A Song of Roses

CHAPTER II

After the meal was finished, King Harold insisted that we stay for the night, despite our protests. The king insisted that we were his guests and that it would be rude to depart without staying for the evening. He also expressed his desire to spend time with us and get to know us better, and the royals were all in agreement that it would be best for us to stay for the evening. "Nonsense, I insist," the King stated firmly, his tone filled with authority as the queen nodded her head in agreement. "We would be saddened to see such kind and noble guests leaving our presence without spending the evening with us."

"Exactly, my dear," Queen Victoria chimed in, agreeing with her husband's words. "We would be saddened to see such precious guests leave after a single evening. It is our sincere wish that you stay for the night in our castle and join us for breakfast in the morning." The queen's tone was gentle yet firm, and I felt like I had no choice in the matter. "Well, it seems that we have no choice but to accept your kind offer," my father said with a polite smile. "Our finest servants will be at your absolute disposal to accommodate any of your needs."

As the servants cleared the table, Queen Victoria called over some of her handmaidens to accompany us as we left the grand dining hall. The handmaidens were appointed with the task of ensuring that we were comfortable and taken care of throughout our stay in the castle. "Pray, let the menfolk have their talk, and we ladies shall retire to the parlour to enjoy a cup of tea." Queen Victoria declared with a smile as she rose to her feet, motioning for us to follow her. I heard the prince excuse himself, and his gentle footsteps faded away as he departed to walk in the garden for some fresh air.

I moved my puffy gown carefully with each step as I walked up the richly decorated staircase, the fabric of my dress rustling softly with each movement. It was sad how the king and queen were kind, unlike their son, who was the complete opposite. The prince had an intense and predatory gaze that made me feel uncomfortable and uneasy in his presence. This is just the beginning; it will be much worse when we are wed. I thought to myself with a shiver of fear as I began to imagine the nightmare that would occur once I became his bride. As we reached the top of the staircase, Sophia said she would not join us for tea since she was quite tired from the journey. I could see that my sister was indeed quite exhausted, as her breath was somewhat laboured and her eyes were glazed with exhaustion. "No worries," the queen kindly replied. Queen Victoria called one of her servants to escort Sophia to her chamber, asking them to make sure she was comfortable and ensure that she got some rest. I smiled gently at Sophia, wishing her a good night and a restful sleep before she was escorted to her room.

We entered the parlour, which was beautifully decorated and adorned with a variety of luxuries. The furniture was all decorated with fine silks and rich fabrics, and the walls were adorned with elegant paintings in sophisticated frames. The atmosphere in the parlour felt soothing and tranquil, and I felt a sense of comfort as we took our seats in front of a small table set with several teacups and saucers. The room was softly lit by a series of candles, which gently illuminated the space, casting soothing and serene shadows upon the walls. "My parents betrothed me to Harold when I was but four and ten. Think upon how terrified my soul might have been in that moment!" Queen Victoria giggled behind her cup, her tone light and playful as she recalled her own marriage. I tried my best not to choke on my tea when the queen mentioned her early marriage, my throat feeling tight with fear as I realised she had been married at a quite young age. "Oh, I can understand," my mother laughed along with the queen. I tried to distract myself by looking at the paintings, my eyes wandering around the room and observing the various depictions in the paintings. "May I speak freely, Your Majesty?" I asked, taking a sip of tea as I did so. "Of course, dear," Queen Victoria replied with a warm smile. "How long did it take for you to fall in love with his majesty?" I inquired gently, my tone filled with curiosity as I wondered how her early marriage had turned out. As I asked my question, I saw my mother's eyes widen in surprise, as she didn't expect me to ask such a direct and bold question. "I can honestly say that it took some time for me to truly fall in love with the King," Queen Victoria replied, her tone candid and honest. "It was an arranged marriage, and we had to take time to get to know each other and build a genuine connection." "Pray, but you were only fourteen, your majesty. You were too young for such a burden to be placed upon you-" I explained, not being able to refrain from expressing my disapproval of the queen's early marriage. My mother gave me a warning glance, her tone gentle yet firm as she tried to silence my remarks while Queen Victoria sat quietly. "I have heard that Prince William is quite multilingual and he can speak several languages," my mother said to change the subject, bringing up a more suitable topic for polite conversation. Prince this, prince that, ugh. I could barely contain my irritation as I sat quietly, nodding my head politely whenever needed. "Oh, he is quite a well-educated young man," Queen Victoria replied with a smile, describing the prince in a flattering manner. "My daughter is musically gifted. She can play a variety of instruments, including the piano and the violin, which she has been playing since she was only eight years old," my mother said proudly, her tone filled with admiration as she bragged about my musical abilities. I saw an amused smile on Queen Victoria's face as she heard the mention of my musical accomplishments. "The pair do match as the sun and moon!" The queen exclaimed, smiling behind her cup as my mother laughed along with her.

"Your Majesty, am I the first to be betrothed to Prince William?" I asked, directing my question towards Queen Victoria. The question had slipped out of my mouth before I had the time to stop myself, and I felt a rush of emotion stirring within me as I awaited the queen's answer. I was determined to know more about the prince and his behaviour, and I wasn't going to let my mother stop me from discovering the truth about the man I was set to marry. "Well, you are not the first. But that was when he was only seven and ten; he's much older now, a wise man in fact!" The queen exclaimed, attempting to reassure me that the prince was a different person now. I was not completely convinced by her words. The queen sat her cup down, moving her dress so she could sit next to me, holding my hand, expressing her reassurance and affection for me. "Dear one, you are such a wise and beautiful woman. Do not worry, for we have experienced the same things. Yet, for you, you are now a young lady, and I am certain that you shall make an excellent wife and partner to Prince William. Furthermore, you are both close in age, although he is six years older than you. Still, do not fret, for he is a great and honourable man worthy of your love and affection." The queen continued, emphasising the closeness of our ages. I looked at my mother in shock, but she only smiled it off, as if it were of no concern. This has to be a jest. The queen was continuing to speak about the marriage arrangement, and my mother was smiling and nodding along as if this was perfectly reasonable and acceptable. Don't lose your temper, Anna. I convinced myself over and over again, trying my best to remain calm and composed. I just smiled politely at Queen Victoria. Thankfully, the tea continued peacefully, and I slowly regained my composure as the conversation shifted towards lighter and more casual topics.

I bid my farewells to the queen and mother as they left to retire for the evening, and I was walked to my chambers by a servant. I was quite tired by this point and was relieved that the tea had finally come to an end, yet my mind was still abuzz with thoughts about the things that had been discussed. The servant who escorted me to my chambers looked to be of similar age to me—a brunette with brown eyes. She walked beside me in a graceful and elegant manner, moving with a gentle and soothing rhythm. Her presence was comforting, and I felt at ease walking beside her. She opened the door, and I entered the chamber, noticing the elegance and sophistication of the decor. The furniture was covered with soft silks and velvets, and the walls were decorated with ornate tapestries. The room had a calming and serene atmosphere, making me feel calm and relaxed as I entered. "My lady, may I assist you in removing your gown?" She asked gently, her voice quiet and soothing. I nodded my head, relieved to have some help with my attire. She carefully removed my necklace, rings, bracelets, earrings, and shoes with precise and careful movements. Each item was taken off and laid on the dressing table, ensuring that none of my jewellery or accessories were lost or forgotten. She untied the corset, her movements swift but gentle as she loosened its grip on my body. It came away with a satisfying sigh; my body was finally relieved from the constriction of the garment. I breathed in deeply, feeling much more comfortable and unencumbered now that my body was free from its constraints. As the dress was removed, a slight chill settled across my skin. I felt slightly exposed and vulnerable, as my only layers of clothing were my thin undergarments. She carefully let down my hair, allowing it to cascade down my shoulders in a gentle and natural manner. My hair was long and silky, flowing down my back in beautiful waves.

The girl slipped a cream-white nightgown over my head, gently easing it over my body and settling onto my skin as a light and airy layer of fabric. It was soft and comfortable, making me feel comfortable and relaxed as I stood surrounded by a cloud of fabric. "Is the prince still in the garden?" I asked, realising too late that the question was foolish and probably didn't require an answer. My cheeks had become flushed, and I began to fidget nervously, aware of how stupid the question may have sounded. Why do I even speak of him? "His highness is already in his chamber," the girl replied, her tone calm and unbothered by my foolish and childish question. "Oh," I mumbled, feeling even more embarrassed as I realised I had made myself look quite silly with my question. "Is there anything else you need, my lady?" the brunette asked, her tone polite and respectful as she waited eagerly. "Nay, thank you; I bid you good night," I replied. She smiled and bid me a good night as she left me to retire for the night. I lay in bed, my mind reeling from the night's events. "What did I do to deserve this?" I couldn't help but ask myself, feeling like everything was just happening too fast and that I had no control over my own life. I felt like a pawn being placed into a chess game, a role I never wanted or desired.