A retelling/short story based on The Frog King, or the Iron Heinrich by the Brothers Grimm.

***NOTE: This story uses names of characters and locations from my series The Dragons of Flareia but is not afflicted with the series whatsoever - I was just too lazy to come up with new character/place names***

Alayah Bellus

Servants' Quarters

Begraso Palace

Venteer

March 23, 1784

My dear mother,

This will only be a short letter. I'm unsure how many letters I'll be able to send in the foreseeable future. I fear you may not hear from me for many months under the current circumstances. I'm not sure how much you know, how much you will be told, but I'm sure you're aware that three days ago Crown Prince Darius travelled to the Begraso Palace in Venteer for a ball. He was supposed to return at sunrise this morning, yet we have no word. From the whispers I hear around the palace here in Anemasi, the people fear something terrible has happened to the prince, that he has been struck down in Venteer. I believe tensions between our neighbouring kingdoms will rise – after all, all the Venti land was Anemasi land once upon a time.

Do try to stay safe, mother. I hope you are well. Do not worry if you receive no word from me.

Your affectionate daughter,

Maylif

Alayah Bellus

Servants' Quarters

Begraso Palace

Venteer

March 30, 1784

My dear mother,

I know this letter will not be allowed to leave the palace with a Venti address upon its front, but I feel the need to write nonetheless.

It has now been seven nights, and we have heard nothing of Crown Prince Darius's fate. I do not know what will happen to the country should he not return. His younger brother Prince Duncan currently rules in his stead, but he never had any desire to become king. He was never trained as Darius was. No one says the words, but I know the palace officials are worried.

The other serving girls in my quarters are besides themselves with grief for the Crown Prince, though they try to hide it around me. They do not understand why I am not as affected. They do not realise I just do not show it. Though they each watched him in the hallways and the courtyard and fawned over him during mealtimes, it was I who woke him each morning. It was I who laid out his clothes and ran his bath. And now, it is I who is without daily duties. It is I who has been uprooted from my routine. Sometimes I feel just as lost as he is.

Many a time I wrote to you that the Crown Prince was arrogant and nonchalant – but you must know, mother, he also cares greatly about everyone he meets. He walks a strange line between a stuck up, insufferable royal and a gracious ruler. I would never admit it to his face, but I've come to miss him greatly.

This letter will likely never be sent. Perhaps I should burn it so he never finds these words, should he ever return home.

I do hope he will return home.

Your affectionate daughter,

Maylif

Alayah Bellus

Servants' Quarters

Begraso Palace

Venteer

April 18, 1784

My dear mother,

I do hope things are well in Venteer, for things are not well here. As I suspected, my previous letter could not be sent. This one will not be either. Yet I still write. Even the idea of talking to you soothes my worries.

On the surface, things seem to have calmed down here in the Pearl Palace. The other serving girls no longer cry every day. Prince Duncan seems to be settling into his role, whether it will remain his or not. The kingdom is no longer vocal about their mourning – save the Iron Heinrich. He was the prince's closest servant aside from myself. Since Darius's disappearance, he had to have iron bars fitted around his heart to keep it from breaking. Even I cannot talk sense into him. He misses the prince too much.

This morning however, I, too, was overcome with grief for a moment. Although he is not here, although he does not sleep in it, I still make Darius's bed each morning, still fluff his pillows and press his sheets. Yet this was the first morning his bed smelled more of dust than of him. I realised with a shock that I was beginning to forget exactly what he smelled like – but even rummaging through his closet didn't help. All the clothes in there had been cleaned, smelling only of soap.

I fear one day I'll forget even his face.

Your affectionate daughter,

Maylif

Alayah Bellus

Servants' Quarters

Begraso Palace

Venteer

July 20, 1784

My dear mother,

Yesterday should have been a joyous day – Crown Prince Darius finally returned to us with word that he had been under a curse these past months. But he returned with a bride. He introduced her as Varille Sophos, the Venti King's youngest daughter.

He did not even glance at me.

I know Darius's mother had been searching for a bride for him for many months now, but I never considered the reality of him being married until now, and I... I fear this is not something I can live with.

I cannot say, cannot pinpoint when I fell in love with him, mother, but the moment I realised was when he rose from that carriage with Varille Sophos on his arm. It would not be fair for him to suffer because I cannot meet his gaze anymore – he has suffered enough because of this curse.

I ask you, mother, help me relocate to the Begraso Palace as a serving girl by your side. I know you say I'm treated far better here in our home country, but I am sure that the union between the Crown Prince and Princess Varille will make Venteer more accepting of Anemasi people.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Your affectionate daughter,

Maylif

Maylif Bellus

Servants' Quarters

The Pearl Palace

Anemasi

June 23, 1784

Miss Bellus,

I'm writing inform you that Alayah Bellus no longer resides at the Begraso Palace. She was to be tried for treason through cursing Anemasi Crown Prince Darius and turning him into a frog for allegedly mistreating her daughter, and has since escaped.

I suggest you no longer write to this address, and keep your connection to your mother a secret if you value your life in either kingdom.

I wish you luck.

Yours sincerely,

A friend and wellwisher