Fiorentina
The princes were not supposed to return to the palace that night, but both insisted on seeing Carla and me home. These were anxious times, and I understood exactly what they were feeling.
If Rul and Fig were displeased, they kept quiet. I noticed that at least Fig seemed friendly with Alex as if they had talked before. Still, both mermen took the front, leaving the four of us at the back.
“What will your father think about you two going home without the royal carriage?”
“I have traveled on my own before – to the village. But I don’t think Father will notice, anyway. He has been very ill,” Alex said.
Alex lowered his eyes, and I felt terrible for him. He had already lost his mother, whose identity he was still grappling with. His father dying would mean two things: losing
