not dressed anything like a king.”
Piper’s face fell. “Willa!” she scolded.
Aldon didn’t know what to expect his father’s reaction to be, but the king just laughed.
“Whatever do you mean by that, Willa?” the king asked.
“Well,” she answered, and placed her pinky finger on her chin, “I thought kings were supposed to wear robes and crowns. You wear a crown in your picture that’s on the money.”
“Willa, that’s enough,” Piper whispered, but Aldon’s father shushed her, grinning.
“And you don’t think I look kingly enough without my crown?” he asked.
Willa shook her head. “Nope,” she said. “I think you look like a grandpa.”
Aldon looked at Piper, and he could tell she was trying her best to hold in her laughter. Finally, King Hansen burst out laughing again, and Aldon and Piper followed suit.
“I’m sorry, King Hansen,” Piper said, still a bit out of breath from laughing.
“Please don’t apologize, dear,” he said. “Willa is quite charming.”
“Well, thanks,” Willa said.
“Would you like something to drink?” Piper asked? “I have some sweet tea and scones inside.”
Aldon and his father followed Piper inside where, with Willa’s help, she prepared a tray of sweets for the king.
“So, tell me about your family, Piper,” Aldon’s father said.
“Well, I was raised mostly by my mother. She and my aunt own a tree farm that’s not far from here.”
“So that’s where you learned about botany?”
“Exactly,” Piper said and handed him a glass of iced tea. “I’ve loved working here at Thistledown, taking care of the house and most especially working on the grounds.”
Aldon felt a surge of warmth, listening to Piper talk with his father.
“You’ve done a fine job here, my dear,” the king said. “The gardens are lovely, especially those yellow roses.”
Piper blushed.
“They’re Mom’s favorite!” Willa cried.
“And what about you, Willa?” King Hansen asked. “What’s your favorite?”
Willa shrugged and grabbed a scone. “I like sweets better than flowers,” she said.
“Me too.” The king grinned and dug into an orange scone. “Delicious,” he said.
Aldon sat back in his chair and took it all in. He could hardly believe it, but it seemed that his father was actually enjoying talking with Piper and Willa. The man seemed genuine in his interest, even if he was a little awkward. As he’d promised, he was definitely trying.
“Momma, I want to go outside and chase the butterflies,” Willa said after she’d finished her scone.
“Go, Willa,” Piper told her. “I’ll call you in when it’s time for supper.
“So, Aldon and Piper,” the king began. “Now that we’re alone, I want to know what your intentions are.”
Piper looked at Aldon, worry in her eyes, but Aldon took her hand in his.
“Father, Piper and I plan on living here at the castle, together, as a family.”
Surprisingly, Aldon felt no discomfort or fear in saying the words.
“I’ve never loved any woman the way I do Piper,” he said. “She makes me incredibly happy.”
His father nodded, looking from Aldon to Piper and back.
“Well, you have my blessing – both of you.”
A sense of peace washed over Aldon at his father’s words. “I realize now how wrong I’ve been,” his father said. “I’ve been under so much stress, trying to present the image of the kingdom I thought the world needed to see.” He shook his head and patted Aldon on the back. “My fears have been keeping me from accepting the men my sons have become. But I’m ready to set those fears aside.”
Aldon’s heart grew inside his chest.
“Thank you, Father,” he said. Something broke free inside him then. For so many years, he’d practically killed himself to gain his father’s approval. Finally, his father was recognizing him, validating him. It felt amazing. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”
“To both of us,” Piper broke in. She squeezed Aldon’s hand.
“I mean it,” King Hansen said. “Sovalon is lucky to have you both.”
Epilogue
SEVERAL MONTHS LATER
It was a perfect day at Thistledown Castle.
The sky was peacock blue, streaked with wispy clouds dancing across the sun. Guests were dressed to the nines, seated on folding chairs in the courtyard, waiting for the ceremony to begin as a flautist played. It was a scene out of a fairy tale.
“What if she doesn’t show up?” Aldon asked his brother Edward.
“She’ll be here,” Edward answered.
Edward sounded so sure, but as Aldon looked out over the castle grounds—decorated with every flower species known to man, he just couldn’t find his confidence. Carrie had let him down, leaving him practically at the altar. What if Piper did the same?
He scanned the crowd and saw