by Krista Lakes
Faye gazed across the bed toward Magdalena. Her eyes slowly filled with tears, which quickly flowed down her cheeks. Sabrina watched as Faye wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. Faye was looking at the daughter that she hadn't seen in forty years. Magdalena noticed the old woman and scoffed.
“Who is this lady?” Magdalena asked. “Why is she dressed like that? Do we not have any decency in this Palace anymore?”
Sabrina didn't wait for anybody else to speak up. Instead, she took the floor herself.
“That lady whom you're speaking to so arrogantly is your mother,” Sabrina said, slamming the palm of her hand down on top of the bed. “I suggest you show some respect.”
Magdalena rolled her eyes and faced Sabrina. “You stupid girl, you know nothing of my life. Don't pretend as though you know who my mother is.”
Faye cleared her throat and wiped the remaining tears from her cheek. “She's telling the truth, Magdalena.”
“I don't know who you are, but you're clearly delusional,” Magdalena said to Faye. “My mother was a poor and useless commoner who left me when I was but a child. Trust me, I would know her if I saw her. My father told me all about her.”
“Your father was James Dunhill,” Faye said. “And he was my husband. But I think you've got the story wrong. I never left you, Magdalena. At least not by choice. James forced me to leave the royal family. I didn't want to leave.”
Magdalena turned a shade of pale and then turned to Carlo. “This woman, whoever she is, is insane. Guards!”
Two guards came running in, but Marco stopped them at the door.
“I'm happy to explain things if you give me a chance,” Faye said. “But if you don't want to hear it, then I understand.”
“I don't want to hear it,” she snapped back, turning away from the bed. “You're obviously insane. Besides, why are you here anyway? How did you get in here?”
“She's my Aunt,” Sabrina explained. “At least, the closest thing to an actual aunt that I've ever had. She came to visit me when she heard what happened at the ball.”
Magdalena looked around the room at everyone.
“Every last one of you is insane,” she shouted. “I'm leaving. Please, go about your business, you group of crazies.”
Magdalena then marched out of the room, stomping her feet on the way out like a child.
“I knew those eyes looked familiar,” Carlo said. “It is the most auspicious of circumstances to have you standing here right now.”
Carlo gazed at Faye for a moment longer, and then turned back to Sabrina.
“Why did you not tell me that your Aunt was Magdalena's mother?” Carlo asked.
Sabrina shrugged. “I just found out about an hour ago.”
Marco, who was still standing by the side of the bed, seemed to be eager to speak. He was fidgeting and tapping his fingers on the headboard of the bed.
“What is it, son?” Carlo asked, coughing a few times after speaking the words.
“I know you need rest, Father, but I want to consult with you for a moment,” Marco said. “Did you look into the law that says I can't marry Sabrina because she's not royal? The one that Magdalena had said she found?”
Carlo drew in a long breath and pushed himself up a bit, so that he was leaning against the headboard. “Yes, I did. And Magdalena was right. There is a law that says that.”
Sabrina and Marco looked at each other and Sabrina felt her gut clench.
“Is there anything we can do?” Sabrina asked. “I want to marry Marco more than anything.”
“The law states very clearly that it's not allowed,” Carlo said.
“Father, can't we change it?” Marco asked. “It's a silly and outdated law, anyhow. Who would ever complain if it got changed?”
Carlo sat silently for a moment. His breathing was slow and paced. Sabrina could tell that the simple act of breathing pained him. The lung surgery had clearly taken a toll on the man.
“I've got good news and bad news,” Carlo said. “The bad news, is that I can't change the law. At least, not in a timely fashion. It would take months for everything to go through.”
Tears fell down Sabrina's cheeks and she ran to Marco to embrace him.
“The good news,” Carlo continued. “Is that I don't have to change the law in order for you to get married.”
Sabrina stopped crying immediately and pulled her face away from Marco's chest. She looked directly at Carlo. “What do you mean?”
“Your father is Peter Wise, correct?” Carlo asked.
Sabrina hesitantly nodded. “Yes, that's correct.”
“I had one of our people look into it for me. It turns out, that your great great grandfather was the Lord of Earlshire and fought in the Battle of the Realm. His name was Arthur Wise the Third.”
“I think my dad had mentioned something about that once,” she said. “But I'm not sure how this all relates.”
“It means, my dear child, that your father is of royal blood,” Carlo explained, his eyes lighting up. “With his lineage, not only is he royal blood, but he can be knighted for his ancestor's battle bravery. If your father becomes a Knight of Orsino, and you are his next of kin, then you are no longer considered common blood. Far from it.”
Sabrina's knees went weak and she held onto Marco for support.
“You mean...” she whispered.
“Yes, you will be able to marry Marco and the law won't have anything to say about it,” Carlo said. “And, on that same note, Magdalena won't be able to say anything about it either. She can try to take it to the courts, but nothing will stand up there because you won't be breaking any law.”
Sabrina fell forward and wrapped her arms around Carlo's neck, pulling him in for a hug. Her heart swelled and she held him close. She sobbed, but this time, it was tears of joy that fell from her eyes. When she pulled away, she noticed that Carlo had shed a few tears of his own.
“Thank you, King Carlo,” Sabrina said.
Marco dropped to one knee beside the bed and held Carlo's hand. “Father, I'm eternally grateful. You've just made me the happiest man alive.”
Carlo cleared his throat and coughed once more. “It's the least I can do for my son. Now, let's get Sabrina's parents out here. We need to get this process started sooner than later. According to the doctors, my surgery went well. But I still don't know what that means as far as how much time I might have. We must make haste.”
Chapter 23
Marco
Three weeks later...
Marco stepped out of his bedroom at the same time his father was walking down the hallway.
“Marco, you startled me,” Carlo said, his voice still a bit raspy, but getting better. “I just woke up from a nap. I can’t believe how drowsy these pain medications make me.”
“You look like you're feeling much better, though,” Marco said.
“Indeed I am,” Carlo said. “The tests yesterday went well, too. I'm told that I am completely cancer free, at least for the moment. That's good enough for me.”
Marco pulled his father close and hugged him, breathing out a sigh of relief. He'd been waiting anxiously to hear about the test results.
“I'm so glad to hear,” he said, squeezing his father affectionately. “Let's keep our fingers crossed that the results continue to stay that way. What do you say?”
“I'd say that's a fine plan,” Carlo said, with a smile.
Carlo was starting to act like his old self again, and Marco couldn't have been happier. Just three weeks after the surgery, and Carlo was up and moving around. He wasn't able to attend to all of his duties as King, at least not quite yet. But he did manage to gather enough energy to perform one sacred ritual with Sabrina's father, who was now considered a “Knight of Orsino” because of it.
“Is Sabrina downstairs?” Marco asked. “I haven't seen her since this morning, with all the chaos.”
“Yes, I just passed them, actually,” Carlo said. “She's in the library with her parents.”
“Perfect,” Marco said, as he turned away from his father. “I'm going to go visit with them for a few minutes before we have to get dressed.”
“Ah yes,” Carlo said, nodding his head. “You’d better hurry, before she gets her dress on. You know how the old superstition goes.”
Marco rolled his eyes. “You know I don’t believe in that sort of nonsense.”
“All the same.” Carlo smiled, patting his headstrong son on the shoulder. “It’s best not to tempt fate. After all, it’s been so good to you lately.”
Laughing, Marco shook his head. “All right, all right. I won’t argue with you, but only because you’re under the weather.
Marco turned and walked down the stairs, making his way toward the library. The palace felt different than it had just a couple of weeks ago. It felt lighter and happier. He wasn't completely sure why, but he had a feeling it had something to do with the fact that Magdalena hadn't shown her face around there in over a week.
According to Carlo, she'd gone to their summer retreat cabin a few miles north of the palace. She was there with Alonso, her not-so-secret lover. At first, Carlo was heartbroken, although he did his best not to show it. Despite her bitterness, she’d been a fixture in his life for so long, it was hard for him to accept that she was truly gone. But with the hustle and bustle of last-minute wedding preparations all around him, it was hard to stay sad for long.
Marco poked his head into the library to find Sabrina standing with her parents.
“Has anyone seen my beautiful fiancée?” Marco asked, with a boyish smirk.
Sabrina's eyes lit up and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Then she leaned in and kissed his cheek.
“Hey, love.” Sabrina held him close. “What are you up to?”
“Just wanted to touch base with everyone,” Marco said, looking toward Sabrina's parents. “Less than three hours… can you believe it? Does anyone need anything?”
Sabrina's dad shook his head. “I think we're just fine. Marla set out a suit for me to wear, so I'll be ready.”
“I trust it's a suit that's fit for a knight?” Marco asked with a grin.
Peter nodded, his eyes widening is disbelief. “It's still hard to believe that I can call myself 'Sir Peter Wise'.”
“I think it has a nice ring to it,” Marco said, squeezing Peter's shoulder. “I know I've said it before, but I want to thank you again for agreeing to become a knight. It's because of you that I can marry your daughter. I'm forever in your debt.”
Peter shrugged. “It's a debt that I'm not too concerned with collecting on. I'm just happy that my baby girl has found someone that treats her right.”
Marco was genuinely impressed by Peter's willingness to help their situation. Sabrina's parents had flown to Orsino a week prior and Peter agreed without hesitation that he'd do whatever he could to help. In this case, it meant becoming a Knight of Orsino. He was sworn in just two days after landing on the Island.
“I'm glad both of you are here,” Marco said, bringing his attention to Anna.
She was wearing a beautiful blue silk dress, which Marco had given her as a gift upon her arrival. It looked like it belonged on her and seemed more fitting than the ripped jeans she'd come wearing.
“Thank you for everything, Marco,” Anna said. “You're giving my daughter a life that I couldn't have dreamed of in a million years. I'm still in shock.”
“You need never thank me,” Marco said, pulling Anna in for a hug. “I hope that I can give you the life that you deserve as well.”
He pulled away and then stepped back to Sabrina.
“As long as you don't need anything from me, I'm going to go upstairs and get ready for the wedding.” Marco leaned forward and kissed his fiancée. When he pulled away, he looked her in the eyes and sighed. He loved her so much that his heart ached. “I know I won’t be allowed to see you again once you’re in your dress, and I’ve no desire to get a shoe thrown at my head by one of the chamber-maids.”
How I got so lucky to meet a girl like her I'll never know, he thought.
“I'll see you in a little while,” Sabrina said, smiling as she gently touched his cheeks. “Can you do me a favor, though? Don't shave. I think I like the beard stubble you have going on.”
“For you? Anything?” Marco said, as he scratched his chin.
Then he turned and left the library. He went back to his bedroom to get dressed. He still couldn't believe how things had turned out. What had started as a simple vacation in the United States had turned into him meeting the girl of his dreams and getting married. He was beyond grateful for the way things had developed in his life. There was a lot in his future, including his eventual rise to the position of King. But that wasn't what was on his mind at the moment. All that he cared about was spending as much time with Sabrina as possible and giving her the fulfilling life that she deserved. Because before he met her, Marco was certain that his life had had no meaning.
I was born a prince, but thanks to Sabrina, I now know what it means to feel truly rich.
Chapter 24
Sabrina
Aunt Faye connected the top clasp on the back of the Sabrina's wedding dress, then glanced into the mirror in front of them.
“How does it feel?” Faye asked.
Sabrina brought her hands down the sides of the dress. An intricate design was hand-sewn throughout, with millions of tiny stitches creating a beautiful pattern.
“It feels expensive,” Sabrina said, with a smile. “But also really good.”
“I can tell you're nervous,” Faye said, spinning Sabrina around to face her. “Am I wrong?”
“I'm nervous, but in a good way.” Sabrina let out a sigh, calming the anxiety in her gut. This wasn't going to be any ordinary wedding. It was super formal, and held many traditions that were foreign to Sabrina. She’d been told the ceremony could last up to three hours, and she had no idea how she would sit through it without bursting from excitement and nerves.
“Just take a deep breath,” Faye said, her eyes glowing from the daylight that poured in through the window. “And if that doesn’t work, try to keep the squealing to a minimum.”
Sabrina laughed. “I'll try, Aunty. I'll try.”
“Okay, well your dress looks amazing, and we have but a few minutes before we’re meeting your father and the bridesmaids in the courtyard. I'd like to run to my room and change quickly. I’ll be back in two shakes.” Faye then turned and left Sabrina to herself in the bedroom.
She stared at herself in the mirror for a moment longer. Marla had curled her hair and applied makeup on her. She looked more beautiful than ever before. And she felt that way, too. For the first time, she felt secure. Not just for herself, but for her family, too. Sabrina knew that her old life, and her parent's old life, would be nothing more than a memory. She'd be able to take care of them. Her dreams had manifested into reality.
It's still hard to believe, she thought, as she sat down on the edge of the bed. I never thought my life could get this good.
In just a few hours, Sabrina would officially be married to Marco. The poor girl from Memphis would become a Princess. And then, eventually, Queen. She sat in that room for a moment, just pondering the way things had turned out for her. She couldn't help but to think about how one little decision had changed the outcome of her entire life.
What if I hadn't decided to apply for that job all those months ago? She thought. Where would I be now? I definitely wouldn't be here, getting ready to rehearse a wedding with the most amazing man on the planet.
Sabrina looked up, as Faye poked her head back into the room.
“You ready, Bean?” she asked. “We're going to be late if we don't hurry.”
Sabrina nodded as she stood up from the bed. She walked toward the door, holding the bottom of the wedding dress up to keep it from dragging on the floor.
Out of nowhere, Marla materialized with two other girls, tsking loudly. “Carrying your own dress? For shame. Where are
the bridesmaids?”
Faye laughed. “Where we come from, you get used to taking care of your own baggage. But you’re right. I’m sorry, Sabrina, that’s awfully rude of me. Let me get your train for you.”
“Here, your bouquet.” Marla thrust a beautiful arrangement of flowers into Sabrina’s clammy palms. “Are you all right? Do you need a drink of water? Some valerian leaves?”
Sabrina giggled at the reference to the wild plant, which, she’d learned, many of the locals chewed recreationally for its calming effects. As tempting as it was, she wanted to stay lucid for the most important day of her life.
“Thank you, Marla. I’m good. But I might change my mind later.”
She’d already gone through her entrance in the rehearsal, but she wasn’t any more confident about it. The wedding was taking place in the massive courtyard behind the palace, backed by a breathtaking fountain and surrounded by Lilies of the Nile, lilacs, orange poppies, and sea spray – and plenty of blooms she didn’t recognize. The smell was as beautiful as it was exotic.
From the balcony above the staircase, Sabrina could see the thousands of paper lanterns dotting the gardens. The ceremony itself was attended only by the royal family and esteemed guests, but even so, it seemed like there must be a million people seated there on either side of the red carpet, waiting for her to arrive.
There was only one notable absence. Magdalena, as it turned out, would not be attending.
Sabrina breathed a sigh of relief when Marco first broke the news. As far as the public knew, she was simply too ill to attend. But after her shameful outburst at the ball, most of them knew the truth.
As it turned out, though, the people of Orsino were fascinated by the idea of a “people’s princess” from the American south. Ever since their engagement, the palace had been inundated with gifts. Sabrina’s favorite was a little hand-carved cowboy, complete with a five-gallon hat. They didn’t understand her culture any more than she understood theirs, after just a few weeks – but they wanted her to feel welcomed. They wanted her to feel at home, just as much as Marco did.