There is a carriage going along on a tree-lined path. It is late fall, and all of the leaves have changed colors
and are falling off. The carriage is that of Queen Constantine, who is returning from a visit to the outlying
lands of the kingdom. Suddenly, a group of riders darned in dark clothing comes upon them, and begins to
attack and kill all those surrounding the carriage until they are all dead. The riders stop the carriage and
force Queen Constantine out. The leader of the rider kills her. The next this seen is a messenger going to
Queen Constantine�s husband, King William II, and telling him that his wife has been killed on the road. The
next thing seen is the funeral, where King William II, and his daughter, Princess Christina, are in clothed in
black, and standing before the casket of Queen Constantine.
King William II wife had died, and now, feeling vulnerable, he fears for what will happen to his daughter,
Princess Christina, if he were to die an early death as well. He turns to Queen Kiyome, who is a widow
raising a son, Prince Edmund, who is two years Princess Christina elder. King William II and Queen Kiyome
plan a betrothment, where we begin at the announcement of this plan. Queen Kiyome and Prince Edmund
have just arrived.
Good afternoon, Ma�dam Kiyome
Good afternoon, Your Highness. It is a fine day for such things as this, is it not?
If you fancy a day and business as such. This must be your son.
Yes, this is my son, Edmund.
Good afternoon, Your Highness
May I enquire as to where your daughter might be?
Enter Princess Christina
I am terribly sorry for my tardiness, I was just �
I do not wish to hear your excuses. We have important business to attend to.
I am sorry, Father
It is quite alright, my dear; not everyone is blessed with punctuality.
Indeed. Let us not forget the business at hand.
Father, I may but be a child, but I do have the right to know of what business you speak of, especially if it
involves me.
Indeed, my sweet daughter, you do. Queen Kiyome and I have come to a conclusion.
Of what sort?
To betroth Christina to you.
What?
You and Edmund are to be wed.
I know what it means. My question is why?
It is merely a precaution.
What need do we have for precautions, Father?
I just want to be certain you are taken care of if anything were to happen to me. As a father, I have a responsibility
to ensure your well being, and as a king, I have the responsibility to ensure that my kingdom is also taken care of.
So your solution is betrothment
My dear, people are normally not allowed to know to whom they have been betrothed to; you are. This should be
an encouraging thought.
No, indeed, it is not.
Princess, to what extent would your reaction be if our parents were to simply tell us we were to wed, without giving
us an opportunity to meet. Their thoughtfulness must please you in some way.
No, it does not please me. I want the privilege given to those who are common; to marry for love and not protection.
You should take more pride in your blood, my daughter.
What pride should I have in being born with this blood in my veins?
It is your heritage, and with that heritage comes a responsibility that you alone carry.
Yes, I know this. But tell me, Father, where does my marrying Prince Edmund fit into that responsibility? Is it because
you do not believe me to be a proper ruler?
No. Having a sole female heir and ruler is unorthodox, and dangerous to you.
The people love me; they would not harm me. And what does being orthodox have to do with it?
That is enough. This decision has already been made. You and Edmund are to be married and that is final.
I agree. This conversation is over. Leave us, both of you. Queen Kiyome and I have business to attend to.
Exit Prince Edmund and Princess Christina
What are we going to do? Christina is completely against this.
There may be a better way to ensure the safety of our children and kingdoms without betrothing our children.
I am open to any alternative suggestions.
We could solve this problem with a marriage between us.
That is not a solution. It would only create more problems.
Your happiness is a problem?
I would not be happy. I loved my wife, and I would not soil her memory with a marriage to someone I didn�t love.
I wouldn�t make you happy? Am I that horrible?
I did not say that. Happiness will elude me forever with out my wife.
Then betrothment seems to be the only solution.
The children will just have to accept and respect out decision.
Why doesn�t Christina summer with Edmund and me, to assist in this difficult transition?
That solution seems plausible. Yes, we will do that.
There is still one matter unresolved. Edmund is two years Christina�s elder. At what age shall they wed?
My daughter shall walk veiled on her eighteenth birthday.
Princess Christina and Prince Edmund are in the courtyard conversing. The day has not changed from scene 1.
Why do you despise me so, Princess?
My intention was never to offend you. If I have done so, I offer you my dearest apologies, and pray that you accept
them. It is the betrothment I detest, not you.
Blindly accepted my Princess. Do you believe that I had anymore choice in this betrothment than you did, my Princess?
No, of course not.
For if I had any control over this, Princess, I most certainly would not have chosen you. For you, my dear Princess,
think too much. Your mind wanders where no woman�s mind should wander. Not to mention, I prefer women who
are, may I say, better endowed than you.
You are disgusting.
Indeed, you would be too difficult to control, Princess. But, like you, I have no choice in the matter. All that is left now,
my Princess, is to break your spirit, so that the years leading to your father�s death and your inheritance of your kingdom
are not completely uninteresting.
You may break every bone in my body, defile me, beat me to an inch of my life, but you will never break my spirit.
Only time can tell who will win that battle, my Princess.
I do not belong to you.
On the contrary, Princess. As of today, you and your father�s kingdom belong to me.
You horrible, wretched man.
Please, continue, Princess. I like it when you�re feisty.
Exit Princess Christina
Inside King William II�s castle, King William II and Queen Kiyome are conversing. Still same day as before.
Then we are decided?
Indeed.
Enter Princess Christina
Father.
Christina, where is Edmund?
Enter Prince Edmund
I am here, sir.
King William and I have news, children.
Do your plans continue to involve our betrothment?
Yes.
Then I have no interest in the news of which you speak.
You had better. They do involve you.
Yes. You shall be spending you summers with Queen Kiyome and Prince Edmund until your eighteenth birthday, on
which you and Edmund shall wed.
Father; no!
This is not up for discussion, Christina. Now leave me, all of you. I wish to think.
Edmund and I shall be on our way, my Lord.
I pray for your safe return. Farewell.
I will see you again, my Princess, upon the new summer�s morn.
Exit Queen Kiyome and Prince Edmund
Exit Princess Christina
I pray that this is not a terrible mistake.
Exit King William II
It is the first day of summer, five years later. It is one month before Princess Christina�s birthday, but still the
agreement of Princess Christina spending her summers with Queen Kiyome and Prince Edmund stands. The
scene begins with King William II standing alone by the grand staircase in his castle as Queen Kiyome and Prince
Edmund enter.
Enter Queen Kiyome and Prince Edmund
Good day, Queen Kiyome, Prince Edmund.
The same to you, Your Highness.
May I enquire to where Princess Christina is, my Lord?
She is merely upstairs changing from her riding lesson.
Enter Princess Christina
That will not be necessary, Edmund. I am ready.
My Princess, you grow more beautiful with each passing day.
Not even as a sycophant could you win my love.
Royalty does not rule with razor tongues. I suggest you abstain from such a habit in the future.
Kind sir, do not be troubled by this matter. She has always accepted my complements inn such a way. And, besides,
I find it quite appealing.
Still, my son, she needs to dull her tongue.
My apologies, good Lord, I mean you no offense.
We must away now, my Lord. I will send her on two days prior to her birthday, so as she may complete her final
preparations.
I shall expect her then.
Good day, my Lord.
Good bye, good king.
Farewell, my father.
Fare thee well, my child, until we meet again.
Exit Queen Kiyome, Prince Edmund and Princess Christina
Exit King William II