<h4>Chapter 411: Mauve says yes.</h4>


    Sigrid turned around slowly and sheughed nervously. "What men?"


    Rnd raised a curious eyebrow.


    Sheughed again. "It was Mauve and Christie. I did not even look at those men, not even the one dressed like a fireman."


    "Fireman!" Rnd’s eyebrow moved up further. "


    Sigrid groaned lightly and gave in. "Okay, maybe I peeked a little but that was only because Christie invited them over. Honestly, we had no idea that it was a men’s hostess bar. My love, I am really tired. All I want to do is take a shower and get some sleep and.... woah!" She did not finish her words before she was swept off her feet and carried to the bathroom by her husband.


    Lanai picked up the robes, intending to take them out to be washed.


    "Bring the robes." Rnd called out.


    The maids sighed. More clothes to be torn!!


    ****


    Lady Mauve Rosewood was promising herself that she would never drink again. Nothing--nothing in the world wasparable to the agony of a pounding headache during a lunch that just happened to be held at Rosewood estate.


    The sun was her greatest enemy. Did it have to shine so brightly? The light was hurting her eyes and causing her temples to throb. Where was the magical cure that Sigrid had promised to send over twenty minutes ago?


    She closed the curtains with a wave of wand and leaned her head against the wall. She desperately wanted to block out the sound ofughtering from outside. She also wanted to freeze all of her rtives.


    What were they celebrating anyway?


    Outside in the gardens of the estate which had been turned into a small but grand kind of royal reception, Prince Galen stood under a floral canopy arranged manually. He was dressed in his official royal outfit and his grandmother the queen consort was straightening the cor.


    His valet Henry was trying to shine away the little specks of dirt that had gathered on the sides of the shoes.


    Galen’s heart was beating faster than when Benjamin chased after him on a horse, threatening to trample and crush his legs. Galen had been thirteen at the time and he had run as if his life depended on it. Which it did.


    He nced at Mauve’s parents, grandparents and even great grandparents that were sitting around, drinking and having a merry time but tense with anticipation. Her mother raised a ss to him and Galen nodded.


    What he was curious about was the Thorin’s and Shadowmere’s. What were they doing there? Was Sigrid the one that invited them?


    She was sitting under a tree with ample shade, yawning as she listened to Mauve’s sister Maude narrate a story about a poultry race she had attended.


    Galen had heard that story five times. It ended with most of the birds that participated in the race being stewed or roasted.


    Meanwhile, Mauve was led outside by Mrs. Elsworth. She was sullen and her eyes scanned the gardens like a fugitive looking for escape.


    Mrs. Elsworth firmly led her forward until they reached Galen and then she left go.


    "I think I am going to be sick." Mauve said to him.


    Galen blinked. This was not what he thought they would say to each other first on this special day.


    "I need ten gallons of coffee." She squinted.


    Mrs. Elsworth had just whispered something to Lady Rosewood which resulted in Mauve’s mother ring at her intensely like a scorching fire. Mauve’s stomach turned. Her secret was out and she wanted to retch even more.


    The Galen dropped to one knee without warning.


    Gasps echoed. A ss dropped. Sigrid removed the sun sses that were covering her eyes. Rnd walked into the gardens with Sunny and Void.


    "My dearest Lady Mauve Rosewood," Galen started, "I have known that I was in love with you ever since I saw you pping a princess without fear. I knew that I wanted to get to know you when I saw you sleeping on a branch of an orange tree with your feet dangling freely. I knew that you were the woman for me when you embraced my children and all of me without reservation. I wish to wake up beside you every morning. I wish to stand by you forever--not merely as a prince, but as a partner. Will you---?"


    Sunny barked and darted away from Rnd. The four legged menace of the royal family excitedly dashed forward with a cloak billowing in the air, charging at Galen.


    He leaped over him and crushed into the tower of chocte cake which was shaped like arge chicken. Maude was the baker, having taken lessons from Mauve. Half of the cake fell to the ground, along with the dog.


    When Sunny realized that it was not real chicken, he stood and wagged his tail furiously. His clean white fur was covered in brown around the face, neck and paws. But he grinned proudly.


    "Oh Sunny." Sigrid mumbled.


    A royal knight grabbed the dog and Galen turned his eyes back to Mauve. The cake might have been ruined but the proposal had to continue. "Will you marry me?"


    Mauve was still fighting that hangover and she was in desperate need of more sleep. But in this moment of minor chaos, ruined cake, a sister horrified and a royal suitor--she pictured the rest of her life being exactly like this. And she liked it.


    "Dad, the ring. You forgot the ring." One of Galen’s children shouted.


    Galen blinked and reached into his pocket. He brought out a ring and held it up.


    "Is that a pastry shaped ring?" She asked.


    Galen nodded. "It is what suits us best."


    Mauve burst intoughter. She held her hand out and said throughughter, "Yes."


    Lady Rosewood screamed. Someone set off fireworks. A band of dwarfs that Galen hired started to y instruments and the three beauties started singing.


    Mauve winced. A reminder that she was still hangover. Sigrid sent over the miracle cure which was a potion.


    Meanwhile Galen was shouting, "She said yes. Did you hear, she said yes."


    Rnd rolled his eyes. Of course they heard, their ears were functioning quite well.


    Lady Iryne was sobbing. Mauve’s mother was no longer screaming but frowning at her friend. Of the two of them, who should have been sobbing? Lady Iryne was such a spotlight thief!


    Mrs. Elsworth looked on proudly. She had done her job well and herdy had secured a good marriage. She was marrying a prince!! Who could have seen thating?


    If Sigrid could hear Mrs. Elsworth’s thoughts, she would have raised her hand. She had seen iting. Mauve was the original female lead. She was always meant to marry a prince.


    As for her, now that she had captured Emmah, changed her fate and that of her family. It was time to end her fairy tale and live happily ever after.


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