The Swan Princess

Chapter 17: You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

"You heard him, ladies. File out," the Queen orders.

One by one, they scatter, some of which sliding me jealous looks as they pass. Edlyn, and a few others give me hesitant, but encouraging smiles. The golden dog passes me one final "woof!" before trailing after the queen. Even the servants take the hint, fading into the distance.

Prince Siegfried snaps. The table shrinks in size until it's small enough for just two. The chairs disappear into thin air, save the one I was sitting in, and the chair directly across from me. He saunters to the other side and sits so that he's facing me.

"How long have you had magic, Prince?" I ask, lazily stirring the sugar into my tea.

"Long enough to make people fear me," he answered, leaning back in his chair to admire me.

Lounging back in his regal outfit before the bright, shining castle, he looks like some kind of dark, otherworldly god.

"Did you grow up in this castle, Your Highness?"

"Yes, with my siblings."

Again with the mention of two. Annalise, and who?

He reads the curiosity in my eyes. "It was my late brother who passed, making me next in line to ascend the throne." He reaches out, taking a strand of my hair in his fingers, and curling it around his hand. My heart flutters, just a little.

"I would never allow something like that to happen to you," he adds, abruptly serious. "I am a responsible Prince, and I would be a responsible King."

My eyes widen. Is he... worried I think little of him? Odette certainly does, but, Insun does not. I will flatter him, so that he may know of my commitment.

"You must be well-read with all the literature you sent me during my illness."

He continues aimlessly playing with strands of my hair. "Did you read through the books I sent you?"

"Indeed," I answered.

"What kinds of books should I send you next? Do you prefer reading for information... or perhaps reading for pleasure?"

Oh. So it will be that kind of conversation then. If he wants to play love games, I will win.

"Everything I do, I do for pleasure, Your Highness."

I pick up a frosted cake with my fingers. I wait until he's looking, then dip my finger into the frosting, bringing it up to my lips. The prince stills. I roll my tongue around my finger, taking my time with every lick. My tongue swirls down, around, and back from my finger to my mouth. Prince Siegfried is transfixed, pupils enlarged, leaning towards me.

"Do you do that to all your lovers, Insun dearest?" His voice has turned husky. Leaning forward onto his elbows now, he could kiss me from this close. We would be upon each other with only a tilt of the head.

"Well, it's Princess Insun to you," I start, returning the cake to the table. "And only if they say please, or perhaps if they beg."

"Beg?" He chuckles. "I do not beg, but my lovers do."

"Doubtful."

"Do you know why I chose you, Princess, as my date today?" His breath warms my face.

"Because on my worst day, I'm prettier than you?" I flutter my eyelashes at him, getting as impossibly close as I can without touching him.

"Prideful thing," he says, and snaps his fingers again. Our chairs have moved to be next to each other, and he reaches out to take my hand in his.

He brings my fingers to his lips, pressing down with the gentlest of pressure. "Do you like it when I kiss you here?"

I lean forward to whisper in his ear. "Yes."

He trails more kisses up my arm. "Perhaps I should not have sent the others away. If they saw how infatuated I was with you, they would not accost me so."

I bring my arm back, suddenly irritated. "You are thinking of other women while tending to me?"

"Jealous creature." He sits back, an indolent smile on his handsome face.

"Have I ever told you how handsome I find your knight, Lukas?"

"No," he stretches his arm out again, wrapping it around my shoulders. "But do go on."

I lean my head against his shoulder. "He is the most dignified man I have ever met."

The prince snorts. "And so handsome, too."

His head rotates so that his lips brush my outer ear. "And have you seen this handsome face?"

"No," I sigh. "But my dear friend Odette has, and she thinks he is quite dreamy."

"I do quite agree," he adds dryly. "Perhaps he is even a little... above your means."

I snap my head back.

"What?" He gazes at me with curiosity.

Those words... it's like they trigger something in me, and my confidence snaps. The ball, the dress, the title — none of it is real.

What is real? I am Odette, the cursed one, the one trying to navigate her way through a persona that's entirely fake. My head throbs, and I feel myself fading away to the person I used to be. How can I chase the boys of my dreams when I'm not even myself? What makes me think I can pull this off, when I've got no money or prestige to my name? Suddenly this royal costume doesn't feel so fun anymore.

I almost feel... traitorous, for having so much fun with the prince when my true heart belongs to another. Another, who, I am sure does not truly love me yet. Otherwise, the curse would have been broken by now. A curse, which, in my determination to break, has sidetracked me with this side quest to punish my curse maker's family.

This convoluted charade is too much for me.

"I need air," I say quietly, making to leave.

"Princess," he says, reaching for my hand. I have already turned around and away from him. I do not accept hand, even when it brushes mine.

"Another time, Prince," I respond, before walking away. He does not follow.

From what the servants were gossiping about later, however, he spent a long time sitting forlorn at the table I deserted.