Princess of Athelia: An Unfinished Fairy Tales Novella (8 page)

“Kat?” Edward looks concerned. “Is there something wrong?”

I rub my eyes. But there’s nothing in the air now—did I just imagine the goblin appearing, or did Krev suddenly disappear again?

“I . . . I thought I saw . . .” I shake my head. “Never mind.”

* * *

The Ritz.
That’s what I first think of when I enter the room Constance has arranged for me. It’s large and luxurious, just like everything in the house. The bed has a heavy crimson canopy embroidered in gold, the carpets look like Oriental imports, and everything else is done in a white-and-gold theme—cream and chintz and glass.

But it’s the view that really gets me. When Amelie pulls the curtains apart, there’s a grand view of the lake outside. I can see how the wind stirs up the glittering waters and the trees surround the lake like guardians. When I sit on the velvet-draped chair and stare outside, I can almost believe myself some wealthy person on a weekend trip. The roses that I received earlier are now placed in a crystal vase on a small table near the window. I wish I could share my room with Edward. But of course, since we aren’t even officially engaged, there’s no way he can stay with me.

At night, I draw up the blankets to my chin. I wish I had a novel to read before falling asleep, but there isn’t any sign of a book. Constance is a great hostess, but apparently, books are not kept in bedrooms.

I am dozing off to sleep when there’s a pop and a flash of light. An ugly goblin hovers in the air, his pointy ears brushing the top of the canopy.

“Krev!” I sit up immediately. “Is that really you? Was that you at the lake? Why did you disappear?”

He grins, baring a row of pointy teeth. “You were with Eddie so I had to wait until you were alone. I couldn’t very well make you talk to me when I’m invisible to Eddie.”

“Where have you been? I’ve called out to you a couple of times, but you never appeared.”

He flips upside down, his legs sticking up toward the ceiling.

“Morag gave birth to a baby daughter, and we’ve been having a huge celebration. Besides, you’re going to marry Eddie anyway, so there’s nothing to bet on. When’s the wedding—tomorrow?”

“Of course not.” I don’t say it, but of course I can’t bear to leave Edward so soon. “We aren’t even engaged yet.”

Krev flies a bit closer. “But you two
are
getting married, aren’t you?”

“You’re getting concerned for the happy ending?”

“Well, Barthelius just wanted to make sure that the old Katriona is able to return.”

I feel as though he doused me with a bucket of ice-cold water. “You . . . you mean that when I leave, she will come back into this body?”

“You can’t expect Eddie to stay unmarried for his entire life, can you? Eventually, she’ll have to return. It’s only a question of when it’ll happen.”

I could punch him. “Do you mean to say that all my efforts have been for nothing? I mean, if I don’t do anything, the happy ending will occur anyway?”

Krev has the grace to look guilty. “Look, Eddie is a little picky—”

“That’s an understatement.”

“—but there are thousands and thousands of eligible girls in Athelia. Even if he doesn’t fall in love with Elle, he will find a girl someday. It could take years, but he’s the heir to the throne—do you honestly expect he’d never marry?”

Anger surges in my chest. I clench my hands to prevent myself from hitting him. “If that’s the case, why did you keep egging me on? Why did you have to tell me I had to finish the story?”

The goblin shrugs. “Too much fun watching you struggle.”

My fist connects with his nose. Krev lands on the bed with a yelp. I would have followed up with another punch, but a huge wave of fear, worry, and dread crashes over me. I sink back to the bed, unable to repress the tears forming in my eyes.

Krev regains his equilibrium; he bounces up, snarling, but freezes when a tear runs down my cheek.

“Girlie, what’s there to cry about? You’ve been through some rough patches, but you got to the happy ending. Wasn’t that what you wanted all along—to go back to the human world?”

I swipe my sleeve over my eyes.

“Krev . . . this Story World . . . is it only a dream I’m living in? Edward, and everyone else . . . they’re fictional characters, right? They aren’t
real
, are they? They just feel real because I’m in the book.”

Krev looks waspish. “What do you want me to say?”

“The truth.”
Even if it’s going to break my heart.

He props a hand under his chin. “Don’t go bawling again. Your eyes will show it in the morning.” Then he blows air out of his cheeks and shakes his head. “My, you have fallen really hard for Eddie.”

I don’t say anything. I just stare at him. Before the ball, I was way too occupied with achieving the happy ending to ask more questions, but now I need to know more.

“The magic Barthelius weaved into the book is a highly complex spell,” Krev begins. “He was super powerful a hundred years ago—in fact, he’s what you humans call a child genius. He didn’t just create the book you held—he created a whole alternative realm. It’s supposed to be closed off to humans unless they tamper with the book. You entered Athelia through a portal that was produced in the cover you ripped off.”

My breath catches in my throat.
This is insane.
“But . . . if Athelia was created a hundred years ago, was it still in existence when I ripped the book?”

“Of course. It has continued to exist even after the original happily-ever-after ending. Since you damaged the book, a time-turning spell was triggered, taking you right to the beginning.”

“Wait . . . did you mention an original happy ending? Does that mean Edward did marry Elle after all? How could it happen?”

Krev rolls his eyes. “Dunno. We’ll never find out since you have altered Athelia’s history. Now, the records are going to say that Edward married the second daughter of Earl Bradshaw.”

His words weigh heavily on me like a sack of potatoes pressing me down. If only I hadn’t tried to help Elle get together with Edward. If I’d just relaxed and waited for Edward to eventually fall in love and marry, I wouldn’t have meddled with Athelia’s history. But it’s too late. Katriona is going to come back—as the princess.

“What is Katriona like?”

“Haven’t a clue.” Krev sounds annoyed. “Didn’t you listen to me? The book occurred a hundred years ago. Barthelius doesn’t even remember who the fairy godmother is. Look, if you’re that concerned about Eddie, why don’t you find another bride for him? Then he won’t have to deal with the real Katriona.”

I feel like punching him again. “How could you make such a callous suggestion, after everything that we’ve been through? He isn’t a puppet for me to manipulate. He’s a human being.”

Krev doesn’t seem affected. Not surprising, since he was cruel enough to advise that Edward ditch me and find another, as though he could switch his feelings on and off. I honestly believe that the goblins don’t know what the word ‘feeling’ means.

“Don’t be so sensitive, girlie. Eddie knew what he was getting into when he decided to marry you. Besides, who said you have to take my suggestion? You’ve always told me my ideas are crap anyway.”

I throw my pillow at him. “Get out.”

When he disappears, I let the tears flow for a moment, until I realize that my crying will reflect in my eyes the next morning. I force myself to swallow the lump in my throat and go to sleep. But even though I’ve successfully repressed the tears, I can’t repress the pain that’s growing in my heart.

* * *

In the morning, Amelie enters my room to help me dress. I stare blankly at the mirror, a hollow feeling in my chest. When I think of Edward being stuck with the old Katriona, no matter what she is really like, I feel as if my heart is breaking.

“You look awfully serious,” Amelie commented, running a brush through my hair. “Are you worried about His Highness?”

How does she know?
Only Edward knows the truth. And Poppy, though she remains skeptical.

“Don’t worry,” Amelie says briskly. “Lillie Maynard may be scheming to get His Highness, but he will watch out for himself. And even if she does succeed in getting him into a compromising position, he would never agree to marry her. Especially when he announced his choice at the ball.”

Lillie. It’s obvious that she is head-over-heels in love with Edward. I hate to say this, but I admit I’m jealous. Not just because she’s hot enough to be an A-list actress, but also because of the gardening knowledge she shares with Edward. I can’t get a word into their conversation whenever she comes to talk to him. Although Edward did teach me how to recognize and tend to certain flowers, I can never match his passion for nature.

Suddenly, Krev’s suggestion about Edward finding another girl—however undesirable it sounds—enters my head. I don’t know anything about the old Katriona, but might it not be a better option if someone like Lillie takes my place when I’m gone? Lillie might not be mature enough in her way of treating me, but compared to the other girls, she is the best candidate for Edward. She’d be a better princess for Athelia. I shiver for a second. I feel as though I’m making a will.

“But everyone knows that Edward and I are to be engaged.”

“Doesn’t mean that she won’t try something devious.” Amelie shrugs. “But like I said, you don’t have anything to worry about. His Highness will guard himself well.”

I picture Lillie with Edward. They’d make a gorgeous couple, even though my heart screams against getting them together. And if the old Katriona is anything like Bianca . . .

No. I don’t want that to happen. I don’t want someone like Bianca to get him. Bianca only wants him because he never noticed her.

“Your Highness?” There’s a note of alarm in Amelie’s voice now. I decide it’s best to change the subject.

“By the way, what do you think about Bertram? I mean, he has a crush on you . . .”

“What’s a crush?”

“Oh, sorry. I meant that he seems to really like you, and I just wanted to know if you could give him a chance.”

Amelie catches a wayward curl and pins it to the back of my head. I wonder if she prefers not to answer my question, until she finally speaks.

“To tell the truth, I don’t really plan on marrying.”

Now this is shocking. Very few Athelian women—whether they are noble or common-born—would declare a life of celibacy.

“Why not?”

“My sister suffered from a horrible marriage for ten years. Her scum of a husband didn’t work, gambled away her earnings, and hit her in broad daylight, just because she didn’t cook the fish to his liking!” Amelie takes a deep breath. “It took another three years for us to help her obtain a divorce. Father had to put a mortgage on the house.”

“You can get divorced in Athelia?”

“Easier for those who can afford to hire a lawyer. I’ve heard that a third of the nobles got divorced.”

A third! Maybe it shouldn’t be that surprising, since marriages among the rich and powerful are rarely based on love. From my experience in the Season, a lot of men and women meet for a few times and then the man proposes.

I wonder what the odds are of the prince getting a divorce if the real Katriona doesn’t get along with him.

Hang on, we’re talking about Bertram here. I have to put in a good word for him, even if Amelie seems determined to stay single.

“Come on, surely you don’t believe Bertram will treat you that badly? Even if he looks kind of scary when he doesn’t smile, he wouldn’t dare lay a finger on you. Actually, if anyone were to ask me, I’d say
you
are more intimidating than him.”

“My sister’s husband was as meek as a lamb when she first met him.” Amelie lays down the brush with a decisive thud. “All I want to do now is to keep my job and lead a peaceful life.”

Poor Bertram.

12

“So, what did you do to attract His Highness?”

Dozens of beautifully powdered faces stare at me. I’m sitting with the noble ladies while Edward is again grouse-hunting with the men. I would have liked to have gone with them, but Edward told me that although there was no rule preventing women from joining a shooting party, it would look especially awkward if I were the only woman who wanted to go out and watch men firing at pheasants and geese and ducks. And so, I have to stay indoors with the ladies, who have nothing better to do except to talk, sip tea, and play cards.

“We have been
dying
to learn how you seduced the prince,” Claire says, her eyes brimming with curiosity. I can almost imagine her thrusting a mic beneath my chin like a reporter.

“Um . . .” I reach for the teacup only to find it already empty.

“Pardon my bluntness, but Bianca usually attracts more attention. Fancy sharing with us how you managed to capture our prince’s heart?”

I really wish I could escape from this room. “I . . . I kind of met him when I went to see Elle and her mother.”