But of cause the story did not just end there, Harold and Lillian were engaged shortly there-after, and that's where the polishing the king had promised began.
Harold duty fully did all what he was told to do, learned all the right manners all the right rules, but ones in a while, when he could he snook out so he and Lillian could go hand in hand down pass the lily pond, and simply enjoy each others company, enjoyed being silly while they still could... And then it was straight back to the school bench for Harold where royal manners were beaten into his skull with a stick.. as Lillian often liked to put it with a roll of her eyes, only to make Harold silence and her father shush her.
Eventually they married, and happily so, as the time came, the prince and princess became king and queen of far away, and they even became a very good king and queen, both very beloved by the people. Harold seemed to surprise every-one again and again as king, he may seemed like a push-over, as was only to often commented on, but when it mattered he always stood up for what he believed was right, and he always listened to his queen, without any question. As Harold put it, she should really be the one taking all the decisions, because she was so very clever. And Harold treated every-one fair, even the talking lizards or frogs. It was a happy time for them all.
How-ever, as the years passed by, it became more and more apparent that some-thing was missing.
For what-ever reason, the regents couldn't get a child, and as the years progressed, the longing in Lillians eyes just became more and more obvious to Harold, which put splinters in his own heart, and he sighed deeply every-time he saw it, then he would take her hand, and they would take a walk in the garden together, and talked like old times.. if duty allowed it. And that to became more and more rare.
One late summer evening, as Harold walked the hall-ways of the castle, he leaned out of the window where he had view of the garden, to suddenly realize, far below him, sat his beloved queen by the lily pond, her hung head and her hands folded. Harold sighed, he knew very well what it was about.
He didn't hestate to get down to her, and hurried through the patches, but slowed down as he came closer. "Lillian." He addressed her carefully.
"Oh.. Harold." Lillian looked up, and to his regret Harold saw a tear in her eye.
"Lillian, are you.. okay." Harold asked stepping closer to his wife.
"Oh I'm." Lillian dried a tear away. "I'm fine Harold, really."
Harold sighed deeply as he sat down beside Lillian. "Lillian, I don't know why of all people. we aren't allowed to have a child." He told in a sad sigh. "You certainly, deserve a child. I wish I could just give it to you."
"Oh Harold, it's not your fault." Lillian told shaking her head.
"We don't know that, maybe it is." Harold mumbled. "I mean with all-"
"In either case it doesn't matter." Lillian told firmly cutting off his sentence. "You are my husband, I love you. If this is how it's going to be, then be it." She told taking his hand.
Harold grabbed that hand and kissed it. "You are still as beautiful as the day we met." He told her. "When did I last tell you that I love you?" he asked.
"You could stand saying it a bit more often." Lillian told Harold a little amused.
"Well here you go, I love you pretty Princess." Harold told. "I've loved you every day since the day I met you, and I can't stand to see you so unhappy." He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. "So dry your cheek pretty princess, and tell me what I can do to help you." He asked drying her cheek for her.
"My funny little frog." Lillian shook her head. "Just accept that it's no ones fault, and there's nothing to do." She exhaled deeply. "Even though I want a child so.." she stopped herself. "It doesn't matter, I am happy where I am. With my husband whom I love."
Harold sighed as he shook his head, simply holding her hands, for some time they simply sat there together, by the Lily pond while enjoying each others company as they held hands sitting, Lillian leaned back dipping one of her hands in the lily pond, waving it back and ford, out among the lily petals she could see some frogs swimming around, it had been a long time since they would down-right hide when she or Harold came down there, they would just go about their own buisnes as if they weren't there. Or as Lillian knew, some-times when Harold went down here alone, he would talk to some of them, he could actually sit there for a quite a while either talking to a frog or not saying any-thing at all, merely sitting here by the pond he had originally come form. "Do you ever miss it?" Lillian asked.
Harold blinked. "What?" he asked.
And Lillian hinted at the frogs behind him.
"Oh!" Harold realized seeing the frogs swimming carelessly around by the pond.
"I saw you sitting out here again the other day." Lillian confessed.
"Every-body needs a bit of air some-times." Harold responded only to receive a stern look from Lillian. "Well, I can't deny life seemed much simpler back then." He then admitted. "Who wouldn't some-times just want to escape the boring politics and throw himself in the pond for a swim?" he asked jokingly.
"Please be honest." Lillian asked her husband.
Harold silenced for some seconds, before silently answering. "Some-times." he admitted. "How-ever, if what you are really asking me is that, if I had the choice right now to go back, or to undo any of this." He squished Lillians hand. "Then no, I have no doubt at all, that I chose right"
Lillian smiled at her husband, as suddenly a certain glint seem to come into her eyes, a very mischievous glint, as her remaining had rotated in the water, and then suddenly splashed some water up at Harolds face.
Harold blinked surprised as Lillian started to laugh, then Harold turned to the laughing Lillian with squinted eyes and in response, threw some water at her as well.
Lillian spluttered in surprise gaping at Harold.
"Hah!" Harold laughed, but his smile was wiped off his face as suddenly he saw how Lillians eyes suddenly shone for revenge and a little smile was playing on her lips. "Oh no." Harold swallowed, and soon found himself pushed back-wards into the pond.
"If you want to throw yourself in the pond for a swim, throw yourself in the pond for a swim!" Lillian lectured as Harold broke the surface coming back up and spat out the water.
"don't make me drag you down here to join me." Harold warned. "I am sourly tempted pretty princess." He made aware sitting up, and in that position sitting in the pond at that place, the water went him to just below the chest, the rest of him was all-ready soaked.
"Harold get out of the water." Lillian asked her husband.
"You got me in here." Harold made aware. But regardless stood up, and walked back towards the princess, twisting his cape so water spilled out.
"Oh come here and give us a kiss." Lillian pouted in that way that made it impossible for Harold to stay mad at her.
Harold smiled vaguely at her as he bowed down, still standing in water to his knees, kissing her on the cheek, then he blinked as he realized.. perhaps there was a way.. a way to give Lillian what she needed, and she did indeed deserve that child! more than any-one Harold knew. He had to try! "Lillian I.." he hesitated. "I'm going to go away this afternoon, I'm so sorry, business you know." He told her. "Who knew being king would be such a hard job?"
"Oh dear lord, again." Lillian rolled her eyes. "Well, just get back as soon as possible, I don't like laying alone in a empty bed."
"I promise." Harold stated. "I'll be back before you know it, maybe even doing the late evening." He promised. "Oh and by the way." Suddenly he shoveled a huge splash a water at Lillian so she screamed in surprise, jumping up looking shocked at Harold. "Don't look so surprised, you had that one coming." Harold stated in a laugh, only for suddenly, Lillian to run in a straight line right at him.
Harolds eyes widened, for a moment frightened as he didn't know what was going to happen, and at last he was tackled by his queen so they both landed right back in the water in a big splash, drenching them both for good, and suddenly, neither of them could stop laughing their lungs out as they as two fools laid soaking wet in the lily pond, just for that moment forgetting they were king and queen and that they were sad, just for that little moment cheering it each other, while having a water fight as were they two children, while no-body was looking, they could be allowed to just let be.