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The truth was, the Prince didn't want to be married. He liked his life just fine as it was, and saw no reason to change it any sooner than he had to.
Oh, he understood about duty, and succession, and all of that, but he still had no desire to change his life just yet.
He would do his duty.
He would.
Just... later.
So he invented all these reasons why the perfectly acceptable, if not desirable, young ladies were not, in fact, acceptable.
Were not, in fact, 'real' princesses, whatever that meant.
And saw them sent home, one by one, even if, one by one, more came.
This state of affairs would likely have continued for years, were it not for a conveniently-timed storm and the daring of a young woman with a Dream of her life being different.
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It was pouring, not cats and dogs, thankfully, but certainly buckets and pails. The sky had opened up and seemingly decided to pour down all the water it contained during the course of one storm.
So, the Prince would have likely said 'yes' to letting the poor bedraggled young woman inside anyway, even if she hadn't also declared herself a princess come to the palace to present herself as a candidate for the prince's affections.
As she stood there, dripping in the entryway, it could be seen she was not a classical beauty. Her face, as she stood there before him, was plain, but filled with a light and a life that made the Prince immediately desire to know more about her.
And since she had declared herself to be a Princess, he ordered the guards to let her in with a certain level of eagerness and enthusiasm that he would not have shown for anyone else.
"Tell me," the Prince asked, in a voice softer than the guards had ever heard from him, "Tell me all about yourself. I want to know everything."
A brief look of impatience crossed her face before she replied, "And you shall, but first I would like some tea and some clean, dry clothes."
The Prince slapped a hand to his forehead. "Of course! How thoughtless and unforgivable of me! Will you ever be able to forgive me?" he pleaded.
At her stare, coupled with a small cough, the Prince recalled himself immediately. "It shall be done at once."
Then, when the guards hesitated, he repeated, "At once!"
This seemed to break the spell that had seemingly held them immobile, enchanted by the sight of the Prince and the Princess so strangely come to court him, and the guards scattered to do his bidding, calling for servants to see to getting a room set up for the Princess and hot tea for two in the Prince's study.
It was all quickly arranged, and soon they were both clean and dry and sipping tea in the Prince's suite.
"Are you not concerned about your reputation, being in my rooms like this, with no chaperone to ensure propriety?"
She looked at him calmly, her green eyes showing no fear, only a quiet confusion. "Why would I be? If all goes well, I shall be certainly doing more than drink tea with you."
"But what if it does not?" the Prince asked gently, already quite intrigued by her calm, practical manner, so unlike the other young women he'd been presented with.
A look of sadness passed over her face, before she replied softly, "If it does not, it will scarcely matter."
"Why?" the Prince asked, torn by the weight of the despair he heard underneath her words.
"Because there are no other chances for me."
"Why not?" the Prince challenged. "You are beautiful, witty, unafraid... surely, there will be others who would see those qualities and value you for them."
She shook her head sadly. "I am afraid not, my Prince."
Her words both saddened and thrilled him. Her genuine despair tore at his heart while her calling him her Prince did something quite different to that organ.
"Why?"
“I am sorry to refuse you anything, my Prince, but I would rather not say.”
And with that she turned determinedly back to her tea, and not another word could he get out of her on the subject.
But they had many words on other subjects, and by the time they parted company before the door to her room, he fancied himself half in love with her already.
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Over the next few days, as they spent more time together, as they shared more tea, more time, more words, as he showed her around the castle and the grounds, he became more and more convinced that she was the Princess for him.
He loved spending time with her, enjoyed speaking with her, showing her around the palace, debating with her, asking and answering questions.
Where before, he’d always felt doubt about the young ladies he’d had paraded in front of him, this time, he had none.
He was glad he’d said ‘no’ to them, because it meant that he could say ‘yes’ to her. All the tests he’d felt necessary to put the other princesses through felt like the most useless of things when put in relation to her.
Every day he fell in love with her a little more in every way.
He no longer felt trapped by the duties and necessities of his position. Rather, he felt eager to begin his new life with her.
One day, he told her so.
Her answer left him in surprise and shock.
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“What do you mean, you can’t?!?!” the Prince asked in stunned sorrow. “You’re perfect!” At her look, he stopped, stammering an apology. “I’m sorry, I didn’t… I don’t… you’re more than just a way to fulfill my obligations….”
“I know,” the princess responded softly. “That’s not why I’m saying ‘no’.”
“Then WHY???? We seem to be perfect for each other!!!!”
The Princess reached over, took the Prince’s hands in hers. “I know. I know we seem to be perfect. But that’s just it – we’re really not.”
“How?” his voice grew calm, concerned.
Tears began to gather in the princess’ eyes. “Because I’m not a princess.”
“What?” the Prince asked, stunned once more by her words.
The Princess raised her head. “It’s true. I’m not a princess.”
“Then what… who… are you?”
“My name is Yleva Nogro.” Her voice was steady. “I come from a village a few hours away. There was nothing for me there – my parents had died, and there was no one I wished to take me in – as servant or as lover. So I came here. And I heard that you were looking for a wife, but that you liked none of the women who’d been paraded before you.”
“So I decided to come and see if I would satisfy.”
“But you do!” the Prince insisted.
“I know,” she admitted. “You satisfy me as well.”
“Then why…?”
“Because I found that I did not wish to marry you based on a lie. I like you a great deal and think that I could very easily learn to love you.” Her thumbs caressed the backs of his hands. “I would not have that love turn to hate, when you discovered how I’d deceived you.”
The Prince sat back in his chair, reclaiming his hands. “I see.”
“Do you?” The Princess leaned forward, closing the distance between them once more. “Do you understand why I did what I did?”
“I… think so. I understand wanting to be something that’s not possible, certainly.”
“I will submit to whatever punishment you deem appropriate, your Highness,” she said quietly.
“Will you?”
“Yes.”
The Prince thought a moment, before his face cleared and he looked happily at her. “Then… I deem your punishment to be… to marry me, as we’d discussed.”
“Are you certain? Marriage to you is scarcely a punishment.”
“Yes. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.” His voice was quiet, passion threaded through it, behind it, making it strong and sure.
“Why?” A look of perplexity crossed her features. “I lied to you, deceived you about who I was.”
“But you didn’t lie to me about the most important things. That you like me for me. That you are looking to make the world a better place. That we get along well.” This time it was the Prince who reached across the table, took the Princess’ hands in his, giving them each a kiss. “Please. Marry me. Help me make my life bearable. My kingdom beautiful.”
The Princess looked at him, studied him, for long moments before at last giving a short nod. “Very well. I will marry you.” She took a deep breath. “But what about your mother, the Queen? I have heard that she means to put me through all sorts of tests. To verify that I am a ‘true princess’. She’ll find out that I am not and then….”
“Then let’s get married first. She will not want the scandal of a divorce.”
Another long moment of assessment, of the verification of truth, before a large smile lit up her face. “Yes! Let’s get married with all haste.”
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His mother did not like that either, of course, but quickly resigned herself to the reality when she realized that her son was safely married off and she could now begin to expect grandchildren.
Her idea for the marriage bed was also loudly vetoed – a large stack of mattresses and feather-beds, under which, she said, she’d hidden a pea. A pea that would assure the public that yes, their new princess WAS, in fact, a true princess.
The Prince just laughed and said that they’d be sleeping in his own rooms that night, thank you. He’d already found the most perfect princess to share his life with and needed no other proof than that.
And that’s how this part of the story ends. The rest of their lives? Well, it is a mix of sun and sorrow, as lives always are, but more of the sun, I’m happy to say, than the sorrow.
Truly, one can wish for no happier ending than that.
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