Chapter 65 - The Weekend Of: Part 7 of ?
"You know, I really don't agree with you keeping this from Eugene and your parents," Leonard relayed, as he and Catalina each walked on one side of Rapunzel. The crown Princess was dressed up in her nice dress, though not same dress she would be wearing during the coronation later that day. The one key difference, now, with her appearance was that she had on a gigantic, white wig, which of course was hiding the long length of blonde hair she now possessed and bore.
"It's only for the time being," Rapunzel said, waving it off. Though when she did so, the weight of the hair caused her to tilt to the side. Leonard was thankfully there to stabilize her. "Thank you."
"You are very welcome, but I must warn you..." They had reached the back door, and outside a short distance away, the terrace could be seen where everyone was seated at the rectangular table. There were the two Coronan monarchs, King Frederic and Queen Arianna, Rapunzel's Aunt Willow, and the Dresonian monarchs, King Thomas and Queen Elizabeth in that order on one side, and on the other was Eugene (with Pascal on his shoulder), three empty seats next to him, and Kiera, who sat on the very end. "People are going to question...-" he pointed an uncertain finger at the wig, "-that."
"They won't," Rapunzel assured, voice confident. "Princesses and royals wear wigs and have worn wigs throughout history. But even if they do question me, I'll just say I wanted to try something new!"
"Okay, I can see it working for today's event. But what about tomorrow's?"
"... what about it?"
"Your wedding? Remember?" Rapunzel's face fell in remembrance, "That enormous wig isn't going to cut it there. Why don't you just come clean now before it's too late?" Unless there's some sort of magic spell that could make your hair vanish, the Prince thought erratically. Because, apparently, magic is a thing now! Or, it has been! Gah! This is all too confusing!
"Leonard," Rapunzel said, lifting her face. She was frowning, "The hair... the hair being back is kind of a big deal. And it's something I'd rather tell Eugene and my parents in private so they can process it better." She bit her lip, whispering, "Besides, I haven't even... tried to heal with it yet. I don't even know if I can, and a part of me isn't sure if I'll... ever want to know."
Leonard bit his lip as well, still not liking this all one bit. But he reluctantly nodded, "Okay... if that's what you want, I won't force you. And I won't tell Eugene,-" Even though I absolutely should, and in lying, I am setting a horrible example for my children! "-either, out of your own wishes." This is still crazy! "But I must warn that you are playing a dangerous game here, Rapunzel."
"I know, I know," Rapunzel said frantically, waving her hand. "I've got it covered, though. Everything will turn out nice and peachy." She smiled brightly.
Leonard looked down to his daughter, Catalina, who shared the same look of uncertainty he had. "Okay..." He lifted his head, and moved to the door, pulling it open, "If you say so..."
Eugene was sitting at one end of the long table, watching bored out of his mind as his soon to be in-laws chatted with the other members of their family, when he heard subtle noise of doors opening. He lifted his head from picking at his food, and his heart skipped a beat when he caught Rapunzel's sight for the first time since the previous night. Pascal, who was also on his shoulder, squealed in joy, and he wasted no time to jump up and out of his seat, inadvertently catching the attention of everyone at the table by doing so, but he didn't have at all a care. All that mattered now was that Rapunzel was here, he could see her, she could see him...
Everything was finally, once again, right in the world.
"Rapunzel!" he called, running up to her.
"Eugene!" Rapunzel laughed. Leonard and Catalina stepped to the side as Eugene ran into her.
The excited guy immediately wrapped his arms around her small form, and his smile was as grand as could be. He whispered over her shoulder, relishing in her sweet scent, "I've missed you so much, sunshine."
Rapunzel felt herself tearing up, and she held onto him tighter. "I've missed you, too," she whispered.
After a few seconds, Eugene stepped back and stared into her eyes. She did the same, not taking her eyes off his, and that was when he drew her close and passionately locked their lips with a kiss. Rapunzel jumped in surprise, but she eventually eased into it, her hold on him softening in ecstasy. From the main table under the terrace, Frederic, Arianna, Thomas, Elizabeth, and Kiera all looked on in slight confusion.
"Is everything alright, Eugene?" Frederic called from his seat.
Eugene stepped back, distancing himself after their kiss, though he didn't take his eyes off Rapunzel's for even a second. "Everything's... everything's perfect, sir. Better than perfect, even." He took her right hand with his left, and he lifted her knuckles up to his lips, planting a gentle and delicate kiss there. "I'm so happy you're okay. Pascal and I were real worried for a split second. Hey,-" he dropped her hand, "-speaking of the bugger, where's he gone off to this time?"
Pascal, who had camouflaged while bustling his way back up to Rapunzel's shoulder, turned back to his green state. "Pascal!" Rapunzel rubbed his little head, "I'm so happy to see you again." Pascal chirped in delight, and he curled up, a lovely red color tinting his scales.
Eugene laughed, the pure joy and excitement of seeing that she was fine and safe being enough to push away all other coherent thoughts. He still wanted to talk to her about the wedding, but for the time being, he pushed those questions aside in lieu of just spending simple time with her and their loved ones once more.
So, as such, he offered her a hand. Rapunzel took it and walked forward, though almost right away, the wig on her hair (that Eugene had overlooked at first) tilted ever so slightly to the side. He looked up at it, then back down to her as she regained her balance. "You felt like trying something new today?" he playfully asked.
Rapunzel frowned before looking up to the wig. "Oh, this?" She pointed a finger, "Cass suggested it earlier whileeeee she was helping me get dressed in her room!" Rapunzel almost forgot mid-sentence, "And knowing already how she knows a lot about this stuff, I thought I'd give it a shot! Besides, Princesses and royals have worn wigs before, you know?"
Eugene was leading her forward and towards the terrace, where everyone except Kiera seemed to have shaken it off as nothing, as if it was normal. And Eugene did seem to believe Rapunzel's little story, shrugging. "It does make you look more... royal-ly," he chuckled," if that makes sense." Rapunzel blushed, and with one hand keeping the wig steady, the other being in Eugene's, she walked up to the table and sat down at her spot after Eugene pulled her chair out. Leonard and Catalina did the same, and as everyone settled in, the feasting began. The seating arrangements, again for reminders, consisted of the 5 older adults on one side, with the younger crowd on another.
"Rapunzel, darling," Willow said, leaning forward with a grin, "I absolutely adore what you've done with your hair!" Rapunzel had plopped some food in her mouth, and immediately coughed. Eugene wasted not a second to bring his arm to her back, which he began to rub gently.
"Oh, sorry," Rapunzel said immediately, smiling nervously. "It's a little... dry out here, don't you think? Is anyone else dry?" King Thomas in particular raised a suspicious eyebrow, as everyone else stared, before digging back into his food silently. Everyone else followed course as Eugene quietly reminded her of the glass of water positioned right next to her plate, and she took a slow sip, glancing at Leonard, who bit his lip in angst while giving her a rather annoyed look back. She felt bad about bringing him into this, basically forcing him to keep up the lie, too, but she felt as if she had no other choice.
Speaking of Leonard, just to his right sat Catalina, who was cutting her eggs when Kiera nudged her shoulder.
Her black eyes gestured upwards in Rapunzel's direction, "Why's Rapunzel wearing that... wig? That is a wig, right?"
Catalina blinked a few times, looking at her father out of the corner of her, who failed to notice her. She then sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "She told us it's customary for Princesses and Princes on their coronation day."
Kiera's eyebrows furrowed in slight confusion, and from the tone of her sister's voice, she immediately suspected something was up. But the slight frown her father was now giving her was encouraging enough for her to dig back into her food.
After a little bit of eating and exchanging common chit-chat, Eugene noticed how Rapunzel kept adjusting to and re-positioning the wig on top of her head. And, he could've sworn that it appeared to be slightly weighted, if that made any sense. It didn't to him, which was why he asked her about it in a quiet whisper. "There's more to the wig, isn't there?"
Rapunzel looked at him out of the corner of her eye, gulping down some water. "Hm?" Pascal, who hadn't left her shoulder since crawling his way back up, was curiously looking upwards at it, though he found no hints at first that something was up.
Eugene eyed the wig warily, "I mean, wigs don't usually come in that size... or they're not supposed to? I don't know. Are you sure everything's alright?"
Rapunzel's eyes widened, and once again, she re-positioned the wig on top of her head. Thankfully, everyone else at the table was occupied with eating and talking among one another. She opened her mouth to reply, "Hey, didn't you say you needed to talk to me about something important?"
At that, Eugene's face fell even further. "I... I did, but you're dodging my question."
"I'm not dodging your question," Rapunzel retorted, her voice accusatory. "Is there something wrong with me wanting to talk to my soon-to-be husband about things that are so important that they apparently 'can't wait'?" she finished up-beat, giggling.
Eugene chuckled at that. "Well, I suppose not," he said in realization, before growing serious. "But... yes, there is something I want to talk to you about..." His voice trailed off, and he stared into her eyes, the very same eyes he thought were a gift from the heavens themselves. "But it can wait until after your coronation." Under the table, he blindly grabbed her idle hand, and gave it a comforting squeeze.
Rapunzel blushed and did her best to hold back the sheepish smile, but the tone of his words and the smoothness of his voice was too much. But, as it was her plan, she did seem to take his attention off the wig. "If you say so," she whispered, leaning up and kissing his cheek. "Do you know?" She asked this after having retracted back into her own seat.
Eugene's cheeks were slightly pink, and he had gone back to resuming his meal by now. "Hm?"
She gave him one of her intentional cute, loving smiles. "Do you know... how much I love you?" she asked slightly goofy.
Eugene stopped right as he was about bring a fork of eggs to his mouth, and he turned ever so slowly to her, his mouth slightly agape. He stared seriously at her for a few seconds, before breaking into a warm smile. "Of course I do," he said in a soft voice. "How could I ever forget, with your constant cute reminders." He chuckled, "I love you too, sunshine." He gave her hand another squeeze again, along with one of those looks of immense passion that made Rapunzel's heart absolutely flutter. She sighed in content, and looked back to Pascal one final time, who had since crawled down her shoulder to get something little to eat for himself.
It was twenty or so minutes after when everyone finished their meals. The two Dresonian monarchs, Rapunzel's Aunt Willow, and Leonard and his girls all left the area as they went their separate ways to prepare themselves for the upcoming ceremony. It was just Rapunzel, Eugene, King Frederic and Queen Arianna, now, who were left seated at the table. Frederic in particular was looking rather intently towards his daughter, when he finally cleared his throat and stood up.
"Rapunzel, would you care to accompany me on a walk?"
Rapunzel, after re-adjusting her wig once again, nodded slowly. She told both Eugene and her mother that she'd be right back, and without wasting a second more, she took the hand of her father, and let herself be led on a path towards the nearby water fountain. They walked in silence for five minutes until her father decided to clear his throat.
Frederic had since retracted his hand, and held both of them behind his back as they walked by a bed of flowers. "I've been meaning to talk to you about some things..." His face fell, "Things about... things about my past, our past, and about the father figure that I wish to be for you once you become an official Princess today." Rapunzel's interest was peaked, and she found herself listening intently as they walked. "You and I... we haven't talked much about what happened all those years ago. And that's simply because I... uhm, I haven't been ready to. But your Mother has recently reminded me that it's far past time I address these... thoughts and feelings I still have about that night." He stopped walking, as did Rapunzel, and turned to her.
His voice was more quiet, and slightly more pained than how it usually was. "The night you were taken from us... that night haunted my dreams and nightmares ever since." Rapunzel was expecting something serious from the immediate beginning simply being that her father's tone was much more deliberate, but this topic of conversation was something rather unexpected. "Even to this day, I am plagued by my own memories and recollections..." He stepped towards her, and took her one free hand in his own. "I have blamed myself each and every day since; a part of me died that night, sweetheart. The best part of me, and in the years after..." He ducked his head and looked away, as if he couldn't pull himself to look her into the eyes while saying what he had to say next. "In the years after, I became a shell of my former self. Your mother and I dealt with the trauma of what happened... in our own separate ways. I remember how your mother often secluded herself in her personal study for days, reading whatever fantasy and fiction book she could find. To her, that was an escape. But me, on the other hand..." He turned back to her, eyes solemn, and his voice lowered even deeper, "As you may have suspected already, I took a different path in how I handled myself. I became more involved in my work, more involved than I had ever been before you were born." His face and voice fell, "More than I should have been, I now realize."
Rapunzel hated to see her father like this, but she had been suspecting for a while that he may or may not have done some regretful things in the years after her disappearance. "Dad, why are you telling me this?"
He hesitated slightly before answering. "Because I want you to know that no matter what, I won't fail you, your mother, or anyone else we care about ever again. From this day on, no one we care about will ever have to suffer under my watch."
"... Dad, what happened to me wasn't your fault. I know that."
Frederic reached into his pocket, drew out a handkerchief, and lifted it to his eyes, which had all of a sudden become damp. "I know... or, I think... I know. You see, sweetheart, for those eighteen years, not one day passed where I did not put the blame on my own self. So... as you may suspect," he chuckled, though it wasn't out of happiness, "in this year we've spent together as a family, it hasn't been the easiest task to convince myself otherwise." He and her both stopped as they had come back to the fountain. He stared into the flowing water, and Rapunzel took a second to glance back at the terrace, where both her mother and Eugene had seemingly vanished.
"I'm working hard, now, to change this mindset of mine. But there's something else... something you deserve to know. The truth." Rapunzel slowly turned back, and she looked up to him as he turned back to her. "I am not the man you think I am, Rapunzel." He paused, and in this short silence, Rapunzel felt herself paying closer attention. "I have, more often than not, crossed the line of connecting my personal life to that of my official duties. And I acknowledge that for me to be the father you deserve, I must work to change the person I had become in the wake of your kidnapping, the person I... still am even to this day." He placed a hand on her shoulder, "Rapunzel, you will be Queen one day; a great Queen, with a magnificent Kingdom, one that you will be entrusted to rule with only the best interests of your citizens in mind. And I know that you know better than anyone else what a dangerous world it is out there, beyond Corona..." His face turned regretful, "Even in Corona, at times."
All throughout the town, the few thugs, along with Pocket, began committing treacherous and treasonous crimes. Their intention was not to get away, but rather, to get caught. And that's exactly what happened: it was a matter of no time when the few thugs had all been rounded up in a carriage that was riding in the direction of the castle and main prison close by.
"And the barrier keeping us safe from that danger is sometimes more fragile than it appears. So when that evil rears its ugly head, it is my job, and it will be your job one day, to protect us from it. And I must teach you... while also re-teaching myself, the proper and right ways of going about handling it. And I promise you, daughter, you will be ready when the day comes for you to take your rightful place as ruler of our Corona."
Rapunzel stared up at him, carefully thinking over the words he had said, before jumping forward and enveloping him in a hug. Frederic let out a slight gasp at this, but almost immediately returned the gesture.
"I love you," he reminded her in a soft voice.
"I love you too, Dad. And... if you want to know, I have suspected that some things weren't as they seemed." Rapunzel drew back, "But I think people deserve second chances, and if you're willing to work for it, you deserve the opportunity as much as anyone else." She saw the content smile on his face, and let herself be drawn close for another hug. While in their embrace, Frederic tilted his head up in the direction of the terrace. As he did so, Rapunzel felt something fall in front of her face. She quietly gasped, seeing that it was a strand of her hair, and acting on pure instinct, she shoved it back up inside the wig, simultaneously separating herself from her father's arms.
Frederic heard her slight catch of the breath, and felt the chill of her arms leaving, so he looked down at her with narrowed, confused eyes.
"Uhhh... I should probably get going now." Rapunzel began to walk away, steadying the wig on her head as she did so. "I have a lot of... princessing up to do before the big event!" She giggled nervously, and often found herself leaning too far off to the side as she walked off.
Frederic, though, stood still. He was confused mightily by the scene, and stroked his chin-hairs in thought. "Women... I've been married to one for over twenty years, and I still don't understand them," he mumbled lightly.
It was about thirty minutes before the official coronation, and King Frederic, with his soon to be son in law by his side, stood in front of his castle, positioned in the courtyard as a dozen or so carriages entered through under the main gates. His wife and daughter were still busy inside with the last minute preparations, so he took to inviting Corona's next Prince (Consort) to accompany him in welcoming their guests. As well, there were a few civilians and citizens in attendance just off to the side watching the formal welcoming take place.
"Now, remember, son," Frederic reminded, his voice quiet as the first of the carriages rolled up in front. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Eugene ever so slightly turn to him. "Perfect posture, put on a smile, and act like these people are the most important men and women in your lives."
"... Why?" Eugene's voice reeked of confusion.
"Because," Frederic said, darting his eyes back as a jouster ran up near the carriage. His voice was rather serious with direct intent, "These men and women of are the highest importance, of the highest social class, and it is beneficial for Corona's reputation that its new Prince Consort and future King puts on a good show."
"Soon to be Prince Consort, sir-" Eugene was interrupted by the sound of a horn being blown, and both he and Frederic stood up straight in response.
"Your majesty," the jouster said in a formal voice, "may I introduce, Dame Elizabeth Van-Hoskins of Rochester!" An older, dressed up woman exited the carriage with his help, and after, she silently walked forward alone. Frederic and Eugene both smiled at her, each bowing slightly. The Dame then took to walking off to the side, as the second carriage rolled up.
"I present,-" the jouster opened up the door, revealing a black-haired man dressed in a suit that wore many medals and medallions, "-Commander General, James Rutherford Carver... the 3rd!" James Rutherford Carver... the 3rd was a well-built and distinguished man, and he walked up in front of both Frederic and Eugene.
"Don't I recognize you from somewhere?" The question came from the mouth of the general, and Eugene saw the distinguished man and King Frederic both eyeing him down, and he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Maybe, maybe not," he said slyly. "I have been told before that I have one of those faces people recognize." He grinned smugly and winked an eye, and Rutherford raised a skeptical eyebrow in response before walking off grumbling. Eugene took a deep breath after having been reminded of his incredulous and daring past as a criminal, when the jouster's voice re-caught his attention.
"I present,-" a wig-wearing, make-up faced younger woman with a fan walked forward, "-the Duchess of Quintonia."
Eugene turned his head, and when he caught her sight, he involuntary gasped. It wasn't a delighted gasp, and he noticed such immediately, as judged by how he flung his hands right up to his mouth. "There's no way that's real..." he mumbled to himself, but judging by the stern scowl King Frederic was now giving him, his voice seemingly hadn't been all that quiet.
"You're quite right, sir," the wig-wearing lady said, her British accent shining through, "it isn't." She giggled and waved her fan in an erotic fashion, "This is a hand-woven coiffure, weft from the finest silk and vicuña fabrics. It designates high social status, something I presume a handsome and well-off Consort like yourself already knew prior, of course." She daringly, and somewhat flirtatiously, winked an eye at him as she walked off to the side.
Eugene found himself staring at her in curiosity, for he knew he had never met the woman before, but something about her... accent, and her eyes; something just seemed familiar. But he was taken out of his thoughts via a slight nudge by the King, and with a sigh, he put on another fake smile as a different important someone he knew nothing about made their entrance.
Rapunzel was sitting cross-legged on her bed, adjusting the wig at the top of her head. Pascal, who was seated right next to her, eyed her suspiciously. He chirped a question, and she turned her attention from the abomination that was her hair to that of her little green life-long friend. "What's up?"
"There's more to the wig, isn't there?"
Rapunzel bit her lip, before eventually sighing. "Pascal, I... I should be honest with you." She reached down with her open palm, letting him jump onto it as she then brought it up and close to her face. Pascal looked quite worried and concerned. "It's a long story, but-"
"This is about your disappearance during the middle of the night, isn't it?"
Rapunzel felt herself smiling at that. "You know me so well," she said, her voice slightly faltering. She sighed again, "Like I said, it's a long story... but the gist of it is... and I need to preface you that what you're about to see is going to be... er, shocking. Really shocking, so you should prepare yourself." Pascal nodded his little head eagerly, and watched as Rapunzel lifted the wig up just a bit, and his mouth dropped when a small length of blonde hair fell down just to the left of her left eye. He stared at it, slowly smiling, as she said awkwardly, "Surprise, buddy... my hair's back."
"But... but how?" Pascal moved just to the side and looked up into the interior of the wig, seeing that it was, in-fact, filled to the brim with the golden locks.
"That's... actually a part of the long story. I'm planning on telling Eugene and my parents about it shortly after the coronation, so if you can wait until then-" Before she could finish her sentence, Rapunzel heard a subtle knocking coming from behind her closed door. "Come in!"
The door slowly opened from the outside, and in looked her mother. "Hi, honey."
"Oh!" Rapunzel waved a hand. "Hi, Mom." Pascal returned to his normal perch on her shoulder, after a little more time spent on inspecting the wig. He was of course confused mightily by just how her hair even grew back in the first place, but he was willing to put off his questions if it meant swinging and playing with it again like the old days. Even being an older chameleon now, he was still one to take up any chance he got for some fun and games.
Arianna closed the door behind her, and as she turned around, it was revealed that she was holding a small, brown wooden box in her hands. "Nigel pulled Eugene and I away right after you left with your father, so I never had the chance to give this to you." She walked towards her daughter, eventually sitting down to her side on the bed. She lifted the box, "I know it's a little early for a coronation present, but I thought you might like to see it now." She handed it to Rapunzel, who took it after inspecting the coronan sun symbol etched into the top of its lid.
Rapunzel opened the box, and saw that there were two journals inside, one that appeared worn down, and another that appeared practically brand new. She looked up to her mother and smiled as she brought the older one out. She opened it, reading, "'Eighteenth of July, we embarked on a safari to the most remote plains of the third continent.'" She turned the page. "'Twenty-first of May,-" Pascal was looking down at the page as well, and felt a comforting finger rub his tiny head affectionately. He looked up and saw that it was the Queen, who had since scooted closer, and he croaked gently in response, "-had to take shelter in a hidden cave to escape the fury of a violent storm.'" Rapunzel looked up again, still smiling, before moving forward. "'Twelfth of April, helped villagers rebuild their war-torn homes',-" she lowered the book, "-Mom, is this yours? Did you... actually do all of this?" she asked, incredulous.
"Rapunzel, our conversation from yesterday had me thinking back to my life before I married your father, to before I became Queen. I was so much like you, it's uncanny! I had no idea what I was meant to do in this world at your age, so I went out and found my own way." Arianna reached into the box, pulling out the new journal. She handed it to her daughter.
Rapunzel opened it, with Pascal onlooking, and she inspected the blank pages. "Rapunzel, I know your father's reminded you of said fact already, but you will be Corona's leading monarch, its Queen, someday. But when that time comes, only you get to decide what kind of leader you'll be. And no one except yourself can tell you the best way to make that decision. Your fears of seclusion here... they are valid, in a sense. But as I promised you yesterday: one day, sweet girl, you will find and carve your own path out there. When you're ready, I want you to find a way to fill those pages of your own. But I only ask that you be safe, be smart, and above all... be true to yourself."
Rapunzel's smile grew, and she looked down to the book, where one page next to the front leather had yet been overturned. She flipped it over, and on the small piece of leather was written a small message.
'Plus Est En Vous'
"'Plus est en vous?'" Rapunzel asked.
"'Ploos est an vu'. It means, 'There is more in you'."
Rapunzel stared at her mother, awestruck for a few seconds, before leaning forward and enveloping her in a hug. "Thank you, Mom."
"No," Arianna replied, her voice soft and ever so caring, "thank you, Rapunzel." She backed away, and took in the scene that was her beautiful daughter when a knock at the door came through. They both turned their heads and saw that it was Cassandra looking in, who immediately blushed after catching sight of the scene.
"Was I interrupting-"
"No!" Arianna and Rapunzel chirped simultaneously. They exchanged embarrassed looks before bursting out into laughter.
Cassandra felt uneasy by the situation as she stood there watching on, and she eventually cleared her throat to re-gain their attention. "I'm sorry, your majesty,-" she looked at Rapunzel, whose giggles were subsiding, "-but the King and the Royal Priest are awaiting the Princesses' arrival for the ceremony's beginning."
Arianna finished through the last of her giggles, and she stood up and nodded. "Thank you, Cassandra. We'll be right there." Cassandra smiled back, and she looked back at Rapunzel, who had returned to re-adjusting her wig once more. That was when the lady in waiting and hopeful guard-to-be took to closing the door from the outside.
When she was gone, Rapunzel looked back to her mother, whose hands had since covered hers in the palm of her lap. "Now, I think it's past time we make you an official Princess, my precious girl." Rapunzel blushed, and she nodded, letting her mother help her up as the two of them (with Pascal on Rapunzel's shoulder, of course) exited her room.
..