exterior of the Castle was embellished with a sizeable garden and several elegant fountains.

To my dismay, the first face I would see at Chapultepec, apart from the several guards stationed outside, was my husband-to-be. He stood outside, alongside his guardsmen, fiddling with the hem of his suit. Once again, he appeared anxious, his confidence once again fleeting. I offered a curtsy and a disingenuous smile, masking the repugnance I felt toward him. "Maximilian," I spoke, acknowledging him. His eyes lit up and he watched me bow before him, his ego being once again fed.

"Hello, Isabel," he whispered in my ear, his voice tinged with smug self-satisfaction, as he flirtatiously brushed up against me while I walked. I tried to maintain composure, but his bold advance caught me off guard, and in a panic, I quickly pushed past him and followed the guards along with my family to where we would be staying. As we entered Chapultepec, I couldn't shake the feeling of his eyes burning through me from behind. I knew, to him, this was all but a game. I prayed that I could put off my interactions with Maximilian for as long as possible.

Unfortunately, this would soon prove to be a challenge.