In The Name of Love

Prince Didier strides around his antechamber, one hand clutching his head and mussing his hair, the other gripping a smallish piece of parchment. The cold words Princess Josefina—should he still think of her as Fifi, even though she signed her given name?—wrote to him echo in his mind, though he’s only read her note once. Should I show it to Father? he debates. That he has to tell his father what’s happened is absolutely certain, to his mind; the only questions remaining are how, and what the consequences might be.

Since his son’s return from Princess Wilhelmina’s Quest for Favor, King Edmond has spoken of little, in his meetings with his advisors, except for his desire to form an alliance with Aethyrozia. Until his pageboy delivered the note in his hands earlier this afternoon, Didier had been convinced that achieving that goal of his father’s would be only a matter of time, even though the king and the ambassadors to Aethyrozia seemed less than optimistic. Now, though, the threat of failure looms large over Didier’s shoulder.

He hadn’t meant to offend either Princess, though of course he knew it was a possibility, when he left before Princess Wilhelmina announced her final decision. He didn’t get a chance to dance with her again, after he’d danced with Princess Josefina, so he couldn’t tell her personally. He thought about writing the elder Princess a note, as well, but there wasn’t time. In his mind, leaving early was kinder than having to turn her down in front of everyone, if by chance she announced him as her choice.

Would she have done that, if I hadn’t dropped out? he wonders. It seemed perfectly clear to him that, in spite of his best efforts to impress and present a strong diplomatic case for an alliance between Vyrunia and Aethyrozia, King Ansgar was unmoved by his performance. In fact, the king appeared to openly favor the five Syazonian princes over Princess Wilhelmina’s other suitors, despite that, in Didier’s opinion, at least two of the five ought to have been ejected for lack of merit and decorum. Princess Wilhelmina was supposed to make her choice of husband without anyone else’s influence, but Didier cannot help but think that her father might have had something to do with the announcement that she would wed Prince Adalberto—an announcement delivered to the palace a few days ago by Syazonian couriers.

“No use delaying the inevitable,” Didier mutters to himself. “Maybe Father or his advisors will have an idea for how to fix this.” He takes a deep breath, squares his shoulders, and leaves his suite, bound for King Edmond’s study.

The walk is not a long one, and someone answers Didier’s knock right away.

“Ah, my son. Come in,” the king greets Prince Didier from behind his large cherrywood desk. Although there is grey in King Edmond’s warm brown hair, they look very much alike, with similar facial structures and the same green eyes. “What troubles you?”

Didier hesitates, pretending to be distracted by choosing an elegantly crafted chair in which to sit. “Any news from Aethyrozia?”

“More of the same. King Ansgar is most dismissive when he writes to me, arguing that an alliance between our countries would benefit Vyrunia more than Aethyrozia. Our ambassadors despair of changing his mind. They say he spends most of his time now negotiating with Syazonia about Princess Wilhelmina’s wedding.”

“As would be natural. Perhaps he will be more amenable once the wedding is over.” Didier bites his lip, and his fingers tighten around the note from Princess Josefina.

“We might have been spared this had you remained in Princess Wilhelmina’s Quest for Favor until the end,” King Edmond points out. Didier shifts uncomfortably in his chair. “I know you said you didn’t think she was right for you—”

“That’s true. And I think…I think King Ansgar was pressuring her to choose one of the princes of Syazonia anyway. It might not have made a difference. But while I was there, her younger sister, Princess Josefina, caught my attention….”

“You mentioned that, and that you’d left her a note. Has she replied?”

“Aye. And…not favorably.”

King Edmond’s brow furrows in a deep frown. “What do you mean?”

“I promise you, I never meant to offend either one of them. I truly did not know that the two princesses share a suite. But…Princess Wilhelmina read the note I wrote Princess Josefina over her sister’s shoulder, which I can only guess caused some conflict between them.”

“That is indeed…unfortunate.”

“I caused Princess Wilhelmina distress by leaving early—Princess Josefina did say I’d made a favorable impression on both of them, during the Quest for Favor—and the sisters are quite close.”

“She is angry with you, then,” King Edmond guesses.

“Aye.”

“You must make things right, if you are to have any chance when it comes time for Princess Josefina’s Quest for Favor.”

“I want to, more than anything. She’s confident and witty and speaks her mind, and she’s beautiful. She’d make an excellent Queen of Vyrunia, if I can convince her to give me a chance….”

“Hmmmm.” King Edmond strokes his beard thoughtfully. “Do you have her reply? May I see what she wrote?”

Didier gets up and hands his father the note, his movements slow and stiff with embarrassment. Part of him would rather not share this with his father, but he came here for advice, and he would never refuse so polite a request from the king.

King Edmond’s eyes scan the brief note with interest. “Her main concern is her sister, it would seem.”

“Aye. One of the things I admire about her is how much she cares about her sister, and how openly she spoke of that affection.”

“Then perhaps an apology to Princess Wilhelmina is in order?”

“It would do no harm, most likely.” Didier kicks himself internally; he should have done that as soon as he’d arrived back at the Palace of Roses, since he’d wanted to leave her a note anyway. It would have been the right thing to do. Perhaps his apology letter could have arrived before Princess Josefina sent her note and they wouldn’t be in this situation now, if he’d just been smarter or more considerate.

“I’m sure you have much that you wish you’d said already.”

“I do, but…. Will an apology be enough, do you think?”

“Perhaps not for you, much as you enjoy theatrics.” The corners of the king’s eyes crinkle, telling Didier that his father is poking a bit of fun at him. “What if we sent your apology along with a wedding gift for Princess Wilhelmina? Would that suit your fancies?”

“A double gesture of goodwill? I don’t think her favor can be bought, but I certainly do wish her every possible happiness—”

“Save the pleasantries for your letter to her. I’m sure you can paint the picture you want with your words. But what sort of gift do you think she’d appreciate?”

Didier paces, considering. What might she possibly want? he wonders. She didn’t strike him as being particularly materialistic, as princesses go. I know she loves music, but I doubt we could send her any instrument or anything musical that she doesn’t already have.

Then his mind flashes to when his older sister Arlette was first betrothed. From the day the agreements were drawn up between Vyrunia and Claiamean until the day she left for her new home, Arlette had spent most of her time working on assembling all of the clothes and other personal belongings she would be taking with her. Princess Wilhelmina might well be experiencing something similar….

“Perhaps some of Vyrunia’s finest textiles?” the prince suggests. “If she’s having a good many gowns made, like Arlette did, I can only imagine—”

“An excellent idea, and easily fulfilled. I will write a request to the Royal Couturiers at once,” the king agrees, pulling a piece of parchment from a desk drawer and readying his quill pen. “Simply tell me what sorts of fabrics she might find most appealing, and they will bring you an assortment to choose from by this time tomorrow.”

“She wore mostly greens and blues, during her Quest for Favor. But perhaps also something more regal, like purple or gold, since her betrothed is a Crown Prince…”

“I’ve taught you well. Go draft your letter to Princess Wilhelmina. I wish to review it before you send it with the gift.”

“Yes, Father. One last question, if I may?” He waits for his father’s impatient nod before continuing. “Do you think I should write to Princess Josefina, as well?”

King Edmond considers the notion for a moment. “Not until we’ve received word that our gifts have been delivered. You ought to apologize to her, as well. Perhaps I will also write to King Ansgar and let him know of your…personal inclinations. I know it gave me comfort, when Arlette married Prince Fearghal, that he was smitten with her.”

Didier frowns but holds his tongue; ‘smitten’ isn’t the word he’d use for his feelings for Princess Josefina, but he won’t turn down his father’s help in solving this problem he’s inadvertently created.

“Right. Thank you. I will have that letter drafted by sunset tomorrow.”

“Very good. With Chuezoh’s blessing, we can have everything prepared for our ambassadors to carry it all to Aethyrozia with them in three days’ time.”