The Princess and the Lumberjack Read online

  The Princess and The Lumberjack

  H. L. Muller

  Copyright © 2020 H. L. Muller

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  H. L. Muller is Australian, and this book is written in United Kingdom/Australian English.

  ASIN: B0863T84Y1

  Cover design by: Avadal Designs

  Editing: Jess Webeck

  Publisher: H. L. Muller

  To my younger self, who never thought we would get here, we made it. This one is for you.

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Glossary

  Prologue

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Twenty-Four

  Twenty-Five

  Epilogue

  The Story continues in

  Acknowledgements

  About The Author

  Follow Me:

  Glossary

  There are a few words in this story that can be hard to pronounce. I wanted to give you an idea of how they sound to me.

  Adaira = A-dare-a

  Daes = Days

  Ika = Eye-ka

  Evalyn = Ever-lyn

  Kryler = Cry-la

  Prologue

  PRINCESS GERTRUDE - TEN YEARS OLD

  "That is no way for a future Queen to behave, Gertrude," Evalyn admonished.

  Why was it always such a crime to have fun? I was running around my playroom, giggling at Evalyn. If it was un-queen like to play in a playroom, why did I have one? Evalyn was my governess and had joined me the summer I turned seven. I don't know why Elizabeth, my last governess, left. I liked Elizabeth; she was always extra nice and let me go out to see Stormy whenever I wanted. As a Princess, I spent my time in classes and training to be a Queen. Most of my friends have been my books and my teddies. When we went out to balls or small parties, I wasn't allowed to play with the other children as 'it's not how a Princess should behave'. With my restricted lifestyle and my duties, I was limited in how I could meet or make friends, and I barely knew anyone outside of my own Palace home. Elizabeth was one of my few real friends, before she left. I have Evalyn now, and we became fast friends.

  Evalyn and Mother were always talking and plotting ways that I could start spending time in Prince Charming's Kingdom, "to build your relationship with Prince Charming," Mother had said. I didn't see the point. Charming never liked playing with me, anyway. He was the same age as my brother Harrison, and they were always playing together, with Charming's brother Ambrose. Every day I wished that Charming had a sister, so I could have a friend too. I don't know why Mother and Evalyn bothered so much. Ever since I can remember, it had been planned for me to marry Prince Charming when I turned eighteen. Prince Charming lived in the Kingdom on our western border and was the eldest son of King Kryler and Queen Pomona. He was tall for his age and had slick black hair which he always had combed to perfection. Charming was next in line to the throne, and I was to be his Queen.

  "What are we going to do today, Evalyn?" I asked her, "Can we go for a picnic and see Stormy?"

  Evalyn allowed it, started dressing me to go outdoors and making preparations for the day. We had done this before, and it felt like a routine now.

  While we ate lunch, we spoke about everything. What I was reading, what I was interested in learning about this year, my teddies, and what awful things Harrison had been up to in the Palace. Our conversations were usually based around me, and we didn't speak of Evalyn's life much.

  Evalyn made me feel safe; I knew that I could trust her with all of my truths. She asked questions and always seemed interested in anything I had to say.

  Bouncing in excitement, I exclaimed "I have to tell you Evalyn, I have a crush on that boy." I pointed him out to Evalyn as we watched him walking across the grounds.

  She looked shocked, "Him?"

  "Yes, I don't know his name, but he is always genuinely nice to me when I see him in the gardens. I think he helps his father with the trees and gardening. He has the loveliest sea green eyes." I said with a sigh. "Do you think that one day I'll get to properly meet him?"

  "Hmm," Evalyn replied, then remained quiet, not giving anything away to my confession.

  Evalyn cut our trip short, so we didn't go see Stormy. After we finished our picnic, we walked in silence back to the Palace. Once we returned to my rooms, Evalyn left me alone and went to her room. I was a little saddened that she had not responded much to my crush on the green-eyed boy.

  I knew that I was to marry Prince Charming, but he never saw me! I was always going to his Kingdom and doing so many things to get the chance to see him, and whenever I did, he was never interested in seeing me!

  I knew I was a very lucky girl; I was a Princess and I had everything anyone would want. All the books I read are about girls who hope to become a Princess and get saved by a handsome Prince. It felt wrong to be ungrateful for something I had that everyone else wanted, but I couldn't help but feel something was missing from my life. The stories I read never mentioned how cruel Princes are, or how lonely a Kingdom full of people can be. Settling in my window seat, I looked out over the gardens. I couldn't see the green-eyed boy, so I opened one of my favourite books and found myself lost in the story.

  Looking up as my clock chimed, I realised that a few hours had gone by and Evalyn had not returned. This was unusual for her. Normally she was glued to my side. I left my rooms to go and find Evalyn. Maybe she was unwell and would need someone to care for her? I could do that, she is my friend, and she was always caring for me when I was ill.

  Evalyn wasn't in her room, I asked the maids and servants I saw around the Palace, and no one knew where she was. Mother would know, I could go and ask her.

  I was walking up the hallway to my Mother's sitting room when I heard raised voices. I never liked being around Mother when she was angry, so I waited in the hall to hear what they were saying. I didn't want her to get angry at me for interrupting.

  I could hear her footsteps as she paced across the floor, "She likes the farm boy? That's disgusting. She is betrothed to marry a Prince, Evalyn. She cannot be having feelings for other boys. Imagine what would happen if Charming or his parents knew about this. Has she told anyone besides you?"

  "No, Your Majesty. She entrusted it only to me. Other than me, she doesn’t have any friends and would not have mentioned it to Harrison or the lady’s maids."

  "Good. We must handle this quickly..." Mother's voice faded away, as I turned and walked away.

  I could feel my heart breaking. Evalyn had gone to my mother and told her everything. How long had she been reporting to her? I couldn't stay to hear what they were going to do to 'handle’ this situation. I ran through the halls, throwing myself through doorways and crashing into my bedroom. No one had stopped or followed me as I tore past them.


  I didn't see Evalyn again until dinner with my family. Mother barely looked in my direction. This was a familiar tactic of hers, whenever she was displeased or upset with you, she would ignore you until she deemed it enough time before acknowledging you again. She didn't speak to me directly throughout dinner, only to Evalyn. I wondered if I hadn't heard Evalyn talking to her, would I be trying to figure out what was wrong? I was turning it over in my mind, replaying all my conversations with Evalyn, trying to figure out what else she had told my Mother, when I heard my Father speak.

  "That farm boy and his father have been dismissed as you requested, Cynthia." He spoke plainly to my mother, his voice conveying no emotion or remorse at losing two staff members, as if they and this conversation were of no consequence to him. Father turned back to Harrison and continued on his conversation, not noticing the crestfallen expression on my face. Mother and Evalyn were ignoring me too. A pit opened where my stomach used to be, churning full of guilt and anger. Who were they to think they could just ruin a family's life, because of me? I managed to excuse myself and rush back to my room. It was my fault. If I hadn't felt this way about him, if I hadn't told Evalyn, this would have never happened. I resolved myself to never confide in Evalyn, or anyone else, again. I would not let them hurt others to manipulate me.

  It was all my fault.

  One

  PRINCESS GERTRUDE - PRESENT DAY

  I bolt upright, panting and on the verge of tears. Normally, I wake up to the sound of chirping birds outside and sunshine glimmering on my face. It had been a while since I had dreamed of that day with Evalyn. I shiver as I try to shake the emotions that dream always brought on.

  Today is my eighteenth birthday. Only one week until we officially announce our engagement at Prince Charming's twenty-first birthday ball, and two weeks until we will be married, settled and living in Prince Charming's Castle. I have been counting down to this all my life, and now there are only fourteen days left. One might imagine that I am excited to be married as I am in love and going to wed my soulmate or that I am eager to fulfil my purpose and duty as Princess to marrying for the alliance it would ensure for my Kingdom. They would not expect the real reason behind my excitement is the need to be away from this Palace.

  It has been hard living with Mother and Evalyn since that day, not that it had been easy before then. Over the last eight years I have isolated myself, keeping my thoughts and emotions private. No one in the Palace can be trusted. After the incident with Evalyn and the farm boy, I realised that everyone who lives in the Palace is owned by Mother and Father. All the servants and members of the court answer to them. If it ensured their favour with my Mother and Father, you could place bets on how soon they would betray me. It was a game I had started playing with myself, counting how long it would take.

  I didn’t allow anyone to see who the real Trudy is. Not even brother, Harrison. Harrison is three years older than me and at twenty-one, he is too busy trying to find a bride who can put up with him, and that Mother and Father approve of, to care about me. From the looks of things, no woman was up to the task.

  It struck me as strange, not for the first time, that Mother and Father were so set on my marriage. They had arranged it from the moment I was born, yet never arranged anything for Harrison. I had spent many hours speculating whether they believed Harrison would easily be married, or wouldn't follow their orders anyway, and why they had prioritised my marriage over Harrison's. The only conclusion I can come too is that they believe he should choose his own Queen.

  When Harrison turned twenty-one three months ago, there was a large celebration that lasted several days. The whole Kingdom rejoiced and celebrated their future King’s coming of age. A similar celebration happened for his eighteenth birthday. Harrison was showered with gifts from noblemen and their ladies, from this Kingdom and others.

  My birthday often went by unnoticed. I doubted the Kingdom remembered my birthday, from what little of the Kingdom I have seen. Evalyn had once told me that the marketplace near the Palace had sales and special gifts, they gave each other to celebrate my birthday, but I have never been allowed out to witness it take place. Mother and Father would usually acknowledge my birthday by leaving me alone all day then summoning me to celebrate with a fancy dinner, accompanied by Prince Charming and his family. I am expecting this year to be much of the same. I am feeling very celebratory this year, I was almost out. I am almost free; well, as free as I could ever be as a Queen. I held out hope that I would be able to make some decisions for myself. I will be head of a household and family. I may not be as completely free as our citizens are, but I will have more freedom than I have now.

  Having squashed the memories from my dream, I rise out of bed and hop into a steaming hot shower. Standing in the shower long enough to let the heat seep into my bones and really wake me up for the day. Not long into my shower, I could hear my lady’s maids moving around my bedroom. This was usual of them, going about making my bed and preparing clothing for me to wear today. I sighed, enjoying my peace while it lasted. When I was alone, I didn’t need to pretend, that would end the moment I left my bathroom.

  Resigning myself, I dried off from my shower and entered my dressing room. Without needing to be asked one of my maid’s followed to assist me with my hair and dress for the day. I never address them by name, I have made all the servants believe that I have never learnt their names because they are beneath me. I know who they are, but I need to protect them and myself. I will not be misled and betrayed by someone again, and I couldn't handle the thought of another person being hurt to get to me. Every time I meet a new person, I debate letting them get to know the real me, the Trudy who lives beneath the Princess. Letting them see the rude and heartless Gertrude always wins. I have tried to convince myself I am heartless, that I have no feelings. I struggle with lying to myself though. No matter how hard I try to suppress it all, I still care. As a defence mechanism, I do not allow anyone to get close enough to know who I really am, and sometimes I forget who I am too. It is a lonely and exhausting existence. Two more weeks. I need to keep reminding myself it is almost over.

  There were a few times when I was eleven where I let my true feelings show and spoke up to Evalyn, Mother and Father. They dismissed me, shoved me aside and showed me with actions and words that I was nothing to them. Well, that was a lie. I am a marriage to another Kingdom to ensure our alliance. After a few attempts, I gave in and became who they wanted me to be.

  “What would you like to wear today, Your Highness?” The maid asked as she finished braiding my waist length chocolate brown hair straight down my back.

  I don’t know why she bothered asking me. I have many beautiful gowns that Mother and Evalyn have acquired for me, yet I don’t like wearing fancy dresses daily. I don’t like the extra attention it brings to me.

  “That one,” I indicated one of my usual daily gowns. The dress is floor length navy blue and comes down past my elbows, with a scoop neckline. It was as plain and as ordinary as a Princess could get, and I loved it. Mother hated it as it resembled the servants' dresses. When I was fifteen, she threw all my plain dresses out and told me I was only allowed to wear the fancy dresses she had bought. Instead, I wore nothing but my night clothes until she allowed my plain dresses to return; with the stipulation that any balls, parties or events I went to Evalyn or Mother had to approve my outfit. It was a compromise that I was willing to make to ensure that I could be comfortable while at home.

  Dressed and presentable for the day, I set off through the Palace heading for the Gardens. As usual at this time of day, the hallways were deserted. Father and Harrison were probably in a state meeting, and Mother was likely still in bed. I spent as much time as I could out in the gardens, watching the clouds, speaking to the insects and small animals roaming around, reading and just enjoying not being disturbed by anyone.

  The garden was a misleading name. It was a miniature forest, roughly one and a half acres of trees, pathways and ga
rden beds. Every day I chose a new spot to discover. Originally, I started moving around the garden each day to prevent anyone from finding me. Now I spent my time exploring and learning new things about the garden. I could never get lost here as there were clear paths and signs every ten meters pointing you in the direction of the Palace, although I frequently lost myself within my own mind or whichever book I was reading.

  Wandering out along the main paths, I relished the sound of autumn leaves crunching beneath my boots and the solitude of being alone in my gardens. There was a chill in the air, and it upsets me to think about Autumn ending. At least I will be in my new home for winter and will not have to deal with hours being trapped inside with Evalyn. I knew my peace would be short-lived today, and determined to enjoy it while I can, I walk to my favourite spot in the whole garden. It is a large old oak tree, with huge twisting roots that created a small seat. I sat and closed my eyes, listening to the sounds of nature around me I fell into a light meditation until I heard footsteps approaching.

  Looking around the garden it didn’t surprise me to see one of the footmen approaching.

  “Princess Gertrude,” he paused and bowed when he was a few paces away, “Miss Evalyn would like to see you in your room.”

  Sighing, I rose and followed him back into the Palace. I am eighteen today and yet my governess is still ordering me around. Two weeks, Trudy. You are here for two more weeks, then you are free from her forever. My rooms were quite modest compared to Harrison's, Mothers and Fathers, whose were much larger. I walked into my small sitting room that held my desk, bookcase, couch and found Evalyn siting at the dining table. This room opened into my bedroom, the walls were a soft pink, my furniture made with a burgundy wood, and cream linens covered my bed, couch and sitting chair.