3 The Royal Festivities
The day finally came where Andrius had gained enough energy and healed enough to return to where he had come from. Sybil somberly watched as her new friend pulled on his boots and picked up his armour. She was grateful that she was able to take care of him when he needed it, but part of her was really sad to watch him leave.
“I’m sure you’ll be handsomely rewarded for nursing one of Ignis’ soldiers back to health. Your kingdom thanks you, but not more than I do. I will never forget you and what you have done for me, Sybil,” Andrius said as he took a step towards Sybil.
Sybil immediately shook her head and said, “I don’t want a reward.”
“No? Then how will I ever repay you for saving my life?” Andrius asked in disbelief as his head tilted sideways.
She hesitated for a moment before she built up the courage to ask, “Will you maybe just come visit me sometimes? Be my friend?” Even as she asked, she blushed and felt silly for her question. Surely a soldier would have better things to do than visit the lonely church girl.
An amused smile played at Andrius’ lips, and he kneeled before her as he reached for her hand. Sybil watched in shock as he brought her hand up to his mouth and placed a delicate kiss across her knuckles, causing her blush to deepen.
He looked back up at her with his dark honey eyes and said, “If the King allows it, I promise I will come back for you.”
Andrius stood and continued to hold Sybil’s gaze, which only caused her heart to flutter in response. He moved his hand forward to tuck one of her golden curls behind her ear before he turned and snuck out of the church and into the dark, cold night. Sybil felt a pang in her chest as she watched him leave, and she only could hope that it wouldn’t be the last time she saw Andrius.
The next days that passed were the most difficult. Although Sybil slept better than before now that she had her warm bed back, she missed the company and amusement that Andrius brought to her life. Her mundane existence was no longer fulfilling, and Sybil longed for more. Had he never come into her life, she never would have realized that there was so much more out there for her.
The smell of cookies pulled Sybil from her room one day, and she went back to the small kitchen to find the sisters with gleeful looks on their faces as they were deep in discussion. “Sybil, dear, come join us!” Sister Mary said when she saw the young woman. “Our prayers have been answered and the crown prince has been found!”
“That is wonderful news,” Sybil said as she took a seat at the table and grabbed a chocolate filled cookie.
“Everyone thought that he was dead, but he just walked back into the castle one day, completely unscathed. The King and Queen have ordered a week-long celebration to honor his return. There’s a festival in the city square today, and I even heard that there will be a parade! Isn’t that wonderful?” Sister Elizabeth added.
Sybil perked up when she heard that, and tested the waters by saying, “Well I’ve never been to a festival before.”
“It should be very exciting. I can’t wait for all of the stories we will hear next Sunday at the service,” Sister Margaret chimed in.
“If I go, you won’t have to wait to hear about it until Sunday. I can just tell you when I return home,” Sybil suggested as she carefully observed the three nuns’ faces.
“Oh no, my dear. It’s far too dangerous for a young, impressionable lady like yourself. Ruffians run rampant at events like that and will use the festival as an opportunity to take advantage of others,” Sister Elizabeth immediately answered as she shook her head.
“Sister Elizabeth is right, Sybil, it’s not a good idea,” Sister Mary noted.
“I promise I will be careful,” Sybil desperately said. “I never leave or go out, and this is something I would really like to see for myself instead of just hear about.”
“I think it’s about time that Sybil went out into the world,” Sister Margaret said with slight hesitance.
Sybil smiled at the old woman and turned to look between the other two nuns with a pleading visage. Sybil had bright blue eyes that were unusual for the people of Ignis, and she knew that the sisters had difficulty denying her when she looked at them with her big, innocent eyes. She had used it to her advantage only a couple of times, usually to get extra dessert after dinner.
“I suppose it couldn’t hurt to allow our precious girl to have one night out,” Sister Mary finally said. “Elizabeth?”
Sister Elizabeth stared back at Sybil for what seemed like an eternity before she let out a small breath and said, “Be home by sundown.”
“Thank you!” Sybil said as she jumped out of her seat and moved to give each sister a kiss on the cheek.
The three women smiled at the excited girl as she ran back to her room to change. Sybil didn’t have very many options as far as clothes and shoes went, so she grabbed a simple white dress that went down to her calves that she paired with black flats. She shouted a goodbye over her shoulder as she practically ran out the front doors of the church.
The cobblestone streets were lined with people dressed in their most lavish outfits. Children ran around and played games while adults chit-chatted and enjoyed the various activities set up by the royal family for the people to enjoy.
Everyone was cheery, and even the sun had come out to play after the weeks of gloomy, stormy weather as if it also was celebrating the return of the crown prince. Sybil couldn’t help but smile as she tried street foods and watched little puppet plays put on by court jesters.
Suddenly, music started booming from the other side of the street, and people started to rush towards it. Not wanting to miss out on whatever was happening, Sybil followed the crowd as they started to shout and cheer.
“Look! It’s the Prince!”
“I’m so happy he made it back safely.”
“He’s radiant.”
Wanting to get a look at a member of the royal family, Sybil used her smallness to her advantage as she wiggled her way towards the front of the swarm of people. Before she could make it there, she heard a voice call out her name. Sybil turned in the direction the voice came from and saw Andrius walking towards her.
Her heart skipped when she saw him warmly smiling at him, and she took quick steps towards him. He looked so much healthier and vibrant than he had even just a few days ago, and seeing him out in the sun made Sybil realize just how handsome the man truly was.
“Finally ventured out of the church, I see. You look beautiful, Sybil,” Andrius said as he admired the woman in front of him.
Sybil blushed at the compliment, but tried to turn the attention away from herself by saying, “You look a lot better than you did the other day. I take it you’re taking care of yourself then?”
“I have people looking after me,” he said with a smirk.
It was then that Sybil noticed how the crowd had gone nearly silent. Not only that, but they had all turned to watch her and Andrius. She had no idea why people were staring, and she awkwardly looked around before she said, “I think the parade has stopped.”
“Let’s go take a look. Come with me,” Andrius said as he held out a hand for Sybil.
Sybil took his hand and followed as he led her towards the street. She looked around at the people who were still staring at her and Andrius while they whispered, and her brow furrowed in confusion.
When she turned her attention back to Andrius, they had reached one of the parade floats that had come to a stop. She tried to yank him back as he started to lead them up the stairs, and frantically whispered, “This is for the crown prince! What are you doing?”
The last thing Sybil needed was to get in trouble the one day she left the house. And by the royal family, no less.
“I know,” Andrius nonchalantly said as he continued to pull her along so that they were on the float, in perfect view of everyone.
It wasn’t until he picked up a crown and placed it on his head that Sybil realized why everyone had been staring at them. The soldier that had come crashing into the church, that she spent weeks nursing back to health, was none other than the crown prince of Ignis, and she had had no idea.
Andrius looked at Sybil’s shocked face and gave her a wink before he looked out at the crowd and said, “People of Ignis, today we celebrate my return to you. The truth is I had been wounded in battle and was at death’s door when a kind, beautiful young woman took me in and nursed me back to health. If it had not been for her, I would have died and you would have been without your prince.”
He turned to look at Sybil before he grabbed her hand and held it tightly. Her heart anxiously bounced against her ribcage as she stood as frozen as a statue.
He kept his fiery eyes glued to her as he continued, “Sybil, I told you that I would find a way to repay you, and today is that day.” Andrius looked back at the crowd and continued, “Lady Sybil saved my life, and today, I am thrilled to announce that I have chosen her to be my bride and your crown princess.”
