Princess Odette glanced out the palace stain-glass window where a summer thunderstorm occurred. Sighing softly, she strolled back towards the living room area in the shining castle. She had plenty on her mind as the anniversary of her father William's death quickly approached. Yet that wasn't the only thing on the young woman's mind. She'd loved her father dearly but had never known her mother. She only knew her name had been Christine, and her father had refused to speak of her.
She wasn't the only one who didn't know about their other parents, as her mother-in-law refused to tell her husband, Derek, about his father. Other then that, his name had been Daniel. So the Swan Princess wished she and her husband knew about their deceased parents. Well, as if the man upstairs heard her unspoken prayers, she unexpectedly discovered herself in an unfamiliar passageway. She couldn't even backtrack as she'd been lost in her mind when she walked this way.
"Okay, Odette, don't panic. You'll be able to find your way back to the living room. Just stay calm," she calmed herself. She carefully took in her surroundings and started down the corridor. Abruptly, she was drawn to a peculiar tapestry on the right-hand wall. Slowly but cautiously, she approached the captivating woven tapestry. Fittingly enough, there were swans on it. A closer examination established it was a family tree! It went back nine generations, showing every bloodline from both realms, the final being their marriage.
"Where did this come from? I know I've never noticed this before," as she reached out to feel the royal purple silk, only to uncover a concealed door behind the family tapestry. Curiosity won out as she yanked open the wooden door. Coughing a bit from the dust that rose as she crossed the threshold, she found herself in what appeared to be a shrine chamber. Several portraits lined the walls with beautifully ornamented tables with glass cases containing various objects.
One portrait quickly drew her attention, for the subject in the painting looked exactly like her! Only her eyes and dress were different. The woman's eyes were bluish-green, and she wore a stunning carnation-pink gown. "It can't be? Is that my mother?" Odette gasped, though there wasn't any other explanation for who that woman could be. She found herself mesmerized by her mother's aquamarine eyes.
Unexpectedly, Derek joined her in the concealed chamber. He, too, had felt lured to this hidden room, "Odette? Are you okay? Where have you been...? What is this place?" Derek stopped in his tracks. He took in everything within this unmistakable shrine. He couldn't believe a room this big had gone undisclosed for so long! How in the world was this room kept a secret?
The Swan Princess quickly turned to her husband, "Derek? How did you find me? I don't even know how I ended up here myself!" his ravishing wife exclaimed in astonishment. She, too, had been transfixed by the shrine even to consider anything else in the world.
Her handsome husband shrugged before answering, "I just had a gut feeling and followed it here. Is that your mother?" he asked, pointing to the gorgeous lady in the extensive portrait.
"I believe so, Derek. I don't see how it would be anyone else," Odette carefully studied the glass case underneath the portrait. Inside the case were a jeweled tiara, a silver locket, a silver hand mirror, and a book.
Derek also turned away from his wife when he saw himself in a portrait. Only this man was dressed differently with quite a handsome beard. The glass case held a crown, a signet ring, a small jeweled dagger, and a book. A closer examination revealed the books were their parents' private journals. The pages were old and difficult to read, but they could make out some of it. They quickly found someplace to sit and read.
"Today is my 16th birthday. The day I'm no longer considered a maiden but a woman. I wish Papa weren't so insisted that I wed someone a decade older then me. However, Papa arranged this marriage the day I was born. It's not that I don't think William is a nice man. Yet again, he's ten years my senior! Spending every summer with him since I was a small child isn't the best way for someone to fall in love.
Still, I will do my duty for my Papa and our empire. I only wish I could've found someone closer to my age. Yes, I'm fond of William, but I can't say I'm in love with him. I can only pray that I don't cheat on my soon-to-be-husband." Odette read, shocked to know her mother didn't love her father. She was also astonished that her parents had gone through what she and Derek had been through growing up. She wondered what Derek's father's journal said.
"Ubertha is exceptionally lovely, if not a bit bossy. I do love her dearly. However, occasionally, I would like some peace and quiet, just to be alone with my thoughts. I find it challenging to think periodically with my enthusiastic wife around.
I'm looking forward to the birth of my first child. I don't care if my heir is male or female. I only care if they're born healthy. After all, only God knows who your child will be before they're born. If our child is a boy, we shall name him Derek, after my grandfather. If its a girl, she shall be named Sara Rose, after Ubertha's mother and grandmother. Once again, it doesn't matter to me what their gender is as long as they're born healthy and can grow up happy," Derek read his father's journal.
Odette skimmed through her mother's diary till she uncovered another legible entry. "Today is my sixth anniversary with William. He's always been kind to me. I love him, but I'm not in love with him. Still, I've never fallen into the temptation of betraying my husband. I may not be in love with my husband, but I shall never break my wedding vows. He's getting anxious that we've not had a child yet.
He pointed out that he is getting older, and we need an heir to carry on the royal bloodline. I'm terrified to reveal the truth. It's not him that's the problem with us not having conceived a child. I'm afraid its me since I do not have my monthly blood every month. I can go half a year before I have it again. The likelihood of having a child is minimal. Yet, I'm too scared to tell him the truth.
His kind eyes show he genuinely loves me and wants me to bear his child. How can I tell him the truth? That all his dreams are presumably not to come true? Oh, I wish my mother hadn't perished when I was born! She might have advised me on navigating these issues within your marriage if she were alive. What am I to do?" Odette could only feel sympathy for her mother.
She was proud she hadn't broken her wedding vows despite not being in love with her father. She also understood from her marriage that discussing specific problems with your significant other can be challenging. Particularly when its of that nature.
Derek also skimmed to the next entry that was legible. "My son was born today, and I've never been more joyful. I can't describe how much love and joy I felt from holding him in my arms. I fear that I won't be able to raise him right. There are so many unknowns now, but I know one thing for sure. His happiness will always come first."
"What did your mother write about?" Derek questioned his wife, looking up from the journal before him.
Odette took a steady breath before revealing, "She was also in an arranged marriage. My father was a decade older then her. She wrote she's fond of and loves him despite not being in love with him. She also wrote that it was her fault that my father had to wait so long for his miracle child. According to this diary, my mother struggled with fertility. What does your father's journal say?"
"He says he didn't care if I was a boy or girl, only that I was born healthy and happy. I just read he couldn't describe how much joy he felt at my birth."
"It looks like there is one last entry that is readable in my mother's diary," Odette relayed. She then read her mother's final words. "I'm overjoyed that we are finally with child after so many years of trying. However, I'm also afraid of the family 'curse." My Papa said its poppycock, that there is no curse. Yet how else do you explain that every woman since my great-grandmother died in childbirth? Are we all condemned to have our children too soon and all die?
Another thing I was afraid to tell William. Again, just like Papa, he'd say it is a bunch of malarkey. However, I'm preparing for the inevitable. I only hope my daughter reads this one day. I can feel it in my bones that I will have a daughter. Again, I hope they don't secret away this diary. I want her to know I love her and wish her only happiness.
I hope she grows into a strong-willed, captivating woman who knows her self-worth and doesn't let others dictate her life. Please forgive me for leaving you, Odette. Please forgive me," as tears trickled down Odette's face. She hugged her mother's precious diary close to her heart.
Next to her, Derek read the final entry in his father's journal. "Today, the men and I will hunt for the elusive white stag. Ubertha keeps insisting that I call off the hunt. That something terrible will happen if I go on this hunt. I told her she was worried about nothing. I'll return home with a new trophy to hang on the wall. There is nothing to worry about. Still, if she's right, I shall forever pen my love for my wife and son.
I, King Daniel, love my wife and son more then there drops in the ocean. I don't think anything bad will happen because I'll be with them forever in their hearts and souls. But life is unpredictable, and no one knows when the end will come, that I will always be with my family in spirit. That their happiness will always come first. Well, must get ready for the hunt now," Derek finished reading his father's last words.
Husband and wife were silent for a few moments. Yes, it was nice to have confirmation their parents truly loved them. That they only wanted them to live happy lives. Still, knowing each had been forewarned about their impending deaths? Or their memories and possessions had been locked up in this secret room.
Both knew that neither Christine nor Daniel would want to be forgotten. Nor would they have wanted their children not to know them in some way. Looking into each other's eyes, they knew after dinner that they would send the servants to bring the possessions of this room to the grand hall so that they might finally be remembered properly instead of hidden away.
Neither noticed how the storm clouds had cleared or how two different stars seemed to shine brighter then the others in the inky blue heavens above. Like they're smiling happily above with unconditional love.