Majic was in the king's study, taking in the vast array of books on the shelves and the collection of swords and bows. The king invited her to sit, and the young girl smiled and seated herself.
"Have you made your decision?" asked His Majesty.
When the king summoned her the day before to request she accept him taking a second wife, she felt it might be because she hadn't learned to be a good wife. She thought that she would try harder to make such a thing unnecessary.
However, as she walked along the path leading to the back courtyard, hearing remarks about Lady Zarila's elegance, beauty, and refinement, and how unfortunate it was that she hadn't become queen, Majic looked at her reflection in the fountain and couldn't help but notice the differences between her and Lady Zarila. Perhaps it was because she was so young. Lady Zarila had been very kind to her; maybe the king wanted to look after and protect Lady Zarila by marrying her.
Majic looked at the king with a hint of fear before daring to ask him some questions, before disclosing her own decision.
"Being the first wife is better than the second, right?" Majic inquired.
"One could say that," the king replied.
"And you will continue to be kind to me, won't you?" she asked again.
"Princess Majic, do you see this mark on our hands? A second wife won't have this. She will have a ring that she can't wear all the time. We will always have this mark binding us together forever. I couldn't forget you even if I wanted to. You will always be special to me," the king explained, trying to soothe the princess's racing heart, which could be heard even in the vastness of the hall, though deep down he wished he'd never had that mark. Before misfortune struck, this was not his fate.
"If the king needs to have a second wife, then I will accept it, even though it makes me uncomfortable," Majic said shyly.
Her words filled the king with remorse. The young girl was too innocent to fully grasp what he was asking of her; it made him feel miserable, regretting how things had turned out.
Later, after the king and princess had finished lunch and were walking back to the study, Majic seemed delighted to view the courtyards and gardens from the study windows, while the king memorized every one of her expressions.
"You have greatly improved in using utensils. I am pleased," the king noted.
"Thank you. I want you to be proud of me. I will learn everything Lady Marila is teaching me and be a good wife. I will repay all the kindness you are showing me," Majic said, smiling.
"You surely will learn, but I want you to think about yourself. I hope what you learn benefits you and helps you become strong and courageous, enough so that no one can hurt you again," the king added.
"Beside you, no one is going to hurt me," (taking the king's hands) "you have such strong hands, I'm sure you can protect me well," Majic said proudly.
"What if it is I who could hurt you?" the king asked, his gaze filled with melancholy.
Majic stared at him. Had she done something wrong? Was he upset with her and thinking of punishing her, hence his words about hurting her? She let go of the king's hands.
"Have I done something wrong?" the nervous girl asked.
"No, you haven't done anything wrong; the one who made a mistake is me. You might not understand it now because you're very young, but adults sometimes have to make decisions they don't like because they need to do what's right or face the consequences of a bad action. Majic, once you told me you'd like to be in a place with a lagoon and mountains of colors. There's a place like that in the kingdom, called Reverie. It's a royal residence my family has used for rest and contemplation. I would like it very much if you went there to learn everything Lady Marila has to teach you," the king said, aware that in that place, many things might change.
"Will I manage to come back in time for dinner?" asked the princess.
"You will have to live there for a while, and I won't be able to accompany you," the king replied.
"Is Your Majesty also going to leave me?" the princess asked, her eyes beginning to well up.
"It's not that..." the king started, but he couldn’t finish as the princess ran out.
The king wanted to stay in the study, but something stronger than him compelled him to chase after her. The princess wasn't looking where she was going, just running without stop, and outside the palace, she collided with Tesko.
"Always acting like a spoiled princess, she thinks she can do whatever she wants because she's pretty," Tesko remarked with a sinister look. "She cannot just run off; go back to your room," he continued while oddly grabbing her shoulders.
The princess stepped back—something about this man scared her. Nonetheless, Tesko moved in even closer.
"Perhaps you want me to escort you to your room," the Royal Advisor suggested, taking her hand. The princess struggled to get free, but Tesko held on tighter.
"Let her go!" the king shouted. "What are you doing, Tesko?"
Taking advantage of the advisor releasing her, the princess ran toward the king, scared.
"My apologies, Your Majesty. She seemed like she wished to flee, and I was simply insisting she return to her room," Tesko explained.
"It seemed you were inappropriately holding on to my wife," said a confused king.
"Absolutely not, how could I dare such a thing? No one could be so insane as to inappropriately touch the king's wife," Tesko said, bowing.
The king motioned for him to leave and then embraced Princess Majic by the shoulder, leading her to the gardens.
"I don't intend to abandon you, princess. I only want what's best for you, and I ask that you trust me," the king said.
"I like the king and don't want to be far from him. I'm scared I might never see you again," the princess admitted.
"After some time, I will come for you, and if you wish it, I’ll bring you back to the palace, and we'll never be separated again. Please trust me," the king said, looking earnestly at Majic.
What Majic did next etched itself into His Majesty's memories—the princess hugged him tightly, whispering, "Please don't forget me, don't forget me." As drops started to fall, the king covered the princess with his coat, and they ran back to the palace together.
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