“That is all in the past,” Liesel assured, forcing a smile.
Queen Emma patted her arm with appreciation. “I am glad to find you so charitable.”
The bells finally pealed, and Liesel’s gaze swung to her mother.
“Are you ready?” Queen Marlena questioned.
Liesel nodded. She was undoubtedly nervous, but she had never felt more excited in her life.
After Gretchen conducted one last inspection of Liesel’s hair and gave her final approval, the queens each took one of Liesel’s arms and began escorting her down to the main hall.
When they approached the large oak doors that led into the room, Liesel stole a glance at her mother, and her eyes filled with tears when she saw the excess moisture in her mother’s eyes. Her mother grasped her hand and then pulled her into an embrace.
“I love you, Liesel,” Queen Marlena whispered. “Like I’ve always said—you were born to be a queen—and I couldn’t be happier for you.”
“Thank you, Mother. I love you too,” Liesel whispered back.
Queen Emma then hugged her as well and after the queens each gave her a reassuring look, they slipped through the doors and into the great hall.
A nearby servant passed her a bouquet and Liesel twisted it in her hands while she waited for the music to begin. The seconds seemed to drag on, and she shifted from foot to foot as she stared at the great doors before her.
When the royal guards finally pulled the doors open, Liesel inhaled a deep breath as the crowd quieted and turned to look at her. She had never felt so many eyes upon her before, and her courage began to falter until she finally found Roderick’s eyes at the end of the room.
The light she found there chased away all of her fears and her nerves settled enough to return his smile.
The wedding melody began to play and she clutched the bouquet in her hands. She hesitated in the doorway until a servant stepped behind her and gave her a gentle nudge. With her eyes locked with Roderick’s, she then took her first steps forward and then had to strain to pace her steps appropriately.
Now that she was walking toward her prince, she couldn’t help her impatience.
She couldn’t wait to begin the rest of their happily ever after.
THE END
Thank you for reading Princess without a Palace: A King Thrushbeard Fairy Tale!
If you enjoyed the story, I sincerely hope you will consider leaving a review on Amazon.com to help other readers like you find it!
And if you have any concerns about the story or have any other feedback that you would like to share with the author, you can reach me at [email protected].
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Kristen Niedfeldt
Acknowledgements
First and foremost I have to thank my husband, Peter, for his support. I could not have done this without his help and encouragement. Thank you for being willing to be an engineer by day and a fairy tale consultant by night. All of my stories turn out so much better because of your help!
I must also thank my parents and sisters for being willing to read this book just a chapter at a time and for all of the feedback and encouragement they offered along the way. I know reading a book in small increments over a year is not the most ideal way to read, but I’m very grateful you were all willing to do it!
I’m also grateful to my friends, Susie, Laura, and Jayna who agreed to read early drafts and for the great feedback they supplied.
Furthermore, I’m very thankful for my friend Kiersten and the great editorial feedback she supplied. I feel so blessed to know such a talented editor.
Lastly, I am very grateful to all of the readers who have enjoyed my books! You make all of the work it takes to make a story come to life worth it!
With love, Kristen Niedfeldt
About the Author
Kristen Niedfeldt is the author of Ending the Rain, Finding Ever After, and Princess without a Palace.
After studying elementary education at Brigham Young University, she taught third grade for two years before she "retired" (as her students called it) to stay home with her little baby boys!
When she's not writing, she loves to play outside with her three sons, cook, and spend time living out her own "happily ever after" with her best friend and husband, Peter
Princess without a Palace: A King Thrushbeard Fairy Tale Page 24