Ambition

Chapter 1

The sky was clear, and I was filled with hope. I gazed out the window, to see the beautiful garden, so alive and green. It was coming along well, the tulips were especially bright this year, and had perfectly replaced last year's roses. Henry hated the tulips, I didn't care for roses. But it was I who managed the gardens, not Henry. If he wanted roses he needed to care for them himself. Someone knocked on my door,

"Good morning your Highness," Margret said as she opened it. She was the only maid attending me that morning, the rest were off preparing for the banquet celebrating Henry's return. "I hope you were been blessed with some well deserved rest"

"Thank you Margret, I was" I hesitantly stood up. The morning felt so perfect, I didn't want to ruin it with a awful day. "Has the perpetrator of the fire been caught?" I asked, as I trudged to my desk. There had been a case of arson recently, and it had burned down a whole village. It was annoying really, now having more on my plate. 

"Not yet, your grace. A dress was sent to you, from Duke Irving, shall I send his your thanks?" I flinched when I heard his name.

"What? Why would the duke send me anything?"

"I'm not sure your highness, perhaps he is congratulating you on another happy year?"

"I doubt it Margret. But send him my thanks anyways, with a bouquet of lavender. Show me the dress," I demanded, Margret bowed and left to retrieve the dress.

I sighed and collapsed on my chair rubbing my eyes. Today was doomed to be eventful. I was apprehensive about even accepting the dress, especially from the scheming Duke. He hated me, as I had blocked the very lucrative engagement between his sister and my current husband, Emperor Henry the fifth of the Kruitezia empire. I knew he wasn't trying to gain favor with me, and I knew he wasn't stupid either. He had to have had an ulterior motive. I would accept the dress for now, and the lavender would show him I still did not trust him.

Margret re-entered my chambers and she was wheeling a very bulky chest in front of her.

"I haven't seen the dress yet your grace, but have only been told its a dress. Shall I open it?"

"No, no, let me examine it first" I crouched down and slid my hands across the chest. It was made of high quality leather. There were two dragons wrapped around a cross made of gold , the nations symbol. Their eyes were diamonds, it was quite lavish. There was a heavy bolt on the front. I opened it, and Margret lifted up the exquisite deep red dress. It must have cost a small fortune. It was off the shoulder, with the sleeves somewhat see-through and covered in lace. The bodice was a beautiful silk, and the dress trim was filled with embroidered gold flowers. 

Margret delicately traced her hands over the dress, and when she finally let it down she whispered,

"Where shall I put it?"

"Leave it in the chest for now, I'll decide what to do with it later" Margret nodded and began to stand again,

"What will you be wearing for his graces arrival? Should I call the tailors, and see what new gowns they have?"

"Yes, that sounds good. It is a little late to get a new dress though, but it'll have to do," With that Margret left me to my thoughts. With a sigh I lifted myself and I went over to my bedside dresser. I had removed my wedding ring last night and I gently placed it in my jewelry box. The ring was stunning, and had been crafted by the finest jewelers in the world. It had cost nearly all of the money the empire spent in a year! I loathed wearing it. It tied me to the bastard that was Henry, and when I wore it there was no denying I was his wife. I wore the ring with shame, when I had to. Today was a day I had to wear it whether I enjoyed it or not.

Some time later Margret returned, with the tailors. They wheeled the already prepared gowns behind them.

"Good morning, your grace. We hope you have been blessed with a marvelous morning,"

"I was thank you. " I glanced at the dresses, and immediately I noticed they were very... bland. On a normal basis they would be fine, but today Henry was returning, and it would insult him for me to go in any of the dresses. A appropriate dress would have taken months to prepare, but I had been so busy with all of my duties. Even when he was home Henry never did anything, and so it all resided on me. "Can you show me the dresses?" I requested, maybe I would find one better suited for the day. 

"Of course" The head tailor began to show me the dresses one by one. They were all better suited for tea, or at best a small parade.  

"Is there nothing else?" 

"No, all the other dresses have been reserved for the new years masquerade ball. If you like we can attempt to find a older dress and repurpose it," Any older dress would be out of style, and an even greater insult. Nobles would think that I didn't even care to humor my husband that I cared. All eyes would be on me and Henry, examining our every move. Gossip was domed to spread, so I had to act perfect. 

"No, I don't think I should," I had no other dresses to wear, I would have to wear the dress the Duke sent me. I just had to pray that there was nothing wrong with it. "I think I have a dress. Could you examine it for me? I need to know if there is anything wrong with it," The tailors looked a little bewildered at the request. The head tailor shrugged, and agreed. 

"Where is the dress?" she asked. I pointed to the chest. She slowly opened it. The other two tailors lifted the dress and placed it on a mannequin. After gazing and feeling the dress the head tailor, eventually said,

"The dress is beautiful, I see no defects" 

"Thank you,"

"But it is a little too large for you, your grace" I clenched my fist, the duke was really pushing me. 

 "Can it be altered? I need it ready by the time Henry arrives,"

"If I were a less capable tailor, no, but luckily I, and my assistants are the best of the best. We can get this done in less than an hour," 

"Perfect" The tailors immediately took my measurements and got to work. Everything was going to be alright. 

(Authors note: Hi, I know the last line was really basic and predictable, but I didn't know any other way to finish it, hope you enjoyed this chapter!)