Duchess Mary Griffins nee Boleyn POV
Pomerania, Poland
March 10, 1536
Lady of the House Rooms, Griffins Manor
I hold my year-old baby boy, Bogislaw when, at last my lover, comes in. William is careful not to wake the babe or my ladies up as he undresses me and makes love to me.
I have unknowingly conceived his heirs now and shall pass them off as my husband's. We have a plan to kill the fool, but we must have a scapegoat.
Mayhap the maid that my stepmother sent. And from what gossip I have heard from the maid, Jane has given birth to three baby boys. She had lost her other two children to the King. Their names are Edward Boleyn, James Boleyn, and Michael Boleyn.
I find out the maid she sent is none other than her sister, Catherine, the youngest of the bunch as she is 16. I arrange for her to marry King Christian III of Norway, and Denmark as the betrothal with Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg fell through.
I introduce them and soon enough, they hit it off, Catherine blushing like the maiden she is. They soon marry and consummate the marriage.
And soon, when I need the scapegoat, Christian will be so disappointed in his wife for murdering someone that he'll send her away, or to the block.
Soon, she goes away with Christian, as the Queen of Norway and Denmark to their rooms. I soon hear news about Sweden. Margaret Stewart, the illegitimate daughter of James IV, who was to meet her cousin had problems and so, they docked, only to find themselves far away from Scotland.
It turns out the captain didn't want the illegitimate princess to be thought of as nothing more than a bastard and had them hit a few things after they were halfway to Sweden so they would need to stop for repairs.
So now Princess Margaret of Scotland is Queen Margaret of Sweden thanks to the captain. And now, Catherine of Scotland, Prince John's little girl will have to settle for a Swedish man rather than a cousin to torture if anything. But I doubt it.
I hope King Gustav I takes good care of Margaret. Going from Margaret Stewart to Margaret Vasa nee Stewart in just a matter of days must be scary for her.
I wish so much that I could have taken my eldest children with me but since there's speculation if they're Henry's... I couldn't and he knew but he said he'd let me visit.
April 5, 1536
Queen Catherine Oldenburg nee Seymour POV
As I have married a King and become a Queen, my family couldn't be happier. I now have the power to make big decisions and can sway my husband to my kind of thinking.
For, I believe I am carrying his heir, his child and he would listen to the mother of his child. At least I hope so.
I want him to love me but he's yet to love me and it hurts me to see my husband as he all but showcases his lover, Lady Isabella Maria d'Este, daughter of Lucrezia Borgia. I want to disappear.
June 11, 1536
King Christian Oldenburg's POV
I see Catherine down. And, as I have now fallen for her, I feel bad parading Lady d'Este and regret it entirely, who distracted me from going home.
I should have been faithful to my wife, not got a mistress, no matter what I wanted at the time.
My subjects are mad at me for making my wife sad and depressed as they hear of it from word of mouth.
I get a missive from the English King, berating me for parading my mistress and even having one afterwards. Henry tells me not to recognize the child that Lady d'Este is carrying and love on my wife as we stay in Poland for a week more. We shall leave for Denmark as soon as possible.
July 11, 1536
Lady d'Este's POV
If it weren't for that maid, I would have married Christian, my child would have been his heir. As it is, now I have to be married off to King Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya, no thanks. But apparently, he's the only one who wanted to marry me. I'd rather die than bed a lecher.
But apparently, he needs an heir. He only had one son, who died last year. He has no sons.
A pain hits me in my stomach.
"Not the baby!" I scream as I lose the baby, blood as evidence.
A week Later
Chapel
''I, King Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya take thee, Lady Maria d'Este to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part and thereto I plight thee my troth.'' King Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya vows.
'I, Lady Maria d'Este take thee, King Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to be Bonaire and buxom at bed and at board, till death do us part, and thereto I plight unto thee my troth.'' I vow.
And then, it is time for the coronation, and I am nervous.
''Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the people of the Kingdom of Morrocco and the dominions thereto belonging, according to the statutes in Parliament agreed on, and the laws and customs of the same?'' the archbishop asks.
''I solemnly promise to do so.'' I vow.
''Will you to your power cause law and justice in mercy to be executed in all your judgements?'' the archbishop asks.
''I will.'' I vow.
''Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the laws of God, the true profession of the gospel and the Catholic religion established by law, and will you preserve unto the bishops and clergy of the Morroccan realms, and to the churches committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges as by law do or shall appertain unto them, or any of them?'' the archbishop asks.
''All this I promise to do.'' I vow.
I lay my hand on a gospel.
''The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep. So, help me God.'' I vow.
''I now declare you the Queen of Morrocco.'' the archbishop declares as he crowns me as the Queen of Poland.
Queen's Bedchambers
Queen Maria Wattasid nee d'Este
Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya and I consummate our marriage, not knowing a Wattasid child is conceived in a d'Este womb. Hopefully, the people of Morroccan will like me.
