2. Consolation Prize
Utter chaos broke out after that proclamation. Everyone was speaking at once, raising their voices to be heard over the clamour. Rori fell to her knees and bowed low, touching her forehead to the floor.
"Forgive me, Your Highness. I didn't mean any disrespect. My actions were foolish, and I only wish you blame me for it, not my family, as they had nothing to do with it."
"This is outrageous!" the General shouted, an angry red splashing his cheeks. "I opposed this union from the very start, and it turns out I was right. I can't even express how gigantic a waste of time it was! And with all our goodwill, they disrespect me in the worst possible way!"
"Lord General! My King!" Colart fell on his knees too. "I swear I did not know about it! I would never do anything to disrespect any of you!"
"This is ridiculous." The Queen stood up with one graceful movement. "I'd say there is nothing for us to do here. Let us leave this place and its petty schemes to the locals."
Skylar was standing in her place, frozen. Her mind was blank. Even though she witnessed the whole incident, she could not believe it. Aurora was a picture-perfect politician. She had been working for that union for years. To think she got this careless was unfathomable.
"Silence!" the King spoke for the first time since the proclamation, and his voice was heavy with undisputable command.
Unspoken words died on everyone's lips while they turned their eyes to him.
"It is the most unfortunate turn of events. I am extremely disappointed in you, Lady Aurora. But at the same time, let's not get too hasty about our next steps. As you said, Gawyn, we've already committed a great effort to negotiate the union between our two families.
It would be a waste to throw it away just because of a minor misunderstanding."
"Minor misunderstanding?" the General hissed, not even trying to hide his fury. "She is pregnant, Alarat! I will not marry a girl who is not only far beneath us in social circles but is also a whore!"
Skylar shook off her stupor in seconds, jumping at the man. "How dare you!"
But before she got even near him, Colart intercepted her, his strong arms pinning her in place.
"Let's not stoop so low to insult the poor girl," the King said. "I'm sure there is a story that led us here, although I'm afraid we don't have time to hear it. What's important right now is to make sure the alliance proceeds as planned."
"If you think we can keep this scandal from leaking out, you are out of your mind."
Gawyn scoffed, crossing his arms defiantly.
"Even if we went through it, you would lose more than its worth. Do you want to feed people's gossip? Why is the royal family full of commoners and bastards all of a sudden? That will help you with unifying the kingdom for sure!"
"I get your point, Gawyn. You don't have to fret. I'm not going to force you to marry Lady Aurora. Although considering the rising threat from the Blighted Lands, we need Shawcross as allies. It must be clear to everyone that they will play the key role in upcoming troubled times."
The General narrowed his eyes and looked at Colart. "In that case, you will have to swear the fealty to us. Considering your daughter's misbehaviour and lack of respect, it would be only fair."
"I..." Shawcross hesitated a moment. His expression was troubled.
"That will not do," the King interrupted. "If they swear allegiance to us, it will make them no more than loyal servants, and that's not what we want for the United Kingdom of Lamyria. The other noble families would treat them with no respect, and we can't have that, can we?"
"What other choice do we have? You know, as well as I do, that I can't marry the girl."
"Well, good thing that Colart Shawcross has two daughters."
"What?!" Skylar and Gawyn asked in unison.
The negotiations were prolonged and ended late at night.
Skylar still had a hard time believing in all that had happened.
Now, she was officially betrothed to the Lord General Gawyn Gryphonheart, and their wedding ceremony was to be held in two weeks.
Most of the previous conditions were kept unchanged, with just a minor adjustment in the bride part.
Skylar would never forget General's expression when after hours of coaxing from the King, he realised he wouldn't get out of this marriage.
The resentment she saw when he looked at her was as sharp as a knife.
Sky was not thrilled with this idea either, but she understood that there was no other choice.
She might not like the man she was going to marry, but such open hostility did not bode well for her future.
One thing did not add up in this whole mess.
Once it was clear the King meant to go on with the union, Aurora turned back to her usual composed self and participated in negotiation with an eagerness to fix the wrong impression.
But Sky felt that something was off. It seemed as if she was fully prepared for the eventuality of such an outcome.
Skylar didn't want to believe that her sister schemed the whole thing, but a gnawing feeling of dread deep in her guts made any rest impossible.
She walked down the silent hall in the early hour, just before dawn. When she reached Aurora's chamber, she hesitated, but only a moment, and knocked firmly at the door.
"Come in!" an instant answer came. Rori didn't sleep either.
Skylar pushed the heavy door and entered.
The room was illuminated by candles making eerie shadows dancing around in the corners.
Aurora was sitting at her vanity in her nightgown, brushing her long dark hair.
It was a touch lighter than Skylar's, more brown than black.
More like their mother's. Skylar had to admit that at times she envied her sister her beauty, although she never admitted it openly.
At this moment, bathed in the soft light of countless candles, she looked like a goddess.
"I was waiting for you. You took your time," Aurora said, putting down the brush and turning to face her sister.
She was calm and composed, as usual. There was no trace of the strong and desperate emotions that were ravishing her just a few hours ago.
That made Skylar even angrier. She was still trembling from fury and helplessness, while her sister seemed to be perfectly fine with the whole situation.
"Why did you do it, Rori?" she asked from her place at the door. "Please, explain it to me, because otherwise I...."
"You what? Think I planned all this drama?"
"Tell me it's not true."
Aurora sighed and stood up, cocking her head. "Are you sure you want to know the truth? I can serve you some elaborated and sweet lie to make your mind at ease?" Her words were mocking, but her eyes were sad.
"The whole truth, please."
"You will hate me."
"I need to know, Rori!" Sky shouted, losing her patience. "I can't imagine you made such a blunder with getting pregnant while working so hard on this union. So, tell me why you did this?!"
Aurora bit her lips and sat on her bed, looking for words. When she finally looked up at her sister, sadness and regret were written all over her face, her eyes glossed over by tears.
"Sky, you are my sister, and I love you so much..." she started.
"But?" Skylar crossed her arms and raised her brow.
"You are such an ungrateful brat sometimes."
Skylar scoffed.
"Since I was born, I was taught to be a perfect noble lady. I spent most of my days learning history, politics, etiquette, and all those things that made me who I am. Everyone was so proud of me. I looked up to Mother, and I was determined to do everything, to be just like her,
this perfect poised lady that could make her husband do her bidding with a flick of her finger. But then, you were born, and she died."
Skylar sensed resentment in her sister's voice. Rori never openly blamed her for taking away their mother. But the truth was, they both knew, that if Skylar hadn't been born, the woman would have lived.
"Suddenly, I was all alone. There weren't any other noble ladies worth looking up to. None of them had her class and her poise. But still, I was determined to keep working toward that perfect picture she left in my head. I thought it would be enough.
That I can dedicate my life to becoming this savvy politician who will elevate our family to the higher society."
"And you succeeded," Skylar said with pride.
"I did," Rori agreed, but there was bitterness in her voice. "I thought it would be enough, but it turned out it wasn't. And it was all because of you."
"Me? What did I do?"
"You were being you!" Aurora scoffed. "You were wild, coarse, and impossible to discipline. And yet, you were happy. When you were running around the courtyard covered in mud and bruises, you were so happy I couldn't stand it!"
"But Rori," Skylar protested. She came over to sit next to her sister on the bed. "I've seen you countless times while running important negotiations, and you were glowing! It was like you wouldn't change those things for anything else."
"And it was, for a while. There is a thrill in gaining an advantage over your opponents in politics. But then, father designated Willem to be my guard."
"Willem?" Skylar asked with raised brows. "But you told me it was just a meaningless affair. A distraction."
"What was I supposed to say?" Rori scoffed. "There was no future for us. He is far below my station, so we could not possibly be together officially and yet...."
"And yet, you fell for him anyway."
"I did. And I fell so hard, Sky, that sometimes knowing we can't be together made it hard to breathe. He is the only one who knows the real me. Not the perfect noble lady, dutiful daughter, or scolding sister."
She sighed and closed her eyes. "For so many years, I wore countless masks. So many that I didn't know who I was. But with him, I don't have to pretend. I don't have to carefully choose my words or think about what is appropriate or not."