The way many abusive relationships evolve goes something like this:
Cindy meets the Prince. Cindy falls deeply for the Prince - she tells him she's never met anyone like him, he is the most gorgeous, brilliant creature she has ever laid eyes on. Cindy can't get enough of him. She calls him several times a day if only to hear his voice. He's everything she's ever dreamed of and she makes certain to tell him this time and time again. The Prince, understandably, is quite smitten with all the sudden attention being afforded him - he feels more special than he's ever felt in his life - a rare gem, as Cindy tells him, among a whole lot of poppycock. She's never met anyone like him - he is just that unique. She doesn't care about the throne, his title, and would actually much prefer to just stay in her small cottage. The Prince is astounded to meet someone so generous, so humble, so into him just for being him.
The Prince is in love. Cindy goes on to tell the Prince how horribly abused she was as a child. She'd been molested since the age of 3. Her mother put cigarettes out on her arms. Cindy shows the Prince her scars, tears welling in her eyes. He holds her, weeping, feeling despondent that he couldn't protect her from the monsters that hurt her. He swears to his dying breath he will protect her now.
One day, just weeks after they'd met, Cindy plans an elaborate romantic getaway. While sipping from his champagne flute, the Prince sees a glint. Examining the glass more closely, he realizes a ring lies in among the bubbles. He looks up, confused, at Cindy. She displays a huge grin, gets up from her chair, and carefully places herself on the Prince's lap. She whispers to him, her eyes moistening, that she can't imagine living another day without him as her husband. He can't believe his luck - the magic of fate being so kind to bring someone into his life that practically worships him. They marry the following weekend and the Prince moves into Cindy's hovel.
He makes plans to play poker with his best friend, the Squire. Cindy begins crying upon learning this, telling the Prince she'd just learned a new recipe she was going to make for their dinner, and she missed him so much on his poker nights. The Prince chuckles, believing his wife may be a bit silly but isn't it sweet to miss him so much when he's only gone a few hours?
She tells him how handsome he is in blue but she just can't stand his red tunic. Begrudgingly, as he knows it will make his wife happy, he tosses his red tunic in the Camelot Army donation crate. The Squire mentions he's called a few times and the Prince thinks its odd Cindy hadn't told him. She explains she forgot - after all, she
is the only one who ever does any cleaning around the place! How can she be expected to play secretary too! The Prince apologizes, attempting to understand his wife's irrational frustration while also feeling guilty for laying more on her shoulders. He could really sweep more often than he does. He promises mentally to try to ease his beloved wife's apparent strain.
Several weeks later, the Prince is late to work 3 days on the trot. The keys to the carriage seem to go missing no matter where he leaves them. Cindy manages to find them the first two days, by some miracle, chiding him how irresponsible and absent-minded he can be. The third day, while again frantically searching, he asks if she's checked the bowl on the table. Cindy draws in a deep breath, marches over to the table, picks up the bowl and lunges it at the Prince, narrowly missing his aristocratic nose.
He stands stunned, frozen in place. Cindy goes on a tirade. She screams in his face about what a real man is - how she is exhausted at bearing the burden of laundry, cooking, cleaning, and darning the socks he put yet another hole in. How could he be so cruel to her. Didn't he understand best of all people how much she'd been through in her life? Didn't he ever love her?
The last question catches the Prince paling. His heart twists ever so slightly and for a moment he wonders how he's become such a callous monster? How could he not appreciate how much his wife offered to their marriage and tell her so. He drops to his knees, apologizing profusely for his stupidity. Cindy is cold and tells him bluntly they'll discuss it after work - she quickly locates his keys in the cupboard, where she'd hidden them the night before.
That day the Prince is fired. He returns home, disheartened, apprehensive of how Cindy will take the news. He opens the door and laid upon the table are fresh flowers, his favorite soup, and even gingerbread for dessert. Cindy appears, wearing her best gown, and hurriedly rushes to the Prince - kissing his cheek and apologizing for her horrible behavior earlier. Feeling guilt and shame, the Prince breaks down and gives Cindy the terrible news. To his immense surprise, she takes his hand gently, looks into his eyes, and promises they'll be okay. No matter what, they have each other. Besides, there's work he can do around the house and the hotel is hiring chambermaids. They agree, because she is so insistent, he will care for their home and she will provide for it.
Cindy hates the way he makes soup though. She complains her dress is too starchy. The bread he used to make her a sandwich was too dry. The Prince listens to his wife's seemingly endless list of complaints - she had a point, he hadn't read the instructions on the starch, had he? The Prince pledges he'll be better. He wakes before dawn and retires after midnight but the house is sparkling. The next day Cindy explains that, due to rising bills, she has to give the Prince a bit less money weekly for the household maintenance. Realizing he won't be able to cover the grocer's bill and lose money at poker - which he always does - he decides it would be most prudent to skip the Squire's...again.
The Prince's parents visit. Cindy is at her most charming and loving, bestowing reams of compliments on her husband. The Prince glimpses again the woman he fell for - he is enraptured. His parents even commend him on what a brilliant match he's made.
Two days later Cindy breaks a broom across his back after finding soot on the hem of her favorite dress. She takes most of the housekeeping money for the following week for a new one. The Prince is mortified his sweet, lovely wife could have been so cruel but realizes he too should have been more careful with his sweeping. His parents would hardly believe him though, even if he'd thought to say something - they themselves called her an angel and would likely call him foolish for so silly a mistake. He's so embarrassed by his uselessness. Eventually his parents invade a new country, expand their kingdom, and move to a new castle far away. He hasn't spoken to the Squire now in months. The Prince tries so very hard to make Cindy happy - and there are moments - blessed, beautiful moments she tells him how lucky she is to have him, how wonderful he is to her. Those moments become less and less over time though and more often he is teased, ridiculed, cajoled and sometimes even hit when he just can't seem to get anything right.
Months turn into years. The Prince is responsible for the household and their four young sons. The Prince has no friends, little money, no job, and is the only one really taking care of their boys. How will they eat if he leaves? Still, just once, the Prince embraces the courage to leave, swearing they'll eat raw potatoes if they must - only to find a crumpled, crying Cindy barring his way - promising to end her life if he leaves. He loves her, he doesn't want to hurt her, they have children together, and so he stays. Perhaps one day he will realize that she manipulates his love for her...
(Peeps, I am so, so sorry for the length of this. I got kinda wrapped up in it and couldn't stop til my fingers forced me. :blushing
