23. Cora
Cora
As a celebration of our successful courtship—and as a way to escape the hubbub of our unconventional announcement—the princes take me away to the castle where they grew up. Isabel accompanies us.
I‘d not thought I would be awed by the sight of a castle, having grown up in one myself, but the princes’ castle shines on a cliff overlooking the sea.
It looks like something out of a fairy tale, with shining blue water spreading out forever behind it and green fields rolling down to the road.
It is tall and white with many spires and colorful flags waving from the top of each one.
The carriage takes us up the hill to the main gates, which are thrown open. Soldiers in gleaming armor line both sides of the road. I’m stunned by the beauty here. By the sense of home.
As the squires carry in our things, the princes lead us on a tour of the castle. It has many wings.
“The east wing is where our rooms are, and where your rooms will be as well,” Jasper says.
He shows us two rooms next to each other with a connecting door.
They’re suites, in fact, and we will be able to sit out on the balconies as the sun rises in the morning, taking it in.
“I thought you would prefer the blue room, Isabel, and I had thought of the green room for you.”
“My mother loved this color green,” I say, filled with more appreciation and warmth for both princes.
Maybe it’s a sign. It seems they took their time in learning things about me—not just that I wanted to be married off to a husband who’s quite good in bed and “adventurous” as Isabel called it, but things about my life outside of them as well. “I would very much like to stay here.”
Prince Jasper smiles, nodding to himself. “We will have your things brought up, of course. Would you like to see the rest of the castle?”
We don’t tour every room, as it is simply too large to do in one afternoon, but Prince Jasper leads us through a wing containing many priceless paintings.
“Some of these were painted by my mother,” Prince Jasper says, gesturing toward a painting of two boys running in a field. “That is a painting of Casen and me when we were boys.”
“She is an excellent artist,” I say, a genuine compliment. “It almost seems as if you could start running off at any moment.”
It reminds me of how I thought of paintings during the ball, and being painted into one, trapped there in the frame.
In this painting, Jasper and Casen do not seem to be trapped at all.
And so lifelike that I do not think I would mind living in such a painting.
It seems that if I were to step inside it, the whole thing would come to life around me and be as real as any life I could live.
We linger by the paintings. Isabel asks more questions about a few of the pieces, and then we go out to a wide balcony that overlooks the sea. Some of the areas are shaded, with seating underneath, and others are set up to play outdoor games.
“This is my favorite part of the palace,” Prince Jasper announces.
“If I cannot be on the sea or riding across the grounds, then I prefer to spend time here. The sound of the sea calms my thoughts. The seating areas have also been designed to muffle the sound of the waves, so that people can converse without having to shout.” The breeze smells of fresh salty water.
“It’s so lovely in summer.” I tell them genuinely, not just for niceties.
We’re not close to the sea at my father’s castle.
We cannot even hear it, and suddenly I realize that this is a place I would love to spend more time in.
There is something quite soothing about the presence of the ocean, although I’m sure I would feel quite differently on a stormy day.
Still, there is an excitement to it, as if you could climb into a boat and go anywhere on earth.
I suppose that is true, too. With them, we could do anything. Go anywhere. This life is so unwritten and with them, I feel safe and secure.
But for the moment, while my father rules, I believe I will love being here, with the princes in the castle by the sea.
“How did your family come to rule here?” I ask Prince Jasper. We’ve been discussing the talents of his family for most of the tour, and it only makes me more curious.
“Generations ago, there was nothing but a lighthouse.” He points to what is clearly an old lighthouse down the coast. “My ancestors frequently had to station men here to alert them of invading armies, and once they had grown powerful enough, combining several smaller lands into our kingdom, they decided to build a castle here so that anyone approaching by sea would know that the land was defended. That kingdom faded but the castle and lighthouse remained. As did the respect the people had for my family who provided for them when no one else could. And so the land became ours.”
“And your family has lived here ever since?”
“We have,” he answers. “It is only in recent years that mother found it…distressing to live here. The manor she and my father have taken residence in now is farther inland and quieter. We get used to the sound of the sea, living here, but after the war, she needed less of it.”
“And…she is happy, living inland? Is it helping her?”
“I believe so,” Prince Jasper answers, a certain sadness in his eyes. “I do not know if she will ever want to return here for great portions of the year.”
“Do you wish she would?”
He hesitates. “Yes, I think I would prefer it, for us all to be together again. I think it would bring her more comfort than she knows. With you and a growing family. A wife and princess to heal this family… I think it will mend pieces of her heart as well and bring joy back to our kingdom much in need of it.”
“I hope so,” I tell him, feeling as bold as I did after the ball.
“I am hopeful to get to know your mother and father. I cannot help but wish my own mother were here to be part of the wedding ceremony, and…and see my happiness. The happiness you’ve both given me.
” I’m gentle and quieter with my last sentence and Isabel has the good sense not to let on that she heard it.
Casen peers at her first and then back at me, with a nod of his head in understanding.
“Ah,” Prince Jasper says, softer. “Do you think you would be happy after such a ceremony?”
“I do,” I tell him, grinning. “I will. Is there anything else you’d like to show us now, while we wait for our things to be brought up?” I ask, giving him a wide smile. “I’m sure there is much more to see in a castle as beautiful as this.”
“I am not sure there is anything to match your beauty,” he says, “but if you wish, Princess, I will try.”
Prince Jasper lingers over more of the art on the walls. He tells us of the master craftsman who laid down the tiles in the bathing room, then painted them to make it look as if the fish have swum up from the sea and joined us in the bath.
Isabel shudders. “Is there…a bathing area without such tiles? They are beautiful indeed, and I appreciate the craft, but—”
“There is,” Prince Jasper answers gallantly. “Just through here. There are several areas, Princess, and of course the servants can bring water to the bathing area in your private rooms. I promise you, there are no such tiles to be found there.”
“I am happy to hear it,” Isabel says, blushing.
I know this isn’t because she has suddenly developed feelings for Prince Jasper.
It is only that she has a fear of fish and swimming things.
“When I was a child, I was swimming in a pond on our lands, and something quite large brushed against my foot. I have never quite recovered from the feeling.”
I smirk at her and her smile widens. “Maybe it’s foolish but I do prefer my baths separate from the creatures of the sea.”
“I can assure you that you will not be pressured into any ponds,” Prince Jasper promises with humor. “However, you might enjoy the salt baths we offer, though of course there is no rush.”
It’s then we hear the arrival of footsteps and a young man appears.
He clears his throat, “My Lords,” he starts, donning the uniform I’ve come to expect from the palace page.
The page comes to bring a message. He delivers it in a quiet voice to both princes.
Prince Casen nods, though he is not the one who turns to speak to us.
“Your things have been delivered to your rooms and unpacked,” Prince Jasper says. “We thought you might enjoy some time to yourselves to bathe and change for an early dinner.”
“Yes,” Isabel agrees immediately. “I would like that very much.”
We meander back through the castle. Prince Jasper stops to greet many people, giving them a word of praise or some small task to do for him.
The stewards we encounter seem glad to see both princes, and Prince Jasper’s care of them does not seem to be a performance for my benefit.
It seems the two princes have formed a family here, despite the king and queen living elsewhere.
Prince Jasper shows Isabel to her room first, and Prince Casen ducks away, nodding to us as he goes. Then Prince Jasper comes to the doorway to my room, but does not step inside.
“It’s beautiful here,” I tell him. “I’m glad you invited me. I’m glad to be here.”
“I’m glad you came,” he replies, and presses a kiss to my cheek. “These rooms are here for you and Isabel for as long as you wish to stay. And I must admit, Princess…I hope it is not a short visit. I hope you make this castle your home. Whatever you need, you will have it.”