The Loneliest Ballad

Lucas just stared at her, brows pulled together. "Who told you that?"

"Everyone. My husband, his mother. I was brought here to be a vessel for royal heirs, nothing more. I am meaningless."

"Surely you exaggerate? Your union with the prince has been eagerly awaited for years. I wasn't at your wedding but I heard the festivities were spectacular." he said. "I remember His Grace himself being quite enthusiastic about the match."

Celia could feel her anger build at the mention of Tobin. "Oh? So you know my beloved husband well?"

Lucas nodded and frowned with bemusement. "Yes, since he was in the cradle. I won't deny he's spoiled and a rather immature lad. But he might not be a bad king, so long as he works to conquer his laziness. With the right wife by his side-."

She laughed at that. Laughed until her sides began aching. She'd tried to help Tobin, hadn't she? Look where it had gotten her.

Who was this man anyway? How dare he tell her how she should feel, when he'd only been at court for a few weeks since her marriage?

He had no idea what she'd endured.

"You think you know so much about me and my marriage? You know nothing." Celia made her voice low and lilting, like sweet syrup on a poisoned cake. She then grabbed a handful of her dress at her lower back, so that the fabric clung like a second skin around her slender frame and flat belly. "Do you see this, my lord? It means I'm an empty vessel, which is the very worst thing a girl can be! I could be the most intelligent woman on the continent and it still wouldn't matter. I am only my ability to bear fruit."

He took a step back as if shocked by her vehemence. But Celia couldn't stop the ugly tumble of her words.

"Every month I am made to pay dearly for my failures. Nobody here cares about my talents or my education. Why do you think I was hiding in a corner of the library in the first place? Why do you think I looked so terrified when you found me?"

"You were hiding from Prince Tobin?"

"Yes! Because I probably shouldn't even have been there! How is reading books going to help me make healthy sons?"

Lucas opened his mouth, then closed it again. After a pause, he finally spoke with unease. "Are you telling me the truth? Is this how you're really treated?"

"You tell me, my lord." Celia opened her left hand to show the scars, the stripes of new skin still shiny and pink compared to the rest of her palm. "People may lie but scars don't."

Something dark and unreadable flashed in his eyes.

"The bite of a whip every month has taught me how worthless I am to your people. I've learned my lesson well." Celia smiled bitterly.

She turned towards her presence chamber doors and walked through them.

There was some satisfaction in being able to slam them shut on his stunned, handsome face.

- - -

Celia made an effort to avoid spending long in the library after that. Instead, she'd choose a book to borrow every few days and read it in the privacy of her rooms. A single book was easy enough for her to keep hidden under the mattress of her bed, so Tobin wouldn't accuse her of spending her days doing useless things like sharpening her mind.

Of course, she couldn't spend all her days squirrelled away in her bedchamber and hidden from sight. She was still Crown Princess of Havietten and was expected to look the part at court events, immaculately dressed and smiling like she didn't have a care in the world.

The artifice seemed so pointless to her. She was unhappy and unloved - and everyone knew it. Why bother pretending otherwise?

Regardless she smiled on, watching the courtiers whirling around to one of the traditional local tunes at yet another banquet.

A moment later, she was aware of someone at her shoulder, looming over the back of her chair.

"What are you doing here?" Celia muttered in annoyance when she looked up and found Viscount Nadrim's irritatingly handsome son behind her. She remained in her chair and barely turned her head to speak to him.

"Is that how you greet all your subjects, Your Highness?" he whispered back daringly.

"No, only the ones who seem to like sneaking up behind me in silence."

Lucas Nadrim had the audacity to look shocked. "I wasn't trying to sneak up on you just now. And I didn't sneak up on you that day in the library either. You were just too engrossed in your book to notice me approaching you. Speaking of which, I haven't seen you back there for weeks."

"Are you keeping tabs on my movements now?"

He looked surprised as her cold, clipped tone. "I just expected you'd be there more frequently given you seem to enjoy reading, Your Highness."

She shrugged. "Well, I guess you thought wrong about me." The lively song ended and the musicians started playing a slow, stately ballad.

"Will you dance with me, then?" Lucas asked.

"No." was her swift reply.

"Why not? I've been told I'm rather good at it." He gave her a lopsided smile when she dared to sneak a glance at him. He looked so devastatingly fair that Celia wanted to scream.

The charm isn't going to work on me, she told herself as she sat up straighter in her chair. "Because I don't want to."

"That's a rather impolite thing to say, isn't it?"

"I am impolite. You may add that to my already long list of failures, my lord." Celia replied, eyes still firmly on the dancing courtiers.

Finally, she heard him sigh as his playful expression faded. "I know I owe you an apology, Your Highness. The last time we spoke, I offended you."

"Don't give it another thought." Celia aimed a quick, glacial smile at him. "Your people make a point of offending me on a regular basis and do it with good cheer. I don't expect you to be any different."