EPILOGUE
Katy
L
ife with a newborn was exhausting. Queen Carina had offered to procure a nursemaid so Katy and Axel could sleep through the night, but Katy refused: princess or not, she was still a simple girl from Flussendorf.
She was willing to accept help during the day, though. Liesl regularly stole Amadeus away to play at Otto’s new manor with Greta and Greta’s little sister, Lisbeth.
Otto’s manor. Katy chuckled as she strode down the hall. She was never going to get over that.
Of course, with his manor came more changes.
A Gr?fin couldn’t be a lady’s maid, so Britta didn’t return to the position as planned.
Instead, Liesl agreed to keep it. Despite her love for her sheep, she had found a place in the castle.
Between Amadeus, Otto’s family, and Helena, she had plenty of reasons to stay in the capital.
Tobias might be another, but Liesl wouldn’t admit it.
Katy had briefly considered bringing the rest of her family to join them. Once Adele married in a few months, Mother would have no one but Father or a paid nurse at home. But putting Father in the capital seemed like a bad idea. Even if he wasn’t in the castle.
Boosting Amadeus a little higher on her shoulder, Katy nodded to Bertram and turned the knob on the study door. She nudged it open with her shoulder and peered inside.
They had experienced many changes since their son was born, but the most surprising one was Axel.
As Katy had come to expect over the last few weeks, her husband wasn’t staring out a window. Instead, he was sitting at his desk, bent over the piece of paper on which he was inscribing a letter.
He would never be as focused as Michael, but he hadn’t needed much prodding lately. Even though it pleased her to see him grow into his role, it made her a little sad to watch some of the dreaminess fade.
She kept her steps light as she crossed the study, smiling when he didn’t look up. Then, just as she was easing around the desk, Amadeus squirmed and made one of his squeaky baby noises.
Axel raised his head with a smile, a twinkle in his brown eyes. “I knew you were there. ’Tis the skill of an actor to pretend abstraction when appropriate.”
“Then why did you look up when you did?” she challenged. “If you were pretending not to notice?”
“Because Amadeus called to me,” he replied, reaching for their son. “Is it time for a break?”
“Yes, it is,” she acknowledged, laughing as she handed the child over.
Axel wrapped the little boy in his arms, then puffed out his cheeks and wiggled the fingers of one hand in front of his face.
Amadeus ate it up, opening his eyes wide and showing off his little pink gums as he tried to catch the fingers.
Sitting down on the edge of his desk, Katy watched them with a smile of her own teasing the corners of her lips. “Speaking of actors, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
Axel lifted an eyebrow, turning his eyes to her while still facing Amadeus.
“You’ve been remarkably dedicated to your work the last few weeks,” she began, gauging his reaction. “And even though your father gave you permission to keep your role until the show closes, you’ve only been in one performance since opening night. Why?”
His smile dimmed as he refocused on the baby he was playing with.
For several moments, he was silent. When he spoke, his voice was quiet.
“I thought I was never going to sing again.” He paused, lifting his eyes to the books on the far wall.
“I love to sing. For most of my life, it’s been all I ever wanted to do. ”
Katy rested a hand on his knee, but she stayed silent, letting him work through his thoughts.
He took a deep breath. “The experience forced me to reassess my priorities. I was prepared to give up singing forever to protect you; at that point, I would have had boundless time to apply to my duties.” He shrugged.
“Father has agreed that I may guest perform in productions at the theater, which is more than I expected in the prop room. But I decided if I was willing to attempt the role of ‘focused prince’ without a voice, I could do the same with one.”
“You’re good at that role,” Katy said softly. “No matter what anyone tries to tell you.”
He gave her a lopsided smile. “Thanks. It may not last, but I know Father appreciates it while it does.”
Turning back to Amadeus, Axel wiggled his fingers some more. The little boy waved his arms, giggling with glee, but Axel’s smile stayed crooked.
“Sing for me,” Katy said suddenly.
“Right now?” Axel’s eyebrows shot up, but his smile evened out a little.
“Why not?” Grinning at him, she said, “It wouldn’t be the first time you’ve sung in here. And Amadeus likes it, too.”
“Hmm. And what should I sing, my love?”
She leaned back on her hands, searching his face while she considered. “I think you should choose. Surprise me.”
“My choice?” A soft twinkle filled his eyes as his smile finally settled into the full one she loved. Reaching a hand toward her, he wrapped a finger in her curls. “Anything for you, Katy,” he murmured.
“The night is almost over,
The day will soon appear.
Hold fast, our foe cannot touch you
As long as I am here.
Stay with me forever…”
Katy moved from his desk to his lap, wrapping an arm around his shoulders so he could hold both her and Amadeus. When Astrid’s part arrived, Katy joined in, mixing her voice with his in the same blend as when she had accepted his proposal almost six years earlier.
When they reached the end, she rested her forehead against his temple, meeting his eyes as they sang the final lines together.
“Where’er you go
Is where my heart shall call home;
Tell me not to leave you anymore.
At your side is right where I belong.”
It had taken longer than expected, and she’d spent five years fearing she would lose it once her secret was out. But she was here next to Axel and their son.
And she was finally home.