The Fairy's Return and Other Princess Tales Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Nobody listens to me. All they care about are the jewels. You’re the worst. It’s all you care about, too. And I don’t want to eat wild boar ever again. I hate wild boar.”
    The air was so thick with insects that Harold could hardly see. Snakes wriggled across the carpets. Snakes slithered up the sconces. Snakes oozed down the tapestries. A gigantic one hung from the chandelier, its head swaying slowly.
    A milk snake slipped under the covers. It settled its clammy body next to Rosella. She wanted to scream and run. Instead, she bit her lip and stayed very, very still.
    â€œSweetheart, I’m sorry. Forgive me. Ouch! That hurt.”
    Myrtle screamed, “I’M NOT GOING TO TALK UNLESS I WANT TO!”
    â€œAll right. All right! You won’t have to. And I’ll listen to you. I promise.” Something bit his foot all the way through his boot. He hopped and kicked to get rid of it. “Everyone will listen. By order of Prince Harold.”
    â€œAND PRINCESS ROSELLA,” Myrtle yelled.
    â€œAnd Princess Rosella,” Harold echoed.
    Myrtle lowered her voice. “Now leave me. I need my rest.”

Eleven
    A fter Harold left, Ethelinda made the snakes and bugs disappear. Rosella came out from under the covers.
    â€œThank you,” Rosella told her sister. An emerald fell on the counterpane.
    Myrtle snatched the jewel and said, “You’re welcome.” She snagged the fly before it got to Rosella’s face. Then she crushed it in her fist.
    â€œYou’ve done a good deed,” Ethelinda began.
    Myrtle shook her head. “Don’t reward me. Thanks, but no thanks.” She let two cockroaches fall into the bed.
    Ethelinda asked if Myrtle would help Rosella again if she needed it.
    â€œWhy should I?” Myrtle asked.
    â€œI’ll pay you,” Rosella said.
    Myrtle pocketed the two diamonds. Not bad. She’d get to frighten the prince again and get jewels for it, too. “Okay.”
    Myrtle and Rosella switched clothes again. Then Ethelinda sent Myrtle back home. When Myrtle was gone, Ethelinda said she had to leave too. She vanished.
    Rosella sank back into her pillows. She didn’t want Myrtle to help again, or even Ethelinda. She wanted to solve the problem of Harold and his poor subjects all by herself.
    Harold didn’t dare visit Rosella again that day. But he did command the Royal Servants to listen to her. So Rosella got rid of her nighttime guards. And she had her meal of poached quail eggs and roasted chestnuts at last.
    She also ordered the Royal Ladies-in-Waiting to bring her a slate and chalk. From then on, she wrote instead of talking to them. She was tired of having them dive into her lap whenever she said anything.
    And she had them bring her a box with a lock and a key. She kept the box and the slate by her side so she’d be ready when Harold came.
    He showed up a week after Myrtle’s visit. Rosella felt fine by then. She was sitting at her window, watching a juggler in the courtyard.
    â€œHoney?” He poked his head in. He was ready to run if the room was full of creepy-crawlies. But the coast seemed clear, so he stepped in all the way. He was carrying a bouquet of daisies and a box of taffy. “All better, sweetheart?” He held the daisies in front of his face—in case any hornets started flying.
    He looks so scared, Rosella thought. She smiled to make him stop worrying.

    â€œT HEY SAT THERE NOT SAYING ANYTHING .”
    He lowered the bouquet cautiously and placed it on a table. Then he sat next to her and looked her over. She seemed healthy. That silk nightdress was cute. Blue was a good color for her.
    He hoped she wasn’t feeling miserable anymore. Anyone who was going to marry him should be the happiest maiden in the kingdom. He still wanted her to talk up enough jewels for a new palace. Then, after that, he wouldn’t mind a golden coach and a few other items. But he wanted her to