I Love You, My Cursed Prince

In the cold garden, Vidar took a cloth cap from somewhere in his clothes, under the cloak, and he put it on top of his bald head. Then he ... well ... stared at everything. From the sleeping trees to the harsh pathways. Even a lonely little insect buzzing about caught his eyes for a moment.

He was so quiet.

Muriel tried to respect that quiet. The princess seemed to silently agree with that sentiment. Both women allowed the prince to simply look at anything and everything without giving any comments.

He wandered around like a sad, lost child, as if he was afraid to go anywhere but believed he had to keep going in order to find his way. While some people would say that when you're lost you should stay put, in this case, Vidar had to find his old landmarks and learn them all over again.

Each woman stayed close, but not too close, watching Vidar, making sure he didn't have a nervous breakdown or something in that vein. He was mentally vulnerable, or they assumed he was.

After maybe fifteen minutes, Vidar found a decorative boulder. He sat down on it and quietly said to the women, "It smells different."

Muriel couldn't say if that was true or not. She walked over to the boulder and put on her best smile. It was a bit easier to look at him. Half of his face was hidden. "I'm here now, and that's different from the past, isn't it?"

Without looking up, Vidar nodded.

Princess Arya perched on a nearby bench and looked at Vidar with calm eyes but also a stern mouth. "You'd best not hide again. If you do, I'll drag you by all your arms back to the garden."

Muriel lowered her head as she said, "Perhaps His Highness would appreciate a hot cup of black tea? A fruity black tea?"

With a nod, the princess said, "Sweet and thick desserts are so fine when taken with that sort of tea, and my son does have a fondness for desserts."

So, the trio left the garden and asked for some tea and cookies to have in a sitting room.

The servants behaved as if they had been rushed. As soon as one maid put the tray down, she scurried away as if she thought someone would clutch at her apron.

Muriel took a seat beside Vidar and served his tea first. Then she poured a cup for her mistress. Muriel's cup was last.

But Vidar looked down at his steaming tea and sugary cookies as if he never expected to have anything of the sort before him. Muriel knew he had always eaten whatever he wanted, so the tea and cookies couldn't have been the issue haunting his mind.

She wasn't going to have any of this.

Muriel reached over to Vidar's bulky form and pulled on his cloak. "Please, won't you b.a.r.e your mouth and take your treats?"

His eyes slowly turned towards her.

Muriel blinked a few times. "Please, Your Highness. Please don't embarrass your dear mother." She reached down to carefully pick up his saucer and teacup. "If I feed you as one would a small child, would you give in?" She kept her fingers tight in the cup's well carved handle. "Please lower your cloak."

She heard his gritty sigh. Then she saw two of his arms leave the cloak. One hand put his harsh nose and mouth in everyone's sight. Then he other took the cup from Muriel.

"There," Muriel said as she sat down and put the saucer back on the table, "you'll feel warm and happy soon."

Well ... he might feel warm. As for happiness, Muriel couldn't say. Her poor betrothed wasn't just ugly in this scene. He looked frigid and morose. Even the darker patches of color in his flesh had a faded cast. This wasn't what Muriel had expected. She thought he'd relax and soak everything in like a cat under sunlight.

When the tea was finished, Princess Arya suggested a time for reading or sewing. Vidar nodded but he put his mouth and nose back under his cloak. They went to a library to pick put some books, but they took those books back to the sitting room as a few maids went to get the women's sewing kits. Once everyone had what they needed, there was another quiet time.

For a while, Vidar didn't read. He gazed out a window even though the weather was uninteresting. When he finally grew tired of that, he picked up a book and flipped through the pages.

Muriel put her project on top of her sewing kit and slid a bit closer to Vidar. She whispered a question to him, "Are you unwell?"

"Hm? No. I'm fine."

"Are you? Truly?"

He closed his book. "I haven't done this in years. It's wonderful, but it's also strange. Let me adjust in my own time."

Feeling a bit of relief, Muriel patted one of his arms through his clothing. "If you need anything, don't hesitate. You're the master here." She hummed as she returned to her sewing.

During the following days, Vidar proved himself. Even though the servants were still jumpy around him, his cheer slowly returned to him. His odd gait became bouncier. He walked more. He went outside to pet the horses. He thought he was too heavy to ride them, but he actually said aloud that he was considering purchasing a thick and sturdy horse. Muriel grinned at that.

The meals were different from before. Vidar joined the women, and he spoke more and more as time went on. Muriel loved his company. He also played music for them. Muriel danced around to the piano songs. Princess Arya often laughed at that. When Muriel played the piano, however, Vidar wouldn't dance. He only sat down and listened. He later told her that he didn't have the bravery to try to dance. Muriel understood why he thought this way, but she was also disappointed.