The next day, you find yourself sitting on a blanket under a tree, reading a book. When you see the shadow of a figure, sit beside you.
You: Whatever trouble I'm in, just say it.
Mother: Why would you think you’re in trouble?
You: Why do you think I think I'm in trouble?
Mother: That's not funny, Y/N. I wanted to check on you. Your sister and I have been so busy that you and I haven't had a chance to catch up.
You: My bed chamber is nice, I like the food and all the suitors want to marry wall flowers. There you're caught up.
Mother: You haven't met any suitors yet.
You: Why waste time when you already know?
Mother: Speaking of these wallflower marrying suitors. We've all been invited to attend Princess Elizabeth's wedding tonight.
You: Tonight?
Mother: Yes, I think it's a wonderful opportunity for Mary and the Dauphin to get to know each other better.
You: Here it comes.
Mother: And for you to meet some potential husbands.
You: And there it is. Mother, I don't want any of those men. They want to marry statues who agree with everything they say, worship the ground they walk on and look the other way when they're being unfaithful.
She stands up.
Mother: Why do you always fight me on this?
You stand up.
You: Why do you want your daughters to marry men who will never love them?
Mother: It's not about love.
You: Perhaps it should be.
Mother: You need to stop reading fairy tales. They're distorting your vision of reality.
And with that, she walks away. You go inside and walk down the hallway with your book still clenched in your hand. You barely look up. A voice calls out to you.
Francis: Y/N?
You: Not now your grace.
Francis: I need to talk to you.
You: Whatever it is, leave it be, I beg of you.
You continue walking.
Bash: Any luck?
Francis: No, she completely ignored me.
Bash: Maybe she was distracted.
Francis: Maybe.
Later that afternoon, you and Mary are getting ready for Elizabeth's wedding. You're taking a bath while your sister is trying to make decisions.
Mary: Which dress do you think I should wear tonight?
You: Any dress you want.
Mary: It can't just be any dress. It has to be something that says I belong here. What dress are you planning to wear?
You: One of my black ones.
Mary: Black?
You: Yes. To help the princess mourn the loss of her independence.
Mary: You can't wear black.
You: I was kidding, Mary.
She sighs in relief.
You: Honesty, I don't know what I'm going to wear. We've never been to a royal wedding before.
Mary: No, we haven't. How do you think I should wear my hair, up or down?
You: Down. It softens your whole look.
She looks in the mirror.
Mary: Yes, I think so, too. You know wearing black might not be such a bad idea.
You: You can't be serious?
Mary: Why not? It's different, and it's daring.
You: You'll become the laughing stock of the entire court.
Mary: Or I earn their respect. And Francis's favor.
You: It's your decision.
A moment of silence.
You: Everything's so different here.
Mary: Yes, I know.
You: Aren't you scared?
Mary: Of what?
You: I don't know. What if the Dauphin doesn't choose you? What if he decides to do this all over again with someone else? You know how many girls he's rejected in your position.
Mary: Yes, I know.
You: Doesn't it trouble you?
Mary: Yes. It does.
Authors Note: This chapter is a bit of a filler, and I don't know what I'm going to do, but I wanted Elizabeth's wedding to take up most of chapter four, maybe I'll add some things to make it longer than the first three. Have the reader have a longer dialogue with Francis.
