“I do not think it good,” the queen retorted.
Adelaide glanced at Georg. “I only gave Prince Georg my opinion.” She hoped the prince might clarify, but when he didn’t, she continued. “He asked what I thought of your new decorations, and I—”
“Newdecorations?” King Max stared at his wife. “What’s this?”
“I’m sure I told you,” she said smoothly. “The old decorations looked so tattered and worn. Not befitting a palace. I ordered new ones months ago.”
King Max frowned, then turned to Adelaide. “So, tell me, mein lieber, what did you think of the queen’snewdecorations?”
Adelaide considered her words before speaking. “Well, they’re quite grand. Very regal. But I’m not a fancy person. I prefer gingerbread figures to jeweled, golden harps.”
To Adelaide’s relief, Georg jumped in, explaining how the palace staff had complained about the overly fancy decorations. “So, we put up the tree just like it’s always been.” He reached for his phone and started pulling up photos to show the king. “See, this is a picture of Mother’s new decorations. Very glamorous, indeed.” He swiped his finger across the screen. “And here is the tree with the old decorations.”
“I agree with Adelaide,” King Max declared. “All that gold and glitz is pretentious. I prefer our traditional decorations. Reminds me of my boyhood. Old-fashioned and friendly.”
The queen set down her water goblet with a thud. “But this is a palace, Max. We live in modern times. The decor should reflect that kind of sophistication.”
King Max let out a weary sigh but said nothing. Meanwhile, the queen scowled.
“Your decorations are very elegant, Mother.” Georg sounded apologetic.
“Oh, yes,” Adelaide jumped in. “Very sophisticated.”
King Max frowned but remained quiet. Perhaps too tired to engage.
“It’s not my place to question,” Adelaide began carefully, “but is the main hall tree meant to be for the enjoyment of the royal family or for the citizens of Montovia?”
King Max answered slowly, “Historically, and not so long ago, the main hall decorations were for villagers. The king would send the invitation to all, welcoming them to the palace for the start of Advent. And then sometimes again for a Saint Nicholas Day celebration. There would be music and fun. Villagers would be served gingerbread and Vanillekipferl cookies and mulled wine. Happy times.” With a faraway look in his eyes, he sighed. “I suppose I am old-fashioned, but I remember those times with happiness.”
“Maybe it’s better to keep the traditional decorations down there in the main hall,” Adelaide suggested, “and reserve the fancy golden ones for the spaces occupied by the royal family up here. The royal quarters could be elegantly decorated.”
“I agree with the first part of your recommendation,” King Max told her. “But must I tolerate pretentious bejeweled ornaments in my own living space when I, like you, would prefer gingerbread and candy canes?”
Queen Johanna’s silence was frosty. Her eyes were like fiery arrows, aimed directly at Adelaide. And yet Adelaide was still not willing to back down. For her father’s sake, she would speak up.
“You are the king, are you not?” she challenged him. “If you don’t want fancy decorations in your palace or personal home, you should not be subjected to them.”
King Max actually chuckled. “Spoken like a true princess.”
“I suppose you would like me to throw all my decorations in the rubbish?” The queen crossed her arms.
“Or give them to the poor. Although perhaps the poor would not like them either.” King Max grinned at Adelaide. “What do you think?”
Adelaide, not eager to stir up more controversy, decided toswitch topics. “I just remembered the beautiful nativity set I spied in the holiday storage room. It appears hand-carved and rather old. I’m curious as to the story behind it.” She rested her hand on the king’s. “Father, why don’t you care to use it during Christmas?”
“Oh, ja, the Weihnachtskrippe.” He rubbed a wrinkled hand over his chin. “I have not seen it in years. Is it still down there?”
“Well, I only saw the shepherd piece, but there were certainly a lot of boxes down there. All marked ‘Weihnachtskrippe.’”
“My great-grandmother commissioned a very talented wood carver to make that set about a hundred years ago. My mother told me about it when I was a boy. It took the old wood-carver three years to complete it, and he was so old when he started, they did not know if he’d live to finish it. I always loved those pieces. Each one is a true work of art. I used to help my mother set up the Weihnachtskrippe in the main hall. Always to the left of the staircase, opposite the big tree. We’d place real straw in the stable and manger. With good lighting, it was quite magnificent and rather realistic. The children always loved it.”
“It sounds delightful.” Adelaide smiled.
The king turned to his wife. “Why has the Weihnachtskrippe not been used?” But before she could answer, he turned back to Adelaide. “I assign that task to you, mein lieber. Will you arrange the Weihnachtskrippe for me?”
“I would be honored, Father.”
“Christmas is about the babe in the manger,” he said solemnly. “We need not forget that. Can you do it tomorrow, Adelaide? For the start of Advent?”
