The Problematic Prince - Side Story 15 - Full House

Erna’s teacher was a swindler, a liar and it didn’t take long for Erna to realise that. It had only been a week, where the lessons were conducted in a calm manner, learning the fundamentals and how to care for Lady Dorothea, but once she was up on her back, Erna could do nothing but grip tightly and scream.

Bjorn had been a great teacher up until that point, but every time Erna got up in the saddle, she would scream and Bjorn would let out an annoyed sigh and simply watch Erna struggle.

“Your Highness, are you really not going out? The Prince will be leaving soon,” said Lisa, placing the hairbrush on the table. Erna nodded stubbornly.

“I’m busy preparing for the summer festival, so I don’t think I will be able to see him off for awhile.” Erna went out to the suites drawing room.

It wasn’t just another excuse to avoid seeing off her wicked husband, she was genuinely busy. The women’s society and the numerous social events, along with the usual summer festival, Erna was kept busy from morning to late at night. She couldn’t rest a moment.

It was only because she loved Bjorn that she promised to even take the time to learn horseback riding. It was a poor promise, hard to keep in the face of that inscrutable man who had insulted her so.

Erna sat at the desk, next to the garish elephant statue, that stood out in its riotous colours, and her anger boiled over. She wished she’s followed the decorators suggestion and threw the thing in some hidden corner of some forgotten room.

   “What’s the problem?” Bjorn had asked her as she came down off the horse. “How can you be so nervous with such a good teacher? Please understand, Erna, I can not help you unless you tell me what the problem is.”

Erna preferred Bjorn angry, than this calm, understanding person who looked at her with cool eyes. Without the usual emotional highs and lows, only made Erna even more upset.

   “I’m sorry,” Erna said, looking at her feet, avoiding Bjorn’s gaze.

   “No, Erna, what I need is an explanation, not an apology.”

   “I’m just scared,” Erna all but shouted. “If Dorothea makes a mistake or suddenly runs or even drops me…”

  “Erna,” Bjorn cooed, with a reassuring smile. “Dorothea is the perfect horse. She probably understand what’s going on better than you do.”

   “Are you saying that I am worse than a horse?”

Bjorn didn’t even raise an eyebrow.

   “You really don’t think you’re better than Dorothea?” Bjorn remained cool.

The class ended in humiliation and Erna letting out a burst of anger that she could no longer contain. She was no longer the courteous lady. Bjorn still didn’t show any emotion. He just looked at her blankly and sighed like he found her tantrum cute and funny. He behaved like he was treating a child.

Erna closed her eyes, erasing the memory from her mind. She counted to ten and let the building frustrations melt away. Only after counting to ten for a second time, did she manage to calm herself.

Erna understood that Dorothea was a well trained horse and she knew her instructor was an experienced rider himself, she knew that the problem was just her inexperienced, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t get upset if the right words were used. It seems like the words came with heartless intent.

Erna looked out of the window, the carriage would be leaving soon and she remained resolute in her decision not to see Bjorn off. She wouldn’t even so much as go to the window. Today’s work was piled up like a mountain before her, she she didn’t have the time to waste anyway.

Grand Duchess Schuber’s drawing room soon began to fill with the sound of nibs crunching on paper.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Who keeps calling that bastard?

The game ended with the winner being Bjorn Dniester, as always. The other players always wondered who called the bastard, but they knew that Bjorn came on his own accord and when he did, the mood in the social club became thick with despair.

Once the despair settled, the social club fell into its usual rhythm. The exchange of trifling jokes at each others expense filled the club with laughter. Conversations on the horse races, investments and, of course, ladies became the norm. The main focus of conversation was the rowing competition.

People shared their opinions and predictions about which teams were going to win and bets were placed ahead of the event. It was difficult to accurately predict who would lift the trophy, with the Crown Prince stepping aside this year, but everyone had their own theories and deductions.

Bjorn looked around the room, through the dreary cigar smoke and wondered why the Crown Prince was absent from the social club. The rowing competition was just around the corner and Erna was busy with the administration of the event.

That woman was making her way through the summer season like she was fighting a war. Even if he advised her that she didn’t have to work so hard, she would not listen. She was too stubborn and he found himself thinking about her mounted on her horse. She was brave, as she shouted and stared at him with angry blue flames in her eyes.

Erna was quite emotional and couldn’t understand him at all. They had to come up with a plan to overcome that problem, but Erna didn’t seem to want to do that. She declared that he was the worst teacher,  that she would never take classes with him again, he didn’t arguing against it and just let her go, storming to her room like a child.

If she wished to continue her riding lessons, it would be best to seek a professional instructor; otherwise, he would consider selling the horse back.

“Bjorn, do us all a favour and leave,” said Leonard as the new round had begun.

“No,” Bjorn said, glancing at his watch. “I need money for Erna’s riding lessons.” He loved Erna, but there was a Maginot line.

‘Don’t follow me. Because I don’t want to see you!’

Erna stormed out of the paddock, her face flushed with rage. Bjorn didn’t stop her,  letting his wife indulge in her childish revolt by locking her bedroom door and skipping dinner.

He would be more than happy to apologise, if he had done something wrong, but he had no intention to do so. Erna would tire herself out eventually and accept that she needed to adjust the way she approached this problem.

Bjorn looked over the cards he had been dealt, reaching for his drink. There was another hour before the next lesson. He wondered if she would even bother turning up. Would it be worth going back to the palace? He would have to leave now to make it in time.

“Bjorn?” Peter said.

Bjorn returned to the game, placing a cigar back between his lips after taking a sip of brandy. The faces of the other card players were all on him. They seemed eager, hoping they might be able to win back some of their money in Bjorn’s distraction.

It was time to place the bet and everyone was looking at him. After taking another look at his hand, he looked at his watch and then laughed. Everyone else looked confused at each other, was this some kind of new bluff?

“Fold,” Bjorn declared and got up from the table.

“Good, maybe now we stand a chance,” Peter said with a grin of victory.

“How bad was his hand for him to just up and leave?” Leonard said, he peeked at the cards Bjorn had left behind.

A Full house… In one hand.