Chapter 1: Prologue - The Sins You Didn’t Commit

12 July, 1353. Port Canfirth Palace, Moraigth

Princess Camilla ran down the alley of yew trees, trying to stifle her sobs. She had to get away from this court full of spiteful people. Just thinking about her childhood castle filled with its friendly familiar faces, brought on another wave of homesickness and made her cry harder.

Having been counting the days since she had arrived at Port Canfirth a few weeks earlier, she knew she was stuck here for at least another month before she was allowed to return to her home and her beloved father.

Why was she always forced to spend her summers at court when it was plain to everyone that neither the king or queen liked having her around? At least when her brothers had been with her she hadn’t felt quite so alone. But two weeks ago, King Kenneth sent all three of his nephews to put down a rebellion in Moraigth’s northern islands and they hadn’t yet returned.

Camilla turned and stepped into a tiny ivy covered pavilion which overlooked a small lake. She had discovered the isolated pavilion two summers ago and it had become her favourite hiding spot when she needed to get away from the stifling confines of the queen’s apartments.

The pavilion wasn’t empty, much to her disappointment.

Sprawled on the timber seat was the youth she had met a few days earlier, who had said he was a prince of Islia. He was eating an apple and upon seeing her, he nodded briefly in greeting and went back to eating.

Camilla noticed he was holding one of the rare yellow apples that grew in the king’s favourite orchard. The fruit was only in season for a few weeks every year, so the distribution of the rare apples was carefully controlled. For a foreign boy to be eating one meant he had probably scaled the orchard walls and stolen it.

He looked like the kind of youth who would do that, she thought to herself.

"Why the tears?" she heard the prince ask.

Camilla exhaled shakily. "I just want to go home. I hate it here."

William looked at her oddly. "What do you mean? Isn’t this home for you? Where do you live if not at court?"

"My father’s castle is located in the south of Moraigth, in a duchy named Arlington. My father has always had a separate castle, where my brothers and I were born." Camilla wiped her cheeks with the backs of her hands, embarrassed that a stranger had seen her like this. "Unfortunately, His Majesty insists that his brother’s children spend every summer at court. I’ve been coming here every year since I turned five."

"And you hate it so much it makes you cry?" William deadpanned.

"Not just that." Camilla felt her face flushing. "Her Majesty just screamed at me in front of all her ladies and called me the most horrible names. She said I’m a sinful little whore who’ll burn in hell."

"What did you do to deserve that?"

"Nothing!" flared Camilla. "It’s a misunderstanding. One of the stewards told the queen he had seen one of her ladies in the garden yesterday kissing a man. Her Majesty just assumed it was me."

"And was it you?"

"No! Of course not." Camilla wished this lad would just leave the pavilion and let her have a few minutes of privacy while she composed herself.

"Alright then. But you know which lady it was, don’t you?"

Camilla looked at him in surprise, noticing his shrewd stare. She felt her face getting redder.

"It was Lady Valerie Clare." she muttered.

"So why not tell the queen the truth?"

She shook her head. "I can’t do that. Lady Valerie is my friend, the only friend I have amongst the queen’s ladies. I can’t betray her."

William tossed the apple core behind his shoulder into the garden and leaned back in his seat. "Well, she must be a good friend if you’re willing to brave the queen’s wrath to protect her. Who’s the man this Lady Valerie is sneaking around with?"

"His name is Sir Gerald Tarrant and he’s a petty knight. He and Lady Valerie are desperate to wed but because Valerie is a ward of the crown, she needs express permission from the queen to marry. Her Majesty refuses to grant it."

"And why is that?"

"She says it’s because the Clares are one of Moraigth’s oldest families and Valerie can’t demean herself by marrying so beneath her station." Camilla’s expression turned bitter. "But I think it’s because the queen hates happy couples. She probably wants everyone’s marriage to be as miserable as hers. So poor Valerie and Gerald have no choice but to sneak around."

Prince William laughed. "You certainly don’t talk like a princess. That mouth of yours must get you in plenty of trouble." He stood up and leaned against one of the pavilion columns, looking down at her with a half smile.

Camilla felt herself bristle. "You asked why I’m upset and I’ve told you the truth. Would it have been better if I’d lied to you?"

"No. The truth is always far more interesting."

Camilla was wondering what she could say to the prince to make him leave and give her some time alone, when he quickly ducked his head down and kissed her. It was only a brief kiss on her lips, but it made her jump back in shock.

"What are you doing?" she choked out.

He laughed as he pushed his blonde hair out of his eyes. "What did you think that was?"

"Well, yes...but why?" Camilla was so flustered she could barely get the words out.

"Because having received quite a few beatings over the years, I’ve learned that if you’re going to be blamed for sins you didn’t commit anyway, you might as well go ahead and commit the sins. Why suffer a punishment if you don’t get the benefit as well?"

Camilla was trying to get her head around this twisted logic when William flashed her a grin and sauntered off. "I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon, little princess."