1zohra246
Hi, I read a novel sometime during my childhood 2007-2014 that I am trying to find again (I live in the US). It details the story of a young woman, who lives alongside her best friend and many others (all orphans/laborers of some sort) someplace in London or of similar location, during the medieval period. Towards the beginning of the book, it is implied that her best friend secretly has a man in her bed at night.
One day, the king visits during his search for a wife. All the women line up and the main character (MC)'s best friend is chosen due to her beauty, to become his queen. Best friend is excited about it, though the MC is hesitant.
MC proceeds to live life alone, only hearing bits and pieces about her best friend through local gossip. I cannot recall much else about the middle contents of the book, other than a mini r-pe scene MC stumbles across in the woods, in which there were multiple men and a girl on the ground. The girl was in a dress I believe and was said to be making sounds that indicated she was not enjoying what was happening.
Later, the MC's best friend gets caught up in scandal when she falls pregnant. The king was infertile, either due to old age or health, so it was concluded the child was not the King's. (The child was from the man in the best friend's bed at the beginning of the book!) The King felt betrayed that his queen had not been a virgin at the time of their marriage and orders her execution.
MC tries to stop the execution but fails. Morning of the execution, she sees everyone gather around the guillotine, and looks away at the last second so as to not witness her best friend's passing.
MC finds a way to leave town. She passes a kind stranger on a bridge on her way out. MC looks up at the sky with a newfound belief that there is indeed good in this world.
I would love to re-read this book and re-visit such themes.... please help a nostalgic girly out!
One day, the king visits during his search for a wife. All the women line up and the main character (MC)'s best friend is chosen due to her beauty, to become his queen. Best friend is excited about it, though the MC is hesitant.
MC proceeds to live life alone, only hearing bits and pieces about her best friend through local gossip. I cannot recall much else about the middle contents of the book, other than a mini r-pe scene MC stumbles across in the woods, in which there were multiple men and a girl on the ground. The girl was in a dress I believe and was said to be making sounds that indicated she was not enjoying what was happening.
Later, the MC's best friend gets caught up in scandal when she falls pregnant. The king was infertile, either due to old age or health, so it was concluded the child was not the King's. (The child was from the man in the best friend's bed at the beginning of the book!) The King felt betrayed that his queen had not been a virgin at the time of their marriage and orders her execution.
MC tries to stop the execution but fails. Morning of the execution, she sees everyone gather around the guillotine, and looks away at the last second so as to not witness her best friend's passing.
MC finds a way to leave town. She passes a kind stranger on a bridge on her way out. MC looks up at the sky with a newfound belief that there is indeed good in this world.
I would love to re-read this book and re-visit such themes.... please help a nostalgic girly out!
