Page 54 of Downfall of a Princess

“I didn’t make it lightly, Mother. I gave it some thought.”

Granted, it was just a few moments of thought, but I didn’t believe it would make any difference if I took weeks or even months to decide.

My reassurance didn’t seem to lift the queen’s concerns.

“This will have an effect on the rest of your life, daughter,” she said. “You need to consider the man, not just his dowry.”

“But I’ve never met any of these men.”

“True.” Mother rubbed her chin. “I’ve been thinking about how to rectify that. I’m planning to invite delegations from each queendom for a friendly visit with games and tournaments for the princes to participate in.”

“Do you think they will travel all this way just for a chance of my proposal? I can only marry one, the other two will have to return home empty handed.”

“Ari, you are the most eligible bachelorette in the world right now. They’d be fools to turn down even the slightest chance to meet you and win your heart. I will put together a request to the council to come up with a program of the events and the budget. I’m sure the council will approve the visits. Everyone wants to see you happily married, and it takes more than a dowry to behappy. You’ll have to meet the princes to see who you have the best connection with. Remember, he will be your spouse for the rest of your life. If you choose wrong, you’ll have to deal with the consequences for as long as you live. The only thing worse than a demanding, capricious husband is an aggressive one with a bad temper.” She curved her lips in distaste.

The one with a bad temper was the least desirable type of a husband.

A comparison nagged at me like a faint tapping from a distant past, striving to break through, until it finally jumped to the forefront of my mind. The way men sometimes were perceived as aggressive in Rorrim reminded me of how assertive women were quickly labeled as difficult in my old world.

For the first time in years, I allowed the memories of that world to enter my mind freely. I considered and analyzed them calmly, and it didn’t destroy me.

A valet arrived with the breakfast Father had ordered.

Mother smoothed the skirts of her morning dress. “Well, it’s been a delightful morning, my darlings. I hate to leave you, but I have a busy day ahead.” She gave Father a parting peck on a cheek, then kissed my forehead. “We’ll talk later, Ari. Matters like this shouldn’t be rushed, despite how much you wish to settle down or how much I long for a granddaughter.”

Father put away the portraits, and his valet served our coffee and tea on a low table by Father’s favorite window seat.

“Would you like to see the dogs now, my king?” the valet inquired.

Father’s eyes lit up. “Yes, please. Bring them in.” He then turned to me. “I hope you don’t mind them being here, sweetie.”

“Not at all.” I shook my head. “Could you please bring Ria too?”

While Ria’s parents dozed on the velvet cushions at Father’s feet, the puppy played with a stuffed squirrel. She growled, attacking it, which made me laugh.

“She’s quite a vicious one.”

“Lapdogs often are.” Father smiled, drinking his tea. “It’s good that they’re small or they’d be too dangerous to keep as pets.”

I draped a thin slice of a cured ham over a toast, then moved it around my plate absentmindedly.

The king gave me a close look before setting his cup down. “Are you nervous about the upcoming nuptials, Ari?”

“Not exactly nervous, just... apprehensive a little,” I admitted. “I wish there was a way to postpone this whole thing.”

“Well, the wedding isn’t going to happen tomorrow. These things take time, hopefully enough time for you to get used to the idea.”

“Hopefully,” I exhaled. “Were you nervous when marrying Mother?”

His smile softened. “I was. But mostly I remember feeling excited. A woman may see marriage as an added responsibility. Some view it as an obligation or even a trap. But for a man, it’s the most important event in his life. I’d been preparing for the role of a groom my entire life. It was exhilarating to have it finally happen.” He laughed quietly. “I was too excited to eat anything that morning and nearly passed out at the altar. Your mother held my hands and yanked them when I swayed backwards. I believe I would’ve fallen if it wasn’t for her.”

The many years of difference in their age had been smoothed out with time. The shared experiences during their long marriage undoubtedly brought them closer too.

“I hope my marriage is like yours, that my husband and I will become good friends.”

He nodded, picking up his cup again. “I got very lucky with your mother as my wife. She is exceptional both as a queen and a woman. She’s been caring and respectful toward me, which as you may know is not always a given in a marriage.” He reached over to cover my hand with his. “You may or may not love your future husband, Ari, but please be kind to him. Remember he will have left his home and his family to be with you. Physical attraction is often flitting, but mutual respect provides a solid foundation for any union.” He chewed on his lip as if carefully considering the subject he was about to breach. “Your mother never kept lovers, Ari, which is highly unusual for a queen, especially one who has tried and failed to conceive an heiress. No other man has ever caught her attention after our marriage, and I’m eternally grateful to her for that.” He petted my hand before letting go of it. “If you show respect to your future husband, he’ll pay you back in loyalty and devotion. Then the two of you can get through anything in life.”

I ate my sandwich, slowly churning Father’s words over in my head. I was sure he meant to support and encourage me, but his words failed to spark even the slightest enthusiasm in me for this wedding. Maybe Mother was right, and meeting my future husband would help.

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