Epilogue
“T he end,” Hilde said, smiling broadly.
Marigold gave a wistful sigh as she burrowed deeper under the blankets. “Did they live happily ever after?”
She smiled, thinking of Ella and Nicholas and how happy she was to live inside the grand castle. “They did.”
“Did they get married in the castle?” she asked around a yawn.
It was a Christmas wedding, naturally, with the castle hall decked in boughs of holly from top to bottom. Noella spared no expense. Ella’s gown was the most beautiful white gown with a long cathedral length train that sparkled with shimmering crystals embroidered along it. The bodice was covered in a delicate lace. She wore an elaborate tiara attached to a veil that was the same length as her gown. Her bouquet was made up of winter flowers that included red and white roses, holly berries, snowdrops, and greenery. The entire village of Rovenheim turned out for the festive affair. Nicholas wore a white suit with long tails, shiny black boots, and a sprig of holly in his lapel like the night they met at the Christmas ball.
This was all too much to tell her niece, so she simply said, “They certainly did.” Hilde rose and tucked the blankets around her. “Now, it’s time to sleep so Santa can come.”
“But I’m not sleepy.” And despite her protest, she yawned.
“You are. Goodnight, sweet girl.” Hilde kissed her forehead. “May sugar plums dance in your head.”
“Night-night, auntie.”
Hilde turned for the door. As her hand wrapped around the knob, Marigold had one more question.
“Auntie, was Nicholas’s father Santa Claus?”
Smiling, she turned back to her niece. “Some call him that. But in Rovenheim, they call him Father Christmas.”
That seemed to satisfy the girl. She smiled, closed her eyes, and rolled to her side. Hilde turned off her light and exited the room, closing the door softly behind her.
The seed had been planted. Now, she was excited to watch it grow.