Is it something like: "Prince's maid became his lover and then he left her for uncertain reasons, so she went after another family member to take a revenge on him and trample on his pride and feelings"?
OR maybe they took her away from the prince by force and he did nothing, so she climbed the ladder to spite him?
I smell something like that #-.-)
You are quite spot on!! When they became lovers, the prince wanted to send her far away to protect her but she refused when the prince left to entertain some guests she was forced by the queen to enter the king's bedroom and become his mistress. Later, when the prince came back he thought she betrayed him and became his father's mistress. Then, later in the novel, he came to know what happened and ridden with guilt leaves his position as the crown prince despite the queen's plea not to and camilla also leaves the palace. However, they still don't get together in the end

I’m actually interested in the relationship between the crown prince and his step mother