The Reluctant Queen

Chapter 1

Not much light entered the cage-like room. Similarly, not much air either. Their noses had long acclimated to the awful smell of tallow, that Agatha had to beg the cook at the tavern where she worked most evenings, used to make the candles. Even then, the candle, which they placed in the middle of the room to light other corners of their three-room cottage, sat on the rotting wooden table, was on its last strands of the wick. The damp Tulip-wood walls which were once yellowish were an embarrassing black that no amount of scrubbing could cure. The floorboards creaked when touched. The mould on the walls returned sooner than could be removed.

Agatha’s cheeks heat up no matter what room she and Prince Wilhelm were in. Her entire home spoke loudly of their differences as though saying ‘he does not belong here’. Despite her embarrassment at her humble beginnings, Crown Prince Wilhelm was more comfortable living like this, with her, than anything his father's palaces and castles could provide. Wilhelm wanted better things for Agatha, but in the dark shadows, where the King least expected, was where their love was safest.

His woman, as Wilhelm often thought proudly, turned her head of sun-kissed locks to him in her sleep. Wilhelm played with the ring he had placed on her finger. One day, she would be his wife and he didn’t care if he had to wait for his father to die to make it happen. Bringing his other arm around, Wilhelm squeezed her to him knowing that it was almost light outside and the King would notice his disappearance if he didn’t return to the palace. Wilhelm was running out of excuses to give his father. How many times could one man hunt in a week? Revelry was also a point of contention between him and his father, and Wilhelm had gladly left it behind two years ago when he met Agatha..

She turned her body into him and her mouth touched his. He felt her smile melt as she kissed him. All thoughts about leaving momentarily departed from him as he used his other hand to pull her onto him and so restarted their love making. He groaned into the kiss while his entire body was like a man shackled to a tree. He was not going anywhere.

"I have to go. My father will have something to say about it if I miss breakfast again."

She placed her hands on his shoulders and sat back with her hips firmly around him. While they both enjoyed the games, there was sadness in her blue eyes. Wilhelm felt her fingers tremble on his shoulders, and he manoeuvred his head to meet her gaze. She evaded the movement and looked away. He scowled, ceasing all movements. Wilhelm felt his racing heart slowly come to rest.

"What is it? Did my father send people here?"

The scariest part about their love was that they were on borrowed time. The King was both feared and respected throughout the land. No one knew how fierce the King was than his heir. Wilhelm was the second most powerful man in the kingdom but he knew that his father could make her vanish with little effort. The worst of it was knowing that should the King command Agatha to leave him, Wilhelm would get a chance to protest, let alone have a counterattack.

"When are you going to tell him about us?"

Wilhelm exhaled, having a conversation with his father needed the perfect timing. Every time that they were in the same room lately it involved berating Wilhelm on one thing or another. Having a conversation about marrying a commoner would not get the intended reaction out of his father, especially since it involved breaking an age-old betrothal with a princess. "I'll tell him when it's the right time. Why have you become so restless?"

She pulled away from him and gathered the covers from the bed and wrapped them around herself. Agatha looked back at him with hurt in eyes that shone brightly before she met him. Wilhelm knew that he was the change in them. Before she knew of princes, she cursed out of the corners of her mouth and blew smoke from her eyes and nose at tavern patrons who took her as part of the furniture. A beauty like no other, she stood out like a spring in the middle of a desert.

"When?"

"Things are hectic at the palace right now."

"Things are always hectic. You are afraid of him."

He didn’t dare think his father was sentimental but it had been two years since his mother died. If she were alive, she would arrange the wedding according to Wilhelm’s desires. The King had never been delicate but any softness that he had vanished the day his Queen died. The kingdom was also at war with many generals constantly requesting more supplies and more men. When Wilhelm thought of his father’s reaction at the choice he had made for a wife, he didn’t like his chances.

Wilhelm sighed. "You do not understand how my father's mind works, I do."

"That's it, isn't it? You placed the ring on my finger to keep me quiet but you never intended on doing the honourable thing."

Wilhelm stared at her. "Is that what your brother told you?"

"Your reputation precedes you, my love. What am I supposed to think when you use and leave me like one of those girls from a whore-house?"

Wilhelm moved towards her feet and crouched beside her. He gently took her hands in his and rubbed them. "I need you and not anyone else. I do not go to whore-houses, my commitment is to you. I'll talk to my father, just give me time."

"We don't have time," she said, biting the corner of her mouth. Her eyes fell shut. "I am with child."

Wilhelm exhaled and brought her into his arms before he considered what that meant. But his father would. She was a commoner with nothing to her name, not even lands or money. Even if she had been a merchant's daughter, she would not have been enough for the traditional family whose lineage could be traced to biblical times, or so the king liked to remind his son. Wilhelm was certain that it was his father's claim at being ordained by God. All Wilhelm saw was the woman who put him together at the darkest moment of his life.

"It will be okay, I will speak to him."

He kissed the top of her head and let their moment together sweep over him before leaving. Wilhelm didn't know how but he would find the courage to stand up to his father. Adolf sensed that Wilhelm's mind was occupied as they rode back to the palace with the sunrise chasing them.

"Is everything alright?"

Usually Adolf brought his prince to her stressed but it was unlike them for Wilhelm to leave worse than when he came. There was a twinkle in Wilhelm's eyes which was terrifying— that was how he usually looked when he was bound to start a fight.

"She's pregnant," Wilhelm answered. "What do you think the king will do? Disown me?"

"Doubtful! While Prince Alexandre is admirable, the only one he trusts with the country is you." Wilhelm didn't know how truthful that statement was as his father found a million ways each day to describe how useless and undeserving of his title he was. "Prince Ferdinand is far too young and spineless."

Wilhelm laughed. "You don't know my father. He will cut off his right hand if it displeases him."

When they reached the stables, Adolf took the horses and watched as Prince Wilhelm went inside the long-standing white-stones palace. It was early but the King was militant about his and the three princes’ schedules from the moment they left their mother’s womb. All meals were had at the same time every day and his children's schedules were marked out from beginning to the very last second. After his mother’s death, Wilhelm rebelled and the King was lucky if he showed up to all events planned for the day. There was not a day where the two men were in each other’s presents that a fight did not ensue. His brothers had long accepted the strenuous relationship for what it was— the best they would ever get.

As Wilhelm entered the dining hall, his brothers were already seated. The brothers sat beside each other while their father usually sat on the far end of a long and cold table. There was a shouting distance between the King and his sons, and not a single one of them tried to break it. Meals were a silent affair and other than messengers and decrees, the princes did not speak to their father.

Alexandre looked physically exhausted as Wilhelm sat beside him. "Father was looking for you last night."

"What did you tell him?"

"Not that you went to see your mistress again," uttered Ferdinand with a cumbersome eye roll.

Wilhelm turned his head to his youngest brother and the stern look on his face silenced Ferdinand. "She's pregnant. She will be my wife before long and by then, I hope you will have corrected your speech."

"You do not marry the help, Wilhelm," Ferdinand countered. They all knew their father and dissuading their brother before the King’s arrival was safer for all involved. For a militant man the king didn't care which holes their sons spent their leisure time hidden in as long as they didn't bring the dust home. "Father will not allow you to taint our family history. Perhaps if it were me, he could ship me away and let it be forgotten. You are the Crown Prince, you do not get to dally with commoners and then let it be known. Do not do this! Tell him Alexander."

Alexandre shook his head. His words never formed as the King entered the room and the room grew colder. Their father had a tall stature and was quick to stump on anyone in his way. This made the man seem bigger than all who stood before him. As per family tradition, they didn't speak throughout the meal, leaving only the sound of cutlery and chewing.

Nerves played at Wilhelm's stomach. Telling his father he had gotten a young woman pregnant was worse than any conversation that they had ever had. The King was a perfectionist. His name couldn't be sullied by any of his sons’ behaviours. They were well read, academically strong, fine riders, spoke three languages each and had been military trained from the moment they could hold a sword. The King sought nothing but excellence whether they liked it or not, and didn't care much how they behaved with women as long as they fulfilled their duties.

The end of breakfast was announced by the King placing his utensils down and standing up. Alexandre and Ferdinand stared at each other, knowing their brother was about to explode. Wilhelm had gone through life acting as though he was not going to be the next king and once his fights with his father started, they never ended. The two brothers were on high alert on either side of their elder brother.

"Your Majesty," Wilhelm called, coming to his feet and his brothers' nerves cracked like the beginning of a fire. Prince Alexandre and Ferdinand sent up silent prayers, wishing and hoping that Wilhelm wouldn’t utter words that would doom them all. "May I have a word before you depart?"

The King faced his son like he was seeing all three of them for the first time. Sometimes Wilhelm wondered if any of them mattered, or were they merely his offering to transactions that will get him three dowries. "Continue."

"In private."

The King looked over at his other sons before looking back at Wilhelm. His gaze alone was worse than a thousand thoughts. "Then it must not be important."

Wilhelm took a deep breath knowing that it was now or never. "My fiancée is with child."

The King hardly bat an eyelash nor did his expression change. "So what would you like me to do?"

"I would like your blessing for our union."

"What union?" asked the King, with no emotion on his face. "The girl hardly had any prospects and I imagine things will get hard for her and her brother without you. An intelligent woman would have played her cards better."

"That is my family," Wilhelm countered. His father's clinical way of saying their families will have no further contact was exactly what he had expected. "I love her and..."

"You are going to marry her?" the King finished for his son. "Do not be so infantile! I watched as that girl swooped in and used your mother's death to get close to you. Do not think me as foolish as you! You will marry the princess when the time comes, whether you like it or not."

"I will not!"

"You will, even if I have to drag you down the aisle myself."

"Disown me if you like but I will not abandon my family."

"Your family?" The King roared, his voice echoing throughout the whole room. Wilhelm trembled. "The only way you will leave this family is if I put you to the ground. Make no mistake, I will start with her! Do you doubt me?"

Anger went through Wilhelm's veins as he stared down his father. He had to know where she lived and who her friends were. No matter what, they couldn't escape the kingdom with both their lives intact. The King stared down his son with an open challenge: Make me, boy.

"Would you rather I married a woman who would much prefer to be a nun? Do you realise how ridiculous that is? You will want an heir, how the hell will I do that?"

The King shrugged with a satisfied smile. "I don't care if you tie her down on the bed and have your way with her. She will be your wife and her dowry will be mine."

"You can't make me marry her."

"You will," he said and called out for his guards. "You didn't think I would just leave you be after that stupid announcement. I do not wish to see you ever again until you return with the princess at your side."

The royal guards stood at the Prince's side and held his arms. Wilhelm didn't fight. Being disowned was what he wanted and yet he got banished instead. If it wasn’t for the threat to Agatha’s would have fought to his dying breath. Being his father’s son, Wilhelm knew when to fight and when to give way. He wouldn’t get hurt but Agatha wouldn’t survive it.

"My son wouldn't be so foolish," continued the King. "I hope you will use this time to get that girl out of your system and forget about her. If I hear otherwise, it will be your brothers who suffer the consequences. Challenge me, I would thoroughly enjoy breaking all sentimentality out of you."

Wilhelm looked back at his brothers who were both on their feet, watching but couldn't fight alongside him. Sorrow lined their eyes and anger wrapped around their fists, yet they didn’t move an inch from where they stood. Their father was a hard man and it was enough that Wilhelm was on King Maximilian’s bad side on his own.

"Your first mistake was assuming that I would want to come back to your kingdom." Wilhelm smirked. "I will waste your money and destroy all your efforts so that we both won't get what we want."

The King smiled. "I always get what I want and you will do away with these childish fantasies or so help you god!"