A Wedding is Nigh
Juliette - Age 19. Present Time.
My back twinges in the uncomfortable throne and the boning of my handsewn corset digs painfully into my rib cage.
I force my surface level smile to remain on my face; pretty and emotionless like a doll.
As I gaze out at the lavish nobles standing in front of me I wonder if any of their smiles are carved deeper into their faces than mine.
Perhaps emotions come easier to them. Sadness isn't a flash and anger isn't a quick bolt of lightning.
Joy is something they stumble delightfully across by accident, not something they have to dig in the freezing snow for.
Years of enduring the King has made digging in the snow harder every time.
The cavernous Great Hall is silent save for the quiet whispering of the King's advisor in his ear. It's hard to keep from fidgeting, especially since I already know the outcome of today.
It will be mainly good.
My mother's frown lines will elevate for a day and maybe even some of the night, the courtiers will dance and drink in celebration and the King will finally look at me like I'm worth something.
The only negative will be my upcoming marriage to the monster.
King Richard of Gilgunronh. A 50-year-old greying man who controls most of the Eastern Isles.
Powerful but also mean. And I am lucky enough to be wife number four.
King Richard has been going through his infamous bride list quickly as proven by the three dead wives that came before me.
Those poor women are why he has to look beyond his rich island borders to our smaller, poorer province in the North.
No families left in the East are desperate enough to marry their daughters off to a man like that.
Lucky for him, the King is desperate enough and also despises me. A winning combination.
A small part of me is still that naive little 16 year old girl, wishing desperately for love but I push that painfully back down. She has no place in this family.
The King's gavel hits the ornate table in front of him with such a crash a poor servant in the corner drops the goblet she was holding. No one dares to look at her, all of them focused on the King as he stands.
"My dear people, today is an incredible occasion.
My daughter, your Princess Juliette of Murdoch will be married and finally bring money and land to us.
I hereby announce the engagement of King Richard of Gilgunronh and Princess Juliette of Murdoch to be married by the end of the week.
"
The King's arms raise and the Great Hall fills with rapturous applause.
He gestures to me to stand and so I gather my skirts and join him.
My heart sinks as I stare out into the crowd of nobles, all their faces blurring together.
Despite all of my experience, all my knowledge of the King and his parenting, I still hoped that maybe he would reject the proposal.
That maybe he didn't hate me enough to want me dead for some gold. I should have known better.
My heart cracks in my chest as I force a pretty smile, playing the role I was born to play.
My chambers feel claustrophobic filled with so many people and wedding presents.
Servants bustle to and fro gathering flowers and boxes filled with useless things and my Mother, Queen Eleanor, stands directing them.
It's impressive to watch. My Mother always knew her role and played it to perfection. No one could doubt she was a Queen.
I sit unhelpfully in the corner trying not to get in the way.
"Juliette. Come here please."
"Of course Mama.
What's wrong?"
She pats my shoulder awkwardly before reaching up to fix a golden flyway from my up-do.
"You seem desolate, my dear. Is something the matter?
You should be excited. It's your wedding after all!
You only get one of those a lifetime."
"Or four it seems." I can't help the quip and I hear her disapproving tone before she starts to speak.
"Juliette."
"I'm sorry. Nothing is wrong.
Just pre-wedding jitters."
It's the right thing to say because she immediately smiles and launches into an anecdote of her own wedding.
There's no point in telling her the truth because she already knows. She can't control the anymore than I can and worrying about things like this just makes her heart race. She much prefers to pretend everything is fine - a trait we seem to share.
"Excuse me Mama, I'm going to get some fresh air. I'll be back shortly."
She seems taken aback but gets quickly distracted with a servant who is taking a box to the wrong place.
I slip out the door and run shaky hands down my dress.
In two days I'll be married and in less than a year I'll probably be dead.
Richard's temper is legendary and I'm sure he'll tire of me quickly.
His first wife Vivienne tried for years to produce an heir but when it became apparent it would never happen she was found dead just outside their property.
Richard claimed the Thieves of Sholle Forest killed and robbed her.
His second wife, Lydia, lasted a year and his third, Charlotte, only six months.
Both died of supposed accidents.
I climb the stairs to the highest point of the castle, the Northern tower and sit in the window.
The view is my favourite of this whole isolating castle.
How could something so pretty be so painful?
I'll never see this view again.
Tomorrow I'll be packed into a carriage - one of the only ones we've got - and travel a day to the Coast of Gilgunronh.
I'll be married in the palace there without any family or friends attending.
I gaze out at the snowy mountains that surround Murdoch.
It's a dead place. Snowing most of the year and raining the rest. The bitter winds make it tough for anything to grow and the mountains keep most traders from entering.
It is a freezing, lonely place. The villagers struggle to survive during the long winters and as unhappy as I am about my impending marriage, it will bring them some comfort.
I'm still not sure if I can do this. Essentially kill myself for my people.
What kind of Princess am I for even asking myself these questions? I should be willing to sacrifice myself for my people.
I am willing.