Chapter 411

I wasn’t sure what to expect when our car delivered us from the train station to the palace, but even in my wildest dreams, I wouldn’t have guessed what actually awaited us.

Cheering crowds lined the outer walls of the palace. Balloons and streamers of various colors were abundant. A stage had been set up with a band.

Some people had signs. Long Live The Bear Princess, they said, with a picture of my face.

When they separated to make way for our car, they nearly rioted with their joy.

“Praise you!” shouted one woman.

“Our hero!” called a man.

In the backseat of the sedan, I clutched at Nicholas’s hand, unsure what to make of all this. Not all that long ago, these same people had been half-ready to start a rebellion. Now, the only thing they seemed to want to fight for was some of my time and affection.

Nicholas clapped his free hand on mine, the one holding so hard onto his other hand.

“Breathe, Piper. You’ve earned this,” he said.

“All I did was exist,” I told him. How could that matter to so many people?

Nicholas gently shook his head. On his face, he wore a look of fond sympathy. “Piper, you have done so much more than that. How can you not see that?”

I tried. Truly, I did. But to me, I was ever that down on her luck woman working as a waitress trying to make ends meet. I didn’t feel like a princess. I certainly was no great hero.

Yet, looking in Nicholas’s eyes, I could almost see the way I was reflected within them.

If Nicholas saw me as someone more… shouldn’t I trust in him? As I trusted in him in all other things?

“I’ll tell you every day for the rest of your life how special you are,” Nicholas said. Shifting closer to me, he dropped a kiss to my shoulder. “And how much I love you.”

“I’m going to need you to hold to that promise,” I said, heart melting.

“I’m a man of my word,” he said. And I knew that was the truth.

Through the palace gates, the world seemed a bit calmer, though, to my shock and surprise, everyone was waiting for us out near the palace’s front doors. Including the King and Queen.

The car in front of ours carried Joyce, Julian, and Veronica. Joyce exited first. He only took one step before Jessica, having run from her spot at the entryway, collided into his chest.

As Joyce held her to him, I noticed a softness in his expression that he hadn’t otherwise shown. Perhaps with his brainwashing, he hadn’t allowed himself to love. Or perhaps he had, and he’d buried it down until now. Either way, Joyce clutched Jessica tightly, and I knew the pair would soon be a match.

Julian and Veronica exited next, their hands clasped together. It had not escaped my notice that much like Nicholas and I, Julian and Veronica had disappeared together on the train, only to reemerge this morning looking rumpled but pleased.

Honestly, it was about time. I only had joy in my heart for my two dear friends.

“Mommy!” Elva cried. She broke away from her nanny’s hand and rushed toward our car. Immediately, I pushed the door open and jumped out to meet her. I scooped her into my arms and swung her around for good measure.

How much I missed my little girl. How much I loved her.

Nicholas quickly joined in our joy, wrapping his arms around us both. Elva cried, and I may have too.

“We’re a family,” Elva said. “We’re finally a family.”

Nicholas kissed Elva’s forehead, then he kissed my cheek. “We’re a family,” he confirmed. “And no one will ever break us apart again.”

With all the happiness and tears, it took some time for us to separate. But we couldn’t keep the King and Queen waiting for long.

Nicholas took Elva into his arms and together the three of us met the King and Queen. They’d always despised me, I expected nothing less now.

Instead, the Queen pulled me into a hug. It was uncomfortable and brief, but a hug none the less. From the Queen, this was a tremendous breach of decorum, and I froze, unsure how to react. Even Nathan, standing dutifully as his King’s side seemed shocked.

“I have misjudged you dearly,” the Queen said. She pulled away to look at me. “I will not make that error again.”

The King offered a small smile. “Your engagement to our son has our full approval.”

We were going to marry either way, but having their blessing certainly made it all easier.

“Thank you,” I said.

Nicholas shook his father’s hand. “Thanks, Dad.”

In the quiet moment that followed, I glanced over the remaining crowd. Charlotte was there, waving at me, along with many other servants and staff that I recognized.

Then I saw her, there at the edge of the crowd. The only frowning face in a sea of smiles.

Bridget.

As Nicholas and I stepped back from the King and Queen, Bridget saw her opportunity and stormed toward us. Even with Elva in Nicholas’s arms, she still had the audacity to reach out and grab at Nicholas’s sleeve with both hands.

“Drop this pretext, Nicholas,” Bridget said. “I know this is all an act. I want you. You are the perfect man for me. How could anyone turn me down?”

Nicholas sent Bridget a glare so icy even I felt chilled.

“I will never want you, Bridget. Piper is the woman I love. The woman I will marry. The mother of my soon-to-be adopted daughter and all of my future children. Accept this. Or see yourself out.”

Bridget released him, expression stunned.

Nicholas nodded to me and together we walked away from her.

My heart soared.

Outside the castle gates, the crowd began to chant, “Piper! Piper! Piper!”

The war was over. Peace was here.

I had my prince and a secure future for my daughter. I couldn’t imagine anything else I needed in the entire world.

A year later, a rub at my rounded belly. Within it, a new prince or princess was growing.

“Everything is so wonderful,” Susie said from one side of me. We sat around a table filled with cakes and sweets. In the ballroom, we were having a banquet.

My husband, Nicholas, had just been crowned King.

Susie held her own baby close. His quietly brooding expression matched that of his father’s, who stood just behind Susie’s chair. Mark and Susie had married shortly before Nicholas and I. Their baby had been born soon after.

“I’m still amazed this is my life now,” Anna said from the chair on the opposite side of me. “But I always knew you were great. Didn’t I tell you so?”

“You did,” I said, laughing now. So much hurt and pain we’d experienced over the years. Never again. I certainly wasn’t about to leave my dear friend behind.

Out on the dance floor, Elva was showing her craziest moves. Her uncle Julian, ever indulgent, was seriously trying to learn them. Nearby Veronica watched with a smile. Those seemed to come easier to her these days, especially since Julian had put that engagement ring on her finger.

Joyce and Jessica were noticeably absent, though I imagined they would soon be caught making out in the library. Again.

Nicholas was near the stairs of the ballroom, thanking and welcoming each of his guests. The crown looked good on him, golden and dignified. But he’d always looked handsome to me.

As if he felt me staring, he turned and met my eyes.

Then, with a dignified saunter, he excused himself and crossed the room.

I stood to meet him.

Formalities were never our strong suit. Especially when Nicholas wrapped his arms around me and kissed me right there, in full view of the entire ballroom.

People clapped and cheered. Anna whistled.

My heart was so full of love that I thought it might burst.

“I love you,” Nicholas said against my lips.

“I love you,” I replied.

Together then, and for the rest of our lives, we were happy.

The End.