Inform Madeleine of your marriage.

That night, you steel yourself, resolving to break news of your union with Kara to Madeleine. You feel a little ridiculous. Thousands were marching off to battle, your wife included, and here you were, in as much of a panic about speaking to a princess, a petite woman who barely came up to your shoulder, as they were about facing down scores of Dean's deadliest warriors.

After you rap on the door, Ben Swain answers.

"Your majesty." He says, bowing slightly. "I take it you've come to discuss your wedding with my lady?"

"That's right." you respond.

"Good, I think the time is a good one. I've shielded her from the knowledge, her mood is good, and she's ingested just the right amount of Jitterleaf. Won't be too irritable, nor burnt out, you understand?"

With some trepidation, you follow the bard into his mistress' chambers. The simple, rough-hewn Beathan furnishings in the main room have been pushed to the wall, to make room for all the equipment Madeleine requires for her work.

The Red Princess leans over a workbench, in muted conversation with Elodie. She's conducting alchemical experiments, a white smock over her gown, crystal goggles shielding her eyes from the volatile reagents.

“Your Excellency?” Swain speaks up. “King Edward is here. He wishes to speak to you.”

It almost seems to hurt the princess to wrench herself away from her work, but a couple of seconds later, she turns to face you.

“Ah, Edward!” Madeleine beams, removing her goggles. “Delighted to see you again. I was just working something, an acidic potion. I don't know, it might be able to eat through barricades, enemy armour, the hulls of those intolerable longships. In fact, I've also been toying with something like a giant bellows, that might be able to spray-”

You hold up your good hand, cutting her off midstream.

“We need to talk.” you state calmly. “I have something to tell you, and you're not going to like it.”

Madeleine's smile falters. With both women's attention fixed on you, Swain sidles up to Madeleine's workbench. Moving quickly and quietly, he moves the acidic reagents the princess has been using just out of her reach, lest she hurl one at you in a fit of rage.

“The day before you arrived, Kara and I were married.” you state, getting it out as quickly as possible.

“What?” Madeleine says simply. For once, the princess is at a loss for words.

“I've known her a while, we had planned to wed for months before-”

“That's funny, I seem to recall a similar agreement concerning myself and you.” Madeleine retorts.

“Y-Y-Your father, he was taking so long to decide, I had to consider other options.”

“Other options?!” Madeleine cries. “Other options, what like, “O-oh, I can't be joined to one of the most eligible women on the continent overnight, better go and wed some uneducated barbarian who isn't even in line to her kingdom's throne!” those kind of options?” Madeleine says sourly, slipping into a rather cruel imitation of your manner of speaking.

“It's not like that at all.” you protest. “I love Kara-”

“Oh, you love her?” Madeleine looks from you to Elodie, to Swain, exasperation flaring on her round face. “Well that makes everything perfectly fine. Wouldn't want to let my complete and utter betrayal get in the way of true love!”

“I-I'm sorry Madeleine, I've been indelicate with your feelings. I just always intended to marry Kara.” you state again.

“If that's the case,” the Sinnabarrovian laughs bitterly, “why'd you and your slutbag mother make such a big show of coming to the palace last year, seeking my hand?”

You hesitate for several seconds, unable to come up with a convincing alibi.

“Gods, he can't even answer a simple question!” Madeleine scoffs, throwing her hands up. “Get out of here, Edward. I can't stand to look at you.”

You limp to the door, Swain moving in concert with you, as Madeleine stomps towards her bedchamber.

“Oh, and don't think I didn't notice you're wearing your stupid little Lion ring again!” Madeleine screams, standing in the doorway. “The one supposedly plundered from Beathan nobles. Well I guess that's another fucking lie, from Edward the Liar, hmmm?”

Even amongst Madeleine's flipping out at you, part of you cringes for having been so careless as to let her see the ring Arinum gave you, after your weak cover story regarding it in Copieux.

-

“Well, I think that went about as well as could be expected.” Swain remarks, as you walk with him down the castle's corridors.

“It went terribly.” you respond.

“Maybe so, but there was acid in the room when you told her, and here you are, walking away, your face fully intact. I'd call that a win... your majesty.”

“All jokes aside, I'm worried that this could damage our relationship permanently. Lead to Madeleine cutting her support for the war effort.”

“With all due respect majesty, Madeleine didn't come to Beatha solely for you. You can't discount enraging her father and the Chancellor, nor proving her intellect to the world as motivators.”

“You think they'll keep her here?” you ask, pausing to stretch your bad leg.

“My lady can be as mercurial as the element her kingdom holds so dear, majesty.” Swain tells you. “You may be surprised how quickly her tempest subsides.”

“One can only hope.” you remark, leaving and heading back to your quarters for some rest.