I returned home from prison the day Frederic told me I was free to go. Although I was glad to be free, as I walked home I still felt like I was in a prison. All of my usual friends who would stop to at least say “Hello”, didn’t even give me a second glance. They walked right past me. They were shutting me out because they finally knew who I really was.
As I walked into my home, I saw a strange sight.

My mother wearing some old clothes, her hair up, and an apron around her waist. What was really strange though, was that she was looking sadly at a pile of her best dresses. “Mother?” I said to get her attention.

“Oh, Liesel! I’m so glad to see you. Are you alright?” Mother inquired, quickly looking over me, probably checking for any scratches or bruises.

“Yes, I’m fine. How and what are you doing?” I asked, glancing over her shoulder at the table.

“I’m as well as can be expected, considering that everyone in the kingdom knows about your father now. I have been going through our things and selling as much as I possibly can.” Mother explained.

“What if we can’t sell enough to pay everyone back?” I wondered.

Mother hesitated before responding and pursed her lips together. With a sigh she said, “Then we will have no choice but to sell the house.”

Mother went back to her work and looked at me with sad eyes. “I’m sorry, Liesel, but I had to sell all your clothes and other belongings.” She apologized.

“You have no reason to be sorry. I’m the one who should be apologizing. It’s all my fault that everyone knows about Father.” I said full of guilt. “Oh, Liesel, don’t blame yourself. Your-” Mother was interrupted by the sound of knocking on the door.

Mother went to answer the door and I looked down at her pretty dresses.

I stroked her purple striped dress and admired the embroidery done on it. I felt so awful that my mother had to give her lovely clothes away and I wondered if we would ever be fortunate enough to have such luxurious gowns again.

“Oh, my. I – I – forgive me, but I am afraid I couldn’t possibly allow my daughter to do that.” I heard my mother saying to whoever was at the door.

“Mother, what is it?” I inquired.

Mother politely excused herself and said in a whisper, “The prince is here. He heard about the debt we are in and said he has been in search of a wife, but can’t find the right one. He says his father has been pressing him about the matter and now the prince says he would marry you in order to please his father and save us from going into poverty.”

That concludes part 6!! Look for part 7 coming soon! 😀

~Jaclynn~