Freddy wrinkled his nose. “She doesn’t like me, either. She just sniffs and looks away whenever I try to say hello.” Now that both of his shoes were tied, he drew his knees to his chest and rested his chin on them with a sulky pout. “Her face is like a rainy cloud.”
Clarice clasped her hands together again, humming thoughtfully. “Perhaps what she needs is a little sunshine.”
“Like in the garden?”
“The garden might be a good option, but I was thinking of you, my little sunshine.” Clarice smiled at him and stroked his cheek with her thumb. “I think that kind smile of yours might be just what Princess Eliza needs.”
“But she never smiles back at me.”
“Perhaps she doesn’t know how yet.” His mother’s hand dropped from his face to his arm, and she gently pulled him onto her lap. Freddy snuggled into her embrace as she wrapped her arms around him and touched her cheek to the top of his head.
Freddy’s chin pulled into his chest in disbelief and his brows drew together. “How can you not know how to smile?”
“The same way someone might not know how to jump or skip or sing. If no one ever showed you how to do those things, you would never learn.”
He was thoughtful for a moment, his young mind turning over and considering his mother’s words. “I don’t think King Alfred would show her how to smile. Or Queen Donella.”
Clarice hummed. “There’s no way to know for sure. But you can make sure that she sees a smile from you. Who knows? Maybe your sunshine will find a way to break through her rainy clouds. It could be that she is hiding rainbows underneath, but you’ll never see them without a little bit of love and kindness.”
“But what if I smile and she doesn’t look at me?”
“Then smile with your actions. Tell her hello when you pass in the hallway. If she’s in the same room, try to include her in your games. Ask her about her interests and see if you can accommodate them.”
“What’s accommonate mean?” He turned and looked up at his mother with inquisitive eyes.
She smiled warmly. “Accommodate. It means to do your best to get her what she wants or needs.”
He nodded. “Alright. I’ll try to be sunshine.”
Clarice kissed the top of his head. “I know you’ll succeed. There’s no one in this castle more sunshine-y than you. Now come along.” She pushed him up and rose, taking him by the hand. “It’s time to go meet our guests.”
He followed dutifully, standing quietly in the receiving line as the royal family of Nedra arrived with their usual pomp and circumstance. King Alfred ignored him completely, and Queen Donella gave him an awkward smile and pat on the head as she passed. Princess Eliza trailed behind both her parents, seemingly forgotten.
She was Freddy’s own age, he knew, though she was nearly an inch shorter. Her icy blonde hair had been curled into wide ringlets that bounced off her back as she walked, and her pale blue dress was far fancier than anything that Freddy would have deemed comfortable. She kept her striking blue eyes on the ground in front of her and her mouth pressed into a tight line.
Freddy studied her, contemplating his mother’s advice.
She looks sad,he realized with sudden clarity,not angry. I don’t want her to be sad.
He tried to clear his throat as he had heard his father do when attempting to get someone’s attention. The sound came out more like a cough.
Princess Eliza’s head whipped around suddenly, and she looked at him with wide eyes. “Are you alright?”
“Of course, Princess Eliza. I was just wondering…” He panicked, suddenly completely at a loss for words. “I was just wondering, do you…do you like sunshine?”
Eliza’s face twisted with confusion. “Do I like sunshine?”
Freddy could feel his cheeks heating with embarrassment. He wished he could run and hide behind his mother’s wide skirts, but he pressed on. “Yes. We have a lot of sunshine in the garden. And ducks. Baby ducks.”
The princess’s face cleared, and her eyes lit up with excitement. “I love ducks. And I do like sunshine.”
Her reactions drew his shoulders back, and Freddy stood up a little taller. He beamed. “I can show you.” He glanced over to his mother, who nodded with a wink.
“Alright, Prince Frederick.” Eliza’s mouth stretched into a wide smile, and Freddy knew he would do anything he could to make her look so happy again.
“Come on then! The ducklings live in the south gardens. The mama duck likes the fountain there. Oh, and you can call me Freddy, if you like.”
“And you can call me Lizzie.”
