Violant and Mortimer reached the capital in the evening and bid goodbye to Sybil when entering the noble district. Like many families in high nobility, the margravial house of Avallach had a capital residence well-kept by servants to always be able to accommodate their masters on a moment’s notice. Compared to the margraviate itself, the mansion’s staff was less numerous but it didn’t need too many hands to keep a normally unused building well maintained compared to the diverse tasks of the servants back in the margraviate. If there actually was an acute shortage of servants during the margrave’s or one of his children’s stay for whatever reason, the necessary aid could always temporally be hired on short notice in Kingsborough.
The servants of the capital residence were already informed about the journey of the two siblings thanks to a carrier pigeon from Avallach and gathered when they came to know of their imminent arrival. The capital mansion had already been prepared days before and the steward was overjoyed to be able to welcome the young lord and lady. The siblings enjoyed a light dinner before at least Violant retired for the night, fatigued from the days and weeks of travelling.
The next morning, a messenger from the royal palace appeared in the Avallach residence. Violant thought how scary it was how fast the Queen had gotten wind of her arrival in Kingsborough. In her last lifetime when she herself had become queen she marveled at the surveillance apparatus the late queen had expanded and developed. Following Queen Berengaria’s assassination it had been in shambles though, far from its former splendor.
Gervase had made a point of assassinating the queen, her only daughter Mabel, and her son-in-law, the chief minister Jocelyn of Sulia. He had done so to gain control over the kingdom’s crucially important two duchies: Ealdon which had fallen to the crown following the death of the late duke whose only child was Queen Berengaria, and Sulia which had been inherited by Duke Jocelyn after his mother died from heart attack after she had heard about her daughter’s death in an unexpected monster attack. Since Violant had coincidentally saved Sybil this time around, the duchess was still alive and well though.
However the past lifetime might have been, the returnee readied herself to follow the messenger to the palace in the present. She got seen off by Mortimer who took the chance to still impart her some important rules of conduct for her visit in the palace before she boarded the carriage that had already been prepared for her. The little flags fluttering at the four corners of the carriage roof identified her as an important guest of the royal family.
It was the first time since her return that Violant set foot into the royal palace but it hadn’t changed much. Or was it better to say that it wouldn’t change much in the future. The magnificent building or rather complex of buildings was the most impressive piece of architecture in the whole kingdom. Every king had made it his task to extend and embellish the dwelling of the royal family even further with every passing generation. The royal palace was the king’s claim to power and majesty crystallized in stone. The walls of white limestone were cleaned until they shone. The lustrous deep red roof shingles complemented the white walls surprisingly well.
The most striking, however, was the boundless installation of often floor-to-ceiling-level leaded windows depicting scenes from the kingdom’s founding myth and history. This really was an exorbitance considering that glass windows, especially colored ones, were unbelievably expensive and thus – except for temples demonstrating the builder’s deep piousness sparing no expenses – rare to find except for residences of the nobility or of rich merchants where the windows were considerably smaller though.
The young lady of Avallach followed her guide through the wide corridors and soaring halls of the royal palace, stepping on soft meticulously knotted carpets while passing walls decorated with tapestries and portraits of the royal family in present and past.
One moment she accidentally crossed paths with Gervase, his blue eyes and her silver eyes shortly meeting in the process. The redhead did her best to suppress the emotions boiling in her heart the moment she laid eyes on this two-faced bastard who once had been her husband in another lifetime. The third prince continued on his way without paying her any further attention. Only his eyes had shook for a short moment when surprised by the highly unusual eye color the unknown woman possessed.
Violant was led to a room with a big wooden double door decorated with intricate carvings of nature both common and otherworldly. The girl knew this place just too well, for she had had authority over this part of the palace for a while when she had been queen in her past life. Beyond the door lay the personal audience chamber of the queen.
The chamber was furnished in good style, equipped with a round table full of confectionaries and several chairs, one of them with a rather majestic throne-like appearance. In said throne chair sat an elegant middle-aged woman of medium height with carefully pinned-up chestnut brown hair, wearing a fashionable but not lavish forest green dress embroidered with golden vines. Queen Berengaria examined her arriving guest with hazel eyes, a slight smile on her thin lips.
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Right next to the queen sat her son Wynkin, the very reason for inviting Violant into the palace. The now thirteen years old boy hadn’t really changed since their last meeting. His golden blond hair was the still the same, as was true for his big hazel eyes full of childish innocence in a face with still childlike facial features. His brawny body as tall as an adult man didn’t change significantly since his first berserk growth spurt although it might have grown ever so slightly. The only major difference was that the prince was now wearing clothes fitting his new, bigger body as well as befitting his rank as a member of the royal family. He waved his hand to greet his savior, a behavior that was definitely appropriate for his actual age and childlike personality.
“Come closer, Violant of Avallach. There is no reason for you to be nervous.” spoke the queen with a pleasant sounding voice, beckoning her with a motion of her hand.
Violant followed suit. She wasn’t really nervous meeting the queen but she played her part. A normal fifteen years old girl would be nervous and excited at the prospect of meeting the mother of the nation after all.
“Hail Your Majesty Queen Berengaria!” the young lady greeted.
“Oh, how courteous!” Berengaria remarked while chuckling slightly “But there is no special need to watch your decorum too strictly. This is no official audience after all. Please take a seat. I won’t take any offense even if you don’t act so reserved since I have invited you today to thank you, not to let you feel oppressed by the grandeur of the royal palace. As you might have noticed I have intentionally abstained from using the royal we. It would only increase the pressure on you if I did use it after all.”
The queen continued after her guest had sat down: “Words are not even remotely enough to describe the gratitude in my heart. Had you not brought this remedy, my son’s life surely would have been forfeit. I really cannot thank you enough for that. I am eternally grateful and will always be in your debt.”
“Don’t be, Your Majesty.” Violant hastily countered “I simply have done what everybody would have in my place and the remedy isn’t my formula to begin with, but intellectual property of the hoary healer Alarun from the other march who currently is in my employ. The more so, as she also once used this very same medicine to cure the berserk syndrome afflicting our founder king Heardred, or so she has told me. Thus, even if the venerable healer is part of my entourage, I do not see myself as more than the remedy’s very lucky envoy.”
“Intriguing.” adjudged Berengaria “But enough of your humility. In the end it was your decisive actions that were saving my dear son’s life. Additionally, you even came forward to furthermore supply us with the necessary medicine as long as needed. We are also heavily indebted to your healer, of course, but for now I want to award you for your incomparable deed. Speak freely, is there anything you might desire? If it is within my means I will definitely fulfill it.”
Following the queens words, the audience chamber sunk into silence for quite some time. Violant showed a pondering expression. Same as her exaggerated humility and nervousness, her current thoughtfulness was just for show. She knew what she wanted long before implementing her plan to save Prince Wynkin after all. Rather, saving the prince was just a means to an end for her.
Finally the young lady began to speak: “Your Majesty, I am presently content with my current life and have no special desires of any kind. But, if I may say so, I do not know what my future may hold. Thus I would like to ask for your backing since I cannot surmise what future affairs I might have with the royal family or other nobility following my social debut in October. Therefore I believe that having a royal backer is quite desirable, notwithstanding the formation of factions that will surely occur regarding the question of the king’s succession.”
Hearing this answer, Queen Berengaria couldn’t help but smile wryly.
“Violant of Avallach, you are wise beyond your years.” she remarked appreciatively “Very well, I will be your backer as long as you do nothing clearly directed against the laws, the order, and the welfare of this kingdom. I also believe it to be in my best interest to deepen our ties. As it so happens, Wynkin will soon move to Ealdon – a berserk in the palace simply causes too much of a commotion, even a sane and peaceful one – and since his health has improved significantly it is now at the time for him to learn martial arts like all the other princes too. I am still looking for a tutor in martial arts for him but I have long since heard of your brother Parcie of Avallach’s peerless prowess therein. Thus I would like to appoint him as Wynkin’s personal tutor in martial arts.”
It appeared that Berengaria still wanted to say more but she was cut short by the sudden entry of a servant wearing a palace livery. The man leaned over and whispered something in the ear of the queen. Judging from his expression it seemed to be urgent. Violant couldn’t understand much but at least she heard the key words “succession” “insidious”, “in secret”, and “Gervase”.
Receiving the message, Queen Berengaria rose from her seat and said: “I am deeply sorry but it seems we have to cut short our conversation. I will get down to the details another day, mainly regarding Sir Parcie’s appointment, but that does not necessarily require your personal attendance. Please remain seated though. I am sure my dear son will have a lot to talk about with you. It is the first time him meeting his savior face to face after the incident after all. Please excuse my inhospitableness and enjoy your further stay in the palace.”
After saying so the queen rushed out of the audience hall, leaving her guest and her son behind. Of course they weren’t all alone. There were still servants on standby on the side. Leaving an unwed boy and girl alone in the same room was unbecoming after all.
Violant looked at Prince Wynkin’s happily smiling face, unsure what would follow now.