Chapter 19 #3
Rosie had expected the fairy godmother to say many things. That, however, had not been one of them.
“Actually,” Jonathan said, turning his gaze again to Rosie. “The truth is that… that I had planned to abdicate.”
The crowd gasped, and the troll giggled, clapping her hands with glee.
“Why?” his father demanded, sitting up straight and nearly dumping the queen from where she had been resting against him.
At this question, Jonathan’s face hardened.
“To save the kingdom from an unfit queen.” Then he shook his head.
“I’m sorry, Father, but I’ve seen too much of Miss Marianne to entrust the kingdom’s resources to her.
” He looked down at Frederick, who was holding Snow protectively in his arms. “I’d rather my brother and his kind wife take the kingdom in my stead.
They would both be fair and just to our people. ”
Rosie felt as though the room might flip upside down at any moment. Anything could happen at this rate.
“I told you nothing good would come of that match,” the fairy godmother dryly murmured to the king and queen.
The queen began to cry, but the king studied his son for a long moment before nodding slowly.
“I… I didn’t understand,” he finally said.
“But it appears I was mistaken.” He looked at Rosie with an apologetic smile.
“Very mistaken.” Then he turned and addressed the court, much as he had done the night he’d announced the betrothal.
“My son has always been of sound mind and judgment. So if this is what he really wants,” he turned back to Jonathan, “then by all means. Seize it with both hands.”
Jonathan broke into a brilliant smile. “It is.”
The king turned to Rosie. “And… it’s what you want as well, my dear?”
Rosie could tell that the king was nervous, and she couldn’t help but feel a hint of pity for him. He had chosen foolishly before in attempting to force Jonathan into a terrible match. But Rosie had great respect for a man who could admit his mistakes.
The queen, who was still sniveling, would take more time. But Rosie would think about that later.
“I had hoped…” Rosie paused, unable to stop her own smile. “Prince Jonathan is all I ever hoped for and more. That is, if he doesn’t mind marrying a country girl who grew up without a tutor and ran about without shoes–”
Before she could finish, Jonathan took three strides, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her with a passion she hadn’t imagined him capable of.
By the time he finally let go, Rosie’s head was spinning, and she had to work to focus on the fairy godmother, who nodded once and said, “Well, it’s about time.
” Then, raising her wand, she sent a whirling beam of magic toward Rosie.
The sparkling brilliance of the magic was similar to the troll’s, but instead of turning Rosie into a pig, it elegantly encircled her before engulfing her completely.
When the magic faded away, Rosie’s beautiful dress, which had been simple in its style, had grown and lengthened into what was no less than a wedding gown.
The single layers of pink that swirled on each side were far more prominent, set off by the sparkling cream layers of silk and lace and thick underskirts beneath.
Raspberry-red jewels adorned her neck, and she reached up to find more dangling from her ears.
A jeweled tiara now crowned her head, and her feet wore the most delicate of slippers she’d ever felt.
“Where’s the clergyman–” the troll began to mutter, but just then, the clergyman appeared, beaming, at her side.
“I was hoping you would call for me,” he said with a smile.
And there, before a partially-eaten wedding cake in the dining hall, Rosie and Jonathan were married.
There was no pomp or splendor like that of Snow’s ceremony, but Rosie didn’t care.
She didn’t even really want all that. All she knew was that she had been granted the object of her heart’s desire that, until a few weeks ago, she hadn’t even known she possessed.
And when Jonathan leaned down to kiss her again, pulling her gently but firmly toward him, his large hands on her waist, she knew she couldn’t have asked for anything more.
“I rather like this rewarding nonsense better than I thought,” the troll said with a self-satisfied smirk when they were finished.
She had somehow gained control of Marianne, who was now tucked firmly beneath one of her arms. “And I fully expect to be godmother to your firstborn,” she added rather severely, pinning each of them with narrowed eyes.
“I think I rather like both of you after all.” Then, in her now familiar shower of sparks and lightning, she disappeared.
“The child will have two godmothers,” the fairy said wryly as soon as the troll had gone.
Then she let out a sudden chuckle. “That said, I think the child will have a most… devoted benefactor in Cordalina.” She laughed again.
“I wish you both well. Things turned out far better than even I had hoped. Now. Where is that cake? That forest creature better not have touched my piece.”