Page 6 of A Cake of Cherries and Charm

Two

They were led through the main entrance of the palace across marble floors, over heavily detailed rugs, and past four curved staircases–two on the right and two on the left–to a long stone hallway that was wide enough for six people to walk side by side. In the entrance, large tapestries with scenes of court grandeur and victorious battles hung down from the distant ceiling. These continued from the entrance to the hallway, but on a much smaller scale, along with busts of men and women in crowns.

As they walked the hallway, countless whispers rose from the surrounding throng. Conscious of the many gazes that were upon them, Rosie took her mother and sister’s hands so she was walking between them.

The only one in the entire crowd who looked less than shocked was Frederick, who, as they walked, was describing in vivid detail how he had been cursed.

Rosie wished that those around them–particularly a fine lady about her mother’s age–would listen to his recital rather than study her family. The woman hadn’t looked away since they’d descended from the carriage. She might not have minded so much had the lady’s penetrating look been merely curious, as many of the others’ were. But the cold hostility in the woman’s icy stare was far from welcoming. And only slightly more civil was the stare coming from the young woman beside her, whom Rosie assumed to be the woman’s daughter.

After what felt like forever, they reached a grand hall with three shockingly long wooden tables arranged in the shape of a horseshoe. The king and queen, still listening to their son’s tale, moved to the seats at the outside center of the horseshoe. Their eldest son–Rosie couldn’t recall the crown prince’s name–sat at his father’s left hand as soon as his parents were seated, while Frederick led Snow to his mother’s right. Then he indicated for Rosie and her mother to sit beside them.

Rosie made sure her mother sat between her and Snow. Once she was seated by a servant, the rest of the court sat as well, and servants brought out countless silver platters. Rosie was immediately hit by the smells of salted meat, cheese, fresh bread, and a variety of scents she couldn’t name. But each one made her mouth water as though she hadn’t eaten a bite that day.

Was it possible that her family and Frederick had eaten pottage in their little cottage just that morning?

There was an empty plate in front of each seat, and Rosie was tempted to immediately begin filling hers with some of the sumptuous food, which was steaming from beneath the platter covers before her. But then she paused. How was one supposed to get food in the king’s dining hall? Did she serve herself? Or did she wait for the servants to do so?

Again, she was filled with chagrin over Frederick’s apparent misunderstanding of why she had asked him about court decorum.

“Frederick?” she asked without thinking.

Unfortunately, the room was so loud that even from three chairs down, he didn’t hear her. So she called his name more loudly this time.

The hush that fell over the seats nearest hers was unsettling, and only when many pairs of shocked eyes turned her way did she realize her faux pas.

After five years of spending time with the prince in his bear form, it was often easy to forget that he was a prince. Too late did she realize that she’d addressed him without his title.

To her immense relief, he turned at the sound of her voice and smiled as kindly at her as he always had. “Yes?”

Did he even realize that she’d forgotten his title? Or was he just being kind? Either way, she was grateful.

“I… Um, I wasn’t sure whether we’re supposed to serve ourselves or wait for someone else to do it,” she said as quietly as she could in the loud room.

To her dismay, the eyes around her seemed to bug out even more at this question. And a little titter from nearby turned her attention to the delicate creature sitting beside the glaring lady.

“The lady wishes to serve herself?” the girl asked in a voice that sounded like chimes, her eyes bright.

Rosie knew better. She really did. But the smug look on the girl’s face was more than she could stand. This girl obviously thought they were country bumpkins. So she said the first thing that came into her head.

“Well, don’t you know how?”

The girl’s smile vanished, and someone near Rosie made a choking sound, but that was nearly drowned out by the sound of Frederick’s laughter.

“I’m so glad you’re here, Rosie,” he said, still chuckling a moment later as he wiped the tears that were streaming down his face. “I told you she was clever, Jonathan.”

Rosie nearly died as she realized he was addressing his older brother, who must have heard the entire ordeal. But to her immense relief, a clergyman appeared at the end of the hall and gave a prayer of thanks.

After that, the platter covers were removed, and Rosie saw that everyone except the king, the queen, and the crown prince was expected to serve himself. The king, the queen, and the crown prince had two servants attending each–one to examine and taste the food before it was put onto their plates, and one to do the same with any of their drinks.

Before Rosie could taste any of the food before her, however, she got the strange sensation of being watched once more. And though she quickly saw that there were a number of people watching her, one gaze in particular drew her attention. Once again, to her annoyance, the fine woman in silks and diamonds with the icy blue eyes–the mother of the one who had laughed at her–was glaring at her, despite her daughter’s glower having ceased.

“I thought I might freeze as winter came,” Frederick was saying to his parents. Rosie did her best to ignore the woman’s continuing glare and turned to hear the younger prince tell his story. “I could feel the chill in the air as the first snowstorm approached.”

“You were only fifteen,” his mother said, her words coming out as a low moan. “I knew you were too young for that assignment!” She turned with unhappy eyes to her husband.

“But providence was with me!” Frederick insisted, his eyes sparkling as he turned to glance about the room, making sure, it seemed, that everyone was listening to his tale.

As a bear, Frederick had loved being the center of attention too.