Allerleirauh

by Chantal Gadoury

  “No,” I said through gritted teeth. As I turned and glared at her sharply, a lingering growl erupted from my chest.

  “You’re like a wild beast,” Adelais said, wrinkling her nose. “Get in the bath or I’ll tell the prince just how difficult you’re being.”

  “I’m sure he wouldn’t be surprised,” I retorted under my breath. Truth be told, he probably expected me to be far more difficult than I already was.

  Adelais shook her head and frowned deeply. She was not going to tolerate any more of my foolishness; I could already see her patience waning thin on her features. Her hands gripped my wrist suddenly and pulled me forward to sit. Despite my surprised gasp, she yanked me again. I tried to wriggle my hand away, but she held firm with her grasp.

  “I have been working in the palace all of my life. You are not the first difficult child I’ve had to bathe, nor, I imagine, will you be the last.”

  She reached out to push the hood back from my face before I leaned away.

  “I’ll bathe,” I said with a sigh, giving into her command. “Just let go of me!”

  “How can I trust that you’ll do as you’re told? You leave me no choice but to stay until you are in the water.”

  Adelais tugged on my hand and tried to reach for the hood of my cloak again, until I stood.

  “I will!” I exclaimed as I pulled my wrist away. “Just leave!”

  “Here you are, acting like the Königin of the Heavens . . .” Adelais began to mumble, shaking her head. “If I were the prince, I would have gone and thrown you out on the streets.”

  “As it would seem, I am here to torment you,” I muttered.

  “Torment me, indeed,” she countered. “Now, give me the cloak.” Adelais held her hand out expectantly. “Pester me as you may, but I shall be a thorn in your side until you change your airs.”

  I studied her hand as I debated over what to do. I could give in and give her my cloak and wait to leave my rooms until it was returned back to me. As I gazed at Adelais, I knew she’d be sure to never let me see the cloak again.

  “The cloak, fräulein . . .” Adelais barked with a raised brow.

  Her tone was harsher than Myriah’s. I wondered what Myriah would say or do if she were here, working with Adelais. Would she have told Adelais to go away?

  “I want it back,” I demanded as I narrowed my eyes. “If I do not have it back by nightfall—”

  “Nightfall?” She snorted with a small chuckle. “Milady, this will take much more time to clean and dry than just a single afternoon.” Adelais lifted her hand again as her look of impatience grew.

  My stomach sank with defeat. “May I leave it outside the door once I’m finished with my bath?”

  I stared at her, unwilling to waver in my request. Adelais let out a sigh as she slowly began to nod.

  “Fine. I want the cloak outside the door once you’ve finished with your bath. I’ve left clothes on the chair over there.” She pointed to a chair near the bath basin.

  I saw a simple green dress adorned with thin cream ribbons around the waist, draped over the seat. I could feel Adelais’s eyes on me as she walked to the door, her arms crossed across her chest. For being such a loving servant to the prince, I was starting to believe she truly disliked me. I could hear her murmur ‘strange creature’ under her breath as she closed the door.

  With a sigh of relief, I slowly slid the cloak and my clothes away and submerged myself into the warm bath water. At least I was grateful for Adelais’s suggestion: A bath was exactly what I needed after the stress of Lord Crestwood discovering my true identity.

  I took my time washing my hair—my skin, until my fingers were completely wrinkled again. A fear broke over me as I realized I would have to leave the water and face not only the prince but also Lord Crestwood again, and this time without my cloak. Knowing Adelais, she’d be waiting just outside the door, ready to snap it from my hands. My thoughts strayed back to the night before; Lord Crestwood pulling my hood from my head in the castle gardens. He knew me instantly, the girl he danced with at my father’s ball—my own celebration.

  I wondered if I could trust his words, if I could trust he’d keep my secret. Would it become too tempting to keep the truth from the prince? Adelais’s voice rang out from the other side of the door, ordering a few of the other maids in the room to tend to another chore, her voice restless and agitated.

  I pushed myself from the cooling water and dried off with one of the clean linens she left for me. As I approached the window seat, I remembered the satchel, tucked away from the sight of Adelais; the lingering enchanted walnuts containing the dresses my father gave me. I strolled to the window, pausing to push my fingers over the plush cushions. At least I knew they were safely tucked away from sight. Perhaps one day I’d find myself brave enough to pull the dresses out. I lifted my eyes to gaze out over the terrain of the kingdom; the sky was a beautiful hue of blue, while soft white clouds rolled by.

  The flowers appeared almost in full bloom from view of the garden beyond. As my mind wandered, I found myself gauging the distance from the window to the ground below. With a grin, I pulled the linen from my body and dressed myself as quickly as I could into the fresh gown. The fabric was soft against my skin, warm and comfortable. I took the extra linens Adelais had left and began to tie them together, creating a rope.

  There was one way I could be sure she wouldn’t take my cloak. Hoisting the heavy furs over my shoulders and keeping them in place, I tied the linens to the window latch. I felt a sort of déjà vu as I realized I had done the same in my old room, back with Myriah. Myriah had given me the strength to push ahead; to run away. Now with her in my heart, I would run away from the cranky maid. I opened the window as quietly as I could and allowed the cloth-rope to fall to the ground. I was thankful to Myriah for teaching me how to climb trees all those years ago, when I was a young child. She had even taught me about swinging ropes and cool creeks in the warm summer months. Those easy days were long over.

  I eased myself onto the rope, holding it tightly between my hands as I carefully shimmied to the green grass below. I let out a sigh of relief as my bare toes touched the ground. Peering up at the open window, I grinned at my clever escape. I hoped this would teach Adelais a lesson in telling me what to do. The sensation of the soft breeze billowing around me, through my hair and fingers felt freeing; the cool grass on the bottoms of my feet. For a moment, I was confident enough to peel my cloak away, and enjoy the warmth of the sun. Tilting my head back, I closed my eyes and let out a breath. Deciding to make the most of my new-found freedom, I rounded the corner of the garden wall. For every few steps I took, I knelt and picked a few wildflowers that caught my eye. It had been so long since I experienced something so simple and yet so liberating. I no longer needed to follow a regimented schedule of studies and monitored walks. Saarland der Licht was an emancipation from captivity. I only turned back to the castle when I realized how much time had passed from the shadows of the sun. I eased my cloak back over my shoulders, and tucked my golden hair back beneath the thick furs. All too soon, I was once again Allerleirauh.

  Just as I was about to climb up the main steps of the entrance, I saw the prince sitting on the top step, smirking.

  “Guten Morgen,” he said with a breathless chuckle.

  “Good morning, Your Highness,” I replied and nodded my nod.

  “Did you really climb down from your window?”

  He pointed in the distant direction of my window and turned back to gaze at me questionably. I felt my cheeks begin to warm as I clutched tightly to the flowers in my hand.

  “Y-Yes. I wanted some fresh air.”

  “We do have doors here, Allerleirauh.”

  “I—I know,” I said softly with a nod. “I . . .”

  My words became lost in the amused spark in his eyes.

  “Let me guess. Adelais was giving you a hard time.”

  I was glad he couldn’t see my cheeks begin to grow warmer as I slowly nodded.<
br />
  “She’s that way with everyone,” he said with a laugh. “Don’t take it personally.”

  “She wants to take my cloak,” I admitted with a shrug. The prince stared at me curiously.

  “You go quite a length to keep your cloak safe from her prying hands,” he mused.

  “I do only what I feel is right,” I tried to explain. Prince Klaus smiled in response.

  “No one can fault you for that, milady. If you wish, I can speak to Adelais about her behavior. I wouldn’t want you to have to spend each morning propelling from your window to escape from her.”

  “I thought you were at breakfast?” I asked curiously.

  “I wanted to have some fresh air first. There’s nothing quite like the crisp morning air on such a beautiful day.”

  I took notice of his clean-shaven chin and the way his green eyes sparkled when paired with the dark blue tunic he wore. A few of the top strings were undone, leaving a bit of his chest revealed. My eyes quickly darted away, returning back to the purple blooms in my hands. From behind, I could hear a scurry from inside the castle. Adelais’s voice echoed around us as she called out my name.

  “Allerleirauh!”

  “It seems you’ve been found out,” Prince Klaus laughed. He tilted his head with a smile. “Come, I’ll fight her off for you. Let’s go to breakfast.”

  “I’m not very hungry,” I replied and took a step back. Prince Klaus raised his brow.

  “Lord Crestwood was called away on urgent business with Foix de Lille, so it would please me greatly if you’d join me. Just this once,” he offered gently.

  A bit of relief washed over me upon hearing news of Lord Crestwood’s departure. He wouldn’t have had the time or the chance to inform the prince about my secret, no matter what he promised me the night before. I gave Klaus a small jerk of my chin in response and trailed after him, back inside the castle. Adelais was waiting for me in the hallway with her arms crossed.

  “This little devil escaped from her room,” she said with an irritated huff. Prince Klaus chuckled and heaved a sigh.

  “You must not be too harsh with her, Adelais. If the poor girl wants to wear her cloak, you will let her.”

  “But—”

  “As your prince, I command you leave her be, Adelais,” he said more sternly and eyed her a moment more. Even as he did, there was still a soft kindness bordering his tone. She let out an aggravated sigh and shook her head.

  “Fine. But don’t come blubbing to me when you catch fleas!”

  She didn’t wait for the prince to respond. Instead, she turned on heel and slipped into one of the side servant corridors.

  “Don’t mind her,” Klaus murmured and winked at me. “She’s been here since my father was a young man. She’s quite familiar with all of us. It makes her comfortable. Sometimes, a bit too comfortable.”

  “I think it’s nice,” I replied with a small smile. “It’s obvious she cares for you.”

  “Oh, indeed she does,” he said with a chuckle. “She raised me after my mother died.”

  The prince began walking towards the dining room, seemingly deciding to end the conversation. Was Adelais to him, like Myriah was to me?

  I followed Prince Klaus into the room and took my place at the table. Food was already waiting between the two place settings. Loaves of warm bread and creamy butter sat nearest to my plate. Fresh wild berries were piled in another bowl, while slices of different types of cheeses were spread in another. I noticed a hot kettle of tea with a tall clear glass jar of honey nearby. A servant loomed over the prince’s shoulder and began to serve a portion of steaming meats onto his plate. I decided to nibble on a few berries and a slice of the warm fresh bread.

  “Is there anything else you’d like?” he asked me, looking at the small selection on my plate. I popped a berry between my lips as I turned my chin.

  “I’m quite fine with what is served, Your Highness,” I replied. “Danke.”

  “Klaus. I’ve told you to call me Klaus,” he said as he took a bite of the meat from his plate. I pushed another berry between my lips and tried to think of something more to say.

  “Why did Lord Crestwood go to Foix de Lille?” I asked, keeping my eyes level with my plate. “Was his business in regards to your arranged marriage?”

  “Yes, as it would seem,” he replied with a sigh. He took another bite of meat and chewed slowly. I could tell by the way he stared forward he was lost in thought.

  “And do you wish for the arrangement?” I asked hesitantly as I lifted the goblet in front of me to my lips.

  My chest tightened, and I found my anxiety over the situation abrupt and unwarranted. What stock did I have in his personal affairs?

  “I don’t think anyone wishes for an arranged marriage, but it is a part of my duty to the crown and to my Königreich,” he said with a sigh. He lowered his knife to his plate and glanced at me. “The truth of the matter is Saarland der Licht needs more supplies to keep my villages prospering. We do not have the sea ports or the ability to trade in the way Foix de Lille does. Lord Crestwood is arranging a marriage to benefit Saarland der Licht. The contract will bring opportunity for my people, and hopefully an heir for future generations.”

  I could tell each word was hard to say aloud as he looked at me. “At times, he jests at how I feel about the situation. I grew up believing I would be different from my parents; I would marry for love. But it seems my duty as prince and König must take the place of any hopeful dreaming.”

  I bit my bottom lip as I listened. His features looked so crestfallen as he turned his gaze back to his plate.

  “How could I persist you to return home and endure what I know I shall have to do myself miserably?” He continued. “I would never wish an unhappy life to anyone.”

  I wanted to tell him I understood. In that brief moment, I wanted to expose the truth to him, to empathize with what was suffocating him. I wished I were brave enough to tell him the truth about my own arranged marriage.

  “I would not wish unhappiness upon you either,” I replied, tucking my hands in my lap.

  “My father had dreams for this land . . . but they were costly.”

  Prince Klaus turned his attention to the carafe of wine beside him and poured himself another glass.

  “Despite having plenty of resources in the Königreich, he wasted much of them on fruitless ambitions. He wanted to be the strongest and yet, didn’t think twice in squandering money in hopes of securing such a title. My father didn’t wish to just be a König, but a König of all. Many of the alliances once formed by previous ancestors, became strained and some lost. After I was born, he changed even more. Stories I’ve heard through the years claim it was even my father who drove my mother to her own death.”

  “I’m so sorry,” I murmured as I leaned back in my chair.

  “I have known quite a bit of unhappiness, like you,” he said with a nod as he took a sip.

  “How did your mother die?” I asked. Prince Klaus lowered his goblet to the table and leaned his elbows on the table.

  “Many of the servants told me she died from an illness. Adelais insists she died of a broken heart. It was quite sudden. I only remember little bits of her. Her smile, her laughter . . .”

  He shrugged as he shifted to look at me. “My father grew bored of my mother after she gave birth to me. She was moved to live on another estate nearby. Shortly after her departure, he moved his mistresses into this palace. My mother felt betrayed by how he treated her. He abused the alliances she had brought to the marriage with his bartering and womanizing. It’s said eventually, my father had enough of her disapproval and dissolved the marriage by claiming she was disloyal to him. He accused her of having many lovers.” I watched his jaw clench as he paused. “I truly believe she died of a broken heart.”

  “I’m . . . sorry,” I murmured sympathetically. Words were lost as I tried to scramble for something to say; something meaningful. Neither of my parents loved each other. They too, had driv
en each other to their own despairing fates.

  “I am too,” he replied. “I’m sorry for the both of us.”

  A moment of silence filled the room, until Klaus adjusted in his seat and tipped his chin towards the door as he leaned his elbows upon the table.

  “How about a boat ride today? The weather is suitable, and I’m sure you’d enjoy seeing more of the castle and the lands.”

  “A boat ride?” I asked, hesitantly. I resisted the urge to wrinkle my nose. He smirked and nodded as he rose from his chair.

  “I have a small boat we could use,” he replied, tucking is hands on his hips. “I enjoy going out on the water.”

  “I don’t know how to swim,” I admitted with a small, shy laugh. He grinned wider.

  “I promise you won’t need to know how to swim with me. I’ll keep the boat afloat. You need not worry about getting your furs wet.”

  He waited with a raised brow until I arose from my chair.

  “Come, trust me,” he urged and held his hand out to me. I stared at his hand. Inside my mind, I debated touching his warm skin. I knew there was nothing to fear from Klaus. I knew he’d never harm me.

  “It’s just a hand. I won’t hurt you,” he said, glancing at his hand and then back to me.

  “I know,” I managed softly with a nod as I slowly took his hand. The prince gestured towards the door with a chuckle.

  “After you, milady.”

  30

  I did my best to hold in my giggles as I entertainingly watched Klaus struggle with the oars of the boat. He had sent the boatman away and insisted he would could steer the boat himself.

  “I don’t think you should have told him to go,” I said, pointing to the irritated boatman as he walked away from the stone dock.

  “I do this all the time,” Klaus said with a chuckle.

  “Somehow, I don’t quite believe you,” I teased as he began to push with one oar and then the other. “I think you should push both at the same time,” I added. Klaus grinned and glanced at me.

  “I’m glad you’re smiling. That’s a nice change.”