“I’m not sure, Prince Cornelius,” Adelaide answered, shrugging her shoulders. “But you are right … something must have happened, because they currently seem very much attached to one another now.”
Prince Cornelius continued to watch Liesel for several long, silent moments before he finally tore his gaze away to look down at Adelaide. She silently noted with a barely discernible sigh that he had looked at her at exactly the right moment for she had just resolved to slip away, but his sudden words kept her where she stood. “Forgive me, Princess Adelaide. My manners have been remiss. Would you care to dance?”
A small ember of hope began to warm her heart. She had admired Prince Cornelius for years, and had struggled to keep her feelings concealed while he had pursued her sister. But now he was free.
And she hoped his heart wouldn’t take too long to heal.
“I would love to dance with you,” she answered, feeling her heart swell within her.
He offered her his hand, but she paused as she tried to rally her courage to finally place her hand in his. She had dreamed of this moment for so long and now she was nervous to cross such a threshold into the future.
Taking a deep breath, she finally gave him her hand, and her face instantly transformed into a radiant smile as his fingers wrapped around hers.
There was no need to worry … Their hands were a perfect fit.
Chapter Twenty-Four
A few hours later, Liesel sat with Roderick on a bench near the stables with her head nestled comfortably against his shoulder. It was a chore to keep her eyes open when the moonlight kept beckoning her to surrender to sleep, but she resisted, determined to stay awake at least a little longer. She wasn’t ready for sleep to steal any part of this magical night.
She wanted to savor every moment.
Feeling her eyelids drooping again, she blinked rapidly to shake off the heavy weights of the drowsiness that consumed her. It had been an exhausting evening. She had danced for hours, and after King Carl had kept his word and announced their engagement at midnight, there had been even more dancing. Although she had danced most of her dances with Roderick, there had been dozens of other nobles who had whisked her away so they could properly convey their congratulations to the future queen of Brenhausen. She supposed she should have endeavored more diligently to remember at least a few of their faces or names, but she could spend the rest of her life attending to that.
Tonight was her night.
And the only man she cared to think about right now was Roderick.
She was grateful when he had finally pulled her along with a group of departing guests to slip away to find some privacy outside. The hectic night made her realize that she had taken the last month of living a quiet life with him for granted, and she was glad to have him all to herself again. They sat in the shadows, snuggled close together for warmth, and watched the local guests trickle from the castle and depart in carriages for home.
The stars were now fading, and Liesel knew there was not much more time before the sun would begin to creep over the eastern hills. She sighed and snuggled further into Roderick’s embrace. She felt like she was living a dream and it pained her to see it end.
“Are you happy?” she murmured a few moments later against his shoulder.
She could sense him smile into her hair as he answered, “Most definitely.”
Liesel looked down at the gold ring he had placed on her finger earlier that night and she shook her head. “I still can’t believe that I am really going to marry you.”
“We’ve been betrothed for a month,” Roderick reminded her. “Surely you must be used to the idea by now.”
“I can assure you that when I awoke this morning, I thought that this was the very last way this would all end.”
“That reminds me,” Roderick answered, shifting in his seat. “I wanted to ask you … Why did you leave? And why didn’t you tell anyone where you were going?”
Liesel inhaled a deep breath and then answered, “Maria told me that the betrothal was fake … and that you didn’t really love me.”
“And you believed her?” he asked, tilting her chin up to make her look at him.
“You were gone,” Liesel answered. “There was no way to ask you and I was too embarrassed to stay.”
“But what about the note I left for you?” Roderick argued. “I wrote my feelings quite plainly.”
“I never found any note,” Liesel refuted, sitting up straight.
His eyes narrowed. “I most certainly wrote you a letter. I wouldn’t have left without …” his words trailed into silence and his mouth clamped shut.
Their eyes locked and they declared in almost perfect unison, “Maria.”
Roderick shook his head, and Liesel rested her head again on his shoulder as he hugged her close.
“I am sorry I didn’t realize I couldn’t trust her …” Roderick eventually whispered, breaking the silence that had settled between them. “It pains me to know that you ever had to doubt that I cared for you.”
“I’ll never doubt again,” Liesel answered with confidence, returning his embrace.
They sat like that for quite some time until the sound of approaching horses caught their attention and Liesel turned in Roderick’s arms to see a few riders nearing the stables.
When the riders finally neared enough to see them in the flickering light of the castle’s torches, Roderick called out a greeting, “Albert! I’m relieved to see the soldiers were able to find you!”
“And I’m glad to see that you have finally found your princess,” the old man returned.
“I have,” Roderick answered, coming to his feet and pulling Liesel up with him. “Thank you for your assistance. But I am sorry it led to such a long night for you.”
Albert dismounted from his horse and handed the reins to one of the soldiers before he turned back to face Roderick. “I am always happy to be of service, Your Highness.”
Hearing the affection in the old man’s voice, Liesel looked at Roderick and then back at Albert again. There seemed to be more to their relationship than they had previously let on. She was sure of it. “I am quite certain that I wasn’t the one to introduce you two,” she observed. “How long have you two known one another?”
Roderick’s mouth turned up on one side. “He was my father’s old captain of the guard. I grew up seeing him in the castle every day. He is retired now, but he agreed to keep watch over you in the marketplace since I couldn’t always be there.”
Liesel shook her head. “How many more surprises are there? I’m a little in awe of the great efforts you were willing to put into your scheme.”
“And it was all worth it,” Roderick answered with a wink, reaching an arm around her again.
The kitchen door then opened, and they all turned to see Hilda step outside. “Albert, is that you?”
“Yes, Hilda, I am finally back.”
“Did they tell you the happy news?” she called out as she walked down the path to join them.
Albert looked at Roderick expectantly and the prince explained with a smile, “We announced our engagement tonight. We will marry at the end of the month.”
“I am happy to hear it,” Albert answered. “I’ve been hoping it would all end this way since shortly after I met your princess. You have my congratulations.”
“And thank you, Albert and Hilda, for everything you did to help me,” Liesel added. “I wouldn’t have had time to fall in love with Roderick if you hadn’t given me a reason to stay.”
“It was our pleasure,” Hilda answered. “I just feel bad that I had to keep you confined to that tiny room the whole time, but as you can see now, I had to keep you away from the kitchen gossip as much as possible. I really am grateful I had your help these past two weeks though. You are a good, hard worker, Princess.”
“Thank you, Hilda. I’m glad I can stay so we can remain friends.”
Hilda smiled and then tucked her arm around her husband’s. “We should probably
return home now. This has been a long night for us both.”
Albert nodded and then Roderick and Liesel watched the old couple depart down the hill together.
After they disappeared from view, Liesel tugged on Roderick’s hand and suggested, “Should we finally make our return to the castle now?”
Roderick shook his head. “No, not yet,” he replied. “The sun is about to rise. We might as well stay a little longer so we can enjoy it.”
Roderick then pulled Liesel back to the bench to sit beside him, and she sighed with happiness. The stars were fading and various yellows and oranges were painting the horizon, paving the way for the sun’s grand entrance.
The night was over, but Liesel wasn’t as disappointed as she thought she would be to see the sun begin to rise. After all, as perfect as the night had been, she was excited for all of the future days that waited to be lived with Roderick at her side.
Tilting her head back to look into his eyes, she froze when her forehead brushed along his jaw, and she reached a hand up to feel the scruffy beginnings of a beard.
“Are you growing your beard again?” she asked, a little surprised.
Prince Roderick rubbed a hand against his prickly skin and admitted, “I did promise my father I would once I returned to the castle.”
“Hmm …” Liesel replied as she considered this revelation. “I suppose it is important since it’s tradition in Brenhausen …”
She traced his rough jaw with her finger and then added, “But perhaps you might grow your beard out a little shorter this time?”
Roderick looked down at her in mock surprise and questioned, “Don’t you want me to show you just how deeply I am committed to peace and staying home with you by the length of my beard? How else can I possibly put your fears to rest?”
“I trust you,” Liesel answered without hesitation, eliciting a laugh from Roderick. She then assured, “I’d be more than willing to accept your word on the matter.”
He leaned down to kiss her and she silently admitted that she could trust him without words too.
When she at last pulled away, she settled herself again under the arm Roderick had draped across her back and turned her eyes toward the horizon to watch the sunrise. With all of the carriages now gone and the rest of the guests quietly sleeping inside, a peaceful tranquility hovered around the castle, and the only sounds they could hear were the sounds of the nearby birds joining together in their dawn chorus.
Above all of the various songs that wove through the air, Liesel’s attention was most arrested by the distinct song of a song thrush somewhere nearby.
She listened as the little bird faithfully repeated his phrases, the notes of his tune speaking straight to her heart. His song no longer annoyed her. Instead, she only felt gratitude for the little bird’s faithful persistence to sing the song he wanted her to hear.
Her arms tightened around Roderick, and she realized that Roderick had more in common with the thrush birds than she had originally thought.
How grateful she was that he had not given up on her!
Liesel’s eyes then turned again to the breathtaking sunrise playing out before them and she doubted that any day had ever dawned brighter.
Stealing another glance at the man at her side, her heart quickened, and she silently noted that her future had never looked brighter as well.
Epilogue
One month later …
“You look perfectly lovely, Liesel,” Queen Marlena praised, squeezing Liesel’s shoulders as she moved to stand at her side.
Liesel studied her reflection in the long mirror in the room, and ran a hand over her silver dress to smooth the shimmering fabric. The month since the ball had seemed like it would never end, but at last her wedding day had finally arrived.
At the thought, her heart took flight within her. She could hardly wait to see Roderick again. Since arriving in Brenhausen the night before, she had been confined to her room to prepare for the wedding, and it had been torturous to be so near yet unable to see him.
But that would soon change. Any minute now, the castle’s bells would ring, and it would be time for the wedding to begin. And then it would hopefully be a very long time before Roderick and she would ever have to endure a separation again.
She smoothed her dress once more and tried to will the bells to ring. She hoped the bell ringer hadn’t fallen asleep. The sun was setting and she knew the appointed time was drawing near. Why couldn’t the bells just ring?
She caught her mother’s eye in the mirror and she smiled at the queen’s reflection. She was immensely grateful to have her mother at her side today after she had missed the engagement the month before. Her absence had been keenly felt on that wonderful night. But now, with her mother at her side, everything was perfect.
Gretchen approached to stand behind them and began adjusting a few stray curls at the base of Liesel’s neck.
“Hold still, Princess,” the maid ordered. “When you put on your dress, you mangled my masterpiece.”
“Liesel’s hair still looks stunning, Gretchen,” Queen Marlena assured. “And as beautiful as Liesel has always been, I don’t think she has ever looked prettier than she does today.”
“Thank you, Mother,” Liesel replied, leaning her head against her mother’s shoulder as she gave her a quick hug.
“I’m not done yet, Princess. Hold still,” Gretchen barked, taking hold of Liesel’s head and forcing it upright again.
Liesel scowled at having her head handled so roughly, but her expression softened when her mother gave her an empathetic smile through the mirror. They both knew Gretchen was as excited about the wedding as anyone, and she couldn’t be faulted for trying to help Liesel look her best.
“Ow,” Liesel winced as she felt a prick against her scalp as Gretchen secured another curl higher on her head.
Gretchen started to apologize, but Liesel held a hand up in the air to silence her. What was that she was hearing?
The voice grew closer and Liesel’s heart began to accelerate. What was Roderick doing singing right now when he was supposed to be preparing for their wedding?
Ducking away to escape Gretchen’s reach, Liesel rushed to the nearby window and looked down to see Roderick’s bearded face smiling up at her from below.
Her own smile grew as he strummed his gittern and continued with his song.
“The princess was blessed
With an abundance of grace.
Her stubbornness could rival a mule,
But she had a most beautiful face.”
Liesel shook her head at him and then shouted, “What are you doing here right now? You’re supposed to be preparing for our wedding!’
But Roderick ignored her protests and continued:
“Suitors sought her hand,
But she never gave them a chance.
So finally one tricked her,
And stole her heart with a dance.
Liesel fought back a smile, but lost. That dance in the stables had indeed been her undoing.
“Now that man stands before her,
Madly in love for all the world to see.
I offer her my hand and my heart.
Will you please marry me?
Will you please marry me?
The memories his song elicited flooded through her mind, and she rested her forearms against the windowsill and called down to him, “Your song sounds familiar, sir. But I’m surprised you dare to say those words aloud again after what happened the last time you sang that last line.”
“Despite my acting at the time, I’ve never regretted them,” he assured her. “And just the last part is the same. The rest I’ve improved.”
“Yes, I was quite enchanted by that part about the mule …” she answered with a pointed look, and then continued, “But really, Roderick, what are you doing here right now? You better not miss the ceremony!”
“I won’t miss it,” he promised. “But I just couldn’t wait to see you again.”
&nb
sp; She had to catch her breath when he said that. Oh, how she loved him!
Behind her, she heard the door open and Liesel tore her gaze from Roderick to turn and see Queen Emma entering the room.
“Are you ready?” Roderick’s mother questioned. “I came to personally offer you a warning that the bells are about to sound.”
“I’m ready,” Liesel assured, standing straight again. She then nodded out the window, and added, “But your son is presently outside gallivanting with his gittern again.”
Queen Emma crossed the room to join Liesel at the window and then declared, “Roderick, you can sing to Liesel as much as you like at any other time of your choosing, but I’m afraid I must steal her away. She actually has an appointment right now to be married.”
“I wouldn’t want to keep her from that.”
“I thought not,” his mother replied, pulling Liesel away from the window.
“That boy,” Queen Emma sighed, shaking her head. “He was always tinkering with that silly instrument when he was younger. I remember the minstrels being quite unsettled by it. They worried he would put them out of their work.” Queen Emma patted Liesel’s cheek and added, “I am glad he has finally found a good use for his talent.”
The queen then looked Liesel over and smiled. “You look beautiful, my dear. I am very happy for you and Roderick. You will make a wonderful pair.”
“Thank you,” Liesel answered, relieved to hear such welcoming words from a member of Roderick’s family.
“Even my Carl has moved past mere resignation. He has a hard exterior, but you’ll find that he’s really soft inside for his children. And he’s seen how happy you have made Roderick. We all have.” The queen paused and then added, “Even Maria.”
Liesel looked at her with a questioning look, and the queen elaborated, “Oh, she still has a few more hurdles she needs to navigate to overcome her jealousy, but she’s making progress. She needs to come to terms that it shouldn’t matter to her how beautiful you are or how much her dear brother cares for you. I hope you will forgive her for any harm she might have done to you. She has always loved Roderick very much, and I’m afraid her protective nature and insecurities drove her to near madness.”
Princess without a Palace: A King Thrushbeard Fairy Tale Page 23