After Carina and Merinette had left, Belena found herself alone in her room, with Lorek still standing uncomfortably in the doorway. Neither of them seemed to know what to say, so Belena knelt down and offered her guest a hand to climb into. As he did so, she couldn’t help but notice his less-than-adequate dress and bearing; he was about as far removed from Prince Argo as you could possibly get. She set him carefully down on the book she was reading, which was lying on a little bedside table, and took a seat on the bed beside him.

“So, Lorek,” she inquired. “Why have you come to see me? Is it really true, what those two have told me?”

“My lady?”  he said nervously, his legs dangling off the edge of the book. “I-I don’t know what…what you mean…” Each word came out with more and more difficulty, and Belena couldn’t help but feel rather sorry for him. It must be unbelievably awkward for him, she thought, finding himself in this situation. At the same time, she wished he would just get over his fears and shyness, and relax. She was dying to know what he was doing here, but she probably wouldn’t find out, unless she could get him to talk, and to be at ease.

She lowered her hand and waited for him to hop on. In the palm of her hand he looked so small and puny, but Belena nevertheless found herself strangely attracted to him. A tall, strong, commanding man was always the type she’d wanted to meet and fall in love with, but, if what Carina had told her was true, this young lad was secretly in love with her, and for Belena, that was now the only thing that mattered. She held him right beneath her face, while he looked up at her fearfully.

“I can imagine how you must feel right now,” she said, smiling. “But, really, I’m nothing to be scared of. Forget about who and what I am, all right? Right now, I’m just a girl named Belena, who’s very curious about the sweet little guy she’s holding, and who wants to get to know him a bit better. So, how about it? Shall we each tell the other who we are? I’ll begin, just to show you how easy it is.”

She told him all she thought he needed to know, leaving out only a few awkward moments of her life, such as the whole business with Argo. She didn’t want to upset him, or make him think that she treated all her potential boyfriends that way. Afterwards it was his turn. Naturally he still spoke very awkwardly, and she suspected he felt rather ashamed to tell her who he was. Lorek’s mother had died when he was ten, and he’d been raised singlehandedly by his father since then. His father was a potter, and they lived, as Belena had guessed, in one of Rismark’s poorer neighbourhoods. Orlak was his father’s name, and according to Lorek, he was one of the most fearless men he knew.

“I’m…I wish I was more like him,” the boy admitted, blushing like a young girl. “And he wishes it too…but I’m not. I’m…well, you can see…not much, really…” He laid his hand upon hers, then quickly withdrew it, as if he felt he was unworthy to touch the hand of a princess.

As he kept telling his story, Belena couldn’t help but feel ashamed over her recent behaviour. Lorek had almost nothing, while she lived in luxury, and she’d been the one sulking and moping and complaining. She promised herself that, starting tomorrow, she would visit the poor folk as often as possible, and do everything she could to give them the possibility of a better life. And, as for Lorek, she just wanted to keep him with her, to take care of him and make him hers. She didn’t even realize that, while he was speaking, she was drawing him closer to her, to her mouth, until she felt his body being smooched by her lips, and she snapped back to reality. She quickly put him down on the table and stood up.

“I’m…feeling a bit warm,” she said, feeling as embarrassed as he must have been. “Shall I…shall I get us something to drink? Just wait right here, and I’ll be back.”

She rushed out, not even remembering to put on some shoes, and headed straight for the kitchen. There she found a pair of oranges, which she cut in two, and began squeezing the juice into a glass. All the while she was talking to herself, out loud, without really being aware of it.

“Oh dear, I…I can’t be falling for him? Am I? I mean, to fall in love with a boy I barely even know…I don’t even know if he loves me back…but, he’s just so lovely and adorable…and such a pretty face…but Daddy would never approve! Oh gods, what is wrong with me?”

“Everything all right, sweetie?” a voice behind her said. Belena shrieked and spun around, nearly dropping the glass.

“Mother!” she exclaimed. “What…what are you doing here?”

Valerie was standing by one of the tables, peeling vegetables for supper. She had entered while Belena was busy, and the girl had never noticed her.

“I happen to live here,” the queen said, amused. “Or don’t you remember?”

“I…I’m sorry…I just…I have to go…”

Belena made for the door, but Valerie blocked her path. Taking her daughter by the arm, she drew her aside, and made her sit next to her on a bench. Belena, surprisingly, didn’t protest or throw a fit; she just sat silently, her head lowered, and felt extremely self-conscious.

“I’m sorry if I wasn’t meant to hear that,” Valerie said. “And I don’t wish to meddle in your private life, Belena. But, if at any stage you want someone to talk to, or need someone to guide you…well, I guess you know  what I mean.”

“Thanks, Mom. I’d like to tell you, but…”

“But?”                                                                                          

“I…I’m afraid you’ll think badly of me.”

These words were spoken so softly that Valerie could barely hear them. She put her arm around Belena’s shoulders, while the latter considered whether or not she should tell her mother all that has happened today.

“I guess it makes no difference – she’d find out in the end, anyway,” Belena thought. If she told Valerie how she felt about Lorek, it might make her feel less insecure. Besides, she knew her mother very well and trusted her completely; she knew that whatever she told her mother would stay between them – not even her father would hear of it, unless Belena wanted him to.

“Mother,” she began, “I’ve met this boy, and…and I think…maybe…maybe I’m in love with him.” She began to tell her tale, about how she and Lorek first met in the forest, his reappearance today, and how she’d kissed him on both occasions. She told her Valerie who the boy was, and why she thought she and Alban wouldn’t approve of him, but that she couldn’t help feeling strongly about him.

“I know it’s all rather sudden,” she confessed. “But I really do care about him. He’s not rich or noble or powerful or strong, but he is kind and gentle, and he seems to like me too, even if he is too shy to say so.”

Valerie nodded, understanding perfectly. She was glad to see that her daughter realized what were the most important things needed for a happy relationship.

“Still,” Belena added, “I don’t want to rush things – I’d like to know him a bit better before we, you know, move on. And if…if it turns out that…that he doesn’t love me back…well, I’d still like to remain his friend, if that’s possible.”

“Of course,” the queen said. “Belena…I must say, I couldn’t be more happy for you. You may have your little issues now and then,” she smiled, reminiscing, “but you really are the kind of girl a mother can be proud of. Of course I won’t stop you from seeing Lorek, and neither will your father, no matter what his opinion of the boy may turn out to be. Now, hurry back! I’m sure your new friend is wondering what became of you.”

They both stood up, and Belena gave her mother a hug.

“You’re the greatest, Mom!” she said happily. “Thank you…for understanding.”

“Any time,” Valerie said. “Say, your little friend wouldn’t like to stay for dinner, would he? It’d be a wonderful chance for your dad and I to meet our future son-in-law…”

“Mom! He’s only fifteen – we’re not getting married right now!”

Valerie began to laugh, and Belena soon joined in. It was amazing, she thought: this morning she’d woken up as glum as usual, and now she felt as if she were filled with sunshine. She was still smiling when she got back to her room, and presented her little boyfriend with the drink she’d promised. Lorek had to climb up the ladder of her fingers to reach the lip of the glass, and she had to be careful not to tip it too much, or he might drown in orange juice.

“He’s so cute…” she thought, sighing, watching him trying to balance on top of her finger. “Why can’t I just tell him how I feel about him? But then he’d probably think I’m much too desperate, or that I’m mocking him, or that he’s not worthy enough for me to love him…oh, why does it all have to be so complicated? I love him, I know I do, and he deserves to know it, so here goes!”

“Tastes good, doesn’t it?” she asked, her own throat feeling very dry. She took a huge gulp of juice, then turned her attention back to him. “Let’s lie down a bit, shall we? You can sit on my chest, and we can talk.”

Sinking back into her pillows, she placed him gently on her right breast. He shuffled around a bit, but she told him to lie down as well, so he did, flat on his stomach, his eyes transfixed on her face. She laid her hand on top of him, being careful not to overburden him.

“You know, Lorek,” she said, delicately stroking his back. “It’s not every day that a young guy like you comes sneaking into the palace, wishing to see me. I know you won’t tell me why, but I still have to ask: do you…feel, you know…attracted to me?” She tried not to stammer or to blush, but it was impossible. Here she was, the future queen of a great nation, yet still as shy as a timid little girl. Her only comfort was that Lorek was undoubtedly a lot shyer and much more timid.

“I…” he began, but stopped. It was so hot here, under her hand, next to her breast, he thought. Her lovely, stunning face was so close, even though it was over fifteen feet away, and the look in her eyes suggested she was keenly interested in him…but he knew she was just toying with him. What could a girl…no, a goddess…like her find interesting about him?

“I’m so sorry!” he squeaked, as he could no longer keep his feelings from bursting out. “You’re so beautiful, my Princess, and…”

Belena held her breath. She never thought he’d open up first, and she waited desperately for him to continue.

“And I couldn’t stop thinking about you!” he said, after gathering his thoughts. “Please don’t be angry! I never meant to come near you again…and I’ll leave at once, I swear! I just wanted to…to…hey!”

She had picked him up and was dangling him right above her open mouth. Inside he could see her giant-sized tongue, with the dark cavern of her throat behind it. She began to lower him.

“Oh no!” he whimpered. “Oh, please don’t eat me, Your Highness! Please…”

“Eat you?” she exclaimed. “Eat you?! You stupid little fool! I am madly in love with you, and I wanted to kiss you – not eat you! That was the absolute last thing on my mind…how could you even think that?”

“I…you…what?”

“I love you, Lorek! I would never harm you in any way, ever! You’re the only guy I know who seems to like me even a little bit – but that still means a lot to me!”

He was staring at her as if she were one of the gods themselves.

“I know the two of us are so…so very different,” she continued, “and if you’d rather be with a human girl, I’d understand. But if you just give me a chance, I could show you how much I love you. I can’t promise that I’ll make you happy…I barely even know anything about you yet…but I will try my very hardest to make our relationship work, I promise. Would you…would you give me that one chance, Lorek?”

He hung between her fingertips, still too dazed to speak. In the end, all he could manage was a tiny nod, a weak laugh and a sigh, before fainting.

“Oops,” Belena said, feeling just a little badly. “Maybe I overdid it…but it was the truth, and I’m glad I could tell him. We can talk when he comes back round, but for now, I guess I’ll have to hold him close to me.”

She tucked him underneath the top of her dress, between her breasts, hoping he wouldn’t faint again when he woke up. Still, she could scarcely be more glad: she had finally found someone, a boy, who loved her. Their relationship would require a lot of work and effort, but she welcomed it. From now on, she knew, she and Lorek would be inseparable – and if, in the end , it doesn’t work, at last she’d have felt, however briefly, what true love felt like.