I

My brother arrived at French court 4 days ago, I wasn't planning on going there at all, but what my brother last wrote in his letter -

The situation is more complicated than I thought. I need your help with this one, sister. You know how to deal with these situations more than anyone else, the king is already aware of your arrival, so please come and help me.

Your beloved brother,

James N.B

I didn't have much choice. It was either that or lose my position as my brother's most trusted advisor. So with that in the back of my head I stepped in the carriage, and now here I am, looking out of the window, feeling the early spring breeze in my face and enjoying the view where the castle was already visible behind the French landscapes.

As soon as I reached the castle and walked on the gravel path, I heard the servants already walking behind me carrying my baggage, the guards opened the huge port, I immediately saw the dozen servants, guards and guests walking in the castle.

"This way, your Grace." One of the guards said who was escorting me to my temporary chambers. I followed the man inside the castle and was mesmerized to see how beautiful the castle was. The windows were huge and through those you could see the lake and forests.

This might be better than I expected.

After a few more steps the guards stopped before a door and opened it, the servants who were walking beside me hurried inside the room to unpack and place all my clothes, jewels and documents in the suitable places.

I could say that I'm not used to such luxury, I was born in the South of France, my parents were the Duke and Duchess of Bordeaux. When they passed my brother earned the title of Duke of Bordeaux, making me a rich and a wealthy young woman. Men who knew my position tried to impress me, but none of them did and never will. My brother and I had a lot of relations with other wealthy families and that's one of the reasons why we became so popular that even the king and queen knew our names. When James and I were growing up, I became famous for different reasons, I understood things differently, I liked the universe, galaxy, no one understood my passion for stars and the unknown. With all that and my different perspective of noticing things and doing things differently I became known as 'the Marvel', I know poetic right? I try to avoid my passion about the universe or at least try to hide it. Now my Marvelousness is still the only thing that makes me a Bordeaux.

"Your Grace, later this evening there will be a feast honoring our king's birth." One of the servants said before she left me alone in this huge room. I wasn't aware that it was the king's birthday, my brother seemed to leave that detail out.

First thing I did was walk to the balcony doors and open them, after I walked back into my room and placed some things somewhere else. I suddenly heard a knock on the door. I walked towards the door and opened it to see no other than my brother.

"James." I said and he embraced me, I let out a chuckle, he let go of me and then we finally walked properly inside my room.

"I can't believe that you actually came, Vic, I thought that you would stay at home, I know how much you dislike being a proper, well-mannered woman." He said with a smirk, I gave him a look and quickly that smirk disappeared. He wasn't wrong though. I just don't like pretending to be someone who is far more different than me. I have a wild, free spirit as you could say, and being around royals isn't exactly 'wild'.

"You know that there is a feast, starting any moment." James said.

"What? So soon? Do I have to change? Probably. I will meet you there, we can talk further then." I said, my brother gave me a firm nod and left the room chuckling.

I went through my pile of dresses but none of them are appropriate for a royal feast. I let my hair down and then grabbed a white dress with layers and a bit of lace. I wore a few jewels and my father's ring, he gave it to me on his deathbed, since then I wear it everyday.

Before I was escorted by guards to the feast I took a final glance of myself in the mirror, perfect. I don't want to make a memorable attendance, which is why I chose this dress, I don't want people to find out who I am. I will just stay in the corner of the room sipping wine out of my goblet and probably judge other people who are enjoying the feast.

As I walk into the room, there are around a thousand people. The room is totally filled, everyone is quiet and waiting for the king to make his arrival, I walk to the back of the room and lean against one of the pillars, sipping some wine.

"I heard that the king is the handsomest man of all." I heard a girl who was standing in front of me not knowing that I was listening to her conversation.

"He and his wife seem to be distant, their marriage wasn't even consummated, I heard rumors that the king is looking for a mistress." The other young woman said to the other.

"A mistress?" The other said in an intriguing voice.

"Yes." They both smirked at the fact.

I understand them, they want to be rich, be royal, have no worries at all. Except that is not how it will be, but I don't need to interfere in their imaginations. I have to see for myself if he is worth all the trouble.

With those thoughts the grand door opened.

"King Isaac George Valois the first, King of France." A man shouted.

Immediately after a man stepped into the room, wearing a red fur cloak that dragged on the ground, a sword hung around his waist, a well-embellished doublet with gold-work thread, and a golden crown rested on his head.

I couldn't disagree with the two females who were gossiping about this man seconds before.

He truly is breath-taking gorgeous, with his black hair that was squashed down by the heavy golden crown and his green eyes scanning across the room, his hands rested against his posture, he wore multiple rings on them showing off his wealth. He was tall, very tall, he had broad shoulders and walked to his throne like a true king that everyone fears.

I swallowed and looked away, sipping my entire goblet empty.

I don't understand why I'm feeling this way, no man ever impressed me like this. I let out a deep breath and looked back at him, I felt intrigued by this man, no man has ever made me think this way about anyone and I seemed to enjoy it.

There he sat on his throne, both of his hands resting on the arm rest. His back was straight and he looked into the room, next to him sat his wife.

His wife Victoria, he is married.

An elder woman stood beside the king looking into the crowd and whispered something in the King's ear.

His Majesty stood up and started talking.

"I'm grateful for all of you, who came here to celebrate my birth. Let the feast begin!" He said in a raspy, low voice and sat back on his throne. The music immediately started and everyone went to the dance floor or started eating. I still stood leaning against the same pillar and was shocked about what was going on with me.

This is so inappropriate Victoria, get yourself together.

"I was looking for you," I was snapped out of my head by my brother's voice. I turned to him. "You will be able to leave after some time, I know how much you'd rather be sitting in your room reading." He said and smiled at me, he knew me far too well.

"You're probably right James." I smiled at him.

"Do you want to dance?" James asked me, I looked at the dancing people who were waltzing.

"I don't really have a choice do I?" I mocked him. I knew what he was doing here, everytime the female spun around into another man's arms, my brother was searching for a wife and this was one of the most intimate and appropriate ways to do it.

"You don't." He smiled and put his goblet down and pushed me into the dancing crowd.

He took me into his grip and we started swinging around, thankfully my dress wasn't making me trip, I was laughing at my brother's dancing moves and the last time he danced was probably a decade ago.

Suddenly the music changed and everyone left the dance floor making place for the King and Queen. I watched them moving close to each other. The King put his hand on the back of his Queen and started leading the dance, he spinned her and her huge dress twirled around in the most beautiful way. The Queen placed her hand on his chest, such an intimate gesture. The King removed his hand from her back and took her hand that was resting on his chest to his shoulder. He lifted her up and then placed her back on the ground.

His upper arm muscles were visible through his doublet, now he had taken off his coat. My eyes rested on his posture for a while. The Queen was smaller than the King, much smaller, or he was very tall.

I blinked with my eyes multiple times and then swallowed once more.

The music came to an end and then the Queen bowed to the young King. He clenched his jaw and gave her a firm nod before they both left the dance floor.

Everyone went back to dancing and James and I went to pour some more wine.

"It's such a shame." My brother started.

"What?" I asked, not knowing what he was referring to.

"It's such a shame for him," he nodded in the King's direction who was now sitting back on his throne sipping some wine while the Queen talked to him. "The King, he seems so fearful, I thought so at first, but without her," He nodded in the Queen's direction who was still talking to her husband,"he is much nicer, he needs someone better in his life. I can't imagine what it would be like if you marry for your realm and not for love." My brother finished.

"You don't know, but I do." I reminded him, I've been engaged for 9 years, he is such a hateful creature in my eyes, I can't resist him, he always tries too hard it seems or he shows up drunk and tries to force himself on me. But he's at war, so I'm just hoping that he'll die.

"I'm so sorry Victoria, I totally forgot."

"It's fine, I don't want to talk about that subject." I said. He nodded and when he was just about to say something a messenger walked up to him and whispered something in his ear. My brother nodded to the man and he walked off.

"What is it?" I asked James, he seemed focused.

"According to our German spies, the German protestants are planning on a rebellion against the Catholics." I inhaled a breath and knew what this meant, this meant war.

"James, you know that if they're right, there will be a war." I interfered, I knew that he was planning strategics. This would be awful, our duty was to avoid a war, otherwise our wealth will be taken away from us and our title.

"I'm aware," Jame said and turned to look around if there were any people listening to our conversation. "We have to tell it to the King."

What?

"Tell him, I will stay here." I tried to say, to avoid him.

"He will have to meet you one day Victoria." My brother said, Before I could answer he grabbed my hand and pulled me through the crowd towards the thrones that were built on an elevated platform.

"Duke." The King spoke when he noticed my brother standing before the thrones. My brother bowed in front of him.

"Your Majesty," He addressed the King, "Your Majesty," He addressed the Queen, "May I introduce my sister, Victoria Bordeaux." Both their eyes were now staring at me, I bowed deep hoping it would last longer and not to stare in their eyes, his eyes.

"I hope everything is to your liking, your Grace." The King said, The Queen was studying my every move and gave me a deathglare, have I offended her?

"It certainly is, Your Majesty." I tried to say politely, as my brother mentioned before, manners aren't my thing.

"I'm glad, if there is anything, just ask." The royal spoke, I smiled at him.

"I doubt that but thank you, Your Majesty." I let out a chuckle. How on earth could I ever be unhappy in this castle?

"We came to tell you, Your Majesty, that our German spies say that there might be a rebellion between the German Catholics and Protestants." My brother said, the King immediately clenched his jaw and all the kindness that he just showed left his eyes, now they were focused, concentrated. His lips were pressed together and his sharp jawline was tense.

"Are those rumors already confirmed?" The King asked. My brother and I shared a look and then my brother shaked his head.

"So there might be a chance that this is a misunderstanding?" He asked my brother.

"There is a chance, Your Majesty." James replied, the King was still concentrated, he knew that there also is a chance that the rumors are true.

"I will send out a letter to the German ambassadors and prepare for a war, if it's going to get this far. Before the Ambassador doesn't confirm these rumors we will plan strategies, incase it is true." The King finished.

"But Isaac, they are saying that there is a chance that those are rumors, there is no need to worry so soon." The Queen spoke, The King snapped his eyes in his wife's direction and gave her a look.

Seriously? This woman.

"But Charlotte there also is a chance that it will happen and if we're not going to take any action who knows what will happen when that news will go to the Germans." He snapped at the Queen, she immediately turned away her gaze.

"Tomorrow morning, I have time to start planning this situation." The King said. I looked at James and he gave me a nod showing that that will do good for both of us. Both I and James retrieved the Queen and King's gaze and started walking into the crowd once more.

People were singing, talking, dancing, and eating. Everyone has fun, it seems. Yet, I can't seem to stop looking at the King. I turn and discreetly look in his direction.

I caught his eye.

He kept looking into my eyes and I did the same, he was so far, yet so close.

He gave me a nod and I did the same and then searched for my brother pretending that the King just didn't catch me staring at him.

"James, I think I'm going to retire." I told James who was sitting beside a woman, she looked at me and then at James, he whispered something in her ear and immediately her dirty gaze was replaced by a fake smile. I didn't even give her a glance.

"Of course, I'll see you tomorrow." He said and I gave him a goodbye nod and tried to find my way out of the crowd into the main hallway where after that I should find my chambers. As the guards opened the door for me, I was surrounded by the light of a few candles that lit the corners of the hallway. Behind me I heard the door open again and my head snapped back.

It was the King.