Puss in Boots (Timeless Fairy Tales Book 6) (15 page)

“Adoration is different from love. I want someone to see me for who I am—not for what I do or look like—and love
me
.”

Steffen eyed Gabrielle. “Oh, I get it. You’ve been loved before because of the way you look. If it was that odious, why do you still want it?”

“I was not
loved.
I was wanted—the way sweet or a toy is wanted by a selfish child.”

“And you believe love is more than that?”

“I’m going to refrain from hitting you for being such a dunce, Your Highness.”

“Excuse me?” Steffen sputtered.

“You have lived with the love of your parents, and you
dare
to ask if it’s more than mere wanting? Love is the most meaningful thing in our lives. When I die, it won’t matter how pretty I was or how many good deeds I did. I’m selfish—so I want everything. I want my tight companionship with Puss—where I know I can count on him to save me and keep me in my place. And although I have left my home, I hope my family misses me. And—laugh if you want—I also want a deep love, one that is so profound, words aren’t necessary. A love so cherished that I would rip apart the sky and fight the impossible if someone threatened to take him from me.”

“But love often
fails
,” Steffen added. “Humans are imperfect, and life is harsh. Your lover will leave you earlier than expected, another victim of a young death. Or perhaps he will
choose
to leave you for someone new. I’ve seen it happen. It’s not so rampant in Arcainia, but I suspect the nobles of Loire have the loyalty of stray cats. You of all people should know this. You are exquisite.”

“What of it? Puss chose me as his mistress because I am smart and adaptable,” Gabrielle snapped. “Be careful, Prince Steffen. If you imply I am liked only because of how I look, prince or not, I
will
slap you again.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Steffen said. “I know others value you for other things, but you said yourself you have encountered fools who prize you for your appearance. Many people are like that.”

“And many people aren’t,” Gabrielle said, her voice defensive and her eyebrows lowered.

“Fine, disregard that. I will use myself as an example instead. There is not a woman in this world who could manage to love me—
me
, not my title, throne, money, or looks—and understand the demands of my future
and
remain faithful. And if there were, I am certain an assassin would end her life early on,” Steffen declared.

Gabrielle wanted to cry—for Steffen and for herself. It was sad that Steffen felt this so passionately, and it was heartbreaking because Gabrielle knew she had started to like him before learning of his title and wealth.

“Your image of love is a very grand one, I will grant you, but it is still not worth the risk. Love makes a person
weak.
Besides, I do not think it is possible for people like us,” Steffen said, his voice passionate.

“Don’t include me with you,” Gabrielle said.

“What, you think you can find such an ideal lover—who loves you not because of your beauty but in spite of it—and survive if he betrays you, rejects you, or dies before you?”

What could she say to that? “Yes,” Gabrielle said.

“You are naïve,” Steffen said.

“And you, bumpkin-head, are an idiot,” Puss said, his voice slicing through their conversation like a sharp blade. “Do not presume to judge my mistress and her image of love until you know what she has lived through.”

“Puss, you gave your admirer the slip?” Gabrielle asked, her heart soaring at the sight of her companion as he jumped onto the bench, seating himself between Gabrielle and Steffen.

“I did,” Puss said, his unblinking gaze fixed on Steffen. “I came to claim you on behalf of young Hansel, for he very much wishes to dance with you.”

“I see. Shall we go?”

“You run along. I will catch up,” Puss said, his eyes still on Steffen.

Gabrielle hesitated.

“Now, Gabi,” Puss said.

“Enjoy the party, Steffen.”

“Of course. I’m sure I’ll see you soon,” Steffen said, his seriousness and passion gone, and his public smile returned.

Privately, Gabrielle hoped it would be a while until she saw the prince, but publically, she curtsied and strode off. She ducked behind the blacksmith where, hidden as she was, she could hear the cat and the prince.

“Allow me to make something clear to you, Your Highness,” Puss said. “I am a magic cat, an entirely different species from you. Be that as it may, Gabrielle is a companion of my heart and my mistress. The very love that Gabrielle described, the kind of love that you scorned, is similar to the companionship-love I have for her. I will do everything I can to protect and support her, just as I trust in her to adventure with me. The
moment
I suspect you bring her more harm than entertainment, I will not hesitate to retaliate.”

“You speak strong words for such a little body, cat,” Steffen said, his voice forcefully light.

“Indeed,” Puss said. “You would do well to learn from my example, lest you also lose a companion of
your
heart through your inaction.” He jumped from the bench and padded after Gabrielle.

She scrambled to get ahead of him, but the cat caught up. “So you were listening in on our conversation—I commend your interest,” Puss said, hooking his claws into her pants so she would stop and pick him up.

“Thank you, Puss,” Gabrielle said, a rush of warmth and love welling up from her heart.

Puss huffed. “This is precisely why I did not wish for you to overhear us. Now you are going to be
emotional
.”

Gabrielle laughed. “Not I,” she said. “Did Hansel really want to dance with me?”

“He did. But as you search him out, I suggest you listen to my advice.”

“And what is it?”

“I think it would be best for us if we leave for the next village before dawn tomorrow.”

“I’m not opposed to the idea,” Gabrielle said.
It would be wise to put some distance between the prince and myself.

“Good,” Puss said, nosing her cheek. “In that case, we should retire soon. Morning will come faster than you think.”

“Very well, but first I want to dance with young Hansel.”

“As you wish.”

“Do you want to dance with your pretty admirer?”

“No!”

Gabrielle laughed and sought out the young boy she had saved.

The following morning, Steffen glided down the stairs and entered the common room just as the sun peeked over the horizon. Pleased with the early hour, he glanced up the stairs to see if Gabrielle and Puss were coming down yet. He didn’t hear anyone stirring, so he sat on a bench in the empty taproom.

“Good morning,” he said when Okan—as quiet as ever—bowed and shuffled off to the kitchen, returning with a food-laden plate and a mug of steaming tea.

Steffen heartily dug in and had demolished his potato pancakes by the time King Henrik, Timo, Moritz, and Dominik fumbled downstairs. (Alwin followed behind them, awake, wearing a crisp uniform, and already sporting his helm.)

“You look cheerful,” King Henrik said, squinting in the sunlight that eased in from several open windows.

“Something good happen to you?” Timo asked, grunting in thanks when Okan set a tray of food down in front of him.

“I’m up before Gabrielle,” Steffen said, toasting the guard commander with his mug. “She’ll be so vexed.”

“Er…begging your pardon, Your Highness,” Okan said. His voice was deep and slow, somewhat similar to a giant’s.

“Yes?” Steffen asked.

“You’re not.”

“I’m not what?”

At that moment, Anja—Okan’s bright and boisterous wife—entered the common room, her baby strapped snug to her back. “Okan, did you make any—oh. Please, excuse me,” she said, blushing when she realized who was speaking with her husband.

“Not at all,” Steffen said, giving her his most charming smile in his good humor.

“Anja, Lady Gabrielle,” Okan said.

Anja’s blush cleared. “Oh. Oh, my.” She turned to Steffen and curtsied. “What my husband is trying to say, Your Highness, is that Lady Gabrielle has already left.”

“
What
?” Steffen asked, slamming his mug on the table. “Where is she running off to this time?”

“A neighboring village, I believe, given the pattern of her travels,” Anja said, clasping her hands together.

“When do you expect her to return?” Steffen asked.

“We don’t,” Anja said. “She and Master Puss in Boots left the village and are moving on.”

Steffen placed his hands on his lap so he could privately squeeze them into fists. “I see. Thank you for the information,” Steffen said, keeping his voice lighthearted.

When the innkeeper and his wife shuffled away, Steffen glared at his food. “I should have known better. Foolish girl,” he growled.

“Something wrong, Steffen?” King Henrik asked.

“No,” Steffen said, his voice curt.

“But, Kronprinz, you seem to be rather short of temper,” Timo said, his scar curling when a smug smile budded on his lips.

Steffen glared at him as Dominik and Moritz picked up their trays from their table and eagerly joined King Henrik, Timo, and Steffen at theirs.

“You aren’t often in a foul temper. Could it be Lady Gabrielle’s abrupt exit?” King Henrik asked, his voice too innocent as he smothered his potato pancake with sour cream.

“No,” Steffen said, making an effort to bring his foul temper under control. “While I find the lady’s impulsive behavior insufferable, it has no effect on my temper.”

“I’ve always thought Lady Gabrielle is quite logical,” Dominik said, drawing Steffen’s dark gaze and Timo and King Henrik’s bemused attention. “She is quite thorough in her planning.”

“Dominik has a point, Your Highness,” Timo said.

“Indeed. Lady Gabrielle and Master Roland are always careful to plan out their actions,” King Henrik said.

Moritz nodded.

Steffen looked to Alwin—the only one not sitting at their table—but he was methodically eating and seemed oblivious of their conversation.

“Fine, perhaps she is meticulous. That still has no impact on my temper,” Steffen said.

“Oh, Steffen,” King Henrik said, clicking his tongue several times in a mild chide.

“Lying is not becoming of a future king, nor of anyone, I suppose,” Timo said.

“Neither is bossiness,” Steffen said, eyeing the commander.

Timo laughed. “Your Highness, I was in your father’s guard when your mother was pregnant with you. Your glares are adorable,” he said, reaching across the table to pinch Steffen’s cheeks.

Steffen leaned out of range. “I am irritated she left on short notice without bidding farewell to any of us. What of it?”

Dominik sighed and planted a hand on his chest. “Puppy love,” he said with an addled look on his face while he shook his head.

“No. No!” Steffen said, first to the young soldier and then to his father and Timo.

“She is beautiful, and it seems she can keep her head in a fight,” King Henrik said.

“Both are very attractive qualities,” Timo said.

“Absolutely not,” Steffen firmly said.

King Henrik smiled, but Timo snorted.

Steffen glowered at the older men and pinned his gaze on his half-consumed food.
This is utter foolishness
, he thought.
Gabrielle is free to do whatever she wishes. She is an amusing travel companion, but that is all. It is just as well she left, or more might get the wrong impression.

“You spend much of your time with her when she is near,” Moritz said, breaking the blessed silence.

“True, and you toss aside your sense of decorum to chase after her if you think she’s in danger,” Timo said.

“Please. I’ve spent three days with the girl. I hardly know her,” Steffen snorted.

“Maybe, but she knows you.” The entire tabled turned in stunned silence to stare at the normally flat and emotionless Alwin, who was still consuming his breakfast.