Chapter Eleven

The Meeting with 'His Egotistical Highness'

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As Lia and I made our way down to the gardens, we found Prince Leopold just outside of them. The man looked to be in his mid-twenties and was a foot taller than Lia with broad shoulders and a slim waist. He was dressed in a periwinkle blue dress coat that made his eyes of the same color stand out vividly, while his feathered blond hair occasionally fell into them. He stood with one hand in a fist propped on his hip and the other lay limp by his side.

The whole scene made me want to gag. He looked like one of the princes in my sisters' story books. There was no way he was for real.

"Good afternoon, Prince Leopold," Lia greeted. She curtsied while he bowed, and then he took the hand she offered for him to kiss. His lips lingered at her hand, staring up into her eyes. I seethed, not liking him in the least.

"Would you accompany me through the gardens, milady?" he asked in a deep, inviting voice. He gave her a dazzling, white smile showing nearly all his teeth and offered his arm.

"Certainly, your highness," she replied, smiling herself and blushing a little. I grinded my own teeth and thought about how great it would be to punch out his. Then we'd see just how pretty his smile would be with them all missing.

"Why don't we drop the formalities?" he offered. "It feels too distant. I mean, we are promised to be married, are we not?"

"Yes, we are," she answered with a small smile.

As they walked through the garden, I tried to follow their conversation, but the man was so incredibly boring that I had a hard time trying to stay awake. Surely Lia thought so, too?

But no, she was smiling and laughing politely at his pathetic attempts to be funny. She was even flirting with him! I grumbled in my pocket, positively annoyed.

To try to take my mind off of them, I focused on our route through the garden, which gradually turned into the labyrinth if you weren't paying attention. They obviously weren't, because all too soon we were surrounded by the tall hedges and walking along the winding pathways. It was a good thing Lia had me to guide her out, because the pathways are very tricky and will lead you in a completely different direction from originally intended if you weren't paying attention, as I've learned from exploring them in my earlier years living here. I'm actually quite an expert at this particular labyrinth, if I do say so myself.

After a few minutes, I noticed that they were walking toward one of the many clearings that were all throughout the labyrinth, and sure enough, we came to one with a white marble fountain that I was sure had more algae on its surface the last time I was here; but then of course the royal gardeners cleaned it up before they could allow it to be seen by Prince Leopold. They began to slow down as they approached the fountain, and Leopold led her to sit upon the ledge.

Good. At least I can swim while the man droned on. I wiggled around in Lia's pocket, trying to hop out of it but with little success. It was a bit humid in the pocket, so I kept sticking to the soft fabric. Lia must have realized what I was trying to do, because in the next moment I felt her hand around me. I felt the cool breeze of the early evening air as she set me down on the ledge behind her. The sun had just begun to set, adding to the mood of the couple, which I was none too happy about. I jumped in the water to take my mind off of the situation.

"What was that?" I heard the prince say. His tone, to my disappointment, was only curious. I was hoping for it to sound alarmed to add to the other qualities about him that I was going to make fun of with Lia later. I watched her shrug it off and start another conversation with him while I swum around, trying to ignore the bitter feeling growing in the pit of my stomach and also thinking of a reason for it.

Maybe I was just being the protective best friend who wanted only the best for her?… Yes, that had to be exactly what it was. I just wanted Lia to be happy, so this should be good, right? Lia wanted a connection with the guy she was forced to marry, and they were actually getting along. So what was my problem?

Then suddenly I realized that they began speaking in soft voices to where I couldn't hear what they were saying with my being at the other end of the fountain. I narrowed my eyes at them, not liking how close they were. He whispered something in her ear, and she giggled softly. They were only inches apart and I felt the indignant feeling in my stomach explode.

That was it! I couldn't take it anymore and jumped out from the water right in between them, shouting, "All right! Break it up!"

What came next was completely unexpected, to say the least. A low, but definite yell came from the prince as he leapt back from me. Lia and I exchanged glances.

"Are you serious? Did you just scream? Good grief," I said incredulously.

He tried to compose himself by straightening up, brushing imaginary dust off his suit, and then casually running his hand through his hair. He cleared his throat. "Of course I didn't scream. You merely surprised me while I was about to sing a short ballad to my dearest Lilian. The sound you heard was nothing more than an off-key note," he said in such a matter-of-fact tone that I almost believed him… not. It was the most full of bull excuse I've probably ever heard, and I've heard my share of dumb excuses. Need I remind you of all my siblings?

"Yeah, okay," I said just to let him keep a smidgen of his dignity. His eyes narrowed coldly at me, but I kept my indifferent stare.

"What sort of magical being are you, anyway?" he asked.

"I'm not, actually. I've been cursed by a witch."

"Well, surely you are no one of importance. Otherwise, I would have heard of your… abnormality," he said with a snobbish air.

"As a matter of fact, I am the—"

"Philip," Lia cut in, shaking her head slightly. I shut my mouth but still glowered at the prince. Lia looked at him, too, smiling nervously. "Do you think I could have a word with my friend, Leopold? I'll only be a minute."

"You know this insipid creature?"

Insipid? Who was he calling insipid?! I sprang at him only to be caught in mid-air by Lia, which was quite an incredible feat, seeing as I was actually pretty quick.

She smiled. "I'll be right back."

"Of course, Lilian. I'll be waiting for you," he said, smiling that cocky smile of his. I swear, if I wasn't a frog . . .

Lia walked out of sight from Leopold and set me down on a nearby bench. "What is your problem tonight?" she asked me. She seemed a bit irritated and I held my head in shame. I shrugged my shoulders, not really having an answer. Lia continued, "Are you trying to ruin this union that could benefit our two kingdoms?"

This made me look up. "Who cares about whether it benefits the kingdoms?!" I practically shouted. "What about you, Lia? How does it benefit you?"

She stared at me for a while in silence, then directed her eyes ahead of her and stated in an impassive tone, "For a great kingdom to prosper, one must sacrifice the needs and wants of oneself for the greater good of one's people."

Wow. That sounded an awful lot like something my father would say to me. But Lia's not royalty, so how can that apply to her?

"That's well and good for the royals, Lia, but you should have the right to marry someone you love, not this Prince Leopold character!"

She looked down and smiled at me. "That's sweet, Philip, but not really my choice. 'My benefit', as you say, will be the expressions of the people when the two kingdoms flourish from the small sacrifice I can provide… Besides, I could learn to love Leopold," she added haltingly, her eyes downcast. I could tell she was trying to make herself believe that and was having difficulty in doing so.

"How could it not be your choice?"

She hesitated. "My King has provided for my family, given me whatever I've asked of him, for longer than I remember… He asked me this one favor, and I accepted."

I thought about what she said and sighed heavily, knowing that there wasn't really anything else I could say in argument. "I guess I could appreciate that," I said, dejected.

"Oh, don't be like that, Philip. It'll all work out in the end. You'll see," she said, trying to cheer me up when it was she who really needed her disposition brightened.

"I hope so. For your sake."

She smiled and scooped me up. "Come on," she said. "Let's return to him."

Back at the fountain, Leopold seemed a little... nervous, for some reason. He kept running his hands through his hair and shifting his weight from foot to foot.

"Is there something wrong, Leopold?" Lia asked. He looked at me.

"Uh, how do you even know… it?"

It? I'll show him what an it can do! I struggled in Lia's hands to get at him, but she tightened her grasp on me. I wasn't going anywhere.

"His name is Philip," she said pointedly, "and we met when my family moved in here. He was living at the pond in the east side of the castle."

"But why befriend, uh, him?" His upper lip curled in a grimace.

"Because he's kind and understanding," she began. "He treats me with respect, and he makes me feel like my opinions and thoughts matter." I noticed that her voice became softer and held a sort of tenderness that made my heart feel as though it would burst out of my chest. "I can talk to him about anything… And I'm sure that if you just gave him a chance, you two would also become good friends."

I highly doubted that.

And apparently so did he.

"No," he scoffed. "I should think not!"

Lia's jaw tensed, but that was the only hint in her expression that reflected the anger I was currently feeling from her, as her hold on me tightened at an alarming speed. I cleared my throat, making her realize what she was doing, and she immediately loosened her grip.

"Look, Lilian," the Prince began quite arrogantly. "I originally wanted to meet you before the ball to propose officially, but now that I've met you, I really can't see me marrying someone with such" – he glanced down at me – "oddity in their behavior."

Lia's eyes narrowed into a glare that I hoped I would never be on the receiving end. Prince Leopold actually backed away a step from its intensity.

"Oh, really?" she asked, her voice still very calm. It made me shiver a bit and I wasn't even the one in trouble.

"Uh, yes?" he replied uncertainly. He then shook his head, as though just realizing what he had said. "I mean, yes," he said more firmly.

I couldn't help but laugh at him. Lia had to 'shush' me.

"And besides," Leopold continued, glaring at me; though he wasn't quite as arrogant. "I never wanted this arranged marriage in the first place. My father thought it would be the best way for our kingdoms to come together, but his real reason was to force me to get married. I won't have it, I tell you! I'm too young to be tied down to one female. There are too many other beautiful women in the world, and let's face it, I am the most handsome prince anyone has ever seen. How can I deprive the ladies of my dashing good looks and charming personality by marrying? Why, it's inconceivable! Now, if you will excuse me." He swept his arm down in a bow and began to walk away with the most ridiculous strut I've ever seen.

"Well, that was… unexpected," I said. She laughed, which sounded a little relieved, and sat down on the ledge of the fountain, placing me beside her. I looked up. "Why didn't you retaliate?"

"Well, mostly because he didn't give me room to," she replied, smiling. "He was quite long winded for not saying very much." I joined her melodic laughter, but then I thought about what this would mean for Lia and stopped. Would she get into trouble?

"I'm sorry I ruined this for you."

"Oh, no, don't apologize, Philip. I should be thanking you," she said.

What? "Thanking me?"

"Well, yes. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have known his true character and would have actually married the pompous jerk."

"So, you won't have to marry him?" I asked a bit more anxiously than I intended.

"I don't think so," she replied, although she didn't sound very sure.

"Will you get into much trouble?"

"I should think not. My father will understand."

"Well, what about the King?"

"I just sai–oh! Yeah, I'm sure he will, too," she said a little rushed. This puzzled me for a second, but then I brushed it off, assuming that she was probably thinking of other things and was just distracted.

"Do you think he'll tell people about me?"

"I hope not. I mean, no offense, Philip, but—"

"I know. You don't have to explain. If the roles were switched, I wouldn't want to be seen, or known of talking to a frog, which can apparently talk back. Sounds a little crazy."

She gave me a mischievous smile. "If he does, I'm sure no one will believe him anyway, which will probably keep him from saying anything." She rose from the ledge and brushed off the back of her gown. "Well, I'd better go 'freshen up' for the ball" – That was her excuse to anyone who stopped her from going to her room to drop me off. – ". . . unless you would rather stay in my pocket?"

"Ooo, as much fun as that sounds, I think I'll pass." She giggled as she swept me up and placed me in her pocket.

I had to direct her on our way out of the labyrinth, since she wasn't paying attention earlier, and we both suspected that Prince Leopold was probably lost inside, to which we both laughed about. Serves him right, I say.

Inside the castle, Lia was just about to ascend the staircase to her room when a familiar voice called to her from behind.

"Lia? What are you doing inside already? And without Prince Leopold?" Rosalyn asked.

"Um, well, he and I went separate ways from the gardens, and I decided to freshen up before the ball," Lia answered. "In fact," she added, her voice sounding as though it was holding back her laughter, "he may have gotten a little lost. Maybe someone should go show him the way out."

Rosalyn raised an eyebrow. "I hope you don't mean me," she replied haughtily. "That's a servant's job. Go ask one of them."

Lia only shrugged her shoulders and continued up the staircase.

"Well?" Rosalyn asked. "Aren't you going to go ask one of them?"

"Mmm, maybe later," Lia answered over her shoulder with a careless air. I laughed to myself as I watched Rosalyn's shocked expression until it was out of sight.