Chapter 1

Dark hair. Dark smooth hair dangling against the silk of her gown as she walked. Then danced. As Prince Louis slept in his bed after the ball, he unknowingly smiled as he dreamt of Mary. Nobody was in his room to look at him and object. Sleep allows people to do what everyone desires. What one truly desires. Unfulfilled desires. In the dream, Louis approached Mary as she had her back turned against him. He was hoping he would dance with her.

"Your Majesty?

And as soon as Mary turned….

Louis woke up panting for breath. His room was dark and was very quiet. He looked around. He was sweating. He still did not know what had just happened. He reached his side table for some water but could not find any. He looked at his hands and realized that it was all just a dream. But why? Why would he even dream such a thing?

"Lola!"

The next morning, everyone was talking about last night's Winter's Ease. Lady Kenna and Lady Lola walked down the corridors listening to the whispers and random gossips that always filled the corridors amongst servants and lords and ladies. Kenna was particularly happy. Bash had finally forgiven her and she knew that now all she had to do was be a good wife and show him her heart. She cannot be the same person she was once before.

"You seem very happy this morning", said Lola.

"It's almost spring. Everyone should be happy. And I can say with confidence that nobody was as happy as you were last night when you were dancing with Prince Louis of Conde. Hand in hand, just the two of you. It was very romantic", smiled Kenna and gave Lola a slight push.

"You know why we danced Kenna. You know the situation with him and Mary. It was very complicated to begin with and now almost the entire castle knows that something is going on with Francis and Louis regarding Mary and I for one do not like secret whispers going on about Mary. And…also I heard one of the kitchen maids saying that Francis is coming back to me, like he ever belonged to me."

Kenna fully understood what she meant. Now with Greer gone, Lola was the only one she could talk to. It's not like Mary would have all the time in the world to discuss everything about their lives. "I do want the best for you Lola you know that."

Lola knew. All her friends were married. She was married until she knew that her presumed husband was a fraud. Nevertheless, she loved Remy. Which is why she named his son after her former husband. Yes, her bastard son with the king of France.

They just turned the corner when they almost bumped into Louis of Conde.

"Oh…Lady Lola.", said a startled Louis. "And Lady Kenna. Good morning."

"Good morning Lord Conde", said Lola. Kenna's smile followed.

Conde's eyes were fixed on Lola. She looked at him as if she was expecting him to say something. It only made him uneasy. She had this unusual blush on her cheeks. She wore a peach coloured gown and it glowed with an unusual light.

"I must be on my way. My brother is expecting me", said Conde and bided farewell.

After his departure, Kenna looked at Lola and grinned.

"What is it?" asked Lola.

"He is interested in one of us. And I am married and he is a noble man so let's see who is left….hmmmm….."

"Will you shut up?"

Conde went to the throne room to find Mary and Francis consulting with Bash on a certain matter. They seemed happy. She seemed happy. So it was true, she has moved on. And why shouldn't she? Every woman who has ever endured what she has must forget her past and try to move on. Especially if that woman is sitting on the throne. Mary had not spotted Conde who stood by the door and watched the trio discuss matter. He merely retired to his chambers.

His chambers for some time now felt very lonely. Earlier, women would grace his nights with their presence and remind him of his manliness and fierceness not just on the battlefields. Then along came the queen, the queen of France. And Louis admitted it to himself he never felt so divine after Mary's influence in his life.

As various thoughts went around in his head, there was a knock on his door. Louis opened it to find Lola standing.

"I am so sorry to have disturbed you at this time…"

"Oh no please. I wasn't really busy…actually. Would you care to come in?"

"Actually I am in a hurry. There are some diplomats coming in to discuss trade routes with the king and the queen and your brother's presence is most essentially required."

"Alright. I am sure he will be there. But I am not sure how my role plays out in this…."

"The queen wants you, the Prince of Navarre, to attend the feast…..with an escort. And because of the orders…"

"…orders of the queen we must go together to distract the subjects from further gossip and maintain the mutual harmony between the two countries. Am I right Lay Lola?"

Lola smiled. "Absolutely. Lord Conde, I understand that all this appearance is making you uncomfortable….."

"Now who may have told you that?"

"It was a mere speculation. The Ice Ball. Then last night's ball."

"Well a lot can change between last night and this very moment", smiled Louis.

"So I can take that statement as a yes?"

"It's a definite yes."

Lola smiled. She was smiling a little too much lately in his presence which seemed very silly. "Well, then I will see you in the evening."

"I am looking forward to it."

"I am hoping that our appearances would not have to be just for show. They can just be two good people trying to know each other better for the sake of their countries' friendship."

Louis stared at Lola. He was not sure why she had said that but she did. Maybe she was just trying to salvage the relationship between Francis and him ad trying really hard to protect Mary. Lola was not the kind of woman who would take advantage of such a complicated situation to make her way up the social ladder. For a brief moment he remembered that face he had seen in the woods during the plague, when Lola had just given birth and she was scared. And now, he was looking at her, strong and fierce and independent. Transformations in women surprised him.

"Yes, Lola. I do too."

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