1908
The Garden of Linnea Castle
Arendelle
"Sister monarchs?"
"Two queens who rule either lands close together or similar lands, who are often considered each others' contemporary."
"Like Elizabeth and Mary." Pia replied, and Grandpapa nodded.
"Exactly. They came to view themselves as sisters separated by the sea. They became sister monarchs- both similar in age, who ruled two separate lands as each others' contemporaries."
"Did Victoria really love the queen?"
He sighed, considering the question. Though neither woman had said a word about what had happened when they'd been caught in the storm, it was evident that something had shifted for the two queens. They became closer, often sitting cheek to cheek as they chatted during tea, speaking in quiet, hushed tones that faded out whenever anyone came close; furtive glances were cast over their shoulders at the others, as though the pair were planning something and didn't want one of them to know, lest the surprise was spoiled. They went for frequent walks together, and rumors quickly began to swirl among the staff that the Queen of Britain had started an affair of that kind with the Scandinavian monarch. Of course, when confronted with the whispers, both women had denied it, Victoria finding it laughable.
"That's most ridiculous-"
"I'm married to you, dearest; I've birthed your children from my womb. I lie with you every night, when I'm allowed. Victoria is a dear friend, nothing more, I promise you that. You are my heart, and if I am having an affair of that kind with anyone, it is you. Do not believe everything that comes from the staff."
"I suppose yes, she did. Victoria had grown up awful lonely; she was the only child of the Duke of Kent and his wife, and grew up under the Kensington System."
"What's that?"
"It was an elaborate set of rules laid out to keep Victoria from meeting people her mother and her mother's comptroller considered undesirable; it was meant to keep Victoria weak and dependent on them both as she grew, until she could not imagine not having them by her side. As a result, Victoria was both distrustful of people and almost desperate for attention. Though, as she got older, she learned whom she could truly trust and who she could not, and chose for herself whom to be around, with Albert's guidance, of course."
"That's horrible." Magda whispered, setting her cup down. "The queen was not raised that way, was she?"
He shook his head. "The queen was raised out among her people- within reason. She became known as the 'People's Princess' and then later, the 'People's Queen'. She was very personable, but much preferred her privacy when things got to be too overwhelming, especially after she and the king began having children. She had been subjected to the court of Arendelle as a child, and did not wish to subject her children to the same court until they were old enough to understand it. As for the princess, she had the same exposure to the court as the queen had, however, she was not out among the people as much as a child; the king and queen had felt that, because the queen was their heir to the throne, it was her duty to be seen and interact with the people. But the princess would most likely marry someone from a distant land and become a member of their court, and so would not need to be seen among the people as much."
"She was like Victoria then, the princess."
"She was. But unlike Victoria, the queen and her sister had not been kept dependent on their parents; the queen, as Crown Princess, had spent many a spare moment as a child chatting with the maids and visiting the kitchens. She knew of the working class and wanted to care for them, as her parents were. And she was able to do so more than Victoria. 0The queen was much more of a free spirit than either her sister or Victoria, and it was due to how she was raised. In a time where decorum and societal norms dictated everyday life, the young queen had lived an almost... freeing existence. Her parents made sure she had the freedom to explore and know her land- within reason- and that she understood the gravity of what awaited her when she took the throne. Of course, the king, on the other hand, had had a similar upbringing- in the sense that he had freedom, but he did not know his people as well as the queen knew hers. But as he'd grown, he'd gone out and met them, seen how they lived and sympathized, and when he became king, he determined that he would do everything he could to better his country, for the good of all those who lived on the Isles."
"And when they had children, he included them in it, didn't he?"
"Yes, Magda, he did. The king and queen both believed that if something was good enough for their children, then it would be good enough for all the children and families of Arendelle and the Isles. The royal family, despite rumors, lived simply. Though their rooms were filled with elaborately carved furniture, that furniture had been in their families for decades. The blankets upon their beds were made from local threads and fabrics, handsewn by local women. Their clothing was simple- with the exception of a few things, such as court attire and the like- but for the majority of their clothing, it was simple; simple cuts and designs, with minimal decoration. The queen of course, could get away with a little more elaboration, due to her powers, but still, she chose to wear basic, simple clothes when with her family. The toys the children played with had been well kept, and handed down for generations- both Arendellian and Southern Isles- and if something was new, it was special, such as for a birthday or Jul and the like. Of course, Victoria and Albert insisted on sending the children the best and nicest things, something the king and queen disapproved of, but let slide because they were 'family'. And the children cherished every gift they received. Greed and selfishness was not something the family suffered from."
"They sound wonderful." Thyra whispered. "To raise your children to be selfless and loving... it's rare."
"They were human. The king and queen both understood the importance of family; they each understood that every day was a gift, and they could one day not wake up, for they had both lost their parents in violent ways. And so they did everything they could to cherish the moments they had as a family- something the courts did not fully understand, but left alone."
