To Superdani4Ever: No, but it and her upbringing has helped her to transform into the woman she became. Those documentaries aren't always given the royal seal of approval, and I'm sure if the royals ever saw them then they would probably scoff, if they didn't react indignantly like Cyrus did.
I think Robert managed to hide his relationship with Kathryn from the media, so he's rather good. And if Aglaia managed to study in the country without any knowledge leaked out through the media, then she's good too.
Britain did not go to Greece's aid, any more than America did. Normally nations don't go to wars, even to aid other nations, unless it threatened their very interests and own security. Well, yes, it must have come across the Henstridges more than once, they are somewhat in awe of her- they never imagined that anyone could do this differently from what they did.
Veruca sees Helena and Anastasia, and goes green with envy. She can't have what Aglaia has so she wants what they have!
Oh, Robert knows. He's naturally very protective, but he's also quite possessive. She's shown him she's not a helpless person who can't survive on her own. That's one of the reasons he wanted to possess her in the first place. She aroused his interest and curiosity by acting self-reliant and yet able to be graceful and poised like a queen. And yet seemingly normal and calming. As for the nun bit…
Yeah, no one can stand against them- ever! And the babies are truly sweet!
I guess they're tired, nannies or not, being new parents and having royal duties… Besides, babies or not, they like to keep their personal lives private especially since they've had enough of the family intrusions! Helena knows, it's an unfailing reminder of her short-comings as a wife and mother. And finally Len goes for gold! But wait for it- it's not going to be easy!
Poor Simon. If only he knew. He would have really loved her, and she would have felt the same way.
I don't own Royals. Neither do you, but hey, E! does!
To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.
"I knew she was trying to get her daughters to marry someone," Aglaia hissed. "But I never imagined…"
"I know," Robert said grimly. They had just put the babies to bed and now they were discussing this in the playroom far from Robert's office and potential eavesdroppers.
"Pregnant… Out of wedlock! For a royal, especially now even more than the Middle Ages, that's a death sentence," she hissed. "Can you imagine the disgrace, the humiliation this whole family will have to face?"
"I know," Robert said placating her. He placed his hands on her shoulders. But we need to think up solutions now, they're still waiting outside."
Aglaia shook her head. If an English or Scottish princess had gotten pregnant out of wedlock in the old days, or eloped with someone… Wait, that's it.
"A fine," she stated. "We need to fine them a great deal of money. Give the money perhaps, to the various families, along with numerous gifts and tokens of our most sincere apologies."
Robert nodded. "And…" He began seemingly waiting.
Aglaia bit her lip.
"What else… Do you want? The other royal houses need compensation."
Robert paused. "Let's bring my mother and siblings in here, shall we?"
Once Helena, Liam and Eleanor were inside, the latter began: "Well, what are we going to do?"
Robert shook his head. "Damn it."
"We might… Be able to get Prince Adriaan and Prince Shabangu to marry them." Aglaia shrugged. "But as it so happens, they were all dead-drunk, I don't know who ended up with who."
"Yeah,' Len muttered. Liam nodded sagely. "So until those babies pop out…"
"Well, what are you suggesting?" Liam asked. "An abortion?"
Aglaia shook her head. "Royalty are forbidden from aborting any of their babies, or from using In-Vitro fertilisation. Or embryo adoption. Or having surrogate mothers carry the pregnancy. Even donor eggs and sperms are prohibited to us. In order for the line of succession to continue as naturally as possible- the traditional method is used." She said bluntly.
Robert heaved out a sigh. He turned around to face the wall. "I don't think we should punish Penelope and Maribel," Aglaia stated. "Goodness knows, those girls can't have had an easy time, and they're young. They definitely made a mistake." A big one. "But their mother is an entirely different story."
"I agree." Helena said unexpectedly, brutally even. "She should be whipped, beheaded or burnt alive."
Aglaia looked sceptically at her. "Really? In any case, she should be punished. She's obviously abused her own power, her parental authority over her daughters. Her position as a member of the royal family to get them with princes."
Unseen by them, Robert's eyes glinted. Yes, he did feel some guilt for putting Penelope and Maribel in this situation. But he knew better than most, including his siblings and even his own mother, the limits to a royals' freedom and rights. And Veruca had breached that. She was already a danger to his wife and children, Liam, Eleanor, his mother and himself. She had to go.
Robert's brow furrowed. While helping Aglaia with her English history before they married, they had come across the Wars of the Roses, or the Cousins' War as it was known then. Aglaia had heard that it inspired Game of Thrones.
A few years ago…
Robert chuckled as she asked that question. "Well… It's true, maybe a little bit," he admitted.
"Without the dragons and the direwolves," he put in though. "Of course," Aglaia said dryly. "Not to mention the Red Priestess, and the White Walkers."
They both laughed. "Well… yes, but…. They do have something similar."
Aglaia blinked. "Like what?"
"Witches if you believe in that sort of thing," Robert said dryly. "Jacquetta of Luxembourg was the mother of Elizabeth Woodville the wife of-"
"Edward the Fourth," Aglaia remembered. "She was a commoner, wasn't she? So their marriage must have caused a stir."
"So did Jacquetta's marriage," Robert said. He passed her some novels. "In any case, Jacquetta married the Duke of Bedford in a political alliance, but once he died, she married Richard Woodville, one of his knights. She had to be fined for that, the way Catherine of Valois, Henry the Fifth's widow did when she married Owen Tudor."
"The… Father of the Tudor dynasty?" Aglaia asked. Robert nodded.
"Jacquetta was a practicing witch," Robert admitted. "Later they found things like lead charms. But she got away. Her first sister-in-law, Eleanor Cobham, Duchess of Gloucester, wasn't so lucky. She was accused of witchcraft on various accounts and then while the woman who supplied her with potions was burnt at the stake, another was hung, drawn and quartered, Eleanor was divorced and imprisoned for life. She died there." Robert exhaled. "Not pleasant. But back in those days…"
Aglaia shook her head. "Looks like the person that said this was right: history is really juicier than fiction."
"Yeah." Robert agreed. "But Jacquetta of Luxembourg was lucky. She got her marriage and she got off scotch-free."
And now Robert knew what to do. Jacquetta of Luxembourg did pay a fine. And it looked like Veruca would as well. And of course, she would be kicked out of the royal family. Stripped of her rank as an HRH and simply be called Her Grace the Duchess of Essex. She had to leave the royal family and if Cyrus stayed with her, so would he. In fact, Robert could very well…
He turned instantly to Aglaia. "Veruca is mostly to blame." He stated.
"I know," Aglaia agreed. "But if we want to keep silent-"
"Why should we?" Robert interrupted. "Keep silent?"
Helena, Aglaia, Eleanor and Liam exchanged astonished looks. "Well, because we're royalty." Helena spluttered.
It was Aglaia who first figured it out. Her eyes widened in realisation. "Oh," she said slowly. "If you make it clear Veruca was to blame, then her girls wouldn't be in so much trouble. They'll be protected, but their mother-"
"Faces legal retribution," Robert confirmed. "In court."
"Well, she deserves it," Liam agreed. "She's their mother. She's pimping out her girls to princes in order for them to get pregnant."
"And either steal the throne from Robbie and Will or some other poor sods from another dynasty," Eleanor muttered.
"She's to blame," Aglaia stated. "So… You do realise that you are going to have to take her title away?"
"Her HRH style?" Robert asked. "I already knew that." Aglaia looked grim.
"When a king of Spain's daughter was accused of corruption and fraud along with her husband, he took their titles of Duke and Duchess away." She stated. "The public will be expecting no less from us. Veruca Popperwell was created Duchess of Essex in the event of her- first- marriage to your uncle, Cyrus."
"After the divorce she retained her title," Helena continued. "And when she remarried Cyrus she gained back her style as an HRH. All to get the throne, for her daughter if not herself." Helena finished.
Len shook her head frustrated. "But that doesn't make any sense," she argued. "Will is first in line now, followed by Andrew and Selena and then me and Eleanor." Liam agreed. "Cyrus only comes afterwards and then there's Penelope and Maribel. She knows she has no chance of getting the throne, for Penelope, Cyrus or Maribel. There's no chance of that now."
"Unless a major accident happens," Aglaia put in. "But then suspicion would indeed fall upon her and Cyrus. This is a cunning scheme, but she's not that clever." She looked at Robert. "She has to pay for this," Aglaia stated. "No mother does this to her own children. No royal duchess ever forced her daughters into disgrace like that. Or threatened the very reputation of the royal family."
"I thought it was already broken," Robert muttered in an undertone.
"Besides," Helena said, not hearing about it. "Once these royal houses and the press hear that Veruca's to blame, the name of Henstridge won't be as tarnished."
Somehow, Aglaia disagreed. They would still blame the family dynamics, she thought, thinking about those royal houses. But the brunt of the blame would fall upon Veruca.
"Especially if Robert strips her of her HRH style, takes legal action and probably strips her of her title as duchess." Aglaia said aloud. "We're scapegoating her?" She asked in disbelief.
"Darling, it's either her or us," Helena said grimly.
Aglaia bit her lip. "I don't like this," she stated bluntly. "I don't feel easy about this."
Helena went over to her and placed her hand on her shoulder. "I know," she said comfortingly. "But Veruca is responsible for this and she's simply paying the price." Even if they were doing this for more than one reasons.
"What about the princes?" Liam asked.
"They'll be in serious trouble," Eleanor pointed.
"But it won't be as bad if we take action first," Robert said quietly. "Either way…" He looked at her. "We could easily take the girls somewhere where they will give birth to their babies but this…"
"Solves nothing." Aglaia finished for him. She narrowed her eyes. "I suppose I'll be the one to teach Veruca a lesson in how to treat your own daughters."
Robert frowned. "Darling, are you sure?" He asked.
Aglaia scoffed. "I'd love nothing more, to give her a piece of my mind and teach her a lesson, from one mother to another. She's obviously failed in raising her offspring. She's clearly abused her power over them! Why? Because she wants to get on top, and get her children on the throne, that's why! What kind of…" She shook her head angrily and in disgust.
"Besides, I'll be formulating the action plan," she said through gritted teeth. "This is how things should be done."
"Why?" Robert questioned, the same time Liam asked, "What do you want to do?"
"As I said, strip her of her regained status as an HRH, and of her title as Duchess of Essex. Then inform her that there will be a fine paid to the offended royal houses as compensation and that she will be seen in court. I'll take action in suing her and then she'll probably be summoned to a hearing. She might go to jail," Aglaia admitted. "Even though she's royalty. And she needs to leave palace and all royal residences, not to make contact with any of us. Or she might just be heavily fined. Either way, we have to do this now. This is no less what people would expect. I know it might seem harsh," she admitted. "But she certainly abused her power over those girls- her own children. And as royalty, and a mother, that is the last thing she should do."
Robert looked at them all. "Is this alright with everyone?" He asked.
Helena nodded. "I agree." Liam and Eleanor nodded too. "Same." Eleanor stated.
"Good," Helena announced. "Now it's all decided."
"I'll inform her then," Aglaia said.
Veruca was waiting outside, her lips primly pursed. Aglaia was the one who walked over to her.
"Forget all thoughts of a light punishment," Aglaia stated bluntly. "Your diplomatic passport is to be confiscated." Veruca's jaw dropped then closed.
"Your royal allowance is also to be considerably reduced you," the queen continued. "As is your style of Her Royal Highness." Veruca's mouth opened again and made a sound that sounded suspiciously like a squeak.
"And your title as Duchess of Essex." Aglaia informed her point-blanc. "You are also henceforth, barred from entering any royal residences official or unofficial. Your name is to be taken down from the official royal family website, and from Wikipedia, I believe," Aglaia put in sarcastically. "And you will be sued for this. Legal action is to be taken. By me. From one mother to another, the way you have treated and abused your power over these girls- your own daughters- is despicable." She spat in disgust. "No mother pimps out her children in order to get them pregnant just so she could enjoy a taste of glory. You'll pay for this. We will also be informing Their Majesties the King of the Netherlands and the King of Swaziland. You had better come up with an explanation for them, because if I have to bring Their Majesties here to hear what you have to say for yourself concerning this matter, and the suspicion that you might have added Rohypnol to your daughters' drinks and the princes, you will be in serious trouble. The public certainly will have something to say about it. Enjoy the attention- that's what you wanted, isn't it?" Aglaia threw the last bit in her face before leaving the room.
Shockingly, Aglaia also informed the press, right after they had to explain to the various kings what their sons had done with Cyrus' girls.
Needless to say, Aglaia managed to be a soothing influence. It also helped that she had told them the punishment for Veruca Popperwell and the evidence that they had gained from the Chinese doctor, somehow, Helena had managed to come up with that.
And they were flaming mad- but not at Robert or Aglaia or even Helena and the twins.
No, it was all Veruca. And suspicions had fallen again on Cyrus.
These foreign kings knew that unlike Aglaia's family who had a blood claim, they had no right to interfere with who stays in Britain's royal residences and who did not. Especially a former king like Cyrus. But their displeasure was enormous. Aglaia acting meek, sweet and contrite and Robert grave, grim, sorrowful and comforting his wife certainly pacified them towards them. Even when they remembered Helena and the twins. But Cyrus? And Veruca?
Adriaan's family may have had to consider disowning and disinheriting him. The disgrace and scandal was bad enough. The Henstridge rot had affected the Greeks and now it was spreading to other royal houses and not just in Europe. The press would have a field day (courtesy of Aglaia, who gave Crenshaw the story on her version of events, rather than allowing this to leak into the press, or even worse, for Veruca to leak it her way, according to Helena's advice).
Prince Adriaan would have to marry Princess Penelope or Maribel- or risk losing his title. In fact, he might even lose it anyway. Thankfully he wasn't first-in-line. Prince Shabangu would have to do the same, although it wasn't so much because it would affect him in Swaziland where the kings' wives for example, had to get pregnant before they could be married, and therefore were still considered 'brides'. It would not affect the line of succession, but the diplomatic scandal could be disastrous in affecting his ability to be seen as eligible for the throne by those in charge, including his father and formidable, powerful grandmother.
And so the public woke to an enthralling scandal.
"How dare she?" Veruca hissed. "The bitch!" She glared at her drink-sodded, now-useless husband who was again, wallowing down from a bottle.
She then looked at her photograph. It was too late. The press had been informed.
The framed photograph showed Cyrus and Veruca on their first wedding day. Veruca was radiant in an ivory duchesse silk-satin gown with a boned bodice adorned with richly detailed embroidery and a gently flared skirt with a long train that was adorned with motifs: Cyrus' and her own monograms and their joined one, flowers and honeybees coming from the bow-adorned bustle. She looked beautiful, radiant and as symbolised by those motifs and monograms, totally in love. Cyrus was grinning, for the first time without any pretences or malice on his face, nothing but pure joy for the sake of it, in a three-piece Alexander McQueen suit in a burgundy velvet jacket and tails, a dark wine-coloured waistcoat that almost looked black, made of shot-silk and black shirt with a patterned tie of storks and doves. Veruca smirked. That man had long gone. He had undergone transformations more than once, and now it was up to her.
Whether or not the new bitch of a queen stripped her of her titles, she wasn't defeated. Penelope and Maribel would both be queens and she would have her revenge, whether they liked it or not.
Aglaia Princess of Greece and Denmark, Queen of England would pay.
"So, Penelope and Maribel have decided: they're getting married," Aglaia pursed her lips.
"Aren't you against this?" Eleanor asked in disbelief.
"I am," she agreed. "But Prince Adriaan of the Netherlands faces complete disownment if he doesn't marry at least one of them- and Penelope has agreed. Prince Shabangu has also been pressured to propose. Maribel has accepted."
Len breathed out in irritation. "Why couldn't they have just used condoms like any normal person?"
Aglaia shook her head. "Based on the princes' and your cousins' accounts, they were completely stoned and drunk. They must have forgotten. And contraceptives are out of the question, considering the mother's involvement." She scowled. "It was a terrible motive. And a stupid way to go about it."
"Yeah, well, now she's been kicked out." Len scooped up a chunk of ice cream from her bowl. "She'll still be allowed visits to her kids?"
"Len, they're not children anymore," Aglaia sighed, sitting down. Len scooped up some ice cream for her in a bowl. "Thank you. They have a right to see her and technically, she's still the dominant force here. The press are having a field day," she sighed.
That was putting it mildly. Veruca had left by now. There was a house allocated to her up north. That was it.
And the marriage of Prince Adriaan and Princess Penelope was not something Aglaia would be happy to attend. In fact, she wouldn't attend at all. The same went for Princess Maribel and Prince Shabangu. Maribel had been a bit more direct- even too honest- about who slept with who. Penelope too. Even Adriaan and Shabangu, when forcefully interrogated by their respective parents, had to admit the truth. Adriaan did sleep with Penelope and Shabangu went with Maribel, who to his parents' and grandmother's distress, was not a virgin who underwent the traditional Reed Festival.
And Veruca steamed… And sizzled, and roasted, and all those metaphors for a horridly furious woman, a former duchess and now an estranged member- if still one- of the royal family, disgraced and dishonoured, poorer and battling legal trouble which the royal system should have protected her from, or so she believed.
The press were enjoying the scandal, but the public were relieved that it did not touch the king and queen. Who cared about Veruca Popperwell? Or the former king Cyrus who really wasn't all that liked, anyway, especially now? Or the king's two idiot cousins?
And then there was the fact that the Privy Council briefed him to disown and disinherit Maribel as a royal member of the Henstridge family and as an HRH, which Robert saw he had no choice but to do. That was just adding insult to injury as far as Veruca was concerned. Of course Maribel would still be an HRH and a princess but in Swaziland, and through her own husband. Robert resisted for a time, to make sure that Maribel's prenuptial arrangements were made and she would be comfortable and well-taken care of, even if none of them could see them often enough. Maribel and Penelope, Aglaia pointed out, were the victims in this.
The reason why the Hesntridges had to disown and disinherit Maribel was because she would be marrying likely a man who would be a polygamist. Whereas Penelope, the more fortunate one, it seemed, would still be retaining her status in Britain as well as the Netherlands, not that that was likely to make her any more popular.
Len finished her work in the sewing machine.
"All done," she announced.
Aglaia leaned forwards. "This is really great," she said enthusiastically. Len beamed.
"Right," Aglaia stated. She motioned for her to come up. "Let's see you in the dress then."
Eleanor looked hesitant. "I don't know," she admitted. Aglaia gave her a look. "You're going to have to wearing some of your designs. You could go to university but I'm afraid that's going to take some time. You've had to catch up, and catch up fast. There's going to be competition, there's going to be stress and tears so you don't have to-" but Len was already shaking her head.
"I want to do this," she insisted. "I need to do this. I should have done it years ago, earlier."
Aglaia nodded. "Just keep in mind, that because of your status you are going to have to push yourself much harder than all those people who were born into ordinary lives. People look at you and they see an emerging young woman- the people here know that you're no longer the wild party girl you were before, but they're still going to look at you and they see that you're trying to work, and they'll say, 'Oh look, how cute.' They won't take you seriously, like they didn't take me or Mizuki seriously either. The best of them may think it's quaint, others would look at you and say, 'Heck, she's a princess, what does she need to do this for? Not money, surely. Besides, she's grown up soft, had it easy her whole life. How talented can she possibly be in anything?' That's what they'll do." She moved closer to Eleanor and placed her hands on her shoulders.
"Traditionalists would not be happy to see you out and about, getting a life of your own and an existence outside the palace any more than they were when you were partying hard-out. Particularly as it's never been done in Britain. You'll be the very first." She smiled at Eleanor. "And based on what I know about your father, he'll be so immeasurably, unbearably proud of you."
Eleanor smiled, tears threatening to pour through. If only her father could be there, could see her now. Instead he had to die when she was a useless party girl stoned and totally wasted. Now she had turned her life around.
"So you have to push yourself. And remember: Walt Disney was once fired by a newspaper company because of his 'lack of imagination.'" Eleanor stared.
"Walt Disney?" She uttered in disbelief. "The creator of Mickey Mouse and Disneyland?"
"Same one," Aglaia said, humorously. "And he isn't the only one. People have been expelled from schools and yet one of them managed to reach the position of editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine. There is an Oscar-winning actress who used to hand out pamphlets. People are going to put you down, but you have to get back up." She finished.
Len nodded. "I will. Thanks." She threw her arms around Aglaia, who returned the hug warmly. "Thanks," Len said when she withdrew. She struggled to keep her emotions in check. "You have no idea… When you came into our world, you showed us a new way of doing things, a better world… For all of us, our country, our friends and family…" Len smiled. "I didn't think it was really all that possible. But now it is. Now, I can actually live. I don't need drugs, I don't need alcohol and parties. I have this. And I have Jasper, so… Thank you."
Aglaia gave her a gentle smile. "Just remember, we're always here for you," she insisted, looking Len in the eye. "Me and Robbie. Always."
Len nodded and walked away with her newly-stitched clothing. "Ooh," she turned back to Aglaia. "Think there's a chance that I can open my own line of cosmetics as well?"
"Start small first, don't bite more than you can chew," Aglaia advised her, smiling.
Aglaia sighed. They had an important event the next day.
Penelope and Maribel's civil wedding ceremonies had to take place in Britain. Aglaia did not go. But Len was there. The three kings- four if you counted Cyrus- were all there. None of them were smiling. The kings of Swaziland and the Netherlands looked furious, terrifying as a matter of fact. King Sobhuza had a face like a terrifying stone statue meant to scare animals and spirits away. King Christoffel didn't look any happier, in fact you could see flames coming out of his eyes. Robert's expression was akin to that of a man attending a relative's funeral. So was Liam's.
No press, nothing. Penelope and Maribel had individual civil ceremonies but that was it. They were wearing their crazy outfits in a yellow splodged with bright fuchsia floral-patterned dress for Penelope with a gauzy petticoat beneath and a hat that looked like a fuchsia-coloured flower vase with roses, and white stalks and leaves spilling out. Maribel had a hot pink dress embellished with painted tulips, with blue butterflies in her dark red hat, a whole bunch of them looking like they were flying out.
"You couldn't have hooked up with that one?" King Sobhuza muttered, looking at Eleanor. She was stunning, no one could blame her. The first ceremony saw Penelope and a pale-looking Adriaan made husband and wife. The second saw Maribel with an ill-looking Shabangu for life.
Robert raised a glass afterwards. "To the newly-weds, then." He uttered. "Long life. Be warned, it's strong." So the brides were prohibited to take it but the kings drank deeply, even the former king Cyrus who was regarded with disgust by the other heads of state. Shabangu's mother's eyes looked like they were rimmed red from weeping but she restrained herself. Adriaan's mother had been to pale and sick to attend- the minute someone had informed her what had happened to her son, they had to call in a doctor to check her vital signs and she ended up in hospital.
Robert drained his glass in one go. He was going to need it. He saw Cyrus with constantly toting the bottle and feeding from it as if a starving infant the whole time.
The individual religious ceremonies would take place overseas, in Amsterdam and Mbabane the countries' respective capitals. The Privy Council and Robert had signed every available document to make sure that Maribel could no longer be considered a part of the British royal house before the civil ceremony had even taken place. But she was an HRH again.
And Cyrus was drunk. He nearly drowned in alcohol. The wedding breakfast was however attended by a very grave Aglaia who informed the kings that justice would indeed be served. And so was the food. She had arranged the meal.
There were orchids and tiger lilies and alstroemeria, pretty geraniums and tulips (Holland's own national flower). Aglaia had also prepared the food: poached eggs, chicken in a Madeira and cream sauce wrapped in crepes, or dessert ones with blueberries, strawberries, bananas served with maple syrup, fresh cream or whipped. A honey-roasted ham studded with cherries, bacon, ham and omelettes with chocolate cakes, petit fours, cannoli and doughnuts, sweet cakes, sponge cakes, apple pie, plums and peaches. If they enjoyed the food at least, she thought, they wouldn't be too grumpy though it certainly wouldn't erase the humiliation.
It worked. Aglaia was beyond relieved. This was also a way of saying goodbye, though they could do nothing about Cyrus' presence, at least Veruca was not there. Helena nearly did not attend.
The meal was silent. The two brides must have been… Hungover or something. Liam couldn't be sure, but the tension was so enormous that at least the food made it worthwhile.
Afterwards, Robert took the two kings and queen of Swaziland to his own study to gravely and sincerely apologise to them while looking at them sorrowfully and mournfully in the eye. Like someone who owned the car company that accidentally killed someone with one of its products. None of the royals blamed him or Aglaia.
Especially as Veruca could not be counted as one anymore.
After the most sincere apologies, the wedding gifts- and more than one made for the individual kings who were truly and utterly convinced of the royal couple's sincerity and innocence in this, they departed. The religious ceremonies would not be a public spectacle.
Helena breathed out. "Well," she muttered. "Thank God that was over."
Spencer nodded. "Indeed, your majesty. That was terrible." He nearly shuddered.
"But the food at least, was excellent," Helena stated. "Indeed it was, your majesty. It might have served to soften the blows. And the atmosphere."
Damn, Helena thought. Thankfully that was over. No Cyrus, well, at least not sober, no Veruca, and no threats to her son and the rest of her family and their grip on the throne.
No harm done on their reputation either, Helena realised in astonishment. Damn.
Well, thankfully that was over with.
Aglaia stood silently.
"Do you think that he is ever going to appreciate what you have done?" His voice taunted her. He was always behind her, always stalking her very step. She could smell his scent, feel the terrifying heat of his breath like the furnace of hell, his form just right behind her…
"Do you even think," he continued slowly. "That you are ever going to win? Now you've earned the hatred of a former duchess and your husband's aunt by marriage? Why? Because you insisted on handing out the punishment and putting it out in the open like a good, un-corrupted princess would." He laughed, mockingly. "Why? Why not let your husband's family keep it quiet and put the girls aside, let them have their babies in secret?"
"Because it wouldn't be right," Aglaia found herself saying. "Our people deserve better than that."
"'Our people'?" He laughed. "They deserve better, after so many lies and scandals. We need to fix this, their trust and relationship with their royal family."
"And you think that by moving your husband's family to the right path, or so you believe it is, that they would appreciate your efforts? That your husband truly and deeply cares for you, that he's moved on from his path of destructiveness? And your in-laws?"
Aglaia gritted her teeth. "He is a better man than you could ever hope to be. And as for Helena, Liam and Eleanor-"
"Would always be callous schemers right to the very end," he said mockingly. "Or at least Helena will be. Both Liam and Eleanor are rather useless. And she's going to fail, you know that people will never see her other than anything that she's been. As for Liam…" He laughed harshly.
"Shut up." She growled. "Go away."
"You'll call for me," he taunted. "One night you'll call out my name, you'll long and dream of having me back. You'd wish I had taken you, far, far away from any earthly mess."
"Shut up." She whispered.
"I still don't know who designed your clothes, dears." Helena complained. Aglaia and Eleanor gave each other secretive, knowing smiles.
"Oh, the big revelation is going to come soon." Aglaia stated. Helena asked, "Is it you making those things."
"No," Aglaia said teasingly.
In his office, Robert was speaking with Alexios on skype. "Veruca is the greatest danger." He muttered.
"That's putting it mildly," Alexios remarked. "Trim the tree before the rot spreads, it was a good idea."
"But now the former duchess of Essex wants revenge on Aglaia," Robert said disturbed. "She knows that this was her idea. And that Aglaia just forcefully went up to her and informed her of her punishment like a judge in a courtroom." He shook his head. "Confound it all! Why did I let her do that?"
Alexios gave him a long look. "Do you think that you can really stop her from doing what she wants?"
"No," Robert admitted. "But now Veruca wants to get her back badly." He frowned. "Killing her won't be enough, she wants to disgrace Aglaia. Or maybe indirectly cause her death." That thought made his heart plummet down into a bottomless black pit. "The triplets will be vulnerable without their mother's influence, or mine. If she managed to remove me as well…" The thought of Aglaia and his children being vulnerable or harmed made Robert feel rage rising within him.
Alexios breathed out a sigh. "The wedding in the Netherlands has taken place. Adriaan and your cousin are married- well, if you can still call her your cousin." Robert and the Privy Council had already disowned her as well as her sister prior to this.
Robert nodded, having seen the pictures of Penelope and Adriaan. They married in a castle north of Amsterdam to afford them some privacy from the humiliation. Penelope dressed in an A-line white duchesse satin gown and train with a bateau neckline and short veil looked like similar to the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland, though the dress was white. In short, it was covered completely in bows. Big bows to small ones, covering the skirt, the bodice and the train, the largest ones towards the end sweeping the floor. She clearly hadn't changed her style, her eyes looked slightly confused and her curls stuck out like they were glued along with the short veil.
Robert had asked Liam to attend the wedding with Cyrus and Jasper, to make sure that the bride's father, who was still entitled to walk down the aisle, did not disgrace himself in front of the Dutch royals. Too late, they all pointed out, but the damage needed to be minimised.
Before in the Netherlands…
There weren't that many guests. And while the king was reluctant to shove his son's place in the order of succession out the window, it was still being discussed.
Cyrus drank a bottle of Madeira sherry. "As if I could endure more humiliation," he remarked, rolling his eyes before downing more alcohol.
"Go easy on the drink," Liam muttered to him. The Dutch royals were already giving them filthy looks. The king did not attend, but the weeping, red-eyed queen who was barely out of hospital, did.
This was nothing new, Liam realised. When they had come for Robert's and Aglaia's wedding a number of them had avoided Liam, Eleanor and their mother as well as Cyrus and his daughters like they carried the Black Death. Their greetings to Robert had been warmer and more respectful, and Aglaia was met with enthusiasm, apparently she was a great favourite among all of them, and they had spoken of his father with great respect and affection but the rest of them were, clearly, not liked, though Liam didn't notice.
Until now. No wonder Aglaia reacted as harshly as she did with Veruca, even though it stunned Liam. She was trying to save the family's reputation- a reputation which had been damaged…
After all, his father was murdered, as it turned out by the head of his own security. His mother admitted to having affairs and even Liam and Eleanor's paternity were put into question for that, during which Cyrus eagerly jumped at the medieval-esque opportunity to seize the throne. They must have reacted with that in disgust, even when they actually proved that Liam and Eleanor were King Simon's children.
Not to mention the scandals beforehand, Liam thought, remembering their wild days before Robert disappeared and 'died'. He didn't care less what they thought but now it was all-too different.
In the meantime, the bride appeared. Liam and Jasper hauled Cyrus who was drunk, to his feet. The groom's older brother looked at them in downright disgust and simmering resentment. Great, just great, Liam thought.
Cyrus' face was flushed pink and waxy. His eyes were red-rimmed and washed-out. Despite the shower and the numerous layers of cologne they had forced him to wear, Cyrus still smelt foul, like alcohol.
"Come on, you have to walk the bride," Liam muttered. They pushed Cyrus towards Penelope's direction. Crazily dressed as usual with a wreath of fuchsia-coloured roses on her head with the veil, Penelope and Cyrus got ready to walk the aisle.
The wedding guests, few as they were, made their way to the castle's chapel.
Veruca did not attend.
The wedding commenced.
Maribel had had a private ceremony in Swaziland. The marriage was not announced worldwide nor attended by anyone of the Henstridges, save for Eleanor who went with Jasper. But the girls were now pregnant and all they had to do was wait.
Robert sighed as he drank some champagne. "What a scandal," he muttered sourly.
"And scandals shake the monarchy," Alexios stated. "I hope the rest of your family understands that," he added, darkly.
Robert gave a curt nod.
"Well," Alexios stated. "There's going to be a much happier wedding in Athens. See you there." The skype turned off.
Robert sighed as he leaned back against his chair.
"Hey," Aglaia smiled, gently, lovingly as she came in. He looked up and grinned, the only bright grin he was capable of giving was to her or the triplets.
"Hey." She came behind him, kissing him sweetly. He prolonged the kiss. It instantly made everything lift, all the darkness, everything. He had her and he still wanted her. That was everything. Her and the children.
"You have absolutely no idea how much better I feel now that you're here," Robert admitted.
She looked concerned. "What happened?"
Robert groaned. "The scandal," he admitted, sitting upright. He rubbed his face. "The fact that people now really think it's a curse to be associated with us, even though they don't blame you or me."
Aglaia sighed. "Then we have to change that." She said grimly. "The future is ours to decide."
He nodded. "Yes." He kissed her passionately again, before snaking his arm around her waist and pulling her down on his lap.
"Robbie," she hissed. Robert laughed. "What? Don't like it?" he teased. "Come on, we used to do it all the time." The memory of it, and what usually came afterwards made her turn crimson.
Robert started kissing his way down her neck. His hands craftily went up her skirt.
"Robert," she nearly moaned. "Here?"
"Why not?" He whispered. "It's not as if this is something we haven't done before."
Their courtship- if you could call it that- had never been official. Instead, the two of them had something of a clandestine affair. It was reckless. It was suicidal. The king of Britain and the daughter of the king of Greece, sneaking off to see one another, to eat, talk, play around, walk and see things or just make love. If anyone had found out, that would have been it. International diplomatic crisis to say the least. But that didn't stop Robert.
His fingers undid the buttons of her blouse and his own.
Then suddenly the door flew open.
Aglaia instantly jumped off Robert's lap, her back to the door so no one could see her unbuttoned blouse.
Thankfully Robert's own clothing didn't get far either.
"Pardon me, your majesties," Rachel said covertly. "But there's someone here to see the king."
Robert frowned and sighed. "Thank you, Rachel." He gave Aglaia a regretful look once Rachel had left. "Another time, perhaps."
Aglaia sighed. "We should keep this behind locked doors." She shuddered. "Remember the pill and bowls of medicine my mother gave me? What if she really wanted to make sure? Or my brothers didn't trust anyone here?"
Robert sighed. He really didn't want to tell her, that would put her off, but even so, he did admit he found a bug at his desk and on the sofa, and various other places where they did have sex. It was somewhat amusing, he admitted to himself, the fact that they must have heard them. Well, they asked for it, he decided brutally. And that certainly wasn't going to put him off.
Aglaia shook her head, smiling. "I've let you corrupt me, my mother would say. You do know I wanted to become a nun, right?"
Robert winced. "Don't remind me."
If she had…
He didn't want to think about it.
But something else brought things to mind. Aglaia had once suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, as did he. Once, if things had been very different they would have never married. They might not even have met. Aglaia would have been delivered into the arms of that monster who treated her like he owned her and she was his most priceless treasure to show off, use and hoard to himself, killing anyone who tried to take her. Of course, they were themselves… Robert's eyes darkened. He was the one who persuaded Aglaia to not enter a convent. Him and Leonidas Dimitriou whom Robert still loathed. He hoped Alexios did do as he promised to, and got rid of that bastard.
But how do you get rid of the dead? Aglaia was haunted by the ghost of that man. The man she considered marrying. A dark, deep and terrible fury rose within him. He really hoped, for that bastard's sake, that he really was dead and rotting in hell. People just kept popping back when they were supposedly dead.
Thankfully, the Greek Ministerial Council and Parliament could see through his lies. And his abuse of her. But as Robert stroked his wife's cheek and leaned in for another kiss, he realised that he really wished he could have killed the bastard himself. Partly out of hatred for the way he treated her. Partly because he still haunted her. And Robert wanted him out, far out.
"See you soon, love," he said in a husky tone, before Aglaia left.
Years back…
Aglaia sat there, on the floor of her apartment in London, holding the miniature portrait in her hands.
It was her father, King Konstantinos, in a diamond-encrusted frame mounted upon a blue ribbon. The royal family order of King Konstantinos of Greece. It signified her status as the first (well, only) daughter of King Konstantinos, monarch of Greece. First class. Traditionally worn by the female members of the royal family because they did not usually undergo military service but worn by those that did so anyway. The king's monogram was engraved behind it.
She had to tell him. Robert. She needed to tell him the truth. About her family…
And how much they hate his, she thought sarcastically. And how you kept this from him for weeks now. Yes, that's something to tell.
But she needed to do it. She owed it to him. She let her personal feelings get in the way, and now…
Now what? She scolded herself. He was the king of not just England but the whole United Kingdom. She was the daughter of the king of the Hellenes. She shouldn't have let this be forgotten. But the truth was, that every time she was with him, that every time he held her close, she forgot about it. For the first time in her life, it felt like he was just a man and she was just a woman.
But she needed to be honest with him. And he might hate her, it might break her heart but Robert needed to know the truth and then he could decide whether or not he would see her again.
He deserved that. She took a shaky breath and tried to quell the fact that her heart felt like it would break.
Suddenly there was a sudden knock.
Aglaia opened the door. There he was looking a million shades of gorgeous, though he was simply dressed.
"Robert-" Aglaia began only to be cut off when his lips collided forcefully with hers.
She almost stumbled backwards into the apartment, with Robbie following, both of them kissing the other passionately.
Thankfully, the door shut of its own accord.
"I've missed you," he breathed. He kissed her again, with even more passion, his hands and arms enfolding her and pulling her tight towards him.
"I've been trying to get away to see you for such a long time," he said breathlessly. "God, how I love you." He went to kiss her again, but she turned her head away and pulled back.
"Aglaia?" He asked, concerned when she took a step back. Aglaia took a deep breath and turned away from him, before turning right back. She needed to look him in the eye when she told him this.
"What is it?" he asked, getting more concerned now. "What's happened?" He froze. She wasn't about to break up with him now, was she?
"I have something important to tell you," she said quietly. Robert was silent for a moment.
"Is it about your family?" He asked. He always suspected that she was a member of an aristocracy. But Aglaia had told him that Greece didn't have much of an aristocracy. It always confused him.
Aglaia was a mass of contradictions. Even the smallest thing about her. She was so poised, so well-spoken and graceful when she first met him, like she had been raised in a royal court and trained in royal etiquette all her life. She was certainly graceful, like a dancer and she carried more poise and regal, serene grace than he had ever seen in his entire life, even his own mother could not hope to match her. But she could definitely cook and clean the way that his mother, father, uncle, brother, sister and himself could never have imagined. After all, they had always had these things done for them. He still cringed remembering the disaster at Christmas.
And then there was Aglaia herself. She was the most genuine person he had ever met. There was nothing fake about her- absolutely nothing. She was sweet, highly intelligent to a degree that would astound people, charming without meaning to be, beautiful without knowing (the only person who didn't care that much and only cared because she had to- as a force of habit, she admitted to him when dressing up to go to outside). She was funny, and highly entertaining but without being doing anything considered mildly inappropriate. Genuinely kind and compassionate, yet sophisticated and refined. Generous, and helpful, firm in her beliefs to put others before herself- in fact it seemed a part of her, putting others before herself. As soon as she walked into a room, or he did when she was there. He could feel her presence. Her warmth and radiance, and yet she was serene, soothing and tranquil. With her, there were no troubles, no darkness, absolutely. She was talented but didn't think much on it. She was determinedly independent. And even though she was always elegantly-dressed and well-groomed- she dressed better than his own sister and mother at times- she was always did so with appropriate modesty. Later, he was shocked to learn she made a great deal of her own clothes and could make a lot from a little.
She would be the brightest-shining queen in the world, Robert thought to himself. He knew she was the one. This was meant to be. And no matter what he was not going to let go of her.
"Aglaia," he said softly. He had heard from her that her family and those in their circles overseas, in Greece and the rest of Europe, saw the events in Britain's royal palace, first in concern and then in growing wariness, suspicion and mistrust. Robert winced inwardly. You couldn't blame them. A king that was murdered by a member of his own security, a queen that had affairs that resulted in the question of her own children's paternity- a case which shocked, horrified, and probably turned a lot of people against his mother. And which Cyrus, their own uncle must have gleefully taken advantage of, since he was crowned king not long after. And then came the news that the paternity test on Liam and Eleanor were fake, and that there must have been corruption, fraud and bribery involved, and his uncle was, of course, suspected. And then they were proven his father's children. Oh, and he didn't really die, he was presumed dead and then returned out of the blue, explaining that his father's killer had done that to him and taking his place as king. Almost forgot the last bit, he thought sarcastically, inwardly shaking his head.
Yup, the whole world must have thought them crazy and avoided them like the plague.
Aglaia's family… He intended completely, knowing this from the bottom of his heart, never being so certain in all his life, to make her his wife and queen.
Aglaia was looking at him with a thoroughly vulnerable look which astounded him. "Aglaia," he said quietly. He never imagined… "What's wrong?" He whispered. He came to her, enveloping her in his arms, but after a while, she turned away, taking a shaky breath.
"What's happened?" He asked. Did her family find out? Was she being taken back to Greece? A flood of ice ran through him. No, it can't be…
Aglaia instead, shook her head and said, "You told me I didn't have to speak about my family if I didn't want to. If I'm not comfortable with that… And that it changes nothing. But you see… Even though I was under executive orders not to tell anyone during my time in England, I do have to tell you this. And I'm afraid," he was shocked to see- was that tears in her eyes? Aglaia who was always so strong?
"That it does change a lot of things," she whispered. "I'm sorry Robert, I'm so sorry. And if you no longer want anything to do with me after this, I completely understand."
Robert blinked. "What? Why would you think that?" He asked incredulously. He came to her again. "Hey," he said quietly. "I love you. No matter what the truth is."
Aglaia shook her head. She pressed something into his palm.
It was a miniature portrait suspended from a blue ribbon made of watered silk the portrait was mounted on a frame studded with diamonds. It held the picture of a handsome man, in mid-age with dark hair and striking features. He recognised this thing at once.
"A royal family order," Aglaia said quietly. "The royal family order of the Kingdom of the Hellenes, first class. It signifies that I am the first and only daughter of Konstantinos, king of the Hellenic Kingdom- of Greece." She took a step back.
Robert stared at her. Astounded. She was… The king's daughter… He had never suspected, though he always thought…
Konstantinos, King of Greece. She was his daughter.
She was the princess of Greece.
Holy shit.
He was in love with… She was…
Aglaia turned around. "So now you know," she said dully. "I was under executive orders from the government and Ministerial Council- our cabinet- to avoid your palace. And not to tell a single soul of my identity if I insist upon giving my bodyguards the slip- which they know they can't stop me from doing." She laughed sadly, shaking her head. She turned back to face him. "But meeting you was far from any plan of mine. Falling in love with you… Was not something I ever thought or dreamed I would, but I couldn't help it." She took a deep breath.
He honestly didn't know how to proceed now. He now understood her poise, her grace, her knowledge of royal duties and social etiquette, and how she had managed to help him enormously. And she knew how to avoid paparazzi, something his brother and sister tend to fail to do. In fact, even more than him, she seemed eager to get away from anywhere where there might be photographers and journalists. She had shied away from taking a picture with him during their third meeting and now he knew why.
He still wanted her. More than anything, truth be told. He remembered how he came to her many times when he could get away, when his duties were finished. Just being in her presence, feeling her in his arms, her lips against his, seeing the light in her eyes, her smile, hearing her musical voice and laugh, was more than enough of a reason to live. It was the best thing that happened to him since he came back, and now he found himself more glad than he could ever possibly be that he did. He stayed in that island for a long time, believing that he had disappointed his father and England and that he deserved this. He hated the rigid formality and protocol that he had lived his entire life with but had gotten used to. Hated the fact that there was no other way, that he had no other life. And then he came back, hopes and dreams about being with Kathryn again, only to find out that she had flown to his brother's arms.
Really, he wasn't shocked and he did understand that these things do happen, but Liam? His own brother? And Liam was clearly still infatuated with her, based on his actions. Robert only needed to put two and two together.
But Aglaia was his life. His hopes and dreams. His very existence and breath. He couldn't live without her. Not now, and not ever. Not that he'd been the most fortunate man ever, to have met her when he was about to give up all hope. She was his life now.
His love and sole existence. Not his kingdom, not his crown. Not all the stupid, ridiculous schemes inside palace walls. Her. Only her.
He stepped forwards without thinking. "I love you." He stated. "I don't care about politics. I don't care about the throne. Or what my own family will think. I love you."
And she looked at him with those wide almond, striking emerald eyes. Her mouth opened and closed, but Robert leaned forwards and gave her a passionate kiss.
He loved her. That was all that mattered. Their love.
Aglaia was shaken out of her thoughts by Will. He grunted in his sleep, shifting slightly. Aglaia smiled lovingly at her firstborn son. She adjusted the covers so he would be warm.
The babies were sleeping more and more now, she thought. They had developed their own sleeping patterns. Their digestive systems had also developed so they certainly did not need to go for a feed every two hours.
The blue nursery was now encased in night. The heavy curtains and sheers were pulled shut. Will rested in his silver, Bordeaux-panelled crib and Aglaia drew the sheer net around, unable to resist kissing him ever so lightly. Will stirred but didn't wake. How she loved him! How she loved them all.
And now she knew why her parents were so terrified for her. Now she understood. Aglaia watched her precious baby son sleep, his body rising and falling with every breath before she walked softly out of the room.
She checked on Andrew who was peaceful now that he was sleeping in his ebony crib. The sheer canopy surrounding Selena's crib was adorned with glow-in-the-dark stars and there were smiling stars, moon and fairies in her mobile swirling gently around, giving her sweet dreams, Aglaia thought smiling.
How she would not only die, but kill for these children, Aglaia thought. They were so young, so innocent, so new and so priceless to her and Robert, now she knew.
And she wasn't going to let ghosts ruin her happiness. Or shadows. She would be thankful for what she had.
Even though she had gained a deadly enemy.