Ellie and the Prince (Faraway Castle #1)(60)
“Do you really think so?”
“I know so.” He held her close, and she relaxed against him, though he could almost feel the tumult of her thinking.
“Do I hear cinder sprites?” Omar asked after a moment. “I thought the Gamekeeper came to take them.”
Ellie tipped her face up and smiled. “You do, and he did, but some decided to come back. I have so much to tell you about my visit to the Gamekeeper’s house and how I was able to come to the ball! I even met the griffin that stole me. That was the weirdest part of a very strange day.”
She paused, grimaced, and shuddered. “I think I was happier not remembering some of my past. But most of today was incredibly good. And I am so exhausted I can hardly think straight.”
She rose on tiptoe and regarded him earnestly. “Omar, will you mind terribly if I keep a few cinder sprites around our house? They won’t start fires or stink of sulphur, I promise.”
He laughed, quickly kissed her again, unable to resist, then answered, “My poor brain is galloping all-out, trying to keep up with your train of thought. And I suppose having magical creatures around the house comes with marrying a magical-creature wrangler. Credit where credit is due: I might never have worked up nerve to speak to you if a sprite hadn’t lured you into my bedchamber.”
Laughing, Ellie hid her face in his shoulder. “What a crazy story to tell!”
“If we don’t spread it, my little brothers will.” Grinning, he said, “The children will be beyond delighted to have you in the family, Ellie! We do need to return to the ballroom and let everyone know.”
She smoothed the back of his hair and sighed. “I know, but it was lovely to stretch out this time together, just the two of us.”
“The first of many times,” he said with manifest satisfaction.
Ellie ran to fix her hair and makeup, donned the glass slippers, then returned in a rush to take Omar’s arm and walk back to the castle. They entered the lobby through the main doors, and their entrance caused a stir. Rafiq, Yasmine, Karim, and Rita rushed to surround them before they were halfway to the ballroom door.
“We heard the news! Ellie is a princess!” “You two can get married now, right?” “Ellie will be our sister!” “Did you kiss her yet?” All four Zeidans talked at once, and not until Ellie bent to kiss each one in turn did they settle down.
“Yes, darlings, we are going to get married, and you are the first to officially know,” she told them quietly. “And you will be my brothers and sisters forever and ever.”
Rita and Karim hopped around, squealing and waving their arms. Yasmine clasped her hands beneath her chin and beamed for joy, bouncing on her toes. Rafiq shuffled his feet, his expression shifting from a smile to a frown to a smile with dizzying rapidity until it finally settled into satisfied lines and remained. “Good going, Omar. You finally got her.”
Ellie took Rita and Karim by the hands, and the six of them entered the ballroom together, all glowing with happiness.
King Aryn and Queen Sofia hurried forward to meet them. The king glanced back and forth between their faces and smiled. “It is settled, then.”
Omar’s mother faced Ellie squarely. “I hope you may someday forgive our behavior toward you, my dear. We gladly welcome you into our family and our hearts, and I only wish we had revealed our change of heart before your heritage was made known to us. May we”—she glanced from Ellie to Omar and back—“announce your betrothal tonight?
Ellie let go of the children’s hands and reached both hands to the Queen, who grasped them quickly. “I forgive you freely, Your Majesties, and you have my permission to tell the whole world!”
Any remaining fear or resentment slipped away when she saw the genuine joy in Omar’s face, as well as the relief and pleasure so evident in his parents’ smiles. Word was sent to the band, which interrupted its song and played a flourish to demand attention.
Then King Arryn and Queen Sophia stood on the platform together, smiling from ear to ear—a very handsome couple, Ellie thought once again—and the King proclaimed: “Tonight we ask you all to share our joy in announcing the betrothal of our son Omar Jibran Tazim Zeidan, Prince of Khenifra, to Marielle Yvette Toulouse, Crown Princess of Auvers.”
A great cheer arose, for the capricious crowd delighted in the tale of a lost princess found and had already forgotten its condemnation of an hour before. First to congratulate them was Prince Briar, who embraced his sister and spoke into her ear: “He will spoil you with kindness, but as your brother I am bound to keep you humble and cross.”
“Like old times,” Ellie said, and kissed his cheek. “I remember more about your peskiness now and promise to screech insults at you regularly.”
He gazed fondly into her eyes. “Some things never change.”
She hugged him again. “Thank you, Briar. For everything.” Then she remembered. “But . . . the throne? Do you mind very much?”
He laughed softly. “Marielle, why do you think I have searched for you so diligently all these years? Aside from the minor fact that I missed you, I mean. Becoming heir apparent to the throne was the worst thing that ever happened to me. I have no desire whatsoever to be king.”
Ellie had to laugh. “And you think I want to be queen? All because I was born a few minutes before you? You are soooo lucky Auvers doesn’t demand a male heir to the throne.”