The Talk
Wolfgang snored. The intake of his breath sucking deeply in the most lulling of sleep. A soft goose down four post bed supported his sprawled behemoth of a body, which hung over the edges. Without warning, unrelenting quaking wrested his body violently back and forth until he tumbled out crudely onto the floor. The turbulence made his brain ache in confusion. He looked up to see if it had been an earthquake. His father stood looming over him, scowling. "Get up you slothful miscreant!"
He never seemed to do right by the old man. "Your sister's already travelling through town getting done what she needs to get done." He spat out, his face a paradigm of disgust. "Now, go visit your friend Vrott of the royal guard, the one who got passed over for the promotion of Captain?" Wolfgang dusted himself off. His father was already walking out, expecting to be obeyed, his heavy boots hitting the bedroom floor with diminishing thuds as he furthered their distance. He only paused to peek over his shoulder to say, "It's about time your friend feels recognized."
Wolfgang's sister's curly strawberry blond hair was a mess. It was completely unruly and caused no end to frustration for her. Normally she tied it back with a thick piece of twine, and wore a hat over it, forcing it into submission. However she found that for some reason when it was unkempt, people were more open to her. As if sloppiness meant approachability. She would never understand, but she would use it today for her advantage. She took her gardener's mule and wagon again to ride towards the outskirts of town. The man looked a little put out when she did it, but wouldn't dare refuse his mistress.
She was sure no one had seen her when she first rode into town with it before, and even if they did, they wouldn't have recognized her. She was on the way to the notary's anyway to get Antonio's generous "donation" legalized. If anyone had seen her yesterday disguised as Antonio, they would just assume the old man had given the Humpherts his mule and wagon as well.
He had given them everything else. She snorted. It was time for the man to have a retirement party. Not a real one, mind, but one where his sudden departure became very apparent. It was very early in the morning, almost painfully so. Only the random songs of one or two birds accompanied her ride into town. Annoying sounds really. She knew she had no time to loose in their plan. Since Rapunzel was pregnant, it was only a matter of time before the royal family made a public announcement about it, and then the kingdom's subjects fealty was usually strengthened to a fever pitch. There would be no undermining the royal family after that. There wasn't any point on hoping the baby didn't survive. If it survived through what the princess went through yesterday, it was probably a fighter just like she was.
She finally reached the wooden enclave which housed the notary. The notary was surprised at the tailor's rash actions to say the least. "Won't he need any of this for his travels? Does he have any family left in Italy? How is he going to make a living otherwise?" Yet his questions were abated by her presentation of the tailor's customer journal. The handwriting was undeniably the same, down to the shakiness of the old man's scrawl. "What do you plan to do with all that fabric?" The notary asked curiously. "Oh I am going into town this morning to sell it. We have no need of it, but we're hoping to use the earnings of the sales to donate to the orphanage."
"How kind!" The notary beamed. He felt better about this whole thing. It is was unimaginable that a noble family would steal from a plebian tailor anyway. He didn't know what was wrong with him. "Yes," Rebekah returned, using her warmest voice possible. "I think that is what he would have wanted."
"Eugene!" Rapunzel shook him. "What? What?" Morning birds were chirping. The sun wasn't even out yet. He had started getting used to getting up this early since became Captain of the Guards, but last night they had been up late. "What's wrong?" Eugene asked groggily, if not a tinge grumpily. "Is everything alright?"
"They're running out of money."
"Money? What?"
"The Lundars, your father, other," she circled her hands around, "noble families. Everyone in the Dark Kingdom is running out of money to pay the workman doing the reconstruction."
"What Rapunzel?" He had no idea why she was thinking of this so early in the morning, but he had never heard anything about it. "My father never said anything about that."
"Well Eugene, I don't think he would. He wouldn't want to burden you. Elipta Lundar confided in me that they were."
He gave her a look.
"I know! I know what you are thinking, but she's one of the nice ones. If she wasn't, why admit they're loosing money at all? That doesn't sound like an arrogant Lundar to me."
Eugene sat up groaning and in horror rubbed down a cowlick he felt up in his hair. He cleared his throat. "Ok Rapunzel let's say I believe that she's one of the nice ones. What does that have to do with well, waking me up for this?" He was cranky.
"I'm sorry Eugene. I thought you had to wake up at this hour anyway."
She was right of course. He put his vest back on his undershirt and tucked his shirt in. When they had the doctor's appointment yesterday he had already changed out of his guard uniform as they were done with drills and took the rest of the day off. It was going to take at least a half an hour ride back to the palace and then he still had to change into his uniform, and get to the courtyard. It was going to be close. "Yeah you're right princess." He yawned. "I guess it's good you woke me. Go on."
"Eugene have you heard how the crops are doing in the Dark Kingdom?"
"No I haven't heard anything." They had been too preoccupied with the events of yesterday to ask Quirin when he returned. Waking up a little more he expounded, "If they're doing anything at all like how they're doing here though, it'll be great! The Dark Kingdom is one month ahead of us for harvest times." Something triggered, as he thought he knew where she might be going with this.
"Eugene remember how I told you that Corona was doing well on capital, it was just crops we needed to worry about?"
"Yes."
Her excitement was contagious. He stopped getting ready for a minute. "Are you thinking of starting a trade between kingdoms, money for food sort of thing?"
"Yes!" She said enthusiastically. "It all depends on how the crops are doing there though." Eugene thought back on how he helped turn over the black moon rock dust into the soil, mounds and mounds and mounds of it. He only did a few acres, but he knew those who stayed behind had to have done miles. If they had the surprise growth of Corona's black dust experiment at all, it could be possible that the crops outnumbered the tentative population. Not all of the Dark Kingdom's subjects were brave enough to return yet. He told all that to Rapunzel. "Eugene that's fantastic! That would solve our problem if any shortage came up due to weather and help your father's kingdom with reconstruction. With more money for housing in your father's kingdom, I bet more people would eventually return. Do you think Quirin and Varian are awake to ask them?"
"I bet they are. Quirin and Varian are practically full time farmers now. Farmers always have to get up early."
"I have to ask them before we leave." She was already dressed and began moving out the door.
"And oh Eugene, good morning!" She gave him a quick peck. "I'm sorry I kept you up so late. I know you're going to be tired today. I just hardly get down time to spend with you, you know?"
He returned her affection. "I know sunshine. I think it was worth it." He wished he had more time with her right now.
The guards waited in the courtyard but Captain Eugene Fitzherbert was late. He had not been late once since being appointed Captain, though, on the other hand, he had not been captain for long. Their shadows stretched longer in the rising sun, highlighting the fact that as they stood in attention, they had no one to direct attention to. Armon Schmidt, the young new recruit, shifted uncomfortably. He was highly aware of body postures stiffening in worry or disapproval. Despite the captain's checkered past, he had earned the respect of most of the men. They heard of his exploits during his travels with Rapunzel, and most had witnessed his courage.
Though there were a handful of men who privately grumbled against him. They thought of the Captain of the Royal Guards as a joke. Who ever heard of a thief becoming a lawman? He for his part sympathized with the captain. He had heard of the princess' sudden illness and recovery yesterday, so maybe this was what this was about. He also understood the few whispers of disapproval starting among them. If it was the princess, why not send word?
"Ok men!" A voice suddenly broke the silence. "Captain Fitzherbert and Maximus are not here, that doesn't mean we can't do our drills independently. We've been trained on what to do. Captain Fitzherbert has appointed me acting captain in his absence. Let's get to it!" First Lieutenant Vrott directed the men in a way that left no questions. The men got to their routine. A few minutes later Captain Fitzherbert arrived looking a little flushed and sweaty. Maximus had no doubt rushed them there. The princess' husband stood as erect as he could to address everyone. Tension among the guards hung in the air as they waited to see what he would say after this flummox of his authoritarian duties.
"Huh," he began loudly. "Already marching around the perimeter are we? Somebody must have missed something to be that far into drills already! Well step lively boys, it's obvious somebody's late!"
The men laughed, "Welcome back Captain! Aye Captain! How's the princess Captain? Is she recovered?" Various voices called out.
"She's recovering well thank you! We expect no more incidents from her or me!" The captain called back. "Carry on! Around the perimeter and then up the stairs. Don't want any thieves escaping from that direction!" The men laughed again at that. Armon could tell that the men did indeed step more lively after that. The captain had been probably been tending to the princess, their future queen after all. Their outlook seemed full of confidence again. However Armon heard a few mutter under their breath, including Vrott, "He just sees this as a big joke doesn't he? That is what this is to him."
What they couldn't have known is that earlier that morning, right when Rapunzel went to talk to Quirin, she found him in the kitchen making eggs! A repeat of what had happened at the Snuggly Duckling occurred. She turned green and ran outside, emptying her stomach. In the fuss of yesterday, they had passed over that detail when relaying the story to Quirin. She drank plenty of water this time. However being the indomitable princess she was, she still determined to ask Quirin about the Dark Kingdom's crops while she was recovering. He gave her good news. The Dark Kingdom was going to have a surplus of crops, just like Corona had a surplus of capital. "Eugene, we'll have to write your father when we get home." She smiled weakly, still a little bit put out by the rebellion of her digestive system.
Maximus and he knew by where the sun was in the sky that he was going to be late by then. The horse was furious with him. He guessed if it had been up to the horse they would have travelled home before Rapunzel even woke up from heat exhaustion yesterday just to avoid being late. That horse kept him accountable. The animal snorted beside him. He'd finally made it down here after being de-saddled and scrubbed down from sweat. He had run a good part of the way to Corona again. "Right dismissal." Eugene said, acknowledging what the horse seemed to say. He moved to dismiss the men, and the horse snorted again, rearing his head to indicate Eugene needed to say something more. "Alright, alright." Eugene whispered back. He addressed the guards. "Men we don't give you any excuses, so there's no excuses for me either, this won't happen again. You are dismissed." As they walked away, the next part he said on his own. He caught who he was looking for out in the crowd. "Vrott?" The guard looked his direction. "Thank you."
All he gave Eugene was a curt nod. So Maximus wasn't the only one furious at him.
Vrott stepped outside the palace gates irritated. Eugene had won most of the men's confidence again. Couldn't they see through him? He got this position through sheer luck. His quote-on-quote bravery was only fool-hardiness that saw him loose twice. Yes, he moved to risk his life again and again for Rapunzel and Corona, but good soldiers didn't know just how to sacrifice. They knew how to win. There was a ruthless aggression missing in the current captain that meant that if it came down to it, Corona would always be the conquest, not the conquistador. He would do things much differently if he were captain.
"Vrott!" he heard a rough voice behind him and felt himself being forcefully jerked backward. He moved to elbow the man in the face, but a wisp of air told him the man had dodged. The assailant lost his hold of him when he dodged, so Vrott took advantage of that. He whipped around swiftly and kicked the man's feet from underneath him. The man landed on his derriere. "Ugh, you still got it!" The man acknowledged jovially and stretched out his hand for help up. Vrott grabbed his arm and yanked him to his level. "Wolfgang! What brings you here?"
"Oh nothing, it's just been a while since I have seen you. How you doing old man?"
"Old man? I'm your age!"
"Yeah, but you've seen so much more action than I have!" The wolf-like man recognized. Wolfgang had a brief stint in the royal guard, until Captain Fitzherbert evacuated everyone right before the black rocks took over the castle. As a member of the extended royal family, Wolfgang had to flee, thus ending his term at the royal guard. At least, that is what he told himself. Vrott fought briefly with the Captain and then took charge of the evacuees. Vrott was in the royal guard much longer than current captain even, and Wolfgang loved hearing his stories. He finished up telling one to Wolfgang at a local pub they went to with the purpose of catching up. "Man, you should be Captain of the Royal Guards. Not that Flynn Rider guy." Wolfgang insisted.
Vrott shrugged. He kept his thoughts to himself. He might've agreed with Wolfgang but since the captain was also prince-consort, saying his thoughts out loud could be construed as tantamount to treason. Wolfgang kept his voice low. "You know the Flynn guy only got his position due to nepotism."
Vrott didn't know. The former Captain of the Guards had hated Eugene at first. But the man had always been agile and continually seemed to be at the right place at the right time. As a result, the former Captain of the Guards gradually turned his opinion around drastically and appointed Eugene captain. Vrott thought that was a step too far, but as much as he hated to admit it, the current captain had served Corona. The conflict played on Vrott's face. Seeing he wasn't winning his friend over, Wolfgang tried a different approach. "You know there is a rumor that princess Rapunzel is pregnant."
"Pregnant?" Vrott blurted out.
"Shhhh. I don't think anyone is supposed to know yet. We got inside word from the palace by virtue of being extended family." He lied easily. Lying came easily to his family. 'Pregnant', Vrott thought. That explained a lot about recent goings on.
"The thing is the princess is already showing signs of getting sick. Have you all heard anything about her health crisis yesterday?"
"The heat exhaustion? I thought that was all it...wait." He brought his voice down to an almost indiscernible volume. "Could that be a palace cover up?"
It was Wolfgang's turn to shrug. "Who knows? But what I do know is that Rapunzel's never been sick before and now she has. I think it's due to her pregnancy. Remember what happened to her mother?"
Vrott raised his eyebrows. "How could I not?" All of Corona was told the story.
"Look Vrott, now if Rapunzel falls that severely ill, like her mother did, there isn't any golden flower any more to save her. I may be getting ahead of myself here, but if she and her baby die," He brought his voice down extremely low and let that hang for a little, "what will be left here for the prince-consort?" Vrott had never thought of that. It was an interesting take. "He'll be forced to return to the Dark Kingdom."
"And guess who will be promoted to Captain of the Guards anyway?"
'Me' thought Vrott.
"It's just a waiting game my friend." Wolfgang raised his glass. "I would prepare yourself. Everyone knows you really deserved that promotion."
He could tell he had an effect on his friend. He knew his friend had the two tiered personality traits of impatience and ambition. The seeds he had just planted there would eventually grow so strong in his mind that Vrott wouldn't be able to resist the temptation to act out on them, whether princess Rapunzel truly got sick or not. Wolfgang had thought of that scheme all on his own. His father didn't give him enough credit. He could be just as smart, he just preferred to use brute force because he was capable of it and it was easier. None of this sneaking around. He supposed at times it had its uses.
A ping rang from the door as Rebekah entered Antonio the tailor's shop again. She was going to be brief. She grabbed the coarse materials and scraps she left before and stuffed them in a box. Then she took what looked like a shoe horn. She supposed tailors had to wear shoes too. She took the shoe horn and scraped that ridiculous Coronan stamp outside the front door. It peeled off surprisingly easily, almost as if the clay like substance did not want to stick to the door anyway.
Only a few flecks remained when she was done. The sunlight where it had been streamed in uninhibited. It was a little after seven and the sunrise was in full bloom. 'There. Much better.' she thought. She had already been to the weaver's and the tanner's today to sell off some of the classier fabrics and skins. She held onto a few bolts to sell for what would be her crown jewel, Madam Estrada's. There was more foot traffic there so it was a ideal place to start a bit of gossip. She opened the door to the tailor's and walked across the way.
She had almost touched the knob of Madam Estrada's door, when down the middle of the road, a white blur flashed by, storming up a sound akin to thunder. In its midst, she thought she heard a female voice calling, "Sorry! Excuse us!" the sound drawing out before it disappeared, the phenomenon whizzing by. That was Maximus. That also meant the riders must have been Rapunzel and Eugene. In the bare seconds that followed, any passerby were still looking after the horse. Rebekah had an idea. Even though she wasn't anywhere near the horse as it gallivanted on, she purposely fell forward with her boxes of stuff, acting like the horse had almost been near to trampling her. She shrieked loudly, hoping she was drawing enough attention. Faith opened Madam Estrada's door and gave Rebekah a look of consternation. The girl just stood there for a moment, which flustered Rebekah. Madam Estrada finally appeared.
"Oh you poor dear! Did that horse knock you to the side? Usually they're much more careful than that. And it's unusual for Maximus to let the prince-consort be late for morning drill. That's probably what they were on they way to." She pointed her finger in the air. "I hear those soldiers at seven sharp every morning!" She crouched further down to help Rebekah up, "You poor dear." The matronly woman repeated mollifying herself. They brushed her off and made sure she had no cuts or bruises. Rebekah sighed a fake sigh. "The man is slovenly isn't he?" She referred to the captain. At the time she thought she was merely voicing a shared opinion, but when deafening silence met her question she looked up to see a little shock on Madam Estrada and Faith's faces. She would have to be more careful. "I meant only because he is carelessly rushing into town late like this." She amended.
"The captain? Prince-consort?" Madam Estrada finally responded as if confused on which title to choose. "He's just got a lot on his mind dear."
"Oh you mean like the heat exhaustion the princess had yesterday?" She followed up quickly, "I thought I heard word of that around town." She hoped she hadn't slipped up already.
To her relief Madam Estrada didn't seem to find it strange that Rebekah had heard of the heat exhaustion at all. "Well yes dear, that, and something else."
"Oh like what?" Rebekah asked a little too quickly.
The word dear was getting on her nerves, but 'something else' caused her to inwardly panic.
"Oh nothing," the seamstress said, ready to drop it. "It's just a hunch." She smiled.
Rebekah thought she might know what it was. If the people of Corona were already getting a hunch that Rapunzel was pregnant, then she was going to act faster than she thought before sympathies ran too strong. "But what can I do for you dear? What have you got there? Oh look at these beautiful bolts and skins! And some other materials here too. These really shouldn't be mixed, the coarse with the fine you know."
Rebekah closed her mouth in impatience. She had separated them but they had mixed together in her intentional spill outside.
"But these fabrics look familiar! I recognize these! Let's see where did I see these before? Think. Think. Think." She snapped her fingers. "Antonio the tailor! He bought these fabrics! I know because we buy from the same vendor! How is he doing? Did you buy this fabric from him so I can make something for yourself? I think there's something I can do-" Madam Estrada would have gone on and on if Rebekah didn't assert herself forcefully. "Antonio's retired! He just retired and returned to Italy!"
"What? But he has no family left in Italy. They all died! Oh dear, he really shouldn't have done that. He must have let frustration get the better of his judgment. What is he going to do?" Rebekah again had to interrupt Madam Estrada's prattling. "He seemed pretty happy to me! He and our family were close. We privately sponsored him for years. We were his patrons." That blissfully struck Madam Estrada mute for a moment. Rebekah inwardly laughed as she realized it was almost true. They were paying him on the side, but not for tailoring, for spying.
In Madam Estrada's mind it explained how Antonio always seemed to have a little bit more than her, despite serving the same families. "I see." Is all she said, deep in unsettled thought. Rebekah capitalized on the silence for now. "So anyway in gratitude he gave us all his shop possessions. Silly tailor! We have no need for these things. We decided to sell it off to other industries like yourself. I've already been to the weaver's and the tanner's to sell other things. You are my last stop." She held up the notarized legal letter making them beneficiaries just in case.
"Oh! Oh, oh, oh!" Madam Estrada said as realization hit the seamstress. "So you want to sell these? Well my dear, I can buy some of them but others are too distinctively for men. And these coarser materials..." Rebekah was getting used to interrupting the Madam now. "Those I have a different purpose for. But first what can you buy?"
They made the exchange and as Madam Estrada went to get the bill notes for Rebekah, she casually asked, "So Madam, what is all this red yarn for?"
"Oh Lady Rebekah! Where have you been? This is something that the princess initiated! It's what that big stamp outside is for!" Estrada went on and on explaining it. "And dear maybe you can benefit from it? A new hat perhaps? Good heavens! What happened to yours? You always wear it!"
Rebekah ignored the question and asked her own question, " So if you buy the same materials the princess did, some of the proceeds to go to charities?"
"Yes that's right!"
"But I don't understand, instead of requiring you to give up your hard-earned money, why doesn't she donate to these charities herself? She is the princess after all. She has the means."
Madam Estrada stopped. She hadn't thought of that.
"But listen to me!" Rebekah hoped she was blushing, "Me questioning the princess like that. I know she has a good heart!"
"Yes she does." Madam Estrada seemed to recover a bit. "And she doesn't require us to do this really. It is a volunteer thing."
"Oh forget I said anything. But that does remind me of what I also came here for, those coarser materials? I think they would make excellent play clothes for children!"
"Play clothes? But pardon me lady I know you do not have any children of your own yet. Are they for someone you know?"
"Well coincidentally they will be for the children of the orphanage! That is also what the proceeds of all the fabric sales are going to as well. We are going to donate them to various charities, including the orphanage! If I pay you for making outfits for the children, would you mind that project? I know making outfits for children is not really what you normally do, but with no tailor in town now..." She let that fall.
"Oh of course!" the seamstress said readily. "I do not mind making the outfits. I do not think Faith would mind helping me with that. Faith!" She called the woman over to give her instructions.
"Oh! And Madam Estrada would you mind sewing the name Humphert on their clothing in a way that it can be seen? We want the children to know the Humpherts care for them."
"Yes we can do that!" Madam Estrada agreed. "How generous of you!"
"Oh yes! Well we felt something good must be done with all this sudden wealth of fabric! And really, I shouldn't have said anything about the princess earlier. She is likely not used to the mindset of having all that wealth. That is probably why she is delegating the donation and the spread of wealth to all of you hard working shop owners. We Humpherts just like to do things hands on, is all, directly donating to charities ourselves."
"Yes indeed." The seamstress seemed troubled. Rebekah leaned in, bringing her voice down.
"All that concerns me really, is that there are whispers, that because of the black rock fiasco that King Frederick was inadvertently responsible for, a lot of the farmland around Corona has been ruined. We might not have enough food for harvest this year. I know Corona has been doing well financially! It has to be, for shop owners to be able to freely donate some of there earnings, and even hire help." She nodded to Faith. "But in a crop shortage, I think food will go to the highest bidder." She frowned. "We Humpherts will be fine. But I worry for those who aren't as blessed. They may want to hang on to their means and save it for this potential rainy day. As much as it may pain them to let go of such a creative scheme thought of by the princess. And such a clever idea to draw in customers and donate to charities with part of the earnings! However if it came down to it, I don't think the princess would mind if you chipped that stamp off outside, in order to hang on to all of your earnings. In times of trouble you have to provide for yourself."
For some reason, Madam Estrada suddenly felt a little stubborn. "Well if it comes to that rainy day, I will most likely chip that stamp off. But for now, all it's done is helped my business. If I know princess Rapunzel at all, she's probably got a plan up her sleeve to help with this food problem. I trust that she'll fix it before it comes to that."
Rebekah might have been dismayed at this show of loyalty, but she focused on that the Madam said, "if it comes to that rainy day, I will most likely chip the stamp off." There was enough doubt there to work with. All they had to do was convince the people that the royal family didn't really have their back. Rebekah had seen vacillating in Madam Estrada's face when she asked her why Rapunzel didn't donate to the charities herself. All would be well. She would just have to patiently chip away at the subjects of Corona's confidence in the royal family. Just like that stamp, it would eventually peel off. "Well that is kind and brave of you Madam Estrada." She preened. "You look like you are doing really well for yourself. No surprise there, you are extremely talented! I only pray if a food shortage comes that you will be able to provide for yourself and Faith. I know you are taking care of two mouths now."
Madam Estrada nodded hesitantly. "Thank you dear."
"And you know what Madam? To show my further support of you, I think I will purchase a new hat from you." She smiled her most gracious smile.
When Rebekah walked out of the shop, if she thought she could've gotten away with it, she would have laughed. She knew Rapunzel donated a lot to charities on her own. Rebekah had been to enough tiresome charity balls the royal family held. She also knew from court, that Eugene and princess regularly visited the orphanage, in exhaustive efforts to find homes for the children. The princess just didn't broadcast it, thinking that quietly giving her money and time was the nobler option. 'Fool.' Rebekah thought. She beamed at the thought of the little orphan rug rats running around with the Humpherts' name on their new outfits. Corona would know who to look to as their new benefactor.
The tanner of Corona looked out at what had formerly been Antonio the tailor's shop. It looked so emptied and abandoned. He wondered what would become of it now? He saw the sunlight streaming through the place and realized the stamp had been peeled away. With the stamp gone, the shop looked almost freed. He looked at the stamp on his own shop. He didn't really have a lot of customers that cared whether the royal family purchased things here or not. It did help a little, but what the Humphert lady said about the possible food shortage scared him. He did like the feeling of helping others out a bit, but he couldn't help anyone out if he couldn't help himself. And from the sound of it, the Humpherts were donating on their own anyway. He grabbed a tool and started scraping the stamp off. The princess would surely understand.
The king asked to see Eugene privately. That could never be good thing. Instead of in the throne room, it was in the private conference room, which Eugene didn't know if that was any better than the throne room. Instead of having a courtroom feeling, it was so close quartered, Eugene couldn't help feeling a little suffocated. As Nigel, the king's right hand man led him into the room, the king was facing a window with back turned and his hands clasped behind him. He was a big guy. Eugene couldn't help wondering why every male in his life taller than him? Even Varian now! Eugene wasn't necessarily short.
When the king turned to see Eugene, he seemed to adjust himself. "So what happened?" He asked plainly. 'Way to cut to the chase.' Eugene thought. 'No small talk first?' Would be what he would have said to anyone else. Eugene told him all the details, save for their night-time expedition in the cave. There was some things the man just didn't need to know.
The king listened attentively for his part, and didn't say anything until Eugene had finished. "Look son," he started, "You are in a unique position. You are now both prince-consort and Captain of the Royal Guard. Historically, that type of that dual role is almost customary. After all, as king, I am commander-in-chief. Traditionally, the idea of carrying out both the role of prince-consort and captain, is that you will be even more zealous to protect the future queen, as she is part of your family, than someone not related to Rapunzel. You have a personal stake in it.
You need to realize though it's not just personal. Protecting Rapunzel, especially now, is protecting Corona." The king paced a few feet away as if gathering his thoughts. "And I don't need to tell you how hard that is! My daughter is both headstrong and free-spirited." He continued, admiration evident in his voice. "Those natural traits have served Corona well. She is your future queen, so you need to let her call the shots. However," the king paused searching for his words, "you also need to be there for her. It's not that she's not more than capable of taking care of herself. It's only that I've noticed my daughter is so selfless at times, that she is unaware of her own needs. Sometimes your two duties to her will seem to conflict. My advice to you if your dual duties come into that conflict, is that whichever one seems to support her more, do it! Put her first and Corona will be served as well. If you practice doing this now, as your role expands when you become a father, it will seem more manageable."
"Thanks your majesty." Eugene didn't know if the king's words were supposed to make him feel any better. He'd do his best, but he felt a little now like he did when he was being led to the gallows right before he escaped. The king dismissed him and he turned to leave. "Oh and Eugene?"
"Yes your majesty?"
"I heard about you being late for guard duty today."
"Word travels fast."
"Don't worry about it. I know you won't let it happen again, and if anybody speaks negatively of you as Captain of the Guards, remember you earned that title for a reason. And it's not just because you're prince-consort. The men support you son."
"Thanks your majesty." He said a little more genuinely this time.
Arianna hugged her daughter tightly. "Oh Rapunzel I am so glad you are ok!"
"I am too, Mom."
"You've got to take care of yourself better dear." Rapunzel sighed. She knew her mom was just being a mom but a lot of people had been saying that to her lately. She had already told her mom what had happened, even the cave. After of commenting on the hilarity of that adventure, the queen took a different tactic. "You know your father's in the private conference room talking to Eugene."
"Talking to him about what?" Rapunzel wondered the reason for such a formal setting.
"Oh you know it's the old, 'your duties as a prince-consort and Captain of the Guards' speech." Queen Arianna brought her voice down to a mock-low to imitate her husband.
"Oh no!" Rapunzel giggled. Her poor husband!
"If I know anything about Frederick, the amount of pressure he's putting on the boy," she corrected herself, "I'm sorry, man, it's just that you're both so young to me. The amount of pressure he's putting on him is probably unfair." She wiggled her eyebrows, "But if I know anything about the two of you," she smiled, "it's that you two take on almost too much responsibility for each other's well-being. It's kind of cute actually." Rapunzel felt the truth of that. She guessed it was because Eugene grew up as an orphan and she grew up isolated in a tower, they sometimes felt all they had in world was each other.
"So that pressure that Eugene puts on himself, plus I am sure the pressure your father puts on him, probably makes you feel like he's acting too overprotective at times."
"Oh my goodness! Yes! Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I'm a glass doll!" Rapunzel knew it sounded mean, but her mom hit on just what she was feeling. Her mom held up a hand. "I know how you feel! Your father was insufferable when I got pregnant with you, even before I got sick." The queen reached with her hand to touch Rapunzel's cheek. "The thing is honey, what I meant earlier, is that you will take some of that pressure off, if you take care of yourself. As much as Eugene has done for you, he will never understand what it means to be pregnant."
"That's true!" rejoined Rapunzel.
"But honey, even though you're not sick, you can look at this pregnancy as kind like a test run for motherhood. The kind of sacrifices you were used to making with your time or your energy, before you were pregnant, may not work for you physically anymore. You are growing a whole other life inside of you! In my brief experience, it forces you to take care of yourself well, so that you are more prepared to take care the child you are carrying when the time comes. You understand what I mean?"
" I do." answered Rapunzel. As much as she loved Eugene, it felt much better to talk with a woman about this, especially her mom. She hugged her. "Thank you." She turned to leave, but said one last thing. "And you know, Dad and Eugene shouldn't be worried anyway. Except for not drinking enough water yesterday, I'm fine!"
She hugged her mom again, before leaving, with her eyes shining. "I have a trade idea I want to run by Dad."
"That's great Rapunzel!" Her mother didn't have the heart to tell her daughter that she didn't start getting sick until five or six months into her pregnancy with Rapunzel.
Risks and Rations
Rapunzel saw her dad first. They embraced and surprisingly his father didn't have many admonitions for her. She guessed he had saved most of those for Eugene. Yet she hoped that meant he was also starting to trust her, even in the current circumstances. She proposed her idea of the trade to him, and he thought it was very wise. Since it was her idea, he put her in charge of the whole thing. Wasting no time from there, she wrote a letter to Eugene's father to explain her thoughts on the trade to see what he thought. "You are busy, princess!" Eugene commented, sitting beside her writing desk.
"Hey you know what's strange?" He leaned in. "The servants told me Antonio the tailor just up and retired! And not only that, he moved back to Italy! I had no inclination he was going to do that! I thought all the business I was giving him was helping do well. I got an outfit made every season." He smiled proudly. "He came by yesterday, but we missed each other. I guess he must have come by to tell me about his departure. I am little miffed though. Thought I was going to have a tailored suit for autumn. It is only a month or so before the change of seasons!"
"Aw Eugene!" She touched his cheek. "I'm sorry, but you do have plenty of suits! If it makes you feel any better, I don't think missing one new suit is going to make a difference. I am sure we will get a new tailor to move into Corona by next season. And good for Antonio for being able to do something nice for himself!" She placated. "Besides we have plenty of other things to focus on. Like the baby room!" They did finish the baby room. Although she still couldn't think what to paint for the mural in there. She might even have to wait until after the baby was born for inspiration. They did talk about baby names again. It was agreed to make it easier on Eugene, that Rapunzel would think of girl names and Eugene would think of boys'. "What about Penelope, Annabelle or Inge?"
"Inge?" Eugene asked wrinkling his nose. He at least gave the naming task gave a whack. "What about Tobias? And we could call him Toby? Or Peter? We could call him Pete?"
"Oh then, Pete the guard would think we named him after him." Rapunzel pointed out. "And as much as I love Pete..."
"Right, don't know if we want to name the baby after him. We'll keep thinking about this." Eugene squinted his eyes and nodded. In the meanwhile, Eugene's father wrote back almost instantaneously, agreeing to the trade. They just needed to hammer out the details. As the months flew by Rapunzel's belly grew and grew. She thought she started to feel kicking and squirming. She talked and sang to her baby all the time, hoping it could hear her. The joy of it made her forget the waves of fatigue that would come upon her now and again.
She was actually much bigger than she expected she would be at this stage. Eugene found it adorable, which had the strange effect of both piquing Rapunzel and warming her heart. It was near to the height of harvest in Corona. She and Eugene travelled down to Old Corona and other country areas to help with the efforts. They had a good showing, especially at Varian's, but to Rapunzel's disappointment it was not the plenty they were used to harvesting for the whole of Corona. They would have to ration a little, not too much, but just enough to be felt. It wasn't as much as they were used to, but at least no one would go hungry. Still, she hoped she could figure out all the details of the crop trade soon. Rapunzel held picnics and mini festival-like events, like hay rides and corn mazes, to raise awareness for the virtues of Varian's new crop fertilizer. It seemed to work. Most farmers agreed to use it for next year. Based on its success, she felt she could grow it into a full blown fall festival next year, at time when perhaps, she'd have a little more energy. Unfortunately she didn't know that while she focused her efforts in the country, the Humpherts were hard at work in the city.
Working together in concert, and with the use of their palace spy, they exaggerated Corona's food problems to pernicious rumors of food scarcity. They were careful to lay the blame of this food scarcity at the feet of King Frederick. Of course the folk harvesting in the country knew better, but the city folk didn't. More and more shop front stamps came off. Due to Rapunzel's pregnancy, she usually travelled by carriage now, so she didn't notice. She did see the orphans adorned with new clothes donning the Humpherts signature and got wind of the charitable donation. "See!" She had told Eugene. "The Humpherts aren't so bad!" Eugene didn't know. He acknowledged their contributions, but at the same time he noticed that Phineas and Wolfgang seemed often dressed to the nines despite no tailor being in town. He would have to ask what they were doing to acquire their new get ups.
Rapunzel was getting big enough where creative clothing was not going to do the trick to hide her pregnancy anymore. They were going to have to make a royal announcement soon. Her pregnancy was progressing well enough, that she felt safe enough to make a public announcement, regardless of the fears that normally plagued new mothers-to-be. In a family conference they had decided that they would also take this opportunity to announce royal baby shower. All of the kingdom would be invited and constituents of the Dark Kingdom too. They planned it for late fall even though she wasn't due until early spring, a little earlier than most baby showers are held, just so they would not hazard anyone with travel during the cold winter months.
The day of the royal announcement had come. Right before Rapunzel and her family were set to appear before her subjects on the balcony she got a disquieting letter. At first it started hopefully enough. The details of Corona and the Dark Kingdom's trade were almost all hashed out! The only hitch was that since the Dark Kingdom's harvest was one month ahead of Corona's they were having trouble knowing how to transport the food without it spoiling in the journey from the Dark Kingdom to Corona. Then on top of that Elipta Lundar got what she wished for the Dark Kingdom. Rain. Lots and lots of it now that plants were again growing in the land. It was like the weather was making up for lost time. It had never rained this much in the Dark Kingdom before, so they didn't think after this year it would continue. It was the type of rain that was good for the Dark Kingdom, but unfortunately it made crop storage and travel ever difficult. As much as they tried to seal it off, humidity and moisture would get through and the crops would spoil. Some crops were more perishable than others, so some would travel, but most would not. Rapunzel was perturbed, but she wouldn't let this news defeat her. She would have to brainstorm on this, and figure it out. They had gotten this far already! She also wasn't sure if the other neighboring kingdoms had anything to offer her.
After Wendell, the royal announcer, had finished telling the kingdom about her pregnancy and baby shower, her husband beamed. "We're going to parents!" Eugene told her, speaking his thoughts out loud. She let the thought settle in once again, and felt her belly. She didn't have to put her hand very far down to do so anymore. The announcer had made her feel awkward, but there was something else bothering her besides embarrassment though. As she looked out on the little shops of her kingdom, something bothered her. It wasn't so much what she did see, as she didn't see. She thought she saw several shops without the indicative Coronan stamp she helped place on them. Those stamps had greatly helped the town square's dispersal of wealth. Something she counted on as she made the trade with the Dark Kingdom.
But the sun was bright and it was hard to tell if she was really seeing what she was seeing, or if it was just a trick of her eyes. The shops were so far away. She hoped she was wrong. She'd have to check later. Right now, another wave of tiredness hit her.