Anna-Claudia was not the only one who had her titles returned. Phoenicia still has one more princess who has been robbed of her birthright, although returning it back to her might be a bit tricky.

If Cecily were to become a Princess again, her husband, my brother Gilbert could never become a soldier again, and he would have to abdicate his newly gained position of Commander of the Royal Army.

If I could return Cecily her titles and let my brother still have his position, I would. But it is not I who made the rules.

These rules were set forth hundreds of years ago, with the purpose of protecting the daughters of the King.

As their husbands could never become soldiers, the likeliness of them dying on the battlefield would be greatly reduced. These husbands could not hold any titles other than Prince Consort either, to ensure that they would not become overly ambitious and meddle in the succession of the royal family.

Essentially, they were like children, except that they had to remain that way and become children for the rest of their lives. They were sheltered and protected by the royal family, but they could have no ambition, and absolutely no political nor military power.

That sort of life would absolutely ruin my brother, which made me reluctant to return Cecily her titles.

"Have you both been quite well ?" I questioned amiably, and my brother bowed deeply, almost comically in return.

"We have been very well, Your Majesty," he replied, trying his best not to laugh. In public, he had to call me 'Your Majesty', and I was to refer to him as 'Commander'.

I greatly despised this, as it reduced our brother and sister relationship to a mere relationship between a subject and his queen.
We initially ignored the protocols and called ourselves 'Gil' and 'Annie' like we used always do, but Tweedledee secretly reported to my husband that I was being informal and showing too much favour to my maiden family.

From then on, we used the correct, more acceptable titles, but we always spoke them in an exaggerated, awkwardly dramatic tone.

There were quite a few courtiers around, simply loitering the area. Tweedledee and Tweedledum's spies, I am sure. These little bugs kept their ears open and feasted on every word that we spoke, saving the best bits for their master.

I glared sharply at Edmund who sat on the throne beside me, and as if he was capable of reading my mind, he loudly cleared his throat and sternly said, "Leave us."

The courtiers scurried out like a rat would if it saw a cat, leaving the court bare and empty. I could finally let out a sigh of relief, and I beckoned Gilbert and Cecily to come closer.

"I have summoned you both to discuss about the matter of Lady Cecily's titles," Edmund began, his eyes flickering towards Gilbert. "I intend to keep the promise that I made, Cecily, but do you know what the consequences will be if I return your titles back to you ?"

Cecily timidly shook her head. "I do know, Your Majesty," she spoke. "It is not I who will pay the price. My husband will."

My brother stoically stood in the middle of the court, all eyes sharply trained on him. The tips of his fingers brushed against the hilt of his sword, as if he were reminiscing his glorious days on the battlefield.

However, I knew that there was not much to recall about. His golden days had just begun, and now he is at risk of losing it all. If I could change the rules, I would. But I could not.

Last night I had spoken of this to Edmund. If only we could change the rules, then my brother's position would not have been jeopardised. But instead of relenting, Edmund reminded me that our firstborn was a daughter.

If we never produce a son, then Elisabeth shall be queen. With the current rules set in place, her husband could never rise up against her nor challenge her power.
But if we implemented a new rule, one that is made to accomodate Gilbert and Cecily, it would later create a loophole, allowing Elisabeth's future husband to gain more power.

Our daughter was barely a year old, but we could not afford to be callous. Every decision that we made must be carefully considered, as even a single mistake could threaten our reign, our fledgling dynasty.

In the end, we decided to give them an ultimatum. It is either one or the other. Either Cecily becomes Princess again and Gilbert loses his position, or Cecily remains as a commoner while Gilbert gets to keep his position.

It is cruel to force them to choose, but we had no other choice. We could not forsake the future of this kingdom just for the two them.

My eyes were still trained on my brother, awaiting for his response. Would he be mad, anguished, or even run amok ?

When he pulled out the Sword of the Valour, the one that my husband himself had ordained to him, and laid it flat on the floor before us, needless to say I was stunned.

The Sword of the Valour was my brother's most prized possession, and he received it as a reward for his efforts during the siege. He bragged about it incessantly and carried it wherever he went, as if it were his firstborn child.

"I am willing to surrender my position," he declared heroically. "If it means that Sissie gets to become a princess again, then I am willing."

I was ready to protest, but before I could stand up, Cecily briskly grasped Gilbert's hand, staring at him in disbelief.

"Don't," she said softly as she incessantly shook her head. "This is your dream, husband. It is what makes you happy."

"And your title is the only thing that your parents left behind for you. Don't you want to keep holding onto it ?" he hissed, his periwinkle eyes boring deep into hers.

A cold shiver ran down my spine when I heard those meaningful words of his. Everything that was once meaningful to Cecily is now gone and perished. Her mother dead, her father and stepmother in exile, her Ainsworth relatives are all either dead or demoted.

Sir Thomas Ainsworth, who had valiantly kidnapped me and my mother-in-law months ago had met his end at the chopping block. The only bloodkin that Cecily had left was her estranged sister Marguerite, who is living her life to the fullest in the glittering court of Terrawyn, and her half-brother who is not of sound mind, the deposed Crown Prince Gregory.

Cecily had been quiet, unable to answer Gilbert's question. Indeed, it must be a very hard decision for her to make. However, I soon realised that there is a way for both of them to keep their rightful titles and position.

"Is your marriage still unconsummated ?" I questioned discreetly. Cecily, red-faced and shy, nodded quietly.

I feared that I was becoming like my own mother, forcing herself onto other people's relationships, but this method is truly the only option left.

"As long as you remain married, only one of you can keep a title. If you part ways, then both parties can keep their titles," I spoke, despising the cruel words that left my lips.

Gilbert glanced up at me in shock, as if he were unable to believe that I, his own sister, had made such a heartless suggestion.

"I disagree-"

"I agree."

My brother's gaze flickered towards his wife, who had spoken at the same time as he did. "Agree to what, Sissie ?" he asked, his tone low and weak, oozing with disappointment.

"I will agree with that suggestion, Your Majesty," she restated. "I believe that it will bring benefit to the both of us-"

"Sissie!" Gilbert reprimanded, almost in anguish. "I disagree to it entirely, so there is no need for you to think about it anymore."

"If we get a separation, then you will be able to marry a lady of better standing, of greater beauty than I possess. And the annual stipend should be enough for me to live comfortably for the rest of my life," Cecily argued calmly, but if one looked closely enough, you could see the tears that were beginning to form at the corners of her eyes.

"Enough, Cecily !" my brother half-shouted, immediately quieting her down. He turned around to face me and Edmund before bowing deeply. "Please excuse us, Your Majesties," he said briskly and walked off, Cecily's thin wrist tightly wrapped by his rough fingers.

I looked at Edmund, still in shock and unsure of what to say. "I shouldn't have suggested getting a separation. That was a terrible decision on my part," I murmured.

"It is sensible and beneficial, Annie," Edmund replied thoughtfully. "Albeit rather heartless."

"Which is why I said it was a horrible suggestion," I retorted, rolling my eyes. "Do you think that they will actually do it ?"

Edmund laughed heartily. "Your brother would never agree. Although he would never admit it, your brother is absolutely smitten.
Back at the barracks, he keeps all the letters that she sent in his pillowcase as if they were priceless relics, but the letters he sent in return were so short and stiff, not at all reflecting how he actually feels. It is truly hilarious."

"Well, should we just keep the title for now ? Your sister keeps on begging that you give her children formal titles and add them to the line of succession," I retorted less enthusiastically.

Edmund's brows dipped into a deep frown and he let out a soft sigh. "She knows I can't do that. They are Terrawinians by law, and the only position they are entitled to is the one that belongs to their late father."

He then turns towards me, his lips curving into a pleasantly sweet smile. "Besides, shouldn't we savve those titles for our children ? Little Elisabeth would surely like to have more siblings."

"Perhaps a title for your bastard ?" I shot back rather cruelly.

"Annie, you know that it isn't mine," he says exasperatedly, all joy wiped away from his face. "I had to say that it is mine so that-"

"So that people wouldn't call you a cuckold," I sneered. "None of this would have happened if you had killed her off in the first place."

Edmund was silent, his face tilted down in disappointment. "Annie, do you think that every problem will be solved just by killing ? Things aren't as simple as you think."

My stomach sank as I heard those words. Does he know what I had did ? Did Mama tell him, or did he overhear it ? Or did I forgot to put on the elugia oil ?

But when he grasped my hand and pulled me over into his embrace, my erratic heart slowly began to relax. He does not know. He brings my hand close to his lips and kissed it gently, the sensation of his lips as soft as a feather.

"Say that you will not kill again," Edmund begged. "Promise me, Annie. Promise that you will not dip your hands in blood ever again."

He squeezed my hand softly, and with his thumb he caressed my skin carefully. "Promise me."

His pale green eyes were filled with so much hope, so many expectations, and the thought of that weighed me down. How could I promise him that, when I had already halfway cursed Lacey Rivers ? I could not promise him that.

But he was so hopeful, wanting for me to repent. I turned and laid my head against his hard, broad chest, nodding solemnly.

"I promise," I lie through gritted teeth.

Hi! If you liked this story, try checking out my other story, which is set in the early 1700s, Catarina and The Prince ! And please vote and comment, it means a lot to me 🥰