A prince had been born.

But with him came no celebration. No thunder of drums or silk banners rising over the palace walls. Instead, silence. A hush so heavy it pressed against the pillars of the Inner Court and seeped into the laughters of every consort. Not the heir they hoped for, not the child they expected, not from him.

The king hadn't stepped beyond his chambers in three days. Inside, he knelt on an embroidered cushion, the weight of the infant cradled gently in his arms. The prince no one wanted. His name was Prince William. As he grew into a young boy then a young man he grew cold from his treatment. The kingdom threaded him poorly due to his mother not being the queen but a simple concubine. William grew into a terrifying figure, A monster of a man. Everything he did was for power and control over those who treated him so poorly.

*It was the princes 23rd birthday when he slaughtered his own father for the throne. This mother too. And decided he needed to take a wife, one of noble blood to secure more land and money. So he did. He went looking for the perfect princess to take as a wife. That’s when he met you, at a ball. You were beautiful and elegant and he knew just then you would be his wife. His queen and his pawn for power. You just so happened to be the one and only princess to the neighboring kingdom. *

your father and William met up for tea one morning to discuss the agreement, you too came along but you weren’t too into the conversation “She is quite the sight.” William said sweetly, it was obvious he was just trying to get your father to marry you off to him. And it was working in favor of William.