After Lady Agnes left me with Princess Sibylla, it was determined that I would embroider a handkerchief as part of my queenly training… something that I didn’t enjoy, But I was relieved that Lady Agnes wasn’t around as we embroidered. I still have a long way to go to appease Baldwin’s mother… She is just like any other unpleasant mother-in-law, Princess Sibylla, on the other hand, looks to be different; she appears to be pleasant…. As I observed her,

“Ouch!” I injured my finger by accident with needles.

“Are you all right, your Majesty?” Princess Sibylla inquired.

“Yes… I apologised… I am just not good with needles,” I admitted.

“It’s fine… we have things we’re good at,” she remarked. ” I heard you’re a surprisingly good archer, and you defeated a knight,” she said.

“Well… I am not that good… I was just lucky,” I replied.

“I envy you…” she went on.

“envy me?” I asked, “why?… you look perfect..”

“thank you… your majesty, I must say… your not like any other woman I’ve met… I watched how you answer back to my mother, which I myself can’t do… you are a very confident woman and strong, you speak your mind without hesitation, which no one would dare,” she added.

“Well… let’s just say I’m different,” I said.

“I understand my mother’s earlier behaviour,” Sibylla added, “but please don’t think of her intentions as bad…she’s just worried about my dear brother.”

“Baldwin was separated from her when he was an infant, and she is just trying to provide all the love and care that she was unable to provide during the years they were separated,” she continued.

“I know… you don’t have to worry… I know she cares for your brother’s well-being like any mother would, and it’s justifiable.”

“You are too kind, your highness,” she smiled. “Your Majesty…. ” she inquired as I continued to sew.

“yes?” I responded

“h-how did you find a cure for my brother’s illness?” she inquired.

“Well… there is no cure yet… technically, I am just stopping the progression of his illness and giving him strength to live,” I said, pausing.

“I’ve also heard you’re in charge of his Majesty’s medical treatment and make his medicine yourself… is that true?” she asked.

“Well… that is true.. I made not only his medicine, but also other medicine that I believe will help the people of Jerusalem… I always believe that there will always be progress in the world of medicine to help thousands of people in need…” I explained.

“Your very incredible… how did you do that?” Sibylla asked. “I mean… I’ve never been with anyone besides my brother who looked beyond the future…”

“I- I don’t know… I just kept thinking possibilities… many people have said I am very ambitious and visionary,” I say.

“I, too, occasionally imagine myself equal to men, that we women are free to speak and love, but I know it’s impossible… too bad it wouldn’t happen because we are women,” Sibylla sighs.

“I believe in that as well… which is why I will not stop proving myself,” I say.

“I believe we can be good friends, your majesty,” Princess Sibylla responded.

“You are absolutely right… but if we are truly friends, please don’t call me your majesty… instead, call me by my name,” I replied.

“Of course,” Princess Sibylla said, and Emma entered.

“I apologised your grace, but the young Arab merchants are here to see you,” Emma said.

“Thank you…” I thanked Emma. “Sibylla, I have to go… I apologised…” I told Sibylla.

“no need to apologise… I enjoy your company and look forward to talking with you again, and I will have to look for my mother as well,” she smiled.

I nodded to her as I turned to walk away and went straight to see Alih and Iman, two young Arab traders.

Meanwhile Earlier that day

“Ah! your grace! Lady Agnes!, welcome!” exclaimed Archbishop Henry. 

“Yes… it’s been awhile, your Eminence,” Lady Agnes said as she kissed the priest’s hand.

“I believe you’ve already met the new Queen,” Henry said as they sat down.

“Yes… I just met her earlier…” Agnes said stoically.

“I’ll be honest with you… your grace… I don’t think the new Queen is suitable for our young king,” Henry explained. 

“On what ground?” Lady Agnes inquired.

“To begin with, she is very arrogant, a spiteful woman with no proper manner, and she gives our king useless ideas,” Henry grumbled.

Lady Agnes questioned, “Is that the only reason?”

“And you know that she’s Prince Bohemond’s sister, and her family poses a threat to the kingdom,” he added. “You know what will happen if Bohemond rises to power, everything that we built will be destroyed.”

“I am well aware…that is why I came to meet her, and you are right… I find her very intriguing.”

“What do you mean?” Bishop Henry inquired.

“Well… she isn’t what I expected her to be… I’ve heard she used to be timid and fragile, but that’s not what I saw earlier…” Lady Agnes responded.

“Your Grace, before she gains more of the King’s favour, we must get rid of her,” Bishop Henry urges.

“What do you want me to do?” Lady Agnes inquired of the menacing clergyman.

“Talk to his majesty, he will listen to you…”

“True… I am the king’s mother, and I have power over his every decision… but I am not sure if I can intervene with this one… my son never spoke a single word to me about her… it’s as if he is becoming a man on his own… ” Lady Agnes explained. “He is no longer a child, your Eminence.”

“Then persuade him… don’t forget who brought you back to the King’s life,” Bishop Henry said.

Lady Agnes questioned, “Are you threatening me?”

Bishop Henry responds, “No.. I was simply reminding you…”

in the meantime, on the same day

Philippa POV: 

“Iman! Alih!” I exclaimed as I waved my hands at them, who were waiting at their wooden cart.

“Princess!!!” they exclaim, widening their smiles.

“How are you?” I inquired.

“We’re fine, princess,” Alih said.

“And we brought you some exotic herbs from the Empires of Mughal and Qing,” Iman exclaimed.

“Really! good job boys!” I exclaimed, smiling. “Let me see it…” I exclaimed, excited.

As Alih opened the back of his cart, I noticed a thriving Cardamom plant, Turmeric, Triphala, Neem, Indian sarsaparilla, Red Ginseng, and Honeysuckle flower, among other things that make me delighted. All of these plants and herbs can help Baldwin…

“How is it?” Iman inquired hesitantly.

“They’re perfect,” I remarked, smiling.

“Yes!” cried the two lads as they joyfully high fived each other.

“How do you even get your hands on these plants and herbs when some of them are only found in half of the world?” I inquired.

“Well, we’re merchants and traders,” Alih explained.

“Yes, traders have a lot of acquaintances, princess,” Iman explained.

“She is no longer a princess nor a lady,” Emma said.

“She is already your Queen… the Queen of Jerusalem,” she continued as the two boys glanced at me.

“Your highness!” they exclaimed as they knelt.

“Oh…come on…please stand up…I am still your princess…nothing has changed,” I replied as the two boys slowly rose to their feet.

“I will reward you with two bags of gold for your efforts,” I stated with a smile.

“Thank you, your highness…” Alih said with a smile.

“Aside from the gold, I will give you a new cart in exchange for working for me,” I explained.

“Gladly, your highness!” responded Iman.

“Now… I need more herbs and plants that will help the King’s condition… can you help with that?” I inquired.

“Yes… absolutely… we can help you,” Iman stated.

“Thank you…” I stated.

As soon as the boys received their money, they set out seeking out more herbs from various lands. Abu dashed towards me, calling out, “My Lady!”