Her son was cradled in her arms, wrapped in the best silks gold could buy and a baby blanket handed down in the Soliel family for generations. He was gaining weight and growing the way the healers all said he should and at five months old, he was starting to crawl.
Ahead of schedule, Francis was always quick to point out.
He already had the Soliel family hair, a pale, pale blond that looked like a wispy cloud on his head. He had Brigitta's eyes though. A murky brown that she'd always hated growing up because it was nothing special compared to everyone else. With her thick, brown hair and fair skin, she'd always felt plain compared to the other women in her generation.
She hated standing next to Eirian at events, even after she'd married Francis.
Though it had only happened a few times since Eirian had made it a habit to avoid them both. Despite Brigitta's new position as Lady Soliel, Eirian hadn't shown her any respect, refused to listen to any advice, any requests they'd made.
She'd thrown a months-long temper tantrum that hadn't ended even after she'd left for the Camelia. She hadn't responded to any of Francis or Brigitta's letters.
Neither had her new husband, Lord Ye. Aside from the delivery of the bride price, all communication with the Camelia had ended the day Eirian left.
Now, with her babe alive and healthy and likely to survive to his naming ceremony on the one the year anniversary of his birth, Brigitta found herself less willing to be patient with her former friend.
With anyone really.
Brigitta had nearly been set aside, she wasn't going to allow the same thing to happen to her son.
Besides, with Brigitta's will to survive and Francis' intelligence, their son is meant to lead, not to follow.
Everyone, including Eirian, needs to understand that.
She hadn't been expecting Prince Eric to show up this morning and she'd not completely sure what's happening. The maids were in a tizzy when they'd rushed into her room a half hour ago and even though the nursemaid had just had the babe put down for a nap, Brigitta wasn't going to miss the chance to introduce him to Prince Eric.
Eric had no children of his own and none of his siblings had left any behind.
And now with Eirian married, Brigitta's son was the only heir. Francis kept putting off introducing him to the King. He'd decided it simply wasn't the right time and refused to even entertain any of Brigitta's suggestions.
She hadn't expected an opportunity like this to appear. Eric was so rarely in the capital and when he was, he was always busy. With the King's ailing health, he'd taken over anything that was outside Aontacht.
Brigitta had never actually spoken to him, though she'd seen him with Eirian at events before her marriage.
She'd rushed through dressing and made sure her dressing maid selected a tiara and matching jewels that fit the occasion. Diamonds and topaz set in gold that matched her white gown. She put in the extra effort of heels, even though she was home and the gown was so long that it covered whatever she decided to put on her feet.
She'd made it outside before Eric left, rocking her babe gently so he'd stop crying before it annoyed the soldiers who were loading a wagon with…
Was that the gold from the Soliel family vault.
"What's going on?"
No one answered her and a second wagon arrived.
She turned to George, who was standing at the bottom of the steps, still as a statue.
"George! What is going on?"
He jumped at her voice. It was unlike him to be so unaware of his surroundings. "My lady, they have a warrant."
"A warrant? For what?"
George swallowed, but before he could speak his eyes went wide at something over her shoulder and Brigitta turned to find Eric walking down the steps.
A soldier was bringing his horse and another around and Brigitta glanced at and dismissed the man in black at Eric's shoulder.
"Your Grace!" Perhaps she was a bit too excited, but she had to make sure Eric saw her and the child before he left. There was no telling when she'd get another chance.
"Wait, my lady-"
Brigitta threw herself in front of Eric and bowed. "Your Grace, welcome to the Soliel Estate. I'm so pleased you've finally answered our requests to visit." She straightened and smiled up at Eric.
The man at his shoulder winced but he was clearly in service so Brigitta ignored him.
Eric though…Eric just stared at her.
It was always best to take advantage when the opportunity was in front of you so Brigitta plowed on. "We've been so hoping you and your father would visit. I understand he isn't feeling well." Eric stepped aside to let two soldiers carrying a chest by and Brigitta followed suit. "I apologize for the mess, we weren't expecting you."
"That was the point." Eric finally spoke.
Brigitta fumbled. Eric had something to do with the soldiers? "I- I'm sorry, I don't understand?" She heard Francis' raised voice echo down the hallway.
"You and Francis lied about the bride price."
Brigitta flinched. Francis had insisted on handling all communication with the King, due to the King's instability. "She is Francis' daughter-"
"The King is the head of the Soliel family, not Uncle Francis. The King didn't approve Eirian's marriage, nor yours."
Hot shame rushed through her. She knew the marriage had been rushed, but the King had cared little who his own children married, why did he care who his brother made his wife? "We are a love match, your grace. We saw no reason to wait." And society in Aontacht would always honor a love match.
Eric didn't seem to care, though. His eyes hard and cold as he looked at her. "It's an insult to the king." He studied her. "Did those jewels come from the Soliel vault?"
Taken aback, Brigitta frowned. "Yes. I am Lady Soliel. They belong to me now." Technically, even Eric owed her deference as the first lady of the family he belonged to. It was complicated by the fact that he was second on in the kingdom as the heir to the throne and even the Soliel family owed him deference.
"Some of the jewels in the vault were gifted to Eirian from my father, not to the Soliel family." He waved a soldier over. "Take them. Every jewel is going before the high court. My father kept detailed records of his gifts, those he gave to Eirian will be returned to her. The rest will be returned to the vault for your use."
Brigitta flushed an ugly red as the solider reached over and removed her jewelry and tiara. "I am perfectly capable of deciding what is mine and what is Eirian's-"
"Like you were capable of deciding her husband?"
It hadn't occurred to her that Eric or the King would actually be angry over Eirian's marriage. "As Lady Soliel it is my responsibility to arrange quality marriages for members of this family. I was going my duty."
"You and Francis are not the heads of this family. The King is. And when he's gone, it will be me. And after me, it will be Eirian."
Brigitta froze. "Eirian is married-"
"Eirian is my heir. She remains my heir. No one will come before her." His eyes dropped to the babe in her arms. "Your child will not be in the line succession. Not unless Eirian decides to declare him her heir."
The man in black nudged Eric, subtly knocking into his shoulder.
Numb, Brigitta could only stare as the soldier pried the rings off her fingers, careful not to jostle the babe. How could be just dismiss her child? How could he not care? She had birthed the first child born to the Soliel family in twenty years. None of Eric's siblings had left behind children and Eric himself wasn't even married.
Brigitta's son was their only hope.
The soldier bowed to Eric and dropped the jewels in a chest that was placed in the wagon.
Eric mounted his horse and rode out without even acknowledging her.
Her face burning with humiliation, Brigitta shoved the babe in her maid's arms and fled inside before anyone else saw her. Francis was arguing with the soldiers in his office, but they continued to empty the vault despite his attempts to stop them.
Despite fury biting into her humiliation, she knew better than to make an even bigger scene by yelling at Francis now, so she went upstairs to her rooms, only to find soldiers clearing out her jewelry box.
"What are you doing? You can't be in here!"
They bowed, but didn't stop. "We have a warrant on the order of the High Court, Lady Soliel. All jewels, gems, and treasures are to be confiscated for review and will be returned once the Court has reviewed their proper ownership."
They brushed right by her like she was nothing. Like she was back to being one of the many unmarried, unimportant young women at the edge of society.
Everything she had sacrificed, all the work she'd done and it was being carried out of her room by soldiers who should have been begging for her time instead of stripping her of everything.
~tbc