Chapter Text
Alesia paced anxiously in her room, struggling to comprehend the startling news from her father. It felt as though a series of unfortunate events had suddenly befallen her. What had she done to deserve this? While she had always been quite independent, her resistance to her father's insistence on a marriage had led to numerous conflicts. But could her defiance really be the cause of such relentless misfortune?
Summoned to the grand hall twenty minutes ago, Alesia had sensed that more bad news awaited her. Her father's expression was grave, as if he were grappling with the best way to deliver distressing information. He crafted a speech, attempting to make it sound as palatable and brief as possible. The bombshell dropped when he revealed that a dispatch from the King declared His Majesty's intention to invoke the Ius Primae Noctis on her. Alesia was left stunned, unable to find the right words.
She had heard of lords enforcing this unjust rule on the most beautiful girls in their territories, but she never thought the King himself would resort to it, especially with the daughter of one of his nobles, even if she hailed from the lower nobility. Why not, though? Henry, before ascending to the throne, had a somewhat rebellious reputation, frequenting places where he likely acquired questionable refinement! In that context, Ius Primae Noctis had its own twisted logic.
Surprisingly, her father was taken aback by her lack of explosive anger. However, Alesia was too upset to muster more than one question: "Why?" Her father had no answers; he simply sighed and gestured towards the parchment with the giant red wax seal. His Majesty's intentions were detailed in tiny handwriting, with no hint of the outrageous request that had been verbally conveyed by some messenger.
Reluctantly, her father explained that he could not refuse and was compelled to accept the King’s peculiar demand. The same messenger who brought the royal decree was now assigned to escort her to London, along with a small retinue provided by the King.
Now, she sat in her room, on the bench beneath the high mullioned window, grappling with the "why" of it all. Henry had never laid eyes on her, or perhaps for a fleeting moment during some event in London. She hadn't even noticed. She strained to recall any encounter, but her mind drew a blank.
King Henry, just over 25, was someone she would surely remember—tall and lively. Yet, nothing. What to do? She couldn’t evade His Majesty's command, but she certainly wasn’t thrilled about ending up in his bed!
Most other girls would have been thrilled, scheming a thousand ways to capture the heart of the still-bachelor King, who many claimed was easy on the eyes. But she, honestly, saw no luck in this bizarre request.
She felt caught between two fires: on one side, an unwanted marriage to an older man she felt nothing for, and on the other, the King's order to surrender her virginity to him.
Unfortunately, she didn't have time to ponder it further; His Majesty's envoy made it clear that King Henry was awaiting Lady Alesia Mayeux in London immediately, even before her marriage to Lord Arthur Blakeley.
So, she set off on a cold February morning, attempting to wear a brave face, appear strong and composed, but inside, she was a bundle of fear and doubt. The journey was silent; she had nothing to say, and she certainly didn't want to divulge her thoughts to the King’s envoy.
Finally, they arrived in London. Although Alesia had been there a few times, she was struck by its size, the hustle and bustle, and the mix of pungent, sometimes unpleasant smells wafting from the dark alleys. Almost unconsciously, she thought about Prince Hal, now King Henry, and how he had spent a significant portion of his time in the city's underworld, frequenting low-value taverns, consorting with prostitutes, and idling away time. She couldn't help but grimace at the thought, then wondered if becoming king had actually changed him for the better. Yeah, right, not if he was still holding onto barbaric customs like Ius Primae Noctis!
Finally, they reached the castle, entered the courtyard, and dismounted. Servants swarmed around, attending to Alesia's luggage, while a tall man in a long tunic edged with fur stepped forward, exuding respect. "Lady Alesia Mayeux, you are welcome. Have you travelled well?"
She glanced at him, kind eyes and a mild smile. "Yes, thank you..." she replied, drily.
"I'm glad... Please follow me; His Majesty wants to talk to you right away!"
Alesia thought perhaps she should feel somewhat awestruck, maybe a bit upset. Instead, she felt calm, curious to see if her blurry memory of Henry had any truth to it.
The chamberlain led her through long stone corridors, lit by torches, for what felt like an eternity. Finally, he ushered her into a large, heated stone room, banners hanging from the walls, a roaring fire in the massive fireplace. She fought the urge to gawk, took a few steps forward, up to the steps of the throne, and lowered her head, respectfully blurting out, "Your Majesty…"
"My lady... welcome to court!" A courteous and well-spoken voice greeted her.
Alesia locked eyes with her King and managed to hide her surprise. Henry was grinning, lounging comfortably on his inlaid wood throne.
So, all the gossip about him was true! Henry was a charmer, if not outright handsome! Blue eyes locked onto her, a crown resting on a mass of curly, blond hair, and a well-trimmed beard framing aristocratic features.
"Your Majesty..." She tried to keep a distance by lowering her eyes again.
"I will have the pleasure of having you for dinner in the great hall tonight..." It wasn't an invitation; it was an order, but put so beautifully that refusing would've been a tough call.
Alesia wondered if he'd use the same tone after... -
"It's an honour," she replied, formally and kindly.
The audience didn't drag on past that invitation, and when Alesia returned to her rooms, she was left alone with her thoughts. She had pictured Henry as more arrogant, perhaps transforming the court into some kind of wild place, buying into all the rumors about his past.
However, the King she had just seen was far from the libertine sovereign she imagined. Henry was serious, exuding authority. Yet... despite everything... he had decided to enforce a barbaric law…