#edwardiv

and it wasn’t any regular lover, but a lady-in-waiting to the queen, and daughter of the duke of aquitaine, lady aryana. the two were never one without another. they hid their relationship until her mother walked into her chambers, unannounced and saw them kissing. aryana was thrown out of the room, the door slamming behind her. it became evident her heart broke. she wore mourning attire, despite no one dying.  when she was fourteen, she would be taken back to england, as her father sat upon the throne again. she knew he was her mother’s puppet, as was her brother. but coraline had no intention of being someone’s paw. cora was a princess in her own right, an educated scholar, beloved by the french people. that made her a problem. she rode into town with her brother and mother into the home they once knew. while it was her home, it didn’t look it. the yorks had gotten rid of everything, including her multitude of instruments. her ladies-in-waiting helped her get into her rooms. a porcelain hand belonging to the princess slid across the books left on her desk. she was fifteen by that point, and yet she had lived a great life. she was witty and intelligent, and called people out, but she was also a god-like figure to the people. it was well known cora was favored over her brother by almost everyone, except her mother. cora knew her life wouldn’t go back to what it was. hell, she was five when she left. so while she was an english princess- she knew nothing of it’s people, and she intended to learn. she would go and give the people bread, and books, and coins, and toys for the children. she was even painted a portrait of her while she played with the village’s children. as beloved as the yorks were, a storm was coming. no- not a storm. a raven flew over her head as she came to face edward of york’s youngest brother. her breath hitching in her throat as her piercing blue eyes grabbed hold of richard’s soul.

edward sucked in air through his teeth. “but it seemed she did. in order to save your brother. so- i’m sure you see why i have brought you here. to keep you safe.” cora let out a light laugh, one that brought a smile to richard’s lips. while richard had done nothing wrong to her, she knew he was loyal to his brother. “to keep me safe. pardon my french...but that’s bullshit. i will have no other king of england reign but my father. but if the pretender wishes to send me home to france, i would rather like that.” edward had to give it to her, she had more punch than anyone would’ve thought. “you liked france, didn’t you?” he asked pulling out a painting of her beloved, aryana of aquitaine, which caused her face to fall. “she’s beautiful. i’ll give it to you- you have a good choice in women.” her mind went to many places: was she safe? how did he get that? where was she? “lady aryana was married off last night-” her heart felt as if it had just been stabbed. “-to your cousin- nicholas of anjou.” and there was the twist of the knife. “i will do no such thing as to say you are king. if you must send me to the tower-” edward lit up at this. “that is a wonderful idea! they always said you were smart- but this just proves it.” she threw a chair at the wall, the wood instantly shattering. cora took a deep breath. “i apologize for that...i will go willingly, and my ladies will come with me to the tower.” she bowed her head to him. “good day, your grace.” her ladies followed her in tow as she made her way to the royal departments in the tower. as soon as she was behind closed doors, cora fell to the floor and sobbed. her ladies all sat down and hugged their friend and mistress. they all knew her great love for the lady aryana, so hearing she was married off, they too felt horrible. she cried herself to sleep in her bed of the tower. her ladies all went to their own beds when they knew she was asleep. but lady margot, her maternal cousin, had stayed with her, in case cora needed anything in the middle of the night. but before long, margot herself fell asleep. a soft knock came from the royal apartment doors as the princess stirred. she got up, trying not to wake her cousin, and moved to open the doors. there stood the man with the piercing eyes from before- richard, the king’s brother. “your grace…?” cora asked out of utter confusion. “i brought you this-” he said handing over one of her old books. “- i found it in one of the rooms and figured you’d want it back…” his voice was soft as silk, his smile seemed to light up the room. and little did richard know, but giving a piece of literature meant the world to coraline. she only gave people books when she loved them. the lancastrian thought knowledge was the greatest power one could have. especially if that person is a woman. “thank you...your grace.” richard nodded softly to her. “richard…” the princess smiled up at him. while he stood five feet eight inches, the princess stood a whopping four feet ten inches, which caused the york, only two years her senior, to tower over her. “richard…” cora loved saying his name, but would never admit to it. it made her heart all warm and gooey. they were enemies, so she shouldn’t feel that way. and yet, she did. “i convinced king edward to let you out for a party tomorrow evening to celebrate his return to power...and i just wanted to say- i’m sorry about the lady aryana...i know you loved her. oh!’ he pulled out a small locket and gave it to her. “i had this made for you…” she took the locket and opened it. inside was a portrait of her father and on the opposite side was a portrait of the lady aryana of aquitaine. cora was shocked by this, and richard was shocked by her reaction; cora pulled him into a warm embrace. “thank you…my lord richard…” she whispered into his ear as she felt to hands wrap around her waist and reciprocate the hug. “no need to thank me, princess-” it was her turn to correct him. “cora…” richard smiled down at her. “cora…”