Chapter 9
Rapunzel arrived at the castle the next morning, neither guard questioning her as they led her inside. They remembered her from the day before. She was admitted into the room where the Queen sat, and like the day before, both began the day by drinking a cup of tea.
The conversation was light and comfortable, until the Queen tentatively posed a question about Rapunzel's hair.
Rapunzel frowned and touched her short locks. "Oh, well…see, Eugene cut my hair."
The Queen frowned. "He did? Whatever for?"
"Well…I used to have really long blonde hair, but I – well, I decided a change would be good…unfortunately Eugene wasn't exactly vigilant about how he cut my hair – that's why it's so short – and then it just got darker." Rapunzel smiled shyly at the Queen, who looked slightly baffled.
"My," she finally said. "Well, I can't say that I've heard anything like that before." She tipped her head and smiled, a sense of unease settling in her stomach.
Soon after, Rapunzel began to paint the portrait again. It was quiet for a few hours until the King made his arrival.
When he walked through the door, Rapunzel leaped from her seat and dropped into a deep curtsy. "Your Majesty," she greeted, dipping her head.
The King smiled warmly, gesturing for her to rise. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Fitzherbert. It's a pleasure to meet you," he rumbled in his low voice, eyeing the small woman in front of him. "My wife speaks very highly of you," he added, watching as the girl's cheeks flushed.
"She is very kind," she responded.
Queen Marie gracefully stood from her stool and approached her husband. "Have you come to join us for tea, Rupert? We could use the break, couldn't we, Rapunzel." Rapunzel nodded her agreement.
The Queen rang for tea, and in the meantime, the King watched the painter that his wife had suddenly become so fond of. She had a small, round face, making her wide green eyes stand out that much more. A smattering of freckles covered her small nose and her short brown hair stuck out at odd angles. He also noted absently that her eyes were the same colour as his wife's.
Tea was a calming and welcome affair and the trio chatted amiably. Before long, however, the King had duties to attend to and he made his leave.
Rapunzel continued with her painting and when the shadows began to grow long across the floor, she too left the palace with promises to be back in the morning.
This continued for the better part of the year. When the Queen's first portrait was finished, Rapunzel was paid well.
In between her duties as queen, Marie requested Rapunzel to return and paint more portraits of her, the king and queen, her garden, and whatever caught her fancy. It was a win-win situation; the queen got to see more of Rapunzel as the two became fast friends, and Rapunzel received fair pay that kept her and Eugene afloat.