Author's Note: Audrey = Mebuki. Audulie = herself.
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"I saw her admonish him at last year's autumn ball," the noblewoman said. The ladies were having tea again, and once again the subject turned to Princess Audrey and her engagement to Second Prince Jacob. "That's when it all started. He has always been a scoundrel but now he's dragging her down with him."
"A shame," another lady said. The ladies nodded.
They had all seen it in the palace; how the aloof and arrogant prince started hanging around Princess Audrey, trying to curry favor by following her into her rose garden. "The scoundrel killed all her roses," a noblewoman sniffed. She held her teacup aloft. "He was clearly trying to get into her good graces."
"Princess Audrey has the patience of a saint. I would be livid if he wrecked my garden."
xXx
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The nobles of the court were shocked when nearly all of Jacob's supporters were rounded up and executed.
"A wonder the Second Prince himself hasn't been caught."
"Did you hear? They were all colluding with the Kingdom of Aragon. They all were plotting to commit High Treason."
"His Majesty needs to stop showing favoritism to that scoundrel Jacob! He needs to be put in shackles and locked up!"
There was no evidence. Jacob skated above the fray, pompous and arrogant as ever, even as the base of his power was weakened, cut off at the knees.
Prince Gautier's support only grew stronger, as the King himself gave the territory of Hugues to Duke Arno.
xXx
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Catherine de Devoville long looked up to the princess, who had taken her under her wing as soon as she debuted.
"This is such a lovely garden," Catherine cried, as Princess Audulie laughed, her hair tied back with a handkerchief and her dress covered with a peasant's apron.
"I wish to cultivate the flowers myself," Audulie said. She stepped forward and cupped Catherine's face. "So many beautiful flowers have yet to blossom. It is my greatest wish to guide and nurture them."
Catherine blushed. Audulie smiled, and it was as if the heavens parted behind her, the princess illuminated by a gorgeous ray of sun.
xXx
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"The princess has fallen!" People were running. "The princess is gravely injured! Summon the physicians!"
Catherine grabbed her skirts and ran, following the other nobles.
"Is she okay? What happened?"
"The princess tumbled down the staircase. She has hit her head and now is unconscious!"
"There is blood on the marble! Where is the physician?"
Audrey groaned. The nobles ran and toward her.
xXx
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"Heh. Forgive me, Countess. I-I'm not myself ever since I hit my head."
Princess Audrey forced a laugh, but Catherine could tell she was still struggling. Many people struggle after a blow to the head - she'd seen it in knights who have tumbled after being unhorsed during a joust, or in soldiers with head wounds received during battle.
She was clumsy in ways that were unexpected. "F-forgive me, I do not remember what to do," Audrey said, as she looked in askance at the other ladies at the tea party, the silverware gleaming. Catherine jumped up to help her.
"It's out to in, Your Highness," Catherine said.
"Oh, yes, I think I remember this. I beg your pardon, Countess."
"Allow me to pour your tea, Your Highness," Catherine said.
Audrey picked up the teacup, and the ladies gasped - she held the cup the way a commoner would.
"Oh. Oh! My apologies. How...how do I hold this again?" Audrey said. Catherine covered her hand with hers.
"Like this, Your Highness," Catherine said, and she repositioned Audrey's hand.
xXx
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Second Prince Jacob started sniffing around her.
"He's clearly taking advantage of her," one of the ladies seethed, and Catherine watched, worried. Audulie had always kept her distance from him, telling Catherine, "He is a scoundrel and a fool and it would be best not to be involved with him." But now she watched with growing trepidation as the princess seemed to depend more and more on him.
"Advantage?" Audrey looked up. The ladies had come to her concerned, warning her that Prince Jacob was likely planning something nefarious.
"Thank you for your concern, but he is my brother. After my fall, I realized how unkind I've been. I merely wish to strengthen our relations."
"I understand this is common for people who have near death experiences. But Your Highness, Second Prince Jacob is undeserving of your attention."
"I wonder about that," Audrey murmured. The other ladies worriedly watched her.
"She is too kind," they said, standing amongst themselves. They watched as Audrey entertained him, watching him spin his web of lies with a small smile on her face, humoring him. "Every word that man says drips with venom. How is it the princess can stand him?"
"I hope she will not be seduced by him," another lady said.
xXx
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Second Prince Jacob used the princess's weakness to his advantage.
"He whispers in her ear, and pits her against the Crown Prince," they said, as they watched the princess argue with Prince Gautier in the garden.
"He is not a bad man," Audrey insisted to the ladies in the garden. "He...he has his dalliances. And I agree his behavior at times can be quite scandalous. But beneath all that he has a tender heart, and he is easily wounded."
"Your Highness, you are seeing him through rose-colored glasses," one of the older ladies said. "Time and propinquity do much to soften one's rougher edges. We fear you are too close to him to be truly objective."
"Do you care about him, Your Highness?" Catherine asked. Audrey nodded.
"I do. I care deeply for him."
And they noticed the slight dusting of pink on her cheeks as she thought about him.
xXx
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"Clearly he is latching onto the First Princess now that his political support has been weakened," Marceau de Davoville said.
Gautier rubbed his head. "Currently all they do is spread manure in her garden. My men tell me he's no longer a threat."
"But Your Highness! He made moves to usurp your power and overthrow the kingdom-"
"None of which came to pass; we have weeded out all of his supporters already." With his help, Gautier thought, but he didn't say that.
Marceau went to plead his case to Duke Arno, hoping his wife's friendship with Bianca would make him more amenable to listen. "I am not concerned with Second Prince Jacob," Zachary said.
"Why?" Marceau said. "Allowing things to stay as-is is dangerous."
"It was my understanding you came here for a social visit. Am I to take it I was mistaken?"
"Oh. Of course not," Marceau said.
xXx
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Slowly, Jacob's lovers all found themselves surprised to find he had spurned all of them.
"He's focusing on the First Princess," they whispered.
"It is a political move - he has no other supporters. He wants to get her on his side; he needs to get in her good graces."
They watched as Jacob walked with the princess down the hall. His eyes were narrowed. The corners of his mouth were stretched into a devious smile.
Meanwhile, the princess was guileless. When she laughed, she sparkled. She touched a hand to Jacob's chest, and they watched as he regarded her coolly, his blue eyes hooded. They could see that he was silently scheming.
The announcement that came rocked the entire nobility.
"Second Prince Jacob is not really a blood prince, but he will keep his title and be engaged to the First Princess."
"What?" The nobles sat up, abuzz.
He was never the king's son. The nobles whispered amongst themselves. So this is what he was planning! His lineage and paternity were in jeopardy!
"They say the Princess herself exhorted the king for this," they whispered. "They say she has fallen in love with him."
"Nonsense!" Catherine cried. The ladies of the rose garden flanked around them.
"Princess Audrey cried in the garden the moment she learned of it! She has been following Jacob at the orders of His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"What?!"
"She told us all about it," another noblewoman said. "She has been shackled to Jacob for a year. She had to keep it a secret."
"She had no choice; he was making moves to commit treason," another lady said.
"So then...instead of Second Prince Jacob manipulating the princess, Princess Audrey was purposefully allowing herself to be taken in by Jacob?"
What a vicious game. The nobles looked on at Princess Audrey, noble and regal, how she sacrificed herself for the Crown's stability.
"Why would she want to marry her brother?!" Catherine cried. "How could she, when he has dalliances with other women and now has fathered a child with Lady Bianca?"
"Did Lady Bianca tell you this?" The nobles knew Catherine was good friends with Lady Bianca.
Catherine nodded tearfully. "She would not answer when I asked her."
xXx
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No one was joyous at their wedding.
Princess Audrey stood, her face a perfect mask, robed in ivory lace and pale silk, while Jacob looked on smugly, the priest reciting the sacraments in front of them.
"You may now kiss the bride," the priest said, and Jacob leaned forward and offered the princess a small, closed-lipped kiss. He might as well have been a sword on which the lady had fallen.
"A travesty," a noble murmured. A lady nodded.
"What was it Princess Audulie always said?"
"Men, you see," Princess Audulie said. They had been standing together in the garden listening to her, rapt. "They take these poised and beautiful women and make them their wives, then neglect them after tying them down with marriage. They dress them up for events like banquets, where they display them like jewels to save face. They have such wives by them, and yet they covet and worship other women," Princess Audulie said. She turned her head, the sun catching the strands of her hair peeking from beneath her handkerchief, and gave them a sad smile.
"It is my greatest wish to keep my independence. I have no desire to live as an object."
"Announcing the Prince and Princess, Second Prince Jacob de Sevran, and First Princess Audrey de Sevran, now husband and wife."
The ladies wept. They grieved her independence. Princess Audrey's eyes were lowered as she took Jacob's hand.