Wicked Stepmother

To live by your own choosing as much as possible

"As I said I cannot undo the situation there. But I can give you as much freedom as is possible and ask as little of you as is possible. You may have the run of the stables, the libraries, whatever it is you wish for in this life. I can give you wine, musicians, even women such as can be bought." He must have seen the appalled look on my face.

"But forgive me, I forget your tender age. I just mean that this marriage is no doubt not of your own choosing and I wish to let you live as much by your own choosing as is possible.Only that my existing daughter is to be queen after me and any sons we have together are to be raised to be loyal knights who will support her. It is not an unimportant role I see for them.

"But I was sent here to produce the heir" I told him, "That was all my mother talked about. It was all my people wished."

"and what do you wish?" he asked

"I wish..." I paused. I had no idea what to wish

"I wish to be valued for more than my appearance or my ability to produce heirs" I said softly, 

"You wish to train to fight with a sword? Study alchemie or astronomie? Feed the hungry? Write poesy?"

"Yes...no....something. I want power but...maybe to study magic, that would be my desire."

When I mentioned it, it was like a thought out of nowhere, I felt pressured to say something and I thought I could be a witch, but a truly powerful one like a warlock or a court magician, not just a midwife. But Edward picked up on my idea, keen to show me how permissive and generous he could be towards me and started talking particulars of scrolls and tutors and powders and cauldrons and goodness knows what else. Perhaps he too was bored with his lot in life and genuinely interested in my new undertaking.

I was back in my apartments before I realised that we had not spoken more of Snow White, I had not as I had intended demanded to see her.

Curses!