Page 70 of Once Upon an Enchanted Kiss

“Well? The truth, boy!”

“King Stephan, enough of this.” Reginald, his father, stepped up next to him. His large presence was a reassuring buffer between him and Rosamund’s enraged father.

Phillip noticed Jeffrey and Charles had both dismounted and stood by their horses waiting to see how things were going to play out. Both remained mute, their faces devoid of emotion.

“It’s clear they have been riding for days to reach us,” Reginald said. “Give the boy a moment to collect his thoughts and tell us the story.”

There was no mistaking the fury on Stephan’s face as he glared at Phillip. His father gave him a nudge of encouragement.

“I met Rosamund in the Mystwood Forest,” Phillip began. “She traveled alone. I feared for her safety, so I invited her to journey with me. I had no idea of her true identity at first. I thought she was merely a peasant girl lost in the woods.

“It was the dark faery who compelled us by a sinister spell she cast on both of us. She pushed us together and toward a cave where there were enormous rosebushes with thorns. I tried to stop her from touching the thorn.” He paused as he looked at the cart where Rosamund slumbered. “But the power of the spell was too great.”

Silence descended between them. The only sound that of the weeping queen. Phillip looked at his mother whose face was creased with her own sorrow.

“Forgive me, your majesty,” Phillip said.

Stephan looked down at his daughter. He brushed her cheek with the back of his hand.

“She will be taken to her chamber. We will find a way to break the curse, even if I have to send for the Queen of the Celestial Court herself to tell me how,” he said.

Phillip moved toward the cart but Stephan held up a hand to stop him. He halted mid-step.

“No. You will go with your parents to your own chambers. You will stay away from my daughter. I will allow you rest after your journey. However, in the morn, I expect the three of you to be gone from Myst Hall and never return.”

“Stephan!” Eleanor said on a breath, surprise evident in her tone. “The betrothal—”

“We will not discuss it here or now,” he snapped. Then his gaze cut to Phillip and Reginald. “The betrothal is hereby broken. There will be no wedding.”

Phillip stared at the king then peered at the cart where she slumbered. His gut clenched into a tight knot. It was difficult for him to grasp their betrothal was broken just like that.

He glanced at his father to see his jaw was clenched, a muscle ticking along the edge. Though he tried to hide his ire, it was clear he was furious with the turn of events.

“If that is your decision, Stephan, so be it. We will pack our belongings and depart at dawn.” He motioned for his wife to join them.

Reluctantly, Adele left Eleanor’s side and joined the two of them. No more words were exchanged as they all headed inside the castle. Phillip stole a glance over his shoulder to see Jeffrey and Charles still standing by their horses. No doubt the two of them wondering what they should do next. Return to Haven Castle or remain until morning and depart with them. Phillip had nothing to offer them. He dared not speak with King Stephan for he didn’t wish to tempt his wrath further.

Exhaustion pounded through him as he followed his parents through the halls of the castle and up the stairs where they entered a large bedchamber that was big enough for the three of them. The living area hosted a chaise near the large fireplace. On the other side of the chaise, two oversized chairs with a small table between them. The floor was covered in a garnet plush rug. Several candelabras were lit in the room, giving it a warm inviting glow.

Phillip made for the chaise near the fireplace and immediately collapsed onto it. He was bone weary from all the traveling and near faint from not having eaten a full meal in days. As soon as the door was closed, sealing them inside the chamber away from prying eyes and listening ears, his father spoke.

“We should leave at once. I don’t think we wait until morning.”

“Nonsense,” his mother said. “Can’t you see Phillip is exhausted? And what of Jeffrey and Charles? Someone should see to it they can stay here tonight. Furthermore, I don’t think we should leave so soon.”

Phillip cracked open an eye to see his mother standing with her hands on her hips in defiance of his father, whose face was crimson with ire.

“Why should we stay? Stephan called off the wedding and broke faith with us.”

“Stephan is grieving for his daughter and so is Eleanor,” Adele said. “He made an emotional decision. We must think this through with a cool head, my love. Just because he wants us to leave by the morning doesn’t mean we should.”

“Have you gone mad, my wife? We cannot stay here.”

“Shush, Reginald.” Then she bustled over to Phillip with a swish of her skirts. She lowered herself to the ground, the material of her gown billowing out around her as she reached for him. “My dear, there has to be more to the story than what you told us.”

Phillip shook his head from side to side. “There isn’t, Mother.”

“Poppycock.” She stood straight, her fists once again on her hips. “I’m going to ring for tea and refreshments and then you’re going to tell usexactlywhat happened.”

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