A few hours later, Bella caught glimpses of the river through the trees and gave a wee pull on the reins.Nocturne slowed from a gallop to a canter, then a trot.While the miles still fell away, she was able to discern more at this speed.She recognized the mansion she’d passed on her way to her maternal grandparents’ home, the parklike grounds where her father took her for a festival, the looming hill with the statue on it, and the giant boat anchored in the middle of the lake.When the mountains came into view, Bella slowed the horse even more.Now each step covered a half mile, and soon enough, she was in her village.She urged Nocturne forward with her seat, taking her to the other side of the village within a second.
“Home,” she said as she slid to the icy ground.She tied him tightly to the post beside the water trough and kissed him on the nose.“Thank you for carrying me so safely today.”
He nibbled her sleeve in reply.
She raised her chin, tossed back her shoulders, and hoped for the best.She opened the door to her home and called, “Papa?”
His cough alerted her to his position behind her home’s central fireplace.“Bella?”
She raced into the kitchen area and threw her arms around him.“You made it home from that beast’s castle!Are you ill?How are you feeling?”
“Bella!”He hugged her tightly before pushing her out to arms’ length.“You’ve been gone almost a week!How did you escape?”
She exhaled a laugh.“It is a long, long story.Do you need me to call the healer?I heard you coughing.”
“Mair took good care of me when I returned, and I am getting better.Widow Hilli noticed you did not come to market, so she brought me bread and eggs and some cheese.”
Relief swept powerfully through Bella at the kindness of their neighbors, so much so that she grabbed the chair at the table and collapsed into it.“Oh, Papa, I am so relieved, and so very glad to be home.”She brushed her arms, just now realizing how cold she was.
Her father noticed and hooked her elbow, leading her from the kitchen chair to one by the fireplace.He then wrapped a blanket over her shoulders and patted it into place before pulling up another chair.He angled it to face her.“Tell me what happened.”
She did.She told him about the shaking tower, landing in a second tower in southern France, Albert the frog, Henriette, Prince Riven, confronting the king and queen, Prince Riven’s quandary, the magic sugar cube journey, and Prince Riven’s kindness and generosity.
“He sounds like quite the fellow.”
She looked down, fiddling with the material of her new kirtle.“He is, Papa.He has been nothing but kind and honorable to me, with no expectation of reciprocity whatsoever.I...I have never met a better man in my life.I so fervently wish him to be free of this undeserved curse and feel so bad for him, Papa.He’s trapped there, and when I left, not even his mother had bothered to come looking for him.”
“That does not bode well for his future, I fear,” he said with full regret.“I am sorry, Bella.It is clear you care for him.”
She felt her cheeks warm.“I did what I could, but it does not feel like enough.”
Her papa nodded.“He is burdened with a terrible curse, which is not something you need to get tangled with.You have plenty of young men here to occupy your time that are not so unfortunate.”
She grumbled inwardly.“No, they are just unfortunate in the ways of manners, intelligence, and kindness.”
Her father shot her a warning look.“Do not be too prideful, Bella.The men in this town prefer simple wives.”
“And yet, I find I have no desire for a simple husband.”
It was the same old argument, only this time, Bella’s recent adventure gave her new appreciation for what the world truly held.Prince Riven may not truly be able to marry a peasant girl such as herself, but perhaps he could recommend a similar man for her to wed, one cut of the same cloth as he.
The thought did not hold as much appeal as she hoped.
Her papa studied her for a moment, perhaps seeing her in a new light.“What would end this prince’s curse?
“He would need to bring the pond back to its former state, but it is loaded with garbage.”
He harumphed.“It would be a lifetime’s accomplishment to clean an entire pond.”
“Accomplishment!”Her eyes lit with an idea.“Papa!You said walking along the pond bottom was your greatest accomplishment.You used a pump to move air to you.”
“Yes?”His brows lowered, not following.
“Can we pump out the pond’s contaminated water with a similar contraption?Then we could remove the garbage at the bottom and burn it.All of it.”
“It would take a week to dry out enough to burn.”
“Bury it, then, in a deep pit.”
