by A. W. Cross
His words left a bad taste in her mouth, and she grabbed her fork and stabbed a potato. “I’m sure I’m just here because the nobles didn’t want to sacrifice one of their daughters, and the Regent didn’t want to send his pretty and spoiled daughter, either.” She raised her eyes at him with an apologetic expression. “Sorry, I tend to say things without thinking.”
“I appreciate your honesty. Though, I’m glad you were sent instead of her.”
Claire clenched her jaw, unsure if that was a compliment or just a meaningless statement. Even so, she asked, “Why is that?”
His eyes fixated on her face. “I’m not sure. There’s something different about you. Maybe it’s because you aren’t trying to play games with me to make me fall in love and make you my queen.”
Claire snorted and grabbed the glass of water to take a sip. “I’m pretty sure that my plain self doesn’t meet the requirements of your royal taste. You made things clear when we first met. You aren’t looking for a queen. I’m not looking to be a queen. We are on the same page.”
The prince fluttered his eyelids as he always did when he seemed to be confused about something. Claire didn’t know him well, but that was about all the emotion he displayed. Besides the occasional smile that made him look almost human.
The prince used the napkin to clean his mouth and drank water. “Can we go back to talking about your family? You are friendlier when we talk about them.”
Claire frowned and tapped her fingers on the table. “How about we talk about your family? I want to know things about you.”
“My family is dead,” he said with a straight face. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Don’t you have memories of them?”
He nodded. “Painful ones that no longer affect me as they used to. I guess having a cold heart has some benefits.”
“What about happy ones?”
“Like the ones you have of your mother telling you stories?”
Claire nodded. “Did your mother tell you stories?”
The prince’s eyes zoned out for a while before he turned his gaze back at her. “She did.”
Claire raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to elaborate. He didn’t. “What type of stories did you enjoy growing up?”
“Knight stories.” Prince William sighed. “Mother read them to me when I was a child. She had the most beautiful stories about fairies and warriors who roamed the world, fighting evil.”
“I would love to leave our kingdom. It’s not possible as you know. Still, seeing other lands with green pastures, huge trees, and all sorts of flowers would be wonderful.”
“It’s not like I want to stay cursed,” the prince shared. “I tried— Maybe I’m just not good enough for someone to love me.”
Claire blinked as she took in his cold demeanor. Memories of their first meeting rushed to her mind. She had been heartless in her own way when she believed that he was going to kill Deborah.
“Don’t you think that I’m despicable because it’s my fault that the whole kingdom is plagued by an endless winter?”
Claire wasn’t sure how to answer. “Now that I see you and spend time with you, I’m not sure that I was fair when I …”
“Yes?”
“When I judged you without knowing you.”
“I’m guilty of that too. I assumed you were here just to be queen like the ones before you.”
Claire closed her fist over the table as she tried to keep her mouth shut. As always, she wasn’t able to restrain herself. “It takes more than physical beauty, and a few politely shared words to make one fall in love. I’m not talking about passion or desire. I’m no expert. I don’t think I was ever in love with anyone. Unless we can count fictional characters in books that I read.” She looked at her closed hand. “I guess it’s because we know what’s inside their heads, and we can relate with their thoughts and actions. I’m not sure why. Still, in real life, it’s harder to connect with people.”
“I thought I was in love before. But is it true love when the other person doesn’t feel the same?”
Claire hid her hands under the table and shrugged. “The only true love I’ve known is my parents’ love for me. I also love them with all my heart and soul. I’m not sure if I can love someone more than I love them.”
Prince William lowered his voice to a whisper. “I’ve never seen someone love as much as my parents loved each other. Children are an extension of their parents’ love, but it’s a different type of love. You’re still too young to understand it. Books can’t teach you everything. Some things you just have to experience for yourself.”
“Like leaving to see the world with our own eyes?” Claire questioned him.
The prince nodded. “It must be hard to spend time with me when I’m the one between you and your dream.”
Claire held his gaze. “It’s not your fault. You were cursed. It’s the witch’s fault.”
Ming clapped her hands. “Dessert, who wants dessert?”
Claire blinked with the sudden sound and looked at her plate. She wasn’t hungry and had lost track of time while talking with the prince.
“Claire has barely touched her food.”
“You barely ate either,” Kara said, landing on the prince’s shoulder.
He looked at her. “Claire and I are having a lovely conversation. We’ll eat dessert later.”
Tasha, the green fairy, landed on the table and took small steps to reach the prince’s glass and secure her back against it. “What if we played some music and you taught Claire how to dance? She’s a disaster, and we are too small to lead her.”
“Dancing?” the prince questioned.
Tasha raised her hand and looked at her nails. “Do you still remember how it’s done?”
“Of course.”
She leaned forward and grinned at him. “Then finish your dinner so we can light up the ballroom and play some music.”
The prince shook his head and showed them his hands. “I’m not wearing gloves.”
Ming flew to his side and waved her hand. Gold dust surrounded his hands, and a pair of silky white gloves covered them.
Claire knew they were magical but had no idea they were able to conjure things from thin air. Yet what bothered her the most was the fact that the prince seemed to be reluctant to touch her. She had noticed that he didn’t like anyone invading his personal space. He always recoiled when she tried to touch him and got mad when she actually touched him.
“Are you sure you want to teach me?” Claire asked. She looked at the fairies. “Shouldn’t we be practicing after dinner for our show in two days? Haven’t you invited your fairy friends to come and watch us?”
“We did, but we have worked hard for the past few days. Plus, there will be a ball after the play. William needs to teach you how to waltz now, so you don’t look bad among the other fairies.” Ming swirled around on one leg as her arms raised above her head. “I don’t know if you knew this, but fairies are excellent dancers. Yet we are too small to dance with William, you’ll have to do that for us.”
Claire blinked and then frowned. Was that an elaborate scheme to force the prince to spend more time with her?
Claire leaned closer and looked at the prince. “Will that make you happy, my prince?”
“The show, the ball, the dancing, or teaching you to dance?”
“Teaching me to dance and then having to dance with me at the ball.”
His lips curled up, and Claire felt her throat suddenly dry. “I like dancing and music.”
Claire pursed her lips, unsure of what kind of answer that was. “I’ll try not to step on your toes, then.”
12
Ming had her hands holding her chin and her legs bouncing back and forth while she laid on the pillow. “Will they kiss now?”
Claire giggled, placing two fingers inside the book she was reading to mark the page. She raised her head to look at the fairies with sparkling eyes and attentive faces as she read to them a new romance. I
t was book club night. On those nights, they remained in the living room after dinner. The fairies lit the fire in the fireplace, placed pillows and fur blankets on the floor, and scattered candles to create the perfect cozy mood.
Since Claire was bigger, she held the book and read to them. She felt happy to have friends to share her love for books. She didn’t dare read romantic books to her mother and father. She read them at night, in her bed. Having female friends was something new. Her best friend was Myka, but he liked action stories more than romantic ones. Not to mention that girls often were jealous of Claire because she was friends with the most handsome guy in her village. Many expected them to get married when they were old enough. Even her parents. Claire loved Myka as an older brother, and she was sure he felt the same way about her.
“Claire, what’s wrong?” Tasha asked, raising her head and catching Claire’s attention.
She smiled. “I was just thinking about my best friend and my family.”
Kara flew to her side and landed on her forearm. Her minuscule hand touched her sleeve, and she grinned, showing her tiny, sharp teeth. “Are you thinking about past experiences of kisses?”
Claire’s cheeks turned red. “No. Of course not. I’ve never kissed anyone before.”
“Is your best friend a boy?”
Claire nodded.
“Is he handsome?”
Claire nodded again. “I don’t think about him like that. We are just friends.”
Kara puckered her lips. “I wish I had found a handsome male to fall in love and live an adventure with.” She paced down Claire’s forearm and jumped to the floor. Her wings flapped before she landed on the marble floor. “Are you nervous about tomorrow?”
Tasha sat up and folded her legs. “I am. What if our friends don’t like our play?”
“It’s going to be fine,” Claire assured. “It’s book club hour. We can stress about the show tomorrow.”
Kara’s ears perked up. “Aren’t you worried about the fact that the prince expects you to dance with him?”
“Should I be? He said that I’m a quick learner.”
“Did you like dancing with him?” Kara questioned.
Claire shrugged. Puckering her lips, she asked, “Do you think he’s less annoyed by my presence in the palace?”
“He’s been spending a lot of time with us. He also seems happier,” Ming replied. “I believe you’re doing a good job.”
“He still doesn’t talk much about himself.”
Ming yawned which, in turn, made everybody do the same. Claire’s eyes felt heavy.
Kara paced to a pillow and laid back. “I’m tired.”
“Let’s finish this chapter so we can go to sleep. We have a busy day tomorrow,” Ming said.
Claire opened the book and stared at the page, continuing the reading.
The next day, Claire woke up with a smile. She was excited about the day. Leaving the bed, she walked to the window, wiped the condensation from the glass, and glanced outside. The fog seemed less thick that morning, and she could even see the snow-capped peaks against the skyline. Maybe the weather was improving, and the sun would peek through the mist to melt the snow.
Looking down at the gardens, she noticed a figure wearing a long white brocade coat. No one dared to go outside in this weather. At least, Claire didn’t since the palace was warm and allowed her to walk around wearing only her long linen dresses so she could help the fairies with their chores. She also felt more comfortable in plain clothes than overly embroidered dresses. The previous night, though, the fairies had selected an exquisite pink dress for her to wear after the show. At the show, she was going to wear men’s clothing. William had been kind enough to let her wear some of his clothes. It had been fun to try out the beautiful brocade coats, the regal white satin shirts, and the black laced pants. The fairies even made her a fake mustache to add to the character she was portraying.
The figure stopped on the edge of the cliff and looked down. Claire’s heart stopped, and she secured both hands against the glass. Could that be William? What was he doing there? Was he contemplating jumping?
With blood rushing through her veins, she turned around and looked for warm clothes to wear. She removed her nightgown and slipped into a wool dress and put on a pair of sturdy boots. Grabbing a pair of gloves, a fur hat, and her fur cloak with trimmed collar and cuffs, she left her bedroom. Claire flew down the stairs, stopped in front of the massive doors, and pushed them open. The chilly wind hit her face when she slipped outside. She was blind for a few seconds as the mist danced and covered the gardens.
Fastening her cloak around her neck and pulling the hat down on her head, she put on the gloves and tapped her hands to warm up. Her breathing turned into fog.
She focused on the reason why she was outside—William.
Her boots sunk into the snow, and she walked as fast as she could in the direction where she had seen the prince. The cliffs weren’t too far from the palace. The frozen lake was on her right, just behind the palace. The cliffs were in front. If she walked that way, following the path between the crystal bushes and plants, she could reach it.
It was hard to see more than ten inches ahead of her. Her paces were short but fast. Suddenly, the mist dissipated, and the path cleared as a figure appeared a few feet from her.
“Claire?” William’s voice made her squint. “What are you doing outside?”
Claire stopped in her tracks and puckered her lips, taking in his figure. He wasn’t wearing a cape or a warm coat. His blond hair seemed a pale blue, and his eyes appeared gray. His skin seemed as white as snow, but his lips were a pale pink.
William narrowed the distance between them, and his tall figure towered in front of her. “Aren’t you cold?”
Claire raised her face to meet his eyes and nodded. “Aren’t you?”
“I don’t feel cold.” His hands grabbed her arms. She noticed he was wearing silky gloves. “What are you doing out here?”
“I saw you from the window. I wanted to … Why were you so close to the cliff?”
His eyes narrowed, and he lowered his head.
Claire drowned in his eyes. The temperature rose around her. “Are you sad?”
“No.” His hands moved down her arms, and he grabbed her hands. “I was watching the waterfalls.”
Her voice was a whisper. “What waterfalls?”
“The snow has been melting. The water falls down the mountain and creates rainbows in the morning. I wanted to see those.”
“So, you weren’t thinking about jumping?”
His eyebrows rose. “I couldn’t die even if I tried.”
“You can’t?”
He shook his head.
“That’s good then.”
The prince frowned. “Why is that?”
“I don’t want you dead,” she replied. Her palms turned, and she grabbed his hands. “Wait, you said that the snow is melting?”
He smiled.
“Does that mean you’re happy?”
“Yes.”
Claire grinned as her heart fluttered.
“Even if you were worried about me, you shouldn’t come out on your own. You could fall, get lost in the mist, and die.”
Claire lowered her eyes to their hands. “I didn’t think about that.”
His hand moved from hers, and two fingers touched her chin. “Do you want to see the view from the cliff with me?”
“Yes.”
“Be still and hold onto my arm, then,” the prince instructed as he let go of her chin, moved aside, and waved his hand. A blue glow twirled around his fingers.
Claire shrieked when her body lifted from the ground as a blue mist formed under her boots. “What’s happening?”
“Don’t be scared.” The prince’s left arm snaked around her waist as they floated above the snow and slowly moved forward.
“We’re flying.”
“Levitating,” the prince corrected. “It’s easier. Are you still cold?”
/> Claire turned her head to look at him. “No.”
“I put a protection around you, so the cold wind doesn’t reach you. I don’t want you to freeze to death. The temperatures are still too low for a human to be outside for long.”
“Is not feeling cold part of the curse?” She looked at the blue cloud under their feet. “Are these powers also part of your curse?”
“You’re curious.”
“I just want to understand better.”
They stopped, and their feet touched the ground again.
Claire looked down but wasn’t able to see anything. The mist was too thick and shrouded the view. “Are you sure the snow is melting, and it’s less cold?”
The prince waved his free hand, and the mist parted ways. Claire inhaled the pure and crisp air sharply as she gazed at the breathtaking views. The valleys were still covered with snow, frosted trees, and sparkling rivers. Nevertheless, the sunlight blinked on the spirals of the buildings of the small villages scattered in the valleys. The clouds above cast giant shadows upon the landscape, but the sunlight bathed the majority of the ridges and the ice fields.
From the mountainsides, streams of water poured into the abyss. When the sun refracted its light on the waterdrops, it created a rainbow.
“It’s really melting,” Claire said.
“Do you want to look closer?” the prince asked, moving forward.
Claire grabbed his arm and squeezed her eyes shut. “No! It’s too high.”
William chuckled. “Are you afraid of heights?”
Claire peeked through her left eye. “No, but I can’t levitate like you. Nor can I control water.”
“I wouldn’t let you fall.”
Claire shook her head. “I can see just fine from here.”
William raised his right hand and patted her head. “You can let go now. I won’t do anything you don’t want.”
Claire reluctantly removed her hand from his sleeve and looked back. “Do you think that when the weather is better, we could finally ice skate on the lake?”
“Can you ice skate?”
“Who doesn’t know how to ice skate in this kingdom?” She looked at him and noticed a shadow of a smile. “Do you like ice skating?”