Cinderella and the Colonel (13 page)

“You
have, and soon, I hope, your trials will end. The Crown Prince knows the country he will inherit is not united, but terribly divided. He will have to reckon Trieux to Erlauf for it to be a solid kingdom. Our children will not have to go through what you have gone through. The Erlauf Royal Family will see to it.”

“I
have no confidence in your royalty. And
our
children?
We
are not married,” Cinderella said, ducking out from under Friedrich’s hands.

Friedrich ignored the nay-say. “You will
have to forgive them, you know.”

“Who?”

“The Erlauf Royal Family. They are not doing this to be cruel.”

“I will admit Trieux marched to their doom
, but you forget: I am the daughter of a man who was forced to marry an Erlauf widow against his will, a woman I still house and feed. I have sold almost every personal possession I own and almost every decorative piece in Aveyron to pay your Erlauf Royal Family’s taxes. I very much doubt they are doing this as a kindness.”

Friedrich sighed. “I suppose your recognition of Trieux’s actions is t
he most I could hope for today.”

“
Wait a moment,” Cinderella said, turning around to face him again. “You have some admitting to do.”

“What more is there to admit? I agree the taxes are heavy and
that the Crown Prince will have to do something about that,” Friedrich said.

“Yes, but that isn’t all. Trieux was wrong and terribly foolish, but the grip Queen Freja has over the country isn’
t healthy,” Cinderella said.

“What do you mean?”

“Queen Freja acts more like a tyrant than a monarch, and for once I am not referring to the taxes.”

Friedrich frowned.

“Hear me out. She has absolute control, and no one holds her accountable. In Trieux, each noble family had a vote in the House of Lords. The King still had the ultimate power, but he often leaned on the House to make decisions.”

“You mean to say Queen Freja should add a group of law
-makers to our government?”

“No,” Cinderella said. “The side
-effect of having the House of Lords is everyone knew the government’s business. Nothing was hidden—it’s how Aveyron’s servants knew of Father’s vote.”

“And what has that to do with Queen Freja?” Friedrich asked.

“The reason Trieux citizens treat her with suspicion is because we cannot trust her. If she explained why the random searches and increased patrols are necessary, or if she had a reason for taxing us to poverty, we could better accept it. We would still hate her, but I do not think the tensions between our countries would be quite so…overwhelming,” Cinderella said.

Friedrich blinked. “You want her to explain herself?”

“Yes. The Erlauf government is shrouded in secrecy. We are expected to accept the actions of the royal family blindly and without question. That is most assuredly
not
the way of Trieux.”

Friedrich shifted. “In the A
rmy, I give orders and expect my men to follow them…but usually an explanation accompanies the orders. It would be dangerous to send ignorant soldiers into combat.”

“Exactly!”
Cinderella triumphantly said.

“
Perhaps you are right,” Friedrich said, looking uncomfortable. “From a logical standpoint, I can see why it would assure you of Trieux to hear of the queen’s doings. As an Erlauf citizen, though, I do not think it would be easy to change that aspect of the Erlauf monarchy. It is ingrained in our culture that we must trust our monarch implicitly.”

“
Then our best hope is the Crown Prince,” Cinderella said. “If he is as aware of the strife as you say he is, he might be more accepting of change.”

Friedrich cleared his throat. “I think a great deal of it will also rest in whomever he marries.”

“Perhaps…,” Cinderella said, considering the thought.

Friedrich was quiet for a few moments. “Did you plant the flowers?” he asked changing the subject.

“The day after you gave me the seeds. They have already begun sprouting,” Cinderella said.

“Already?
It has been barely two weeks.”

“The book you gave me mentioned they
have a short growing period.”

“Good
. I expect you will be able to turn a profit more swiftly than originally estimated?” Friedrich said.

“
Indeed. Thank you again for the seeds.”

“Your desires are my goals
, Pet.”

“Must you call me
that?” Cinderella asked.

“Of course
; it is endearing.”

“It is not. It is
, ugh. How would you feel if I called you…Scamp?”

“I would be touched.”

“Rogue?”

“Honored.”

“…Fred?”

Friedrich pulled back
, as if Cinderella had backhanded him. “You wouldn’t,” he said.

Cinderella smiled and rubbed her hands in delight.
“Why not? Fred is a respectable name.”

Friedrich winced. “Words cannot describe how much I dislike
that particular shortening of my name.”

“Then at least
you will know how I feel.”

“Cinderella
,” Friedrich said.

“Yes?”

Friedrich sighed. “You’re no fun.”

“Real
ly?
I
think I’m hysterical.”

“Killjoy.”

“Whatever you say, Fred.”

“
It seems General Hardbutt intends to keep the Second Regiment at Werra,” Merrich said, sipping his pint of ale.

“
I believe it is in preparation of Queen Freja’s departure at the end of the year,” Diederick, a friend of Friedrich’s and a government official, said. “The country is stable, but if she intends to tour the lands, the Third Regiment will accompany her,” he said, swirling his mug.

“And the C
ommander,” Merrich added.

Diederick
nodded. “And the Commander,” he echoed. “Their absence will make things… interesting.”

“I don’t think a rebellion is very like
ly,” Merrich said. “The taxes are stiff, yes, but the commoners don’t seem to mind them too much, and there’s hardly anyone left to lead them.”

“The remain
ing Trieux nobles are too aware of the precarious situation they are in. No, my friend, Trieux is definitely a part of Erlauf. At least on paper. The peoples’ hearts and loyalties don’t belong to Erlauf, but that is not something I am not responsible for,” Diederick said.

Merrich laughed and leaned back in his chair. “Do you hear
that, Friedrich? Friedrich.”

“She called me
Fred
,” Friedrich said, scowling into his pint.

Merrich laughed again and pounded his hand on the table
at which they sat.

“Who?”
Diederick asked, adjusting his wire-rimmed eyeglasses.

“His Trieux
misses,” Merrich grinned. “Lady Lacreux. She has the looks of the troll, but she sounds like barrels of fun.”

“Lady Lacreux? She does not look—
,” Diederick started. He quieted when Friedrich kicked him under the table. “So that is whom you have chosen? She has a fiery temper, I’ve been told. Are you certain you have not bitten off more than you can chew?”

“She’s the one for me
,” Friedrich said, lazily balancing his chair on the back two legs.

He and his friends
were seated outdoors in front of a tavern where they could watch commoners—Trieux and Erlauf alike—hurry on their way, call out their wares, and gossip and laugh in the open.

Diederick
shrugged. “Personally speaking, it makes very little difference to me whom you marry. You will be the one to live with her. You think she is a good choice in every way?”

“Her servants would die for her—although I doubt she knows. They handle her with kid gloves.”

“How do
you
know?”

“A footman popped one of my
soldiers in the head when I sent him to check in on her. The footman thought he was spying on her. The butler nearly busted my man before I could send word,” Friedrich said.

“She is a good choice. Her blood and heritage will
bring legitimacy to your position—but do you think she’ll actually say
yes
?” Diederick asked.

“I’
m working on her,” Friedrich said. “She’s softening to Erlauf. Some.”

“When do we get to meet her?”
Merrich asked.

“Not for a long while
,” Friedrich said. “I don’t want you scaring her off.”

“I’m hurt
,” Merrich said before taking a swig of his drink. “I can’t believe you brought her by the camp when I wasn’t there,”

“You took her to the First Regiment’s camp?” Diederick asked.

Friedrich nodded. “Yes.”

“Part of his plan to soften her
,” Merrich said.

“I see
,” Diederick said.

“I think he’s just act
ing like a besotted fool,” Merrich said.

“I am not besotted.”

“Then why are you pouting over being called Fred?”

“…”

“And that is my point,” Merrich said with an irritating amount of superiority.

Friedrich rolled his eyes. “You’re just…
,” he trailed off when he saw a head of shockingly brilliant red hair.

“This is the historic district of
Alzette. The Great Erlauf architect Filibert Frejem designed it over a hundred years ago with the purpose of stimulating commerce. He made revolutionary changes that allowed for shops to be placed close together, with limited fire hazards.”

There
was no mistaking that mop of red hair. And even though she was mostly blocked by a group of Erlauf soldiers, Friedrich could never forget the white flag she waggled above her head.

It
was Cinderella.

All the soldiers with her
were from the First Regiment. Friedrich thought he saw Ivo and Kurt among the crowd, perhaps even Gustav.

“I’m just?” Merrich prompted.

“Uhhh,” Friedrich said.

Diederick turned in his chair to see what Friedrich stared at. “Oh
, is that—,”

“If you will excuse me
, gentlemen, I must leave for a moment. I will return for more drinks, you can be sure,” Friedrich said, standing up so quickly his chair was thrown to the ground. “Keep him here,” Friedrich said to Diederick as Merrich righted the chair.

“As you wish
,” Diederick said.

“You’re a good man
,” Friedrich said, slapping him on the back before he hurried after Cinderella and his men.

He caught up with them when they made a turn
, heading towards the Trieux Royal Library.

“Down this road we
have—,” Cinderella said.

“Isn’t this a sight
,” Friedrich said, darting in front of them. “My Lady Love and my underlings,” he said, glowering at his men.

They sheepish
ly scuffed their boots on the ground but said nothing.

“Good afternoon
, Friedrich. Do you ever work? I’m starting to suspect you don’t,” Cinderella said.

Friedrich nonchalant
ly adjusted his eye patch. “I thought we agreed you were finished with historical tours.”

“
Yes, perhaps. But these fine gentlemen are
soldiers
.
Your
soldiers. I couldn’t be safer anywhere else than I am with them. And besides, they asked so sweetly. Marie said they saw the sign in one of Armel’s stores and asked for a tour with all due niceties and polish.”