Chapter 214 Traveling Through the Middle Ages 214

Chapter 214: Crossing the Medieval Era 214

'Sophia of Potslia' became a lady-in-waiting to Queen Dowager Anna, which became a major piece of news in the palace. The arrival of a new lady-in-waiting was not unusual, but because she had once been betrothed to His Majesty the King, it added many subtle layers to the situation, making it a topic of conversation for many during their leisure time.

However, Louise and Sophia had never even met, let alone had any 'story' between them, which made the gossip rather thin. Often, after a few words, people would run out of things to say—after all, they couldn't just bluntly ask, "Did you know, Countess Bask used to be engaged to His Majesty? What does Her Majesty the Queen think about that? Is she uncomfortable?"

Nevertheless, since they both lived in the same palace, there was bound to be an opportunity for them to meet. Thus, under the watchful eyes of those secretly hoping for some drama, about half a month after Sophia entered the palace, the two finally encountered each other.

There was nothing particularly noteworthy about this meeting; it simply happened when Queen Dowager Anna brought Sophia along to discuss Prince François's marriage to Princess Alicia of Baron with Louise—this could also be seen as a sign that Sophia was gradually gaining a foothold in the Queen Dowager's inner circle. After all, at previous court banquets, Anna had not taken Sophia, or else Louise and Sophia would have already met.

Of course, it was also possible that such public occasions were too 'open,' and Anna did not want to risk stirring up more rumors, which might upset Louise. Now, in a more private setting, there was no such concern, so she brought Sophia along.

Louise was not surprised that Queen Dowager Anna would take the initiative to discuss Prince François's marriage... After all, Princess Isabella had recently married into the Kingdom of Camar, leaving Prince François as the only child of the Queen Dowager who was still unmarried. In this situation, focusing on his marriage was inevitable, especially after obtaining the 'Special Permit for Marriage Between Relatives.' She seemed eager to approach Louise about it right away.

Previously, Queen Dowager Anna and Guillaume had reached an understanding, and naturally, Guillaume had to 'repay' her. Following Guillaume's hint, the efforts of the Roman Church doubled, and the 'Special Permit for Marriage Between Relatives,' which had been stalled for years, was finally approved.

With this most crucial document in hand, Queen Dowager Anna naturally began to consider the wedding between Prince François and Princess Alicia of Baron.

Although the marriage of Prince François and Princess Alicia was strongly advocated by Queen Dowager Anna, with Guillaume's tacit approval, there were no obstacles left. If the goal was merely to get married, it could happen at any time, and Anna did not need to consult Louise—however, things were not that simple!

Firstly, given that Louise was representing Guillaume in overseeing the West Side, she symbolized Guillaume. For such a significant matter, even if it was just for show, she had to be consulted, and it could not be done without her knowledge. Secondly, and more practically, Anna needed to secure funds from Louise for the wedding!

Yes, the money for the wedding... While weddings can vary in scale, from very modest affairs where only the cost of the church and the rings is required, to grand celebrations, Anna certainly did not intend to make her son's wedding a simple affair, let alone a secret one.

To host a grand and dignified wedding, one that would bring honor to herself and establish Prince François's prestige among the nobility, a substantial amount of money was necessary.

Queen Dowager Anna, of course, had her own savings, and Princess Alicia was undoubtedly wealthy. They could afford a high-standard wedding, but why spend their own money when they could get it elsewhere? At least, they should try to secure as much funding as possible from the royal treasury—and to do so, they could not avoid Louise.

In fact, because she was asking for help, Anna's attitude was particularly warm, as if she and Louise were close mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Everyone knew, however, that whether in substance or form, their relationship was far from that of a proper mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Guillaume is not the biological son of Queen Dowager Anna, and they have had many conflicts in the past. To speak with hindsight, if it weren't for Queen Dowager Anna's interference, Guillaume should have been engaged to Louise, not Philip. There would have been no need for Guillaume to later dissolve his engagement and re-engage with Louise—thus, Sophia and Louise would not be actual mother-in-law and daughter-in-law! In China, where filial piety is highly valued, this distinction matters, let alone in the West.

Formally speaking, Louise has no intention of putting on a show. After moving into the Cité Royal Palace, she and Queen Dowager Anna maintained a polite but distant relationship, acting as a respectful royal daughter-in-law. It was entirely a case of minding her own business, and even this was only possible because Queen Dowager Anna did not stir up trouble!

Louise was playing a card game with several maids and ladies-in-waiting when Queen Dowager Anna arrived, naturally disrupting their game. She had the table cleared and invited Queen Dowager Anna to sit on a rope bed sofa nearby. Once seated, she immediately noticed a new face among those accompanying the Queen Dowager.

Speaking of recent newcomers around Queen Dowager Anna, there was only one: 'Sophia of Potslia.' So Louise immediately made the connection and couldn't help but look at her more closely—after all, she was the original heroine of the story!

To be honest, Louise was somewhat disappointed. 'Sophia of Potslia' matched the description in the book, a beauty with a distinct Moberhan charm, outstanding in appearance. She indeed possessed a rare quality that set her apart from ordinary women, giving an impression of intelligence at first glance.

But beyond that, there was nothing particularly remarkable; she wasn't a natural focal point in a crowd. It was hard to imagine that in the original story, she could assist Philip in becoming a saintly ruler (her background dictated that she could only 'assist,' though in reality, they were comrades in arms), or that in the epilogue-like side stories, she would wield more power as Queen Dowager, much like Empress Wu Zetian.

Of course, Louise knew she was being too demanding. Many extraordinary people only shine after achieving something extraordinary. Looking back from before their achievements, one might notice some exceptional qualities, but few could predict their future greatness.

With this thought, Louise shifted her gaze back to Queen Dowager Anna—everyone was watching her every move, and they naturally noticed her prolonged glance at Sophia. However, no one found it strange. Even if Her Majesty the Queen could remain indifferent to the King's former fiancée, seeing her in person would naturally prompt a second look.

Compared to Louise's casualness, Sophia was actually much more serious about Louise... Just as Louise didn't really care about her status as Guillaume's former fiancée, Sophia didn't dwell on the past, ultimately dissolved engagement, nor did she feel the regret many speculated.

What was there to regret? This matter was never within her control, nor even that of her father, the Duke of Potslia. The establishment and dissolution of the engagement were both out of their hands. Moreover, Sophia was well aware that even without 'Louise of Bruto,' once it was determined that Guillaume would inherit the throne, she could no longer be his fiancée.

The Princess of Vasson, and eventually the Queen of Vasson, had to be a lady of higher birth who could bring more benefits.

Unless they had already married before Guillaume became the Crown Prince, making it a fait accompli, which was impossible. The reasons for not marrying immediately after the engagement were multifaceted. Unless she knew what the future held and found ways to overcome obstacle after obstacle, there was no way to change this outcome.

Moreover, Sophia was the type who never regretted her decisions, so she wouldn't linger over a settled fact.

However, this did not prevent Sophia from valuing Louise... It was not surprising. Louise was the current Queen of Vasson, the highest-ranking woman in Vasson, and the nominal mistress of the Cité Royal Palace. If she wished, becoming the actual mistress of the palace would not be difficult. Under these circumstances, everyone living in the Cité Royal Palace could not afford to ignore her.

Sophia had already heard many rumors about Louise, most of which highlighted her strength, beauty, and the King's unwavering trust in her—these may not be her greatest traits, but they were the ones most likely to be discussed and reach the ears of someone like Sophia, a newcomer from the provinces.

Seeing her in person today, the first thing that struck me was how well-deserved her reputation is... Her world-renowned beauty is evident at first sight.

Nowadays, when people talk about the beauty of queens from various countries, they often mention Queen Jane of Gaudelaine and Queen Louise of Vasson. This is not only because their husbands are kings of powerful nations but also because each marriage has its own story. To marry Queen Jane, who was considered of insufficient birth, Edward IV chose to wed her in secret. Guillaume, on the other hand, fell in love at first sight and immediately sought to annul his own betrothal as well as the engagement between his brother and Louise, for which he even agreed to fight a war in the East for Louis III.

It must be said that love stories can indeed add luster to the female protagonists, and under such narratives, it's easy for people to imagine the beauty of the Queens of Gaudelaine and Vasson. In this imagination, their beauty is elevated, easily surpassing reality.

Sophia had braced herself for disappointment, but the opposite was true; Queen Louise of Vasson was indeed breathtakingly beautiful. As many have said, she possesses a clean, melancholic beauty that evokes images of a snow-covered church or a verdant forest after a spring rain...

People often say that looking at her, one would think she is fragile, like most beautiful, delicate women. But those who have truly interacted with her know that she has an inner strength quite different from her appearance—of course, the latter part is not exactly a compliment, and Sophia could imagine the mindset of those who gossip about it.

A woman who is intelligent and not overly submissive is likely to receive similar evaluations. Given that Sophia herself is not a traditional, submissive woman, she understands this very well.

After the beauty, naturally, Sophia soon noticed something else. She quickly sensed that Louise’s presence was even stronger than that of Queen Mother Anna—Anna’s presence was formidable, befitting someone who held real power for so many years, exuding authority without needing to raise her voice. Sophia, considering herself a smart and composed person, still felt constantly scrutinized in Queen Mother Anna’s presence, keeping her on edge.

But Louise was even more powerful. The Queen of Vasson appeared to be a very approachable person, giving orders to her attendants and maids without airs. Yet, there was an indescribable nobility in her eyes, tone, and demeanor... If Sophia were from a later era, she might recognize this as a sense of order.

This sense of order was not solely due to Louise herself but also to the ‘support’ of those around her. Although Louise treated everyone equally and with respect, this did not mean there was no order. On the contrary, in an age where many noble households were chaotic and lacked discipline, the rules she established were meticulous and strictly enforced.

Thus, being in her presence, one could clearly feel a sense of order that was also peaceful and relaxed, joyful yet restrained... Truly unique.

Sophia, of course, knew that part of the reason Louise’s presence overshadowed Queen Mother Anna was because Anna was now in the position of seeking help, not entirely due to Louise herself. However, regardless, for a young queen to have such a commanding presence, appearing completely at ease in all situations, was certainly extraordinary.

Sophia indeed felt a kind of indescribable envy—she did not envy Louise for marrying her former fiancé and becoming the queen of Vasson, a powerful nation. What she envied was Louise’s freedom and the way she seemed to have complete control over her life and destiny.

From Louise’s perspective, of course, she did not have complete control over her life and destiny, and she even doubted whether anyone truly could. However, from a relative standpoint, broadly speaking, she was indeed one of the few women of her time who had a significant degree of control over her life and destiny.