It was a long time before we could slip away from the ball and its crowds of curious well-wishers. Our natural destination was the Forest, where we walked hand in hand, swinging our arms back and forth. It was hard to imagine that the last time we’d walked this road, only hours earlier, it was towards goodbyes and separation; now it only led to the promise of a bright future.
The canopy of branches had parted above to bathe us in silvery moonlight that illuminated the path, which opened up to the pink-blossomed clearing of the musical lake, Aiden’s special place, now ours. The lake was aglow in the night and its soft, melodic tunes filled the perfume-shrouded air.
We settled on the bank, facing one another knee-to-knee. Aiden took my hands and held them securely between his. “It’s time for my promised explanation, the one I should have given you long ago.”
“About why you kept your identity a secret?”
He nodded and began playing with my fingers. “I felt no need to tell you who I really was when we first met in the Forest, though I had a strong compulsion to know who you were. After I realized I was falling in love with you during our picnic by the waterfall, I planned on waiting until I knew for certain that I could court you, since at the time I was still engaged.”
He took a wavering breath and continued.
“The first night I visited you after you’d arrived at the palace, I fully intended to tell you everything—about who I was and why I’d enrolled you in the princess competition—but my plans shattered when you informed me you had no interest in being a princess.”
He winced at the memory, as if the pain of that rejection was still fresh. I bit my lip guiltily.
“After I realized your feelings concerning the matter, I decided to wait a few days until you got used to the royal life in hopes you’d change your mind.” He frowned. “Only you never seemed to.”
I stroked his cheek in apology. “It would have been easier to accept if I knew you were the prince whose hand I was trying to win.”
He smiled wryly. “I considered that, but I was afraid that if you knew, you’d think I was foisting my title on you and that you’d be afraid of denying my affections, making it difficult for you to say no to a prince who was in love with you. I also feared that knowing who I truly was would make it harder for you to be yourself; I didn’t want you to change around me or pull away. What if you thought you didn’t deserve me due to our vastly different stations and decided that the noble thing would be to step aside so I could choose a real princess?”
As I searched the vulnerability filling his eyes, any lingering wounded feelings for his keeping his secret for so long faded away. He’d only done it to protect me and our relationship, especially while it was still a fragile bud, not yet blossomed, as it was now.
Aiden’s hold on my hands tightened. “I didn’t consider any of these thoughts when I first broke off my engagement and asked the Forest to bring you to the competition; I just saw it as the path for us to be together. I thought I was doing the right thing keeping it from you…until I saw how distressed you were in my world, how much my secrecy was hurting you, which caused me to believe you’d be happier returning to your simple life and remaining outside my world of royalty.”
Understanding filled me. “That’s why you decided to take me home. You didn’t want me to feel intimated or choose you out of obligation.”
He nodded. “I thought I was being noble and sacrificing, but now I realize I wasn’t motivated by what I thought was best for you, but rather my own fears that you wouldn’t want the true me. By my refusing to tell you who I was, I wasn’t protecting you like I’d convinced myself; I was deceiving you and taking away your opportunity to decide for yourself what life you wanted. For that I’m sorry.”
I searched his eyes, full of sweet sincerity and love, and smiled in forgiveness. “You were only trying to do what you thought was best. I can’t fault you for your choices, especially considering they’re in the past. We’re together now.”
“We are. I love you, Eileen. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
I closed my eyes and basked in his words. He loved me, truly loved me, and nothing could sway me from our chosen course…except for one final fear, a new one that had emerged after learning his true identity.
I lowered my eyes to our intertwined hands. “But you’re right about one thing: you’re a prince and I’m nothing but a mere commoner.”
He ran his knuckles along my cheekbone, his eyes full of such incredible tenderness when I peeked back up at him. “There’s nothing common about you, my Eileen.”
“But you’ve had to help me through every single task to prove myself worthy to be your bride. If it weren’t for you—”
“Eileen dear, please listen to me.” His expression became very serious. “Those tasks weren’t my criteria for the woman I want as my wife but were dictated by my father. I don’t care whether my wife has proper decorum, knows the royal histories, or can dance at a ball. None of that matters. I had my own process of selecting the woman to entrust my heart to.”
“You did?”
He nodded and continued stroking my cheek with such gentleness I was certain I’d melt. “I found everything I was looking for in you. During the first task, you possessed the grace to extend forgiveness after I’d involved you in this competition; this grace of spirit and tenderness of heart means more to me than whether or not you walk with any. And when you drew your portrait, it showed me you look beyond the surface to see people for who they truly are, a trait that will be invaluable as my future queen.”
Tears trickled down my cheeks, but I made no move to wipe them away so Aiden did, an act which only made me cry harder.
“The second task showed me not only your intelligence but your resilience and determination to work hard. Even when you feel lost and overwhelmed you push forward, no matter the difficulties, and always remain true to yourself.”
As I continued to cry, Aiden leaned forward to kiss away my tears, and my heart cracked open further.
“In the third task, I learned just how fragile your heart is and how much I’ll need to take care of it. But I will. I promise, Eileen.” As he spoke, he withdrew my locket I’d given him as the second payment. “When you gave me this, you began to let go of your past. It gave me hope that together we can move forward into the future.”
He carefully clasped the locket around my neck, but unlike when I’d worn it before, it was no longer heavy. I opened it and cradled the heart-shaped pendant in my palm; I smiled to see that not only did it contain Father’s portrait, but now Aiden’s as well.
I raised my gaze to his before leaning over and pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. “Thank you, Aiden.”
“Have I assured you of your precious worth?” he asked.
“You have, but I’m still uncertain about our future.” I nibbled my lip. “Marrying you will make me Sortileya’s future queen.” My stomach knotted. “Aiden, I can’t be queen.”
“I know you feel intimidated now,” he said gently. “But that won’t happen for many years. You’ll have plenty of time to grow into the role.”
I took a wavering breath. “I’ll require many more late nights of your helping me to make me queen material.”
He pressed several soft kisses along my knuckles. “You’re already equal to the task. You possess the essential characteristics of a future queen. You’re a true princess in spirit, and thus everything else will come.” He flashed a mischievous smirk. “But be that as it may, I’ll still gladly help you all you like…for a price.”
I giggled. “What sort of price do you have in mind?”
“While you have everything to offer me, including a lifetime of happiness, I wouldn’t say no to another kiss.”
I laughed and he joined in as he helped me to my feet. He hooked his arms around my waist and nestled me close. I stood on tiptoe. “That’s a price I’ll gladly pay anytime.”
His hands wove through my hair as he leaned down t
o kiss me, far more earnestly than his others had been, yet the kiss was still so soft, so gentle, so many beautiful things. When we broke away, I saw reflected in his adoring eyes so many promises, promises I now allowed myself to believe, another confirmation that the path chosen by my heart was the right one for me.
We entwined our hands and he led me down a path that opened up at his silent command. Even though we walked away from the rosy glow of the lake into the darkness of the night, I trusted Aiden and the Forest to take us where we needed to be.
Which reminded me…. “You really asked the Forest to lead me to the palace for the Princess Competition?”
He gave me a guilty smile. “I couldn’t very well have the woman I loved absent from the quest for my hand.”
“Why does the Forest obey you?”
He affectionately patted a maple as we passed. “They’re loyal to their prince. But despite their allegiance to me, they love you the most.”
We approached the edge of the trees, which opened enough to show a glimpse of the palace, its windows lit with glowing lanterns. The single path wriggled before us before splitting into two, one leading to the palace and the other snaking deeper into the Forest in the opposite direction.
Aiden squeezed my hand. “Which shall we take?”
I didn’t even need to study the two diverting pathways to know the answer. While the Forest had initially forcibly led me to the Sortileyan Palace and the competition that illuminated my true feelings for Aiden, the choice to return was up to me, and that decision had already been made.
I tugged Aiden down the path leading to the palace. “This one.”
Together we walked it to an unknown but undoubtedly beautiful future.
Epilogue
I stood in front of the tall, gilded mirror, staring in awe at my reflection. I scarcely recognized myself dressed in my white gown of silk and lace, my dark hair arranged in an elegant updo woven with pearls that matched the jewelry adorning my ears and neck. I looked exactly like a princess. Alaina fussed with my appearance, making sure my dress was just right.
Mother came up behind me to rest her chin on my shoulder, which she gave an affectionate squeeze. “You look beautiful, dear.”
“I never imagined I’d ever find myself dressed in a wedding gown, mere minutes away from marrying the love of my life.”
“I kept telling you over and over that one day you would.” Rosie appeared in the mirror behind me to help hook my lacy veil in my hair. “Everyone has a happy ending, including you. To think yours includes an actual prince…” She sighed contently. “It’s the most magical ending imaginable.”
I smiled. “I don’t care that he’s a prince, just that he’s my prince.” The words sounded foreign on my lips, for they were ones the old Eileen never would have spoken. But that was the wonderful thing about journeys: they had a way of changing oneself.
Rosie stood back to survey her handiwork and gave a nod of approval. “Stunning. You deserve nothing less on the first day of your happily ever after.”
Mother’s beam grew as she took in my appearance, admiration shining in her eyes. “This is what I’ve always wanted. I’m so happy for you, dear. Your father would be so proud of you.”
I took a deep, wavering breath, allowing the ache his absence in my life had caused to fill me again. Aiden had informed me only a few days previous that he’d finally received the results of an investigation into Father’s fate that he’d been conducting ever since the night I’d given him my necklace: while on his way home, Father had succumbed to a terrible illness that had swept through the capital, which meant he’d been on the road to return to us at the time of his death.
While the knowledge was healing for both me and Mother, it still left an ache in my heart, one that would likely always be there, but the pain was different now. I knew my love for Aiden and for my family and friends would help heal not only that hole but those I didn’t even know I had.
“I miss him,” I told her. How he would have loved the adventure I found myself in.
“I miss him, too. But he loved us. And Aiden loves you.”
“And he won’t ever leave.” I’d said the words countless times since choosing to trust my heart to him. Making the decision hadn’t made all my fears, insecurities, or pains go away completely, but it had brought new emotions I’d never expected in the years I’d fought against this future—peace, contentment, fierce joy, and love—always love.
A knock on the door pierced my reminiscing. Before Alaina could move to open it, I rushed over to fling it open myself, ignoring her usual mutterings about not allowing myself to be waited upon properly. I could do without the royal nonsense of servants and protocol, but I couldn’t live without my prince, who stood outside the door dressed in his own regal finery.
His black eyes widened and his mouth fell agape. For a moment he merely stared before he stepped into the room and put his arms around my waist.
“My princess.” He leaned down and kissed my brow. The moment he pulled away I stood on tiptoe to place my own kiss on the tip of his nose.
“My prince.”
My favorite crooked grin lit up his face. “I still can’t believe my good fortune.” He pressed the tenderest kiss on my lips, leaving me no doubts as to his affections.
Aiden pulled away and stared into my eyes with such an affectionate look that I felt incredibly adored. “It’s bad luck to see your bride before the wedding,” I said. He chuckled.
“I simply couldn’t wait to hold you in my arms once more.” After another kiss—this one on the top of my head—he looped my arm through his. “Shall I escort you to our wedding, my dear?”
I gave his arm an affectionate squeeze before turning to Mother and Rosie, both watching me with tears of happiness and wide smiles. I hadn’t seen Mother so happy since our tearful reunion after Aiden arranged for her to come to the palace to find me safe and sound. My happily ever after truly seemed like the most beautiful of fairy tales, just like Rosie and the stories we’d read together had always promised it would be.
They followed as Aiden escorted me to the grand ballroom, where we became husband and wife. As we gave our vows and sealed our union with another kiss, I knew that whatever obstacles lay in our future, we’d overcome them together, for Aiden was not only the right path for me but the one I’d continue to choose forever.
Thank You
Thank you for allowing me to share one of my beloved stories with you! If you’d like to be informed of new releases, please visit me at my website www.camillepeters.com to sign up for my newsletter, see my release plans, and read deleted scenes—as well as a scene written from Aiden’s POV.
I love to connect with readers! You can find me on Goodreads or on my Facebook Page.
If you loved my story, I’d be honored if you’d share your thoughts with me and others by leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Your support is invaluable. Thank you.
Coming Soon: Rosie’s story, Spelled, inspired by The Frog Prince.
Acknowledgments
I’m so incredibly grateful for all the wonderful people who’ve supported me throughout my writing adventures.
First, to my incredible mother, who’s worn many hats over the years: from teaching me to read as a toddler; to recognizing my love and talent for writing and supporting it through boundless encouragement and hours of driving me back and forth to classes to help nourish my budding skills; to now being my muse, brainstorm buddy, beta-reader, editor, and my biggest cheerleader and believer of my dreams. I truly wouldn’t be where I am without her and am so grateful for God’s tender mercy in giving me such a mother.
Second, to my family: my father, twin brother Cliff, and darling sister Stephanie. Your love, belief in me, and your eager willingness to read my rough drafts and help me develop my stories has been invaluable. Words cannot express how much your support has meant to me.
Third, to my publishing team: my incredible editor, Jana Miller, whose talent, insights, an
d edits have helped my stories blossom into their potential; Karri Klawiter, whose talent designed the most beautiful book cover I could have ever dreamed of; and Kathy Habel, who helped me market so I could share my story with readers.
Fourth, to my wonderful beta readers: my dear Grandma, Charla Stewart, Alesha Adamson, Emma Miller, and Jessica Anderson. I’m so grateful for your wonderful insights and suggestions that gave my story the last bit of polish in order to make it the best it can be. In addition, I’d like to thank all my ARC readers, who were so willing to give my book a chance and share their impressions. Thank you.
Fifth, to my Grandparents, whose invaluable support over the years has helped my dreams become a reality.
Last but not least, I’d like to thank my beloved Heavenly Father, who has not only given me my dreams, talent, and the opportunities to achieve them, but who loves me unconditionally, always provides inspiration whenever I turn to Him for help, gives me strength to push through whatever obstacles I face, and has sanctified all my efforts to make them better than my own.
About the Author
Camille Peters was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah where she grew up surrounded by books. As a child, she spent every spare moment reading and writing her own stories on every scrap of paper she could find. Becoming an author was always more than a childhood dream; it was a certainty.
Her love of writing grew alongside her as she took local writing classes in her teens, spent a year studying Creative Writing at the English University of Northampton, and graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in English and History. She’s now blessed to be a full-time author.
When she’s not writing she’s thinking about writing, and when’s she’s not thinking about writing she’s…alright, she’s always thinking about writing, but she can also be found reading, playing board games with her family and friends, or taking long, bare-foot walks as she lives inside her imagination and brainstorms more tales.
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