"No, father, you don't understand...It's never been my thought to let
just any eligible maiden in the kingdom to wear this glass slipper of
hers...This one - it belongs to her and her alone...We don't need to try
it on anyone else!" The Prince (Prince Charming) strongly urged his
father, the King, when the latter suggested his way to seek out the girl
in the gorgeous silvery gown who had fled from their palace since
around midnight.
The King, clueless as he was as to why his
defiant son would insist to object to his idea, seemed to be at a lost
for words on what else to say, nudged his Grand Duke to his side and
inquired in a whisper, "Do you get what is he trying to argue with me
here?"
Wondering and trying to read the downcast Prince's
expression and posture, the Grand Duke quietly cleared his throat and
whispered back to the King's ear, "He's just disappointed and not
agreeing for us to look for that elusive maiden on his behalf, your
Majesty..."
The King's eyes widened in enlightenment and gasped, "Oh, so you meant to say he wants to do everything by himself...?"
The
Grand Duke swallowed hard, after being heavily rebuked by the King back
in his chamber suite a while ago, heart thumping wildly and worrying if
he has really gotten the Prince's implication clear enough. Heaving a
wordless prayer and face so pale, he nodded in submission to the King
without daring to look him in the eye...
One...Two...Three...Four...Five
seconds finally elapsed and the Grand Duke received a knee-jerking
strong pat on the back by his Majesty. The whole suite of the Prince
resounded with deafening applause by the King. The old man then cheered
aloud and went up to his son saying, "Congratulations! Congratulations,
dear! So at long last, you've found your one and only sweetheart! Papa
is extremely overjoyed for you!"
The Prince's face instinctly lit
up before his jovial father, "Really, father...I'm sorry if I have
unintentionally embarrassed you in front of so many of your subjects..."
The
King only laughed aloud and patted his precious son's arms (due to his
height, he was not able to reach up to his shoulders), "Oh no, no,
no...You brought a blessing to me...and the whole kingdom...Never be so
hard up on yourself, dear!"
He could not be more grateful, "Thanks, father...Now, I'm really not regretting at all that you held the ball for me..."
Another
round of hearty laugh and the King gave a playful wink at him, "Heaven
knows...but now onto the point...There's just one condition I would ask
of you, son..."
The Prince and the Grand Duke immediately paid
serious attention as the King cleared his throat and declared before
them, "As you know, your papa and your mama's anniversary will again be
approaching very soon...Heartaches and loss...will fill my heart once
again..."
They could sympathised with him...A heavy sigh and the
King went on to say, "If you could just be so kind, my dear son...to
make this year something different...as soon or as swiftly as you
could..."
The King began to sob and tears very quickly trickled
down his eyes...The Prince understood well enough who was meant to be
the answer...
To be continued...
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