A/N: Two things: First, Victoria's oldest daughter, Victoria, the Princess Royal (21 Nov 1840 - 5 Aug 1901) met Frederick III of Prussia (18 Oct 1831 - 15 June 1888) in 1851 when both attended The Great Exhibition; she was 11, he was 19. Vicky, as she was known, showed him around and he was impressed by her; the two began corresponding shortly after. He proposed to her in 1855 when she was 14 and he 22. They married in 1858.

And second: The mentions of Victoria's beliefs on pregnancy are true. She greatly enjoyed intercourse, but absolutely hated being pregnant, detested breastfeeding and believed that newborn babies were ugly. When chloroform was introduced in 1853, she praised its use, because she no longer had to endure the pain of childbirth.

Also, thank you for sticking around for fifty chapters. I know it's a lot, but we're nowhere near done.- Licia

1908

The Garden of Linnea Castle

Arendelle

"The Crown Princess and the Duke really didn't get along, did they?"

Soft laughter answered Alexander's question, and Grandpapa shook his head. "They didn't. They spent the majority of the visit torturing each other or ignoring each other, and as they grew, it would only get worse. It was at the Princess Royal's wedding to Frederick of Prussia that things came to a head between the pair, however, and they put their rivalry aside."

"What happened at the wedding?" Pia asked.

"We're not quite there yet, are we?" The girl pouted, slumping back in her chair. "Now, the British Royals' visit lasted for three weeks, and in that time, between discussions of treaties and trade among the three countries, Victoria and the young queen spent quite a lot of time together, catching up on what had gone on since their last visit, and how things were going in their respective lands. The queen informed her of her correspondence with the wives of the Sultan, and Victoria gave her opinion- stating that if it was what she wished, then to work it slowly, and be careful. She didn't fully distrust the Ottoman Empire as the king did, but she knew that if she said anything in regards to attempting to talk her out of it, that the queen was simply dig her heels in more, and so she left it alone. At one point, the princess requested Victoria's opinion on her relationship with Lord Bismarck, and she gave it.

"Do not get attached, for your station in life dictates your fate."

"But-"

"Anna, we can no more change our fate than a fish can fly in the air."

"My sister said that once."

"What?"

"It was just a silly little comment about fishes flying and fate. Nothing major."

"So... everyone was telling her not to develop a relationship with Lord Bismarck, but she did so anyway?" Ludi asked, brows knitting together. The others shrugged, unsure of what to say. "Why did she if she knew she would get hurt some day?"

"Because her heart desired it. And the more her heart desired it, the more time she spent with him. Deep down, they both knew they could never be together- and neither were brave enough to take the step the king and queen had-"

"Marriage."

"- and so they continued to meet in secret, stealing away in quiet corners and sharing solitary walks when no one else was around. And during the British Royal's visit, the others watched as the princess and Lord Bismarck grew closer. Neither could do anything about it; and the queen was in no position to end it, what with her fifth child due to arrive in two months' time. The king tried to dissuade the princess, but she was stubborn- as stubborn as her sister."

Silence fell among the listeners; the sisters shared glances, all thinking the same thing, though only Thyra had the courage to voice it. She swallowed thickly. "She married him, Lord Bismarck, didn't she? The princess? Or... did she run away with him?"

An eyebrow rose, surprised she had chosen to ask that question and go that route, for many would not have guessed such a thing. He sighed, his gaze going back to the shawl, and after a moment, reached for it; Pia handed the shawl over, and after a moment, he unfolded it, letting himself study the handwoven design and the colors. For the briefest of moments, he saw her, pacing the floors of her bedchamber before the fireplace in nothing but her nightdress, this same shawl adorning her shoulders- and then he blinked and she sat before him at the head of the bead, wearing nothing but the shawl about her shoulders, a coy smile tugging at her lips. She had worn this the night she'd been approached by young Lord Bismarck, the night before her child had been born, when she'd paced the halls of Jannicke, unable to sleep for his request- a request so simple and yet so complicated.

"It became known as the Jannicke Affair, for apparently, the princess had confessed her feelings to Lord Bismarck during their visit to Jannicke in the countryside when the British Royals were visiting. Rumor swirled that the princess had been caught in a compromising position with the young councilman, and while both denied such a thing had happened, the queen had to confront them both about it; she had no choice." He set the shawl on the table. "Now remember, the British royal family was visiting, as was the king, and on top of that, the queen was heavily pregnant at the time, and she had a lot on her plate. She did not exactly have the time nor the energy or focus to question her sister and councilman."

"So what did she do? The queen?" Amalie asked, stirring honey into her tea.

"She asked Victoria to speak to them both, as a personal request. And Victoria, understanding where the queen was coming from- having dealt with the strain of pregnancy and pressing issues before- agreed. You see, back in eighteen-forty-five, Ireland was hit with famine. They lost their crops, their people succumbed to malnutrition and disease, and the British government did nothing to help. Victoria gained the name of the 'The Famine Queen' among the Irish- even though she personally donated over two thousand British pounds to the British Relief Association to help the situation in Ireland. She had been pregnant with Princess Helena at the time, and the rumor had swirled that the stresses of the issue in Ireland had added to the difficulty of the birth. Victoria never was able to outrun the hate she received from the Irish; it was perhaps her one major regret."

"What did they tell her? Lord Bismarck and the princess? Did they confess?"

"While the princess had confessed to the young councilman her feelings for him, and he echoed them in turn, the position they had found themselves in was merely one of heads bent together in quiet conversation. From a certain angle, it looked akin to a kiss. However, it was not a supposed kiss that set the queen's already short temper flaring, but what Lord Bismarck did after."

"What did he do, Grandpapa?"