Aisling slowly blinked, then said with complete sincerity, “You truly are a striking man.”
There was no flattery in her voice.
She meant it.
The Prince of Dunmara understood the weight behind her words, and the irritation that had lingered in him disappeared almost at once, replaced by quiet satisfaction.
He gave a soft, proud huff.
When he had been a boy, his mother had often told him the same thing.
“With such handsome features, our Ronnie will surely grow into a fine young man.”
Not long afterward, Aisling announced that she should leave.
The Prince of Dunmara clearly wanted her to remain, but remembering what had happened before, Aisling immediately stepped back when he reached for her.
She smiled politely.
“Prince of Dunmara, it is growing late.
I should return.”
Her skirts stirred as she walked, while the delicate ornaments at her temples swayed against one another, producing a faint, crystalline chime.
The golden chains caught the sunlight and flashed brilliantly, lending her an almost ethereal radiance that seemed to brighten the entire hall.
In the end, the Prince of Dunmara did not try to stop her.
There was no need to hurry.
Soon enough, she would belong to him.
The moment Aisling stepped beyond the gates of Ashgrove Gardens, the smile disappeared from her face.
The following morning, she once again took Aunt Bríd and Róisín out in the carriage.
There was no coachman; Róisín handled the reins herself.
Their first stop was the palace gate.
They had come to collect Princess Gráinne.
The moment Gráinne saw Aisling, tears immediately filled her eyes.
“Sister, I heard they are sending you away in a political marriage.
How can this be?
Why does it have to be you?”
Inside the carriage, Aisling took out a silk handkerchief and gently wiped her sister’s tears.
It hardly made a difference.
Gráinne’s eyes seemed like two overflowing springs, tears streaming down her cheeks without end.
She clasped Aisling’s hands and sobbed as though she herself were the one being sent away.
“Sister, what am I going to do after you leave?”
“I brought you with me today because I am thinking of your future,” Aisling replied.
Gráinne froze.
A hiccup escaped her as she stared at her sister through tear-filled eyes.
Aisling continued wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes.
At sixteen, Gráinne was still young, innocent, and almost painfully helpless.
“Have you ever thought about marriage?”
“Marriage?”
“Yes.”
Gráinne lowered her gaze.
“I…
it isn’t really my decision.”
After a moment, she added hesitantly, “Although, when I heard that I might be sent away for a political marriage, I thought I would marry anyone if it meant I didn’t have to leave Kilmore.”
“Since that is how you feel, I can arrange a marriage for you.
But you should decide only after you have heard everything.”
“Sister, whatever you arrange, I will agree.”
Aisling took her hand.
“Don’t rush.
Listen carefully first.”
She then told Gráinne about Eoghan Butler.
He needed a wife.
Aisling had originally intended to make an arrangement with Eoghan herself, but circumstances had made that impossible.
Now she had thought of Gráinne instead.
She knew King Cathal well enough to understand that his daughters’ happiness would never stand in the way of his political interests.
If a marriage served his purposes, he would use them without hesitation.
And the situation in Kilmore was deteriorating with every passing day. Find the original chapter at g.com.
No one could say when the king might decide to exchange another daughter for political advantage.
It was better to make arrangements before that happened.
At least marriage would give Gráinne some measure of security.
Aisling herself had once been too passive when it came to marriage.
Now she was paying the price for it.
Gráinne might have been gentle by nature, but she was far from foolish.
After hearing her sister’s explanation, she understood that Aisling was trying to protect her.
And when she considered King Cathal’s attitude toward the Prince of Dunmara, she knew perfectly well that she could be sacrificed if circumstances demanded it.
So she agreed without much hesitation.
But instead of relaxing, Aisling’s expression became even more serious.
She tightened her hold on Gráinne’s hand.
“If you marry Eoghan, there is one thing you must remember.”
Gráinne looked at her.
“Never fall in love with him.
If you do, you will be the one who suffers.”
Gráinne listened solemnly.
After a moment, she nodded firmly.
“Sister, I understand.”
“Good.”
With Eoghan’s character, Gráinne ought to have a peaceful life once she married him.
As long as she remembered what Aisling had told her and did not give her heart away, life should not become too difficult.
Once they had settled the matter, the carriage arrived at the entrance of the tea house they had visited before.
They climbed down and entered.
Eoghan was already waiting inside, with fresh tea prepared before him.
Truthfully, Aisling had never become accustomed to the tea of this era.
Much of it was prepared more like a medicinal drink than the delicate tea she remembered.
Scallions, ginger, herbs, and other ingredients were often added, producing strong and unusual flavours that made her hesitate before taking a second sip.
It did, however, make an excellent remedy after too much drink.
There were milder varieties, but the leaves themselves were nothing like the refined teas that would become common in later generations.
Much of the tea came from wild plants and carried a bitter, rough flavour.
Some varieties were so sharp that they almost seemed to sting the tongue.
Only a handful possessed any natural sweetness.
When Aisling had still been in Ardmore, the Delaney family had gone to considerable trouble to find teas that suited her refined palate.
They had searched far and wide, selecting only a few varieties that she could tolerate.
Wine, however, was another matter entirely.
It was the drink most beloved by the people of this age, particularly scholars and nobles.
Countless poems and essays had been written in its honour.
There was even a famous tale about Minister Colm, a wine-loving official, who once caught the scent of wine drifting through the night and secretly crept into his neighbour’s home to drink directly from their wine cask.
The household mistook him for a thief.
Only after he had been caught did they discover who he was.
And even after being released, Minister Colm apparently refused to leave.
Instead, he remained behind, drank heavily with the household, and eventually staggered away.
Stories like that said more about the people’s love of wine than any number of poems could.
Brewing methods were still relatively primitive, and the finest techniques remained largely in the hands of a handful of powerful families.
Aisling had taken advantage of that herself.
She had established a wine shop in Dunmore called Gleann Cellars.
The wine produced there was rich, full-bodied, and considerably stronger than most of what was available elsewhere.
It quickly became popular throughout Dunmore and brought her a substantial income.
That money had quietly allowed her to send some assistance toward Ardmore’s grain shortages.
It was not enough to solve the problem, but it was something she could do.
And, more importantly, it was her way of repaying her grandparents for everything they had done for her.
Gathering her thoughts, Aisling led Gráinne into the private tea room.
Aunt Bríd closed the door behind them and remained outside to keep watch.
Then his eyes shifted toward the young princess standing beside her.
Gráinne felt uncomfortable beneath his scrutiny, but she remembered her sister’s warning and forced herself to remain composed.
She stood quietly at Aisling’s side.
After the formal greetings, the three of them took their seats.
Eoghan’s expression remained somewhat grave.
Only a few days earlier, he and Aisling had reached an agreement.
Now everything had changed.
Their proposed marriage of convenience was obviously impossible, and he had never expected Aisling to approach him again so quickly—especially not with another woman in mind.
The new candidate was unexpected.
Yet, when he considered the circumstances, it was entirely possible.
The Butler family had long enjoyed the king’s trust, and Eoghan’s marriage had become a persistent concern within his household.
If he agreed to the arrangement, his family would certainly be willing to approach King Cathal and request his approval.
An unfavoured princess would hardly be a sacrifice for the king.
But the young woman sitting before him was another matter.
Aisling spoke first.
“To be honest, I brought Princess Gráinne here partly because I felt guilty about breaking our agreement.
I hoped I might still be able to offer you something useful.”
She paused.
“But more than that, I hope you will treat Gráinne well and give her a stable life.
If you can do that, I will be deeply grateful.”
Her expression and tone were utterly sincere.
Even though the request was straightforward, Eoghan found himself unable to resent her for making it.
If anything, her honesty made him regard her with greater respect.
He studied both sisters carefully before straightening in his chair.
“If the Princess can accept my conditions, then I am willing to enter this arrangement with her.”
Sometimes, the same agreement could produce entirely different results depending on the person involved.
Eoghan had been willing to cooperate with Aisling because he knew her character.
She was not the sort of woman who would become emotionally entangled with him, and her intelligence and perception made her an exceptionally capable partner.
But Gráinne was different.
With her, he needed certain assurances.
That was why he intended to establish his terms from the beginning.
“Please tell me what they are,” Gráinne said carefully.
The conditions Eoghan laid out were much the same as those Aisling had already explained to her.
Gráinne fought down her nervousness and agreed solemnly.
Throughout the conversation, Aisling watched her sister closely.
Eoghan was young, handsome, capable, and already well regarded.
There were countless young women in Dunmore who would have been delighted to marry a man like him.
Aisling had worried that Gráinne might develop feelings for him.
That would have turned the entire arrangement into a disaster.
Fortunately, there was no sign of it.
In the end, Eoghan agreed to return home and inform his family that he intended to marry Princess Gráinne.
He needed a wife who could put an end to the pressure from his family.
Gráinne needed a secure future.
It was a mutually beneficial arrangement, provided neither side forgot the terms.
Once everything had been settled, Aisling accompanied Gráinne to the door.
“I’ll have Róisín buy you some sesame cakes and pastries.
Wait here for a moment.
There are still a few things I need to discuss with Eoghan.”
Gráinne obediently nodded.
Aisling returned to the tea room.
The door closed.
Only she and Eoghan remained, seated opposite one another in the quiet, dim room.
Aisling studied the man who would one day become one of the great pillars supporting Southern Kilmore.
Then, in a low voice, she asked,
“Tell me, Eoghan…
have you ever thought about what you would do if, one day, Dunmore fell?”