Chapter 17
It was wonderful to have people like Agnes to take care of all the things I didn't want to do.
It was the big day, not my big day thankfully. My stomach churned thinking of the validation but I had decided to enjoy myself while I could. I had spent the morning riding through the woods with Teresa and tying different pastries from the village nearby. Of course, accompanied by some guards.
Agnes was the best. She was always prepared. In my luggage, she had added two ball gowns just in case.
I was never going to get rid of her. I couldn't do much about Janson having to leave but I wasn't going to let them take Agnes away.
"How long before we have to be downstairs?"
Agnes stood up from pulling on my dress to make sure it looked as primped as possible. She took great pride in making me look presentable.
I was wearing a white dress with a flower pattern. The light pink roses had the stem and leafs still attached. The frills and middle section were a dark pink. Agnes had braided the hair on the sides of my head and then had made a single braid down the middle. The rest of my hair was loose. She had intertwined small rose pins along the braid.
"You and Teresa should head downstairs now Miss. Wouldn't want you being late for your first public duty."
"You sure you don't want to join us, Agnes?" I asked, slipping on the fingerless white gloves Teresa handed me.
"Not at all, your grace," She paused and shuffled her feet "Your Grace, would you mind…After the party ends the servants will have some punch and biscuits in the servant's hall. If you don't-"
"Agnes if you wish to go, I have no qualms about you going. Teresa can help me undress."
Agnes smiled at the ground "Thank you, your grace."
"Oh, you deserve a break, Agnes. After all, you do the best work I have ever seen. Mother wouldn't recognize me if she saw me," I clapped my hands together "Well, we better head downstairs."
Teresa and I were almost out the door when Agnes called us back.
"Your grace! You almost forgot your ring!"
Oh right.
Agnes handed it to me and I reluctantly slipped it on reluctantly.
"The bloody thing fits. What a disillusion."
The ring felt like dead weight that clawed itself around my finger and spread until it anchored my entire arm down. Hopefully, I'd accidentally lose it someday.
Teresa and I walked down to the main hall where the rest of the guests were waiting.
"All right, Teresa. What do I do from here? Who do we want to talk to?"
"Well, in these situations we might want to find the Prince first. Not many people know what you look like miss, if they see you with the Prince they'll deduce who you are and meeting the right contacts will be easier."
Inwardly, I groaned.
"If you say so, Teresa."
The main hall wasn't overly crowded and the bubbles of conversationalist were separated enough that I could maneuver without having to bump into anyone.
Newt wasn't hard to find, after all, he was a human tree.
He seemed happy to see me.
"Princess Roan, you look lovely," He put a hand on my back and incorporated me into his bubble.
"Thank You, your highness"
I hoped that sounded demure enough to please the audience.
"Ah! The young Suecian princess. A pleasure to meet you." A bald man bowed and I held out my hand for him to kiss. He took it and paused to examine the ring on it.
"That is a beautiful ring, your highness. Young Prince, I must say, you have spectacular taste."
"Thank you, Lord Bass. I wanted Roan to like it. After all, she deserves nothing but the best."
Oh, Newt was good. He really knew how to milk the cow.
"Now was this paid for with the national treasury or the Isaac fortune? The latter requires less paperwork from me."
The group laughed and I faked my amusement.
"Roan this is the Secretary of Finance," Newt said, sensing my confusion.
"Oh, how lovely. Although, I'm sure you'll grow tired of seeing us, Lord Bass."
"Not at all! Both of you are sights for sore eyes." Lord Bass said, smiling widely.
"Oh, your children will be beautiful. You compliment each other so well." Lady Bass, or who I assumed to be Lady Bass, seemed eager to see me smile so I did but it was very difficult.
"Absolutely gorgeous, I'm sure." That came from another courtier I didn't know.
"We've been starved for royal babies for far too long. It's so reassuring to see your health."
I would really appreciate if we could all move on from this topic.
"Oh yes, there is nothing that brings hope to the nation like royal babies."
Its official. Chicken Farm here I come.
"How soon do you plan to start having children?"
The question came from an older lady who had kept a sour look on her face the whole time we had been talking. She was clad in a black dress with purple lining that left no skin exposed beside the one on her face.
Newt could handle that inquiry.
"Well… It's a difficult decision to make. It's a priority but since our wedding is in the winter we have to move the kingdom tour to the spring and a pregnant woman can't travel those distances but after that, all gets settled children will be the first item on the agenda."
I don't think so. I was going to push that as far down the To- Do list as I could.
"Back in my day, children were the first priority. Don't you think the tour could be deferred? The people need a baby more than they need a tour." Her voice was soft but there was a crackle of firmness underneath it.
"Well its something that Princess Roan and I will address after the wedding."
The lady frowned and opened her mouth but thankfully the front doors opened.
There was the procedural thumping of the scepter and the procession of the family and the groom.
It was like a death march. They all lined up customarily, the purest blood first and then by age. They all walked into the Great Hall where chairs with white ribbons tied on the back had all been set up in rows. After the family had gone in, Newt and I followed. Our seats were behind the family but they had blue bows with gold trimming instead of the white ribbons. There was one large window in the great hall with stained glass. There wasn't a design but the pieces were all different colors. It had started to rain so there wasn't any sun to pour through and light up the room. They had turned on golden candelabras and torches that had silver ribbons hanging from them.
The wedding ceremony took forever and since we were the validators, I had to pretend I was paying attention.
Marriage was such a bore.
When it was finally over, I stood and clapped like everyone else. It took a while for the family to congratulate the couple and for the honorary goblets to be tied and put away.
I didn't know many of the people, so sadly, after we left the ceremony for the reception, I tagged along behind Newt. We smiled and made small talk to crowds of eager courtiers. I hardly had time to try the cream puffs. People came up to us one after the other. Newt made up an excuse about how he needed to talk with the groom and I took it as my chance to enjoy the pastries.
I was chomping on a strawberry covered flakey sugar deliciousness when Minho interrupted me.
"Sometimes I wonder how you even pass for royalty."
He was in a mood, he must have been spurned by a pretty redhead he had been chasing since the ceremony.
"You know Minho I can't fathom how we can be validators but no one can know we're here or how you managed to get us into the fair without guards. Pray tell." I picked up two wine goblets from a passing server with a tray and handed one to Minho.
Minho rolled his eyes "You have supervisors here that are trusted chaperones. They're all too high and mighty to go to the fair without fanfares. We'd never be able to do anything with crowds flocking to the future king and queen. Oh and Newt called off the guards. His idea, not mine. I was going to have them come in disguise but your husband disagreed."
"He is not my husband."
"Yet," He pointed his goblet towards me "I've been wondering about that attack of yours. Maybe it was assisted suicide."
I gasped "How dare you say such a thing? I might not want to marry Newt but never to that point. However, I have been looking into escaping to a farm in the most northern part of the Suecian countryside."
Minho smirked, "An uncivilized life would certainly suit you."
"If it meant being as far away from all of you as possible, I wouldn't even blink before accepting."
He was about to talk when the gong was hit. That awful gong.
Minho smiled wide "Did I hear that right? Could it possibly be time for the validation?"
I glared at him and slammed my goblet down on the table. Some wine spilled over.
"Don't be like that; wedding nights are beautiful. The whole kingdom can't wait for yours."
I felt like slapping him but there were too many people around.
I fisted my hands and remembered Mothers trick as I walked away.
I dug a fingernail into my palm and then went fingernail by fingernail until the pain made the panic go away.
I'd only be in the room for a bit and I could look up at the ceiling all I wanted.
They led me to an open carriage outside after they gave me a fur coat. The carriage was covered by lilies and white ribbons; there were two white horses leading the carriage. The newlyweds were sitting across from me and as far away as possible from each other. Another happy betrothal.
Newt appeared shortly after, he climbed the carriage and I suppressed a sigh of discontent.
Being nice to him was really taking a toll on me.
"All ready!" The father of the groom slapped the right horse's behind and let out a cackle. He was deliriously drunk.
I wish I was too.
The ride was well…it was quite the sensation.
It was mostly silent and very very uncomfortable.
Oh but the aftermath.
It was a good thing Minho and Newt had decided to keep this trip under wraps.
The crown couldn't be subjected to any more scandals.
Anyways, this is what happened.
I was twisting Newts ring around my finger and fiddling with my gloves when the bride burst out in tears.
Her sobs were loud and the tears rolled down her face unyielding.
I'd been there too and the best thing was to just let her cry it out of her system.
Except she was crying for very different reasons as we all come to learn later.
The carriage slowly stopped and I felt my stomach drop. Especially, since there were three riders heading our way on a private road at night.
Newt stood and put a hand on his sword. It was part of the wedding ceremony, otherwise, I don't think he would have had it.
I pulled the idiot down by his coat.
"Don't draw attention to yourself."
He waved me off, stood once again, and then foolishly proceeded to get out of the carriage.
I sighed before following him.
"Where are our guards?" I asked, trailing him as the dumb shank walked toward the riders.
I couldn't just let him handle it on his own. He was a sentimental fool.
"I sent them away, this road is supposed to be safe."
"What!" I stopped and stomped "Why would you do such a thing?"
What he did next made me wish his prompt demise.
"I don't answer to anyone, don't think because we will marry that changes."
After he spoke, he turned around and glared at me. His eyes were so full of disdain and repulsion that I did what any logical person would have done.
I turned around and headed straight for the carriage but I got on the driver's bench instead of the back.
"Slide over and hand me the reins. A nice pouch of gold coins with your name on it is waiting for us"
The driver didn't hesitate.
I slapped the reins and the horses began to move. Carefully I slapped the reins again; I needed them to go faster.
I wanted to reach the riders before he did.
Passing him was delightful.
"Roan! What are you bloody doing?!"
I ignored him and kept going. No one needed his negativity.
I stopped the horses at a distance of five feet between us and the riders.
"What can we help you with gentlemen? This is a private road-"
I was stopped when the bride dashed from the corner of my eye to the riders.
"Angelica!" Henry or at least that's what I think his name is, shouted after the runaway bride and jumped off the carriage.
This was getting out of hand. It was all Newts fault, if only he had kept his guards. The bloody fool.
Angelica headed towards the lead rider and climbed on the horse.
Was I witnessing an elopement? My letter to Mother was going to have her reaching for calming salts.
"Angelica! Get back here!" Henry approached the riders but then they pulled out their swords.
I wonder where Newt was with his ceremonial butter knife.
"I'm sorry Henry but I can't marry you, not when I love another. Your Highness, my deepest apologies for the inconvenience. I wish the best for you and your rule."
And just like that, they rode off into the sunset.
I still couldn't believe it.
"Roan you bloody fool!" Newt had finally reached us. He was so slow.
"If you don't want to walk, Henry, I'd advise you get in the carriage."
I didn't have to tell him twice.
I slapped the reins once more and promptly left the arrogant fool behind.
No one treated me the way he had. King or not.

In retrospect, I might have overreacted.
Newt wasn't very pleased, to say the least.
A search party had been arranged for Angelica. If there wasn't a wedding night, Angelica and Henry weren't officially married and Newt and I couldn't sign the validation papers so Angelica would be free to marry whoever she wished unless they got her back within a week. All these Brittaniccan rules were ridiculous and tedious. Just like their prince.
Agnes was combing my hair; her party was cut short for obvious reasons, while Teresa was packing away my things.
Newt had given the order that we were to leave tomorrow. His ego was hurt after I made him walk two miles back and he decided to cut our trip short.
We still hadn't spoken but ruefully that didn't last long.
He respectfully knocked on the door but it was evident from the force of his hand that he wasn't very happy.
I almost felt tempted to pretend we weren't in but that would've have been too much. After all, I had left him alone at night in the middle of the forest.
After much deliberation, I let Teresa open the door.
"I would like to speak with you…alone" He had his hand behinds his back and his face was devoid of any emotion.
It wasn't very appropriate but I pushed him far enough today.
"Make it brief. There are still many things to arrange."
Agnes put down the brush and then quietly shuffled out of the room with Teresa.
He waited for the door to shut behind them before he spoke.
"I understand that I was short with you but that-"
"Short! You nearly burnt me ashes with your eyes. We were fine you know. You were almost tolerable."
His eyes squinted in anger "I have been more than accommodating. You have no idea what dealing with you is like. You demand the attention of everyone and the-
"I demand attention? I demand attention?" I stood from my chair "If anyone does that it is you! You were practically begging for sympathy the entire trip here after your little girlfriend deemed you no longer valuable."
"How dare you say that! Some of us have a heart, Roan. Just because you are dead inside and only care about yourself doesn't mean the rest of us do."
"You're one to point fingers! You were going to let those villagers die! They weren't even sick! You are just like your uncle!"
Newt came closer and I stepped around the settee between us.
"That is not relevant. What I'm trying to say is that you can't undermine me like that. If my own queen can't respect me I can't expect my subjects to do so. I know you don't like me but you don't have to spew it to the whole nation. Lady Donover had a field day telling me how you told anyone within earshot how you'd prefer to live in exile rather than spend a second with me. Those type of comments make the crown look weak."
I felt like throwing something at him "I did no such thing! Tell Lady Donover and anyone else that if they think they can get away with such lies that something else is coming their way. Oh, and before I forget, warn your little girlfriend that if she keeps messing with my ladies or disrespects me in any manner again she will be banned from court and her titles will be stripped. Our marriage contract allows me to do such things without your approval. Now if you do not mind, please leave. I've grown tired of your presence."
I shouldn't have said that and he should've have listened but it's always hard to do the things one should.
"You don't get to dismiss me. I don't understand why that's not clear to you. Has the mountain air left your brain as empty as a bird? You have no power or right to do that. Maybe back in your twig shack that would be acceptable but not here. Not in my kingdom where we are actually civilized beings."
I pulled the ring off my finger and threw it at him.
"I don't want your bloody ring! Or your castle! Or your silly little kingdom! I would have preferred anything but marrying you!"
Newt was about to shout at me again but the door opened.
"How stupid can you get! There are a hundred guests down there that can hear your marital spat. I'd advise you to shut it before the whole kingdom hears about your problems." Minho stormed in harshly whispering his reprimand, closely followed by Thomas.
"I need you two to stop whatever this is, hug it out and then tomorrow you will be the picture of union and bliss when we leave. Otherwise, I will pull your nails out one by one."
I huffed angrily "Tell your friend that I don't appreciate his accusations and that if I left him behind its all his fault."
"I am not your marriage counselor. You both need to work this out by your self's. I'll leave Thomas to make sure you don't tear out the floorboards while I do damage control."
He turned around and left just as quickly as he had come in.
Wonderful. I was left in a room full of people who hated me.
"I don't have anything to say to you," I said to Newt.
He simply ignored me and left the room with his shoulders slumped.
Thomas walked to the middle of the room and picked up the ring I had thrown.
He came closer and set it on the vanity.
"You know Roan, despite our pride; sometimes it's better to lose the battle. I'd hate for you to lose the war because you got rid of your strongest allies."
He put a hand on my shoulder for a bit before leaving.
I picked up the ring, it was scratched on the right side.
When he shut the door, I couldn't help the tears that spilled from my eyes.