Chapter ten: Back in Ev

Strawberry Shortcake wondered what did Glinda had meant when she had spoken about « other things to fix". She had been free, so what did they need more?

-You know, Glinda said suddenly, "You weren't alone in Ev's castle."

-Of course I wasn't alone, Strawberry replied, surprised. "I was with Princess Langwidere and…"

-No. You weren't alone… as a prisoner, don't you remember?

No, Strawberry Shortcake didn't remember anything about it.

-Never mind, you'll understand soon.

When the two girls returned to the palace, Glinda asked Strawberry to wait for her in one of the living room.

-Don't worry, I won't be long.

Strawberry obeyed, but she was intrigued. What was Glinda doing? Would she try to make another experiment on her, to make her get all her memories back? It was scaring.

When Glinda came back, she was accompanied with two guests: a little yellow hen and a round robot.

-Billina and Tik-Tok! Strawberry cried with delight. How could has she forget them?

-We were with you in the dungeon, Billina cackled.

-Mi-iss Glinda saved us, Tik-Tok explained. "She made us flee-ee from the tower with her magic cloud, after Princess Langwidere had adopted you."

Strawberry Shortcake hugged them.

-I'm elighted to see you safe and sound, she said. "But Langwidere must be furious to know her prisoners had escaped, no?"

-No, she isn't, Billina chirped. "She had totally forgotten us."

-Princess Langwidere is not really dutiful, Glinda added. "However, you must come back in Ev."

-No! Strawberry protested. "I want to say with you and the Berrykins! I'm very happy here."

-You have to go back first to Ev to explain to Langwidere why you want to leave her, or she would believe you had been kidnapped and she would carry on her research."

-Well, you really kidnapped me, don't you? Strawberry maliciously said.

Glinda knitted her brows.

-Well, I'll tell her I've been kidnapped, but I had managed to run away and go back to Ev.

-That's not a bad idea. But what if she tries to find your kidnappers?

-Didn't you say she wasn't dutiful? She would be please to see me back, and she would no longer pay attention to this story.

-You're not wrong.

-And then, I'll tell her about the tragic story of her family and my will to save them.

-So, you're already leaving us? Billina asked sadly.

-Don't worry, Strawberry said clumsily, "We'll be together again soon."

-Strawberry, Glinda declared, "I think you made the good choice."

-Hmm, wait a minute, Glinda.

-What?

-What about my… (Strawberry lowered her voice) "…banishment?"

-And the police officer? Don't worry. If he hadn't already caught you, it's certainly because he forgot you… or realized you are a lost case.

Glinda drove Strawberry Shortcake back in Ev, where Princess Langwidere had already put her mourning clothes up, to publicly show her grieve, more to prove what a sensitive princess she was rather than real pain.

-Kidnapped for a ransom? Princess Langwidere repeated, stunned, after Strawberry told her her adventure.

-Yes. But when my kidnappers felt asleep, I stole their keys and I fled.

-You are a good girl, Evy. You'll be a clever princess.

Strawberry Shortcake sighted. She couldn't get accustomed to be called "Evy".

-As you showed me you were trustworthy, I'll tell you secret.

-What kind of secret? Strawberry asked. (She couldn't either get accustomed to call Princess Langwidere "Mum".)

-The secret of my eternal youth and my beauty. Follow me.

And, for the first time, Strawberry Shortcake, alias "Priness Evy" was allowed to enter the mysterious cabinet. She quickly understood why Langwidere kept this room locked: it was full of cut-off heads, waiting behind showcases, smiling absent-mindedly. Strawberry held a cry.

-Who are they? What happened to them? Are they…

She couldn't finish her sentence. She couldn't believe she had been living next to corpses!

-Don't cry Evy. They aren't dead. These heads were owned by women who gave me their head, so I keep them in my cabinet and I can change my appearance when I want. Having a lot of different heads is really useful. When you'll grow up, I wonder if we could make you able to remove your head, too.

Strawberry swallowed. Being beheaded wasn't a joyful prospect. Princess Langwidere noticed her awkwardness.

-It won't be painful.

-Those women… where are they, now?

-Don't worry about them. When someone gives me a head, I give him another in exchange.

Strawberry nodded, a little bit relieved. She was happy to learn the "donors" were still alive, but she wasn't sure they were really consenting to do their "gift".

-Well, you must know how to recognize me, Princess Langwidere added. "I always wear a pretty little ruby keys attached like a bracelet in my left wrist."

She raised her left arm and Strawberry saw the precious jewel.

-So, if you see someone wearing a ruby key on the wrist, you'd recognize me. Understood?"

-Yes… mum.

-Good girl, said Langwidere. "You can go play now."

-I would like to ask you something, Strawberry replied.

Princess Langwidere sighed. She was eager to try another head.

-I heard your-and my-whole family had been sold to the Nome King. Is that true?

-Yes. That's sad.

-So, why don't you send some wheelers to rescue them?

-My dear Evy, if I would rescue them, my uncle would be king again and I won't be the governor anymore.

-Except if he would leave you princess, as an acknowledgement.

-What do you mean?

-I want to go to the Nome King's Palace and save my great-uncle, my great-aunt and my cousins.

-You'll never manage to defeat the Nome King.

-Never give up, Strawberry said with a wink.

-Alright… you can make an attempt… if you want… Langwidere said with annoyance.

She disliked discussing when she wanted to take care of her appearance.

To be continued…