The Wild Swans (30 page)

She cleared out Clotilde’s quarters
, sold all the luxury goods the vile queen bought, and reinstated officials to their previous positions.

When the dust settled
, King Henrik met Elise for tea to discuss the country’s future.

“Even though she’s gone
, we may still be ruined,” King Henrik said, his mouth a grim line on his face. Much of his youthfulness was restored to him, but there were new lines on his forehead and around his mouth.

“What do you mean?” Elise asked.

“It is like Clotilde’s specter still hangs over us. With all of her wild spending and unbalanced use of magic, it seems she was doing her best to break the country to pieces. Although we wrestled it out of her control, there is only so much we can do. Your brothers have brilliantly managed their departments, but no country could bear what we have without going heavily into debt,” King Henrik said. “If only I weren’t such a fool! If I hadn’t let her grip my mind…”

Elise placed a comfort
ing hand on top of King Henrik’s fist. “There is something you need to see, Father. Come,” she said, leading the way out of her office.

“Where are we go
ing?” King Henrik said, following Elise out of the Treasury Department’s offices.

“Do you remember when you first gave me control of the Treasury Department?” Elise asked
, glancing over her shoulder.

“
I do. You were barely fifteen, but the timing was too perfect to pass up as the previous department head announced his retirement.”

“Everyone thought you
were mad for giving me such a responsibility,” Elise said.

K
ing Henrik smiled fondly. “Ingrid approved. So did Steffen and the rest of your foster brothers.”

“They did
,” Elise said as they walked to a more heavily patrolled, well-guarded section of the castle. “And so did the previous department head. He stayed on for a summer to teach and mentor me before setting me loose to bargain and bully my brothers and their respective departments.”

“Foster brothers
,” King Henrik said, a smile creasing his lips.

“The Treasury Department
was my dream post. I was thrilled when you assigned it to me. I’ve always liked numbers, and it greatly assured me of the esteem and trust you—and Mother—placed in me,” Elise said, leading the way through a squad of guards.

“Of course
,” King Henrik said.

Elise stopped outside a large
, metal door.

There
were two guards posted on either side of the door, but their presence meant very little. No one could get in without the key.

Elise slipped the key off her red sash and slid it in the odd
ly shaped lock. She let go of the key, which glowed. Something in the door clicked, and the metal door rolled away.

“Like everyth
ing else I do, I did my absolute best at running the Treasury Department,” Elise said, removing the key and stepping inside the treasury.

Inside the room
were mountains of gold. It cascaded off the walls in flat coins and was stacked in corners in solid bars. There were certificates of debt from other countries that Elise had bought up, priceless jewels, mountains of foreign currency, and blocks of precious stones like jade, amber, and emerald lined up in solid squares that were taller than Elise.

Elise and K
ing Henrik could only take several steps into the room, it was so crowded with gold and coins.

As the on
ly possessor of the treasury key, Elise knew King Henrik hadn’t set foot in the treasury in years, so she delighted in his awe.

“Clotilde’s antics will not break us. They will make a dent
, but nothing I cannot recover with a few thrifty seasons,” Elise said, her smile soft and affectionate as she watched her father.

K
ing Henrik shook his head as he stared at the fathomless wealth. “I knew you were doing a good job managing our finances, else Steffen would have said something. But this… I never expected.”

Elise’s smile grew indulgent as she stroll
ed up to her Father and placed her head on his shoulder. “So you will stop blaming yourself?”

K
ing Henrik linked his arms around Elise. “Your vast wealth does not change the fact that what I allowed to happen is unforgiveable.”

“
But it is,” Elise said. “The one thing this wretched trial has taught me is that love covers a multitude of sins. Please, Father. I can’t stand to hear you blame yourself. Forgive yourself.”

K
ing Henrik’s shoulders heaved. “Alright, my darling. Thank you.”

“Of course
,” Elise said, linking arms with King Henrik as they turned to leave the treasury.

K
ing Henrik glanced over his shoulder at the glittering wealth. “No wonder your brothers always hated budgeting with you. Nick complains bitterly that you make him itemize everything, and Falk always muttered you stole the royal profits and had unrealistic monetary return expectations for him.”

“Of course. If he wanted money for agricultural research the expected return
had
to make it worth it,” Elise said with a mad grin.

“They don’t deserve you
, you know,” King Henrik said.

“Who?” Elise asked
, locking the treasury door.

“Rune and Falk. Falk is too dense for you
, and Rune has the shrewdness of a snake,” King Henrik said.

“It warms my bones to see how you recommend your sons
,” Elise said.

“Natural
ly, you always were my favorite,” King Henrik said, his voice rumbling with laughter. “So which one will you choose?”

“I don’t know. I’m giv
ing them an equal chance right now,” Elise said.

“Just be careful not to give any lad besides the two of them too much attention
,” King Henrik said.

“Why?”

“Falk spent years toady-ing up to Mikk so as to use his army of sneaks, and Rune
is
the country’s best warrior,” King Henrik said.

“They wouldn’t
…” Elise said.

K
ing Henrik studied the ceiling. “They might have already.”

“
What
?”

K
ing Henrik laughed and patted Elise’s hand. “No matter. I’m sure you’ll be happy no matter which one you choose. They’re good lads.”

“Thank you
, Father.”

“Of course
, my darling daughter.”

As father and daughter strolled arm in arm
, Elise thought of more ways to squeeze money from Falk’s agricultural ventures—especially now that she suspected she would be able to use her feminine charm to her advantage.

K
ing Henrik, meanwhile, grew misty eyed over the thought that in several years he would very likely be walking in a similar manner with his daughter, only then it would be down the aisle of a cathedral.

K
ing Henrik knew Elise was dedicated to her work, but he also knew she was a creature of steadfast love and loyalty. It wouldn’t be long before her heart decided between Falk and Rune. He didn’t know for sure, but King Henrik suspected he knew who she would choose…..

If
you believe Elise grows to love Rune, click
HERE
.
If you believe Elise grows to love Falk, click
HERE
.

Falk

After Clotilde was defeated, it took three weeks for loneliness to set in Elise’s heart and two days for her to correctly identify the feeling.

The idea
that she was lonely seemed ludicrous. After all, she could speak as much as she wanted, and her brothers were no longer available to her for only a single hour of each day but at all times. Yes, Brida was not her near-constant companion, but the two frequently shared meals together. Moreover, as a result of the Clotilde fiasco, Elise had grown closer to her brothers, Father, and even Gabrielle—whose friendship she greatly enjoyed.

But
still, the loneliness plagued her.

It would hit her at odd times
, like when she was alone in her office in the evening hours. She would reach for a soft, feathery body that wasn’t there. Sometimes when taking tea, she saved a crust of bread and would turn to give it to…nothing.

The on
ly logical conclusion was that Elise missed Falk’s constant presence, an outcome Elise did not want to dwell on much less recognize.

“—Did you even use the paste while I was gone? Your hands are puffy
. You’ve been working too much again. Your hands will not heal if you don’t rest them,” Falk said as he rubbed Elise’s hands with a costly lotion he purchased while traveling with Erick. “It’s been weeks since you last picked up a nettle, and your hands still haven’t healed.”

Yes
, Elise
really
didn’t want to recognize it.

“Are you even
listening
to me?”

“Of course
,” Elise said, internally disgusted with herself. How could she miss
this
?

“No
, you aren’t. Or your hands wouldn’t be so horribly abused. Open your mouth.”

“Why?”

“Just do it.”

Elise obeyed. She almost wretched when Falk popped a spoonful of bitter liquid in her mouth. She swallowed the concoction
, but held her stomach as she produced gagging noises. “What was that?”

“Medicine. It will strengthen and fortify you.”

“I feel plenty fortified already, thank you. Couldn’t you have done anything about the taste? It’s like I swallowed mud a pig pooped and rolled in,” Elise said, wiping her mouth.

“Here
,” Falk said, passing Elise a mug.

Elise eyed the contents and sniffed it.

“It’s water,” Falk said, his voice wry.

Elise cautiously took a sip to assure herself that it was indeed water before gulping it down
, anxious to wash away the bitter medicine. “That was awful,” she said when she finished.

Falk expressively raised his eyebrows but said nothing as he arranged his clay pots and glass bottles.

Elise raised a hand to inspect it. “I think my hands look better. They don’t hurt anymore, and the welts are mostly gone.”

“Yes
, but they’re flushed and discolored, and you have quite a bit of scarring,” Falk said.

“Thank you for trying to make them look better
,” Elise said.

“
I
think there is nothing wrong with them. They are beautiful,” Falk said, his words peppered with a frown.

Elise ruefully shook her head. “In no way are my hands beautiful.”

“They are. They are a visible symbol of your love and the sacrifice you made to free us,” Falk said.

“If they’re so symbolic
, why do you plague me with your horrible medicines?”

“Because you are ashamed.”

Elise’s heart leaped into her throat. “What?”

Falk tossed a rag on a nearby workbench.
“You hide your hands whenever possible, and you wore gloves at that atrocious celebration our family threw. You do not like showing people your wounds. Which is a shame. It’s no different than Nick or Rune’s battle scars. It is something you should be proud of.”

Elise stared at Falk.

“What?” the goldenrod haired prince said as he started rolling bandages.

“I was thinking it might make sense after all.”

“Of course it makes sense.”

“No
, not my hands. Just—I’ve missed you. For the life of me I couldn’t figure out why.”

“You certainly know how to give a compliment.”

“Yes, I missed your constant presence, but we would drive each other crazy if we were together all day long,” Elise blurted out, saying things she didn’t mean to say.

“
How you warm my heart with your gentle sentiments.”

“
But what I really missed was you, not your physical proximity, but
you
.”

Falk put the bandages aside. “What about me is there to miss? I scare your subordinates
; I’m antisocial, and I accidentally say mean things if one goes by Rune’s hefty grasp of the subject.”

“
You’re thoughtful,” Elise said, sliding off her stool. “You watch me, and you understand why I do things. You get why I keep our budgets tight, and why I am on a crusade to expand trade. You don’t let me run reckless, doing whatever I want. You lecture me if I’m in the wrong, and you see the best in me.”

“Elise
,” Falk said, his tone worried.

“But it’s not just about me. You’re also clever and witty. And yes
, I would be remiss if I did not mention you are handsome. But above all, you are thoughtful and gentle.”

“Elise. Please
, don’t,” Falk said, his voice just above a whisper.

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t give me hope.”

The words were like an open chasm between them. They startled Elise. “Why not?
Why not, if what I say is the truth?”

“Because you don’t love me
, not the way I love you,” Falk said.

Elise weighed his words. Did she really just see Falk as her foster brother? She didn’t think so.

She loved Steffen, but being with him didn’t make her speak carelessly. She knew Gerhart was quite handsome, but she was never struck by his looks. Rune was…Rune was her hero. But she didn’t miss him the way she missed Falk. Things had changed since the night Elise and Falk discussed their relationship in the freezing waters of Lake Sno.

No
, Elise certainly didn’t see Falk as a foster brother, and she still loved him. So there was only one conclusion to make. “But I do.”

“You do what?” Falk said
, his eyes scrunched shut as he rubbed his forehead.

“I love you
,” Elise said, as if they were discussing line items in the Agriculture Department’s budget.

“I don’t believe you
,” Falk said.

Elise winced. “After saying the same thing to you on numerous occasions I suppose I deserve
d that.”

“Even though Father will leave the decision up to you
, you will marry for the better of the country if Rune can’t win you over.”

Elise narrowed her eyes. “That’s true
; I forgot the financial aspect. Well, if you want to marry me, we will have to make sacrifices. Financial ones. I won’t marry until Arcainia is back on track, and Carabas harbor is opened. But we’re crafty. We will manage. We’ll just have to increase our agricultural exports.”

Falk
blinked. “I recognize I’m not the most social man, but I am certain most women don’t consider budgets and line items when talking about love.”

“Why not? You love me
; I love you. That seems pretty settled,” Elise said.

“This is completely unromantic. Even I recognize it
,” Falk grumbled.

“Falk
,” Elise said, stepping close enough to take his hand. “We are just getting over defeating a wicked witch. I spent the summer saving you and your brothers, and you spent the summer guarding me and looking for ways to ease my pain. As far as I’m concerned, there was a cloud of dramatic tension and love hanging over our head for the past season. I welcome a clear-cut business goal to work towards that will also bring me personal happiness.”

“I still don’t believe you
,” Falk said, his head tipped as he looked down at her.

“Fair enough
,” Elise said before sliding her arm behind Falk’s neck and standing on her tip-toes so she could kiss him. She blushed heavily as their lips met.

Falk was so stunned
, he did not respond for several seconds. Then he wrapped his arms around Elise, cradling her close.

“This is your last chance to back out
, Elise. I love you. If you return my love, I will never let you go, and I will drive this country forward until you feel we can marry,” Falk said, his voice hoarse.

“I’ve made my choice
, Falk. I love you,” Elise said.

Falk’s look of joy took Elise’s breath away. His eyes went soft
, and his lips crept into a roguish grin as he traced Elise’s jaw with his fingertips. “Thank you,” he said, his lips brushing her forehead.

“Don’t thank me yet. We have to tell Father.”

“And Steffen.”

“And Rune. That one I will have to take care of
, alone. You cannot rub this in his face.”

“You forget,
Sweetness
, out of all my brothers I am the one most likely to empathize with him,” Falk said before laying another kiss on Elise.

This was never a future Elise had
considered, and in some ways it was exactly what Elise expected. She would marry a member of nobility who was highly influential in a government department.  Working jointly, they could take their departments to new heights. But even in her most fanciful dreams, Elise never thought her husband would love her as deeply as Falk did. She never imagined kisses as passionate and tingling as the ones Falk gave her. She never dreamed she would love her husband with a matching passion.

So no
, it wasn’t exactly what Elise had planned. It was a thousand times better.

For the first time in months
, perhaps since the death of Queen Ingrid, Elise looked forward to the future.

When the new ambassador of
Kozlovka took up his post in Arcainia, he complained to his predecessor. “Arcainia is a small country; why must we bow and scrape to them?”

The previous ambassador lifted his eyes to the heavens. “You
so closely resemble myself when I first arrived at the Arcainian court that it pains me. I will tell you what my predecessor told me: do our country a favor, and keep your mouth shut until you have a solid grasp of Arcainia’s power.”

“I know plenty of Arcainia’s power
,” the new ambassador protested.

“You are the second son of a duke who is known for being a rake. Forgive me for my doubts
,” the previous ambassador wryly said.

The words stung the new ambassador of Kozlovka so much that he spent much of his first party in Arcainia sulking.
“I don’t see what he’s talking about,” he muttered. “This court is a rag-tag spectacle. The royals are dressed no better than Mother’s maid.”

The country was pretty in an ideali
stic, cheerful song-bird sort of way. The ambassador of Kozlovka grudgingly admitted that the land was pretty and the subjects jolly, but the royals and the palace were a disgrace to behold. Why, the Crown Prince Steffen and his wife Princess Gabrielle were a handsome pair, dressed neatly in nice clothes, but there was no splendor. They did not drip with jewels or gold or expensive ornaments. The food was delicious but common, the castle was comfortable but not ornate. Even government
employees
were invited to the party, and they milled and conversed with Arcainian nobility without hesitation!

The ambassador of Kozlovka felt like he was visiting
the estate of a country lord rather than a palace. “Disgraceful,” he muttered into his wine cup.

What surprised him was that an ambassador from every country on the continent was present.
Not only were they attending, but many of them were acting oddly. The Loire ambassador was all smiles; the Sole representative laughed too loud, as if he was nervous; and the Verglas ambassador looked terrified.