Chapter Text
Penelope was eight years old when she first heard about Colin Bridgerton.
Her mother sat across from her, in a rare moment of vulnerability for the Queen of the Featherington Kingdom, and softly uttered the words that would change her life completely: “Your father has found a way to save us from this war, and I will need you to be our fortress.”
She doesn’t even remember hesitating upon hearing the news that her father had already chosen her future husband. Perhaps she was too young to understand how that decision stripped her of her free will, for the only memories etched in her mind are of growing up proud to be promised to someone so admirable.
Colin Bridgerton.
Her mother used to say he was seen as a God in his kingdom. The third son of King Edmund Bridgerton was not only the most intelligent but also the most handsome and courageous among his brothers. Colin was the first of his siblings to sail across the ocean with his own crew, the first to lead and participate in hand-to-hand combat during an invasion of eastern lands after King Edmund’s death. Remarkably, he was also the youngest man in the royal family to become the leader of the War Battalion, at just 19 years old.
Every year, Penelope received a letter from the Bridgerton Kingdom with news about Colin that filled her heart with pride. On every 13th of May since she was nine, Penelope eagerly awaited the arrival of a new letter. May 13th, she came to discover, was Colin’s birthday, which made the letters even more special in her eyes.
The letters detailed his deeds, his victories, and everything that made him the ideal partner. Over time, these letters became her refuge, a promise of a better future in a prosperous and worthy kingdom. A future starkly different from what awaited her in her own castle, surrounded by a family that despised her, in a kingdom on the brink of ruin.
“Penelope, please stop eating,” her mother said near her ear, making Penelope freeze mid-bite, “We barely have enough to eat, and you keep devouring everything we have. What do you think Prince Bridgerton will say when he sees you overweight?”
Penelope kept her eyes fixed on her plate, even as her mother pulled away and resumed her conversation with her sisters. She should have been used to it by now, after hearing the worst insults from her mother and sisters, but the coldness with which she was treated never failed to tighten her heart.
She knew she had been born to different parents than her sisters. With an eight-year age gap between her and her middle sister, Penelope was conceived in the midst of what her kingdom called the Ten-Year War.
For ten long years, the northern kingdoms waged war in pursuit of new lands. Her father, a king who squandered funds meant for his people on gambling, was caught off guard when hundreds of men invaded his lands from all sides. The losses were tremendous: thousands of his people were killed, kidnapped and tortured. The harvest suffered, leading to famine and misery across the villages. What was once a decent place to live became a nightmare for anyone witnessing the reality of its people.
Penelope was a mistake.
In the second year of the war, Queen Featherington discovered she was pregnant with an unplanned child. Penelope cannot be sure, but she firmly believes that her mother tried to take her out while she was still in the womb, without success. The kingdom was in ruins, her father had succumbed to alcoholism, and Penelope was a terrible mistake.
Consequently, Penelope grew up in the midst of war. She was protected, of course, by the thick walls of her castle. But she knew the war had frozen her parents’ hearts, which had witnessed and endured horrible things. In her early years, Penelope didn’t even know life existed beyond the iron doors that surrounded her. The first time she saw a tree was at the age of seven, in the arms of Varley, her family’s maid, who raised her and taught her everything she knew.
The tree stood amidst a destroyed field, ruins and gray, barren soil stretching for miles. Broken branches lay at its base, and its color was far from vibrant. Yet it stood tall.
Few leaves but with a strong trunk. A miracle, Varley whispered in her ear.
The Ten-Year War unfolded in waves. Much of those years were marked by a cold war, alternating months of tense anticipation over which kingdom would strike next and which would be attacked. Alliances were forged in the shadows and dissolved as quickly as a king’s chest was pierced in a conquered realm. The war only ended when three major northern kingdoms remained standing: Kingdoms Bridgerton, Featherington, and Cowper.
The only reason the Featherington Kingdom survived as long as it did, Penelope knew, was because of its geography. An active volcano made it difficult for enemy ships to reach her family’s lands, and those who managed to invade struggled to find refuge after losing their men in combat.
But her father knew he and his men couldn’t withstand the Bridgertons. After being the most frequently attacked kingdom for its vast and fertile lands, the Bridgerton Kingdom emerged victorious in every battle. The Featheringtons would be next if King Featherington didn’t act swiftly.
And so Penelope was promised to Colin Bridgerton, the third prince of his lineage. In his infinite mercy and at her father’s desperate pleas, King Edmund Bridgerton granted his third son’s hand to the third Featherington princess in exchange for peace and a commercial alliance between the two kingdoms.
Her father accepted the deal, and the Cowper Kingdom was conquered by the Bridgertons and Featheringtons together, bringing the war to an end.
But the end of the war didn’t mean the end of misery. Even ten years after the war, the Featherington Kingdom was still known for its ruins, barren lands, and cheap labor. The marriage between the Featherington princess and the Bridgerton prince – and War Battalion leader as well – was the Featheringtons’ chance to attract the Bridgertons’ attention and generosity.
Penelope was a mistake, but she was also her people’s salvation.
Good thing Penelope was more eager than they were to finally marry her betrothed.
“May I have everyone’s attention, please,” her father’s voice pulled Penelope out of her thoughts, her food still untouched on her plate. King Featherington stood at the head of the table, a glass raised in his left hand, a rare smile gracing his face.
When all eyes turned to him, her father continued, “Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new chapter for our kingdom. Penelope, my third daughter, will lead us to embark on a journey to the Bridgerton lands to formalize the union between our realms. Her marriage to Prince Colin Bridgerton will bring the prosperity our people have long awaited.”
Penelope could feel the joy of everyone at the table radiating toward her. She suddenly felt shy, unaccustomed to being the center of attention, especially a positive one.
“A toast to the union! A toast to a new era!” Queen Featherington proclaimed, tilting her glass toward the center of the table. Everyone stood, clinking glasses, their voices rising in unison as they shouted “All hail the king!” toward King Featherington.
Her father’s confidants and their families filled the table alongside her mother and sisters, a rare display of abundance. The table was overflowing with food, even with animals Penelope knew were not native to their kingdom’s lands.
Amid the smiles and shoulder pats from those around her, Penelope realized she had never been celebrated before. Her birthdays had always been treated as ordinary days, and her attempts to celebrate small achievements were seen as a nuisance. She had never received comforting words or an encouraging smile.
Not until that day – her 18th birthday, the age that finally permitted her union with Colin Bridgerton.
She couldn’t contain her own smile, surrounded by so much joy. She knew this moment was rare and savored every smile directed her way, every animated word shouted, every song that echoed around the table. It felt almost poetic that this would be her last memory of her kingdom before departing, after years of sitting alone at this very table.
The universe was finally seeing her, so close to meeting her true mate. She already loved her new life.
—•—
That night, Penelope retrieved her most precious box from under her bed, where she kept all the letters she had received about Colin over the years. She sighed, smiling fondly at the papers in her hand.
She was so close to meeting him. The next morning, the Bridgerton kingdom’s troops would arrive in her lands, led by Colin and his brother, Prince Benedict Bridgerton, to escort Penelope and her family on their journey to the Bridgerton kingdom.
Penelope didn’t know if she was more excited or nervous. Perhaps it was a good mix of both.
“Are you as handsome as you seem?” she whispered into her empty room, taking Colin’s small photo from the box among the letters.
Penelope had received that photo when she was 14 years old. Colin was 17, newly joined to the military, and Penelope had been gifted the photo alongside the annual letter about his whereabouts. In the photo, Colin was serious, his hair cropped short, dressed in military attire. The background was white, and the photo was of a quality only cameras from a prosperous kingdom like Bridgerton could capture.
There was nothing particularly dazzling about the photo, to be honest, but it was Penelope’s favorite view. Receiving that photo had given her dreams a face – dreams of meeting her true mate, with whom she would share the word inscribed on her skin. A word that would etch Colin into her existence for life, something she could hardly wait to have.
Penelope knew the words were rare. Only half a dozen couples in her kingdom possessed them – she knew because only those blessed by the Moon Goddess were gifted with the words. Her parents didn’t have them, nor did her sisters, who had married years earlier. Penelope knew the odds of receiving the words were slim, but she still believed it might be possible.
“What is The Words?” Penelope had asked Varley as a teenager while her hair was being brushed by the woman she considered her second mother.
Varley didn’t respond for a full minute, seeming to ponder the question.
“Where did you hear about this?” Varley asked, turning Penelope’s face forward when she tried to look back. She continued brushing her hair in long strokes.
“In the Bridgerton kingdom’s letter,” Penelope finally answered, “They said that the new king, Anthony Bridgerton, Colin’s older brother, was also blessed with the words at his wedding.”
Varley laughed, a sound so rare that Penelope sat stiff, startled by it.
“Of course he was. The Bridgertons seem to be blessed directly by the Moon Goddess herself,” Varley murmured, more to herself than anyone else, “All the children in that family are blessed with the words. How is that possible?”
Penelope frowned, still confused by her response. But before she could ask, Varley continued.
“The Words are a gift from the Moon Goddess. When a couple is seen by her as the embodiment of her love for the Sun God, she blesses them with words engraved on their skin, representing the first impression their beloved had of them. The mark appears during the wedding ritual, when we ask for the Moon Goddess’s blessing,” Varley explained, each word widening Penelope’s eyes in surprise. Why had she never heard of this before? She had never attended a wedding ritual at that time but had expected at least to have heard stories.
“And what must a couple have to embody the love between the Moon Goddess and the Sun God?” Penelope asked, her wide eyes eager to learn more.
“I don’t know, child, for I have never been blessed with the words,” Varley replied with a faint smile visible in the mirror’s reflection, “What I know are stories, I can’t say if they’re true. They say that blessed couples are chosen at birth, and only a few are lucky enough to find each other in life.”
“Like someone from the northern kingdom being destined for someone from the eastern kingdom?” Penelope asked, trying to make sense of it. The distance and animosity between the kingdoms were so great that it was nearly impossible for someone to travel between them without being killed on sight. Being destined for someone from another kingdom was certainly a tragedy.
“Exactly,” Varley replied, and as she saw Penelope’s hopeful smile, her expression quickly turned stern, “You must be careful, child, not to build up expectations. You may not be blessed with the words, but that doesn’t mean your union with Prince Bridgerton won’t be blessed. Don’t take it too literally.”
Penelope’s smile dimmed slightly but didn’t disappear entirely. If what Varley said was true, all the Bridgertons seemed to be blessed with the words. What would stop her union with Colin from being among the chosen ones?
The hope of having the words appear on her skin carried her through the darkest days of her life. If the word appeared, it would mean she had been chosen from birth. The mistake, the child of war, the short and plump child in her family, had never truly been alone, with the Moon Goddess watching over her since her birth.
It would also mean that she and Colin would be blessed for the rest of their lives.
Penelope clutched Colin’s photo to her chest, a smile spreading across her face. She wondered what Colin’s first impression of her would be. She was short, and although she didn’t know Colin’s height, she imagined he was tall as a soldier. She wouldn’t be surprised if the word written on her skin was short. Penelope blushed just imagining it.
Could it be possible that he’s as anxious as I am?
That night, Penelope dreamed of blue eyes.
—•—
The arrival of the Bridgerton kingdom’s troops brought all the villagers out into the streets to celebrate and bow to Princes Colin and Benedict Bridgerton as they rode their horses. Both wore armor, though the distance between the people and the troops was great enough to deter any attack.
Penelope could hear the shouts of her people from within the castle, whose iron gates stood open, a rare occurrence in her kingdom. She sat beside her father, with her mother standing by her side, one hand resting on the throne she occupied.
When she noticed movement among the men near the grand gates, Penelope held her breath.
He had arrived.
“Your Royal Highness, Prince Colin Bridgerton, Commander of the Bridgerton War Battalion, has arrived,” one of her father’s men announced his entry, and within a few steps, Colin came into view.
Colin Bridgerton was finally there. For her. And he was even more handsome than her poor imagination could have ever conjured.
He was tall, taller than Penelope had imagined. His body was strong, sculpted with firm muscles, and his jawline was as sharp and defined as the marble statues erected in her garden after the war. His hair was cropped short, kept neatly away from his face. He was, beyond a doubt, everything she had ever dreamed of – and so much more.
But the most striking feature of his appearance was his eyes. His dazzling blue eyes looked at her with a depth that sent shivers down her spine. She had never seen such remarkable blue eyes in her life, and Penelope could only breathe again when Colin looked away from her, after a long moment, to address her father.
“King Featherington,” he bowed, and only then did Penelope notice a figure beside Colin, also bowing. It must be the middle brother, Prince Benedict. “Queen Featherington. Thank you for welcoming me to your lands with such grace, Your Majesty.”
“Prince Bridgerton, we’ve awaited you for so long,” King Featherington couldn’t hide his joy at seeing their salvation before them, and Penelope blushed at how obvious her father was, “You could have come sooner, my boy. Come, sit with us.”
Colin, however, did not move. His expression remained serious and indifferent, despite the warm reception he’d received.
“I cannot stay, Sir. I have duties to attend to with my troop,” Colin replied without hesitation, and Penelope’s heart sank instantly.
What did he mean he was leaving already? He had barely looked at her, let alone spoken to her.
“My brother will keep you informed about our journey while I see to my responsibilities,” Colin continued, noticing the king opening his mouth to protest, “I will return when the sun is at its peak, ready to embark on our journey to my family’s lands.”
Penelope sat frozen in place, her confidence waning. She had waited so long for this meeting, and none of the scenarios she had envisioned involved Colin hurriedly leaving her castle.
She had hoped to speak with him, to give him the gift she had made by hand, and perhaps even walk with him through her garden before their departure.
What was happening?
“If that is what you must do, my boy, I will not stop you,” King Featherington replied, his voice tinged with disappointment, which he quickly masked before continuing, “My best men have been assigned to accompany you throughout my lands to ensure your safety and better experience. Do not hesitate to seek me out if you need anything.”
Penelope’s heart had been racing since the moment her eyes landed on Colin. But now, as she watched him bow once more and head for the exit, she was certain her heart was about to grow legs and leap out of her chest.
She acted before she even realized what she was doing.
“Prince Bridgerton!” Penelope heard herself call out, her body rising from the throne. Only then did she notice she had interrupted her father mid-sentence.
She couldn’t hear anything beyond the erratic pounding of her heart.
Colin stopped in his tracks but did not turn around. Penelope descended the stairs toward him, oblivious to the silence that had overtaken the room as all eyes turned to watch her approach the man who stood with his back to her.
“Prince Bridgerton,” she tried again, her voice now a murmur. When she realized he still hadn’t moved, she took a deep breath, mustering the courage to speak. “I– I wanted to give you a welcoming gift.”
That seemed to catch Colin’s interest, as he turned to face her, his blue eyes landing on her for the second time. Penelope had to lower her gaze to the object in her hands to keep her thoughts from scattering under his penetrating stare.
“I made this for you,” she whispered, holding out the bracelet in her palm.
Colin’s gaze shifted to the object, his expression unreadable. He examined the bracelet for several moments before taking it delicately between his fingers.
“Why?” he asked, and Penelope swallowed hard. It wasn’t quite the reaction she had anticipated.
The bracelet was composed of shells Penelope had collected throughout her life. Each one was unique, with rare colors that had taken her years to gather, enough to create a bracelet that would fit Colin’s wrist.
She had read in a book about the magic of shell bracelets. They were considered a welcoming gift blessed by the Sun God, who would watch over and protect the recipient. The rarer the shells, the stronger the protection.
And gifts that pleased the Sun God also pleased the Moon Goddess.
“It’s a protective amulet,” she murmured, trying to keep her voice low enough for only Colin to hear, “I– I made it for you so that you would know you’ll always be safe in my kingdom, for as long as I live.”
Penelope glanced at Colin’s face again and was startled to find him staring at her intently, as if searching for something in her expression.
Whatever it was he was looking for, he seemed to find it, for a smile spread across his face.
The first smile Penelope had ever seen from him, and it was a sight to behold. She could feel her palms growing sweaty, and the butterflies in her stomach seemed to dance in perfect synchrony, leaving her utterly captivated by the man before her.
Colin laughed softly and briefly before turning to make his way out of the castle without saying another word, the bracelet now in his hand.
She didn’t understand him, but she had never seen anyone who carried the kind of aura he did. An aura that was unquestionable, divine.
He was majestic.