John could try to cajole Serenia into foregoing it—he found walks boring—but Robert doubted it would work. Molly was certain Serenia would go as she was determined to maintain her trim figure with exercise.
He didn’t have to wait long.
Satisfaction bubbled up like sparkling wine at the sight of John limping along in a new pair of boots. It was too bad the curse had limited Robert’s options. Otherwise he would’ve made sure John couldn’t raise his hand against anyone for a long long time.
Serenia was in a fancy concoction of pink silk and ruffles that brought out the rose of her cheeks and lips. Her perfect curls shone in the sun, creating an angelic halo around her tiara.
Yet it was Molly who drew his eye. A pretty yellow ribbon at the end of her simple braid delighted him with its cheery color. Her pale orange dress made her look as brilliant as the sun itself. But it was her quiet presence that endeared her to him. There was pride in her bearing and kindness in her smile. The world—including Serenia—could be as nasty as it wanted, but nothing would change the pure core of Molly.
Wouldn’t it be splendid if Molly turned out to be some long-lost princess?
He shook his head at the fancy. That would be too much good fortune for him. His experience pointed to the opposite: better to hope Serenia wasn’t a fake princess.
Today, he would get Serenia to kiss him. The thought should have filled him with good cheer. How long had he worked to undo his curse? Yet all he could think of was how much he would miss Molly. Should he ask her to return with him to his kingdom? Lustrea had beautiful countryside with many quaint, lovely cottages suitable for her and her mother. And he could show her that not all royals were shallow idiots…be the kind of king she deserved.
Is that all you want?
What else? It wouldn’t be honorable to make her his mistress. She had the right to a good man who would love and cherish her. Robert’s chest constricted until he could barely breathe. He couldn’t be that man. Without the kiss he’d stay a frog, and Molly deserved better than a cursed man-frog as her life-mate.
When the trio was close enough, he gently kicked the final golden ball toward Serenia. She noticed it and immediately clapped her hands in glee. “The third ball!”
John’s brow scrunched. “Sweetkitten, it’s been rolled in the dirt. Are you sure you want it?”
“Of course, I do. It’s going to complete my collection. Now fetch it.”
His face turned ugly, but he limped over and picked it up for her. Robert almost snorted at how slavish his cousin was. Would he sing and dance on command as well after proper training from the princess?
Serenia snatched the ball from John and admired the workmanship. The final one had intricate golden designs with snow and fairy motifs.
“All right, whoever you are. I insist that you let me have this to complete my collection,” Serenia said.
“You may,” Robert said. “But I will ask a boon in exchange.”
“Not again!”
“Princess, you have yet to hear what I want.”
She pouted. “But it’s not fair that I have to do something.”
“I have given you two balls so far, and asked for very little in return.”
“What? You lie! I’ve given you many treasures.”
“Dear Serenia, you promised me a conversation, but you barely said anything. As for the handkerchief you gave me yesterday… I know you have a hundred more like it.”
“But that one was my favorite.”
He cringed, embarrassed for her. She sounded as petulant as a child caught in a lie. Still, he had to get rid of the damned curse. “The price of the third ball is easily met, dear Princess. I require only a chaste kiss from your lips.”
“Kiss you?” She blinked. “But I don’t even know what you look like. What if you’re an ugly gnome?”
“I swear upon my honor, I am not a gnome.”
She hesitated.
John said, “He’s worse than an ugly gnome! He’s an ugly
frog!
”
She
He didn’t have to wait long.
Satisfaction bubbled up like sparkling wine at the sight of John limping along in a new pair of boots. It was too bad the curse had limited Robert’s options. Otherwise he would’ve made sure John couldn’t raise his hand against anyone for a long long time.
Serenia was in a fancy concoction of pink silk and ruffles that brought out the rose of her cheeks and lips. Her perfect curls shone in the sun, creating an angelic halo around her tiara.
Yet it was Molly who drew his eye. A pretty yellow ribbon at the end of her simple braid delighted him with its cheery color. Her pale orange dress made her look as brilliant as the sun itself. But it was her quiet presence that endeared her to him. There was pride in her bearing and kindness in her smile. The world—including Serenia—could be as nasty as it wanted, but nothing would change the pure core of Molly.
Wouldn’t it be splendid if Molly turned out to be some long-lost princess?
He shook his head at the fancy. That would be too much good fortune for him. His experience pointed to the opposite: better to hope Serenia wasn’t a fake princess.
Today, he would get Serenia to kiss him. The thought should have filled him with good cheer. How long had he worked to undo his curse? Yet all he could think of was how much he would miss Molly. Should he ask her to return with him to his kingdom? Lustrea had beautiful countryside with many quaint, lovely cottages suitable for her and her mother. And he could show her that not all royals were shallow idiots…be the kind of king she deserved.
Is that all you want?
What else? It wouldn’t be honorable to make her his mistress. She had the right to a good man who would love and cherish her. Robert’s chest constricted until he could barely breathe. He couldn’t be that man. Without the kiss he’d stay a frog, and Molly deserved better than a cursed man-frog as her life-mate.
When the trio was close enough, he gently kicked the final golden ball toward Serenia. She noticed it and immediately clapped her hands in glee. “The third ball!”
John’s brow scrunched. “Sweetkitten, it’s been rolled in the dirt. Are you sure you want it?”
“Of course, I do. It’s going to complete my collection. Now fetch it.”
His face turned ugly, but he limped over and picked it up for her. Robert almost snorted at how slavish his cousin was. Would he sing and dance on command as well after proper training from the princess?
Serenia snatched the ball from John and admired the workmanship. The final one had intricate golden designs with snow and fairy motifs.
“All right, whoever you are. I insist that you let me have this to complete my collection,” Serenia said.
“You may,” Robert said. “But I will ask a boon in exchange.”
“Not again!”
“Princess, you have yet to hear what I want.”
She pouted. “But it’s not fair that I have to do something.”
“I have given you two balls so far, and asked for very little in return.”
“What? You lie! I’ve given you many treasures.”
“Dear Serenia, you promised me a conversation, but you barely said anything. As for the handkerchief you gave me yesterday… I know you have a hundred more like it.”
“But that one was my favorite.”
He cringed, embarrassed for her. She sounded as petulant as a child caught in a lie. Still, he had to get rid of the damned curse. “The price of the third ball is easily met, dear Princess. I require only a chaste kiss from your lips.”
“Kiss you?” She blinked. “But I don’t even know what you look like. What if you’re an ugly gnome?”
“I swear upon my honor, I am not a gnome.”
She hesitated.
John said, “He’s worse than an ugly gnome! He’s an ugly
frog!
”
She
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