by Aya Ling
He had a point.
"Very well," Marcella relented, but she still looked worried.
"I will bring the empress back safe and sound." With Elaine's help, Andre was able to slip into the leather harness. Fortunately, the leather straps were long enough to be adjusted to his height. She had imagined that people at the Exhibition would want to try out the machine and so made it to accommodate most normal-sized people.
"I trust you will."
"We'll go before you so you can sneak up to the empress's room," Elaine said. "Let them divert all attention on us. Oh, by the way–" she thrust her dart slinger in his hands. "Take this. No, I insist! This isn't a common duel; we must do anything that can get the empress out faster."
Andre gave her an intense gaze–was that tenderness in his eyes? Then he swiftly bent his head and kissed her cheek–so brief and sudden that she wondered if she was hallucinating.
"Stay safe," he said.
There was no time to dwell on his kiss, however sweet it was--or regret she didn't turn her head so his kiss would fall on her lips instead. Forcing all thoughts except for rescuing Salome out of her mind, Elaine swallowed hard, adjusted her cap and caught up with Bran and Marcella.
They trudged on the stone steps that led out of the lower-level dungeons. Fortunately it was designed to lead directly to the ground floor; they did not have to pass through the upper-level cells where prisoners were held. When they reached the ground floor, the prison warden was snoring in his chair, several empty bottles scattered around him. The smell of alcohol reeked the air.
"Perhaps Renee brought the wine," Andre said. "To prevent suspicion from visiting the dungeons."
"No matter what, it's spared us an explanation," Marcella said.
Outside the prison, they passed through a garden. The scent of hyacinths was a welcome change to the reeking odor of the dungeons. When they came out of the dungeons, they found themselves in a garden, right behind the castle. Having visited with Valeria before, Elaine had dined at this very garden where the empress had a small tavern constructed with table and chairs. They had afternoon tea here while Valeria discussed the benefits of cane sugar and wheat sugar with the empress. Elaine herself had gone exploring in the garden, chasing butterflies and climbing trees.
How carefree she was at the time. Now, things were different. She was back, but this time she couldn't ramble in the garden as she did as a child.
"We'd better get to the castle quick," Bran said.
"Agreed," Marcella said. "I must save Mama."
"Wait," Andre said, his face turning pale. "It seems that the announcements are going to be made soon."
They followed his gaze. Beyond the garden ran a tall wrought iron fence with elaborate floral designs and limestone pillars spaced about two yards between. For Elaine, who had plenty of experience trying to sneak out of Riviera's palace, she thought the Tintagel fence was cleverer. With the brick wall, she could sling a ladder and climb over when no one was watching, but the spikes on top of the fence made things more difficult. It'd take a lot more time to clamber over a barbed fence.
But one disadvantage of the fence was that others could easily see what was happening on the castle grounds. Outside, crowds of commoners were passing, heading towards the front of the castle.
"No!" Marcella sprang up. "Renee must have scheduled the announcement for this morning. The scoundrel, wait until I get my hands on him..."
"Highness, you go and stop him," Andre said. "Leave the rest to me. I'll save Her Majesty."
"I'd better go with you," Bran said. "I don't have much experience yet, but I have qualified for doctor's training at the University. If you can bring the empress out, I'll have a look at her while you go for the doctor."
Marcella took a deep breath. She looked up at the tower--tall, impregnable, forbidding. "Get her out."
Andre pressed on the button. There was a humming sound; he jogged for a short distance, and then he took off, rising higher and higher in the air.
They watched, holding their breaths, until he reached the west tower. He landed on the balcony, turned slightly to give them a thumbs up and disappeared from sight.
"Good," Marcella breathed. "Let's go."
The two princesses sped towards the front of the castle. Elaine remembered that the gardens surrounded the castle on three sides, except for the front, where there was a large courtyard ending with the entrance gates. Soon they found themselves nearing the courtyard, which was filled with people, all of them excited and noisy. Many young women had pinned a rose or two in their hair, or wore wide-brim bonnets trimmed with silken flowers. Even a few men had a nosegay tucked in the button holes of their waistcoats. A row of windows ran down the front of the castle building, and the very top window had a wide balcony with wreaths of roses decorating the railings
By this time, the bishop had come out, dressed in white robes, accompanied by Renee and a few servants who carried large baskets overflowing with flowers.
The bishop held up his hands and gradually, the crowd grew silent.
"Good morning, my people. I trust you are all looking forward to the celebrations of our annual festival. Unfortunately, our beloved empress cannot join us today. Let us offer a prayer for her recovery."
As the people bowed their heads in collective silence, Elaine looked around. The balcony was too high--too bad she didn't have another flying machine--but there was a pillar with a statue standing on it just where the garden met the courtyard.
"Marcella," she whispered. "Can you get their attention if you get up there?"
The Tintagel princess glanced at the pillar. "I shall try."
"My people." The bishop resumed his speech. "Although we regret the empress's absence, let us be consoled that she has chosen her successor, so that she could be relieved of her onerous duties."
Renee stepped forward. He wore robes of royal blue; a crown glittered on top of his head. As if he was already crowned king.
"According to the will, made just three days ago, His Highness Renee has been named as the heir to the throne. Let him lead us towards prosperity!"
"No!"
Marcella had leaped on the pillar. Gasps ran through the crowd. Elaine stood on tip toe and was rewarded with a thunderstruck look on Renee's face.
"Renee is lying." Marcella's voice, clear and commanding, carried through the wave of whispers and gasps. "My mother decreed that it is Felipe who should be emperor."
More gasps.
"You offer no proof," Renee said. He had regained his composure and strode to the balustrade. "Aunt Salome signed in her will that I am to be the heir. Our bishop is the witness. What do you know about her decision, when you have spent most of your time abroad?"
He was trying to alienate Marcella, Elaine thought. He was trying to paint her as a princess no longer concerned with the country.
"She signed under dubious circumstances," Marcella said, drawing herself to her full height. "Because you have drugged her, she no longer thinks with a clear head."
An uproar went up in the crowds.
"Drugged, did she say?"
"How could that happen?"
"Hogwash!"
A brief, murderous look flashed through Renee's eyes. A second later, he smiled. The kind of smile that didn't reach one's eyes. "My dear cousin, I understand that we have seldom seen things from the same perspective. However, is it truly necessary to be so blindsided into making a ludicrous accusation at me?"
"I am not accusing you, I am stating a truth. A truth that you admitted to me in the dungeons where you tried to lock me up."
Renee laughed. "The dungeons? Pray tell me why you chose to appear in the dungeons instead of coming to the castle? Doesn't it make more sense for you to seek me directly?"
"Because..." Marcella swallowed. "Because I..."
"I urge you, dear cousin, to put aside our private disputes and instead focus on the future. Aunt Salome has made her decision. I would highly appreciate if you and Felipe would j
oin me in working towards making Tintagel the great country it once was."
Some people began to cheer and clap. Sounds of "Well said!" "Hail the new emperor!" "Emperor Renee!" could be heard.
Elaine bit her bottom lip. She couldn't believe that Renee had swayed the public opinion in his direction. Though she had to admit he was pretty persuasive. If he hadn't admitted his crimes in the dungeons, she would have at least be suspicious of Marcella's accusation as well.
"She's right," a voice said.
A blur of black flashed through the air. Andre, still using the machine, flew over the crowds and landed on the balcony.
Renee and the bishop stood dumbstruck. The courtyard was completely quiet. Even the inventor herself stared wide-eyed.
"Empress Salome was drugged," Andre said. His voice, usually gentle and polite when speaking to Elaine, was now icy stern. It echoed over the still-quiet crowds of Tintagel people, every one of them staring at him as though he had three heads. "A poison was slipped into her daily coffee for a month. She can barely recognize others now."
"Who are you?" someone shouted.
"How can we believe what you're saying?"
"My name is Andre. Empress Salome is my benefactor; because of her sponsorship, I was able to graduate from Riviera's Royal Academy of Fighting Arts as the tournament champion."
A murmur ran through the Tintagel people. The Academy was generally acknowledged as the best training school for warriors, and the champion was considered an extremely rare honor, a giant among giants.
"When I entered the empress's room, I caught a servant maid emptying a vial into the empress's coffee cup."
"Over here!" someone shouted. Elaine spun around; Bran was pushing a slender young woman forward. Marcella's face became grim. "Selene. To think you betrayed Mama, who took you in when you were penniless."
"That is Prince Bran, who is now a practicing doctor in Riviera," Andre continued. "He has taken the substance the maid used and will analyze it. Then we shall know what kind of stuff the empress has been taking."
"What do you say, Renee?" Marcella called. "Do you object that we find out what Selene was carrying?"
Renee's right hand was resting on the railings–his knuckles had turned white. He glared at Selene, who kept her gaze on the ground. Elaine wondered how Andre rescued the empress, evaded Renee's guards and caught Selene, but then Andre was an Academy champion. Plus, he had the element of surprise–she would have given a fortune to see Selene's face when Andre swooped in through the window.
"Where is the empress?" he finally said.
"Safe," Andre said. "We have sent for a new doctor to see to her conditions. When she makes a full recovery, we'll see who she appoints as her successor."
"Do you agree?" Marcella said, fixing Renee with a pinning glare. "Should not the decision be made when she is well and healthy?"
Renee was silent for a moment, the muscles on his throat moving. Then he forced a tight-lipped smile. "Fine," he said. "It is not an unreasonable request. I will await Aunt Salome's recovery."
He turned and strode into the rear end of the balcony, disappearing into the castle. Andre exchanged a glance with Marcella and also retreated into the building, leaving the bishop alone in the front.
Below, unrest reigned among the Tintagel people. Some were still speechless with shock, others debated who was lying, and still more were questioning how Andre flew into the balcony.
The bishop cleared his throat. "Ahem. In the case of the...the event that just occurred, we shall postpone the question of the next heir until the empress recovers. Meanwhile, let us now restart the festival." He waved his hand, and two servants bearing the flower baskets came forward. "Let the blessings be cast on the people! May the gods above bless our land and guide us towards a brighter future!"
And he reached into the baskets and began to toss handfuls of roses and lilies into the air--the flowers floated gently down on the masses. At first, the people, still stunned from what had just happened, barely responded. It was only when a curly-haired little boy, sitting on his father's shoulders, caught a handful of lavender in his chubby hands and gurgled with laughter, that the Tintagel people slowly returned to festive spirits. A young men leaped up, caught a long-stemmed rose and gave it to a pretty milkmaid near him. She pinned the rose in her hair and gave him a sound kiss on the cheek.
As the Tintagel people amused themselves in the shower of flowers, Elaine sank to the ground, weary but thankful, just like after a huge exam she had stayed up studying for. After so much excitement for the past few days, she wanted nothing except to crawl into bed and sleep for three days.
"Well." Bran squatted down beside her. "It's over. I can't believe that we have thwarted Renee."
"Not over yet," Marcella said grimly. She had jumped down from the pillar and came over to them. "But it is a start." She leaned down and took Elaine's hands. "Thank you, Elaine Leventhorpe. If it weren't for you and your inventions, Renee would have been named the emperor today."
Elaine returned a weary smile. "I'm glad I came."
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
About an hour later, Elaine and Bran waited at the Arch, a large curved structure erected in the center of Bayeux. It was a well-known landmark. They would meet up with Howard, a half-giant, who would accompany them to Linderall. With Howard as an escort, even Ralph should be satisfied.
"The Exhibition should be over by now," Bran said. "We already had a late start and dallied in Tintagel. We might even meet Old Hugo on his way back."
Elaine shrugged. "Doesn't matter."
"Did you just say--"
"It's all right, Bran." Elaine looked up at the sky, which was a brilliant blue. They really had better weather here in Tintagel. "Well, there's a teensy bit of me that's disappointed, but I've got something even better. That face Renee had when Andre flew on the balcony? Priceless. And my flying machine has hundreds of witnesses in Tintagel already. You can't ask for a better debut than that! Honestly, Salome should have a statue of me made, along with all the others they have in the garden."
Bran snorted and let his shoulders droop. "Always so modest, aren't you?"
Footsteps approached behind them. Elaine turned around.
"Howard, you've finally–" she broke off. Andre stood there, his gaze fixed on her. He looked like he wanted to speak, but was not sure how to begin.
"Is everything all right?" Elaine said anxiously. "The empress is safe now, isn't she? Renee hasn't caused any further trouble?"
"Everything is fine," Andre said, stepping closer. "Marcella is with the empress. An express letter is dispatched to Felipe. You have saved Tintagel's future; we will be forever grateful for your timely help."
Elaine wanted to tell him there was no need to be so formal, but then a better idea hatched.
"If you really want to express gratitude, there's something you can do for me."
"Anything."
"Are you certain? She has her 'look' on," Bran put in.
Elaine made a face. "Go away, Bran." Honestly, if she could invent an invisibility cloak, she would have thrown it around her and Andre.
Andre smiled. "It's all right. I am always glad to serve the princess."
Bran shrugged and turned his back at them, directing his attention towards a group of street performers. One man was balanced on a unicycle with a bouquet of roses in both hands and a single red rose clenched between his teeth.
"Well," Elaine began. "Ever since Ralph's coronation, I have this problem. A terrible, horrible, annoying problem."
Andre waited.
"The problem--er--is that there have been too many men attempting to court me and I don't like it," she said in a rush. Heat flooded her face, her cheeks grew warm and her palms started to moisten.
He looked down; she couldn't discern his expression.
"So, um, what I mean is, I need you."
"Princess?"
"Oh, for heaven's sake." Elaine took a deep breath. "Don't you see the solution?
If you're courting me, then those men would leave me alone."
He stiffened. Suddenly, she was seized with fear. Andre never seemed to mind when she had crazy notions, but maybe this time she was carrying things too far.
"I...I'm sorry. I thought maybe if I made it clear that I care for you, at least there's a chance we can be more than friends. But if you don't think it's possible, that's fine. Well, no, I'd be devastated of course, but I don't want to force you to--"
He bent down and kissed her.
Elaine stared at him, dumbfounded and touched her lips. Did he just kiss her in broad daylight when there were people everywhere? She was still wearing her cap and breeches!
"Did you, um, did you mean--"
"Yes." His hand caressed her cheek tenderly, as though he was touching a rose petal. "Believe it or not, I have always dreamed of this, but never believed would come true."
"Why not?" If only he had told her earlier, she wouldn't have gone through so much self-doubt and frustration! "Oh no, don't tell me it's because I'm the princess and you're only a commoner. You're the champion. And even if you weren't, I don't care."
"Elaine!" Bran called.
A man nearly seven feet high was heading towards them. Howard the Giant had arrived.
Elaine sighed. The magical moment between them was over. But she'd make sure there would be a second time, and a third and many more...
Standing on tip toe, she kissed him and smiled. "Promise to fend off anyone who tries to court me? Because now we are together?"
His eyes glinted. "I promise."
THE END
Afterword
This is the third and last book of the Princess series *sobs* Thanks for journeying with me to the very end. I still have many ideas scribbled down in my notebook, though, so do join me for future books! My focus will be on fairy tale retellings and continuing my Chinese historical fantasy series. The next book will be a Cinderella retelling featuring the ugly stepsister as the protagonist. Here's the description:
To-do list:
*Persuade the prince give the ball
