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"
I felt as though my heart would burst from my chest. I laid my
head on his shoulder, and he held me close to him, his arms warm
around my body. He loved me. Oh, by all the gods, he loved me!
And you boys know the rest of the story. We sold the estate,
and returned here to do battle with the foul sorcerer who'd taken over
the kingdom. Between the two of us, working together, we were able to
overcome him, and restore the kingdom to its rightful rulers again.
His Majesty was in a dungeon, his health nearly broken. But he
recovered enough to rule another ten years. Then His Highness took the
throne and ruled for another forty, before abdicating in favor of his
son, your father, who rules today.
And here he comes now, still handsome even in his old age. Sit
here beside me, old friend, and help me amuse these boys. They've been
having me tell them the tale of Beauty and the Beast, though I told
them that indeed Beauty was no beauty, and won not your heart.
You boys stop laughing and pay him no mind. I'm no beauty now
and I was no beauty then! 'Tis only in his own eyes that I look good.
Here come
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