Three years ago, the Empress of all Jovan had summoned Philomena and said, "I am going to make you an offer."

Philomena had promised to marry Prince Rainhart Dorn of Reuz, she had travelled to Deusetats, she had waited and waited, and now... now she was late to respond to the Queen's summons, her embroidery was not up to scratch, and there was a wriggling knot of unease in her stomach.

"Oh--Prince Rainhart," said Philomena, almost skidding in her surprise.

"Lady Philomena." From his position leaning against the wall, Rainhart half-bowed. His hand went to the dog--Briga's--neck. "I hope this day finds you well."

"It does, and you?"

Rainhart nodded. His hair was a darker gold than his siblings': the colour of poured honey. The fine strands were pressed close around his ears and nape by a flat cap with raffish feathers. His eyes were a deep grey-blue, like mountains in the distance. She could feel the mortification in the pit of her stomach: every time she saw Rainhart, all she thought of was that the first time he saw her she had been being held hostage by Briga.

It was ridiculous: she had grown up around dogs, around the Empress' spaniels and lapdogs, but the big wolfhound bounding towards her had startled her. Blessed few, Rainhart must think her a complete idiot.

Philomena watched as the restraining hand on Briga's neck became a caress behind the ear. Briga cocked her head and closed her eyes, thumping her foot in time with Rainhart's scratches.

"She's a beautiful dog," said Philomena.

"Briga is a wolfhound," said Rainhart. Did Philomena detect a note of censure? "She's saved me from the dangers of the high mountains more than once. Where are you bound?"

"To your--the Queen's solar." Philomena kept her tone neutral. "The seamstress fitted the mock-up of my new dress this morning, and this afternoon we are embroidering linens."

"I'd best let you get on then," said Rainhart, pushing away from the wall. "My mother hates tardiness."

"I've learned that," said Philomena. "You--I hope you have a good day."

Rainhart touched his cap with his hand and smiled, then he was gone down the hall, Briga trotting beside him. Philomena watched for a moment, then turned her steps towards the Queen's rooms.

The Queen looked up when Philomena entered, and her lips thinned in displeasure. The collection of women sitting around the Queen all stilled and looked at Philomena. Princess Holle looked up last.

"Lady Philomena, come in, child, don't dawdle about in the doorway. Sit down here beside me so I can supervise your stitching." She patted a cushion beside her on the window seat. "Such a pity that Lord Valentin's wife never taught the girl to sew," she lamented, fishing out one of Philomena's projects and showed it to the woman sitting beside her, whom Philomena didn't recognise.

"I was too busy learning to write," said Philomena.

"A useless skill for a lady," said the Queen, again to her companion. "Then again, I am sure Lady Luvina must be a saint to take those two unfortunate offspring of her husband's in. I do not think I could have stood to have a bastard of the King's under my roof."

She turned back to Philomena. "See, here, this stitch is crooked. You will need to unpick it. You and my son may lay your heads on these pillowcases someday."

Philomena rode out the bolt of fright that followed that image, unclenched her fists, and took the pillowcase. "How is Prince Maldwyn today?" she said, confident that the topic of her eldest son would distract the Queen and give Philomena some peace.

She was not disappointed. "Oh, my darling Maldwyn," said the Queen rapturously. "It is such a loss to Deusetats that he will never be king."

"Why not, your majesty?" said the new handmaid, all wide-eyed innocence. Her accent showed her to be a Merot like the Queen. Philomena was beginning to suspect the Queen rotated her Merot ladies in waiting solely so she would have a new audience for whom to deliver her tirade against Deusetats' succession laws.

Philomena snuck a glance around the room and caught Princess Holle giving her an unreadable look that somehow hinted at amusement.

"Oh, Elspet, these Deusetatsi have a law that says that a King must be succeeded by his nephew--his sister-heir's son. As that awful Henrik says, 'the mother is always certain', which, of course, means that Godfrey may be more sure that he is related to his sister's child than his own, as if I would ever--ever--foist another man's child off on my lord husband."

There couldn't be a woman alive in Merot or Deusetats who hadn't heard of the Queen's complaint, but Elspet clasped her hands to her chest and gasped, "Your majesty, how dreadful!"

"I could bear it if Crown Prince Tancred were fit for the role, but I'm afraid he can't hold a candle to my Maldwyn." Elspet was silent, no doubt contemplating the enormity of anyone passing over Maldwyn for Tancred. "Still, it is wonderful to have all my children here with me at last."

"Except Linde," said Holle. Philomena had only heard Princess Linde mentioned once or twice the whole time she had been at Breg. She had been the youngest Reuz sibling, and died when she was eleven, of a chill.

"Well, the past cannot be undone," said the Queen. "Of course I miss my dear Linde, but I must make do with my living children."

"Quite right, mother. No use crying over spilt milk," said Holle, something brittle in her voice that made Philomena look at her curiously.

"Holle, show Elspet the sampler you brought with you from the seminary." Before Holle could reply, the queen fished the square of cloth out of her sewing basket and presented it to Elspet, who was suitably impressed.

Then she turned to Philomena. "Here, this will show you what I hope for from you. Although you shouldn't aim for anything as complex as Holle has done--I fear it would be quite beyond you. But perhaps we can at least coax a respectable pillowcase out of you before the wedding."

"Thank you, your majesty," Philomena said. "Princess Holle, perhaps once Rainhart and I are married, you may have a moment to teach me how to sew properly."

"If my mother thinks I may be able to assist," Holle murmured. Philomena frowned and turned her attention back to her stitching. Sometimes it seemed as if Holle saw the absurdity of things the same way Philomena did; at others Holle became a submissive, sanctimonious puppet. Philomena was beginning to suspect that elusiveness was a shared trait among the Reuz children.

The Queen narrowed her eyes. To Elspet she said, "I am sure I have done my best with the girl, but you know what the wise man said about sow's ears and silk purses."

* * *

Philomena found her way out to the kitchen garden and slumped down on the bench near the wall. A moment later, she realised she was crying. King Godfrey was careless and heartless, the Queen and Maldwyn seemed determined to make her miserable, Holle seemed to enjoy that, and Rainhart... well, he clearly wanted nothing to do with her.

Of all of them, only Tancred had ever been decent, in his careless way, and he'd been busy organising the tournament and helping Godfrey with plans for the Kingmoot.

"Oh Lady Mop, don't cry," said a cool voice in front of her.

Philomena opened her eyes and beheld Princess Holle, the sun picking up the flaxen sheen of her hair and her milk-pale skin. "What do you want?" said Philomena.

"I was just curious to see where you were going," said Holle. "Do you feel more comfortable here near the kitchen?"

I feel more comfortable the further away I am from you, thought Philomena. She said, "Crown Prince Tancred also likes to sit out here. It's the only patch of green in the entire castle."

Princess Holle raised her eyebrows and said, "Does he?" in a tone that made Philomena feel as if she had missed something.

"Holle, I see you've found our garden," said a voice behind them.

"Your grace," said Holle, donning a sweet smile. Tancred stepped up beside her. He was taller than Maldwyn and leaner than Rainhart, and attractive enough in his way, but he seemed to fade beside any of the Reuz siblings. Side by side with Holle, it was difficult not to be drawn back to looking at the princess, with her forest-green brocade and the pearl netting in her hair.

Tancred studied Philomena. "Are you all right, Lady Philomena?" he said, sitting down beside her.

Philomena managed a smile. "Difficult day," she said. She looked quickly at Holle, and Tancred followed her gaze.

"I'm sorry, cousin, but would you excuse us?" he said.

Raising her eyebrows in an expression Philomena was coming to recognise as characteristic of her, Holle said, "By all means, don't let me interrupt. Your grace, I will see you at dinner."

"I look forward to it," said Tancred politely. When they were alone, Tancred said, "Don't let the princess bother you too much. Just remember that she's almost a stranger in this castle, whereas you have been living here for three years."

"Thank you." Becoming aware that she was monopolising the Crown Prince's time, she added, "I'm sorry, is there somewhere you need to get to?"

"I was going to snatch a half hour's peace and quiet," said Tancred.

Philomena put her hand on his arm. "Don't let me disturb you, then, please."

Tancred smiled at her. "I know you sometimes feel as if you're alone in Breg, but you're not. The Queen wants me here even less than she wants you." He stood up and went over to his usual bench, abstracting a small volume from his pocket. Philomena watched his brown hair part around his nape as he bowed his head to read.

* * *

A/N: 

This type of succsssion is a real thing; it's called uterine succession (and "The mother is always certain" is a real principle!). In Deusetats what it means is that succession runs through the female line: a Queen (or baroness) will be succeeded by her own eldest child (male or female), and a King (or baron) will be succeeded by his siblings, then his eldest sister's (his sister-heir's) eldest child. Hope that makes sense! I wrote a thing about this, which you can read here: http://www.sennalily.com/succession-and-inheritance-in-deusetats/

Also, because it doesn't really matter (for succession purposes) who you are married to, since a man will be not be succeeded by his children, and a woman will be, regardless of their parent, Deusetats has provision for male-male and female-female marriages which are often made to cement political alliances.

Thank you to everyone who's supported the story so far!! Don't forget to vote/comment/add to your reading list if you're enjoying it! :)